Thrush – Episode 303: Who's Bullying Us? (3)
The Divine Dragon Hall had many facilities.
Because it was a place filled with martial artists.
The first floor of the dormitory had been converted into a training ground,
alongside a dining hall spacious enough to accommodate a large number of people,
and a place for seclusion in case of emergencies.
There were rumors that demonic beasts were raised underground for training.
Ah, and for the record, this wasn't a rumor—it was the truth.
In his previous life, when he discovered the underground,
the demonic beasts had been swarming.
And behind the Divine Dragon Hall lay a vast plain.
This was a place for group-unit training.
A single group was assigned as few as ten, and as many as slightly over twenty.
In other words,
the plain was large enough to accommodate that many and still have room to spare.
Such a plain
was now filled to the brim with internal energy emanating from the martial artists.
Despite the bitter winter weather,
the heat was enough to make sweat evaporate, leaving the surroundings sweltering.
Huaa!
Bodies moved endlessly.
The sound of friction rang out.
More than ten people moved without rest on the plain.
And at the center,
the vice-captain of the Azure Dragon Squad,
a master known as the Cheoncheong Fist was facing a large number at once.
Kuuung! The ground shook.
It was the shockwave caused by Cheol Hwan-o stomping the earth.
Because of that, one advanced disciple who charged lost his balance and his stance crumbled.
Cheol Hwan-o didn't miss that and swung his hand.
Kung!
“Kkak!”
As Cheol Hwan-o's massive backhand struck the advanced disciple,
he was launched into the air and crashed into another advanced disciple.
The cooperative formation between the advanced disciples—which had been practically nonexistent—collapsed.
Even though several faced one man,
the battlefield was a mess.
It was partly because the martial artist named Cheol Hwan-o was strong,
but looking at the situation, much of it was crude.
And Cheol Hwan-o had known from the very beginning that this would happen.
Rather, it was more accurate to say he had proceeded fully aware.
Deflecting the converging attacks from all sides like flowing water,
Cheol Hwan-o rolled his eyes.
'The ones who show decent form are four.'
Amidst the numerous auras of internal energy,
there were four who felt especially well-organized.
This was the number Cheol Hwan-o perceived.
'But, as expected, they're still only at the advanced disciple level.'
Of course,
even for Cheol Hwan-o,
taking on more than ten advanced disciples who fluctuated between second-rate and first-rate at once would be too much.
However,
facing those without any experience in group coordination was a different story.
Because they were out of sync, there were unusually many openings.
If he grasped those openings and merely tapped them,
the tower would come crashing down.
A shoddily built tower was bound to collapse from even a small impact.
Look at them now.
Their harmony was off, so it was a complete mess.
In that situation,
one advanced disciple broke through that gap and flew in.
A big guy with black hair.
It was a face Cheol Hwan-o remembered.
'Pae Ucheol.'
A strange light flickered in Cheol Hwan-o's eyes.
He was one of the four worth noting.
In the midst of the chaos,
Pae Ucheol broke through almost using the chaos as cover,
arriving right in front of Cheol Hwan-o's nose.
Using his firmly rooted lower body as a fulcrum,
Pae Ucheol's waist recoiled.
The moment heavy internal energy loaded into his fist,
Pae Ucheol extended his fist. Clean movements, a considerable level.
However,
“Too bad.”
This was Pae Ucheol's mistake.
Against an opponent with a severe gap in level,
to approach head-on in a situation where his comrades couldn't assist him.
Excitement and heat had gotten the better of him; he seemed unable to properly assess.
Kwadeuk!
The internal energy imbued in Pae Ucheol's fist was shattered with a single hand gesture.
Until the energy in his fist broke and scattered,
Pae Ucheol couldn't see how Cheol Hwan-o had moved.
And immediately,
Kung—!
“Kkeoheok!”
An impact shot into Pae Ucheol's abdomen.
It was Cheol Hwan-o's strike, and immediately after the impact, internal energy exploded, causing a shockwave.
Unable to endure it, Pae Ucheol was sent flying far back and rolled across the ground.
The instructor was playing the role of the demonic beast.
Not much time had passed since the demonic beast hunt—where the advanced disciples cooperated to catch the demonic beast—began.
Half of the advanced disciples who had started together were lying on the ground.
Those barely holding their stance were sweating cold sweat.
Their eyes wavered.
They seemed unable to understand how this could be.
Watching them, Cheol Hwan-o had to hold back a small laugh inside.
'The eyes of hatchlings.'
It must be a new experience.
