Chapter 114. Enlightenment (1)
***
"Ahham~"
Ha Seon-hyang was squatting on the roof of the Guest Residence Pavilion again today, watching the people passing by. But now, even that wasn't very interesting anymore. To be precise, it was boring. Boring enough to make her yawn.
The many people who had filled the Main Avenue had almost completely disappeared now that it was the last day of registration for the tournament. Only a few spectators who had come just to look around the Martial Alliance were loitering near the now-deserted registration area.
Even so, she didn't leave her spot, tickling her knee with her finger while watching the Main Avenue.
'Is that Dong Gwang-cheon person not coming again today?'
He was the person she had bumped into—bam~—right here on this roof nine days ago.
That meeting had been fascinating and fun, so she came here every day wondering if such a coincidence might happen again, but nothing like that happened anymore.
She couldn't even meet that person again.
Her senior brothers and her junior sister were busy socializing with people from other sects, but Ha Seon-hyang wasn't particularly interested in people from the Nine Sects or the Great Families.
They always talked about the same things and only went on with boring stories. Who participated in this tournament, who was a favorite to win, or else...
And those greasy eyes that subtly swept over her.
She hated it.
'But that man wasn't like that...'
She hadn't been able to see his eyes very well, so she couldn't really know whether he was like that or not, but he felt like someone who wouldn't be.
That was why, from some day on, she found herself crouching here every day, watching the Main Avenue.
At first, the members of the Martial World Protection Unit seemed very concerned about her climbing up onto the roof, but now they seemed to think, "Well, whatever." No one paid her any attention.
She also didn't care whether they looked or not. Ha Seon-hyang's interest was only in Dong Gwang-cheon.
'I thought he would definitely apply for the tournament.'
He had even asked her about the registration period and the tournament date....
She wondered if she had just missed the time he came to apply. Maybe he had come while she was eating, or while she was taking care of some biological necessity.
It was a pity.
She should have just stayed here instead of following her junior sister from the beginning....
"Will I get to see him again on the day of the tournament?"
Her voice, piercing through the slightly chilly spring cold snap, froze white and blended into the crimson sunset.
Soon, night would fall completely, and the registration for the All-Under-Heaven Youth Martial Arts Tournament would end.
Ha Seon-hyang stood up, stretched once more, and patted the dust off her bottom. She was getting ready to return to the lodging.
Even so, her gaze was still fixed on the Main Avenue.
What if...
He comes?
"Just like I thought, today again... Huh!?"
It was the moment she said "just like I thought."
Her small hand stopped. Then it pointed toward the side road next to the Main Avenue where Dong Gwang-cheon and Bukgung had disappeared on the first day.
"Huh? He came out? But why has that person changed so much?"
From the place her dust-covered finger was pointing at, a man was slowly walking out.
Just as she said, Dong Gwang-cheon's appearance had changed quite a lot. Probably to the point that she wouldn't have recognized him if she hadn't been constantly thinking about him.
'It's only been nine days...?'
He was skin and bones, and his long-grown hair had turned completely white. Even so, that unique hollow-looking air of his was the same, and there wasn't the slightest wavering in his steps.
Pat.
She kicked off the roof and flew down at once. She hadn't thought, "I'm going to do something." The moment she felt like she had to do it, she was already doing it. She herself didn't even realize it.
"Heh heh—. Hello... h-hello. Hehe—."
Ha Seon-hyang ran to him in one breath.
Seeing him up close, she was even more certain. It was him. Even though many things had changed, that man who gave off an indescribably divine and mysterious atmosphere—Dong Gwang-cheon.
"Nice to meet you."
That's right. This voice. So ordinary, yet also mysterious.
"Phew—. I'm Seon-hyang. Ha Seon-hyang."
She suddenly remembered that although she had heard his name, she had never told him her own, and said so while catching her breath.
"But why have you changed so much?"
"I don't know either."
Dong Gwang-cheon answered her follow-up question as if it were nothing.
"Ah, really?"
It didn't matter. He was different from others, so that was good... it was good to meet him again, and it was just good. The reason...
Wasn't important.
Ha Seon-hyang lowered her eyes further, which were already curving down like a crescent moon, and continued speaking.
"Did you apply for the All-Under-Heaven Youth Martial Arts Tournament?"
She didn't say that she had been waiting for him on that roof where she had met him for nine days—ten days by count—because she felt embarrassed.
"No. I haven't yet. Has the registration already ended, by any chance?"
He said.
"Huh? You still haven't? Then you should hurry! Today is the last day!"
As she said that, Ha Seon-hyang unconsciously grabbed Dong Gwang-cheon's hand. Then she dashed toward the nearest Conquering Evil Hall among the buildings being used as temporary registration offices.
