It was the second day of the main competition of Yongbong Jihoe.

Until the first day, there were still a few lacking participants who had passed the preliminaries or belonged to the Nine Major Sects and Five Great Clans, but after two days of continuous matches, most of such individuals were swept away.

Those who remained were all skilled, and even if some lacked in ability, their attitude and mindset were worthy of respect as martial artists, according to the opinion of the public who came to watch Yongbong Jihoe.

And among those remaining outstanding martial artists, the most talked-about among the public was…

“I heard the two second-generation disciples of Hwasan are that outstanding.”

…Hwasan.

People walking near or inside the Murim Alliance, whether martial artists or commoners, would mention Hwasan’s name at least once.

“I’ve heard about it too. But if they’re second-generation disciples, doesn’t that mean they’re older than the other martial artists?”

“No, sects don’t give higher positions just because of age. Both second-generation disciples are about the same age as the martial artists participating in Yongbong Jihoe. I heard they’re even a bit younger.”

“And yet they’re praised as outstanding?”

“That’s what I heard. So I’m planning to watch their match next. Besides, I hear both of them are exceptionally good-looking too.”

Someone who happened to overhear joined in the conversation between the two men. In such places, even strangers could become friendly by sharing rumors they knew.

“That’s all correct, but it seems you don’t know the most important part yet.”

Though a stranger had joined in, the two men who were originally conversing turned to him without much resistance.

“What’s that?”

“Second-generation disciples but young age, outstanding skills despite that. Doesn’t this remind you of something? Especially if you recall that Hwasan has one of the Ten Great Masters, the Plum Blossom Sword King.”

“Hm?”

One of the men who let out a puzzled exclamation soon widened his eyes.

“Ah, could it be?”

“That’s right. You might have heard the rumor that the Plum Blossom Sword King, who was famous since his later disciple days but never took on disciples despite having many admirers, finally took on his first disciple a few years ago?”

“So one of them is that first disciple?”

“Not just one of them, but both. The fact that he took on another disciple about a year after the first one is not well known to the public.”

“Is that true?”

The man who had joined in nodded vigorously.

“That’s why everyone is surprised and amazed. Not just people like us who haven’t learned martial arts, but I heard it’s naturally a hot topic among martial artists. Even the elders of major sects and clans are envious, wondering how the Sword King managed to pick such talented individuals as disciples.”

“Huh, to that extent?”

“But how do you know such stories?”

“Actually, my brother-in-law is a member of the Murim Alliance. He tells me many stories he hears while on guard duty.”

“I see, with such a connection, you can know such detailed stories.”

The impressed man held onto the one who had joined in. He readily agreed to join them when offered to buy him a drink in exchange for more stories.

Similar conversations were happening all over the Murim Alliance. People are creatures who want to quickly spread rare stories before they become common to gain an advantage. Rumors always spread in this way.

Besides that, there were also rumors floating around that the Sword King hadn’t taken disciples until now because he was waiting for such talent, or that Hwasan might soon surpass even Wudang as it grows stronger. After all, the excellence of later disciples becomes the future of the sect.

However, being a hot topic doesn’t guarantee becoming the true protagonist, the winner. It was still far from determining who the strongest person would be.

“Hwasan is outstanding, but we can’t guarantee they’ll win, can we?”

“That’s true. Experience is as important as talent. They probably don’t even have aliases yet.”

“True, most of those who made it to the top twenty already have aliases.”

A group returning to their lodgings after watching the matches chatted, each offering their opinions. One person nodding at his companion’s words muttered,

“With today’s matches, only the strongest twenty remain, so I guess the real thing starts the day after tomorrow.”

I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but the words of someone passing by nearby lingered in my ears.

‘The real thing starts the day after tomorrow…’

I heard things like not being able to guarantee winning, or not having an alias yet, but I didn’t feel particularly regretful. It’s not wrong, after all. Besides, I don’t really want an alias anyway.

Anyway, as he said, exactly twenty martial artists remained after today’s matches ended.

From Hwasan, both Hayeon and I made it into the top twenty, and checking the list of remaining participants, surprisingly, Hwasan was the only sect or clan with more than one person making it through.

Now tomorrow is a day of rest, and on the fourth day of the event, the so-called second round of the main competition is scheduled to begin.

‘The people I saw yesterday all made it into the top twenty too.’

This includes the young lord of the Namgung family. They were all from the Five Great Clans or one of the Nine Major Sects like Kunlun, and they all had aliases, so it wasn’t surprising.

‘I might end up meeting those people on the arena too.’

I don’t mind the others, but if it’s Namgung Seohan, it might be a bit unpleasant…

But that’s not something I can make happen just by wishing for it. With only twenty people left, the Murim Alliance will probably make the tournament brackets truly random this time. I can only wait for the day after tomorrow with a humble heart and pray.

“Senior apprentice.”

“Ah, you’re back?”