They had likely never properly experienced the Central Plains,
and moreover, they were people who hadn't thought much about the existence of demonic beasts.
Meanwhile, Pae Ucheol, who had been sent flying far away,
was seen rising while clutching his stomach.
“Thwe!”
He spat roughly on the ground; his eyes weren't dead yet.
'A rough one.'
Not bad.
A martial artist should be like that.
However, from the instructor's standpoint, it was best to squash the arrogance these fellows possessed early on.
'The world cannot be lived that way.'
The advanced disciples who came to the Divine Dragon Hall
were all people raised receiving every bit of favor in their hometowns.
Their talents were outstanding, and they must have had endless support from their families or sects.
Most were fledglings who believed the whole world was theirs.
He had to break that from the very beginning.
That was simply Cheol Hwan-o's method.
Cheol Hwan-o was someone who had served as an instructor at the Divine Dragon Hall many times.
He had likely started around the time he passed his twenties.
He hadn't taken on the instructor role for the past several years,
but he had returned because an 'affair' had come up.
If you're going to do it, you have to do it right.
This was the discipline Cheol Hwan-o possessed.
'This batch is high quality.'
Feeling the tingle in his fist, Cheol Hwan-o thought.
It was a batch with an unusually high number of geniuses and talents, enough to be called the generation of shooting stars.
As if to prove it, the advanced disciples under his charge were outstanding as well.
'...And, that guy was there too.'
Internal energy filling the surroundings mixed with air and heat.
In the gaps of the dissipating heat carried away by the wind.
...
..
Beyond the advanced disciples groaning from exhaustion,
Cheol Hwan-o sent his gaze to someone.
During this process,
he was speaking to the one who hadn't moved in the slightest, as if observing.
'True Dragon (眞龍) Ouyang Tian.'
The last dragon of the Six Dragons and Three Peaks.
An advanced disciple watching the situation from afar with interest.
He was likely on the younger side in this group, or even in the entire Divine Dragon Hall.
Even while facing the other advanced disciples,
Cheol Hwan-o had been sending his senses toward Ouyang Tian.
'Why?'
The question repeated.
Why was Ouyang Tian staying still?
'Was the display he showed earlier merely reckless bravado?'
Cheol Hwan-o, right before the first training,
recalled what Ouyang Tian had said to him.
—Can't I do it alone?
The young advanced disciple who had provoked him so arrogantly.
It was such an obvious provocation.
Perhaps because it came from an advanced disciple who wasn't even half his age,
he had nearly lost his reason and responded.
Still, he endured.
Cheol Hwan-o was an instructor.
He couldn't fall for such a provocation.
However,
he had intended to put him in his place, however.'
Cheol Hwan-o was human too; he couldn't just let it pass.
He had planned to make Ouyang Tian an example in this training.
Even this arrogant advanced disciple of the Six Dragons and Three Peaks
needed to be shown that he was helpless against an instructor.
So that the other trainees could come to their senses.
And,
'The young master said he's been getting along with the True Dragon lately.'
When Cheol Hwan-o took the position of vice-captain of the Azure Dragon Squad,
the reason he had returned to the instructor position he had left.
Cheoljiseon.
What is the young master thinking?'
He heard that they passed the third exam together with the True Dragon.
The image of the young master who said he wouldn't accept Cheol Hwan-o's help flashed by.
He had entered as an instructor, but
regrettably, Cheol Hwan-o couldn't provide help in that manner.
Cheoljiseon's passing was a fortunate thing.
'What is that guy thinking?'
Setting that aside,
Cheol Hwan-o still hadn't been able to grasp what kind of person the advanced disciple named Ouyang Tian was.
To the extent that it remained in the records,
a prodigy who had reached the Peak Realm at a young age.
The boy called the greatest star among the pouring shooting stars
simply stood silently,
merely observing his collapsing comrades.
Had he been frightened by the unexpected strength?
That couldn't be it.
From what Cheol Hwan-o saw, Ouyang Tian didn't give off that feeling.
He had said he was at the Peak Realm.'
When he first observed the trainees,
he remembered the moment he sent his gaze toward Ouyang Tian.
'I couldn't see it.'
Meaning his realm couldn't be read.
When he had filled the room with his presence and fighting aura,
he also remembered how Ouyang Tian had looked completely unfazed.
'Could he truly be at the same realm as me?'
He himself was at the perfected peak.
A level known as the end of the Peak Realm.
Cheol Hwan-o was gazing at Transcendence.
This had happened five years ago.
Not all Peak Realms were the same.
