‘Crazy.’
The first thought that burst out the moment I saw him was a curse.
It couldn’t be helped.
*Guuuuuu…*
Because the presence radiating from Bi Uijin’s body was just that overwhelming.
‘…What the hell is this?’
For certain, as far as I knew, Bi Uijin possessed a body at the Peak realm.
No matter what kind of person might be hiding inside, the realm was not something that could be faked.
‘How is this possible?’
Tremble.
I felt my fingertips shaking.
A trembling unrelated to my own intent. It was not born of fear.
I wasn’t afraid.
This was purely evidence that I was being devoured by my opponent’s presence.
It meant my presence was beginning to be consumed by the presence erupting from Bi Uijin.
It was a different sensation from that caused by killing intent or fighting spirit.
When one repeatedly accumulates martial power and gains enlightenment, the years lived for that sake naturally seep into the soul.
That was what a martial artist’s presence was.
The very vessel one had accumulated and expanded.
It was something unknowable unless the person revealed it themselves.
In other words, Bi Uijin was intentionally baring his presence to me.
And, as I sensed it, that presence was like an overwhelmingly massive wall.
‘So this is the Sancun…’
Even if he possessed a body that had lost its realm and weakened.
One of the three strongest in the Central Plains.
The presence of the man called the pinnacle of the current martial combat lineage was this lofty and this heavy.
"There."
Bi Uijin’s voice as he spoke to me had changed.
The pitch of his voice had dropped a level, and the melody in his tone had vanished.
Even the faint smile he had been wearing disappeared.
His appearance was the same, yet it felt as though he had become a completely different person.
"Since when did you notice?"
"It wasn’t long ago."
A lie.
The moment I laid eyes on him, I realized it, and I already knew what state he was in.
There was no need to say that out loud.
The change in Bi Uijin was not limited to that alone.
The gait with which he slowly approached me had changed.
It was a very subtle change, yet through the eyes of a martial artist, it was an enormous one.
‘Is something like that even possible?’
A martial artist’s movements ultimately rely on the martial arts they use.
Because the martial arts honed throughout one’s life differ from person to person, even the most minute differences are inevitably embedded in their movements.
That was why one could determine whether an opponent was a swordsman or a martial fighter simply from their gait or the way they sat.
Accordingly, as Bi Uijin belonged to the martial combat lineage, his movements had not changed drastically.
But to my eyes, they had clearly changed.
Which meant, those movements were precisely—
Not those of Tooryong (Fighting Dragon) Bi Uijin.
Did it mean they were those of Paejon (Defeated Venerable) Bi Ju?
Bi Ju’s black eyes turned toward me.
Meeting his gaze, I felt as though I was facing a bottomless pit.
It was different from the chill I had felt from the Dark King.
"Is there anyone else who knows of this?"
Paejon did not utter a single denial in response to my words.
To begin with, when he had spoken before, it had been with conviction.
Still, that he would not deny it at all was something even I had not expected.
"There is no one."
"Good."
Saying so, Paejon plopped down onto a rock. Even this action was clearly different from when he had been Bi Uijin.
Unlike the Bi Uijin who had possessed the propriety and dignity unique to a prestigious noble clan, despite his rough manner.
His current appearance had even lost that.
‘He must have been adjusting that difference.’
Even if one granted that actions could be controlled.
It seemed he had even been controlling his unique habits and mannerisms.
It meant he was regulating and perfectly controlling every single action he took.
I had to wonder if reaching that degree was truly within human capability.
"Had you spoken of this to another, it would have become a bit troublesome."
"Yes…"
Having spoken, Paejon shifted his posture, crossed his legs, and looked at me with a peculiar gaze.
Yet even then, his presence remained unmistakably distinct.
While I tried my best to hide the cold sweat trickling down me.
Paejon asked me.
"How did you notice?"
He was asking how I had realized he was Paejon and not Bi Uijin.
That I had nearly died at his hands in my previous life, and that he himself had told me he was Paejon, which I had remembered even after my regression.
