In fact, I didn’t intend to finish the preliminaries this quickly.

The Cheonha Festival has traditionally been held within the Cheonha Academy.

‘The preliminaries aren’t open to the general public.’

Thanks to that, I was able to visit the Cheonha Academy. And there, I overheard the students talking.

“Is Nam Gung Yu Cheong participating again this time?”

“If so, it’s clear he won’t be able to win again.”

“The opponent is Ak Wi Cheon. The hope of the orthodox sects being the Nam Gung family is all in the past now.”

“If Dang Hwa Ryeong had come to the Cheonha Festival, things might have been different… But the Dang family inexplicably closed their doors, didn’t they?”

It was a fact I knew as well when I left the family.

How people were talking about the Nam Gung family, that is.

But knowing something and actually hearing it were on different levels.

So, without realizing it, I couldn’t control my strength and ended up working hard in the preliminaries.

As a result, I found myself in an awkward situation.

“Young lady Nam Gung, that was really amazing.”

I looked at Shin So Gyeong in front of me. She was looking at me with sparkling eyes.

Shin So Gyeong was treated as part of our group and was able to watch my martial arts display.

Since then, she’s been looking at me with those sparkling eyes.

The same was true for Nam Gung Yu Cheong.

He patted my shoulder with a proud face.

“As expected, Lin, your talent is exceptional. It was a truly impressive preliminary.”

“That’s right, young lady Nam Gung seems really outstanding. How brightly you shone when displaying your swordsmanship.”

With Shin So Gyeong and Nam Gung Yu Cheong’s praise, my face turned as red as it could possibly get.

“You say that, elder brother Yu Cheong, but you also finished the preliminaries incredibly fast, and so did Ji Cheon Wu. It wasn’t anything special.”

I said that and turned to look at Ji Cheon Wu. Meeting my gaze, Ji Cheon Wu smiled brightly.

“That’s right, you seemed to shine even more today.”

At Ji Cheon Wu’s words, my cheeks started to burn even more.

“What’s this, all of a sudden.”

Ji Cheon Wu had also easily passed the preliminaries of the Cheonha Festival.

As proof, the gazes of those watching us walk through the Cheonha Academy were intense.

‘They all passed the preliminaries splendidly, yet they’re only saying I’m amazing.’

[That’s because you were actually amazing. As you intended, people will start to take notice of you.]

I nodded.

It was as Dagger Uncle said.

Goodwill, distrust, admiration.

Various gazes could be felt.

It was as Dagger Uncle said.

There were several reasons, but I intended to imprint my existence at the Cheonha Festival.

‘That way, the Blood Sect will start to take notice of me.’

Ironically, the more the Blood Sect notices me and considers me a threat, the easier it will be for me to block their movements.

I came to my senses when I heard Ji Cheon Wu’s words.

“That person is my opponent in the main tournament.”

I blinked my eyes.

Because I knew who that person Ji Cheon Wu was talking about was.

‘Ak Wi Cheon!’

Ji Cheon Wu and Ak Wi Cheon were set to meet in the early stages of the main tournament.

Just like in the original Cheonma’s Disciple that I knew.

I looked at Ji Cheon Wu with worried eyes.

“I know too, that that person is strong. But I don’t intend to go down easily.”

Ji Cheon Wu said that as he crossed his arms.

‘When did he grow up like that?’

I looked at Ji Cheon Wu with fresh eyes. I had felt it since he defeated the Cruel Sword, but lately, I could sense that Ji Cheon Wu had grown significantly.

‘And his swordsmanship is improving faster and faster.’

He didn’t seem like the Ji Cheon Wu I knew. Ji Cheon Wu was looking down with languid eyes.

‘Handsome guy.’

I admired for a moment.

It was as if light was emanating from Ji Cheon Wu’s face.

Ji Cheon Wu, who was originally handsome, began to flaunt that handsomeness even more as time passed.

“That person called Ak Wi Cheon, he seems very strong.”

“He’s the only disciple of Cheonma after all.”

At my words, Ji Cheon Wu seemed to fall into deep thought.

‘Is he regretting not becoming Cheonma’s disciple after all?’

Ak Wi Cheon’s martial arts was what all young men in the martial world dreamed of these days.

The next Cheonma.

Everyone thought Ak Wi Cheon would become Cheonma.

Because he was the only disciple of Cheonma.

No one thought Cheonma would take on another disciple.

‘Ak Wi Cheon possessed such overwhelming talent.’

Already, others couldn’t even dream of that position.

It was natural for me to worry about Ji Cheon Wu.

People would now endlessly compare Ak Wi Cheon and Ji Cheon Wu.

‘Just like they did in Cheonma’s Disciple.’

But contrary to my worries, Ji Cheon Wu smiled.

It was a smile full of mischief somewhere.

“That guy Ak Wi Cheon, I’m thinking of giving him a taste of his own medicine.”

“Ji Cheon Wu?”

