---

EP.11 Gathering of the Nine Dragons (5)

After Elder Lee’s strike, Peng Woojin lay on the dirt floor, and the Peng family swiftly tended to him.

Peng Ah-Hee expressed her gratitude to Elder Lee, but seeing Peng Woojin’s swollen cheek made her wonder if this was truly how it should be.

According to Peng Ah-Hee, he deserved it and was fine with it…

“It’s mutually agreed upon.”

Elder Lee’s stance was resolute.

“If the Peng family raises this later, please let them know I had no part in this matter.”

“Worry not; I’ll definitely tell them that it was you who instigated this foolishness from behind.”

“Why am I being dragged into this? What crime have I committed?”

“You should have intervened when you could. Yangcheon is partly to blame for this too.”

What on earth is this man saying?

He dashed out without a moment’s pause and started throwing punches. What could I have done to stop him?

I wanted to protest, but after witnessing Elder Lee pummeling Peng Woojin, I swallowed my words.

‘…He should tone it down a bit.’

Honestly, if it were me taking those hits, I’d probably drop dead on the spot.

I resolved to keep a low profile, knowing I could also get wiped out in an instant.

After the stormy events, I approached Wi Seol-Ah, who was eagerly watching Elder Lee with sparkling eyes.

“What’s with that shining look in your eyes?”

“Young Master! He went bam bam! And then went down! So incredibly awesome!”

Is she talking about Elder Lee knocking down Peng Woojin?

…For real? Don’t people usually say it’s frightening? How does witnessing that bizarre scene feel cool?

Elder Lee chuckled warmly when he saw Wi Seol-Ah’s reaction.

“What a perceptive little girl you are!”

Then, he pulled out some rice cakes from his robe and handed them to Wi Seol-Ah.

“Since you complimented me, I’ll treat you with a gift.”

“Wow! Rice cakes! Grandpa Bear is the best!”

“Bear? Hahaha! Does that mean I looked strong?”

No, it sounds more like you’re just as big as a bear.

It was a thought I dared not express aloud.

While Wi Seol-Ah, being a servant, should technically be reprimanded for acting too familiar, Elder Lee merely laughed heartily, showing no concern.

Is it because of Wi Seol-Ah’s ridiculously cute appearance, or is she just too young for anyone to care? Well, it seems to have worked out fine.

Once Wi Seol-Ah calmed down with her rice cakes, Elder Lee called me.

“Yangcheon.”

“Yes?”

“Earlier, there was something I intended to discuss with you.”

Now that I think about it, Elder Lee had summoned me for a reason.

As I gazed curiously at him, he continued.

“After the Gathering of the Nine Dragons, I want you to participate in a sparring match.”

“Elder, you want to spar? Who do you intend to kill this time…?”

“Kill? I’ve killed no one! And it’s you who will be taking part!”

“…Me?”

What kind of nonsense is this?

“Me? All of a sudden?”

Why am I suddenly being dragged into something so troublesome?

As the event approached, the Gathering of the Nine Dragons finally commenced. With numerous members from the Gu Clan’s branches and martial artists from the Mount Shan region participating, the numbers were overwhelming, even after filtering them out.

Is it possible to wrap this up by the end of the day?

Of course, it would be easier for me just to sit and watch, as I wasn’t participating like the martial artists or the sword team members.

But why do I feel this lingering unease?

“Honestly, I’d prefer if the sparring never ended.”

If time drags on, at least I’d have an excuse to make an escape.

The Gathering itself was quite captivating. People were always enthusiastic about martial artists’ battles, and I felt the same.

The spear techniques exhibited were exhilarating, showcasing the length and advantages of the weapon effectively.

Unfortunately for the opponent, he was a sword master. Spear wielders and sword masters are practically natural foes.

Still, the sword master remained composed, deftly dodging the thrusts of the spear while keeping an eye on the opponent.

‘Did they say he was from a branch family?’

It was stated that he was from a branch of the Gu Clan. His name was Gu… something.

“Strike!”

Perhaps annoyed by evasion, the spear was swung with great force, slicing through the air with speed. He was stated to be a masterless man, and traces of hard work could be seen in his spear techniques.

However, impatience can be a poison.

Excessive force disrupts the flow of techniques, and the opponent did not miss the opportunity created by this.

The outcome was instantaneous. A flawed thrust hit the ground as the spear’s blade was pushed aside.

Seizing the brief moment when the spear wielder staggered, the sword master lunged forward without hesitation.

Having yielded the space, the spear wielder no longer had a way out. Desperately trying to swing the spear again, the sword blade was already at his throat.

After a brief pause, the spear wielder sighed and retreated one step back, indicating his acknowledgment of defeat.

Disappointment was clearly etched on his face.

Soon after, the referee confirmed the result and announced.

“Gu Seon-yeol wins,”

‘So his name was Gu Seon-yeol.’

An impressive match, though it seems he wasn’t a martial artist of considerable renown in his previous life.

I might just not be remembering.

“That kid will likely be chosen.”

Elder Lee spoke with certainty.

