Chapter 125
“Yes…, that is correct… I wanted to converse with the Righteous Faction juniors here…”
“…”
“…”
As Yu Haseong said that, an unbearable silence fell over the Teahouse.
Yu Haseong bowed his head deeply, seemingly feeling a sense of shame at his own words, and the Yu siblings looked at their father with slightly disappointed eyes.
And the one who broke that heavy silence was none other than…
“Hahahaha-!! It seems Great Hero Yu also had a lot of interest in our disciples!”
…the cheerful laughter of the Zhongnan Sect Leader, Jong Yeon-Myeong.
He let out a hearty laugh, wrapped an arm around my shoulder, and approached Yu Haseong.
“It is only natural for a Great Hero to keep an eye on them. These children are truly the treasures of Zhongnan.”
The Zhongnan Sect Leader’s eyes sparkled as he spoke, as if he truly saw me and Dongryong-i as treasures.
And meeting the Zhongnan Sect Leader’s gaze, Yu Haseong…
“Ugh-!!”
…vomited blood from his mouth.
Whoa, looks like he suffered a Qi Deviation.
Did his conscience hurt that much…?
“Father-!”
“Yu Family Head!”
Naturally unaware of the hidden circumstances, Jong Yeon-Myeong hurriedly approached Yu Haseong and infused him with true qi.
“Are you alright…? Why the sudden coughing of blood…!”
“Ugh…, that is…”
Yu Haseong made an expression as if debating whether to confess the whole truth even now.
However…
“…It is nothing. I suffered internal injuries during Training…”
…he ultimately did not tell the truth.
“Then you should not be out and about, but resting! Great Hero, you should return immediately. You’re unwell.”
“Sect Leader…”
Yu Haseong looked up at the Zhongnan Sect Leader, who was genuinely worried about him, and…
“…I am sorry.”
“Pardon? Why are you apologizing to me…”
“…Keuhuk, I am sorry.”
…He bowed his head to the Sect Leader as if in apology, then left the seat supported by Young Master Yu and Somyung-i.
“I am sorry…, keuheuk…”
“…Ah, yes. Then I will see you tomorrow.”
The Zhongnan Sect Leader, completely oblivious to the reason for Yu Haseong’s apologies until the very end, could only scratch his cheek.
“Hmm…, why does Great Hero Yu keep apologizing…?”
“I wonder.”
When I replied to Jong Yeon-Myeong’s muttering, he turned his head toward me and asked.
“More importantly, what is the reason you called me here?”
“Ah, rumor has it that the tea here is exceptionally good, so I wanted to treat you, Sect Leader.”
“Is that so? I am truly grateful.”
The Zhongnan Sect Leader must have already been blinded by affection, as he fell for my obvious lie and smiled brightly.
“What an easy person.”
With that, I chuckled and guided him to the table.
“But it seems the owner isn’t here, so I’ll brew the tea myself. You drink leaf tea, right, Sect Leader?”
“Ooh, yes, that’s right. How is it that you even know my tastes? Thank you.”
“No, that’s basic. Hehe.”
And so, we drank tea affectionately as if we were truly a Sect Leader and his Disciple, and then returned to our Lodging.
* * *
The next day.
The day of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering quarterfinals finally dawned.
There were many outstanding Rising Stars even before the quarterfinals, but the remaining eight were the real deal.
If the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering up until now was a mere warm-up, from here on out, it would be a true trial of skill.
And…
“Everyone move! This is the seat I saved!”
“Hey man! Where is the sense in that!”
…Knowing this, an incomparably larger crowd than before gathered at the Murim Alliance Sparring Arena.
“Wow…, there are so many people…”
Feeling a bit amazed, I observed the people gathered in the Spectator Stands.
“10 silver taels on Peng Ji-Sang!”
“20 silver taels on Namgung Wi-Jun!”
“100 silver taels on Mount Hua’s Ha Jinseong!”
Among them were those who jumped into gambling to make a fortune. As I enhanced my hearing and focused, it seemed to be a bet on who the winner would be.
