Chapter 156 - A Meaningless Dream or a Prophetic One

Jin Haryeong was being chased by someone.

Unable to shake her pursuer, she finally used her lightness arts to leap into a tree. She concealed herself among the branches, not even daring to breathe audibly.

Her pursuer ran past the tree, then suddenly stopped.

Like a predator catching a scent, he slowly turned, then raised his head to look up into the tree. His face was blank, like a monster's.

She tried to scream, but no sound escaped her mouth. She launched herself away again and fled.

Just as the distance between them was shrinking, someone came running toward her and viciously kicked the man pursuing her in the face.

THUD!

The faceless pursuer tumbled away and vanished.

Her rescuer had long, loose hair and a face covered in a thick beard. Where had she seen this man before?

The next moment, she cried out, "You're that servant?"

The instant she realized he was the man she had met at the inn, Jin Haryeong's eyes flew open and she awoke. She had actually spoken those last words as she woke.

She rarely dreamed, and she had never had a dream this strange before.

She was drenched in sweat, as though she had spent the whole night being chased.

A dream about being chased was one thing, but why had that particular man appeared to save her? Was it because mistaking the servant for the master that day had lingered in her mind?

She pictured the bearded servant's face. She had seen it only once, yet she remembered it clearly. It was the same face she had seen in her dream. She normally had trouble remembering faces, so recalling his so vividly was a novel experience.

"Are you all right?"

The voice of her bodyguard, Chu Ho, came from outside.

"I'm fine. I had a nightmare."

"The Young Dragon Tournament must have you on edge."

"Probably."

"Please don't worry too much, my lady. No one can defeat you."

"I'm going to rest some more. Don't disturb me today."

"Yes, my lady."

A little while later, however, she slipped out of her quarters without Chu Ho knowing and entered the inn where she had eaten noodles.

Every seat was occupied. The tournament had brought crowds everywhere.

She spotted a man drinking in a corner. It was the servant from her dream. She had come thinking he might be here, and there he was.

She had not come for noodles today. She wanted to meet that servant again—to see whether he really was someone worth appearing in her dreams.

But she soon shook her head with a disbelieving laugh.

How ridiculous was it to come looking for a servant from some backwater sect just because he had appeared in her dream? She turned to leave, but someone called to her from behind.

"Have you come for noodles?"

She turned to find the servant on his feet, looking at her.

That drew the attention of everyone nearby. Several people who recognized her looked startled. Thinking they would find it strange if she simply turned and left now, she calmly walked over and sat across from him.

Then she ordered noodles and wine.

"I didn't think you would share a table with me."

"Why not?"

"You learned last time that I'm a servant."

"You mean I'm too highborn to dine with a servant?"

"Aren't you?"

The corners of Jin Haryeong's mouth lifted slightly at his blunt question.

"That's right."

His look of having known it all along irritated her, so she added, "But it isn't because the other person is a servant. It's because they feel uncomfortable. They can't seem to eat properly with me sitting in front of them."

"Ah, that's a relief, then. I won't feel uncomfortable at all."

A servant acting so confidently before the Martial Alliance Leader's granddaughter?

'He must know who I am by now.'

She had never encountered anyone like him. He truly had no idea how the world worked. Even the successors of prestigious orthodox sects were exceedingly careful around her. They would never dream of asking such a sensitive question.

"You always seem to be alone."

In truth, she rarely socialized with anyone, servant or otherwise.

She preferred solitude and did not even enjoy conversations like this. That made her own decision to come here feel strange.

She had come out wondering whether she had dreamed of him because her subconscious had sensed something special about him.

She stole a glance at him. His hair was unkempt, his beard scraggly. There was really nothing worth looking at.

'A meaningless dream. That's all it was.'

Whether he knew what she was thinking or not, he remained perfectly at ease with her.

"Oh, my young master has advanced to the main tournament as well."

She had heard the rumors about him. Chu Ho had told her that he had caused an upset and reached the main tournament. His sect must have spent all its time practicing martial arts in the countryside, oblivious to the ways of the world. That would explain how he had made it so far. This man alone, so ignorant of worldly matters that he seemed almost simple, gave her some idea of what the sect was like.

