The second main round began.

From thirty-two competitors, only sixteen remained, and the heat of the So-ryong-jeon grew even fiercer. Now only late-stage candidates who had made names for themselves in their own regions and neighboring areas remained.

“All right, then I’ll ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) win for the Martial Alliance Leader!”

Seo Daeryong said jokingly, but there was resolve behind his words.

His opponent this time was Lee Hyu from the Shandong Lee family.

Sword technique versus sword technique.

Seo Daeryong was actually more confident about this match than his previous duel.

“Strangely, facing sword techniques feels more comfortable than other martial arts. Why do you think that is?”

Since he was learning the sword techniques passed down by the Blood Heaven Butcher, he naturally had a high understanding of swordsmanship. So comparatively, sword techniques felt easier.

“You’re just getting careless, young master.”

“No, absolutely not.”

Seo Daeryong waved his hand dismissively. It was unfair to say he was careless. He was training like someone born for this tournament.

“You saw Lee Hyu fight, right? He’s no pushover. Don’t get complacent.”

“I understand.”

Though he said that, I expected Seo Daeryong to win this match. His opponent’s sword style was at a disadvantage compared to Seo Daeryong’s.

As I predicted, Seo Daeryong won without much difficulty.

Waving to the cheering warriors, Seo Daeryong stepped down from the martial stage.

“Finally, I made it to the top eight!”

Now Seo Daeryong would be selected for the Martial Alliance’s elite forces.

“Too bad. Now he has the chance to live a new life.”

“Want to stay? If you want to remain a spy, Tongcheongak would welcome you with open arms.”

“A spy?”

“Someone who hides their identity and works inside enemy lines. A genius mind admitted as the top in Hwangcheong Gak! And combined with martial arts, the best spy! How about that?”

“The Martial Alliance Leader already knows my and the young master’s identities, right?”

“You remembered?”

“Don’t even think about leaving me behind! Being the young master’s right hand is better than winning. Even if you win the So-ryong-jeon or the World’s Greatest Martial Arts Tournament, the right-hand position is better.”

“Is that really so?”

“Of course.”

“Now imagine this! You become the world’s greatest martial artist. All martial artists respect you. Even then, you’d prefer to be my right hand?”

“Yes.”

“Even the Ma Jons you fear smile at you. You accidentally stepped on Geukak Soma’s foot, and he says, ‘It happens, shall I step on this foot too?’ How about that?”

“Yes! Still better to be your right hand.”

“The beauties of the martial world line up just to meet you once. Even then?”

“You’d still look cool as a one-armed warrior, young master.”

I burst out laughing, and Seo Daeryong laughed along. He was more absorbed in martial arts than women these days, so the joke was actually funny. Who would send such an adorable Seo Daeryong away?

“Just go! If you’re not here, I’ll put Lord Jang in that right-hand position immediately.”

“Ah! I’m worried about giving it away.”

With Seo Daeryong’s advancement to the top eight, we left the martial arena.

The next day, as Jin Haryeong was about to ascend the stage, her guard Chuho asked,

“Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

Hearing his concern, Jin Haryeong turned her head.

“No. Why?”

“You just don’t look well.”

She was actually feeling down.

Since the banquet hosted by her grandfather, she had not met with either Geomyeon or Josin.

If someone like Josin bore a grudge, killing a person would be nothing. If killed without leaving evidence, even with suspicion, his guilt could not be proven. And no one would care about the death of a mere servant in this world.

Honestly, she wanted to smash Josin until he begged for mercy. But she couldn’t because of her grandfather. As long as he was the leader, any trouble she caused would fall on him to fix. So, she endured.

She could endure Josin, but some things were harder to endure. It was strange how the heart worked: when she saw him comfortably, she thought nothing of it, but when she couldn’t meet him, she oddly missed him. What was good about that arrogant servant who often embarrassed people?

As she stepped onto the martial stage, cheers erupted from all around.

“Hubei’s Number One Beauty! Jin Haryeong! Hubei’s Number One Beauty! Jin Haryeong!”

“Cheer up, Jin Sojeo!”

