Jin Haryeong ordered noodles and alcohol.

She had come alone, but for some reason ordered two bowls of noodles.

Her expressionless face and quiet tone made people tense—both Jeomsoi, who took the order, and Seo Daeryong sitting across from her, avoided meeting her eyes directly.

Yet she had a knack for spotting those who didn’t feel nervous around her.

Our eyes met briefly, and a faint intrigue flickered in hers. Few could calmly meet her gaze like that.

But she quickly averted her eyes elsewhere.

Seo Daeryong’s whispered voice floated over.

―“She’s really beautiful. Righteous sect women really are stunning.”

Though aware of Seo Daeryong’s sneaky glances, she paid no mind, as if this was an everyday occurrence.

Soon, the alcohol and two bowls of noodles arrived.

As she reached to pour a drink, Seo Daeryong summoned courage.

“I’ll pour you a glass.”

Jin Haryeong looked at Seo Daeryong intently.

“No hidden meaning. Just since we share this table, it feels like fate.”

But without a word, she poured and drank alone.

A whispered self-reproach followed.

―“Ah, that sounded so cliché, didn’t it? Saying it’s fate just because we share a table! Ah! Even my grandfather wouldn’t say that.”

Setting down her glass, Jin Haryeong asked me,

“Are you participating in the Little Dragon Tournament?”

I glanced at her briefly before answering, looking to Seo Daeryong,

“Our young master is participating.”

“Young master?”

“Yes. I serve as his attendant.”

Jin Haryeong looked surprised, alternating her gaze between me and Seo Daeryong, as if to say, “You’re the young master and he’s the attendant?” Seo Daeryong scolded me for no reason.

“He’s growing a beard, that’s why. You there! Doesn’t that messy beard confuse you about who’s who?”

“Sorry, young master.”

She soon disregarded the exchange and began eating her noodles.

Seo Daeryong’s whispered voice came again.

―“Now that I look again, she’s not that great.”

I inwardly laughed at Seo Daeryong’s pout.

At that moment, a man in his early thirties entered the inn. His aura and stride showed he was a formidable expert, apparently Jin Haryeong’s bodyguard.

“I’ve been looking for you a long time.”

“Sit down.”

“You must leave now.”

“Sit for now. This isn’t just our table.”

The man quickly surveyed us and sat beside her.

Jin Haryeong pushed the noodles toward him.

“Eat. The noodles here are delicious.”

She had ordered two bowls because she expected this man to come.

“I’m fine.”

“I’m not fine. Eat quickly.”

“Yes.”

The man began eating briskly, finishing the noodles and broth quickly.

If Ian were here, he’d understand the man; bodyguards inevitably develop the habit of eating fast.

Then Jin Haryeong said to him,

“If you eat that fast, you’ll have a stomachache and die before you get stabbed.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re fine, but I’m always the one who’s not.”

The man stood and urged her.

“You must go now. Someone’s looking for you.”

“Yes, I must.”

Jin Haryeong drained her drink, rose, and left with him.

As she disappeared into the distance, Seo Daeryong said wistfully,

“She came like fate, ate noodles, and left.”

“But you said she wasn’t that great?”

“That’s just my narrow mind. She’s not bad. She’s the prettiest woman I’ve seen here.”

“That woman is forbidden.”

“Why? Because I look like an attendant? Right?”

“No matter how long you grow your beard, this handsome me can’t be denied.”

“Why not me, Elder?”

“Because the love between the Son of Cheonma and the Martial Alliance Leader’s granddaughter is too destined.”

Seo Daeryong was surprised when he heard “Martial Alliance Leader’s granddaughter.”

“Martial Alliance Leader’s granddaughter?”

“Yes.”

“Why would the Martial Alliance Leader’s granddaughter eat noodles in an inn? And share a table?”

“I don’t know either. Maybe she got tired of the expensive banquet, or wanted noodles from this place.”

“Ah, life is truly unpredictable. Who would’ve thought I’d share a table with the Martial Alliance Leader’s granddaughter in an inn in front of the Martial Alliance?”

“And that’s not all. You’ll fight the Martial Alliance Leader’s granddaughter in the tournament.”

