Episode 282: Listening, Entrance Exam (1)
As soon as the rain stopped, the weather miraculously cleared up.
But the sun had set.
Night had already fallen.
By the time I returned to the inn.
It had already become night.
"Ah, Young Master Gu!"
Returning late to the lodgings, Dang So-ryeol appeared as if she had been waiting.
Was she perhaps waiting for me?
"You're late?"
"I had some business."
"Ah, I see... Then, have you eaten?"
"Yeah. Roughly."
I actually hadn't eaten, but I vaguely lied and said I did.
Right now, I wasn't in the mood to eat anything.
To Dang So-ryeol, who was beaming and talking about what happened today.
I casually humored her.
"You have to wake up early tomorrow, so go to sleep quickly."
"Ah, right."
Right, I have to go out early tomorrow.
Damn Shenlong Guan.
Thinking of that, my somewhat decent mood immediately turned sour.
I tried hard to manage my expressions, but in the meantime, Dang So-ryeol asked something else.
"Young Master."
"Yeah?"
"Did something good happen by any chance?"
"Suddenly?" "Yes... You just seem to be in a good mood."
"...Ugh."
A good thing, huh.
-I missed you.
Is it because of the words I heard just before?
I forcefully suppressed the corners of my mouth that were secretly trying to curl up.
"Something like that."
Was it to hide that? My tone came out more bluntly than usual.
Dang So-ryeol tilted her head at this, but.
She didn't ask me any further.
Leaving Dang So-ryeol behind and going up to the lodging, I thought.
'Where did she go?' It was because Moyong Hui-a hadn't been seen for the past few days.
She used to disappear often saying she had business, so she'll probably come back on her own this time too.
Though she should come before the heat dies down.
Click.
"Huh?"
Opening the door and entering, a candle was already lit inside the room.
Thinking the servant had lit it and left, I subconsciously took a step forward, only to.
Belatedly realize that someone was sitting on the bed.
"...Jeez..."
Startled, I took a step back and checked who it was.
Of course, it was Namgung Bi-a.
"What are you doing here? You scared me."
"Because... you didn't come..."
"What does me being late have to do with you lying on my bed?"
I blurted out in disbelief.
Only then did Namgung Bi-a grumble and get up.
Judging by the state of her hair, it seemed she had been lying down for quite a while.
She even seemed to have slept.
"Did you eat?"
"...Yeah."
"Good."
I roughly took off my outer garment and tossed it down.
And then, as I was about to change my clothes...
"Why aren't you leaving? Go out so I can change." ""
For some reason, Namgung Bi-a didn't leave and sat on the bed looking up at me. In the dim room, with only a single small candle lit.
Her blue eyes seemed to glow exceptionally.
I wondered what the matter was, or if she had business with me.
Namgung Bi-a, who had been quietly watching me.
Opened her pink lips and asked me.
"...Did you meet her?"
"...!"
At her question, I couldn't even hide my expression and had to make wide, surprised eyes.
Was she asking who I met?
I didn't even need to think about it.
Her gaze was telling me everything.
It seemed she had figured out that I had met Wi Seol-a.
'How did she know?'
Namgung Bi-a, who wouldn't have particularly gone outside the lodging, how could she have known that I met Wi Seol-a?
It was surprising and curious, but this wasn't a situation where I could ask.
She was demanding an answer.
Looking into her eyes, I gave my answer.
"...That's right. I met her."
I didn't lie.
Because I didn't want to lie to Namgung Bi-a even about something like this.
At my answer, Namgung Bi-a only looked at me with the same gaze.
What kind of eyes they were.
Or what emotion she was looking at me with, I didn't really know.
Swish.
Closing her eyes slightly once, she turned her gaze a little, and.
With a somewhat tired expression, she wrapped herself in the blanket and lay down just like that.
"Why did you come alone...?"
At her quietly asking back from under the blanket.
I recalled the words Wi Seol-a had said to me then.
-I'll come see you again later.
-Aren't you coming together?
-I'm not.
The answer was firm.
Even though we had finally seen each other's faces.
-It was really good seeing your face today.
-See you tomorrow... Young Mas... no.
Brushing aside her hair fluttering in the winter wind.
Wi Seol-a smiled slightly and said to me.
-Young Master Gu.
At that soft tone.
I had to clamp my mouth shut at that time.
'Tomorrow, huh.'
Wi Seol-a had definitely told me to see her tomorrow.
Which meant.
That Wi Seol-a was also going to the Shenlong Guan.
'It hasn't changed.'
Seeing her again was somewhat nice, but.
It wasn't just purely good either.
Various events had changed through the regression.
