Chapter 188

Dressed in a martial uniform, she looked more mature—and more beautiful—than the last time I’d seen her.

A faint fragrance drifted toward me as she drew closer.

Honestly, I can see why Chulwoo fell for her.

And not just Chulwoo. Half the men gathered at the Jin Family of Taiyuan were probably weighing their chances of confessing to her.

And a girl like that proposed to me.

She was still just a kid, and her proposal had been little more than an offer of political marriage, but I couldn’t help feeling strange about it.

At last, she stopped in front of me and greeted me.

“It’s good to see you again. Have you been well?”

“Yes. What about you, Young Lady Lee?”

The words had barely left my mouth when I realized my mistake. Her family had been killed, and her sect had nearly been annihilated. There was no way she could have been well.

“Uh…”

While I floundered, Lee Seowol answered.

“I’ve been well. Thanks to you, Young Master Jin.”

With a light smile, she added,

“And I’ll continue to be.”

There was a steely resolve in her voice. It was as though the crisis that had nearly destroyed her sect, and the difficult decision to swear loyalty, had helped her grow.

I answered sincerely.

“I hope so.”

Lee Seowol gave me a faint smile and nodded. That was when—

“H-Hey, Taekyung!”

“…What are you doing?”

I stared at Chulwoo in disbelief. He had thrown an arm around my shoulders, his expression and tone painfully awkward.

“You’re in the way. Get your arm off me.”

“H-Hahahaha! What’s gotten into you? We’re childhood friends. What’s a little thing like this between us?”

“Weren’t we sworn enemies?”

“M-My friend, your jokes have improved tremendously! Hwa-ha, hahahaha!”

“Does that sound like a joke to you?”

“Ah! By the way, who might this beautiful lady be?”

“…So that’s what this was about.”

The fabric of space-time cringed. Having flawlessly delivered the worst performance imaginable, Chulwoo bowed ninety degrees to Lee Seowol.

“Hello! It is an honor to meet you!”

“Ah… yes. It’s an honor to meet you too.”

“If I may introduce myself, I am this man’s friend of ten years—”

To help the flustered Lee Seowol, I added,

“We met for the first time today.”

“Although we only met today, we have already forged a bond worthy of friends of ten years—”

“We’re not close at all.”

“S-Since fate has brought us together, perhaps you’d care to sit beside me—”

“He’s hitting on you because he thinks you’re pretty. Don’t fall for it.”

Chulwoo ground his teeth. Lee Seowol’s eyes widened.

“Oh, really?”

“Yes. Can’t you tell just by looking at him?”

There was such a thing as being too oblivious. If she couldn’t pick up on something this obvious, she was in trouble.

I sighed, and Lee Seowol stepped closer.

“No. I meant the other thing.”

“Pardon?”

“Do you think I’m pretty, too, Young Master Jin?”

“Wait. Hold on.”

Her voice was alluring, and her eyes sparkled.

What’s gotten into her? Why is she acting like this?

Chulwoo watched the two of us, his gaze sinking into gloomy despair.

“Waaaaah!”

“Drink! Drink!”

The atmosphere at the Grand Training Ground was incredible, to put it mildly. The dance troupe—or rather, the dancers—brought in from Honghwaru captivated everyone with their dazzling movements, while the crowd ate, drank, and made merry.

Even the honored guests, who had looked uncomfortable at first, began to relax.

Those bastards should be on their knees with their heads to the floor, and even that wouldn’t be enough.

Many of the honored guests owed the Jin Family of Taiyuan a debt, yet they had remained neutral during the recent war.

Neutral was a generous way to put it. They had backed out because they feared retaliation from the Mount Heng Sword Sect.

They must feel safe now that we’ve accepted the Mount Heng Sword Sect.

In front of those very people, Jin Wikyung had embraced the Mount Heng Sword Sect, the Jin Family’s greatest enemy, and seated Lee Seowol in a place of honor.

It meant he had no intention of holding them accountable for what had happened.

Naturally, the atmosphere among the honored guests warmed at once. Swift oaths of loyalty followed, along with a barrage of gifts.

“Lesser Family Head, the Sangdo Sect and I wish to cast our lot with the Jin Family of Taiyuan.”

“Oh, how kind of you.”

“This is a small gift I prepared as a token of my sincerity.”

“Thank you, Sect Leader Hwang.”

“Great Hero Jin, I lead the merchant guild…”

“It is a humble offering, but please accept it…”

It didn’t take long for luxury goods, gold, and silver treasures to pile up like a mountain. I doubted Jin Wikyung would ever have to worry about the family budget again after today.

