47 - Dragon Phoenix Assembly (20) - The Heaven-Slaying Sword

Despite the large crowd that had gathered for the martial arts competition, the atmosphere was eerily quiet. Such was the shock of the outcome. No one seated had anticipated such an overwhelmingly decisive battle, making their silence somewhat understandable. Even as the announcer's voice faded into the stillness of the arena, Mok Riwon, catching his breath, sheathed his sword, a smile gracing his lips. 'I've overcome it.' He had managed to conquer the surge of impulse cleanly. He did not add murderous intent to his sword swings, and he merely read Namgung Jincheon's murderous intent without allowing it to provoke him further, not even thrusting his sword in the final moment. It felt like a spine-tingling victory, against himself and Namgung Jincheon alike. Mok Riwon's gaze then drifted to the highest seats of the spectator stands, where Namgung Hyeok was looking down with an indifferent expression, as if he had anticipated the outcome. 'Just a sword master.' Mok Riwon felt he understood more clearly what Namgung Hyeok meant by those words. Suddenly. "Did I... lose?" Namgung Jincheon's voice could be heard. Not until then did Mok Riwon turn to look at him. 'Ah.' Briefly considering an apology for provocation, Mok Riwon was taken aback by Namgung Jincheon's dumbstruck appearance and found himself unable to utter the words. Instead, he hesitated for a moment before adopting a fist-and-palm salute. "It was a good fight." Deciding that apologizing now would be more of a deception, Namgung Jincheon's head lifted, his gaze filled with a swirl of emotions as he met Mok Riwon's eyes before letting out a half-hearted response. "A good fight, you say." Namgung Jincheon looked at his own hands, the tremor still not subsided, faintly reminiscent of a coward's shakes, which he detested, making him clench his fists tightly. "How did you do it?" "What do you mean?" "How did you forge such a sword? How did you... wield it with such certainty?" Namgung Jincheon mumbled, his expression increasingly troubled. Mok Riwon quietly observed him before responding. "I simply didn't want to lose." "Is that even a method?" "It is for me." Namgung Jincheon's gaze met Mok Riwon's, who looked back directly as he spoke. "Truthfully, it wasn't the most satisfying victory. I won not purely on skill but through provocation. Using the opponent's emotions to win does not sit well with the warrior's code." An undeniable truth, even if the precision of the tactics was commendable, the method had its flaws. "However, I wanted to win, to prove. To show that a sword wielded with ambition can so easily be broken." "Are you saying I was wrong?" "Not wrong. Yet, not right either." It was then that Mok Riwon realized why he had wanted to win so desperately. "Indeed, that was why I wanted to win. The Dragon Master is yet to achieve greatness, and I hoped that his future might touch upon the warrior's way. With such greatness, I hoped he would use his strength to protect others." This was what Mok Riwon had always been taught. A sword, being inherently cold, requires the swordsman to have a warm heart, ensuring the sword is wielded righteously. Mok Riwon hoped his teachings would resonate with Namgung Jincheon. Lost in thought, Namgung Jincheon mulled over Mok Riwon's words, his frown deepening with every passing moment. For Namgung Jincheon, this reaction was natural. This was his first defeat, crumbling all his previously held beliefs and values, leaving him with no room to think of anything else. 'Proof...' Mok Riwon had proven himself, while Namgung Jincheon felt that he had not. Was he doomed to lose this battle from the start? Doubts swirled, as elusive as the sword strokes Mok Riwon had demonstrated just moments before. "Congratulations on your victory." With those words, Namgung Jincheon left the arena, needing time to recompose and address the turmoil within. * The award ceremony for the Yonbong Assembly would not take place until three days later. Thus, Mok Riwon's immediate concern was to leave the arena and go to Dang Hwa-Seo. "Lady! I won!" Mok Riwon ran towards Dang Hwa-Seo with a jubilant smile. Dang Hwa-Seo stopped dead in her tracks upon seeing him approach, the realization of his victory finally setting in upon seeing his goofy expression. "Yes, you truly won." Mok Riwon had emerged victorious, against none other than Namgung Jincheon, honoring his word as always. A peculiarly heartwarming feeling surged within her, partly of pride and partly blinded by his radiant victory, almost as if she had won herself. "You did remarkably well." "Mok Junior! Look, I'm here too! Pay attention to me!" "Let him be. It seems he won’t spare us a glance anyway." Upon hearing Jegal San and Hye Woon grumbling, Mok Riwon turned his attention towards them, albeit belatedly. "Ah! Thank you for your support! I've been keeping my senses sharp to catch every word!" "I didn't cheer, though." "Ah…!" Mok Riwon glanced at Hye Woon with a hint of disappointment, prompting a strange sense of guilt in her. 