Along with learning things I didn't know.
Many situations occurred where even the things I hoped for got tangled up, but.
In the end.
Wi Seol-a's direction hadn't changed much.
'Can I change it?'
Or can I dare to handle what I have twisted.
The terrible anxiety was still there.
But it's not like I could turn back either.
It wasn't a matter of whether I could.
It had become a situation where I had to.
Namgung Bi-a quietly watched me from behind, then.
Turned her head away again.
She also had a sense of having gotten along well with Wi Seol-a, so.
It would be reasonable to ask how things went.
Perhaps seeing my expression, she decided it was better not to ask.
'Everyone is so quick to catch on.'
Dang So-ryeol too.
Namgung Bi-a too. Even Moyong Hui-a.
If they think something is off with me, they notice it like ghosts.
Unlike me, that is.
It was quite burdensome, but at the same time.
I was thankful and sorry.
Looking at Namgung Bi-a's back, I slowly opened my mouth.
"But you know."
"...Yeah?"
"Why are you trying to sneakily sleep here?"
Ugh.
"Get up.
Tsk.
A short tongue-clicking sound was heard, and.
Namgung Bi-a gets up.
Seeing her caught expression.
It seemed she was thinking of slipping by unnoticed.
The guest room on the very last floor boasts an exceptionally large size.
Looking at the people seen beyond the railing, a young man took a sip of alcohol.
Uihwa Cheongju.
It was an expensive liquor sold only in Henan.
A price that would make anyone gasp if they heard it, but.
The young man didn't seem to care and just kept drinking.
The people walking on the street were enough of a side dish.
One glass, two glasses.
By the time he had emptied half the bottle.
"Brother!"
An uninvited guest entered, opening the door.
At this, the young man sighed inwardly.
Because he thought he could rest a bit today.
Looking at the woman who barged in with blunt eyes.
The woman asked the young man the same question as yesterday.
"Is it true that you are the Elder's disciple?"
"...Ha. This is already the fourth time you've asked."
Even though I answer you every day.
Coming to ask again was troublesome in many ways.
To be exact, annoying.
"Even after hearing it, I can't believe it, so."
"Didn't I clearly... say it was true?"
The young man, Bi Ui-jin, answered with a slight frown.
Only then did she close her mouth.
But seeing her pouting expression, it seemed she really didn't like it.
Seeing that, Bi Ui-jin had to let out continuous sighs.
'It became annoying.'
I should have at least said it when this kid wasn't around.
This was Bi Ui-jin's mistake.
"What's so dissatisfying about it?"
"...It's not dissatisfaction. It's just that I kind of understand why you're so strong while living so lazily."
"When did I ever live lazily..."
Even though I live busier than anyone.
Since Bi-bi doesn't know Bi Ui-jin's circumstances, it's inevitable she sees it that way.
'Tsk.'
But it's not like I can explain the circumstances.
I had to just keep my mouth shut this time too.
"Then, when on earth did you meet the Elder?"
"...Just by chance?"
"The person called one of the Three Venerables of the World... You could just meet them by chance?"
"As you live, there are days like that and days like this."
"If someone saw you, they'd think you lived past seventy. You're only twenty, brother."
Twenty my foot.
I've lived at least three times that.
At Bi-bi's words, Bi Ui-jin had to smile bitterly inwardly.
Because even he didn't know he would end up like this.
It's always my regret.
Regret for not having done so.
"But it's a bit of a relief."
"About what?"
"A rumor went around. The rumor that Elder Bi took in a disciple."
"Ah."
Is that what she's talking about.
How much did I laugh when I heard that.
"To be honest, I was a bit like that."
"About what?"
"Leaving me and brother Cheol aside... If you took in someone from another family as your disciple, I'd be a bit upset, you know."
The person named Cheol that Bi-bi mentioned was.
Referring to the current head of the Bi family's eldest son.
Bi Ui-jin smiled ferociously at Bi-bi's words.
Even while speaking so immaturely, it seemed she still cared for her older brother, Cheol, to some extent.
However.
'I can't take that bastard as my disciple.'
Bi Cheol was an incompetent guy in Bi Ui-jin's eyes.
His hot-tempered nature resembling his father was one thing.
As his bloodline was slightly mixed with his own, he had talent for martial arts, but.
That level alone was not satisfying enough.
He had been trying hard to beat him into a proper human since he was young, but.
Apart from that.
He didn't want to interfere in martial arts.
'If I hadn't ended up like this, I wouldn't have cared in the first place.'
He didn't have ties to the Bi family's origins or that place.
Let alone any intention of becoming the family head.
Bi Ui-jin, no, Bi-ju.
