“Hmm… it seems Jeomchang has produced a true prodigy.”
“That final strike even gave me chills.”
“It’s been ages since we’ve seen a Sa-il Swordmaster emerge…”

The elders murmured amongst themselves.

“Waaaaahhh—!”

The spectators, ignorant of the nuances of martial arts, erupted in cheers.

Hwang Bo-hyeji, standing frozen in the center of the arena, struggled to compose her stiff expression.

“…It’s unfair.”

Victory like this hardly felt like a victory.

She closed her eyes tightly and then opened them again, forcing her heavy feet to move forward.

She stopped before a particularly piercing gaze and managed a smile, only to be met with a sharp voice.

“Do you take pride in this pathetic display? How much leeway did you give that he managed to have a realization in the middle of a duel?”
“Mother… still, I won…”
“Hyeji. How many times have I told you? Always crush your opponent thoroughly if you want to rise above them.”
“But I did earn the title of Phoenix of the Yongbong…”
“Is that important right now?”

Hwang Bo-hyeji’s mother, Hwang Bo-seorin, cast her sharp eyes over her daughter.

“Listen to the chatter around you. The ignorant crowd is loud about your victory, but those who understand martial arts don’t even care about you.”
“But…”
“Jeomchang, Jeomchang. Do you want to keep hearing that name even after you’ve won? Everything I say is for your sake, so why won’t you listen?”
“…I’m sorry.”

Lowering her head, Hwang Bo-hyeji winced as her injured shoulder throbbed, despite the treatment she’d already received.

Hwang Bo-seorin, who had been watching her silently, sighed.

“I hate to say these things, but you’ll do better next time, won’t you?”
“Yes, Mother…”

 

Hwang Bo-hyeji thought to herself.

“A change in mindset can make such a difference.”

Eun Wi-ryong’s final strike had been dazzling, almost unbelievable, given the lifeless eyes he had displayed until then.

Aligning one’s mind, finding conviction, and using that to reach new heights.

Hwang Bo-hyeji was aware that to climb higher, she needed such conviction herself.

But knowing was one thing. Acting on it was another. Life is difficult precisely because knowledge doesn’t always lead to action. If it did, one would be a sage.

“Lady Hwang Bo, congratulations. Is your injury all right?”
“Sir Namgung… yes, I’m fine.”

Hwang Bo-hyeji greeted Namgung Myeong with a smile. However, as Namgung Myeong looked at her face, his eyebrows rose.

“Lady Hwang Bo, is something troubling you?”
“No, not at all. Aren’t you disappointed? You were so close to the quarterfinals…”
“I’m fine. I’ll just try again next time.”

Namgung Myeong smiled genuinely, as if he truly didn’t mind. Just then, another voice interrupted.

“Huh? What’s this? What are you two up to?”

They turned to see Seo-jun grinning at them.

“Oh, Brother.”
“Well, well, little brother. Is this a romantic venture?”
“What—!?”

Namgung Myeong’s startled reaction only made Seo-jun burst into laughter. He glanced at Hwang Bo-hyeji and then nodded knowingly.

“Myeong.”
“Yes?”
“When in doubt, just go for it.”
“What do you mean…?”
“Don’t worry about the consequences. You’ve got me, and if worse comes to worst, we’ve got the old man Pae Jin-gwang to back you up.”

“Good luck!” Seo-jun’s parting words left Namgung Myeong scratching his cheek, looking bewildered.

“Do you gain mind-reading powers at the transcendent level?”
“They say you see the world differently at that stage.”

Hwang Bo-hyeji let out an awkward laugh. Namgung Myeong, who had been observing her quietly, extended his hand.

“W-what…?”

As Hwang Bo-hyeji’s hand was grasped, her face flushed red.

“Lady Hwang Bo, I’d like to meet your mother.”
“M-my mother…?”
“Would that be all right?”
“Yes, of course…!”

Seeing her nod fervently, Namgung Myeong smiled faintly.

“Any further hesitation might be dangerous.”

Hwang Bo-hyeji didn’t seem in the best state of mind. At this age, martial artists often found themselves grappling with inner demons, a natural occurrence for those still uncertain of their path.

Normally, he avoided meddling in other families’ affairs, but…

“Better to act than regret later.”

It was something he had learned from watching his older brother.

If worse came to worst, the Namgung name was there to rely on. That’s what the power of a great family was for.

 

Hwang Bo-seorin, Hwang Bo-hyeji’s mother, was a martial artist of the peak level. Her husband had married into the Hwang Bo family to continue their lineage.

Though she had once aspired to the martial path, a lack of talent had led her to focus on managing family affairs. She had gained prominence as a strategist, carving out a significant role within the family.

Namgung Myeong had heard bits and pieces about her. He knew she hadn’t entirely abandoned her martial dreams and had placed heavy expectations on her daughter.

Without hesitation, Namgung Myeong visited Hwang Bo-seorin with Hwang Bo-hyeji in tow and offered his greetings.

“A junior greets his senior.”

Hwang Bo-seorin glanced at Namgung Myeong and her daughter, whose face was flushed bright red.

After staring at them blankly for a moment, she regained her composure and acknowledged Namgung Myeong’s greeting.

“You’re the young master of the Namgung family. What brings you to me?”
“I understand this is sudden, but I have something to say.”

