Chapter 15 – The Servant’s Servant

Chapter 15 – The Servant's Servant

“Are you going?”

“Of course, I heard even the Family Head is attending this time?”

“It might be interesting, but isn't this a bit too embarrassing… Even if the Young Clan Leader is overseeing his training, it has only been a little over a year since the Young Master started learning martial arts.”

“Well, the outcome is obvious, but he's still a direct lineage descendant, so wouldn't he have learned at least one secret technique? Even if victory is impossible, he'll show us something.”

“Is that so? Indeed, the one who sent the invitations this time is actually the Young Ma—*huff*. Elder Brother. A-Ah, hello.”

The warriors, who had been chattering as if something interesting had happened, gulped and caught their breath upon seeing Tang Jae-shin's sharp face. Under normal circumstances, the sight of them bowing deeply and scurrying away in fear when their eyes met would have been amusing, but even such a thing did not register in Tang Jae-shin's mind at that moment.

'Is the Young Master in his right mind?'

Tang Jae-shin narrowed his brows, unable to hide his uncomfortable feelings.

No matter what anyone said, the person who was most bewildered by this situation was Tang Jae-shin. After challenging the Young Master, Tang San-ho—who had not only gotten on his nerves but had also openly picked a fight with him—to a duel, his mind was not at ease either. Why wouldn't it be? Tang San-ho was a fragile flower who rarely even stepped out of the detached villa, while he himself was a proper warrior of the Tang Clan.

However, there was definitely a desire to solidify his position using this opportunity, as well as a sense of resentment that made him want to teach him a lesson.

Yet, wasn't this going beyond that level?

Tang Jae-shin frowned, crumpling the paper held in his hand.

A single letter that had arrived not only at the quarters of the Tang Clan's leadership but also at the residences of the low-ranking warriors was the reason. That palm-sized piece of paper was an invitation to a duel, and Tang Jae-shin doubted his eyes when he saw the sender's name written at the end of the invitation.

The Dark Flower . The hidden flower of the Tang Clan.

The one called that in the Sichuan Tang Clan was none other than the other party of the duel, Tang San-ho.

As the son of the family head, he should have naturally become an outstanding warrior, but he was the Tang Clan's young master whose skill was inferior to even a third-class warrior. The maidservants blushed, saying his pale complexion—as if he had never seen the sunlight—held a sorrowful beauty, but among the warriors, a pretty face and martial power that fell short of it were merely objects of scorn.

Since it was something they could not say in front of him, they used to laughingly call him the Dark Flower of the detached villa among themselves behind his back. Its meaning would have been different if it were attached to a beautiful woman who could eclipse the moon and shame the flowers, and there was no way the Young Master did not know that this was not the case.

Yet, not only did the Young Master write that mocking nickname himself, but he also went as far as to boldly send out invitations.

'…I cannot understand it at all. When it is obvious that he will lose, is there really a need to purposely show that appearance in front of so many people?'

Instead of begging to call it off, he was stepping forward to blow the scale out of proportion, so this situation was simply bewildering. Tang Jae-shin threw the crumpled paper to the ground and walked toward the training ground.

'It is rather for the best. A fellow who does not even know his place is digging his own grave.'

No matter what his intentions were, it would not change the outcome. In any case, the one who would end up covered in dirt and begging for forgiveness would be Tang San-ho.

***

The day of the duel dawned.

I barely managed to shake off Sawol, who was fussing around—alternating between sighing and cheering for me—and headed to the sparring arena. Due to the nature of their martial arts, the aftermath of attacks could unintentionally affect bystanders, so the Tang Clan's sparring arena was much larger and wider than those of other sects, but even so, my steps halted for a moment upon seeing the arena packed with people.

It would be a lie to say I was not nervous, but I was not worried.

After all, the one who had invited all those people was also me.

When Tang Hae-soo found out that I had sent the invitations, he asked me several times what on earth I was thinking, but I only had one thing to say. I did not want to do this multiple times…

'If I achieve an impressive result this time, it will at least be quiet for the time being.'

Just then, Yu-hwa, who was outside the entrance of the sparring arena, spotted me and waved her hand with a glad expression.

“Young Master! I came to watch too.”

“Yes, am I late?”

“No, everyone arrived early because they wanted to sit in the front. Aren't you nervous?”

“That's fine, but more people came than I expected. I thought they wouldn't have much interest in a duel between low-ranking warriors.”

“Even though you sent invitations yourself? Since it's the first time the Young Master has accepted a duel, everyone must have been curious. The Young Clan Leader also praised you, saying the Young Master's martial power is not the same as before.”