Seo Daeryong was even more shocked.

“What do you mean?”

“She’s entering the Little Dragon Tournament too.”

Seo Daeryong’s eyes widened.

That’s why I remembered this tournament so clearly—it was the event that announced her name to everyone.

She was the winner.

At the time, it seemed ordinary. A Martial Alliance Leader’s granddaughter winning a competition among late-stage talents was not too surprising.

But now I know. The Cheonmyeong Sect was behind this tournament.

Her fate soon shocked the world, and this tournament was the starting point.

“Win, Investigator Seo.”

Seo Daeryong, sensing my sincerity, drank the liquor before him.

“You say things I can’t answer when sober.”

The next day was Seo Daeryong’s first fight.

Dozens of arenas were set up at the Martial Alliance’s annex, each crowded with participants and spectators.

Despite the crowds, fights proceeded orderly.

The Martial Alliance gave off an imposing presence. Also, the fighters were from the Qinglong Corps, an elite organization, so there were no quarrels or disturbances.

A guard managing Seo Daeryong’s Crown Prince Group came to give instructions.

“Anyone who intentionally injures or kills their opponent is immediately disqualified. They may also be imprisoned. This fight is fair and life is not on the line.”

Seo Daeryong’s first opponent was a swordsman from a Hubei sword sect, solidly built with sharp eyes.

“I’m so nervous I could die.”

“Were you this nervous during the investigator promotion test at Cheon-gak?”

“Not at all then.”

“Same thing, right? You worked hard for this.”

Seo Daeryong looked at me wide-eyed.

“I know you trained harder than anyone. That’s why you’re here. Otherwise, I’d have grown a bigger beard and gone myself.”

My words strengthened him, and he nodded vigorously.

“I’ll win.”

Seo Daeryong knocked his opponent down in just three moves without drawing his sword.

“That was too easy.”

“Don’t forget whose disciple you are.”

Seo Daeryong finally had a chance to objectively see his skills. He didn’t yet realize how important that was for him.

Then a fight official came to say,

“There will be another fight in the afternoon, so don’t leave.”

Since it was early in the tournament, they held two fights a day.

“If you’re injured in the morning, you fight injured in the afternoon. They’re testing endurance too?”

“Not really. The schedule’s just tight.”

“Don’t underestimate the righteous sect’s spirit!”

“Yes, young master! Burn your spirit!”

Seo Daeryong easily won the afternoon fight too, again without drawing his sword.

“How does it feel to win continuously on the first day?”

“Good.”

Though he’d been learning diligently from Blood Heaven Butcher, Seo Daeryong had never fought in actual matches before.

“I was very nervous before going up, but once on the stage, not so much. It was a strange experience.”

“Told you it’d be good experience.”

“I never regretted listening to you, Elder.”

“Go rest.”

“And you?”

“I’ll look around.”

“Okay, I’ll go first.”

After sending Seo Daeryong off, I toured the fight arenas.

Matches were still ongoing everywhere.

Then I noticed one arena unusually crowded with spectators.

Approaching, I saw Jin Haryeong on the stage.

Known as the Martial Alliance Leader’s granddaughter and Hubei’s Most Beautiful, she was the center of attention. People discussed her.

“But why is the Alliance Leader’s granddaughter competing?”

“Even the granddaughter doesn’t get a free pass. If you want to enter the Alliance, you have to prove yourself.”

“Right. Jin Sojeo’s brother won the tournament a few years ago and entered the Martial Alliance.”

“Indeed! Our Alliance Leader is fair and just.”

Jin Haryeong subdued her opponent without drawing her sword.

Cheers followed as she stepped down, never giving a glance to anyone. Her proud demeanor thrilled the crowd.

After seeing other matches, I returned to the inn.

Seo Daeryong went back to the mountains to train and returned late at night. Though he won easily today, he seemed concerned about upcoming matches.

“As I said, I can’t stand not being first. If I don’t enter, I won’t regret it; if I do, I /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ must do my best.”

His determination didn’t come from nowhere; it was forged through effort.

The next day Seo Daeryong won again.

“Did you even watch my match?”

“There was an interesting fight on another arena.”

“Who? Surely not the Martial Alliance Leader’s granddaughter?”