Once things had settled down, Jin Wikyung approached me.

“How was it?”

I gave him a thumbs-up.

“It was impressive. But is it really all right for you to come over already? It looks like some people haven’t even had a chance to speak with you.”

“That is precisely why they will grow anxious.”

“What?”

“How do you think those who failed to speak with me today will feel?”

“I don’t know. Like they’ve fallen far behind everyone else?”

“Correct.”

Jin Wikyung took a sip of his drink and winked at me.

“The more desperate they become, the more they will offer. This is only the first day. I am looking forward to the final day even more.”

“Damn.”

He was going to bleed them dry.

The Sect Leaders of the Five Gates of Shanxi, who were staring this way as though someone had lit a fire under their asses, would undoubtedly be the highlight of the final day.

“But, my youngest.”

Jin Wikyung lowered his voice.

“Why is the Defeated Flower Fist acting like that?”

At some point, Chulwoo had moved to the far end of the honored seats. He kept glancing our way with a gloomy expression.

He would glare at me with blazing eyes, then heave a deep sigh whenever Lee Seowol and I exchanged a few words.

“Uh, well…”

How was I supposed to explain this? Lee Seowol was sitting nearby, so I had to watch what I said.

If I’d known this would happen, I would’ve practiced Sound Transmission beforehand.

Reaching the Peak realm had made Sound Transmission available for me to acquire through practice. It hadn’t granted me the skill on the spot.

“He looks unwell. Is he hurt?”

He was probably hurting, all right. In his heart.

“I guess he’s just in a bad mood.”

I gave a vague answer. Just then, the music filling the Grand Training Ground abruptly stopped, and people began to murmur.

Who’s that now?

A young man strode confidently through the flustered dancers. After surveying his surroundings, he gave a respectful fist-and-palm salute toward the honored seats.

More precisely, toward Jin Wikyung.

“My name is Choo Dohwan of the Iron Blood Sect of Henan.”

Jin Wikyung’s eyes widened.

“Could you be Choo Dohwan, the Iron Fist?”

“It is merely an undeserved reputation.”

“I have heard much about you. But what brings a Disciple of the Iron Blood Sect here without prior notice?”

Even I had heard of the Iron Blood Sect of Henan a couple of times. It was a well-known sect.

Judging by his sect alone, he must rank among the top three honored guests here.

With everyone’s attention focused on him, Choo Dohwan revealed why he had stepped forward.

“I have come to request a duel.”

“A duel? Now?”

“Yes. I apologize for the imposition, but I ask that you grant my request.”

Of course he ought to apologize. What kind of occasion did he think this was?

Surprisingly, however, very few people frowned. Most had already had a few drinks and seemed to regard this as an exciting surprise event.

“Hmm.”

“If you refuse, I will offer a sincere apology and withdraw.”

At least he knew his manners. Baek Museong, who had been watching the exchange, added,

“I too have heard the name Choo Dohwan, the Iron Fist. They say that, as befits a Disciple of the Iron Blood Sect, he excels in fist-and-foot martial arts and is a man of upright character.”

“You could choose Baek Museong as your opponent.”

Baek Museong smiled faintly.

“My junior brothers and I would be happy to accept.”

“Are you certain?”

“Of course. On such a fine day, I can only be grateful for the chance to enliven the festivities as a guest.”

His answer carried both the composure of a powerful man and impeccable courtesy. Jin Wikyung rose from his seat.

“I accept Young Hero Choo’s request.”

“Thank you.”

But Jin Wikyung didn’t stop there.

“Furthermore, anyone who wishes to participate in the duels may step forward! The final victor will receive one hundred silver nyang¹ and a fine weapon worthy of the prize!”

“Waaaaah!”

Cheers erupted at his generous gesture, rowing while the tide was coming in. After all, there was nothing more entertaining in the world than watching a fight.

The eyes of the young martial artists, still brimming with youthful vigor, lit up at the thought of testing themselves.

“Then, Young Hero Choo!”

Jin Wikyung drew everyone’s attention with his booming voice, then asked Choo Dohwan,

“Name your first opponent.”

“The opponent I wish to face is…”

A Disciple of the Iron Blood Sect, famous for his fist-and-foot martial arts. His epithet was the Iron Fist, for heaven’s sake.

It’s obvious.

Just as I expected, Choo Dohwan named a particular person.