Having calmness as a martial artist was a significant advantage. Even I could see that even if it wasn’t now, he would surely be recognized someday.

“How much longer do we have…?”

Looking around, I realized that only about half of the matches were left.

Out of hundreds, only a little over twenty were being selected, and I had assumed it would take longer, but with the abundant matches and shorter durations, it seemed they would finish quickly.

Initially, I felt like I wanted to wrap it all up and head back by day’s end, but now I found myself hoping this time would never end.

I shot a resentful glance at Elder Lee.

Noticing my stare, Elder Lee commented.

“Why do you send such a ridiculous gaze in my direction?”

“Please don’t misunderstand; it’s a look of respect.”

“As if your mouth isn’t spilling absurdities.”

Watching Elder Lee burst into laughter, I let out a sigh.

After the Gathering concluded, the direct sparring match was inevitable. Among the direct participants in the Gathering, only Gu Yeonseo and I remained, so obviously, we were the targets.

I questioned why such a nonsensical situation had arisen, but Elder Lee told me it was merely amusing, adding that the crowd liked it.

His enthusiasm reminded me of Peng Woojin, who had just been knocked out cold.

‘But I can’t just hit Elder Lee…’

The mere thought of striking was absurd, and it questioned whether he would even allow it.

“Don’t worry.”

Someone spoke up, and it turned out to be Gu Yeonseo.

“No one is expecting anything from you. You don’t need to fret over looking foolish. After all, we share blood, so I’ll let you off lightly for a quick end.”

“….That’s a very considerate offer. Thank you.”

So much gratitude, I’m practically in tears.

Gu Yeonseo didn’t even contemplate losing in the first place.

So, it made sense that she happily agreed to Elder Lee’s words. In fact, she even looked delighted.

This was only natural.

The difference between someone like me, who had done practically nothing to improve, and Gu Yeonseo, who had been called a genius and trained diligently, was as vast as the sky is from the ground.

‘Perhaps it would be better to forfeit quickly?’

My reputation had already been shredded.

Adding another mark to such a beaten name wouldn’t make it any worse.

“Yangcheon, I must warn you in advance.”

Elder Lee came closer and whispered quietly.

“If you’re thinking of forfeiting, I might have to give you a light slap that held a bit of pressure behind it.”

“Surely not. That wouldn’t happen…”

This wretched place… there’s not a single sane person around.

It felt like I had said this before, but time doesn’t flow as I wish.

The sparring time I had hoped wouldn’t come arrived like it was taunting me.

As the sun began to set, lanterns lit up once again. With the conclusion of the Gathering, twenty-one participants were able to join the Gu Clan’s swordteam.

The next day would be a celebration and festival. Of course, I was planning my escape as soon as possible, considering only the two-day schedule.

Initially, I only intended to observe and leave, but things got tangled up at the last moment.

In my previous life, I had been under too much scrutiny for reasons I didn’t want; now, I wished to avoid attention at all costs.

Quietly, I wanted to live my life as if I were invisible.

Though I suppose I had already strayed quite far from that plan, that’s besides the point.

Gu Yeonseo stood on the sparring platform, already prepared.

Her sword held casually in hand, her posture straight, the grooming of a well-trained martial artist was gradually becoming apparent.

I genuinely didn’t want to go…

I turned to Elder Lee, whose face was full of mischief.

“Is it that you wish to see me getting beaten in front of everyone?”

Seriously, this old man was like a devil, just like in my previous life. Elder Lee wore an odd smile at my resentful comment.

Then he spoke.

“Are you truly planning to ‘not’ win?”

I hesitated at Elder Lee’s remark as I climbed onto the sparring platform.

“What strange thing are you saying now? What do you mean ‘not win’? It’s that I can’t win.”

“Sure, if you say so, then that must be true.”

…He bears a resemblance to a bear but has a cunning nature like a fox.

Ignoring Elder Lee, I made my way onto the sparring platform.

The moon rose in the night sky.

It was a thin crescent moon.

Once the sweaty martial artists retreated, the sparring area was remarkably quiet.

While there were plenty of spectators surrounding, only the two of us remained in the sparring area.

To think Elder Lee would use the Gu family’s kin for the entertainment of the Gathering; it seemed a bit much, even for him.

“Are you not planning to draw your sword?”

As I warmed up my body, Gu Yeonseo asked me.

Sword? Did I even use one around this time?

The Gu Clan practiced both swordsmanship and martial arts. Unlike the Peng Clan, which focused mainly on the sword, or the Mu Yong and Nangong families that only focused on weaponry, we blended both.

Due to the characteristics of the Technique of the Flame Wheel, it could be applied to almost all weapons, excluding bows or throwing tools.

Swords and martial arts were primarily used due to their high versatility.

Later, I would realize that the style best suited for me was actually martial arts.

“I decided not to use my sword; it doesn’t really suit me.”

“You say that quite easily without having invested much time to judge.”

Gu Yeonseo, not knowing what I had been through, might believe it looked easy. I didn’t bother correcting her; explaining would only seem like an excuse.

Gu Yeonseo continued.

