—You bastard—!!!

A booming voice shook the quarters.

It was a handsome man, limping as he appeared, who shouted that.

I pulled a face of disgust at the sight.

“Why are you yelling when I’m right here? You’re deafening.”

My ears rang. Did he really have to scream like that?

Squelch—

I wrung out the towel in my hand. Sweat streamed down.

“Phew...”

I wiped the rest from my forehead. My arms and legs trembled; the aftershock of training wasn’t light.

I hadn’t worked myself this hard in a while.

[...Worked hard, my ass. You ran a few laps around the training yard—what’s that satisfied face for?]

I ignored the spoilsport ghost. Brushing him off was second nature by now.

The real problem was—

“You dog of a bastard—!”

That idiot glaring daggers at me.

He came striding up, beautiful and pathetic all at once, limping slightly as if hurt.

I asked as he approached:

“What’s this so early in the morning? I haven’t even had breakfast yet, and you’re ruining my appetite.”

I clicked my tongue, and the man suddenly grabbed my collar.

“You truly wish to die?”

“...Oh, terrifying.”

I meant it. The instant he grabbed me, I hadn’t caught his presence. Even limping, he was this fast?

‘...As expected.’

He might be a fool, but he was formidable all the same.

“...How dare you...!”

His fingers trembled as they gripped me. A faint surge of killing intent seeped out.

I nearly swallowed dry at the chill—but held back.

No matter how shaken I felt inside, I couldn’t show it.

“What’s this about?”

Feigning nonchalance, I asked. Namgung Seong ground his teeth.

“You ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) ask as though you don’t know.”

“Well, you came charging in at daybreak like a mad dog. How would I know?”

As I spoke, I ran my gaze up and down his frame—blatantly.

He needed to see me do it.

“Especially when you’re not even whole right now.”

He didn’t take long to realize where my eyes lingered.

“You—!”

His grip tightened, fury boiling over.

‘Ugh.’

I felt my breath choke.

But I couldn’t shove him off.

I forced a mocking smile and said:

“Now, what’s all this for?”

“Do you think you’ll walk away after this insolence?”

“A threat this early in the morning? Refreshing.”

He must’ve been livid. Normally, he’d care about appearances—but not now.

That was what made it dangerous. In this state, he could do anything.

Still—

“You think you can humiliate me, Namgung Seong?”

“Humiliate?”

I wasn’t about to shrink back.

“I went out of my way to be considerate, and this is how you talk?”

If I was going to screw him over, I might as well finish the job.

“What? Considerate?”

“Of course. Didn’t your dear sister tell you properly?”

Apparently not. His comprehension was lagging.

So I spelled it out.

“You lost the duel. I didn’t even have to, but I had the orb neatly wrapped up and returned just like you wanted. If that’s not considerate, what is?”

“You little—!”

“Why keep calling me bastard, bastard? Am I your bastard?”

I clicked my tongue and narrowed my eyes. His face flushed red. I wanted to poke him further—

‘Push it more and it could get dangerous.’

If he exploded, that’d be a problem too.

“Why don’t you let go, and we talk like men? If people see this, you’ll be the one in trouble.”

“...”

His eyes wavered.

True enough—he’d already shouted, and others could come soon.

This scene wouldn’t reflect well on him. He eased his grip.

Finally, I could breathe again. I held back the cough clawing up my throat as he said:

“You think you’ll survive after mocking me like this?”

“Mocking, you say.”

I straightened my rumpled clothes and replied:

“You asked for it, so I gave it. What’s the tantrum for?”

“Ha.”

He barked a bitter laugh at my cheerful answer.

“You think I came to play word games?”

“And if not, then what?”

“What?”

“I get that you’re pissed. So what are you actually going to do?”

He dropped honorifics; so did I. Why bother with politeness now?

“Don’t tell me you’re clean. Who sent your sister to pull tricks, hm?”

“...”

At the mention of Namgung Hyeon, his face twisted.

“You tried to use your own sister to screw me over, and now you’re angry because you got screwed instead? That’s pathetic.”

“Grrk.”

He couldn’t find words, only warped his face further. I almost wanted to see how far it would twist.

But I glanced behind him.

Namgung Seong hadn’t come alone. The Namgung Clan’s people were here too.

Namgung Hyeon was among them. The moment our eyes met, she turned away.

‘Hm.’

The atmosphere was strange. They were all martial artists, and their wariness toward me was plain.

‘I see.’

They were afraid I might draw my sword and clash again with the Little Azure Sword.

I’m the one who beat the Little Azure Sword. To them, I was a volatile risk.

‘This is amusing.’

To be treated as a threat by Namgung Clan—what a novel feeling.

“Dragging an entourage here just to posture—isn’t that a little embarrassing?”

I jabbed the point. His lips pressed tight; he knew it too.

But then—

“Hoo...”

He exhaled and quickly reset his face.

“I think you’re mistaken.”

I watched with interest.

“You’re not in a position to treat me so lightly.”

“And what’s that supposed to mean?”

“Have you forgotten? You struck me after the duel had ended.”

“...”

I tilted my head.

“And what did I strike you with?”

“Ha. Playing dumb now?”

He smirked.

