The awards ceremony was just as spectacular as the martial arts tournament itself.

The winner was given a gold plaque and a cash prize. What made it even more honorable was that the leader of the Martial Alliance personally presented the award.

The warlords chanted Seo Daeryong’s name. Seo Daeryong had never in his life heard his name called out so many times. Probably never would again.

As the Martial Alliance leader handed Seo Daeryong the gold plaque, he said,

“Your skill was excellent. From now on, dedicate yourself to the peace of the martial world.”

“Thank you.”

But what the leader really wanted to say, he sent by telepathic message.

—If you injure righteous warriors with that sword technique, you will surely die by my hand.

Seo Daeryong dared not argue and quietly took only the gold plaque and prize money before stepping down. Even though they knew he was a demon, he was grateful just to receive the award.

The runner-up, Jin Haryeong, also received a plaque and prize money.

“Well done.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Do you understand now? How vast this martial world truly is?”

“Yes. I thought I could be at least a snake if not a dragon, but I realized I was just a frog in a well. I will work harder from now on, Grandfather.”

That was enough. The Martial Alliance leader gave her a satisfied smile and patted her shoulder.

As Jin Haryeong stepped down from the award stage, she glanced at Geommugeuk standing far off.

Geommugeuk waved at her. The feeling conveyed was, “Friend, you did well.”

Seeing that, suddenly tears welled up in Jin Haryeong’s eyes. She hadn’t felt anything until now, but seeing Geommugeuk, an inexplicable sorrow welled up inside her.

She could not shed tears in front of the warlords, so she briskly walked away. Rumors spread that Jin Haryeong cried during the ceremony, that she cried out of frustration. Such rumors were truly dreadful.

Someone spoke to her from beside, but she didn’t look back and quickly left.

The person who spoke was none other than Josin. He wore a defeated expression and couldn’t follow her. In his arms was a gift to commemorate her victory.

Since the words “Congratulations on your win” were engraved on a dagger, he couldn’t give it to her. He never imagined she would lose. He was supposed to give this to her in style as the winner.

“Damn it! Damn it all!”

His gaze shifted toward Seo Daeryong, who was still distracted by congratulations.

‘That bumpkin even won? Is this for real?’

The lord won, and the servant seduced the woman he intended to marry. They were truly scoundrels deserving of death by both hands. This matter would end badly.

So Josin returned to his quarters in a rage.

Entering his room, Josin was startled. A man was waiting there for him.

The man was Cheolgon, the messenger of the leader of the Cheonmyeonghoe.

At first, Josin thought Cheolgon might be the Cheonmyeonghoe leader disguised as a servant. The aura Cheolgon radiated was extraordinary.

‘Is this man just a subordinate? Then how powerful must the Cheonmyeonghoe leader be?’

Josin had yet to see the leader in person but promised to meet him if he finished this business safely.

Though displeased that someone entered «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» his room without permission, Josin did not voice his dissatisfaction.

“You came?”

“Wasn’t it you, Lord Jo, who called for me?”

“I called for you?”

“You said you were confident about marrying Jin Haryeong, didn’t you?”

“Of course.”

Just a year ago, Josin was losing the succession battle for Jinryongjang.

At that time, the Cheonmyeonghoe appeared. They promised that if he allied with them, they would make him the successor. He couldn’t refuse.

It was good that he became successor with their help.

Once confirmed, they demanded one thing: to marry the granddaughter of the Martial Alliance leader. It was not an impossible request. Jinryongjang was a family worthy of marrying into the Martial Alliance leader’s clan.

Josin persuaded his father and even supported the Martial Alliance with a huge sum to make this marriage happen.

He chose the time of the Soryongjeon tournament to meet her more often. Being handsome and well-regarded everywhere, he was confident he could win Jin Haryeong’s heart. That was until he discovered the existence of that damned servant.

“I heard rumors he’s got connections behind the scenes.”

“Where did you hear such nonsense? That man is my subordinate.”

Josin said confidently, but Cheolgon stared intently. Their eyes met, and Josin felt intimidated just as when they first met. If that intimidating aura was deliberate, Josin wouldn’t have been shaken.

But Josin sensed that aura came from the man’s nature. The primal killing intent of one who places no meaning on killing. If Josin defied him rashly, he’d likely be butchered and dumped in a filthy ditch.

“That man is your subordinate?”

“I recruited him to secure the marriage with Jin Haryeong. I will use him to make the marriage succeed.”

It wasn’t a lie. Josin promised the servant 100,000 nyang and secretly created him. Though not planned from the start.

Cheolgon fixed Josin with his gaze again.

If that gaze were from an intelligent person trying to analyze him, it might have been okay.

But it was more indifferent— a cold gaze of a ruthless killer who cared nothing for truth, only for results.

As seen with Cheolgon, these people were no ordinary men. When an incident occurred somewhere, and the source was revealed, it wasn’t some trivial rumor.

They were special. If one kept their promises, the others would definitely compensate. They were villains who acted only for their own benefit but ensured they got what they wanted. That was why Josin allied with them.

Cheolgon stood and walked to the window.

“Come here and look at this.”

Josin cautiously walked over and stood beside him.

“That broken sapling there — I stepped on it on the way and broke it. Whoever planted these saplings planted them too close together. Neither tree can grow into a giant that way.”

Cheolgon slowly looked at Josin.

“We hope you will grow into a giant tree.”

Josin knew it was insincere.

Cheolgon didn’t care whether Josin became a giant tree or not. If the Cheonmyeonghoe leader ordered death, they would kill him; if told to spare him, they would. Josin was less than even a broken sapling to them.

Josin wanted to shout that such talk was for his children, not him. He hated being interfered with. Showing courtesy to villains only made them look down on him.

