Chapter 318: Listening to Cheoljiseon. (1)
Thud…! Thud!
An early morning hour, when the dawn air filled the training hall.
Inside the massive training hall, large enough to accommodate dozens of people,
thunderous sounds and vibrations echoed.
Moreover, the expressions of the hall disciples watching the center of the noise were filled with deep fear.
“Kuaaack!”
The reason was probably Pae Ucheol, rolling around while making a sound like a pig being slaughtered.
Thud!
Pae Ucheol’s massive body hit the floor with a loud noise, rolling over and over.
His build was no ordinary size, so each time he rolled, dust swirled into the air.
It wasn’t just the dust.
The biggest reason the hall disciples were speechless, watching the scene—
was probably also due to my qi piled up so densely it seemed to touch the ceiling.
Pae Ucheol, who had been rolling limply on the floor, hurriedly pressed his hands against the ground to take a stance, but
what entered his sight was someone’s hand.
The palm that flew in wrapped around Pae Ucheol’s forehead as he rose—
and pushed, collapsing his posture.
“Keuk!”
A simple movement.
One that probably didn’t even use much strength.
Yet, surprisingly, it toppled Pae Ucheol to the floor with absurd ease.
“If you’re going to get up without your center, you might as well stay lying down, damn it.”
Only after taking that much did Pae Ucheol sprawl out on the stone floor, gasping for breath.
It seemed his stamina had reached its limit.
“Hooook… Hooooook…”
“At first, it seemed like you calculated your moves a bit. From the middle, you just rushed in wildly. Why didn’t you just ask me to hit you? Your frame is as big as a mountain, but why is your body no different from tofu?”
His curt, spitting way of talking was ferocious beyond compare.
At the sharp words, those who had been secretly eavesdropping flinched instead.
Was there any other human who could so thoroughly tear down Pae Ucheol, famous within the Divine Dragon Hall for his nasty temper?
Probably not.
Even if there were—
there would be no one as terrifying as the man currently beating Pae Ucheol right now.
“To throw Pae Ucheol around like a child…”
“He tore the Bantangigong with his bare hands… Does that even make sense?”
The hall disciples watched with pale faces. And for good reason.
The one toying with Pae Ucheol like a toy—
had a body that was, at best, perhaps half of Pae Ucheol’s size.
And in terms of age, he was a martial artist who belonged to the younger side even within the entire Divine Dragon Hall.
Of course. Unlike his appearance.
His talent and martial prowess were widely known.
Someone watching whispered under his breath.
“…Jinryong tears people apart.”
At those very quiet words, just as those around him were about to nod—
“I don’t tear people apart, you crazy bastards!
“Hiiik!”
Whether he heard that again or not, Jinryong shouted out loud.
His ears seemed quite sharp.
As the hall disciples scurried to avoid him at Jinryong’s shout—
Jinryong, watching this, let out a deep sigh.
“…This is why I don’t come to the training hall.”
Especially on days without morning training sessions.
From a martial artist’s standpoint, when there was no group training,
most people would come to the training hall individually.
These days were bound to be crowded as it was.
Thanks to this big lug, I didn’t know what kind of suffering this was.
I scratched my head as I looked at Pae Ucheol catching his breath.
‘Is this guy the better one, at least?’
Pae Ucheol at least had some tenacity.
He was probably better than the guy who had already gone and collapsed in the corner over there.
The one lying completely motionless, unconscious and fainted, was none other than Gu Jeoryeop.
Ahh….
And there was someone smiling awkwardly in front of such a Gu Jeoryeop.
The reason the hall disciples were glancing this way was probably—
partly because of me, but most likely because of that cocky guy this time.
The one smiling while looking at Gu Jeoryeop—
was the foremost talent of Huashan and—
a genius who had surpassed Nangong and Wudang to seize the moniker of Sword Dragon.
It was Sword Dragon Yeongpung.
Yeongpung looked at Gu Jeoryeop as if bewildered, then—
looked my way and asked.