***
"Haaam—. Next."
Lee I-jeom yawned widely and called for the next person.
He had been sitting here for ten days receiving applications for the martial arts tournament, so of course he was sick of it. Maybe it was even worse because he had gotten used to it?
At least he felt like he could endure it since today was the last day.
"Next! There's no one else?"
He shouted again at the guard by the entrance.
The guard looked outside for a moment, glanced around, then turned back to Lee I-jeom and said.
"There's no one."
"Huah—. Is it finally over?"
Just as Lee I-jeom was about to stand up and stretch at the thought that it was over—
"Wait! There's still one more!"
Someone shouted urgently and ran into the hall.
It was a young lady who had her hair twisted up cutely on both sides like ram's horns. Judging by how roughly she was breathing, she had clearly run in a hurry.
'Hm? That young lady?'
Lee I-jeom remembered her. Not only because she was pretty, but because of the sect she came from.
Mount Hua Sect.
It was a sect with very great prestige even among the Nine Great Sects. It was good to remember the faces of disciples from such sects. You never knew when it might turn into a good connection.
But that was that, and this was this. There was no reason for her to appear here now.
"No, didn't you apply a few days ago, young lady? Ah!"
His doubt didn't last long.
Because the real last applicant entered the hall right behind Ha Seon-hyang.
Dong Gwang-cheon—no, Dong Bong-su.
"The person applying is this one. Not me."
Saying that, Ha Seon-hyang led Dong Bong-su and walked quickly to the desk where Lee I-jeom was sitting.
She was striding as best as she could, but since her stride was only about half of Dong Bong-su's, it looked a little funny. But that 모습 was also very cute.
Lee I-jeom looked up at Dong Bong-su with envious eyes, then held out the application form, of which only a few sheets were left now, and said.
"Please write your name and your sect of origin here."
Dong Bong-su took the application form with his left hand and stared at Ha Seon-hyang.
"Could you let go?"
"Ah—!"
Only then did Ha Seon-hyang realize she was holding his hand tightly, and she hurriedly let go.
Her drenched hand was pounding. It was the first time she realized how embarrassing it was for sweat droplets to run down her palm.
"...S-sorry..."
"It's fine."
Dong Bong-su made a faint expression that was hard to tell whether it was a smile or not, picked up the brush on the inkstone, and began filling out the application.
Then he soon stopped and looked at Lee I-jeom.
"Do you have to be from a sect affiliated with the Martial Alliance to apply for the tournament?"
Lee I-jeom shook his head and replied.
"Not necessarily. If you have a recommendation from the Martial Alliance or from a renowned master of a sect affiliated with the Martial Alliance, you can apply. Do you have anything to prove it?"
Dong Bong-su thought for a moment, then took out the Martial Registry badge pinned to his chest and held it out.
"Will this do?"
Lee I-jeom took the Martial Registry badge and immediately flipped it over. Usually, the issuing organization or the issuer's position and name were written on the back.
"Ah!"
Seeing the name written on it, which belonged to someone far more impressive than he had expected, Lee I-jeom's eyes widened in surprise.
"So you were a guest of the Lord of the Martial World Protection Unit? This is more than enough. I'll confirm it directly with the Lord of the Martial World Protection Unit, so you may return now. Here is your registration confirmation slip."
Lee I-jeom hurriedly wrote the name Dong Gwang-cheon on the confirmation slip stamped with the Martial Alliance Leader's seal and handed it to Dong Bong-su.
Ha Seon-hyang had been about to say that he was Bukgung's disciple if it became a problem, but she was surprised to hear that he was Eulji Tae's guest. Unlike Bukgung, Eulji Tae was truly an expert with tremendous influence within the Martial Alliance.
Dong Bong-su, not caring how Ha Seon-hyang was looking at him, took the confirmation slip, glanced at it once, and folded it in half.
It was then.
"Is everything finished here as well?"
A slender voice was heard from behind. It was a soft and clear voice, like flower petals scattered by a spring breeze.
Lee I-jeom hurriedly stood up and respectfully cupped his fists toward that direction. It was obvious that this was a superior.
"Ah, Namgung strategist. Things are wrapped up here as well."
"I see. Then, may I take all the application forms with me?"
"Of course."
With light footsteps matching that voice, a woman who was so slender and delicate that she naturally stirred one's protective instincts came to stand beside Dong Bong-su and Ha Seon-hyang.
A faint plum blossom fragrance spread through the air with her movement, and her pale pink jacket made her white skin stand out even more.
The newly arrived woman was Namgung Hye.
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