Chapter 162: Time to Peel Off the Rose-Colored Glasses

TL: FoodieMonster007

The second round of the main tournament began.

The tournament whittled thirty-two contestants down to sixteen, and the excitement of the Young Dragon Tournament grew even hotter. Only the prodigies who had made names for themselves not just in their towns, but across entire regions, remained.

"Alright, then I'll win this for the Murim Alliance Chairman!" Seo Daeryong said. His words sounded like a joke, but they also carried his resolve.

His opponent was Lee Hyo from the Shandong Lee Family. It was a duel of blade arts versus blade arts.

In fact, Seo Daeryong felt more confident about this duel than his previous one.

Strangely, I feel more comfortable facing blade arts than other martial arts. Why is that?

Because he was learning the blade arts of the Blood Heaven Blade Demon, his understanding of the discipline was naturally high. This was why he felt relatively more comfortable.

"It's because my young master is being careless," I said.

"I'm not. Absolutely not." Seo Daeryong waved his hands in denial. The accusation of carelessness was unfair. He had trained for this tournament as if he were born for it.

"You saw Lee Hyo fight, right? He's not an easy opponent. Don't let your guard down."

"I understand."

Although I said that, I predicted Seo Daeryong would win this duel. His opponent's blade arts were at a disadvantage in compatibility compared to the ones Seo Daeryong had learned.

Just as I expected, Seo Daeryong won without much difficulty.

Seo Daeryong stepped down from the duel stage, waving to the cheering crowd of martial artists.

"I finally made it into the top eight!"

Now, Seo Daeryong would be selected for the elite organization of the Murim Alliance.

"What a shame. Just when you have a chance to live a new life."

"Do you want to stay? If you remain as a spy, the All-Knowing Hall would welcome you with open arms."

"A spy?"

"Hiding your identity and operating within enemy lines. The genius brain that graduated at the top of the Sanzu River Hall! Plus, you're equipped with martial arts, the perfect spy! How about it?"

"Didn't you say the Murim Alliance Chairman already knows your identity, Director, and mine?"

"You remembered?"

"Don't even dream of leaving me behind! The position of your right-hand man is better than winning the tournament. Even if I won the world number one duel tournament, not just the Young Dragon Tournament, I'd still prefer being your right-hand man."

"Is that really so?"

"Of course."

"Alright, then imagine this! You've become the world number one. All the martial artists in the world respect you. Do you still prefer being my right-hand man?"

"……"

"Even the Demon Supremes you fear so much smile when they see you. You accidentally step on the Extremely Evil Smiling Demon's foot, and he says, 'It happens, would you like to step on my other foot as well?' Now, what about this?"

"Yes! I still prefer being your right-hand man."

"The beauties of the jianghu are lining up, begging to meet you just once. Still?"

"You'd still be cool even as the one-armed Martial Artist Lee, Director."

I burst out laughing, and Seo Daeryong laughed along with me. The joke was quite funny since he was more into martial arts than women these days. How could I send away such an endearing Seo Daeryong?

"Just you try and go! If you're not here, I'll immediately give that right-hand man position to General Jang."

"Ah! Now that you mention giving it to someone else, I'm having second thoughts."

With the splendid achievement of Seo Daeryong advancing to the quarterfinals, we left the duel grounds.

The next day, as Jin Haryong was about to ascend the duel stage, her bodyguard, Chu Ho, asked her a question.

"Are you perhaps feeling unwell anywhere?"

At his concern, Jin Haryong turned her head.

"No. Why?"

"You don't seem to be in a good mood."

"Don't worry. It's nothing."

In truth, her mood was somber. She had not met with either Geom Yeon or Cho Sin since the banquet her grandfather hosted.

If someone like Cho Sin held a grudge, killing a person would be a trivial matter for him. If he killed someone without leaving any evidence, his crime couldn't be proven even with strong suspicions, and in this world, no one would care about the death of a servant.

Honestly, I want to beat Cho Sin to a pulp until he begs for his life. The reason I can't is because of my grandfather. As long as my grandfather is the Chairman, if I cause trouble, he would have to bear the full responsibility of cleaning it up. Yes, endure it, just endure it.

She could endure Cho Sin, but there was something she could not endure so well.

The human heart is a strange thing. When I could see him freely, I didn't think much of it, but now that I'm in a situation where I can't meet him, I find myself wanting to see him for no reason. What was so great about that insolent servant who constantly flusters people?

As she stepped onto the duel stage, cheers erupted from all sides.

"The number one beauty of Hubei! Jin Haryong! The number one beauty of Hubei! Jin Haryong!"

