Chapter 24: Who would provoke you like that?

“So, she’s joining the sparring competition…”

Baek Wi, the second son of the current Baek Clan Leader and younger brother of Young Master Baek Kang, let out a satisfied chuckle at the news.

‘As expected.’

He’d predicted this outcome to some extent.

Kids that age tend to get riled up and jump in when provoked.

He felt no guilt for targeting a child.

To Baek Wi, people were divided into allies and enemies—gender and age didn’t matter.

In that sense, he despised his half-brother, Baek Kang.

Since childhood, Baek Kang had been an insurmountable mountain to Baek Wi.

His only emotion toward him was inferiority.

This inferiority had grown since his defeat in the Young Master succession battle years ago.

With no way to resolve it, it festered into deep-seated hatred.

But now, the tides had turned.

Baek Kang’s only daughter, Baek Yeon, was doomed to die, while his own child was hailed as a peerless genius.

In that regard, Baek Wi was grateful to Baek Yeon and had shown her some kindness.

…Until she started talking.

Before she was socialized through Seoran, Baek Yeon was like a wild colt.

But even Baek Wi couldn’t touch her.

As a member of the righteous Baek Clan, openly tormenting a pitiful niece afflicted with Nine Yin Severed Meridians would invite condemnation from the entire Central Plains.

Normally, no matter how rude a niece might be (and she was very rude), most wouldn’t harbor such resentment.

But Baek Wi, far closer to a petty villain than a noble hero, let his grudge against Yeon grow.

Then Seoran appeared.

A rootless commoner he could vent his frustrations on without issue.

It wasn’t just about venting—Seoran rubbed him the wrong way in many aspects.

A lowly girl dared to learn Baek Clan martial arts and shamelessly clung to the Young Master.

‘…Those insolent eyes.’

And the audacity to look at him with such disrespectful eyes, just like Baek Yeon.

Unlike Yeon, whom he couldn’t touch openly, Seoran was fair game.

She was just a maid in the eyes of the world, despite being the Young Master’s person.

Baek Wi planned to manipulate the matchups.

Seoran’s first opponent would be a highly talented child he’d raised with care since infancy.

It was a shame they were using wooden swords instead of real ones, but Seoran would be thoroughly crushed in this spar.

She’d be bedridden for months at least.

And since Baek Yeon cherished Seoran so much, watching her precious aide get wrecked would surely devastate her.

A two-for-one deal for Baek Wi.

“Kehehe…”

Chuckling darkly, Baek Wi glanced at his child standing quietly behind him.

“Ahem, Taehyuk.”

“…Yes, Father.”

Looking down at Baek Tae-rin’s quiet response, Baek Wi asked lightly.

“I heard you got along with that girl.”

“…We only spoke briefly.”

“Still, you’re acquainted. What do you think of your father disciplining her? Is it卑劣 for an adult to act this way toward a child?”

“…”

Baek Tae-rin couldn’t answer immediately.

Words surged from deep within.

Of course it’s卑劣 and despicable.

For an adult to harbor such a grudge against a child and scheme like this—it was so petty and shameful she could hardly show her face.

But.

“…I merely follow Father’s orders.”

Biting her lip, Baek Tae-rin bowed deeply.

Conditioned by years of suppression, she didn’t know how to resist.

Satisfied with her compliance, Baek Wi nodded.

“You’re leaving the morning after tomorrow, right?”

“Yes.”

“Go and make your name resound above all.”

He placed both hands on her shoulders, staring into her eyes.

“You know how much your mother and I have sacrificed for you, don’t you?”

Grip.

His hands tightened, causing pain.

Baek Tae-rin stood still.

The light in her eyes had long faded.

“So, act properly. Like the heir to the great Baek Clan.”

“…”

She felt suffocated.

As if the world were crushing her chest.

But Baek Tae-rin didn’t know how to breathe on her own.

Even a genius praised as peerless couldn’t do what she was never taught.

“…Yes.”

All she could do was nod slowly.

—

“We meet again, wench.”

“…Yeah, seems like it.”

How do we keep running into each other?

I snorted at the kid swaggering in front of me.

Yup, the brat who insulted Baek Yeon earlier.

To meet again so soon—it’s almost like someone tampered with the matchups.

‘Well, they probably did…’

Not that it mattered. If anything, it was convenient.

“…”

Perhaps feeling ignored as I casually toyed with my wooden sword, the kid ground his teeth.

“My name is Dan-hoon. I was caught off guard earlier and humiliated, but with a sword in hand, that won’t happen again.”

Sure, sure.

“Seoran.”

I replied curtly, giving a formal fist-and-palm salute before walking to my starting position at the edge of the sparring platform.

Each step filled me with excitement.

I was frustrated I couldn’t deal with him properly earlier, and now here he was.

‘…Still, no getting cocky.’

I’d only sparred with Song Hwa and Baek Tae-rin in practice, never against a peer, so this was practically my first real spar.

I didn’t feel like I’d lose, but…

Better not get overconfident and give it my all.

We glared at each other from opposite ends of the platform.

“Now… the first match begins! Prepare…”

The referee’s voice rang out.

“Start!”

Thud!

Dan-hoon kicked off the ground, charging at me.

His wooden sword slashed down vertically, swift and clean.

‘…Oh.’

That moment, I realized.

Song Hwa and Tae-rin weren’t exaggerating to flatter me.

Tap!

I lightly sidestepped.

Part of me wondered if I should take a hit out of courtesy, but I couldn’t.

If I got hurt, Baek Yeon would be furious that her “property” was damaged.

She’s already mad—don’t want to make it worse.

Swish!

His sword missed my head, and Dan-hoon, confused, stumbled forward.

His face looked utterly clueless, unable to process what happened.

“…Hah.”

I couldn’t help but scoff.

So many openings, I was spoiled for choice.

“You call that swordsmanship?”

Muttering, I gripped my sword tighter.

Since I owed this brat, I circulated my inner energy, letting it flow through my body.

The heat of my inner energy surged to my head.

Whoosh!

Guiding the swelling heat, I slashed downward.

My target: his right shoulder, holding the sword.

If this were a real blade, his shoulder would be sliced clean through, but this was a blunt wooden sword. It couldn’t cause fatal damage.

…Not that it lacked power.

Crack!

The sound of bone meeting my energy-infused sword was brutal.

“…Arghhh!”

Clang!

With a scream, Dan-hoon dropped his sword, his shoulder shattered.

…Oops.

“Ugh, sob… M-My shoulder…”

“…Uh…”

Did I go too far?

I smacked my lips, watching him writhe and cry on the ground.

I didn’t mean to go that hard, but it was my first spar, and I got carried away.

‘…Well, who told him to provoke me?’

I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly.