The preliminaries of the Dragon and Phoenix Meeting had begun.

For Tang Sowol and me, it was a simple matter—we left deep marks on the Xuan iron block with a moderate level of sword aura, and that was it.

Now, all that remained was to wait for Seol Lihyang and Seo Mun-Hwarin to finish their sparring matches.

“That ended faster than expected. What do you want to do now, Brother Cheon?”

“The sparring matches have drawn a large crowd, so it’s possible that Lihyang and Seorin haven’t had their turns yet. Heading back to the inn without them seems a bit coldhearted, so how about we wait and leave together?”

“And take the chance to watch some of the other participants’ matches?”

“Well, something like that.”

I shrugged and turned my steps toward the dueling grounds.

As Tang Sowol and I walked for a while, we soon arrived at the Murim Alliance’s training grounds.

The grounds had been divided into multiple sections, allowing several participants to spar with Murim Alliance warriors simultaneously.

All around, the clashing sounds of weapons rang out, punctuated by cheers and sighs of disappointment.

While half-listening to the fluctuating fortunes of the competitors, I scanned the surroundings.

“As expected of the preliminaries, the overall skill level is a bit lower. But seeing so many different martial arts styles at once is quite entertaining.”

“Hm?”

“I don’t see Lihyang or Lady Seo anywhere. I suppose it’s hard to find them in such a large crowd.”

Tang Sowol and I exchanged glances and smoothly shifted the conversation.

“Yes, with so many people here, it won’t be easy to spot them.”

“Indeed. Regardless of their actual skills, witnessing such a wide variety of martial techniques in one place is a rare experience.”

We both chuckled at our awkward attempts to change the subject.

“Shall we take a more careful look around?”

“That seems like a good idea. Both Lihyang and Lady Seo stand out, so we should be able to find them soon enough.”

Seol Lihyang, thanks to her Pure Yin Physique, had grown even more beautiful, and she unconsciously exuded an alluring charm.

As for Seo Mun-Hwarin, there was no need for explanation—her strikingly long, snow-white hair would make her easy to spot at a glance.

We wandered through the crowd of spectators who had gathered to watch the matches from a distance.

However, despite our efforts, the sheer number of people made it difficult to find them.

Eventually, Tang Sowol sighed and gestured for me to come closer.

“Brother Cheon, Brother Cheon. I have a great idea—would you like to hear it?”

“What is it?”

“You should give me a shoulder ride.”

“…???”

I blinked in confusion at her sudden suggestion.

Tang Sowol chuckled at my reaction and explained further.

“If we get to a higher vantage point, we’ll have a better view. And conversely, Lihyang and Lady Seo will be able to spot us more easily.”

“…Are you serious?”

“I am always serious.”

“Hah! Fine. But if you get embarrassed and ask to come down later, don’t expect me to let you.”

“Hmph. That’s my line. You’re the one who gets embarrassed easily, aren’t you, Brother?”

Tang Sowol tilted her chin up with a playful smirk. Irritated by her provocation, I crouched down.

“Let’s see you try, then—”

“Eii!”

Before I could even finish my sentence, she eagerly climbed onto my shoulders.

The firm pressure of her thighs pressing against the sides of my face, the warmth of her body, and her familiar scent flooded my senses all at once.

I had thought she was joking, but her boldness left me momentarily frozen.

Judging by the startled expressions around us, others were just as shocked.

After all, seeing a fully grown woman riding on someone’s shoulders in such a public setting wasn’t exactly a common sight.

Though they held their tongues upon noticing her Tang Clan uniform, I could tell they were equally bewildered.

Tang Sowol, however, seemed completely unfazed.

Growing impatient with my hesitation, she lightly tapped the top of my head with her palm.

“What are you doing, Brother Cheon? Hurry and stand up. This isn’t any different from when I was standing next to you.”

“…Or could it be that after all your talk, you’re backing out now? Surely you’re not that much of a coward?”

“Tsk. What nonsense. You’re so light I barely noticed you were there.”

With a bit of unnecessary bravado, I straightened up.

Immediately, Tang Sowol squeezed her thighs tighter around my shoulders and grasped my hair for balance.

“Let go of my hair. That actually hurts.”

Sighing, I secured her by placing my hands firmly around her thighs.

Finally, she relaxed her grip on my hair and, as if in apology, gently smoothed out the strands she had ruffled.

From my perspective, all I could see were people looking at us like we were crazy, but from her vantage point, she probably had a better view.

I recalled that Tang Jincheon planned to arrive just in time for the start of the main tournament. That was fortunate.

Letting out a small sigh of relief, I continued scanning the area.

Then—

“Ah! I found them! Looks like they’re about to start!”

Tang Sowol suddenly brightened and pointed excitedly in one direction.

As we moved closer, the crowd parted as if making way for a charging carriage.

I tried to ignore the growing heat creeping up my face, forcing myself to remain nonchalant. Meanwhile, Tang Sowol simply waved with a bright smile.

“We’re over here! Over here!”

“Ngh—?!”

Seo Mun-Hwarin visibly flinched and immediately pretended not to know us.

Of course, that wouldn’t do her any good—everyone could already tell we were together.

With a flushed face, she turned her focus back to her match preparations.