"Do your best, Miss Jin!"

"I adore you, Miss Jin!"

"You must win!"

"Let's eat noodles!"

"Win the championship, Miss Jin!"

She heard it clearly. The strange yet welcome words mixed in with the cheers.

Her gaze swept over the crowd of martial artists. Cheers exploded everywhere her eyes landed. The martial artists, moved that the number one beauty of Hubei was looking at them, shouted her name until their throats were raw.

She found Geom Mugeuk among them. She looked at him and gave a single nod. It was a signal to eat noodles together.

That day, contrary to Chu Ho's worries, she displayed more magnificent skill than ever before. Her sword flashed with speed and precision, and her movements were supremely elegant.

She achieved a spectacular victory that thrilled the spectators and advanced to the quarterfinals.

Geom Mugeuk was already waiting at the inn.

"Congratulations on your victory."

Instead of accepting the congratulations, Jin Haryong spoke resolutely.

"We shouldn't meet."

"Why not?"

"Are you asking because you don't know? It's because you'll be in danger."

"Then why did you come?"

"That's…" After a moment's hesitation, she said something unexpected.

"Because of a promise."

"What promise?"

"You'll know when we get there."

She led Geom Mugeuk out of the inn.

"Do you happen to know any movement arts?" she asked.

Geom Mugeuk smiled and replied, "I do."

"Never mind. Let's get some horses and go." As if she had asked a pointless question, she procured horses. Geom Mugeuk followed her lead.

"You know how to ride a horse, right?"

"Usually, a servant is someone who leads a horse, but the servant you're looking at is special, isn't he? I ride well."

They rented two horses and rode off.

The place she took Geom Mugeuk to was West Lake, located east of the Murim Alliance.

"You asked me to show you around here before, didn't you?"

"You remembered that?"

"It's not like we've had so many conversations that I'd forget something like that, is it?"

After saying it, Jin Haryong thought to herself.

Right, what kind of conversations did we have to cause all this fuss? Making a scene in front of my grandfather, a scene in front of Cho Sin, and now coming all the way to West Lake.

She looked at Geom Mugeuk. His face was barely visible because of his perpetually disheveled, long hair and the beard that covered his face. His clothes were old and dirty.

What on earth is so great about this man?

Just then, Geom Mugeuk spoke to her.

"Shall we go over there?"

"Huh? Why?"

"I think the view will be even better from that hill over there."

At the spot Geom Mugeuk led her to, Jin Haryong was genuinely amazed.

"It's truly beautiful!"

It was a breathtaking spot with a panoramic view of West Lake's beauty.

"How did you know about this spot?"

"Servants are naturally good at finding the best spots."

Jin Haryong thought that she really could not figure this man out. The two of them stood in silence for a while, lost in the beauty of West Lake.

Jin Haryong broke the silence.

"Your young master will be joining the Murim Alliance. Normally, you would have stayed behind, right?"

"Why do you keep trying to send me away? I will remain with my young master."

Jin Haryong looked at Geom Mugeuk. Geom Mugeuk spoke as if he had already made up his mind.

"By telling everyone that day that I was the person you were seeing, you did all you had to do, Miss Jin. The rest is my choice."

"It will be dangerous."

"How did you feel when your grandfather tried to force you into a marriage?"

"I hated it."

"It's the same for me. I don't like it when people interfere in my life."

"I may hate it, but I won't die."

"A hateful married life can sometimes be more painful than death."

"!"

After a brief pause, Jin Haryong said, "And you've never even been married."

"I've seen someone suffer terribly from the sidelines. Don't worry about me."

"I don't understand why you're a servant."

"Then what do I seem like to you?"

After a short pause, she extended her hand.

"A friend of the Chairman's granddaughter. Let's be friends."

She did not understand her own heart, why she was forming such a deep connection with a mere servant.

"Isn't the Young Lady at too much of a disadvantage?"

"Why would you calculate gains and losses between friends? That wouldn't make us friends."

Geom Mugeuk firmly grasped her outstretched hand.

"To be friends with the Chairman's granddaughter!"

"To be friends with a servant!"

After a firm handshake, she said, "If anyone bothers you anywhere, tell them your friend is the Murim Alliance Chairman's granddaughter! Got it?"

"I will."

"I'll go around bragging too. That the most special servant in the world is my friend."

"Then someday, when you need that servant friend, please call for me. Perhaps that special friend might do something you never expected."

Jin Haryong looked at Geom Mugeuk.

"You're strange."