“Yes.”

I watched Jin Haryeong’s fight again. Considering Seo Daeryong’s skills, he might face her someday—though in different groups for now. If he wins his group and advances, they could meet.

There was a more important reason to watch her: she was the target and center of the Cheonmyeong Sect’s conspiracy. Surely, she’d be the gateway leading to me.

“What if I meet a tough opponent?”

“Did you just run? You studied your opponent. You attacked the left weakness and won, right?”

“How did you know?”

“By watching him walk.”

I eased Seo Daeryong’s excitement. Now was the time I should be impressed by him.

“Feel good winning?”

“Honestly, it’s amazing!”

“Well done.”

Seo Daeryong’s joy was unmistakable.

“Do you know when I feel best? Surprisingly, not when I knock down my opponent. It’s when I leave the stage after the fight. Being looked at, cheered, and applauded made me more nervous and excited. I realized I’m someone who really cares about others’ eyes.”

“The better you get, the more you want to be seen.”

“Really?”

“Think about it. Imagine someone becomes the greatest in the world. Would they like that they beat the former greatest? Or that from that day, everyone respects and looks up to them?”

Imagine arriving somewhere with people shouting, ‘Here comes the world’s greatest!’ Imagine meeting everyone’s admiring and envious eyes. Imagine always hearing the drums of victory and cheers.

“People’s hearts are all the same. Or maybe the better you get, the stronger and more primal your desires become. Do you think the greatest has a broader heart? Really? Would you believe people treat you like that? Can you avoid falling into that trap? Do you have the resolve to bury that pettiness that no longer needs hiding?”

After a pause, Seo Daeryong asked,

“But Elder, you’re not like that, right? You’re not.”

“Why would you think I’m not? I’m human too. I just try not to be.”

“Talking to you like this feels great. I finally feel like a true warrior. My heart hasn’t raced like this in ages. I sincerely apologize for insisting on not entering the tournament.”

But Seo Daeryong’s mood changed the very next day.

“I almost died! Not exaggerating! I told you I wouldn’t do it! I want to go home!”

“It’s just a scratch. You’ll be fine.”

“A scratch? Can’t you see this blood? If I hadn’t narrowly dodged, there’d be a hole in my shoulder this big! And the sword was huge.”

“Your opponent still can’t stand.”

The man who caused Seo Daeryong’s shoulder to bleed was unconscious and still dazed.

“I don’t know, please send me home! I have to water the plants!”

Seo Daeryong’s mood improved the following day.

He was getting the attention he wanted beneath the fighting stage.

Even when walking, many glanced at him and whispered among themselves.

“What’s this?”

“That guy was a favorite to win the Crown Prince Group yesterday. Thanks to that, you’re one of the people to watch in this tournament.”

He inherited the attention of the opponent he had barely defeated.

“Don’t look at me; the one in blue on the right did. Twice! Oh, she’s looking again.”

“Still, you should walk faster.”

Seo Daeryong enjoyed the gazes, walking slowly.

“Look, the women on the far left seem to be whispering about me.”

“To me, it looks like they’re deciding what to eat.”

Then a young woman with a sword ran up and greeted Seo Daeryong.

“I saw your match yesterday. Good luck today, too.”

She bowed and left.

Seo Daeryong stared blankly after her retreating figure.

“Elder.”

“Yes?”

“Did you pay people to cheer me up?”

“No, I’d like to say yes because you’re so full of yourself, but no.”

“Really? It feels like a dream.”

Seo Daeryong was truly happy. It was the first time a woman came to show such favor.

I hoped he would savor the joy and excitement. He would never forget these fights.

I hope Seo Daeryong will someday sit with his grandson on his lap and recount these days. Starting with “You wouldn’t believe it, but when I was young…”

“Let’s go! Win!”

Thanks to the woman’s encouragement, Seo Daeryong kept winning, ultimately taking first place in the Crown Prince Group and advancing to the main tournament, where the top from each group competed.

“I’ll go all the way!”

He was burning with passion beyond his mission. This was one of those rare, thrilling moments in life. More exciting and precious than becoming the world’s greatest in old age. Burn bright, Great Dragon.