Two days after forging the alliance with the Emerald Sky Sect, the party rested on the outskirts of Daewan Plains, a quiet borderland nestled between warring sect territories. The land was deceptively peaceful, with low hills and slow-swaying reeds. But beneath that calm… was the eye of a storm.
Master Jang paced near the edge of a field, chewing on a stalk of wild grass.
"Trouble's coming," he muttered.
"How can you tell?" Ji-Mun asked.
The old man pointed with the grass stem. "Because it's too quiet. Even birds know to get out of the way when Murim dogs start barking."
Clop… Clop… Clop…
Hoofbeats thudded through the silence.
The party turned just as a troop of riders emerged—red-armored, their lances trailing crimson banners. At the center of the formation rode a man with sharp eyes and a blade resting across his lap like it belonged there since birth.
"That's… Kang Ryul," Master Jang said under his breath.
Sun-Ho frowned. "One of the rival candidates?"
So-Ri's voice was grim. "No. The top candidate."
---
The Crimson Heir Arrives
Kang Ryul dismounted with a relaxed grace. His soldiers fanned out behind him, but made no move to attack.
"I heard rumors," Kang said calmly, "of a boy from a forgotten sect, making noise where he shouldn't."
Sun-Ho stepped forward. "You came all this way just for rumors?"
"I came for confirmation."
Ji-Mun whispered, "So much for subtle."
So-Ri's hand went to her blade. "What do you want, Kang Ryul?"
He smiled faintly. "A fair contest. A test of ability. You're Baek Sun-Ho, yes? The quiet candidate from Dustcloud Sect?"
"And you're the Crimson Heir," Sun-Ho said. "The one raised by the Scarlet Spear Sect to lead Murim into a red-drenched era."
"Red," Kang said, "is the color of life. And power. Not fear."
He pointed to the flat grassland behind them. "Let's duel. Just the two of us. No politics. No interruptions."
Master Jang stepped forward. "You've got guts, boy. But Sun-Ho doesn't need to prove himself to anyone."
"On the contrary," Kang replied. "If he refuses now, word will spread—he's afraid. If he accepts and loses, he steps aside. If he wins…"
He grinned.
"…then I'll do the same. For now."
Sun-Ho looked at his companions. At the silence in Yeon's eyes. The flame of challenge in So-Ri's. Ji-Mun's barely contained smirk.
He drew his blade.
"Fine. Let's dance."
---
Duel at the Plains
The circle was drawn with four steps of distance between them.
Kang's spear snapped to life, its red tassel fluttering like fire.
Sun-Ho stood calmly, exhaling once. Inhaling the silence.
Fwoosh.
Kang Ryul struck first—a lunge of speed and deadly precision. His foot dug into the earth with a sharp thunk, sending a shockwave across the flattened grass.
CRAK!
Sun-Ho deflected with a twist of his wrist, sliding to the side like wind curling around stone.
"Nice," Kang said. "You read the angle well."
Sun-Ho replied, "I've read better books than your footwork."
Kang laughed—and swung in a full arc, launching a wave of crimson energy.
Whhhrrr-BANG!
Dust clouded the air. Grass scorched. But Sun-Ho had already stepped behind him, his blade grazing the wind near Kang's neck.
A cold pause.
Kang didn't move. "You could've cut me."
Sun-Ho answered, "But that's not why I fight."
Kang turned with a raised brow. "You really do mean to fix Murim. Not control it."
"I mean to keep promises," Sun-Ho said.
Another volley. Blades crashed again, their strikes ringing like temple bells—clang, cling, ching!
Then Kang suddenly stepped back, lowered his spear, and smiled.
"I yield."
Gasps echoed around them—his own guards stunned.
So-Ri's mouth parted slightly. "Wait… what?"
Kang Ryul bowed. "You're stronger than me. But more than that, you're aiming higher than most. I came to find a rival."
He smirked.
"Now I know who to chase."
As Kang Ryul disappeared into the dusk with his retinue, the party finally exhaled.
Ji-Mun clapped his hands together. "Alright, who had 'Sun-Ho defeats Murim's top golden boy before dinner' on their betting slips?"
Yul-Rin raised a brow. "Betting implies there was ever a chance he'd lose."
Ma-Rok scratched his head. "I thought we were just here for escort duty. Suddenly it's candidate fights, spears flying, and life lessons."
So-Ri jabbed a thumb at Sun-Ho. "He lives to escalate things."
Sun-Ho raised his hands innocently. "I was just minding my own business."
Yeon tilted his head, then mimicked Sun-Ho's earlier duel pose. It was eerily accurate… until he exaggerated it into a comedic spin and flopped backward onto the grass.
Thud.
The party burst into laughter.
Master Jang chuckled and handed Yeon a bun. "That's your reward, silent jester."
So-Ri leaned in toward Sun-Ho, voice low. "You really scared him back there. Even I was surprised."
Sun-Ho smiled. "Don't be. I only used thirty percent of what I could."
Ji-Mun coughed dramatically. "Only thirty? You do like to brag now."
"I'm not bragging," Sun-Ho said. "I'm... foreshadowing."
---
Aftermath of the Duel
Later, the party regrouped around a small cooking fire. The wind had returned, blowing soft and cool across the plains.
Ji-Mun blew into his tea. "So, the most famous candidate just walked away."
Ma-Rok grunted. "And called us worth following."
Yul-Rin glanced at Sun-Ho. "This will change things. Word will spread."
So-Ri looked deep into the fire. "We'll have eyes on us everywhere now."
Yeon tilted his head, seemingly unfazed.
Master Jang sipped from his flask. "He's got enemies now. And expectations."
Ji-Mun leaned back and grinned. "Then it's a good thing he's got us."
Sun-Ho stared into the dark horizon. Somewhere beyond, the wheels of fate were turning faster than ever.
"We don't need to outrun fate," he said. "Just outthink it."
---
End of Chapter 52