This man doesn't seem like he would die. This man doesn't seem like he would get into trouble. I don't know how much I would regret it later if this man ended up being killed by Cho Sin because of this. What would I do then…

Returning from West Lake, the two parted ways at the entrance of Wuhan to avoid attracting attention.

Geom Mugeuk was returning alone when someone blocked his path.

It was a venomous snake, none other than Cho Sin.

"Did you enjoy your little outing?"

Geom Mugeuk faced him with a terrified expression.

Until I can figure out whether Cho Sin came solely for the marriage proposal or if he has some connection to the Heavenly Enlightenment Society, I plan to observe how the man behaves.

"You were so confident when you were with her, why are you trembling now that you're alone?"

"If you touch me, Miss Jin won't just stand by."

As Geom Mugeuk acted frightened, Cho Sin's face filled with a sneer.

"To think you'd hide behind a mere woman."

Cho Sin strode forward and grabbed the collar of the backpedaling Geom Mugeuk.

"Miss Jin has been sullied because of a worthless bastard like you."

Cho Sin raised his hand high, about to strike with his palm. Geom Mugeuk squeezed his eyes shut, deliberately showing a fearful expression.

"If you thought I couldn't kill you just because of what happened in front of the Chairman, you've greatly misjudged me."

"Please spare me!"

Cho Sin lowered his raised hand.

"I won't kill you. It's no fun to just kill you. I need to see Miss Jin regret her choice. I need to see her peel off those rose-colored glasses and be disappointed in you. I'm going to make her cling to me when it's too late."

Geom Mugeuk knew that was not the only reason. If he were to die or disappear, Jin Haryong would never agree to a marriage with him.

Using the word 'sullied' while still intending to marry her, it's obvious what that married life would be like without even seeing it.

"From now on, if you don't do as I say, I'll flay all your skin and throw you in a salt barrel. Understand?"

"……"

"Tonight, I'm hosting a banquet and have invited the prodigies. I've invited Miss Jin as well, so you come too. Clean up your hair, shave your beard, and come. You must use this money to buy the most expensive clothes you can find."

Cho Sin believed the servant's unkempt appearance was a large part of why Jin Haryong liked him. It was a kind of fantasy young women had, that an unadorned man seemed more confident. In reality, there was nothing to him. He planned to shatter that fantasy today.

If this servant came dressed in expensive clothes that did not suit him, trying his best to look presentable, it would have the opposite effect. She would realize, 'In the end, this man is no different from any other person trying to look good for me.' Today, he would completely shatter the girl's fantasy.

"If you just cooperate with me, I'll let you live. I'll even give you a large sum of money later."

"How much will you give me?"

"One hundred thousand taels."

At the unexpected amount, Geom Mugeuk's eyes widened greedily.

"You must give it to me."

"I always keep my promises. So you do as you're told."

Inwardly, Cho Sin felt pleased.

What a piece of trash!

That would make him much easier to use.

As Cho Sin left with a light step, Geom Mugeuk, who had been feigning cowardice, returned to his usual self.

"Offering one hundred thousand taels… he must be planning to kill me after this is over."

He said it as if to himself, but it was meant for the hidden martial artist to hear.

"Report every single word of this conversation to the Chairman without omission. This is a very important matter for Miss Jin and the Chairman."

Just by hearing this report, the Murim Alliance Chairman would be able to discern Cho Sin's true intentions.

"And relay this message as well. That when this matter is concluded, I am willing to take care of Cho Sin. He is a man who will be a persistent harm to Miss Jin. The Murim Alliance can't just dispose of the successor of a prestigious orthodox sect so easily. In the end, due to entangled interests, they will likely let him go. Tell him not to do that, and to just leave it to me."

The hidden martial artist still gave no reply.

That night, Jin Haryong entered the manor.

The invited prodigies had already gathered inside. She had absolutely no desire to come, but Cho Sin had invited her with these words.

"I've invited that servant as well, so you must come too, Miss Jin."

If Geom Yeon was coming, she had to come too. He was no longer a servant, but her friend. She could not send him into a viper's den alone.

Cho Sin greeted her with a pleasant expression.

"The reason I called you two here today is to apologize."

"Apologize?"

"That's right. My pointless pride got the better of me that day, and I unintentionally made a mistake toward you two. I am sorry."

Jin Haryong eyed him with suspicion, but Cho Sin faced her with a gentle expression. Today, he did not remind her of a snake.

Well, if possible, it's better to resolve this amicably.

For Geom Yeon's sake as well, there was no need to provoke this man.

It was at that very moment.

A stir began near the entrance. The gazes of Jin Haryong and Cho Sin naturally turned in that direction.