……Who? Tang Hae-soo?

Having only memories of being beaten up throughout my training with Tang Hae-soo, I tilted my head in slight bewilderment. Tang Hae-soo's training, which was arduous enough to make me wonder if it was a new method of assassination, raised my achievements to a level different from before. The saying that the time and effort invested would not betray you was indeed true. I grew as much as I put in effort, and deepened as much as the time I spent.

Unfortunately, I was not the only one making an effort…

If I could just make Tang Hae-soo—who rolled me around while training alongside me without showing any signs of exhaustion—kneel just once, I would have no other wishes. But what did that Tang Hae-soo do…? Praised… me?

'He was so stingy with a single word of praise, so what did he actually say?'

When I stopped walking for a moment, Yu-hwa, who had only been blinking next to me, tapped me and said.

“Anyway, I bet on the Young Ma—… No, since I'm rooting for the Young Master. Good luck!”

Seeing Yu-hwa hastily change her words and run away, even the remaining tension faded away. The fact that I now had at least one person cheering for me was a remarkable development.

Entering the sparring arena with a much lighter heart, I felt the numerous gazes focusing on me.

“You have arrived.”

On the square sparring platform located in the center of the wide sparring arena, Tang Jae-shin stood with a confident expression. Approaching him as he anticipated an obvious victory, I cupped my fists and showed respect.

“I wish to receive a lesson from you, Elder Brother.”

“You have staged an interesting event. Did you think that doing this would make me show mercy in my strikes?”

It seemed Tang Jae-shin thought the reason I had gathered so many people was because I feared him. He assumed I intended to prevent him from launching excessive attacks since there were many eyes watching.

'It is convenient that he thinks that way on his own, but…'

Standing on the sparring platform, I glanced around. Because it was so wide, the distance between the spectators gathered to watch and the platform was far, so unless we shouted loudly, the conversation would not be heard. Since Tang Jae-shin spoke without manners anyway, I did not need to choose my words carefully either.

“Pardon? Of course not. I merely set up as many witnesses as possible. That way, when I obtain a victory over you, Elder Brother, everyone will believe that it is not a lie, will they not?”

At those words, Tang Jae-shin let out a hollow breath and made an absurd expression.

“Ha… Young Master, excessive arrogance calls for disaster. If you suffer humiliation in front of all these people, how do you intend to handle the shame?”

“I will think about that gradually.”

“If you apologize for your rudeness even now, I can let this matter go on good terms.”

“No thanks. If I win, you will apologize to Sawol.”

Why would we just let it go when I have no intention of letting it go on good terms?

I indifferently rejected his proposal and stated the condition of the duel. Then, Tang Jae-shin looked at me as if asking if I had gone mad and said.

“…You seem truly confident. Fine, if by some miracle the Young Master wins, what is a mere apology? I will even act as a servant to that servant.”

Oh. He is putting a leash on his own neck. I originally planned to do my best anyway, but if Servant No. 1 is waiting, there is no reason to refuse!

“Can you keep those words just now?”

“I swear on the honor of a warrior of the Great Sichuan Tang Clan.”

Seeing how leisurely he behaved, he had probably already completed his overwhelming victory and raised a toast in his head. As I nodded in understanding, Tang Jae-shin crookedly raised one corner of his mouth and said.

“I will yield three moves to you.”

Yielding three moves. In a duel, when there was a difference in status or when the gap in martial skill exceeded a certain level, the weaker opponent would be given three chances to attack first. Therefore, Tang Jae-shin yielding the initiative was no different from looking down on me as his inferior.

'Well… that works out.'

For me, it was a situation with nothing to lose. No, the more he underestimated me, the better. This was because I could be certain of one thing: Tang Jae-shin viewed me as weak without a single doubt.

The easiest fight in the world is a fight against someone who underestimates you.

“Yes, please guide me.”

With the greeting finished, Tang Jae-shin and I stood at the ends of the sparring platform.

Tension lingered in the air like a tightly drawn bowstring. Exhaling a long breath and opening my eyes, familiar faces watching the platform from afar came into view. And even further away, beyond the wall, the crown of a dark chestnut-colored head was sticking up.

'Oh, look at him.'

Swallowing a chuckle, I slipped my hands into my sleeves.

In a duel of the Tang Clan, the act of putting one's hand into the sleeve was equivalent to a swordsman drawing a sword from its scabbard, so Tang Jae-shin also prepared for the oncoming attack.

Everything happened in an instant.

