“What's the matter?”

Seo Daeryong still had no idea what awaited him ahead.

“You must participate in the Little Dragon Tournament.”

Hearing the words ‘Little Dragon Tournament,’ Seo Daeryong was startled—so much so that I felt sorry. He asked in a trembling voice,

“Surely, the Little Dragon Tournament you mentioned isn’t the same one I know?”

“What kind of tournament do you know?”

“It’s the martial arts competition hosted by the Martial Alliance for late-stage righteous sect talents. With countless experts from the Martial Alliance and righteous sects gathering, outsiders and my own sect members aren’t even allowed to watch, let alone participate. Isn’t that right?”

“That sounds like the one.”

Seo Daeryong, who had been quietly staring at me, suddenly stood up and left the inn without looking back.

I didn’t stop him and ordered some light snacks and liquor from Jeomsoi. Since I’d been deeply immersed in mountain training, it had been ages since I last drank.

After a couple of drinks, Seo Daeryong returned.

“You’re not going to stop me?”

“Why would I? You’ll come back anyway.”

He poured himself a drink and gulped it down.

“This can’t be. What are you talking about?”

“You’re the only one.”

“That phrase is used by ruthless leaders when ordering their subordinates around. What do you mean only I’m the only one? There are many if you look carefully! Maybe even inside this inn?”

He thought about those around me who might be sent in his place and sighed, noting only strange people surrounded me.

“But it’s still not acceptable.”

Seo Daeryong downed another drink.

“You know who I am, right?”

“I do. A power-driven, cold-hearted man, but one who loves only one woman. When everyone else falls silent…”

“Enough!”

I skipped the rest and added the new part.

“…Still a coward who never faced Yeobin but remains my right hand. Now you’ll bravely compete in the Little Dragon Tournament too.”

“No way, how could I enter the tournament?”

“But I can’t go myself, can I?”

“No one will recognize me. This beard hides me perfectly!”

“A rookie’s disguise, huh? You say it’s a filthy beard?”

He sighed but found a way out. Lowering his voice, Seo Daeryong whispered,

“I haven’t fully learned Master’s techniques yet.”

“That’s good. You can’t stand out. You’ll have to fight with basic skills anyway.”

Someone like Seo Daeryong would have already mastered concealing his demonic energy, so his martial arts wouldn’t reveal him.

Lowering his head and radiating a dark aura, Seo Daeryong resisted, and I used a bold move.

“Alright, if you can’t do it, there’s no choice. You’ll fail the test your father gave you. The successor will be your older brother. I’ll probably be assassinated and dumped in some nameless field as prey for beasts. But I won’t blame you. I mean that.”

“I’ll probably die stabbed by the sword of some righteous sect guy I’ve never seen on the competition stage. My corpse will go to the disguised sect my main sect created. Who is this guy? I don’t know. Just a used fool who died. He looks small and gloomy. Feel sorry for him. Hurry and bury me. But I won’t blame the Elder. Truly.”

“When I become the Sect Leader someday, I’ll look back on today. Ah, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have become the Leader. Thank you.”

“Someday, I’ll sit with my grandson on my lap and recall today. Back then, because I stubbornly refused to enter that tournament, you guys are here.”

It was a fight between spear and shield, but no matter how much he resisted, the outcome was fixed.

“Ah, I’m really hopeless. Well, who can I blame? I was the one who wanted revenge on my senior when he first came to Cheon-gak, and the one who decided to learn Dao techniques.”

I poured him another drink.

“Thank you.”

“That’s enough. Life is about doing unpleasant things sometimes.”

“Those who say that only do what they want.”

“No! That’s what I should be saying!”

I knew it was a big decision—he hated taking the lead most.

“This will be a good experience for you as a warrior. Just the names—Little Dragon Tournament and Seo Daeryong—it’s fate, right? In the tournament, the Great Dragon ascends. If it were called the Small Tiger Tournament, I’d call Jangho.”

My silly joke made Seo Daeryong laugh.

“So this is the heir test?”

“Yes.”

“Precisely, what must we do?”

“There’s a guy called the Cheonmyeong Sect Leader. He’s planning a conspiracy using this tournament. He might approach participants, so you’re entering. Our goal is to catch him.”

“Of course we have to catch the villain.”

“Just like my right hand.”

Once decided, Seo Daeryong didn’t look back. Perhaps that was why I liked him—behind that small, gloomy appearance was unyielding determination.

I pulled out documents from my bosom.

“Here’s your new identity. Memorize it completely. You’re good at memorizing, so no worries.”

“What about you, Elder?”

“I’ll be your attendant and bodyguard.”

Joy flashed across Seo Daeryong’s face, but he tried to suppress it.

“Why do you like it?”

“Me? No way.”

“You smiled just now.”

“You must be mistaken.”

“You smiled.”

“Hey, you! I’m not the Elder, so stop teasing. Ah, just practicing.”

I laughed pleasantly at his joke.

“Today, memorize that first. Tomorrow, we’ll register for the tournament.”

We booked a large room with two beds.

As soon as we entered, Seo Daeryong tried to dust off my bedding.

“Don’t worry about me. Only think about yourself.”

“Is that okay?”

“I just gave you an order that could change your life. You can handle that. You can even pee on my blanket.”

“That’s my life to bear. Don’t think it’s bad. I never have, especially after meeting you.”

Hearing that, I was grateful.

After unpacking roughly, Seo Daeryong sat by the window, looking out worryingly.