Even so,
'...For a chick not even of age to be at the same realm as me.'
Moreover, he had even provoked him by saying he could win alone.
'He must have thought little of me.'
His fighting aura rose bit by bit.
As the other advanced disciples began to cower at that aura,
“Ouyang Tian.”
“Yes.”
Ouyang Tian, who had been watching with continued interest,
soon answered the instructor lightly.
“Why are you just watching the other trainees?”
“Is that not allowed?”
“The objective of training is demonic beast hunting. Are you just going to watch your comrades fall?”
“The demonic beasts I know couldn't talk. Strange. You're too good at this.”
Pfft.
For a moment, his expression nearly crumbled.
'He has no manners.'
As expected of the younger brother of that sword maniac; cast from the same mold.
“Are you insulting the instructor right now, trainee?”
“No. Since it's called training, I'm merely being considerate.”
“Considerate?”
“Yes.”
Ouyang Tian smiled as he spoke.
So much so that everyone around could tell it was a sneer.
A laugh filled with unmistakable emotion.
“If I join, the training becomes too easy.”
“...”
...Ah.
Still getting that kind of reaction.
Truly arrogant and full of himself.
'They say everyone is like that at that age.'
Especially since he's receiving so much attention from the world right now.
Moreover, with the alias True Dragon,
hearing that he's the youngest Peak Realm expert.
It couldn't be helped.
However, he picked the wrong opponent.
'I'll fix that lack of manners right here and now.'
He was to be this guy's instructor for half a year.
He had no intention of fixing him slowly over that time.
He would finish it now. That way, the future would be easier.
“Trainee.”
“Yes, Instructor.”
“Do you think the world belongs to you? Your actions are like a frog in a well.”
“Ribbit, ribbit.”
“...”
“That was a bit much. I apologize.”
Though Ouyang Tian apologized—a rare sight—it didn't reach Cheol Hwan-o.
It was already too late.
“Trainee Ouyang Tian.”
“Yes.”
“Since you claim to be so confident, shall we make a bet with the instructor?”
“A bet?”
“Yes. A bet.”
“What kind of bet?”
Ouyang Tian, who had merely stayed still, finally showed interest.
In response, Cheol Hwan-o held up three fingers.
“I'll give you three moves.”
“Oh?”
“Within those three, if the trainee's attack reaches the instructor, the trainee wins.”
“Ah, wait a moment.”
“Why? If you're scared now...”
“Will you attack or counterattack during that, Instructor?”
“...What?”
He wondered what nonsense that was.
He had clearly said he would give three moves. What was this nonsense?
Seeing Cheol Hwan-o's expression, Ouyang Tian spoke as if slightly relieved.
“Ah, I'm sorry. I've been through this kind of thing a lot... I just asked to confirm.”
“...Right.”
A bewildering reaction.
What kind of crazy bastard would promise to exchange moves and then hit them?
'Could such a crazy bastard exist?'
If there were, at least they wouldn't be of the orthodox faction.
Where was a human who bore the orthodox faction's name yet did such dog-like acts?
While Cheol Hwan-o was thinking, Ouyang Tian asked.
“I understand the terms, but since it's a bet, what do I get if I succeed?”
“That won't happen, but do you have something you want?”
His pondering demeanor was ridiculous.
After a brief moment of thought, Ouyang Tian quickly found his answer and spoke to Cheol Hwan-o.
“Then please excuse me from morning training.”
“...”
...Ah.
Cheol Hwan-o had to let out a hollow, absurd sigh upon hearing those words.
A martial artist, and a trainee who had entered the Divine Dragon Hall at that,
was asking to be excused from training.
It was an utterly absurd situation.
“Just during the half-year you're in charge of this group, please excuse me?”
“...You really seem to look down on me.”
“It's not really that. Since you suggested a bet?”
“Fine. Then, conversely, if this instructor wins...”
“You can do whatever you want. I'll accept anything.”
Tsk.
At Ouyang Tian's attitude, speaking as if annoyed,
in the end, Cheol Hwan-o felt his reason seeming to snap.
Cheol Hwan-o's features crumpled deeply.
That was treatment that utterly disregarded him as an instructor.
'Very well. If you so eagerly seek your fate, I, as your instructor, shall show you the world.'
Huuu!
A heavy fighting aura erupted from Cheol Hwan-o's body.
It was different from the energy he had released while gathering the advanced disciples.
A heaviness of a different quality.
At the fighting aura emitted by a martial artist who had reached the perfected peak,
those exhausted and lying on the ground,
and the other advanced disciples watching this retched.
