Chapter 19 : Jaseung, Senses Fate

Chapter 19: Jaseung, Senses Fate

Nineteen daggers spun around Lee Jaseung.

The first form of the Yama’s Dagger Art was in play, and in that moment, the daggers moved as if they were alive, full of life and precision.

The Dagger of Unshakable Stillness was a technique that allowed one to launch multiple daggers while standing still.

Despite it being a basic technique of the Yama’s Dagger Art, Lee Jaseung didn’t use it often, simply because of his preference.

He favored close combat, piercing and slashing with a dagger rather than throwing them from a distance.

But when it came to subduing distant enemies efficiently, this technique was not something to be neglected considering its utility.

Swish, swish, swish, swish!

Daggers orbiting around Lee Jaseung shot out in succession.

Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack!

They struck a tree with perfect spacing, not a hair-off target.

Despite his Qi converting to pure Yang, he was now able to use the Yama’s Dagger Art without the slightest discomfort.

His techniques, fueled by 240 years worth of inner Qi, had become much sharper and powerful than before.

The shift to pure Yang brought a qualitative leap, while the increase in inner Qi brought a quantitative enhancement.

Lee Jaseung clearly became stronger. It was all thanks to the pill he obtained from the metal box.

But he had not yet practiced the new technique he gained from the box. Every day, he merely recalled it in his mind.

It was a foolish thing to recklessly learn a higher-level martial art just because it was stronger.

He believed training required the right timing. Especially when it came to a mysterious martial art that he didn’t know the origin of.

When he stretched out his hand, the daggers embedded in the tree flew back smoothly back into his grasp.

Now, he was planning to try something new starting with the Dagger of Unshakable Stillness.

He picked up one dagger after calming his Qi. He then infused it with pure Yang, well beyond what a normal dagger could handle.

When it vibrated as if it were about to explode, he quickly wrapped it in protective energy.

The force of explosion and the force to contain clashed in a tense standoff.

Swish!

Lee Jaseung threw the dagger. His target wasn’t the tree this time, but a large rock next to it.

Boom! The dagger exploded with an explosive sound. He had applied just enough protective energy to the dagger so it would explode right on impact.

It was a supreme technique, and it was only possible thanks to the nature of his Qi.

The explosion caused the rock to shatter, scattering into dust.

It felt like it could become a highly effective attack if refined well, especially against multiple enemies or catching an opponent off guard.

Just then, he heard a voice from behind.

“You’re not planning to turn your tournament opponents into dust with that technique, are you?”

Lee Jaseung turned around, and Dan Woobin stood a short distance away.

He replied bluntly.

“If I must.”

Knowing it was a joke, Dan Woobin took it as it.

“As long as I’m not the one turned to dust, I’m fine. Anyway, it’s time to go. You’ve got two matches today, one soon and another in the afternoon.”

“I’ll go alone.”

“I’ll escort you.”

“No need. I’m sure you have a lot of work to do, so you are excused.”

“Understood.”

As he turned to leave, Dan Woobin spoke with a smile.

“You have to hold it in even if someone ticks you off.”

* * *

“I heard Young Master Hae of the Righteous Chivalrous Sword Clan entered the tournament.”

Baek Seolyoung became shocked at Chu Sang-gi’s report.

“Young Master Hae?”

“Yes, it seemed like he joined despite his family’s opposition.”

Baek Seolyoung sighed deeply. Anyone else, she would have investigated their motives, but Haeryang’s case was different.

She knew him ever since childhood. They weren’t friends, but were familiar with each other.

They met at various public events, and as she noticed that his gaze towards her had gradually grown intense, he confessed his feelings around six months ago.

At the time, she firmly rejected him, saying that she had no intention of seeing anyone. She assumed that he had given up as he’s been quiet since, but that wasn’t the case.

Chu Sang-gi spoke with a slightly flushed face.

“I hope Young Master Hae wins.”

She understood why he said those words. It was hundreds, no, thousands of times better for him to win than people like those insects from yesterday.

“Fine, let’s just say I gave up. But what about him? Would he really live a happy life with a woman who doesn’t love him?”

“He might.”

“What?”

Chu Sang-gi gazed at her with a strangely serious look.

“Men are happy simply by being with the woman they love.”

It was a valid point, but also a stretch.

“Do you really believe he loves me sincerely?”

“Huh?”

“What does it mean to love someone sincerely? All he knows is I’ll inherit the Northern Sky Clan and what I look like. He knows nothing about my personality, my favorite food, or how I live. How do you even call that true love?”

“Maybe he did research on you?”

“Does that mean he knows me as a person? That’s just investigating.”

“There’s such a thing as love at first sight, you know?”

“Yes, I’m sure he fell in love for my looks, and my clan’s power.”

Chu Sang-gi wasn’t able to refute her words, but it felt like he saw a ray of light in the darkness.

Hae Ryang was young, handsome, and even came from a good background. Not knowing who was in the tournament, he was a perfect match.

“Which arena is he in?”

“Nineteenth arena.”

After a moment of thought, Baek Seolyoung decided to meet him. He may have joined for emotional reasons, but she didn’t host it for the same reason.

Moreover, she wasn’t fond of the fact that the Righteous Chivalrous Sword Clan was getting involved. Especially if he won, it would complicate everything.

“Prepare to go out.”

* * *

Baek Seolyoung arrived at the nineteenth arena an hour later.

Twenty fierce matches were going on at once in those stages.

She planned to meet and scold Hae Ryang, and tell him to stop doing what he’s doing.

Without having to search, she immediately knew where he was fighting. After all, there was an unusually huge crowd at one stage.

As she approached, her gaze fell on a different stage. Her steps suddenly stopped there.

‘That person is…?’