“…Young Hero Gu, what should I do with this?”
“What do you mean, what to do? Just leave him be. Ah, I’m so embarrassed I can’t hold my head up around here.”
I’d die of shame to be called by the same Gu family name anywhere.
‘I asked him as a favor, and a single strike? A single strike…!’
The reason Gu Jeoryeop was lying there so pathetically—
was because he took a single strike in a spar with Yeongpung and immediately fainted.
Yes, a single strike.
Meaning he couldn’t endure even one hit.
“Whew….”
Watching that embarrassing spectacle made me want to rub my face in exasperation.
Yeongpung was indeed one of the era’s finest geniuses.
But to say that Gu Jeoryeop was at a level to be subdued in one hit—
that wasn’t the case.
Look at how I’d been rolling that bastard around.
Would he faint after just one measly hit?
“Haha… He, uh… seems to have been very nervous.”
“…Even at a time like this, you’re wrapping things up nicely for him, Dojang.”
“There must be a reason for everything.”
“What reason is there for defeat? You lose because you’re weak.”
Try saying you lost for a reason in a real fight.
I doubt you can talk once your head’s flying off.
“Sigh.”
It wasn’t anything else; I felt a little sorry for Yeongpung.
Because I had asked Yeongpung, who came to train with me, to spar with Gu Jeoryeop out of the blue.
“I’m sorry, Dojang Yeongpung.”
“Not at all. This, too, is experience, so it’s fine.”
Unlike before, Yeongpung’s arrogance had completely fallen away.
He retained the essential pride a martial artist must have—
and a certain competitive spirit, but—
the arrogance beyond necessity regarding his talent and martial prowess had disappeared.
‘…His mind, qi, and body are perfect.’
With his mental state stabilized, enduring Huashan’s training, which could be called extreme cruelty—
as his talent bloomed, energy seeped into him—
to the point that the Yeongpung of old was unimaginable; his level had risen immensely.
Peak realm, and right on the verge of full mastery.
That was Yeongpung’s current realm.
‘It’s so different from my past life.’
I didn’t know much about Yeongpung back then.
But I knew that he had wandered for a long time after reaching the Peak.
Recalling that, honestly, it kind of made my stomach churn.
‘…I just smacked him around a bit.’
I felt guilty toward Huashan, and I didn’t like his cocky attitude, so I just beat him up a little.
And using that as a turning point, Yeongpung had broken through his shell.
While someone else is rolling around shitting blood and guts, he says.
If he continued to grow like that and broke through the Age of Bloody Tribulation—
I felt that the next Sword King would be Yeongpung.
Plum Blossom Sword King? Wouldn’t he be called something like that?
‘I’d had some expectations for Muyeon, though.’
It wasn’t yet known in the Central Plains, but
if Muyeon cast off the guise of a bodyguard and stepped forward as a martial artist—
I knew he would make a name for himself quickly.
‘He’s also one of the few people on my side.’
I didn’t completely trust him, but
among others aside from the connections from my past life, Muyeon was the one I trusted most.
Gu Jeoryeop had also entered that circle before I knew it, but
watching his current state, maybe I should reconsider.
“…A total mess.”
I’d been busy since entering the hall so I’d left him alone.
How long has it been, and he’s already like this?
“Ucheol.”
“Y-Yes, Hyung-nim…”
Pae Ucheol answered my call with difficulty.
It seemed it wasn’t yet enough time for him to catch his breath.
“Take him and put him away somewhere.”
“…Huh… Can I just throw him on the floor nearby?”
“Throw him in his room if possible. The floor is a bit much, isn’t it?”
“Understood.”
Pae Ucheol answered, somehow seeming disappointed.
Why does this bastard keep burning with competitive spirit toward that guy?
It was something I couldn’t understand despite knowing it.
Since training time was almost over,
I slowly got up.
“Are you leaving?”
“Yes.”
“…That’s a shame. I’d looked forward to training happily with the Young Hero after a long time.”
