Jin Ha-ryeong was being chased by someone.

Unable to shake off the pursuer, she finally used lightness skill to climb up a tree. Hidden among the branches, she held her breath and didn’t make a sound.

The pursuer ran past the tree but suddenly stopped.

Like a beast catching a scent, the pursuer slowly turned around and looked up at the tree. The man’s face was empty like a monster’s.

She let out a scream — but no sound escaped her lips. She leapt away again.

As the distance closed, someone came running from ahead and brutally kicked the faceless pursuer’s face.

With a thud, the faceless tracker tumbled and disappeared.

The one who saved her had long flowing hair and a face full of beard. Where had she seen this man before?

At the next moment, she shouted.

“You’re that servant?”

The instant she realized he was the man she met at the inn, Jin Ha-ryeong’s eyes snapped open, waking from the dream. She actually uttered the last words aloud as she woke.

She normally didn’t dream much, but this strange dream was a first.

Had she been chased all night? She was soaked in sweat.

Setting the nightmare aside, why had that man appeared to save her? Was it because she had mistaken the servant for his master that day, and it stuck in her mind?

She recalled the face of the bearded servant. A face she’d seen once but remembered clearly. The same face from her dream. Since she usually didn’t remember faces well, it was a fresh experience for the servant’s face to come so vividly to mind.

“Are you alright?”

Outside came the voice of Choo-ho, the bodyguard warrior.

“I’m fine. I had a nightmare.”

“It’s because you’re on edge from the Martial Arts Tournament.”

“Probably.”

“Don’t worry too much. No one can beat the young lady.”

“I’ll rest more, so don’t bother me today.”

“Understood.”

But shortly after, secretly leaving without Choo-ho knowing, she entered the inn where she had eaten noodles.

Inside, the inn was packed with guests. Due to the tournament, everywhere was bustling with people.

Her eyes caught sight of a man drinking alone in the corner. It was the servant from her dream. She’d come thinking he might be here — and he was.

Today wasn’t about the noodles. She wanted to meet that servant, to check if he was really the kind of person who could appear in a dream.

But soon she shook her head and laughed quietly.

How ridiculous was it to come all this way just to meet a servant from some backwater sect because he appeared in her dream? As she turned to leave, someone called her from behind.

“Here for noodles?”

Turning around, the servant stood and looked at her.

That drew the attention of the people around. Some who recognized her were surprised. Thinking people might find it strange if she just turned and left, she calmly walked to the servant’s table and sat opposite him.

After sitting down, she ordered noodles and alcohol.

“I thought you wouldn’t share a table with me.”

“Why?”

“Because last time you found out I was a servant.”

“Do you mean you wouldn’t sit with a servant because I’m noble?”

“Isn’t that so?”

Her slight smile at his blunt question made the servant’s expression annoying, so she added,

“The reason isn’t because you’re a servant, but because you’re uncomfortable. You couldn’t eat properly with me sitting across.”

“Oh, then I’m relieved. I’m not uncomfortable at all.”

A servant so confident in front of the granddaughter of the martial alliance leader?

‘By now, he must know who I am.’

She’d never experienced anyone like him before. Even heirs of prestigious orthodox sects act cautiously around her and wouldn’t dare ask such sensitive questions.

“You always go alone.”

In truth, she didn’t get along well with people, regardless of whether he was a servant or not.

She preferred being alone and didn’t even like conversing with others. So it felt strange that she came this far to talk with someone.

Perhaps her unconscious had sensed something special in this man, {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} causing that dream.

She glanced at him. His hair was messy, his beard unkempt, really nothing impressive.

‘What a stupid dream.’

Whether he knew it or not, the man treated her comfortably.

“Oh, our young master also made it to the finals.”

She’d heard the rumors too. Choo-ho had told her that the young master unexpectedly qualified for the finals. That sect was probably a rustic group that trained without knowing the world. So it made sense they qualified for the finals. Just from this naive young man, she could guess the atmosphere of that sect.

“The young master might face So-jeo. Did you know some have died in the finals? Please take good care of our young master!”

“For a martial artist to die on the fighting stage is an honorable death.”

“Isn’t that an unfair death rather than an honorable one?”

“What do you mean?”

“For martial artists, there’s no safer place than the fighting stage, right? There are rules, judges, and spectators, so no ambushes. But if someone dies on the fighting stage? That’s an unfair death, isn’t it?”

She thought it sounded like a sophism but had no comeback, as she’d never thought that way before.

“You sound like a martial artist.”

“I also learned swordsmanship.”

“You found a good master. Teaching swordsmanship even to a servant.”

“Yes, a truly scary person. Probably the scariest in the world.”

Jin Ha-ryeong sneered inside. How many people had he met to say that? Had he even met a truly scary person? Well, maybe his master was the scariest in that countryside.

Her gaze shifted to the sword hanging at the servant’s waist.

“Why is the scabbard wrapped in cloth?”

It was wrapped tightly with common cotton fabric. Usually, this meant one of two things: either a wandering swordsman protected the scabbard from scratches while traveling rough terrain, or the sword was precious and hidden.

“To look cool.”

“Then shouldn’t it be wrapped in fine silk?”

“It’s cooler because it’s not silk. The key is looking effortlessly unpretentious.”

Seeing her dumbfounded, the man took it further.

“I heard Dongho in this area is very beautiful. Would you show me around sometime?”

No sane person would say that to him. A mere servant shouldn’t say such things to anyone.

Why did she just stay silent?

Because he appeared in a dream? No. It was probably because she didn’t want to become a rude person who mistreated someone of low status. Her grandfather hated it when his children or grandchildren were the subject of such rumors. Yes, that must be why.