*Paaaat!*

Along with a sharp wind-breaking sound, three Soul-Chasing Daggers flew out from my fingertips. Though they started from the same point, the three sharp tips were flying toward different directions.

One was headed toward Tang Jae-shin's neck, while the other two were directed toward his sides.

Seeing the flying daggers occupying three directions as they flew toward him, Tang Jae-shin thought.

'Among the rising stars, I am the one who has shown particularly high achievements in movement techniques. Evading a few Soul-Chasing Daggers that are like flower petals is nothing…'

*Saaak.*

However, the moment Tang Jae-shin twisted his body, a sharp Soul-Chasing Dagger brushed past his flank as if it was already too late.

“………!!”

Fortunately, the wound seeping red blood was shallow, but Tang Jae-shin could not hide his bewilderment.

It was fast.

No, this was insufficient to describe as simply fast…

The Soul-Chasing Daggers approached him as if they possessed their own will.

The trajectories of the Soul-Chasing Daggers traced by his eyes should have clearly failed to reach him. However, as if everything seen by his eyes was a complete illusion, his body occupied those trajectories. The trajectories that stretched out rapidly in straight lines curved and wrapped around right in front of him.

It was not an entirely impossible technique.

However, he did not think it was possible for the Dark Flower.

'Even though I intended to go easy on him.'

Getting wounded at only the very first move, Tang Jae-shin gritted his teeth and resolved to thoroughly grind the Young Master down after the remaining two pre-emptive attacks. His plan to end it after teaching him a moderate lesson because there were many eyes watching vanished in an instant.

'It seems the past year has not been completely useless.' Thinking so, Tang Jae-shin slightly adjusted the evaluation in his heart regarding the Young Master, whom he had completely ignored.

Five flying daggers were held in the hands that were drawn from the sleeves once again.

The action, free of hesitation, was swift.

*Shwaaaaak!*

Five Thunders Continuous Ring. Five flying daggers rushed toward Tang Jae-shin at different speeds. They were not shot from the fingertips. It was as if they were simply released, like setting loose something alive. Yet, their speed was formidable.

*Kahang! Kang! Kahang!*

Tang Jae-shin glared fiercely at the oncoming flying daggers and deflected them all. The dull pain rising from his cut flank whispered to him not to let his guard down. Yes, at this level, as long as he did not let his guard down…

But at that moment.

A sharp, tearing sound brushed past Tang Jae-shin's ear.

Simultaneously, blood dripped from beneath his earlobe, which burned as if scorched by fire.

Alas.

The final flying dagger, which he thought he had blocked, bounced off and tore his earlobe. Defense had to be perfect until the very end, so even if he was hurt by a flying dagger he had deflected, it was a clear failure.

'…I clearly felt like I blocked it properly. But the speed in that split second…'

Since the five flying daggers rushed at different speeds, he had failed to block the exact spot at the exact moment.

Tang Jae-shin had to adjust the evaluation in his heart once again. Within a year, the Young Master of the Tang Clan was displaying a martial power clearly different from before. He was not an opponent to be merely looked down upon. If he did not stay alert, more of his body would be torn apart.

The last move.

Regulating his breathing, Tang Jae-shin opened his eyes wide and prepared for the upcoming attack.

'In any case, once I block the last one, it is over. I will break both that arrogant mouth and that stiff head.'

However, a sharp flying dagger did not fly in anymore.

“………!!”

Something glittered in the air.

Falling down at a speed so thin and fast that it was nearly invisible to the eye…

'Cow-Hair Needles!'

A fine hidden weapon that was as thin as cow hair and barely visible to the eye. Since loading proper power into a hidden weapon that did not even have perceptible weight was extremely difficult, he had assumed beforehand that the Young Master would not be able to handle it yet.

It was a hasty misjudgment.

Tang Jae-shin's eyes, which shook for a moment, represented that state of mind.

Everyone watched that scene with bated breath.

Tang Jae-shin decided to evade the pouring Cow-Hair Needles instead of blocking them. The power of hidden weapons weakens the further the distance. That was even more so for Cow-Hair Needles, which were light hidden weapons. Stepping quickly with footwork, Tang Jae-shin pulled his figure back and lightly kicked off the air.

*Pipipip! Pik! Pit!*

However.

The Cow-Hair Needles that he failed to fully evade provoked sharp pains throughout his body.

Even though he had the confidence in his own movement and footwork techniques. Tang Jae-shin opened his eyes wide at the unbelievable pain.

'Just what on earth is this…?'

Thus, the three pre-emptive moves ended.

The moment he faced the clean face on the opposite side.

Only then did Tang Jae-shin realize that something had gone terribly wrong.