I furrowed my brow slightly at Yeongpung’s words.
No, I don’t recall it being enjoyable…?
I’d thought the same when I went to Huashan before.
Anyway, those bastards obsessed with plum blossoms were all out of their right minds.
“Let’s do it together next time. I’ll remember it.”
I’d said it in the same way as suggesting we grab a meal together next time.
Hearing this, Yeongpung’s eyes sparkled.
…It seemed I’d misspoken.
“No… I mean.”
“I will definitely remember it.”
“…Yes, please do.”
Since I’d already let the words slip—
it was too late to take them back.
Yeongpung grinned broadly, seeming excited.
‘Why is he so happy about it?’
He should be training to death at Huashan.
Moreover, from what I occasionally saw, he didn’t seem to be on bad terms with his martial brothers like before.
Before I could harbor such questions—
Yeongpung spoke to me with a smile.
“Perhaps my martial brothers dislike training; they would be enthusiastic at first but disappear midway, so I felt a little lonely.”
“Hm.”
Hearing Yeongpung’s words, I nodded slightly inwardly.
I see.
‘…So, in other words, they all couldn’t endure it and ran away midway.’
It wasn’t that the Taoists of Huashan were strange.
Now that I saw this, wasn’t Yeongpung the strange one?
It was a moment when my perception of Yeongpung shifted slightly.
Then.
“Hm?”
Yeongpung, who had been smiling at me, suddenly tilted his head.
His gaze was directed toward my arm.
“…Huh?”
Feeling something perhaps alien, he stared at my left arm for a moment.
“What is it?”
I called out to Yeongpung with a voice implying, ‘What’s wrong?’
Only then did Yeongpung seem to realize his action had been somewhat rude.
He took a step back.
“Ah, no. I’m sorry. I felt a somewhat familiar energy.”
“It’s fine. I have a schedule, so I’ll be going first.”
Leaving Yeongpung behind, I exited the training hall.
Pae Ucheol would handle the rest.
The moment I came out of the training hall—
I faintly heard the hall disciples inside sighing all at once.
What is this, I’m practically being treated like a demon.
I was already used to such gazes from my past life, so I didn’t really mind, but….
The problem was Yeongpung’s gaze from just now.
‘…Did he sense it?’
What Yeongpung had been looking at was clearly my left arm.
Recalling that, I slightly rolled up my sleeve.
“…Ugh.”
My forearm, wrapped in pink bandages, came into view.
Yeongpung’s gaze had likely been drawn by the energy emanating from it.
I’d been hiding it to some extent, but it seemed there was no helping it against a martial artist of Huashan.
‘What am I going to do with this headache?’
Haah.
With a sigh, I recalled the previous day’s events.
This was probably the item that Noya had grabbed using my body in the annex.
It seemed I had survived thanks to the power contained within this precious artifact.
The fact that Divine Noya had used it.
And seeing Sword Queen and Yeongpung react to it.
Anyone could tell it was a precious artifact of Huashan.
That much is fine.
This is proof that the annex wasn’t an illusion.
And it’s true that it’s a grateful friend that saved my life.
The problem is—
‘Why won’t it come off?’
This precious artifact simply wouldn’t detach from my body.
‘I’m going crazy….’
Since it was wrapped in the form of bandages, I thought I could just unwrap it, but—
it wouldn’t come undone.
I’d tried to carefully unwrap it.
I’d tried using my qi to unwrap it.
I’d even hit my arm in a fit of rage.
‘…I don’t know, but I probably bruised it.’
I’d hit it so hard it was difficult to get up.
I’d tried anything I could.
But it wouldn’t come off even if I died trying.
Why the hell won’t this come off?
It was inconvenient to wash while it was bound to my arm.
It was embarrassing to show anyone.
When I showed it tightly bound to the Sword Queen—
she kept pondering what to do about it.
She told me that since it’s a Huashan artifact, she would have to ask Maehwaseon.
I’d also informed her that I hadn’t been able to obtain the Plum Blossom Stone she wanted.