Because he was a man whose only goal was to achieve and create his own martial arts.
If the current family head hadn't knelt and begged to hold him back.
Bi Ui-jin had no intention of staying here in this state.
Let alone.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"You're ugly again today."
"...Have you ever been hit with a liquor bottle, brother?"
"I've hit people with it a lot."
"Then experience it once today."
If that tomboy wasn't here.
He would have dropped everything and left midway, regardless of the family head's request.
Bi-bi tried hard to swing the liquor bottle, but.
She was immediately subdued by Bi Ui-jin's hand.
Even with both her arms tied up, Bi-bi was still talkative.
"Then, if brother is the Elder's disciple, the rumor about Young Hero Gu is false, right?"
Clack.
Bi Ui-jin, who was opening another bottle.
Made a subtle expression at Bi-bi's question.
"Well."
"What?"
"It might not necessarily be just me."
"What do you mean? You said you were the disciple."
"Would there be only one disciple in the world?"
Heh heh.
Bi Ui-jin just laughed.
Bi-bi felt frustrated, asking what kind of nonsense he was spouting, but.
Bi Ui-jin had no intention of telling the truth.
Because her frustrated appearance was just so cute, he planned to watch a bit more.
In the meantime, he recalled the kid Bi-bi had mentioned.
'That Gu Ryun bastard kept protecting him so much.'
The kid he encountered at the inn last time.
The one his friend and rival cherished like a grandson.
His face was exactly like his father's.
Moreover, it wasn't just the face that resembled his father.
'They say blood doesn't lie, and they're right.'
When he first saw the kid, Gu Yang-cheon.
Bi Ui-jin's insides were filled with admiration.
How neatly he had trained.
His well-formed muscles made for a body close to perfection for a martial artist.
The energy contained within was so profound that even Bi Ui-jin couldn't properly fathom it.
So much so that.
He wondered if perhaps he was someone who had experienced the same situation as himself.
Rejuvenation.
A wretched curse where one discards and destroys everything one has achieved, barely gaining time in return.
Bi Ui-jin wondered if Gu Yang-cheon had also experienced rejuvenation, but.
'If that were the case, he couldn't have created such a body.'
The blood vessels weaken, and the body degenerates into a frail vessel for building strength.
Bi Ui-jin himself as well.
Until he transformed this beggar-like body into a normal one.
How much hellish suffering did he go through.
However, Gu Yang-cheon was different.
Unlike his realm, his body was perfect for forging martial arts.
It was regrettable that his small stature gave a low sense of presence.
Even taking that into account, it was certain he was perfectly controlling his own body.
There were only two cases where one could obtain such a body at that age.
One was a martial artist who had surpassed the Peak, or the Flower Realm.
Returning to childhood with intact blood vessels and body, training viciously to achieve it.
The second case was.
'Having extreme talent.'
Since the first case was impossible unless a master returned to the past, ignoring it.
The only case was the second.
'Because he had such talent from the start, he must have reached that level now.'
Facing him, he could tell that Gu Yang-cheon's level didn't merely lean towards the Peak.
A body that perfectly adjusted the ratio between flesh and energy.
Along with the subtly elevated qi sense to cope with any situation.
And even the flow of energy that inherently knew where it should head in the future.
...!
It was like the appearance of someone who had already reached the Flower Realm.
'To think he hid it so well that even I had a hard time noticing.'
Gu Yang-cheon's energy was at a level that even Pae-jon could only notice after observing him for days.
Heard he hasn't even reached the age of twenty yet.
And he's already preparing to reach the Flower Realm?
Let alone right before it.
Pae-jon surpassed the Peak right after reaching the age of twenty.
The other two humans who reached the pinnacle of the current Central Plains also.
Considering they reached the Peak when they were one or two years younger than Pae-jon.
No matter how outstanding the rising stars born in the current generation are.
Gu Yang-cheon was far beyond that level.
If he blossomed like this and the development of his talent continued.
It was obvious without even looking that he would become a martial artist of the Three Venerables level in the future.
'If he does well.'
That was why Pae-jon was keeping an eye on Gu Yang-cheon.
If he does well.
He can do it.
Bi Ui-jin raised the corners of his mouth as he looked out the window.
At first, since Gu Ryun kept talking about him so much, I just wanted to see what kind of guy he was.
He seemed to implicitly want me to impart some teachings, so I told him to stop and ignored him.
The second time, just how great was he.
That a rumor spread claiming he was my disciple, I was curious.
Bi Ui-jin wasn't angry about this.
Because the person who wanted to take a disciple more than anyone else was himself.
However.
If a guy with not even a rat's dropping worth of talent.
