Episode 157: What if I’m misunderstood?
The excitement of the Little Dragon Story has become even hotter.
As the main event began, all the small stages in the Murim Alliance side story were dismantled and a large stage was set up in the center.
The stage was built in tiers so that many people could sit around it. This was done so that thousands of people could watch the performance at the same time.
The semi-finals, where the top 32 teams from each group will compete for the championship, will begin in earnest today.
If you make it into the final eight, you will definitely be admitted to the elite organization of the Murim Alliance, and even if you don’t make it to the main competition, if you catch the eye of the Murim Alliance masters, you will be given the opportunity to join the alliance. So this main competition was a really important competition for everyone.
Of course, Seo Dae-ryong was burning for another reason.
Something was awakening in his mind as a single martial artist. Up until now, Seo Dae-ryong was just a person who had learned martial arts, and through this martial arts competition, he was being reborn as a true martial artist.
Even looking at the warlords surrounding him, Seo Dae-ryong was not intimidated at all.
He was only looking at the opponent he was going to fight. I didn’t say anything. I had already said everything I needed to say to him through training. I just hope that Seo Dae-ryong has realized something through training. I believe in Seo Dae-ryong’s intelligence.
“Zhao Tang of Jangpyeong Swordsmanship in Fujian Province!”
The referee’s shout filled with internal energy erupted into cheers.
Sodang slowly came up onto the stage. His expression and his steps showed his ease and confidence. He was a skilled player who would not be at all surprised if his goal for this competition was to win.
“The Western Dragon of the Gansu Province’s Western School!”
As expected, cheers erupted. In fact, the cheers were louder for Seo Dae-ryong than for So-dang. So-dang was originally a famous late-game indexer, but Seo Dae-ryong was a new master from an unknown school who had made a sensation and made it to the main event. As much as people were rooting for the strong, they were also hoping for a surprise from the new master.
Seo Dae-ryong, who was listening to the cheers, looked back at me under the stage.
He sent me a telegram.
-I’ll make last night’s dream a dream and come down.
What needs to be said in this situation?
Instead of giving words of encouragement, I nodded vigorously with a look of trust in my eyes.
The match between the two began with the referee’s signal.
Sodang was a warrior who had truly learned swordsmanship from a young age.
The attacks were sharp and the defense was solid. The defense in particular was perfect, like an impregnable fortress, and was not shaken by any attack.
I knew very well what kind of frustration Seo Dae-ryong felt. Fortunately for Seo Dae-ryong, it was a frustration he had experienced enough before coming up to this stage.
‘Don’t get involved!’
Usually, he couldn’t stand this frustration and would attack recklessly, only to be counterattacked. The essence of Sodang’s swordsmanship was in counterattacking.
Rather, if you can make your opponent feel frustrated, you will definitely be able to find a weak point. However, I did not tell Seo Dae-ryong this answer. I wanted him to find it on his own.
The sword and the sword created sparks.
Those who were watching held their breath. It was a battle of high-level competitors, but it was too high-level for it to be called a duel between the later indexes.
Seo Dae-ryong was aggressive but never rushed. He was drawing his own big picture. The title of the picture was Patience. He had found the answer on his own.
After hundreds of moves, the picture was completed as he succeeded in making his opponent nervous. If the match were to be decided by the referee’s decision, it would seem that the aggressive Seo Dae-ryong would have the advantage.
The impatience that had been created in reverse revealed a very small vulnerability, and Seo Dae-ryong did not miss that moment.
Phew!
Seodaeryong’s sword cut Sodang’s arm deeply. Blood spurted out, causing Sodang to drop the sword he was holding.
Although Sodang tried to fight more despite his serious injury, the referee stepped in and declared Seo Dae-ryong the winner.
There was cheering from both of them. Regardless of the win or loss, it was a great match worthy of the main event.
Seo Dae-ryong, who came down to the stage, sat down without being able to stand properly.
Many people were watching him, but he didn’t care. Rather, the sight of him sitting on the floor in a daze seemed more human to everyone, so everyone who passed by gave him a round of applause and showed their respect, and some even applauded from afar.