“It seems like you’re fond of that person.”

At Ji Cheon Wu’s words, I blinked my eyes rapidly.

“You say I’m fond of that person?”

“Yes, you purposely moved to see that person, didn’t you?”

Ak Wi Cheon’s face was to my liking.

‘No, actually, a face like that would be anyone’s type.’

Even in the original work, Ak Wi Cheon was an extremely handsome man who could rival Ji Cheon Wu.

‘Of course I’d want to see him once!’

But I could proudly say.

“I like you more.”

“You… like me more…?”

“Yes. Much more! There’s no comparison. Well, I do agree with what you said though.”

“……”

“Ji Cheon Wu, you won’t lose easily. Like you said, give him a taste of his own medicine.”

That Ji Cheon Wu’s face was more to my liking, that is.

‘This is beyond friendship, it’s an objective preference.’

At my words, Ji Cheon Wu’s face turned as red as a radish.

Nam Gung Yu Cheong stepped between me and Ji Cheon Wu, looking displeased.

“L-Lin, this won’t do. I can’t let you go yet…”

Shin So Gyeong covered her mouth and kept exclaiming in admiration.

“Oh my, oh my.”

Dagger Uncle was the same.

[Oh boy.]

At Dagger Uncle’s deep sigh, I tilted my head, not understanding.

“Wooow!”

That’s when it happened. The sound of people cheering came. I turned my gaze to look at the martial arts arena.

‘Ak Wi Cheon has appeared.’

Indeed, the attention focused on him was on a different level compared to other preliminary contestants.

Although I also finished the preliminaries quickly, it probably wasn’t as much as Ak Wi Cheon.

[As expected, he’s worthy of being called Cheonma’s disciple.]

“Hey, Yu Cheong!”

I looked at the boys and girls calling out to Nam Gung Yu Cheong.

They looked like students of the Cheonha Academy at a glance.

“I heard you passed the preliminaries excellently again this time.”

“Amazing, the teachers have high expectations for you too.”

I felt puzzled looking at them.

[Their faces are full of a sense of defeat.]

They also seemed to have passed the preliminaries, but their faces were already filled with a deep sense of defeat.

Nam Gung Yu Cheong spoke to them.

“This is my cousin, Nam Gung Lin.”

I turned around.

Ji Cheon Wu and Shin So Gyeong had already stepped away.

‘It would be difficult for Ji Cheon Wu and Shin So Gyeong to join in.’

Most of the students at the Cheonha Academy were from famous orthodox sects.

Among them, there were those who discriminated against those not from famous orthodox sects.

It seemed Ji Cheon Wu and Shin So Gyeong had stepped away to avoid being in such a situation.

“Ah, young lady Nam Gung. It’s an honor to meet someone I’ve only heard about in rumors.”

He said that with a smirk. It was a smile filled with various emotions.

“My name is Eon Ji Gyeong.”

Eon Ji Gyeong said that and made a fist-and-palm salute.

“You’re different from the rumors.”

I shrugged my shoulders.

Because I knew what rumors he was talking about.

‘Just what kind of things has Nam Gung Hwa Su been saying about me.’

I looked at Eon Ji Gyeong.

“I hope the Cheonha Festival will be a good experience for you. It’s already great to have made it to the main tournament.”

“I’m not satisfied with just making it to the main tournament.”

At my words, Eon Ji Gyeong’s expression became subtle. He tilted his head as if he didn’t understand.

“It seems you don’t know much since you haven’t attended the academy yet, young lady. Didn’t Yu Cheong explain about the Cheonha Festival to you?”

“I know well too. That there are three more matches to fight.”

It’s just three matches, but those who passed the preliminaries already had a certain level of verified skill.

Moreover, in the main tournament, winners would face each other.

That meant winning the remaining three matches would be an incredibly difficult task.

“Ah, perhaps your goal is to win one match in the main tournament?”

I shook my head.

“No, my goal is to win it all.”

At my words, Eon Ji Gyeong’s face began to harden instantly.

His gaze fell on my hands.

“It seems you’ve trained quite diligently, young lady. I have done so as well.”

“……”

“But people should know their own level.”

I tilted my head.

‘Is he picking a fight with me?’

[It seems so. I’ve met many guys like him too.]

Dagger Uncle said that and snorted.

[Judging people by their appearance is the most foolish thing in the martial world. He’s greatly underestimating your skills.]

Eon Ji Gyeong was speaking as if he was worried about me. But there was a problem he hadn’t considered.

‘The problem is that I’ve never wanted to be worried about.’

I had rarely gone outside the Nam Gung family.

The people of the Nam Gung family now acknowledged my martial arts skills, but that was only within the family.

Others had not yet seen my skills.

Even if there were any, I had acted while hiding my identity, so naturally, there were no expectations for me at the Cheonha Festival.

‘But even so, they should have seen my skills in the preliminary round.’

[That’s how it usually is. Skills can only be recognized by those of a similar level.]