Chapter : 11
My Chance Encounter Is a Status Window (11)
When I opened my eyes again…
I was at Kaifeng’s clinic.
Gwak Eun waited until I came to my senses.
I was truly grateful.
Luckily, my silver was untouched.
As expected of people from a great clan—they didn’t lay a hand on someone else’s money.
The wound wasn’t that serious, so treatment ended quickly.
After two days of proper rest, I recovered.
Then I went to the Martial Alliance, which stood grandly at the center of Kaifeng, to apply for the White Tiger Squad examination.
The entry fee—nine whole taels of silver.
Look at that, they put another gate in front of the preliminary round.
The evaluation would take place a week later.
Since I still had time, I needed to stay at a nearby inn. I decided to stay at the high-class inn where Gwak Eun was already lodging, since we’d gotten fairly close.
It cost two full taels a day—an outrageous sum, but…
Once I entered the White Tiger Squad, I wouldn’t need money anymore. So I spent it.
And more importantly—
“Hohohong. The dumplings here are pretty good.”
Gwak Eun was adorable.
First, she was pretty.
A bit chatty, yes, but fun enough that I never felt bored.
“Eat up.”
“What about you, Dancheon-nim? You’re big—shouldn’t you eat more?”
“I already ate a lot.”
“Really? Then I’ll have one more.”
“Yes.”
Such a tiny body… how does all that food go in?
She’s slim as a reed…
Does she just poop a lot?
Truly a wonder.
“Elder Gwak Hoe… is he really gone for good?”
“Yes. I told him I could travel this far by myself, but he insisted it was too dangerous… hohoho.”
It was dangerous.
If Maeng Sopyeong and Gwak Eun fought, Maeng would win for sure.
Knowing her personality, Gwak probably would’ve charged at him even if alone.
The martial world was dangerous enough, and her temperament made it more nerve-wracking.
Sending her out alone must have been unbearable for Elder Gwak—no wonder he followed.
In that case… is this inn safe?
What if someone suddenly ambushes us—would Gwak Eun be in danger?
Has Mount Hua earned anyone’s grudges?
After Maeng Sopyeong roughed me up, anxiety just kept creeping back and multiplying.
For someone like Gwak Eun, kidnapping or threats seemed possible. Didn’t her clan leave her too unattended…?
“Ah. I’m full.”
“Shall we go up?”
“What are you going to do in your room?”
“I’ll do some personal training…”
“Wow. You really work hard.”
You should try working hard too!
The exam’s right around the corner and she thinks only about playing.
Yesterday she dragged me out to look around Kaifeng.
We had sweets on the street—it was fun, sure, but…
Afterward, I felt guilty.
What if that little difference in effort makes me fail the finals?
My confidence really crashed, huh? Heh…
In a way, good thing I ran into Maeng Sopyeong.
He showed me exactly what I am—
A puppy who’s never seen real thunder.
A frog in a well.
He taught me that.
The world is huge, and full of the strong.
I beat up a few mountain bandits and got cocky—idiot.
If I fight people properly trained, I’ll be shattered.
I didn’t even know meridian strikes—no wonder I fumbled…
I learned sloppily without any foundational theory—my learning is full of holes.
Not knowing what I don’t know—that’s the real danger.
I only realized meridian strikes even existed after Maeng used one on me.
I entered my room.
Third floor, third room from the inside.
The inn was enormous—rooms everywhere.
Let’s go with Flowing Water today.
Yesterday I practiced Gale, so today was Flowing Water’s turn.
Training heats me up, so I left the door open.
No guest next door anyway.
They should at least lower the price if the rooms don’t fill.
Charging two taels a night—that’s why they’re half empty!
Huff—huff huff.
I drilled Flowing Water’s chained movements nonstop.
Seizing limbs, twisting, pushing off—continuous flowing motion.
I focused for nearly two hours without a break.
The more I train, the sharper my concentration becomes.
Mm?
Just as I was wrapping up—
I sensed someone and turned.
A young man in a neat green outfit stood at my door.
“What is it?”
“Ah—! Sorry. I watched without meaning to.”
What the—?
Spying on someone’s training?
No manners at all.
I stepped outside.
He seemed around Gwak Eun’s age—late teens.
Clean features, born to refinement.
Lean and well-trained body.
A martial artist.
I could tell.
My senses have gotten decent now.
“What do you want?”
“Ah—greetings. My name is Dang Jisang. From Sichuan.”
Sichuan?
Dang Jisang?
No way—Sichuan Dang Clan?
I’ve heard of them… aren’t they a famed family?
“I’m Dancheon.”
“Yes, Young Master Dancheon. Forgive me, but… do you practice hidden weapons?”
Hidden weapons?
What is this guy on about?
I don’t train anything like that, fool.
“Not at all.”
“Ahh, I see. The movements I saw looked like hidden weapon drills—so I rudely asked.”
Ahh.
He mistook Flowing Water’s hand motions?
Fair enough.
All the grabbing, twisting, tossing could look like flicking darts.
“You’re from the Sichuan Dang Clan?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Are you here for the White Tiger assessment?”
“Yes. You too, Young Master?”
“Yes.”
“Oho! What fate. I’ve taken the room right beside yours.”
Wow…
Dancheon, look at you—moving up in the world.
Chatting with scions of noble clans. Heh.
And he’s surprisingly humble—no airs at all despite his clan.
People with everything rarely act like that.
“Do you have company?”
“No. I traveled alone from Sichuan to Kaifeng. A very long journey.”
