After the sparring match ended. Whether it was because my proper fighting had been a shock in many ways, I left the training ground, leaving behind the murmuring Zhongnan Sect disciples. And then.
"Young hero Cheon. Would you spare a moment?"
"…"
Tang So-wol remained, hands on her hips, staring at me with an expression half worry, half scolding.
I paused and looked toward her, and without being called or answering, she strode over to me.
Eyes wide open, eyebrows raised, lips pursed in a pout, cheeks slightly puffed…
In other words, not threatening, but with a face that anyone could see was angry, Tang So-wol stood before me and once again took the stance with her hands on her hips.
"Young hero Cheon."
"Hm."
"That was just a simple sparring match, not real combat, right?"
"That's right."
"Then is there any reason for you to be hurt like this?"
"…As you know by now, Tang So-wol, my martial art has always been like this."
As I carefully offered my defense, a flash of green glinted in Tang So-wol's black eyes. Then she took a step closer.
"Yeees, I suppose so. After all, the young hero's martial art seems to treat Sacrificing Flesh to Shatter Bones as something perfectly natural."
"…Then…"
"But as the young hero said earlier, this isn't a life-or-death real combat—it's a sparring match."
"Th-this is a sparring match with an elder of Zhongnan. An opportunity like today doesn't come easily."
"…"
I'd blurted out a single remark reflexively, and now Tang So-wol was staring at me in silence. She took another half-step closer.
Was it because she was still taller than me? The sight of her chest suddenly swelling large before my eyes made my body stiffen with a start.
I knew I shouldn't be reacting like this in the current situation, yet I barely managed to hold my gaze from drifting downward again and again.
Whether she knew of my struggle or not, Tang So-wol's lips were now jutting out a full five inches, as if to show me off.
I could tell instinctively that no matter what I said here, it would be difficult to escape Tang So-wol's worried interrogation.
So, instead of words, I decided to act.
Carefully, I reached out one hand and cupped her cheek. Then, with my thumb, I gently pressed down on her protruding lips.
"I'm sorry."
"…"
"From now on, I'll do my best to avoid getting hurt in front of you, Tang So-wol."
"…"
"If that's not possible, I'll make sure to tell you in advance."
"…"
Her gaze was still sharp, though a little less so than before. I pondered for a long while, wondering if something was still lacking, then added.
"Ah, and today, I'll play along with whatever you want all night. Whether it's Golpae or anything else."
"…Hmph."
Only then did her mood seem to ease, a smile spreading across Tang So-wol's face. As she pulled her thumb from her pursed lips, she layered her own hand over the one that had been cupping her cheek.
I gently pulled my hand free, and she clasped mine in both of hers, saying.
"It's a promise?"
"Yeah. I promise."
"Just this once, so don't forget—you can't use the same method to escape next time."
"Isn't that only natural?"
"Fine. Then let's stop the bleeding first."
"Hmm, in a place like this? That might be a bit…"
"…?"
Tang So-wol tilted her head for a moment, then a sly grin tugged at the corners of her mouth, as if she'd caught him red-handed.
"Young hero Cheon. What were you just thinking?"
"I wasn't thinking anything."
"Surely you didn't think I'd lick young hero Cheon's wounds in front of all these people, and before Elder Sam, who is my senior by a long shot?"
"I never said that."
"The wound isn't deep enough to need more than the poison I can spray from my hand, but if young hero Cheon truly wishes for me to use my mouth…"
"Not in front of others…!"
Just as I tried to speak firmly, Tang So-wol shook her head with a refreshing smile, as if she hadn't been cornering me at all.
"I was only joking."
"…What."
"Don't make such a face. As I said before, this level of wound is more than enough for my fingers. Of course, if you don't want a scar, I'll have to apply proper medicine later."
As she said this, Tang So-wol stroked the wound on the back of my hand. The bleeding, which had been only a drop or two, completely stopped, and the pain that had been steadily throbbing began to slowly fade.
At the same time, the senses that had been sharpened by the sparring match just moments ago began to dull… but not to any significant degree.
Giggling, Tang So-wol continued to stroke my wound as she administered her emergency treatment. To an onlooker, it might have seemed like she was groping me all over, and in the end, she couldn't hold it in any longer, asking in a voice brimming with laughter.
"By the way, what was it you were about to say earlier? I'd appreciate it if you'd finish your sentence."
"…I don't want to."
Unfazed by my refusal, Tang So-wol grinned and continued.
"You don't want to show that side of yourself in front of others? Mm-hmm. Wanting to monopolize your betrothed's tongue is an utterly natural—heh-heh!—thing, wouldn't you say?"
"Didn't you just laugh in the middle of that?"
"I've never done such a thing. In any case, if that's how it is, then it means I'd be perfectly fine with it as long as we're in a space with just the two of us and no one else, wouldn't it?"
"I don't see how the conversation turned out this way."
"Then tonight, for the young hero who worked so hard, I suppose I'll have to step up once again."
"Can't we just play a few rounds of Golpae and go to sleep…?"
Every time I flinched, Tang So-wol's smile only deepened. Well… as long as she's happy, that's what matters…
As I grumbled to myself, Third Elder Jeon Il-bi, who had come back after calming down the clamoring disciples, let out a hollow laugh from beside me.
"For someone who was radiating such ferocious killing intent, you look like a completely different person now."
"…Did you come here just to mock me?"
"Surely not. I'm being sincere. I haven't felt killing intent like that since I hunted down the Heavenly Killing Star when it awakened forty years ago."
"Just to be clear, I have nothing to do with the Heavenly Killing Star."