'Wait a minute, why should I feel sorry?' Upon reconsideration, seeing no reason for guilt, Hye Woon scoffed and turned away. "Well, good job. I'm tired, so I'll be heading in." "Safe travels!" Mok Riwon waved goodbye to the departing Hye Woon. Dang Hwa-Seo, observing the scene for a moment, smacked Mok Riwon's hand. "Let's go eat something. We can continue our celebrations there." "Ah! Of course!" Watching the entire sequence of events, Jegal San thought to himself, 'That's severe.' Dang Hwa-Seo's competitiveness was remarkable. Mok Riwon getting involved with any woman seemed to trigger an extreme reaction, unlike anything he had seen before. Of course, these thoughts were better left unspoken. Jegal San had no desire to relive an experience akin to being poisoned, resulting in several days of diarrhea. * Despite the chaos shaking the entire Seohyeon to its core, Mok Riwon and his companions were at peace. They busied themselves with conversation while ordering their usual dishes at their favorite secluded inn. "So, the Yonbong Assembly has a prize for the winner. Mok Junior, you didn't know?" "I... I had no idea...! What's the prize?!" "A summoning pill from Shaolin." "The summoning pill! One of Shaolin's legendary elixirs!" "Yes, the very one that's said to significantly boost one's internal energy." "Oh...!" Mok Riwon expressed his delight, shining with excitement. After all, wasn't it a lack of internal energy that forced him to resort to unconventional methods in his match against Namgung Jincheon? 'A realization is just around the corner!' The enlightenment that began with the statement 'Just a sword master' continued to stir his mind. Touching on it a little more, he could reach the fourth level of spiritual refinement. Naturally, finding a way to replenish his energy was a joyous occasion. "So, I receive the summoning pill during the award ceremony in three days?" "Yes. Ah, but you must take the pill immediately after the ceremony in front of a Shaolin representative. It's to prevent any mishandling." "Quite thorough." "Of course, it's one of Shaolin's secrets. Likely, Il Woon Sunim will assist with that." As Mok Riwon nodded enthusiastically, he suddenly posed a question. "Ah, what about the rewards for second place and the top four competitors?" His gaze drifted towards Dang Hwa-Seo, curious about the prize she would receive. Dang Hwa-Seo smiled faintly, answering his query. "Second place gets eternal steel. The top four competitors receive some inconsequential martial arts manual from the martial alliance." Mok Riwon's face fell. "Eternal steel...? A manual...?" He was puzzled. A summoning pill, admittedly a precious treasure, didn't seem to stand out much compared to the other rewards when considering it was for first place. Eternal steel, known as the strongest metal in the martial world, surely held more value than a summoning pill. And what about the martial arts manual? Though deemed inconsequential, it was still from the alliance. Surely, it contained valuable knowledge, making its perceived lesser value compared to the summoning pill baffling. Dang Hwa-Seo elaborated, seeing the blatant confusion on Mok Riwon's face. "It's a unique aspect of the Yonbong Assembly. Those who have historically ranked highly hail from prestigious backgrounds, hence, they value elixirs more than eternal steel or manuals. Unlike the latter two, the summoning pill cannot be obtained with money." "Ah…" "Besides, doesn't Mok Sohyeop need the summoning pill more?" "That's true, but… I still covet eternal steel." Mok Riwon caressed his old, worn sword. Despite using it for over a decade, he wasn't confident he could use it forever. After all, he was a martial artist. His desire for a superior sword was insatiable. Dang Hwa-Seo laughed softly at his melancholic smile. "If you need a sword, just say the word. I can afford to buy you one." "Really?!" "Would I joke about such a thing?" A warm atmosphere enveloped them, leaving Jegal San feeling somewhat excluded. He quietly sipped his drink, swallowing his thoughts. 