She was shocked. It was Lee Jaseung who was standing on the stage. She never imagined he’d enter the tournament.

Right then, the match began.

“Woahhh!”

Cheers erupted from the other stage. It seemed like Hae Ryang got on the stage.

But Baek Seolyoung didn’t walk over there. She was curious to see how Lee Jaseung fought.

Her gaze shifted to his opponent. It was a middle-aged man wielding a long staff, and she knew this person.

It was Gyo Baek, a master of the Fourteen Autumn Winds Staff.

He was famous and was a master when it came to staff techniques.

Could Lee Jaseung really handle a foe like him?

If she had to bet on this match, she would obviously put her money on Gyo Baek.

The duel began with the judge’s shout.

Swish! Swoosh!

As soon as the match began, Gyo Baek attacked first, thrusting rapidly with his staff.

Lee Jaseung weaved left and right to evade.

Judging by the sharp whooshing sound the staff made, it seemed like it was made with steel, not wood. A single hit would shatter one’s bone with that kind of force.

Lee Jaseung continued to dodge the attacks with close calls every time. Of course, that was intended. In truth, making it seem like they were equal in strength was much harder than defeating an opponent in one blow.

Over twenty exchanges were made.

Swoosh!

Lee Jaseung dodged the attack aimed for his side, and grabbed the staff.

“Got you!”

Gyo Baek quickly twisted his staff. He purposely set up a trap for his opponent to grab his staff.

It was to break the opponent’s wrist by quickly twisting it.

“Ugh!”

But Gyo Baek screamed and let go the next moment.

To the spectators, it seemed like he made a mistake while resisting disarmament.

However, what actually happened was his Qi sent into his staff was rebounded to him which broke his own wrist.

Gyo Baek held onto his wrist in pain and stared at Lee Jaseung. He couldn’t understand what happened.

The judge concluded that the match was over and announced Lee Jaseung’s victory.

“Victory to Seop Mu-pyeong of the Flying Dagger Sect!”

The few spectators watching gave an applause.

Baek Seolyoung quickly turned away, worried he might see her.

‘Seop Mu-pyeong, so that was his name. I didn’t even know until now.’

It was their third encounter already. Coincidence kept repeating.

Baek Seolyoung walked toward Hae Ryang’s stage.

His match had just ended as well. Cheers erupted, celebrating Hae Ryang’s victory.

Instead of coming down from the stage, Hae Ryang looked around for someone. A guard had told him that she came here through a voice transmission.

He spotted her immediately. Even though she was wearing a hat with a veil, her body made her stand out.

“Lady Baek!”

Baek Seolyoung quickly turned away when he called out to her. She didn’t expect him to call her out in front of a large crowd like this.

As she tried to leave, Hae Ryang leaped toward her.

Flying over the crowd, she landed right in front.

“You came to see my match, Lady Baek!”

Unlike him who was overjoyed, Baek Seolyoung’s face was filled with annoyance under her veil.

How could one be so careless!

Hae Ryang failed to hide his emotions right now. He was ordered by his father to withdraw from the tournament, but he ignored it and fought again today.

He was very conflicted, but he lost all reason when he heard that Baek Seolyoung had come.

The only thing in his mind was her. He believed that she came to watch his match.

The crowd started to gather around after hearing Hae Ryang. Then, someone shouted.

“Woah! It’s Baek Seolyoung!”

“It’s the Lord of the Northern Sky Clan!”

Cheers rang out for Baek Seolyoung and her clan. Because of that, the fights in the nearby stages paused to watch her.

Baek Seolyoung realized she couldn’t just leave. After regaining her composure, she walked toward the arena Hae Ryang fought on.

Starting with Chu Sang-gi her guards revealed themselves and surrounded her, making a wall.

After getting onto the stage, she took her veil hat off. Cheers rang out from all around her. A man close to her even collapsed after seeing her beauty.

“She's the most beautiful woman in the world!”

“Long live Baek Seolyoung!”

The cheers she got dwarfed Hae Ryang’s.

After waiting for the crowd to quiet down, Baek Seolyoung spoke with a smile.

“I intended to watch quietly, but I was discovered.”

Laughter followed. She remained calm despite being in front of many people.

“Thank you all for coming to this tournament. It holds personal meaning to me and marks the revival of a long-awaited formal martial arts competition. I hope this event brings forth many heroes who will uphold the world.”

Thunderous applause exploded from the crowd after she finished. She never once mentioned Hae Ryang, nor even looked at him once.
He was hurt by it.

After bowing to the crowd, she left the stage.

Hae Ryang rushed to greet her.

But her gaze was ice cold. He wanted to say something, but he couldn’t.

While walking past him, she spoke to him quietly.

“If you thought this would make me like you, then you understand nothing about women, or you’re just terribly careless.”

Her words stabbed him like a dagger.

“I-I just… “

He wasn’t able to mutter a word. He was also hurt that she didn’t understand his feelings toward her. As he stood still in conflict, she coldly turned away.

As Baek Seolyoung tried to leave quickly, she came to a stop.

Lee Jaseung was standing among the crowd.

Their eyes met.

Lee Jaseung was rather shocked inside. He didn’t think that she was Baek Seolyoung, the Lord of the Northern Sky Clan. Baek Seolyoung was shocked as well, seeing him participating in the tournament.

Their gazes tangled for a moment, then untangled naturally as she walked on.

Lee Jaseung watched her back, recalling Dan Woobin’s words from yesterday.

“What if you run into her again? Would it still be a coincidence?”

He firmly said it would be a coincidence, but he had to change that answer if she was Baek Seolyoung, the Lord of the Northern Sky Clan.

He also had to accept it.

Whether fate or ill-fate,

They were bound by destiny.

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