Since that was not something I could say.
I pulled out another story I had prepared.
"A feeling."
"…What?"
Hearing my answer, Paejon looked at me with an expression of absurdity.
Regarding my realization of his true identity.
Naturally, he would make such an expression, as I had offered nothing more than a feeling.
"A feeling? Did you just say a feeling?"
"Yes. It’s a feel—"
"There."
Paejon rose again from the rock he had been sitting on.
Upon seeing that, I involuntarily almost took a step back.
His momentum was different.
The weight of it was different from what could be called the fighting spirit of a Peak realm martial artist.
"You know, I think well of you."
Yes, I know.
Paejon certainly thought well of me.
And I knew the reason lay in my outwardly visible talent.
‘Truly an annoying reason.’
In other words, had I lacked talent, I would not have caught Paejon’s eye.
It was only natural.
They called it the generation of falling stars, or whatever half-baked name they came up with; in any case, the current world was one where talent was everything.
What was my position within it?
Reaching the Peak before even coming of age—merely that was an incredible feat.
To have gone beyond that and reached the Transformation Realm.
If this matter became properly known.
What would the world call me?
A genius who would remain in history? They would roughly call me that.
‘It grates on me.’
The more I thought about it, the more it made my skin crawl.
The desire to be called such a genius was nothing more than a childhood delusion.
It was a delusion that any martial artist would have entertained at least once.
Everyone dreamed of becoming the greatest talent under heaven.
In a world where people also dreamed of becoming masters, if one actually became like that.
It might be a somewhat romantic story.
‘The problem is that I don’t have time to indulge in such romance.’
I had obtained this solely through regression.
I must not forget my place.
Didn’t my past days show me what happened when I briefly forgot my place?
"The reason I am not immediately destroying you, now that you know my identity, is also because of that."
‘…What frightening words.’
Not "killing," but "destroying."
In a way, it was the tone that best revealed Paejon’s nature.
Even while saying that, Paejon still took no other action and merely looked at me.
I could feel it in his eyes.
He was telling me to bring out the next story.
Otherwise, he would truly act upon his words.
Seeing that, I could only let out a hollow sigh inwardly.
‘Whether this one or that one. In the end, is there no one sane?’
Well, whether mad for martial arts or mad for slaughter.
It must be because there is some madness that one can rise to this position.
It was a world where a kind and soft-hearted being like myself could not easily survive.
"If this is not an explanation I can understand…"
"Back when I was taking the entrance examination. Did you not spar with me?"
I interrupted Paejon first.
Honestly, this was what intimidated me the most.
At this, Paejon sent an uncomfortable gaze my way, but he did not press the matter.
It meant he would let it pass.
The intention for me to hurry and add to my explanation was a bonus.
"That was when I realized. That the Young Master Bi was not Paejon’s disciple, but the man himself."
In truth, it was ambiguous to even call it a spar.
Though part of it was because my physical condition had weakened.
From the start, the difference in level had been extreme. It was correct to say that Paejon had been playing with me.
‘My pride is a bit wounded.’
Even if my pride was hurt, I had to let it go to that extent.
From the standpoint of having experienced Paejon moving properly in my previous life, I had to understand from the fact that my body had remained intact after the fight.
"And you call that a feeling?"
His eyes grew cold.
He probably couldn’t accept that as an explanation.
Back when Paejon had introduced himself as Bi Uijin.
He had called himself Paejon’s disciple.
I thought this was to prepare an excuse in case he had to use Tua Pacheonmu, Paejon’s unique martial art.
Let me recall my previous life.
Had Paejon, who had been living as Bi Uijin, not revealed himself when the bloody tribulation arrived.
He had lived hiding his existence to the point where probably no one would have ever known.
Seeing this, Paejon must possess a fairly cautious personality.
‘So rather than beating around the bush annoyingly, I must choose a slightly better method.’
I steadied my breath and spoke.
"That is not all."
A device I had prepared before.