The Sword Queen had asked if what was wrapped around my arm was the Plum Blossom Stone.
How could this look like a stone?
‘Of course, when I grabbed it, the texture had been like that.’
At first, it had felt like caressing a jade bead.
I had no idea why it was in this state now.
The Sword Queen said she would ask Maehwaseon about this.
But who knew when that response would come.
I knew someone who could answer much better and faster than that.
“So I’m saying, give me some kind of explanation.”
However.
Though I asked as if nibbling away at him—
no answer came.
The hero of Huashan, Divine Noya, who had set up residence inside my body as he pleased.
That crazy old man, after briefly revealing his voice then—
had disappeared again to who knew where.
‘…I’m really going crazy.’
I don’t know what he wants me to do.
Anyone could see he knew what this thing was.
He’s not even playing around with me.
Appearing and disappearing. What the hell is he doing?
“Nothing’s going right, seriously.”
Regarding the annex said to be in the Divine Dragon Hall—
before the Martial Alliance launches its investigation—
I wanted to take care of everything possible.
Accidents kept happening so things didn’t proceed according to plan, and my irritation was rising.
I have enough to worry about even without this.
‘…What was the upcoming schedule again. Practical training, was it?’
I recalled the upcoming schedule for the Divine Dragon Hall.
Was it hands-on practice for the training we’d received so far?
I’d heard it was something along those lines.
Given the situation—
‘It should be about time for him to move.’
If there was one prediction I was fairly confident about—
it was that, given the circumstances, Jang Seonyeon would soon make his move.
If I were him, I would think this practical training was the perfect situation to pull something on me.
Conversely—
it also meant it was a good situation for me to pull something on him.
Would he not know that?
‘I even whispered it in his ear before. There’s no way he doesn’t know.’
That he would die here.
I’d even kindly told him so.
There was no way Jang Seonyeon didn’t know that.
So the means he’d chosen was probably Cheoljiseon.
‘How did he know?’
What was somewhat questionable—
unless he had knowledge of a past life like me—
it was strange for Jang Seonyeon to have information about him.
Cheoljiseon’s surname being Jegal was plausible enough, but
if he had approached Cheoljiseon—
the probability that he approached because he knew about that ‘power’ was high.
The question was how he knew about that.
....
..
Alliance intelligence?
The Beggars’ Sect was affiliated with them, but this wasn’t information that could be dismissed as something from that side.
“It means he has some kind of backing.”
And it probably wasn’t anything on the righteous side.
For example.
Those guys I’d caught with Wi Seora the other day.
‘It’s probably that side.’
If so, it meant Jang Seonyeon had already strayed far from being called righteous.
‘Does Nakgeom know this?’
I wanted to know if the Alliance Leader knew as well.
Depending on that, I would know whether the entire Martial Alliance was in on it or not.
‘Even if they aren’t all in on it.’
The people of the Alliance weren’t trustworthy anyway.
I wasn’t even expecting anything.
Thinking that, I whispered quietly.
“I won’t let it slide this time.”
Regarding what was to come.
Since he was the biggest obstacle and someone I wanted to kill by any means necessary.
I had to take care of him properly this time.
From the moment I’d decided to enter the Divine Dragon Hall with him.
That had been my intention.
‘Unless there’s a variable enough to make the heavens collapse, that is.’
I was hoping it would be so, but—
that evening.
I encountered something that wasn’t on the level of the heavens collapsing, but—
it was a variable I could never have anticipated.
“…What?”
As I tried to take a spoonful of rice.
The guy eating with me had spat out something strange.
“What did you just say?”
When I asked back as if I’d misheard.
Cheoljiseon repeated the same words.
“…The Divine Saint asked me to help kill you.”
It was a rather abrupt confession.
From my position, it was something that left me momentarily stunned.
And for good reason.
‘I already knew that…?’
I’d expected as much.
It’s just that—
I hadn’t expected Cheoljiseon to tell me directly.