"I know that. I've seen the Heavenly Killing Star with my own eyes and even crossed swords with it, so I can say this with certainty. You're not the Heavenly Killing Star. Besides, if you were, you wouldn't be able to act like a meek lamb in front of your betrothed."
"Be honest with me. You're just messing with me, aren't you?"
In response to my words, Jeon Il-bi just cackled. Meanwhile, Tang So-wol silently finished stemming the bleeding from her wounds and even tidied up her disheveled clothes.
Then, with a serious expression, she looked me up and down before nodding with a proud smile.
"Good. This should be enough."
"Enough for what?"
"Are you saying you deliberately pretended not to know Elder Sam?"
Tang So-wol said this, then turned her gaze, which had been fixed on me, toward Elder Sam.
"Thank you for teaching my betrothed, Elder Sam."
"Heh heh. Right. I suppose I was too harsh, wasn't I? Still, I didn't expect you to be this headstrong, so I was quite taken aback. I also didn't know that such a young hero could become this docile. …You've found yourself a good betrothed."
"Yes. I think so too."
Was it because he had met Tang So-wol once before, even if only a single time? Jeon Il-bi's expression turned nostalgic.
Tang So-wol, on the other hand, seemed purely proud, her shoulders rising slightly.
That sight was irritating, yet at the same time, why did it feel so endearing?
As I stared blankly at Tang So-wol for a moment, Jeon Il-bi spoke up in a serious voice.
"Would you mind if we talked about your martial art for a bit?"
"Huh? Of course, that's fine."
"First, I've explained to the other disciples that your killing intent is just a trait of your martial art, and that you have no real intention of killing me. Your sword strikes were indeed fierce, but there was no killing move in them."
"Ah, I appreciate that."
No matter how heated a sparring match could get, I had still swung my sword at an elder of the Zhongnan Sect while radiating such thick killing intent.
If things had gone wrong, I could have been misunderstood as truly trying to kill Jeon Il-bi. But since he had explained that part well, I could breathe a little easier.
As I let out a sigh of relief, Jeon Il-bi continued.
"Then let's return to the main topic. Your martial art—you didn't learn it from anyone."
"Put that way, it sounds like I did everything on my own. There's someone else who helped me a great deal."
"Even so, the one who perfected the martial art is you, isn't it?"
"Well… I suppose so."
Although we had sparred using only Sword Art without Sword Qi, it seemed Jeon Il-bi had still seen something in me.
"What is the name of your martial art?"
"Crazy Wolf Life-Stealing Art."
"That's a name befitting the Unorthodox Sects."
"In truth, my martial art is rooted in the Unorthodox Sects."
At my answer, Jeon Il-bi, who had been pondering for a moment, cautiously opened his mouth.
"Young man. Would you perhaps become my disciple?"
"…Pardon?"
"Of course, even if you are a disciple, it would be as a lay disciple. I cannot bind the Tang Clan's son-in-law to Mount Zhongnan. I am merely asking whether you would like to learn Zhongnan's martial arts, rather than the one you currently practice."
"…"
I was momentarily taken aback by the unexpected offer. Jeon Il-bi continued in a calm, measured tone.
"You must have felt it as well. Though their roots and aspirations differ, your martial art and Zhongnan's share a certain resemblance."
"Well, of course."
"Even if you were to start learning from scratch, it wouldn't take long for you to regain your current martial level. I don't like saying this about myself, but this old man's insight far surpasses the Sect Leader's. So I can push through even somewhat unreasonable requests. For example, an advanced martial art or a Spiritual Medicine."
In short, he meant he would support me wholeheartedly. However, I couldn't sense any greed for talent from Jeon Il-bi. If anything, what I saw in him seemed closer to regret.
"It seems the Third Elder wishes for me to abandon my current martial art."
"…To be honest, that's correct."
"May I ask why?"
"Even if it's fine now, someday your martial art will devour you. I hope you don't take that lightly. I say this because, having lived a long life, I've actually seen a few people like that."
Jeon Il-bi's words were likely true. That was precisely why there were so few true masters among the Unorthodox Sects.
It is to be swept up by a martial art learned solely for the sake of becoming stronger, without a proper foundation, and to lose oneself in the process.
I too know quite a few masters who went mad from Qi Deviation. Though that is a memory from before my regression.
However, I am the exception. I would sooner hit a wall than be consumed by Qi Deviation. And that is because…
"The sword of Zhongnan carries the teachings of Zhongnan. It was an unbroken, vast Flow."
"If you wish to know more, become my disciple."
"What my sword carries is my life."
"…"
And that is because, from the moment I harbored hell within my mind's eye, I was already in a state no different from Qi Deviation.
I know it well. By the time one carries this much killing intent through life, they are no different from a madman.
Still, even so.
"This is my life—how could I flee from it?"
"…"
Jeon Il-bi mulled over my words, then gave a bitter smile and nodded.
"True enough. A man cannot abandon his own life."
"Thank you for understanding."
"I never meant to force you from the start. It's just—"
Jeon Il-bi took a moment to choose his words before speaking slowly.
"Still, remember that such an option exists."
With those words from Jeon Il-bi, I left the training ground.
His retreating figure somehow looked like that of a man utterly exhausted.
***
Back in the guest room after finishing the sparring match. Tang So-wol, who had followed me inside, had her eyes sparkling.
"So, what should we do for fun? What should we do for fun?"
"…"
I stared quietly at the door.
The lock was firmly in place, and the Vice-Captain of the Poison Blood Squad was resting in the next room.
In other words, in this room, it was just me and Tang So-wol.