Namgung Myeong gently tugged Hwang Bo-hyeji closer to her mother. He had something to say to both of them.

“I know this is presumptuous, but I believe it’s time for you to let your daughter go.”

It was undoubtedly a rude statement.

Hwang Bo-seorin’s expression shifted to one of disbelief.

“What do you mean by that?”
“If this continues, Lady Hwang Bo’s heart will become clouded by inner demons. Martial artists must chart their own paths. If her will and yours clash, it could lead to her falling into a state of deviation.”
“…That’s something for me to handle. Young Master Namgung, is that all you wished to say?”
“No.”

Namgung Myeong looked at Hwang Bo-hyeji. Her eyes wavered with confusion, clearly unprepared for this.

“Should I have waited and observed a bit more?”

Doubt began to creep in, but he shook his head, dispelling it. It was too late for second thoughts. He had already begun and decided to see it through to the end.

“I trust you, Brother.”

When in doubt, go for it.

His brother’s advice had clearly anticipated his dilemma.

With a serious expression, Namgung Myeong spoke again.

“Lady Hwang Bo, I’m not asking you to oppose your mother. Family should respect one another’s opinions. However, your will must be present within that respect.”
“Sir Namgung, I…”
“If you truly believe your mother’s guidance is correct, there’s no problem. But I don’t see that conviction in you. I hope you’ll take some time to seriously consider what your will is.”

Caught between her mother and Namgung Myeong, Hwang Bo-hyeji lowered her head deeply.

“Please… just leave for now.”
“As you wish.”

He had never expected to change anything with just a few words.

“My apologies for the intrusion.”

After bowing politely, Namgung Myeong left the Hwang Bo family’s residence.

 

“What? Seriously?”

Seo-jun's eyes widened in surprise. Hwang Bo-jun, standing before him with a complicated expression, nodded reluctantly.

“Yeah, that’s why I can’t go back to the villa. The atmosphere there is just too tense…”

The Namgung family villa—where Hwang Bo-jun had all but been forced to flee to, seeking refuge.

“But why come here? Don’t you have any friends?”
“…It’s the Namgung family’s fault this happened. Where else could I go?”
“To your friends’ houses, you moron.”
“Hmph.”

Hmph? This punk’s begging for a beating.

Seo-jun clicked his tongue, though he couldn’t help but admire Namgung Myeong’s boldness.

“I never knew my little brother was so decisive.”

To think he’d barge into the Hwang Bo family and say something like that.

Seo-jun had told him to go all in with Hwang Bo-hyeji, but he hadn’t expected him to take it this far.

“As expected of my brother. When you need to act, you act.”

He liked it. Better to take bold action than sit around hesitating. The consequences could be dealt with later.

“And what about me, huh?”
“Come on, if your future sister-in-law has kids, wouldn’t that make her mother family too? What’s there to be scared of?”
“The world doesn’t work on simple divisions like that…”
“Then go knock some sense into them.”
“You lunatic. Not everything can be solved with brute force.”
“Can’t it?”
“You’re hopeless. Maybe you should hit your wife too while you’re at it.”
“What did you just say, punk?”
“…Sorry, I misspoke.”

Seo-jun lowered the fist he had raised.

Well, Myeong will figure it out on his own.

His little brother was wiser than he was, after all.

And if it came down to it, well… he could always lend a helping hand.

They were family, after all.

Helping with his little brother’s love life was the least he could do.

 

From the round of sixteen onward, two matches were held each day.

It seemed a leisurely pace, but it was probably intentional. The organizers were likely accounting for the participants’ condition as the finals drew closer.

Sitting in his seat, waiting to watch Chun-bong’s duel, Seo-jun mulled over something.

Didn’t the Hwang Bo and Namgung families not get along?

Judging from the reactions of the Namgung martial artists earlier, they didn’t seem particularly close.

Was this one of those cases? Love blooming between rival factions?

You know, like Romeo and Juliet.

It was practically a romance movie waiting to happen.

“Well, well, you’re already here.”

Hearing a familiar voice, Seo-jun turned to see an elderly man approaching him.

“Oh, you’re…”
“Eun Yu-do of Jeomchang. Known in the martial world as the Sword that Pierces the Sun (Gwanyang Jigeom).”

After a brief exchange of greetings, Eun Yu-do got straight to the point.

“Thank you for the advice you gave my disciple. A frog in a well gazes at the sky. That phrase pierced through Wi-ryong’s struggles and even the essence of Jeomchang’s martial arts. I imagine you don’t know much about Jeomchang’s techniques, but it seems a genius’s perspective is truly different.”
“Really?”

He had simply spoken what came to mind, but it seemed to have hit the mark.

Seo-jun smiled, and Eun Yu-do’s expression softened into a faint smile as well.

“I hear the successor of the Geum family is dueling today.”
“That’s right.”
“And the opponent is Mu-hye of Wudang, isn’t it? A tough match. Are you confident?”
“It’s not about me being confident.”

The question was whether Chun-bong was ready. But Seo-jun was optimistic.

“Twenty moves.”
“Hmm?”
“I think it’ll end within twenty moves.”

Wudang’s Tai Chi techniques?

Our Chun-bong had already prepared by practicing with the Mixed Origin Sun and Moon Art.