At that moment, Hayeon, who had briefly left, returned. During today’s matches, one junior apprentice had suffered a minor injury, so I sent him to the physician, but I didn’t go along to avoid crowding the not-so-spacious infirmary. Hayeon had gone alone to check on the details.

“Is he alright?”

“He seemed fine. He asked me not to tell the Great Master.”

“Haha…”

Come to think of it, the Great Master must be a scary figure to the junior apprentices too.

“It’s good that he’s alright.”

“Yes. He should be with Seohan now. Shall we head back?”

“Okay.”

With that, Hayeon and I headed towards our lodgings side by side.

As it wasn’t late yet, the inner part of the Murim Alliance wasn’t devoid of people.

The gazes that had started to focus on us from the first day seemed to have increased a bit more after today’s matches ended. I inwardly sighed as I felt people glancing at us, either discreetly or quite openly.

“…Ah.”

Just as we slightly veered to the side to avoid the crowd, we came face to face with the Namgung family members coming from the opposite direction. Perhaps because the young lord is second only to the family head in a clan, like last time, Namgung Seohan was standing at the front.

“That guy…”

I heard Hayeon mutter quietly under his breath. Glancing back, I saw his eyes had narrowed slightly.

There’s no way he didn’t recognize a face he saw just yesterday, and since that meeting probably didn’t leave a good impression… I understand his reaction, but… His face is already cool enough, and if he looks at their young lord with those eyes, I have a strong feeling that one of the Namgung martial artists around him might step up saying, ‘Why are you picking a fight?’

Isn’t it obvious? The reason Hayeon is acting like this now is because Namgung Seohan picked a fight with me yesterday.

The Namgung martial artists facing us now don’t know about yesterday’s incident, so they might misunderstand that Hayeon is picking a fight with their young lord for no reason.

Whatever the case, I don’t want to fight on the street.

‘Besides, we’re outnumbered.’

I briefly looked up at the sky. Then I lightly grabbed Hayeon’s arm to silently restrain him, and spoke first.

“We meet again here, Young Lord. Are you heading back?”

I tried to speak in a casual voice, and it must have sounded convincing because I saw the other party hesitate.

“…That’s right.”

“Since your name was on the list, we might meet on the arena.”

“That… might happen.”

A slightly flustered look briefly crossed his face. As soon as I heard his reply, I immediately put on a ‘smile one would typically wear when accidentally meeting someone they know but aren’t particularly close to’ and gave a light bow.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how the tournament brackets turn out. Both my disciple and I are tired today, so we’ll be going now.”

Finishing my words, I grabbed Hayeon’s arm and escaped from that place. Hayeon, who followed without a word, opened his mouth with an incredulous laugh once we were at a safe distance.

“Are you looking forward to it?”

“Yeah, not at all.”

I answered with the same smile. When I released the arm I was holding, I felt Hayeon’s gaze unconsciously following my fingertips. I lightly sighed while casually adjusting the sleeve of my robe.

“Dealing with people like that is tiring. It’s best to avoid troublesome people.”

“Ah, is that all?”

“Also, it seemed like a fight might break out if we stayed longer…”

Not me, but you. Not with the young lord, but with the people around him. Of course, I didn’t say that out loud.

“Anyway, I didn’t want to fight on the street.”

“It wasn’t because it might look like I was picking a fight with them on purpose?”

I paused and turned to look at Hayeon.

“…Was it on purpose?”

“I know what my face looks like too.”

Despite saying that, the corners of his mouth were turned up gently. His current expression wouldn’t be described as cold or icy even if others saw it.

But that doesn’t mean I could overlook the content of what I just heard.

“No, why?”

“I can dislike them too, can’t I? Besides, of course, even if a fight had broken out, I wouldn’t have let you get involved, Senior. I know you don’t like that.”

I looked up at Hayeon with an astonished feeling. He was still smiling faintly as he added,

“You also said you don’t like fighting on the street, so I’ll remember that in the future too.”

I felt like I had a lot to say, but I didn’t know what to actually say out loud. After a brief pause, the only thought that came to mind was this:

‘Right, come to think of it, of course he would know what he looks like.’

Besides, Hayeon originally tended to put up a wall with others who weren’t me, the Master, or the Great Master.

But even so, I didn’t expect him to react like that in a situation like just now, and moreover, to deliberately let me know the basis for that reaction. In words, it seemed like an attitude that could even be described as loyal.

He’s right that I’m his senior apprentice, but I’m not such a superior that he needs to act like that?

…While thinking about such things, thoughts about the Namgung family’s young lord had already disappeared to the back of my mind.

That’s why two days later, on the morning of the day when the second round of the main competition started. I fell silent when I confirmed the name of my opponent written on the tournament bracket.

‘It’s not because I said I didn’t want to fight on the street that this happened, right?’

I really didn’t expect it to turn out like this. Of course, that’s natural. Humans can’t see the future after all.

‘I guess thinking I didn’t want it was useless…’

The name written on the tournament bracket was Namgung Seohan.