At this, I couldn’t help but feel a bit regretful.
“I should have made some time to place a bet.”
Dongryong-i was going to win anyway, so if I bet money on Dongryong-i, wouldn’t I make an absolute fortune?
Lamenting the money I failed to earn, I approached the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering with a light heart.
However…
“…”
“…”
The others did not.
In particular, the Zhongnan Disciples who had gathered to cheer for me, Dongryong-i, and Chief Disciple Geum Sa-Hwi maintained stiff expressions and gave off a Solemn, motionless atmosphere.
The Serious atmosphere was the same for the other Sects.
The Mount Hua Sect, the Namgung Family, the Hebei Peng Family, and the Shanxi Yu Family seen in the distance were all taking care of their participants and maintaining a Serious atmosphere.
But then, something caught my eye that bothered me.
From the quarterfinals onward, Sect Leaders and Family Heads would often come down from the Sect Leader’s Seat to join their disciples and encourage their Participants.
The Zhongnan Sect Leader did so, and the Sect Leaders of other Sects and noble families were also with their respective disciples.
But wasn’t the Shanxi Yu Family the only one where the Family Head was nowhere to be seen?
Feeling doubtful, I looked around…
“Could you see me for a moment?”
…The Sound Transmission reached my ears.
At the sudden call, I turned my head toward where the Sound Transmission came from, and there stood the Shanxi Yu Family Head, Yu Haseong.
* * *
“Hello. We meet again after just one day.”
“…”
I received permission from the Zhongnan Sect Leader and came to meet Yu Haseong.
Seeing him again after just a day, I noticed his face had become quite haggard.
It made sense.
Even after seeing the injustice of my deceiving the Zhongnan Sect Leader right in front of his eyes, this person stood by and watched instead of exposing it.
No? It wasn’t just standing by.
At this point, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say Yu Haseong had vouched for my and Dongryong-i’s identities.
So, as a Martial Artist of the Righteous Faction and the Family Head of a clan, his conscience must have been severely pricked.
“…I thought about it throughout last night.”
As if my guess was correct, a rather gloomy and tired voice flowed from Yu Haseong’s mouth.
He must have agonized over it all night.
“As you said, I will keep quiet about your identities during the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.”
It seemed he had finally made his decision.
Then again, having even faced the Zhongnan Sect Leader yesterday, he would find revealing the truth a difficult task now from his position.
“You made a good choice.”
The person who knew my identity had most certainly agreed to keep it a secret.
With this, Dongryong-i and I would be able to participate in the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering more comfortably.
I cheered inwardly and nodded.
But then…
“However, I have a condition.”
“A condition…?”
Yu Haseong glared, as if this wasn’t the end of it.
“No matter how well a secret is kept, you cannot cover the sky with your Palm. Eventually, your identities will be discovered.”
“Well…, I suppose so?”
I had no intention of living as a Zhongnan Disciple forever anyway.
Even if the Murim Alliance was corrupt, it wasn’t entirely incompetent, and someday it would realize I wasn’t a Zhongnan Disciple.
“When that time comes…, you must Take Responsibility so that the Zhongnan Sect can avoid blame as much as possible.”
“Hmm?”
So what he was saying was…, I should highlight that Zhongnan was also a victim and take the fall even for Zhongnan’s crime of failing to recognize their own Disciple?
“Is this his last shred of conscience?”
Although the Shanxi Yu Family and Zhongnan had no close ties, he must have felt immense guilt over deceiving the Zhongnan Sect Leader yesterday.
At Yu Haseong’s request…
“Sure, why not.”
…I readily nodded.
I didn’t exactly have any ill feelings toward Zhongnan either. No? Far from ill feelings, I actually had a favorable impression of Zhongnan.
Honestly, I didn’t like the Sect called Zhongnan that much at first, but sleeping and eating under the same roof seemed to have built up some affection.
I didn’t want a situation where Zhongnan fell into a crisis because of me, either.
“Even if my identity is revealed, I’ll somehow set up the situation so that Zhongnan can avoid responsibility as much as possible.”