I had not intended to use it for this occasion, but I had no choice.
To begin with, I had not intended to use it in this way either…
After a brief hesitation, I spoke with difficulty.
"For a long time, I have had an interest in you, Elder."
"…Hmm?"
Even as I said it, my throat itched.
Because I was uttering such absurd words myself.
"What?"
"…You are also called the greatest martial fighter. And I was deeply impressed by the meaning of your sobriquet."
The former was somewhat true.
Though the martial arts I used were not the same, I also used my fists.
For Paejon was the one called the pinnacle in that field.
"So I contacted the Beggar Sect and also asked them to look into the Bi clan."
This was also true.
I had indeed asked Chu Ong of the Beggar Sect to look into the Tooryong.
Of course, it was because rumors had been spreading that I was Paejon’s disciple or what have you.
I had been observing his movements because I hadn’t known how he would react upon hearing the rumors at the time.
"You speak of that raccoon dog fellow."
"Yes."
Paejon himself also knew of Chu Ong.
Ah, had Chu Ong said he was caught by Paejon?
There was nothing I could do about that part except offer him an excuse.
Paejon, who had been lost in thought, seemed to finish organizing his thoughts quickly and spoke to me.
"I can understand that you respected me and wanted to see me."
"I didn’t go so far as to say that?"
Why were words I hadn’t uttered springing up?
"Respect" was a word I had never once used.
Paejon lightly ignored my words as though I were denying it.
"You know well that does not fit as a reason?"
Of course.
That I sent someone to look into the Tooryong, and that I had now realized Bi Uijin was Paejon, were not fitting explanations.
Yet the reason I brought up this story anyway was.
To inform him that I had been interested in the figure of Paejon from the beginning.
Around this point, I had to properly mention the reason I had thought up.
"What made me certain was around the time of the spar… To be exact, I had some expectation even before that."
"That means… you knew of my identity from the beginning?"
"It was not certainty."
"How?"
Paejon’s reaction grew slightly more intense.
If I didn’t explain properly here, it felt like an arm or a leg or something would truly be broken.
Fortunately.
The reason I would give was simple and easy.
And it was a part with considerably more validity than one might think.
Because there was no story that could fit better than this.
"…Our Elder mentioned it to me in passing."
I just had to say that Iljangno had mentioned it to me.
I vaguely knew the two had a personal connection.
Seeing that Iljangno had received a letter of recommendation from Paejon in the past.
One could tell they had met even after undergoing Banrohwandong.
So the best thing to say right now was to sell out Iljangno.
Of course, I would have to clean up the aftermath later.
‘…Elder, I’m sorry, but I’m going to sell you out a bit.’
So this was what family was good for.
Every day he called me grandson or whatnot, so he would probably overlook me selling him out just once.
Now, what mattered was Paejon’s reaction.
I looked at Paejon while outwardly pretending to be fine, swallowing my trembling.
Paejon’s eyes widened upon hearing the story.
Before long, he showed me his reaction.
"That crazy bastard…"
Though it was a somewhat violent reaction, I was able to breathe a sigh of relief at that very reaction.
"Guryun… That damned bastard, really…"
Paejon held his forehead as if it were throbbing.
Seeing that, it seemed the relationship between the two was not shallow.
For what I felt more than anger was absurdity.
"…Did you say Guryun told you?"
"He did not explain it properly. I merely guessed from a passing remark I happened to let slip."
If I said he had told me everything properly.
I wouldn’t know what might happen later, so I had lightly patched it up.
I did not know if this would work.
"…Tch."
Paejon clicked his tongue repeatedly as if displeased with this.
Only now did I notice, but the presence Paejon had been emitting into the surroundings had already been fully withdrawn.
‘When did he withdraw it?’
It had been such a powerful momentum, yet I hadn’t even noticed it disappearing.
"There…"
"Yes."
Paejon, finally seeming to have calmed down, spoke.
Did this suffice as an explanation? I wasn’t sure.
"All is well. That you somehow realized my identity. For now, there is something more important than that, so I can overlook it."