“Do you have any idea how long it has been since we last sparred?”

“Not really.”

“It has been quite a while; I’ve always hoped for this moment, legally beating my little brother, you know? I didn’t want to do it in front of such a large crowd, though.”

“Why do you say such terrifying things so nonchalantly?”

It was a memory far too distant for me. By now, that slice of memory should have been buried.

However, the last time I had fought Gu Yeonseo in my previous life was still vivid.

The term ‘spar’ certainly doesn’t refer to anything peaceful.

At that moment, Gu Yeonseo had aimed her sword at me, the blade stained with red blood.

The Crimson Flame Sword.

That was the moniker given to her in the Central Plains. I thought it was quite fitting.

Tears had filled her eyes, blood streamed from her lips, and she bore the look of a wreck.

Yet the killing intent she radiated toward a blood relative remained ingrained in my memory.

‘You sickening brat, I will surely kill you.’

It had rained back then.

Now, it wasn’t raining.

It was a situation that had yet to come to pass, and it ought to remain buried forever.

I needed to keep reminding myself of that.

“I always wanted the opportunity. You always ran away.”

Her cheeks still child-like, and her voice carrying the tell-tale signs of youth.

Yet, in my memory, she possessed a much more mature voice and truly appeared as an adult, quite different from now.

Though the gaze aimed at me bore much resemblance to how it had been back then.

Even though it was just a wooden sword, it looked a great deal like the one from my memory.

Lost in thought, Gu Yeonseo spoke.

It brought me back to my senses.

“I hate you.”

Those words were distant from any kind of warmth, yet they helped me regain focus.

“I know.”

That’s no surprise; it’s quite obvious given her demeanor.

“I detest the fact that you were born as the child of a great house, without any effort, and your personality is nothing short of trash.”

“I understand; hearing that from you is a bit heart-wrenching.”

I can empathize. If I were to meet someone like my past self, I would surely loathe them.

‘How amusing; does this mean I’ve changed a bit now?’

That was still something I wasn’t sure of.

“Begin!”

Elder Lee shouted, infusing his energy into the command. I was caught off guard, the sudden sound ringing in my ears.

As if waiting for this moment, Gu Yeonseo dashed forward. There was no consideration for being gentle with the weaker opponent.

The heat radiated from her as she closed in.

The power stemming from her mastery of the Technique of the Flame Wheel had reached the third stage. It enveloped the area in a palpable heat.

‘So she’s truly not going to hold back.’

The sword she wielded traced a smooth, unwavering arc.

I took a step back, twisting my upper body as I dodged the strike.

Gu Yeonseo’s eyes widened. She seemed surprised that I could evade her attack.

But immediately, she shifted her technique and launched a barrage of strikes aimed at my vital points.

With minimal movement suitable for my level, I wasn’t able to withstand excessive force with my frail body.

The rapid flurry of attacks was incredibly quick and deadly; however, I was able to evade them by reacting half a beat faster.

I felt my breath quickening.

My mind raced with thoughts about how I could gracefully end this match while appearing natural.

“You still avoid everything, huh?”

Gu Yeonseo shouted while swinging her sword.

Her transparent malice was paradoxically so clear that it almost felt visible.

How many exchanges passed like this?

Clang—

It seemed Gu Yeonseo’s techniques were not getting through anymore, and her previously relaxed stance had vanished.

What on earth was so pressing for her?

Finally, she took a step back, creating distance, and changed her stance.

Something resembling a haze began to rise around Gu Yeonseo’s wooden sword.

It looked incredibly dangerous.

‘…I definitely should not get hit by that.’

Now that Gu Yeonseo had imbued her wooden sword with the flame technique at the level of a third-star, it suggested she was close to attaining the fourth stage.

This was simply a hastily made gamble and was utterly flawed.

Glancing at Elder Lee, I found him resting his chin on his hand, seeming intrigued and watching without a hint of help.

He didn’t appear willing to take any steps to assist.

‘…Damn it, how can I pretend to get hit without it showing?’

If I were to get smacked by that, I’d surely be out cold, but it looked way too dangerous.

‘What now?’

A faint red aura flickered around her wooden sword.

It seemed she was trembling slightly out of control, unable to handle the energy contained within.

“Having done nothing, with no talent or effort, just because you’re a son of the family…”

It appeared Gu Yeonseo had overburdened herself with energy and was rambling incoherently.

I understood Gu Yeonseo’s heart all too well.

I knew vaguely what she was frustrated about, and even her negative feelings towards me seemed reasonable, so I could find it within myself to give her that.

However.

“If you’re going to live such a worthless life, then just… vanish, like your mother did.”

“What?”

Some words simply shouldn’t be uttered.

With a powerful leap, Gu Yeonseo aimed her sword down. The sheer might of her attack left cracks on the flooring of the sparring area where she stood.

However, fueled by emotion alone, her strike was hasty and weak.

As her target vanished, Gu Yeonseo lost her footing and staggered.

Trying to regain her balance hurriedly, she found it difficult.

Without a hint of hesitation, I struck her face with my hand.

 

---