Because the killing intent mixed with fighting aura was too strong.
If they were ordinary advanced disciples,
this wouldn't have happened.
He would have controlled it to some extent,
but Cheol Hwan-o couldn't stand Ouyang Tian's attitude at all.
He wished for him to feel it.
That even if they were the same Peak Realm, they weren't entirely the same.
That there was another world.
“Come.”
Cheol Hwan-o spoke with shining eyes, but
Ouyang Tian merely stood still in that spot.
Looking at Cheol Hwan-o with a mysterious expression.
“Why are you standing still? Are you scared, trainee?”
No matter if he had reached the Peak Realm,
there was bound to be a difference in level.
It was natural that he couldn't move like that.
Seeing that, Cheol Hwan-o slightly raised the corners of his mouth and said,
“If you realize your mistake and apologize even now, I was even inclined to let it go—”
“This much should be enough. It's going to be close.”
“...What?”
Ouyang Tian cut off Cheol Hwan-o's words.
The moment he tried to question Ouyang Tian,
Ouyang Tian spread his palm upward
and quietly muttered alone.
“Flame Prison.”
A posture and words he had heard of.
A story that had widely spread among the instructors during the last exam.
The secret technique performed by the True Dragon of the Gu Clan.
That the exam hall was swept away and turned into a mess.
There was even talk that it was a power unthinkable for someone at the Peak Realm.
'No way.'
The moment that thought crossed his mind,
Hwarururuk!
Flames instantly shot out to the surroundings,
sweeping the area and causing fissures.
The fighting aura and killing intent that Cheol Hwan-o had released in all directions
were swept by the flames and sucked in.
Where to?
Straight into Ouyang Tian's palm.
The crackling flames rode the wind and whirled around,
sweeping up even others' internal energy and gathering in one place.
'This is absurd...!'
An energy that made one tingle just by looking.
Cheol Hwan-o finally realized his thoughts had been wrong.
That was not the level of an ordinary Peak Realm expert.
Because it was an energy that couldn't be emitted by such a level.
'Is he planning to detonate it?'
The words saying he would allow three moves had already been forgotten from memory.
If he really detonated that right now toward the surroundings,
'I can't block it like the Sword Empress.'
At Cheol Hwan-o's level, he couldn't protect the advanced disciples.
He raised internal energy into his legs.
He had to stop that first.
Kwang—!
Dirt exploded on the ground, accompanied by the sound of breaking air.
Cheol Hwan-o shot forward.
Fast speed.
Reaching near Ouyang Tian was an instant,
but for Cheol Hwan-o, that time was like an eternity.
'Can I block it?
What is the range if it explodes?
How much is the backlash if I block it head-on?
If I forcefully block it right now,
how much damage would Ouyang Tian take?'
Countless calculations flashed by,
but no conclusion was reached.
If it came to it,
Cheol Hwan-o intended to block it with his own body.
Approaching right in front of Ouyang Tian's nose,
he reached out his hand.
His arm wrapped in Gang Qi struck out at an enormous speed,
reaching the desired position in an instant, but.
Hwik!
“...What!”
Cheol Hwan-o's hand merely brushed through empty air.
Because Ouyang Tian had moved his body to dodge.
Cheol Hwan-o's eyes flashed.
He reacted to this speed?
Surprise was only for a moment.
There was no time to be surprised right now.
The one who reacted late this time was none other than Cheol Hwan-o.
Due to his urgent movements, his posture had crumbled slightly.
Because of that, turning his body was a little too late.
Ouyang Tian didn't miss that gap.
He immediately brought his palm, enveloped in a red sphere,
right in front of Cheol Hwan-o's eyes.
Kwak—!
And clenched it directly into a fist.
At the same time he clenched his fist,
Cheol Hwan-o's hair whipped wildly with the felt wind pressure.
“Heup!”
Cheol Hwan-o, who expected an explosion, tightly shut his eyes and raised his Gang Qi to envelop his surroundings.
It was to reduce the explosion's range, but.
“...?”
Strangely, the energy Cheol Hwan-o expected didn't rush in.
He had expected heat to cover his entire body,
but only a cool breeze blew around Cheol Hwan-o.
Then.
He felt a small sensation touching his chest.
Checking what it was,
Ouyang Tian was lightly pressing the end of his fist against Cheol Hwan-o's chest.
At that sight, Cheol Hwan-o's mouth gradually opened.
Ouyang Tian, seeing Cheol Hwan-o's face like that,
“Caught the demonic beast.”
Said so, smiling as if satisfied.