I didn’t say anything. Not because there were people watching, but because I wanted to let Seo Dae-ryong fully enjoy the feeling of this moment by himself.
Among those who congratulated him was a woman who had previously cheered for Seo Dae-ryong.
“Congratulations on your victory!”
When he saw her smiling brightly, Seo Dae-ryong jumped up from his seat.
“thank you.”
The woman smiled and turned away, and Seo Dae-ryong sat down next to me again.
“You were dying just a moment ago, but now you look like you might be able to jump in again?”
After confirming that the woman had gone far away, Seo Dae-ryong shook his head and sat down again.
“No, I can’t do it even if I die. It was really hard. The next opponent will be stronger, right?”
“I guess so. Why? Do you want to give up?”
“Yes, please send me home!”
“What are you going to say at the drinking party? Are you going to say that you came back because you were too scared and tired at the last minute? Of course, Jang Gun-joon and Ian are so kind that they would comfort you. That’s enough. But inside, you’d think, If it were me, I would have challenged you to the end. Every time I see you, I think, If it were me, I would have… … .”
“Stop it.”
I smiled and held out my hand. Seo Dae-ryong grabbed my hand tightly and stood up.
“Thank you. If you hadn’t been my lord, I would never have won.”
“It wasn’t an opponent you could beat just by practicing. You did well.”
“This is really driving me crazy. When you beat that guy and there’s cheering from all directions, it’s just crazy.”
“If you’re really crazy, you’re crazy. If you’re just a little crazy, no one can deal with you. Be just a little crazy.”
When I returned to the guest house after chatting about this and that, an unexpected person was waiting for me.
Jin Ha-ryeong was eating noodles in the guest house.
Seo Dae-ryong and I stopped for a moment at the entrance. Seo Dae-ryong spoke with concern.
“I guess that lady’s favorite thing must be noodles.”
“What are you talking about all of a sudden?”
“If you know this, why are you doing this? A woman of such high status came here again just to eat noodles?”
“I guess you came today to get treatment.”
“What treatment?”
“My pride was hurt.”
“Did you do it on purpose?”
I couldn’t deny that question. At least I was trying my best to get closer to her.
“It’s all because of Cheonmyeonghoe.”
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“The problem is that she doesn’t know that.”
Seo Dae-ryong went straight up to the guest room, and I walked towards her.
* * *
Jin Ha-ryeong saw the hand of Geommu-geuk walking towards him. He thought it was smoother and whiter than the hand that had been extended to him while he was hanging from the cliff in his dream.
The sword dance came to the place and greeted them.
“It’s three days since the rain? Our master’s day was today.”
I really have to admit that this servant is very friendly. I’ve only seen him a couple of times, but he talks to me so comfortably that I feel like I’ve known him for a long time.
“Can I sit down for a moment?”
She nodded.
“Please pay for the noodles today before you leave.”
“Excuse me?”
“It was the same the first time we met, and the second time too, he just left, so I paid for the drinks and food.”
For a moment, she panicked. Thinking back, it was definitely the second time. She was so angry that she got up and left. Was it the first time too?
In her entire life, had she ever taken money from anyone? It was an obvious mistake. Her face turned slightly red. This man keeps embarrassing people like this.
So you came to my dream? Asking me to pay you back?
I tried to take control from the beginning, but it turned out that I ended up getting the upper hand.
“How much is it? I forgot.”
“No, please buy me noodles and drinks twice from now on.”
You want to meet me again with that excuse? I started to think that maybe this innocent-looking guy was a womanizer.
‘It won’t be easy. There must be more than one or two guys like you.’
If you were to line up the men who want to change their lives by marrying her, you could exaggerate a bit and build a wall around the Murim Alliance. If you listen to and watch the process of coveting her background and appearance, you might even develop a hatred for men that you never had before.
“I’ll pay you back today. Eat whatever you want instead of noodles.”
“No, I don’t feel like it today.”
Such a firm refusal from a servant! She felt like she had really become a maid and ordered a drink.
“I need a drink.”
She ordered me a drink. After drinking two glasses in quick succession, she finally told me what had happened that day.