“No way you’ve forgotten. After the duel, you—”

“After?”

“My...”

He stopped mid-sentence. Shame. I wanted him to say it himself.

“Ah, you mean that?”

I grinned and spoke the words he couldn’t.

“When I crushed your family jewels?”

“You—!”

“You even passed out. How’s it feel now? All better?”

I made sure my eyes dropped to his lower half.

“Looks like you’re fine. Good. I was a little worried. Though, really—”

I put the sneer back on.

“There wasn’t much to feel, so I figured you’d be all right.”

“You son of—!”

He couldn’t stand it. He went to draw his sword.

In another moment, his live blade would be at my throat.

[They’re here.]

The old man’s voice steadied me.

Then—

“Stop this!”

A commanding voice cut between us. Cheon Eujin.

“Young Master Namgung, what is the meaning of this?”

He flared his energy, blocking Namgung Seong. The latter’s face contorted even more.

“Young Master Cheon.”

“I asked what you’re doing.”

Cheon Eujin raised his qi, unyielding.

“Stay out of this. This is between him and me.”

Clearly unwilling to cross Eujin, Namgung Seong kept his eyes on me alone.

But—

“No. I cannot.”

Eujin barred him without budging.

“...Ha...”

Namgung Seong sighed, voice chilled enough to raise gooseflesh.

“Young Master Cheon. There are matters you should not meddle in.”

“I know. But this is one I must.”

“And on what authority?”

Namgung Seong glared.

“That man struck a direct bloodline of the Namgung Clan. That’s nothing less than a challenge to us.”

Not wrong. I didn’t deny it.

“And just now he mocked me again. Yet you defend him? Are you declaring the Blue Moon Sect an enemy of Namgung?”

“No.”

“Then step aside. I have business with him—”

“If what you say is true, then doesn’t that mean you’re dismissing the Blue Moon Sect?”

“...What?”

At that name, he faltered.

“What has the Blue Moon Sect to do with this? No connection.”

“You’re wrong. Of course there is.”

Eujin gripped his hilt and pressed on.

“I acknowledge Young Master Bang acted excessively after the duel. But matters follow procedure.”

Oh...

I admired him inwardly. I’d thought him a stammering pretty boy, but he argued better than I’d expected.

“If Young Master Namgung wants to contest this, file objection directly with the Blue Moon Sect. Isn’t that proper?”

“Ridiculous. Why bring the Blue Moon Sect into—”

He cut himself short. Realization dawned. His eyes turned to me.

“...You... don’t tell me...”

Before he could finish, Eujin declared:

“You ask why the Blue Moon Sect involves itself? Because it must.”

His voice rang firm.

“Young Master Bang has been officially accepted into the Blue Moon Sect as heir to Sword Saint Yoo Cheongil.”

“...”

Namgung Seong’s face soured. This was the other favor I’d asked of Eujin.

First—

‘Return the Azure Dragon Orb to Namgung Clan in the Blue Moon Sect’s name.’

That way, it wasn’t Namgung Seong retrieving it, but the Blue Moon Sect magnanimously delivering it.

‘Whether he lost it himself or was told to find it hardly matters.’

Either way, he’s screwed.

‘If he lost it, the Clan Head already knows. If the Blue Moon Sect returned it, then it’s public.’

Even if it was a “sent to retrieve” situation—

‘He still failed, and the Blue Moon Sect delivered it instead.’

Any angle, he’s ruined.

Especially now, with the Young Clan Head succession on the line, it was twice the disaster.

That was why I asked for the Blue Moon Sect’s name on the delivery.

The second favor—

‘Make me official in the Blue Moon Sect.’

As heir to the Sword Saint and bearer of those damned Moon Eyes, it should’ve happened anyway.

But—

‘I needed it fast.’

I had no backing.

The Martial Alliance? Temporary at best. My family? A backwater clan on the verge of collapse.

If the Namgung Clan pressed, I’d crumble.

So I needed a patron—fast.

‘I leaned on Eujin. And got it.’

Thankfully, the path was right in front of me.

Cheon Eujin, direct line of the Sect Master.

I asked, “Acknowledge me as Blue Moon Sect.”

His answer? Foregone.

“...You.”

Namgung Seong trembled, glaring at me.

Now that Eujin had vouched for me, Namgung Seong was cornered.

Whatever I’d done, this was now between factions.

“You have time to glare? You should be running.”

He didn’t move.

“The Blue Moon Sect’s ‘gift’ is about to arrive. Will you stay here?”

Once the Azure Dragon Orb hit the Namgung Clan, the uproar would be massive.

Grrrk—

He ground his teeth fit to shatter.

He couldn’t act.

He had to return at once.

A stalemate. The perfect word for him.

As I grinned at his ruined face—

“...Just one question.”

His rage-red face twisted as he asked:

“...Since when?”

“What?”

“When did you start plotting this?”

It wasn’t something thrown together overnight. He’d realized this was a trap laid in advance.

So he wasn’t completely blind after all.

I answered like praise:

“What do you mean.”

Obviously—

“From the start.”

The moment I saw the Azure Dragon Orb.

The moment I saw him—and the vile ghost clinging behind him.

It was all planned from then.