“To get high enough to find out what the Cheonmyeong Sect Leader is planning, I’m worried I might be eliminated too early.”

I couldn’t predict results either, not knowing exactly the level of the tournament.

“Don’t worry. Elder Doma left you a plan.”

“Eh? What do you mean?”

I took out a small lucky pouch from my bosom.

“It’s a strategy pouch to open when you hit your limit.”

Seo Daeryong was startled, even more than when I told him he had to enter the tournament.

“Did Master really give you this?”

Honestly, I was surprised too. I never expected Blood Heaven Butcher to leave something like this.

“Did you see what’s written inside?”

“No. Why? Want to peek?”

“Absolutely not! If Master said to open it in a crisis, you open it then!”

Though curious, Seo Daeryong was deeply moved knowing Blood Heaven Butcher gave this for him. Looking outside, he seemed to want to bow to the distant Doma.

That night, Seo Daeryong tossed and turned, lost in thought.

The next morning, we had breakfast and headed toward the Martial Alliance.

In the distance, the grand building of the Martial Alliance headquarters appeared, along with a giant warrior statue modeled after a heroic guest.

The closer we got, the stranger I felt. Later, the Martial Alliance would also be swept by Hwamugi.

Would their fate change because I regressed? Or only the main sect’s fate? That remained unknown.

Seo Daeryong glanced at passing righteous female warriors.

“The righteous women are pretty, huh?”

“Definitely. I thought it was just a rumor.”

“Why not try dating one? Fated love between righteous women and demons!”

“Fun to watch, but must be tough for those involved.”

Though he said that, his eyes kept drifting toward the women.

The Little Dragon Tournament registration was held separately in a Martial Alliance annex.

Though the application period lasted nearly five days, the lines were long—countless late-stage righteous sect talents from all over Central Plains flocked.

We joined the queue to register.

While waiting, the warriors in front chatted about the tournament.

They said it wasn’t just the winner who was selected but also those in the final eight, all inducted into the Martial Alliance ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) elite organization.

One of them saw Seo Daeryong and me and smirked. Judging by our rustic appearance, he seemed to disdain us.

I asked Seo Daeryong so he could hear.

“Young master, confident you’ll win?”

Though his eyes screamed “Win? Suddenly?” his answer was firm.

“I’m confident.”

Those ahead exchanged glances and sneered, but didn’t openly confront or dismiss us.

After a long wait, our turn came.

“Name: Seo Ryong (徐龍). Sect: West Blade Sect of Gansu.”

This was an actual sect in Gansu, directly operated by Tongcheongak for such cases. Checking there would show a son named Seo Ryong who had left to participate in the tournament.

“About ten days from now, the match schedule will be posted at the Martial Alliance. Check the date and arena. Late arrival means automatic disqualification, so arrive early and wait.”

“Understood.”

After registering, we left the Martial Alliance.

“Did you see how those guys dismissed us? I’m seriously thinking of winning this outright.”

“Nothing stopping you.”

“Really? I’ve been number one since childhood. Don’t underestimate me!”

“I don’t. Go ahead and win.”

“Really gonna do it!”

From that day until the tournament, Seo Daeryong trained hard in the mountains. I didn’t help him, as he was learning from Blood Heaven Butcher and I didn’t want to interfere. I just trusted Doma’s teachings.

When Seo Daeryong left to train, I trained elsewhere so as not to disturb him.

I had trained hard before, but this time even harder. And this training brought me the best results.

“I did it!”

Finally, I reached the rank of Wind God’s Step.

Honestly, I was happier than when I had achieved the Twelve Stars Great Success in Flying Sword Technique.

Now, my Blink Step allowed me to escape danger faster, Shadow Step let me avoid eyes like an illusion, and the King’s Step was confirmed to be extremely lethal in the face of power.

And Swift Step became terrifyingly fast. Internal energy consumption decreased but spirit energy use doubled. It was so fast I even collided with a tree at first. Without the New Eye Technique, I wouldn’t have handled this speed in a wide plain.

Once I grew accustomed to this realm of steps, the final stepmaster of Wind God’s Step would say to me,

―“Isn’t it amazing? If the technique is like this, imagine what it’s like after Great Success. Come on, let’s push a bit more!”

I must hear that. Only then could I say,

―“You did well!”

He would surely say that.

Afterward, I would learn Fire Demon Martial Art and achieve Great Success there too.

I would continue striving even after mastering two martial arts.

If even then I couldn’t handle Hwamugi… then I would gladly die laughing.

The match schedule was announced.

My first fight would be the thirteenth match in the Crown Prince Group tomorrow. So many people applied that matches would be held simultaneously across dozens of Martial Alliance branches.

“If our sect held a tournament like this, would this many show up?”

“No way.”

“That’s the power of the righteous sects. There’d be at least ten times the numbers.”

Not only them—the number of reclusive masters was also far greater among righteous sects.

That was why no one should recklessly start a war with the Martial Alliance headquarters. Even if they pushed all the way, the real war would begin that day.

While eating with Seo Daeryong, we chatted when Jeomsoi hurried over.

“Sorry to bother you, but could you share this table? Due to the Little Dragon Tournament, guests are flooding in.”

“Sure.”

“Thank you.”

Soon a woman wearing a death hood joined us.

When she sat and took off the hood, I was shocked. It was someone I knew.

A woman whose status made it impossible to share a table in an inn, cold and intelligent beauty called Hubei’s One Beauty, and a master with outstanding martial skills. Astonishingly, she was the Martial Alliance Leader’s granddaughter, Jin Haryeong.