"My young master might end up facing you, miss. Oh, did you know? People have died in the main tournament before. Please go easy on him!"

"For a martial artist, dying on the dueling platform would be an honorable death."

"Wouldn't it be an unjust death rather than an honorable one?"

"What do you mean?"

"There's nowhere safer for a martial artist than a dueling platform, is there? There are fixed rules, a referee, and spectators, so no one can launch a sneak attack. And yet someone dies there? Wouldn't that be terribly unjust?"

She felt there was something sophistic about his reasoning, but could think of no particular rebuttal. She had never considered it that way before.

"You talk just like a martial artist."

"I did learn swordsmanship."

"You found yourself a good master, then. One who even teaches his servant swordsmanship."

"Yes, I learned from someone truly terrifying. He must be the most terrifying person in the world."

Jin Haryeong inwardly scoffed. How many people could he have met to make such a claim? Had he ever even met someone truly frightening? Still, his master might well have been the most frightening person in the backwater he came from.

Her gaze moved to the sword at his waist.

"Why have you wrapped your scabbard in cloth?"

It was wound tightly in ordinary cotton cloth. Usually, there were two reasons for that: wandering martial artists traveling through rough terrain did it to keep their scabbards from getting scratched, or someone was trying to conceal a valuable sword.

"To make it look stylish."

"Shouldn't you wrap it in fine silk, then?"

"It's stylish because it isn't silk. The trick is to look as though you haven't made an effort, even when you have."

Seeing her disbelief, he went a step further.

"I've heard East Lake here in Wuhan is beautiful. Would you show me around sometime?"

Only a madman would say such a thing to her. This was the point where she ought to shout at him: who did a mere servant think he was talking to?

Why was she doing nothing?

Because he had appeared in her dream? No. It must be because she did not want to be an ill-mannered bitch who mistreated people of lower status. Her grandfather detested having his children or grandchildren become the subject of such gossip. Yes, that had to be it.

"In return, I'll be sure to show you another beautiful spot I know."

Did he really believe such a moment would come? They had shared a table twice, and he already seemed ready to take her sightseeing.

She could not help sighing. Coming here had been her mistake.

"What's your name?"

She asked out of anger. Beneath the question lay the sentiment: What's your name, you bastard?

"Just call me 'Servant!'"

He really would not let up!

"Wouldn't that make me seem terribly rude?"

"Geom Yeon. The 'Yeon' means smoke, not a bond between people. I'll stay here for a while, then disappear like smoke."

He grinned as he spoke. Jin Haryeong thought he was putting on quite a performance for a mere servant.

Just then, someone approached, calling her name.

"Haryeong."

It was Song Taegun, the son of the Azure Dragon Corps commander, who was around her age. He was her only friend, and they had grown up together. The moment she saw him, Jin Haryeong inwardly flustered.

"You came for noodles."

Song Taegun knew very well that she liked the noodles here.

"How did you know I was here?"

"I was passing by when I heard some customers coming out talking about you being here. You slipped away from Warrior Chu again, didn't you?"

Song Taegun looked at the man with her.

"And who might you be?"

Not knowing how to introduce him, Jin Haryeong grew flustered.

The man cupped his fist in greeting.

"I'm Geom Yeon of the Western Saber Sect in Gansu. My senior brother has advanced to the main tournament."

"Ah! If you're from the Western Saber Sect, your senior brother must be Seo Ryong?"

"That's right."

"I've heard he's taking this tournament by storm. It's an honor to meet a disciple of such an impressive sect."

"My senior brother is the impressive one. I merely cheer him on from outside the platform."

"You seem far more impressive than your senior brother, Young Hero Geom."

"What do you mean?"

"You're sitting here with my friend, aren't you? Do you know how difficult that is? Even I find it difficult, and I've known her for years."

Jin Haryeong told him, "Stop talking nonsense and go. I'll see you later."