And not knowing his place went around claiming to be my disciple.
'I would have snapped him in half.'
I was going to give him a harsh scolding, but.
Gu Yang-cheon, whom I faced directly, wasn't bad.
No, rather, he was good.
'Found him.'
It was the moment I had so desperately desired.
A latecomer with the talent to control such a body and such energy.
The one Bi-ju had been searching for for a long time.
That was why Bi Ui-jin had offered a handshake to Gu Yang-cheon first.
'Why did he make such an expression?'
Bi Ui-jin was puzzled.
When he offered his hand.
Gu Yang-cheon was guarding against him as much as oddly possible.
Rolling his eyes implicitly.
As if he would counter if he launched a surprise attack.
Putting every single one of his companions nearby within his qi sense.
It seemed like he was trying to minimize the damage heading their way in case a battle broke out.
The problem was.
'Why?'
That he still didn't know the reason.
'Did he know who I was?'
If so, it would somewhat explain it, but.
The chances of that were slim.
Unless that Gu Ryun bastard spilled the beans.
That crazy bastard's temper is like a dog, sure.
But he's not the type to carelessly blabber about his friend.
Then.
What on earth did Gu Yang-cheon sense from him to be so guarded?
Was it just instinct?
'If it was that, then rather, it's good.'
A martial artist's instinct must always be on edge.
And sharp.
'Good.'
Pae-jon took another sip of alcohol.
The more he looked, the better he seemed.
Maybe, just maybe.
'...I might be able to perfect it.'
I might be able to see the completion of my martial arts through Gu Yang-cheon.
Such a thought made the alcohol go down smoothly.
As he started to sip his drink, Bi-bi, who had been standing blankly, approached and pointed somewhere.
"Uh, brother. Over there..."
The direction of her finger was.
The direction Bi Ui-jin had already been paying attention to before Bi-bi pointed.
"Brother, those people... right?"
At Bi-bi's question, Bi Ui-jin nodded.
'It's that Nak-geom bastard's faction.'
Several groups were forming factions, piercing through the night streets.
Tomorrow was an important day, after all.
The people who needed to gather were starting to gather.
Because of that, the streets were packed with people.
'Hmm...'
Among them.
White martial uniform with dark-colored patterns drawn on it.
It was a uniform proving they were from the Jang Family, the family of the current Alliance Lord, Nak-geom Jang Cheon.
'Come to think of it, I wonder if Gwi-mul arrived safely.'
The Gwi-mul I temporarily borrowed from the Murim Alliance.
Originally, when Bi Ui-jin attended the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.
It was something he was supposed to deliver in person, but.
He completely forgot and couldn't deliver it. Even though he had written a letter of excuse.
Afterward, that Gu Ryun bastard said he'd deliver it well and took it.
'He probably took care of it.'
Bi Ui-jin assumed he would have and erased it from his mind.
"Then is the person in front of them Shin-seong?"
At Bi-bi's words, Bi Ui-jin shifted his gaze slightly.
Then, a handsome young man walking at the very front came into view.
"He's handsome...?"
Bi-bi muttered as she looked at the young man.
A truly fine face.
His gentle appearance was one thing, but his smooth facial lines gave off the full aura of a well-raised young noble.
"That person must be Shin-seong."
The rising rookie martial artist.
Shin-seong, the son of the Alliance Lord.
"He's really handsome..."
Bi-bi seemed completely smitten with Shin-seong's face.
She couldn't take her eyes off him.
'He looks like that and is good at martial arts too?'
Perfect... Just perfect.
Bi-bi just nodded.
In the meantime, Bi Ui-jin wasn't paying any attention to Shin-seong or whatever his name was.
He seemed somewhat outstanding, but.
He didn't particularly feel anything from him.
'Hmm.'
Rather.
The figure walking right behind the guy named Shin-seong.
Bi Ui-jin was more concerned with that kid.
They were draped in a leather coat, so they couldn't be seen properly.
Guessing from their body outline, he could tell it was a woman.
And by the sword hanging at her waist, he could tell she was a swordswoman.
Furthermore.
'...Look at this?'
The very faintly emanating energy was familiar.
It had to be familiar.
Because it was exactly the same energy that had made him roll on the floor several times.
The sword that embraced the moon and sliced the sky.
Smelling the energy, the old man who stood alone on the sharp blade of the sword while being called one of the Three Venerables naturally came to mind.
Even as the thought crossed his mind, Pae-jon smiled deeply.
The energy emanating from the woman was definitely.
'That old man's.'
The master of the Wolseonmugeom.
'He raised a monster.'
It was the energy of the Sword Venerable, Wi Hyo-gun.