But Josin dared not do that.

“I won’t disappoint you.”

“I will prepare a congratulatory gift and wait.”

Cheolgon quietly left the room.

After he disappeared, Josin took a deep breath — a sigh mixed with tension, fear, irritation, and anger.

The marriage issue, the servant, the Cheonmyeonghoe — none were as easy as he thought. His once comfortable life was entering a new level of difficulty. But Josin would not give up.

‘I’ll make them pay properly someday.’

He had not yet spoken those words. That would be after he raised his clan to be the strongest in the martial world.

“The prize money is a whopping ten thousand nyang!”

Seo Daeryong was so delighted with the sudden windfall that he didn’t know what to do.

He gave me five thousand nyang.

“Here, since we won together, let’s split it in half.”

“Planning to regret later?”

“Five thousand nyang is enough for me. I’ll treat Lord Jang and that warrior. Also...”

“Also?”

“To the woman who cheered me on, I’ll buy something delicious.”

“Have you arranged to meet her?”

“No, I don’t even know her name yet.”

He would soon find out. She would surely approach Seo Daeryong somehow. How would she do it?

“She has been supporting me long before I won. In that sense, she’s special.”

Seo Daeryong was already completely smitten with her.

“By the way, you’re going to the banquet, right?”

“The Martial Alliance invited the winner and all finalists to a celebration feast.”

“I’ll go.”

“I’ll just go buy some clothes to wear for the feast. Come with me? I’ll buy you an outfit.”

“I’m good. You buy yourself something nice.”

“Of course! This time I’ll buy a really expensive outfit!”

When the excited Seo Daeryong left, I spoke into the empty air.

“Sorry I couldn’t tell you sooner. Things were too urgent back then.”

It was said to the warrior who was hiding near me, sent by the leader of the Martial Alliance. When I took Seo Daeryong to Chungui, we hurried so fast he couldn’t follow.

After returning to the Martial Alliance, I sensed him hiding near me again, but training Seo Daeryong left me no chance to talk to him. He must have been displeased in his own way.

But as usual, the hidden warrior showed no reaction. He was truly obedient to orders.

Sorry was sorry, but I didn’t tell him the woman who approached Seo Daeryong was from Cheonmyeonghoe. I judged it unnecessary.

I didn’t enter the banquet hall.

Today’s protagonist had to be Seo Daeryong. I stood outside, watching inside like a servant.

But somehow, Jin Haryeong came out to where I was.

“Why aren’t you going in?”

“Just felt suffocated.”

“Shall we take a walk?”

“Good.”

We strolled the garden together.

“Actually, before the final match, I came looking for you. Want to know what I was going to say? If you asked, I could have let you lose. I was going to tease you like that.”

She still felt ashamed and uneasy about losing the martial arts match. She talked faster and more than usual.

“To lose like that, not even knowing... How ridiculous, right? Thinking about it makes me embarrassed to sleep. By the way, where did you go? So, will your young master join some organization? You...”

I cut off her torrent of words.

“Friend, stop.”

Only then did Jin Haryeong take a deep breath. After calming down, she confessed her true feelings.

“After losing yesterday, I almost cried when I saw you.”

“It’s okay to lose once in a while.”

Actually, it’s okay to lose many times, as long as you keep going. Looking back when older, failure is nothing, but at that moment, it felt like the sky was falling.

Maybe that’s why youth is so nostalgic. When even small things made your body and mind leap and flutter.

“I don’t want to be weak like that anymore.”

“Drop the burden of being the leader’s granddaughter. The leader is the leader, and you are you. That burden stops you from enjoying things. You got runner-up in this big competition.”

Jin Haryeong smiled faintly.

“What? You’re already feeling better?”

“Yeah. Seeing you try so hard to comfort me made me feel better.”

“Easy. Making you feel good.”

“Do it often.”

She firmly believed Seo Daeryong would join the Martial Alliance. Of course, she thought I would live with him as well.

“I might return to my hometown.”

She was surprised.

“Return? Why?”

After looking at me carefully for a moment, she cautiously asked,

“Is there a woman in your hometown? Someone you like?”

“There is.”

She flinched at my quick answer, half doubting it.

“There’s a woman prettier than you.”

“Prettier than me? That makes your words less trustworthy.”

“You’re the best in Hubei, but she’s the best in the world.”

She relaxed and smiled. She thought I was teasing her.

“Next time, please show me that world’s best!”

“If I get the chance.”

Would Ian and Jin Haryeong ever meet? Even I didn’t know.

By the way, what was Ian doing now? Probably immersed in martial arts training? Had he broken through the limit to the next stage? Ah! I want to see him, Ian!

After our walk, Jin Haryeong and I returned to the banquet hall.

Looking in through the window, Seo Daeryong was surrounded by the junior disciples.

Regardless of what was on his mind, everyone smiled as they tried to befriend him. From now on, Seo Daeryong would join the Martial Alliance’s elite core and rise steadily.

“Our young master looks happy.”

No one ignored the short man with a gloomy impression. Clothes were wings, and he looked better than usual.

Yeah, enjoy yourself today.

Jin Haryeong said to me while watching Seo Daeryong.

“We’ve talked a lot, but I haven’t properly spoken to the young master who beat me.”

“Go talk to him.”

“No. I’ll stay here. If I go in, I’ll just get comforted. Your comfort is enough for me today!”

At that moment, a new person entered the banquet hall.

I was surprised when I saw who it was. To my amazement, it was the woman who had cheered for Seo Daeryong.

Seo Daeryong was also shocked to see her. The banquet was only for invited guests, yet she appeared.

How on earth did she get in without an invitation?

All eyes were on her as she slowly walked toward Seo Daeryong.