“We adore you, Jin Sojeo!”

“Win for sure!”

“Let’s eat noodles!”

“Win the championship, Jin Sojeo!”

She clearly heard the strange yet welcome words mixed in the cheers.

Her gaze swept over the warriors. Wherever she looked, cheers burst forth. Those moved by Hubei’s Number One Beauty looking at them shouted her name loudly.

Among them, she found Geommugeuk. She nodded to him—a signal to eat noodles together.

That day, contrary to Chuho’s worries, she displayed more splendid skill than ever. Her sword was swift and precise, her footwork elegant beyond compare.

She won a dazzling victory that thrilled the crowd and advanced to the top eight.

Geommugeuk was already waiting at the guesthouse.

“Congratulations on your victory.”

Instead of accepting congratulations, Jin Haryeong said firmly,

“We shouldn’t meet.”

“Why not?”

“Don’t you know? Because it would put you in danger.”

“Then why did you come?”

“That’s...”

She hesitated briefly, then unexpectedly said,

“Because of a promise.”

“What promise?”

“You’ll see when we get there.”

She took Geommugeuk out of the guesthouse.

“Do you know how to use lightness skill?”

“Do I know how? Of course.”

“No, I mean riding a horse.”

She felt she had asked an unnecessary question. Geommugeuk followed her lead.

“Can you ride a horse?”

“Usually, servants lead the horses, but the servant you see is special. He rides well.”

They borrowed two horses and rode out.

They went to Dongho east of the Martial Alliance.

“You asked me to show you this place before, right?”

“You remembered that?”

“We didn’t talk that much to forget, did we?”

She thought to herself,

‘Why did we have so many talks to cause such a fuss? Fuss in front of grandfather, fuss in front of Josin, and now even here.’

She looked at Geommugeuk. His hair was still tangled and hanging loose, his face obscured by a beard, and his clothes worn and dirty. What was so good about this person?

Then Geommugeuk said,

“Shall we go over there?”

“Where? Why?”

“From that hill, the view looks even better.”

At the spot Geommugeuk took her to, Jin Haryeong was genuinely impressed.

“It’s really beautiful!”

It was a perfect place overlooking Dongho’s beauty at a glance.

“How did you know this place?”

“Servants usually know the good spots.”

Jin Haryeong thought, “I really can’t figure this person out.”

The two stood silently for a while, immersed in Dongho’s beauty.

Jin Haryeong broke the silence.

“You will enter the Martial Alliance as a young master. Normally, you’d be left behind, right?”

“Why do you keep trying to send me away? I will stay with the young master.”

Jin Haryeong looked at Geommugeuk. He spoke as if his mind was already made up.

“By saying in front of everyone that you’re dating me, Jin Sojeo has done all she needed to do. What remains is my choice.”

“It will be dangerous.”

“How did you feel when your grandfather tried to force marriage?”

“I hated it.”

“Me too. I hate anyone interfering with my life.”

“I hate it, but I won’t die.”

“A hateful marriage might be more painful than dying.”

“!”

After a pause, Jin Haryeong said,

“You’ve never been married, though.”

“I’ve seen someone truly suffer. Don’t worry about me.”

“I don’t understand why you’re a servant.”

“Then what do you think I am?”

After a pause, she extended her hand.

“The granddaughter’s friend. Let’s be friends.”

She didn’t realize her feelings. Why was she forging such a deep relationship with a mere servant?

“Isn’t Sojeo losing out too much?”

“Why measure gains and losses between friends? Then they’re not friends.”

Geommugeuk firmly grasped her hand.

“Friend of the granddaughter of the leader!”

“Friend of a servant!”

After shaking hands firmly, she said,

“If someone bothers you, tell them your friend is the Martial Alliance Leader’s granddaughter! Got it?”

“Got it.”

“I’ll brag about it too. My friend is the most special servant in the world.”

“When you need that servant friend someday, call on me. Maybe that special friend will do something unexpected.”

Jin Haryeong looked at Geommugeuk.

“You’re strange. I don’t think you’ll die. I don’t think you’ll get into trouble. I wonder how much I’ll regret it when Josin kills you later. What will I do then...?”

