CHAPTER EIGHT Black Tiger
513 Words
Yeonhwa finished her match.
Again.
People cheered.
Someone yelled—
“MOON FOR FINAL ROUND!”
She ignored them.
Her shoulder hurt.
Her hands hurt.
Her pride had recovered slightly.
She left the arena.
Then stopped.
Something felt different.
The noise.
Less shouting.
More waiting.
People weren’t moving.
They were looking.
Same direction.
Toward the main arena.
Yeonhwa grabbed someone passing.
“What happened?”
The fighter looked at her strangely.
Then answered—
“…He entered.”
Yeonhwa frowned.
Who.
The fighter looked confused.
Then whispered—
“Black Tiger.”
The entire arena felt quieter.
Yeonhwa looked over.
That dramatic?
Impossible.
She followed the crowd.
—
Main arena.
Full.
No shouting.
No betting.
Just people watching.
Waiting.
Yeonhwa found a place near the back.
Then—
the announcer spoke.
Final exhibition match.
Kang Taejun.
Against—
Three challengers.
Yeonhwa blinked.
Three?
That seemed rude.
The crowd remained silent.
Like they already knew something.
Then—
he walked in.
Black robes.
Simple.
No fancy entrance.
No expression.
No looking around.
He stepped into the center.
The three opponents entered.
Experienced.
Confident.
One sword.
One spear.
One dual blades.
Interesting.
Yeonhwa crossed her arms.
Okay.
Now she could see.
—
The match began.
Nothing happened.
Nobody moved.
Then—
the spear user attacked.
Fast.
Taejun moved once.
The spear hit air.
One step.
Wood struck.
Opponent down.
Silence.
Yeonhwa frowned.
Too fast.
Second opponent.
Sword.
Good technique.
Pressure.
Real skill.
Taejun finally drew his sword.
Black sheath.
Plain blade.
No flash.
No magic.
Their swords met.
One sound.
Then—
the other sword split.
Clean.
Opponent stared.
Lost.
Yeonhwa blinked.
No.
That angle—
Impossible.
Third fighter rushed.
Dual blades.
Aggressive.
Taejun looked bored.
Three movements.
Finished.
Silence.
No injuries.
No showing off.
Just over.
The crowd exploded.
People shouting.
Yeonhwa didn’t.
She stood still.
Thinking.
She replayed every movement.
No wasted energy.
No hesitation.
No overextension.
Nothing dramatic.
Everything intentional.
Then—
she realized.
He had been slowing down against her.
Her eye twitched.
Unacceptable.
—
People surrounded him.
Questions.
Praise.
He ignored everyone.
Then—
while walking out—
he looked directly at Yeonhwa.
Only for a second.
Then—
he lifted two fingers.
Tiny gesture.
Come outside.
And left.
—
Yeonhwa stared.
Excuse me?
Who invited him to summon people?
Annoying.
She followed.
Obviously.
Only because she had questions.
—
Outside.
Quiet corridor.
He stood there.
Back turned.
She arrived.
Folded arms.
“…You held back.”
He looked over.
“Yes.”
She stared.
No shame?
Nothing?
She narrowed her eyes.
“…Why?”
His answer came immediately.
“Because you’re learning.”
She blinked.
That—
was not what she expected.
He looked away.
Then—
quietly—
“You fight like someone who trained alone.”
Silence.
Yeonhwa froze.
Too accurate.
He continued.
“Winning and improving are different things.”
Long pause.
Then—
he started walking.
And added—
“You’ll understand later.”
She watched him leave.
Annoyed.
Confused.
Thinking.
Then—
without meaning to—
she smiled.
Small.
Tiny.
Immediately stopped.
Absolutely unacceptable.
- Writer