“Right…, then that is a relief at least…”
Yu Haseong nodded weakly and continued.
“…My business ends here.”
“Thank you for cooperating.”
Honestly, the person here I was most worried about was this man, Yu Haseong.
This Mister was truly an upright person who could be called the epitome of the Righteous Faction.
I had been completely at a loss as to how on Earth I should persuade him, so it was a relief that things went so smoothly.
When I bowed my head slightly in gratitude, his stern voice immediately followed.
“Cooperating? I may be keeping quiet about you, but you are mistaken if you think it is cooperation.”
“Eh? What are you talking about? Why the sudden change of tune…”
“It is because our Shanxi Yu Family has not given up on the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.”
Swish-.
And he pointed with his finger as he spoke…
“Waaaaah-!!”
“Shanxi Yu Family-!! Shanxi Yu Family-!!”
…was Yoo Somyung, who was just entering the Sparring Arena to fight her quarterfinal match.
“If you want to win the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, you will have to beat my daughter first.”
“Haha…, you’re overestimating your daughter quite a bit, aren’t you?”
In Yu Haseong’s eyes, something like faith and hope toward Somyung-i lingered.
‘What’s this, did Somyung-i gain some sort of enlightenment or something?’
I scoffed at Yu Haseong.
It was only natural; no matter how much she had grown, there was no way someone at Somyung-i’s level could beat me.
I might have considered a one-in-a-million chance of losing to the original Protagonist if I acted like a careless fool, but I had never even imagined losing to Somyung-i.
Honestly, at her current level, even if Somyung-i came back after consuming a feast of elixirs like the Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng, Great Restoration Pill, Purple Cloud Pill, and Supreme Purity Pill, she couldn’t beat me.
“In the first place, for Young Lady Yu to meet me, she has to beat my Subordinate in the semifinals, but she’ll probably get stuck there, right? Ah, maybe she’ll even lose to some other guy in the quarterfinals right now?”
“…I advise you not to look down on my daughter. The child you knew and the current Somyung-i will be a little different.”
“Ah, yes, yes. I will engrave the Great Hero’s advice deep in my heart.”
I let out a loud laugh and returned to my seat.
* * *
After finishing my conversation with Yu Haseong, I immediately returned and sat next to Dongryong-i.
“Hey, how are the quarterfinals going?”
“Bo…, no, Senior Martial Brother! What were you talking about for so long? The quarterfinals started ages ago-!”
“It’s just a match between snot-nosed kids anyway. Why watch it so intently?”
“Bo…, no, Senior Martial Brother and I are different. I care.”
Since the winner there would become Dongryong-i’s opponent in the semifinals, it seemed Dongryong-i couldn’t help but keep his eyes on it.
At that, I followed Dongryong-i’s gaze and observed the Sparring Match.
One side was naturally Somyung-i, and the opponent was…
Clang-!!
…The Namgung Family?
Upon seeing the Sword Formula loaded with a heavy sense of weight behind a refreshing Swift Sword, one could tell he was quite good.
“Ooooh-!!”
“As expected of the Namgung Family’s Namgung Wi-Jun-!!”
“Ah.”
Only after hearing the cheers of the audience was I able to recall the guy named Namgung Wi-Jun.
True to the Namgung Family, he comes off as a rude brat at first, but later on, he at least pulls his weight in the Righteous-Demonic War.
I think the one the Protagonist met in the finals of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering was that guy, Namgung Wi-Jun, in the Original Novel.
Looking at the way he swung his Sword, he definitely seemed to have surpassed the level of a Rising Star.
‘It’ll be tough for someone at Somyung-i’s level.’
Somyung-i would get stronger later on, but until she restored the lost Willow Flower Sword Art, she was just a well-known Rising Star.
In fact, she was currently being pushed back in the Sparring Match against that guy Namgung Wi-Jun.
“Is this as far as Somyung-i goes?”
Just as I was thinking that…
“Hmm?”
…I flinched for a moment upon seeing the next scene.