He seemed to want to stay longer, but with Jin Haryeong radiating coldness, Song Taegun smiled and said his farewells.

"Let's have a drink sometime."

"Certainly."

Once Song Taegun left, Jin Haryeong demanded coldly, "Why did you lie about being his junior brother? Why? Did you think I'd be embarrassed if he found out I was sitting with a servant?"

Honestly, she had felt that way. She had been flustered when Song Taegun asked who he was. She had hesitated to introduce him as a servant. He had touched a nerve, and she felt ashamed.

"Strictly speaking, it wasn't a lie. I'm a servant, but we learned martial arts in the same sect, so I'm also his junior brother, aren't I?"

"Once is enough for sophistry."

Jin Haryeong sprang to her feet and left.

That night, she had another nightmare.

This time, she was hanging from a cliff when that servant appeared again, reaching out to save her.

Waking before dawn, Jin Haryeong looked down at her hand. She vividly remembered the feeling of clasping Geom Yeon's hand. It was as vivid as a prophetic dream.

"You crazy bitch, why do you keep doing this?"

She knew the answer herself. Why else? Because she was doing things she had never done in her life.

She lay back down and pulled the covers over her head. But sleep did not come easily.

* * *

Seo Daeryong's first opponent in the main tournament was the successor of the Jangpyeong Sword House, renowned throughout Fujian.

"How about practicing with me?"

"With you, Pavilion Master?"

It was the first time I had suggested practicing together, and Seo Daeryong was startled.

"I'd be honored."

"Follow me."

I took him into the mountains where I had been training.

"Even when it comes to finding a place to practice, you're on a different level from me. How did you find a place like this?"

The spacious clearing was enclosed on all sides, with only one way in. With only one approach to watch, it was ideal for martial arts training.

"Come here to train from now on."

"No. You should use it, Pavilion Master. There's a world of difference between the quality of your training and mine."

"Is there really?"

"Pardon?"

"I think your training is far more worthwhile, since you're staking your life and future on this tournament. If you mean you're the heavens and I'm the earth, I'll agree."

"Thank you for saying so, but that doesn't swap heaven and earth. Even if they were turned upside down, I wouldn't feel particularly pleased about it."

Yes, this was the sort of person you wanted as your right-hand man. It was not a question of how strong his martial arts were. Someone whose company made even a brief exchange pleasant, someone who told you exactly what he thought—that was the kind of person your right-hand man should be. At least your right-hand man.

"Have you watched the Jangpyeong Sword House's successor fight?"

"Yes. He's really good, isn't he?"

"Objectively speaking, you're outmatched."

"If even you say that, Pavilion Master, I must be certain to lose."

I nodded honestly. He could not overcome the difference in how long they had properly trained. Besides, he had yet to learn all of the Blood Heaven Saber Demon's martial arts, and he could not freely reveal his demonic qi. It would be a difficult fight in every respect.

"Now, I'll imitate the Jangpyeong Sword House's martial arts. Treat me as your opponent!"

"Yes!"

I mimicked the successor's swordsmanship and fought Seo Daeryong as his opponent would.

Seo Daeryong lost again and again. I did not go easy on him, and every bout added more bruises to his body. There were moments when his life was in danger, but he refused to give up.

"Please, just one more time."

He tried every approach available to him. This way, then that way. He tried everything he could.

I silently sparred with him over and over, waiting for him to find his own answer. I did not tell him how to win.

Even if it meant losing the match, he had to find it himself. The mission mattered, but this turning point in the life of Seo Daeryong, the martial artist, mattered more.

We practiced through the night. Seo Daeryong was utterly exhausted, but there was a look in his eyes I had never seen before.

Then, four watches before his main-tournament match, I forced him to sleep despite his insistence on training until the very end.

He claimed he was too keyed up to sleep, but began snoring the instant he lay down.

I woke him half a watch before the match.

"Feeling refreshed?"

"Yes. I feel alive again. But what am I going to do?"

"Why?"

"I dreamed I lost the match."

I smiled at his woeful expression.

"Well, shall we go find out whether that was a meaningless dream or a prophetic one?"