Her opponent, a martial artist from the Murim Alliance, let out a wry chuckle and assumed his stance.

“You must have strong ties with the Tang Clan.”

“W-We merely happened to meet on the way here and traveled together, nothing more.”

“Hah. The ease of forming friendships is a privilege of youth. I was the same in my younger days.”

The judge overseeing the match smiled nostalgically.

Of course, considering Seo Mun-Hwarin’s actual age, that comment was more frustrating than anything else.

“…When does the match begin?”

“If you’re ready, you may start now.”

The judge, his smile fading, nodded solemnly.

Then, he unslung the spear from his back.

His upright posture, the precise angle of his raised weapon, and the unwavering stillness of his stance—all of it spoke to the years he had devoted to the path of the martial arts.

Though his talent was lacking, and he had failed to break past the Peak Stage despite approaching forty, the examiner was still a seasoned martial artist at the very peak of the first-rate level.

For evaluating the countless hopefuls participating in the Dragon and Phoenix Meeting, he was more than qualified.

Unfortunately for him, his opponent was not just any martial artist but a hidden monster—no, rather, an expert at the Flowering Stage who had refused to give up on her dreams even at an advanced age.

Was it because Seo Mun-Hwarin had decided to take the risk and introduce herself to the world as the martial artist Seorin?

Or was she simply too embarrassed by the situation and wanted to end it quickly?

Whatever the case, she revealed more of her skills than she likely intended.

Pabat!

With an explosive burst, Seo Mun-Hwarin shot forward.

Her movement technique resembled the one she had taught me but was subtly different—this was likely the original, unaltered form of Thunderclap Steps.

Kwaang!

“What?!”

Even while suppressing her internal energy to a first-rate level, her speed was astonishing.

No, rather than sheer speed, what was truly terrifying was the sudden burst of acceleration—like a bolt of lightning striking out of nowhere.

Before, I had thought Thunderclap Steps was just a movement technique that allowed a martial artist to momentarily push past their limits by forcefully surging internal energy.

But after learning its name from Jang Cheok, the Ghost Shadow Thief, I began to see it differently.

And thanks to that, I could now perceive much more.

The Thunderclap Steps Seo Mun-Hwarin had just displayed had the same fundamental principles as my own footwork. The difference was that her version wasn’t suited to me.

It was fast, flashy, and overwhelming—a technique that not only showcased the user’s power but also applied immense pressure on their opponent.

That flashy aspect was what didn’t suit me at all. That was probably why she had altered the technique before passing it on to me.

The version of Thunderclap Steps I had learned was merely fast and powerful, lacking the ostentatious display she now demonstrated.

Well, considering it was a Rising Martial Art, its flashiness wasn’t merely for show.

Flashiness, after all, could disorient an opponent’s perception.

However, it didn’t contain the deceptive illusions or misdirection one might expect. Instead, its movements were straightforward and direct.

So then, what was the purpose of the Thunderclap Steps’ flashiness?

The answer became clear almost immediately.

“Hup…!”

Startled by the sudden closing of distance, the examiner instinctively gasped and thrust his spear.

But his form had already faltered in shock, and his hasty stab wavered ever so slightly.

Watching this unfold, I realized—the technique’s flashiness transformed into oppressive pressure, forcing the opponent into making a rash move.

Considering the path of vengeance Seo Mun-Hwarin had walked in her youth, it was no surprise that her martial arts incorporated the principles of domination.

She tilted her head ever so slightly to avoid the poorly executed spear thrust, then stepped in closer.

The examiner desperately swung his spear shaft in a horizontal sweep, but—

Seo Mun-Hwarin’s Golden Silk Capture was faster.

Her delicate fingers slipped through his guard, one hand gripping his collar while the other twisted his wrist, forcing him to drop his weapon.

With his balance thrown off, she lightly kicked his calf.

Thud.

The examiner staggered before collapsing onto the ground.

His expression was one of sheer disbelief, as if he couldn’t comprehend what had just happened.

Seo Mun-Hwarin, however, looked as though she had just made a terrible mistake.

She must have realized, belatedly, that she had displayed far more of her strength than she intended.

But there was no helping it. The moment had already passed.

Waaahhh—!

A thunderous cheer erupted, the loudest yet.

Even those waiting for their turn were openly astonished by the display.

“Whoa! Brother Cheon, did you see that?! Lady Seo took down the examiner in an instant! That examiner wasn’t weak, either! No wonder she keeps her martial school a secret! She must be from some mysterious, single-lineage sect!”

“Well… something like that.”

The Seo Clan had been exterminated, and any outlaws who had stolen their techniques had been eradicated by Seo Mun-Hwarin’s hands.

She was likely the only one in all of Murim who had mastered the Seo Clan’s martial arts.

If I counted myself—having learned her movement technique—then perhaps two.

If a sect had disappeared long ago, leaving only one known survivor, then what else could people assume but that she hailed from a mysterious, single-lineage school?

Seo Mun-Hwarin awkwardly picked up the fallen spear and handed it back to the stunned examiner.

Still bewildered, he alternated between looking at his spear and at her before shouting loudly,

“Pass! Next participant, step forward!”

“Y-Yes!”

Seol Lihyang, visibly nervous, stiffly stepped forward to face her examiner.