'Reduced to bribery now…' Jegal San was intimidated by Dang Hwa-Seo. * The dinner ended on a positive note. While Jegal San, who had been sending meaningful glances at Dang Hwa-Seo, departed early due to poisoning-related diarrhea, Dang Hwa-Seo stood in front of her quarters, welcoming the cool breeze. "Go in and rest. You've worked hard today." The night was late. The next three days would be challenging. After all, would the martial world let the new champion of the Yonbong Assembly, Mok Riwon, be? Despite Dang Hwa-Seo's suggestion to rest, considering the ordeals Mok Riwon might face from being targeted by many, he didn't immediately depart. Instead, he remained, wearing a broad grin. "Mok Sohyeop, aren’t you leaving?" "Isn’t there something we need to do first?" "Something to do...?” Thump. Dang Hwa-Seo’s body jolted as Mok Riwon stepped closer. It was late at night, in front of the lodging, and he mentioned something needed to be done. Could it be that Mok Riwon meant ‘that’ in his implication? Dang Hwa-Seo felt her head spin at the thought. After all, though he appeared innocent, who was Mok Riwon? He was a respectable man who blushed and became excited at any mention of lascivious demons or enchantresses. ‘This is too soon…!’ They hadn’t even formally established their relationship, and to contemplate such nightly affairs seemed rushed. As this thought crossed her mind, "Have you forgotten our promise?" Dang Hwa-Seo then recalled what had slipped her mind. "Ah…" First came the realization, followed by a surge of embarrassment. She had forgotten her own proposition and, in misinterpreting Mok Riwon’s intentions, allowed herself to entertain inappropriate thoughts. "Um? Lady?" "... Wait, just a moment. Please." Dang Hwa-Seo covered her face with her hands, feeling the heat transferred from her palms. "Please wait for a moment." She shivered, overwhelmed by a sense of self-reproach. It took a while for her to calm the self-reproach, cool her head, and gradually, the warmth dissipated into the night air. Finally, Dang Hwa-Seo spoke. "Uh... I'm sorry." "For what?" "...For having those thoughts." It was clear her mind had been clouded, to remember such critical matters yet first conjure unsavory thoughts indicated something was amiss. "Lady." Dang Hwa-Seo lifted her head to see Mok Riwon still smiling pleasantly, though now with a hint of awkwardness. "Um… if you don't wish to speak of it, you don't have to. I may have pressed the matter too harshly." Dang Hwa-Seo felt a stirring inside her. Again, his kindness left her feeling vulnerable. "Why would you say that? I was the one who asked for it." "Still, one’s heart can change at any moment…" "No, it hasn't." Dang Hwa-Seo shook her head, firmly grasping her fist as she spoke. "No. On the contrary, it might be me who’s asking too much of Mok Sohyeop." Indeed, it was a request that could be seen as an imposition. After all, it involved tying him to her whims. As the moment to speak her mind drew near, anxiety swelled within her. The tender feelings she’d newly recognized didn’t suit her nature, and she worried her request might disappoint him. Noticing her concern, Mok Riwon spoke softly. "Lady, whatever you ask of me, it's never an imposition, as long as it’s not against my principles." "...Really?" "You've done so much for me." Mok Riwon conveyed his sincerity. "You’ve introduced me to the martial world and shown the valor of protecting others even in dire straits. Not to mention all the meals and lodging, and the help at Yonbong Assembly. Even a lifetime might not be enough to repay you." "…" "Thus, you have every right to ask any favor of me." Mok Riwon extended his hand, delicately placing it atop Dang Hwa-Seo’s. "Please, don't hesitate to ask. It would be my pleasure to offer something in return." Dang Hwa-Seo’s expression wavered, her eyes beginning to tremble. The man before her, illuminated by moonlight, seemed too beautiful, and his words touched her heart. It was a curious occurrence, how concerns melted away with just a few words from him. Each word from him brought unease, yet also profound happiness. Dang Hwa-Seo bit her lip, slowly nodding after a moment. Her lips parted hesitantly as she finally spoke.