“As welcome, let me buy you dinner.”
“Ohh! I won’t refuse.”
“Drop your bags and join me.”
“Understood.”
After he unpacked, we went to the inn’s dining hall.
I had him wait a moment, then brought Gwak Eun from the second floor.
“This is Miss Gwak Eun—from Mount Hua Sect.”
“Pleased to meet you. I am Dang Jisang of the Sichuan Dang Clan.”
“Hohoho, I’m Gwak Eun.”
Dinner was lively.
Both were cheerful, so they bonded fast.
“So the elder uncle and senior aunt—were they secretly dating?”
“Haha, indeed. Guess how it turned out?”
“I don’t know! Tell me!”
“Heeey, where’s the fun in that? Make a guess.”
“Hmm… Cave retreat? Or wall-facing meditation?”
“Close but no. The aunt took poison and ended her life.”
“Eeeeh!? Really?”
“Yes. Though people argue—suicide? Or staged suicide and murder…”
She actually seems to chat better with him than with me.
Sichuan and Mount Hua—their shared big-clan upbringing gave them endless topics.
Stories only they understood spilled out.
Time just melted away.
“By the way… where did you learn martial arts, Young Master Dancheon?”
“Oh! I always wondered too. I kept meaning to ask and forgot.”
My martial arts?
The status window taught me.
Ha… what am I even supposed to say?
Nothing comes to mind…
“If it’s hard to answer, you needn’t force yourself.”
“Yes! Young Master Dang—don’t ask hard questions!”
“Haha, my mistake.”
“As punishment, buy us a plate of dumplings.”
“Gladly. You there—waiter!”
When I faltered, Dang Jisang backed off immediately.
Gwak Eun scolded him for me.
“Anyway—what do you think the finals will be?”
“Well… the host clan is the Beggars’ Sect, right?”
“Yes. Since Beggars’ Sect is running it… I feel they’ll use something bizarre…”
Dang and Gwak were exempt from preliminaries since they were from reputable sects.
Preliminaries are only for nobodies like me.
So they were already fretting about the finals.
“What kinds have there been other years?”
“If a great clan hosts, it’s mostly duels. If a sect hosts, sometimes they judge forms or internal strength—but mostly duels again.”
So duels are the main thing.
Simple and decisive.
“But the Beggars’ Sect is different. They host once every eight years, and have never used duels.”
Dang shook his head.
Nice—having an info source is great.
“What was it eight years ago?”
“A lightness-skill race. First to reach a destination wins. Hahaha.”
“Long-distance?”
“Yes, extremely long. From Kaifeng to Luoyang.”
Ohoo.
Long-distance qinggong race.
Even better.
I survived a long-range qinggong run once already. Heh.
Just run till my lungs burn, right?
“Don’t assume it’s just a race. Applicants fought constantly along the way.”
“Fought?”
“Yes. Everyone was a rival.”
“Ah…”
I get it.
People yanked each other by the hair?
Damn. So it wasn’t a race—it was a massive brawl.
“So basically, a duel.”
“In a sense, yes.”
The Martial Alliance is a force of arms.
Of course they’d pick fighters.
“Do you feel confident, Young Master Dang?”
“Confident of what?”
“If the finals turn out to be duels.”
“Of course. Entering the White Tiger Squad will pose no problem.”
I see.
No idea what he’s basing that on, but I guess his sect knows his level.
And me?
I have no clue.
The bandits I fought were too weak.
Maeng Sopyeong was too strong.
No middle ground.
I need to spar someone around my level.
Someone preparing for the same trial…
Oh.
There is.
Right here.
Two of them.
Gwak Eun—and Dang Jisang.
Gwak is a girl, and the memory of Elder Gwak holds me back a little.
But Dang?
Polite, graceful.
Feels like he’d fight clean, no grudges.
“Young Master Dang.”
“Yes?”
“Um… could I ask a favor?”
“Certainly.”
“W-would you spar with me?”
The next morning.
A vacant field near the Yellow River, far from the inn.
Me, Dang Jisang, and Gwak Eun walked out together.
She would be the witness.
“I won’t use poison. My hidden weapons are as you see.”
Dang showed the small bead-shaped darts tucked between his fingers.
Do people usually show hidden weapons before a match?
“I understand.”
I didn’t, but I said so anyway.
“If someone gives up or I deem it necessary, I’ll stop the fight.”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
Gwak Eun’s expression was serious.
Last night she was giggling saying how fun it’d be—now she’s all solemn.
“Alright. Take ten steps back, both of you.”
“Yes.”
We widened the gap.
Dang’s request—makes sense, with his weapon style.
“Begin!”
At Gwak Eun’s shout, Dang leapt back, widening the distance. At the same instant, hidden weapons poured from his sleeves.
I see them!
I saw them.
The bead-shaped darts he showed earlier.
Tiny spheres arcing toward me.
Not slow.
Extremely fast—but not so fast I couldn’t respond.
Focus!
Trigram Step – Trickle Dodge
I treated the incoming darts like obstacles and ran my footwork.
—Swish!
A dart grazed my cheek.
But only grazed.
Of the five or six darts he threw, only that one brushed me.
The rest I dodged cleanly.
The sound of darts digging into the ground told me I’d succeeded.
A hopeful sound.
Go! Close the distance!
I pushed off hard and charged.
Dang was quick, but I could catch him.
This was doable!
Maeng Sopyeong was simply a bad matchup.
But you, Jisang…
You’re on my level.
Let’s have ourselves a proper playdate. Hehehe.