“Chulwoo, the Defeated Flower Fist!”

“…Me?”

Chulwoo, who had been sitting there in a daze, rose to his full height. His gloom-soaked eyes settled on Choo Dohwan.

“Sounds good.”

“Let us determine which of us is stronger!”

I looked at the Level window floating over Choo Dohwan’s head and thought,

He’s going to get beaten to death.

System

• Level 65 Choo Dohwan

And my prediction soon became reality.

Wham! Wham! Wham!

There were no forms or techniques involved. The difference between the Peak realm and First Rate was like the difference between heaven and earth, and Choo Dohwan had nothing that could bridge that gap.

Thud!

“Guh! H-How can it be this easy?”

“Are you really the Iron Fist? Why are you so soft?”

Chulwoo, meanwhile, rampaged like a monster. His martial arts were on a higher level, and he had been born with tremendous strength, size, and toughness. It took him only fifty exchanges to knock his opponent senseless.

And honestly, he seemed to have gone pretty easy on him.

“You know how to throw a punch, but it won’t work on me anyway. Give up here.”

Choo Dohwan gritted his teeth.

“No! It isn’t over until it’s over!”

“What a stubborn bastard.”

Whoosh! Crack! Thump!

Well, now it really was over.

Once Choo Dohwan lost consciousness, the waiting martial artists of the Jin Family of Taiyuan brought over a stretcher and carried him away.

“Whaaaat?”

“As expected of the Defeated Flower Fist!”

“The Iron Fist Choo Dohwan is a fairly well-known master, but even he’s no match for one of Huashan’s Three Plum Blossom Elites.”

Under the simple rules they had established, the winner had to continue accepting challenges. If no challengers remained, the winner could name an opponent.

Lee Seowol, who had somehow claimed the seat beside me, whispered,

“Do you think anyone else will challenge him?”

I snorted quietly.

“After seeing what happened to the Iron Fist? Do you really think anyone will come forward? I’ll bet my wrist that nobody does.”

Just then, a man wearing a heroic headband suddenly stepped forward and shouted,

“I am Hwang Jinsu of Hwang Family Manor! I challenge the Defeated Flower Fist!”

“…”

“…”

Ah, shit. I should’ve kept my mouth shut.

Crack! Thud!

As I wallowed in regret, Hwang Jinsu of Hwang Family Manor collapsed, scattering teeth everywhere.

A Level 25 had stepped forward. Of course that was the result.

“What about now?”

“Didn’t you just see what happened? He got it even worse than the Iron Fist. Bones can be set, but teeth are finished. Completely finished.”

“And your wrist…”

“Fine, I’ll bet it. I bet my left wrist before, so this time it’s my right. Just watch. Nobody’s coming forward now. Seriously.”

A wandering martial artist in a bamboo hat stepped forward.

“I am Gal Mo. I may be a nameless wandering martial artist, but would you care to exchange a few moves?”

“No need to ask. Come on up.”

Did that bastard smear honey on his fists or something? Why do the challengers keep coming?

After knocking down fifteen or so people in about half an hour, Chulwoo roared,

“Is there no one who can stand against me?”

Despite fighting so many duels in such a short time, he was still bursting with energy. The difference in skill was so vast that even the other martial artists now looked thoroughly daunted.

Thinking this was my chance, I spoke up.

“Nobody’s coming out now. Really, nobody. I’ll bet my wrist.”

Lee Seowol helpfully replied,

“You already bet those earlier. Both of them.”

“Then my left ankle.”

“You bet that on the fifth match.”

“Oh, then what about my right ankle?”

“You already bet that on the sixth.”

“My neck…”

“The eighth match…”

Damn it. So this was what a corpse with its eyes open looked like.

As I sat there in a daze, Lee Seowol let out a small laugh.

“It’s all right. I won’t collect.”

“…Were you planning to?”

“If you do me one favor.”

“What favor?”

Just as Lee Seowol was about to open her mouth—

“Shan! Xi! Sleeping! Dragon!”

A tremendous shout shook the Grand Training Ground. Having defeated every challenger, Chulwoo stared at me and crooked a finger.

“Jin Taekyung, come out.”

At the same time, a System alert rang out.

Ding.

System

• Level 95 Chulwoo has chosen you as his duel opponent!
• Quest: There Is a Man Who Loved You So Much² has been created.
• Would you like to accept the Quest?
• Refusing will incur a massive penalty!

“…”

I could say this with absolute certainty: that was the most fucked-up quest title I had ever received.