“Then I’ll definitely show you another scenic spot I know.”

Did he really believe a moment like that would come? Having shared a table twice, he acted as if they’d go sightseeing together.

She sighed. Coming here was her mistake.

“What’s your name?”

She asked angrily. It was a question with the emotion of, “Hey, what’s your name?”

“Just call me servant~”

This guy, really to the end!

“That sounds too rude.”

“My name is Geom-yeon (劍煙). Yeon as in smoke, not fate. I’m here now, but like smoke, I’ll disappear soon.”

Then the man smiled slyly. Jin Ha-ryeong thought this servant had some nerve.

At that moment, someone called her name as he approached.

“Ha-ryeong.”

It was Song Tae-gun (宋泰君), son of the Cheongryongdan leader and her only childhood friend. Seeing him made her secretly flustered.

“Here for noodles.”

Song Tae-gun knew well that she liked noodles here.

“How did you know I was here?”

“Passing by, some guests talked about you being here. And I see you escaped from bodyguard Choo-ho.”

Song Tae-gun looked at the man with her and asked,

“Who is this?”

Jin Ha-ryeong was at a loss how to introduce him.

Then the man bowed and greeted him.

“I’m Geom-yeon from the Gam-sook Seodo sect. My senior brother made it to the finals.”

“Oh! If you’re from Seodo sect, your senior brother must be Seo-ryong?”

“Correct.”

“I heard he’s causing a stir in this tournament. It’s an honor to meet a disciple from such a great sect.”

“My senior brother is impressive. I only cheer outside the fighting stage.”

“But your senior brother looks much greater than you.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re sitting here with this friend, right? Do you know how hard that is? Even I, a long-time friend, find it difficult.”

Then Jin Ha-ryeong said to him,

“Stop talking nonsense and go. See you later.”

Though he wanted to stay longer, Song Tae-gun smiled and said goodbye as Jin Ha-ryeong gave off a cold aura.

“Let’s drink sometime.”

“Sure.”

After Song Tae-gun left, Jin Ha-ryeong coldly pressed,

“Why did you lie about being a disciple? Why? Were you embarrassed to be found sitting with a servant?”

Honestly, she had felt that way. When Song Tae-gun asked who he was, she hesitated to introduce him as a servant. The question struck a nerve, and she felt ashamed.

“Strictly speaking, it’s not a lie. I’m a servant, but I also learned martial arts in one sect, so I’m a disciple too.”

“That sophistry is enough.”

Jin Ha-ryeong stood up and left.

That night, she had another nightmare.

This time, she was hanging off a cliff when the servant appeared again and reached out to save her.

Waking at dawn, Jin Ha-ryeong looked at her hands. The sensation of holding Geom-yeon’s hand was vivid, like a prophetic dream.

“Crazy woman, why do you keep doing this?”

She knew the answer. Of course. Because she was doing something she never had before.

She pulled the blanket over her and lay down again but couldn’t fall asleep easily.

Seo Daeryong’s first opponent in the finals was the heir of the famous Zhangping Sword family from Fujian.

“Want to practice with me?”

“With the sect leader?”

He was surprised to be asked to practice for the first time.

“It would be an honor.”

“Follow me.”

I took Seo Daeryong to the mountain where I used to train.

“The place you found to practice is definitely different from mine. How did you find a place like this?”

The wide area was enclosed on all sides with only one entrance. Focusing on just one access point made it perfect for martial arts training.

“Come train here from now on.”

“No. You should train more than me, sect leader. The difference in training quality is like heaven and earth.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes?”

“I think your training— risking your life at the fighting tournament— is far more valuable than mine. If you’re heaven and I’m earth, I admit it.”

“Thanks for saying that, but it won’t change much. Even if it did, I wouldn’t feel good about it.”

That’s what a right-hand man should be like. It’s not about being stronger or weaker. Someone you can have honest words with, who speaks their mind freely. At least the right hand.

“Have you seen the heir of Zhangping Sword family fight?”

“Yes. He fights very well.”

“Objectively, you’re outmatched.”

“I suppose so if the sect leader says so.”

I nodded honestly. The difference in training time was insurmountable. Plus, I hadn’t fully inherited Blood Heaven Butcher’s martial arts and couldn’t freely display demonic energy. It was a tough fight.

“Now, I’ll imitate Zhangping Sword’s techniques, so treat me as your opponent.”

“Yes!”

I copied the heir’s swordsmanship and fought Seo Daeryong as if I were him.

Seo Daeryong lost again and again. I didn’t hold back, and after each bout, his body grew more bruised. He faced life-threatening moments but didn’t give up.

“One more time, please.”

Seo Daeryong tried all kinds of methods, this way and that. He exhausted every option.

I silently kept sparring, waiting for him to find his own answer. I didn’t reveal the way to win.

Even if he lost, he had to find the solution himself. The mission was important, but this moment was a turning point in ‘martial artist Seo Daeryong’s’ life.

We practiced all night. Seo Daeryong was exhausted but had a look in his eyes never seen before.

Then, before the finals’ fourth bout, I forced Seo Daeryong to sleep.

He said he was too nervous to sleep but fell asleep the moment he lay down.

I woke Seo Daeryong half an hour before the fight.

“Feeling refreshed?”

“Yes. I feel alive. But what should I do?”

“What?”

“I dreamed I lost the fight.”

Seeing Seo Daeryong’s frowning face, I smiled and said,

“Come on, let’s go see if that dream was nonsense or a premonition.”