“Honestly, I was angry that day. When I was about to honestly introduce myself to my friend as a servant, you told him first that you were a priest. So I felt like I had lied to my friend, and I was angry.”
What difference will it make if I say this?
It was because of my crazy personality that I had to say what I wanted to say even though I knew it.
She met the gaze of the swordsman.
It was a gaze that did not match the servant’s gaze. It was calm and deep, but it was never possible to know what was inside, and it resembled the gaze of my late father and my grandfather, who was the leader.
With those eyes, Geommugeuk asked calmly.
“Why do you keep worrying about that?”
At that moment, she said to herself, I really hate this personality.
“I don’t want to be misunderstood.”
“I’m worried that I might look like I’m ignoring the clock.”
“Yes. I’m not that kind of person.”
“What if I am misunderstood?”
“I don’t like it.”
“Have you ever thought that such feelings might lead to you ignoring the other person even more?”
At that moment, she flared up.
“What does that mean?”
“Servants are also people. They think just like their masters, but they are just careful with their words. If someone ignores a servant from the beginning, we can ignore them as well, thinking that that’s the kind of person they were from the beginning.”
“So does that mean my consideration is worse than that of someone who ignores his servants?”
“No, that’s not it, but let me ask you one thing. Is that consideration for the other person? Is it consideration for you?”
“!”
For a moment, Jin Ha-ryeong flinched.
“Ah, it would be good to be considerate of the young lady. But you shouldn’t get caught. If we get caught, we’ll have to be that serious. Ah, eating and talking with us is something you have to worry about so much. You have to try so hard not to hurt us. You have to be so careful. You even think about things you don’t have to think about. It’s for the young lady’s peace of mind.”
Jin Ha-ryeong couldn’t say anything. Her face was flushed red. She really didn’t know what to say because it was something she had never thought about before.
I felt wronged and angry. I guess I’ll kick off the blanket after I get home and regret it, thinking, ‘I should’ve answered like that back then.’
Is that why you appeared in my dream?
This thought led to self-reproach again.
‘Ah! I am so selfish.’
Even at this moment, he was only worried about himself. He was trying to bandage up his wounded pride by saying that the servant appeared in his dream and that it was because the servant was someone who said such unexpected things.
“You are always so arrogant on the subject. Do you think it is an honor to have dinner with me?”
After speaking coldly, she added.
“Is this what you mean?”
“Yes. How good is that? If I were a young lady, I would think the same way. Most people eating here would do the same. So, young lady, do the same. Don’t think too deeply. You’ll hurt yourself if you do.”
She stared at the man for a moment, then suddenly got up.
“No! Who are you to scold me? You’re a young and greenhorn!”
Now, as if she was going to do as she had been taught, she spoke her mind without hesitation.
“I admit it. And it suits you well. Take it off this time and live comfortably.”
“Shut up, you little bastard!”
She got angry and just left the place.
Soon after, Seo Dae-ryong came over as if he had been waiting and sat down across from me. It seemed like he had been secretly peeking at me from the top of the stairs leading up to this floor.
Seo Dae-ryong said, sipping the drink she had left behind.
“Fated love always ends in tragedy.”
How could Geommugeuk not know that he was saying this out of concern for himself? But since the atmosphere was not serious, Geommugeuk slyly teased him.
“How can love be so easy? Even if you’re in the same organization, it’s not easy to achieve. You know better than anyone else, right?”
Seo Dae-ryong had a meal with his favorite junior from Hwangcheon-gak, but there was no progress.
“Do you really have to hit me where it hurts? I have ladies who support me too!”
Geommugeuk smiled as he looked at Seodaeryong, who was sticking out his lips.
Daeryong-ah, I can’t do fateful love even if I want to. The moment I start loving, the fate called Hwamugi will surely say this. How dare you play love when I’m here? As long as that fate is coming towards me, love is nothing but a luxury to me, like the song that the drunkard sings. So right now, I don’t even have time to feel my heart, or even its heartbeat, right?
“Inspector Seo, let’s go do some martial arts training.”
“Yes! For defeated monkeys like us, cultivation is the only way to survive!”
“It’s us!”
And when I woke up, I realized that Jin Ha-ryeong had left without paying the bill again today.