Listening to Paejon’s words, I thought inwardly.
‘He doesn’t seem to believe all of it.’
He didn’t seem to believe everything.
However. Paejon seemed to have something more important than the truth of my explanation.
"That you would deliberately bring up that you know my identity now. I suppose I may assume there is another intention?"
"…"
Paejon’s words were correct.
I could have simply pretended not to know and kept my mouth shut about Paejon’s identity.
Yet the reason I had called him out and spoken like this now was something else.
"The offer I made you last time. Do you remember it?"
"I remember."
"Then is this matter related to that?"
"It is."
What Paejon had offered me.
Namely, the offer he had made me under the name of Bi Uijin.
Words telling me to become his disciple.
Paejon had definitely said that to me.
To become his disciple.
This was to give him my answer.
"This might actually be a good thing. Then the conversation will become easier."
Paejon donned a faint smile again that seemed somewhat cheerful.
"My offer remains the same as back then. I speak of you becoming my disciple."
Where had the Paejon who had dominated the atmosphere just moments ago gone.
He now seemed somewhat excited.
Was it truly such a happy occasion?
I didn’t know.
‘Does he even know what my answer is?’
Did he have no inkling that I might refuse? I agonized ceaselessly until the very moment before answering.
To be exact, from the moment I received the offer.
The benefits of becoming Paejon’s disciple were clear.
But I currently had no time to learn new martial arts by becoming his disciple.
What he had achieved.
And the martial power he had shown in my previous life—just looking at that, it was certainly a desirable power.
To the point that I had felt an overwhelming wall when facing him.
But the problem was also clear.
To receive new martial arts, I would have to rebuild everything in my body from scratch.
That was impossible.
That was why it was difficult.
The Guyeomhwaryungong was also a martial art worthy of being called a divine skill.
So the thought that I didn’t necessarily need to become Paejon’s disciple was what I had thought just a few days ago.
But a change had occurred when I faced the Heavenly Demon.
Because my speed was dozens of times faster than in my previous life.
I had thought that if things continued like this, it would be enough.
I had been arrogant.
And conceited.
Intoxicated by words praising me as a True Dragon or whatnot, I had unknowingly forgotten for a moment.
What kind of existence the Heavenly Demon was.
‘There is no chance of victory.’
How could I win?
I racked my brains every day.
No matter how I looked at it, there was no chance of victory at this rate.
So I had to find another way.
Since giving up was not an option, I absolutely had to find another way.
I had also considered going to my father to ask about the path forward.
But would that alone be enough?
I thought not.
Including all the battles until now.
What I had learned throughout my years living as a martial artist was also a problem.
‘Martial combat. It is lacking in itself.’
The biggest problem was that my combat techniques lacked flexibility and had many deficiencies.
And the person before me was the most suitable person to impart such teachings.
Because the one at the pinnacle of that field was none other than the man called Paejon.
"…As for becoming your disciple. I would like to, with all my heart."
Honestly, I didn’t think that becoming Paejon’s disciple would unconditionally become a solution.
It was merely a struggle of hoping this might become a way.
Moreover, he wished for me to enter as his disciple.
I didn’t know what Paejon’s goal was.
I merely thought there must be a clear reason why Paejon, who had never taken anyone as a disciple, wanted me so badly.
"But before that, there is something I wish to ask of you."
"A request?"
At my words, Paejon tilted his head.
I had worried he would be uncomfortable, but fortunately, he didn’t seem to be.
As for the request, it was nothing else.
For the moment, it was true that I wished to receive teachings from Paejon.
As I had said earlier.
To throw away everything I had accumulated until now.
I had no time to build anew.
Furthermore… there was something I wanted to verify regarding this.
"I wish to learn your martial arts while leaving what I have built up until now as it is."
Without discarding the Guyeomhwaryungong contained within my body. It meant I would also take in Paejon’s martial arts.
Upon hearing this, Paejon’s face scrunched up.
My words were that absurd.