After returning from Dongho, they parted ways at the Infinite Entrance to avoid attention.

Geommugeuk was returning alone when someone blocked his path.

A venomous snake: Josin.

“Enjoy your outing?”

Geommugeuk faced him with a terrified expression. Until he figured out whether Josin had come only for the marriage or had some relation to Cheonmyeonghoe, he planned to watch how Josin behaved.

“You were so confident with her, why are you scared alone?”

“If you touch me, Jin Sojeo won’t just stand by.”

Feigning fear, Geommugeuk drew a mocking smile on Josin’s face.

“Hiding behind a woman like that, huh?”

Josin strode forward and grabbed Geommugeuk’s collar as he backed away.

“Because of a worthless guy like you, Jin Sojeo got defiled.”

Josin raised his hand to strike. Geommugeuk squeezed his eyes shut and pretended to be afraid.

“If you think you can’t kill me because I did that in front of the leader, you’re badly mistaken.”

“Spare me!”

Josin lowered his hand.

“I won’t kill you. Killing would be boring. I want to see Jin Sojeo regret it. I want to see her take off her rose-colored glasses and be disappointed in you. She’ll cling to me in the end.”

Geommugeuk knew it wasn’t just because of those reasons. If he died or disappeared, Jin Haryeong would never marry him.

Though he called the marriage “defilement,” he was planning it. The nature of that marriage was clear even without seeing it.

“If you don’t do as I say from now on, I’ll skin you and put you in a salt barrel. Got it?”

“Yes!”

“This evening, I’m hosting a banquet inviting late-stage candidates. Jin Sojeo is invited, so you come too. Clean up your hair and shave your beard. Use this money to buy the most expensive clothes you can.”

Josin thought Jin Haryeong liked this servant because of his unadorned appearance. It was the fantasy of young women—the plain man seeming more confident. But he planned to shatter that illusion today.

If the servant showed up wearing expensive clothes and trying to dress up, it would backfire. Then she’d think he was just like anyone else trying to impress her. Josin was determined to completely destroy the girl’s fantasy today.

“If you cooperate, I’ll spare your life. And later give you a big reward.”

“How much?”

“One hundred thousand nyang.”

The unexpected amount made Geommugeuk greedily widen his eyes.

“You must give it.”

“I always keep my promises. So do as you’re told.”

Josin felt secretly pleased.

“You trash!”

That made him much easier to manipulate.

Josin left with light steps, and Geommugeuk returned to his original demeanor from the coward act.

“Since he’s paying one hundred thousand nyang, he plans to kill me when this is over.”

He muttered to himself, but the hidden warrior heard it.

“Report every single word of this meeting to the leader without omission. This is very important to Jin Sojeo and the leader.”

Just hearing this report would let the Martial Alliance Leader understand Josin’s true intent.

“And tell him this too: when this matter is settled, I’m willing to take care of Josin as well. He’s a threat to Jin Sojeo. But the Martial Alliance can’t recklessly dispose of heirs from prestigious sects. Interests are tangled, so they’ll overlook it. Better to just leave it to me.”

The hidden warrior still gave no response.

That night, Jin Haryeong entered the manor.

Most of the invited late-stage candidates were already gathered. She absolutely didn’t want to come, but Josin invited her saying,

“That servant is invited too, so Jin Sojeo must come.”

If Geommugeuk came, she had to come too. After all, he was no longer just a servant but her friend. She couldn’t send him alone into the snake’s den.

Josin welcomed her with a good face.

“I called you both today to apologize.”

“Apologize?”

“Yes. That day, my pride flared up, and I unintentionally offended both of you. I’m sorry.”

Jin Haryeong looked at him suspiciously, but Josin met her gaze with a gentle expression. Today, he didn’t remind her of a snake.

“Well, it’s better to settle things nicely if we can.”

For Geomyeon’s sake, there was no need to offend this person unnecessarily.

At that moment,

A murmur arose at the entrance, and naturally, Jin Haryeong’s and Josin’s gazes turned that way.