A cool sensation brushes past my cheek.
At the texture my instincts informed me of, I raised the corners of my mouth.
"Look at this bastard."
Clear hostility is felt from the opponent.
Facing the yellow eyes beyond his distorted expression, I tilted my head.
"You knew?"
"..."
"How did you know?"
I asked the question, but Shinryong only quietly bit his lip, offering no reply.
I don't know why he even bothered asking if he was going to be like that.
I stared at the guy for a moment, then asked something else.
"So, why should I bother refuting that?"
The claim that the youngest Hwagyeong is a false rumor.
Is there really a need to go out of my way to refute it? I don't really know.
"That is..."
At my words, Shinryong finally opened his mouth slowly.
"...Because that rumor is false."
The youngest Hwagyeong officially recognized by the Murim Alliance is Shinryong, standing right in front of me.
However, that's only the official story.
Then who is the real youngest Hwagyeong?
Is it me?
It might be. Reaching the Hwagyeong before even passing the age of yakgwan is truly an incredible feat.
However.
Can I say it with certainty?
'Well.'
I don't know.
Unofficial is, literally, unknown information.
And, even if I really were the youngest Hwagyeong, it didn't matter.
"I don't really care."
I didn't care about such trivial things, and honestly, it held no meaning.
'What meaning is there in something obtained like this?'
My current level is merely something gained through regression.
Youngest Hwagyeong? To me, it was nothing more than a useless phrase.
How could such a thing be of any help?
It's not important to me at all.
"Just do you. I'm leaving."
Take it if you want it.
Because I had to obtain something much greater than that.
I didn't know how Shinryong knew about this, but. That didn't really matter either.
If he wanted it, he could have that rumor all to himself.
Saying so, I was about to leave, but—
"...Benefactor."
Shinryong frowned even deeper and spoke to me.
"Are you pitying me?"
'Hmm.'
Hearing his words, I observed Shinryong.
Especially his eyes.
The swirling emotions in those yellow eyes were clearly....
'An inferiority complex?'
An emotion I knew all too well was loaded within them.
Eyes I had in my past life, and eyes I often make these days as well.
'For Shinryong to look at me with such eyes.'
I wondered if that monk bastard would ever have a reason to look at me like that.
I quietly observed those eyes, then asked him.
"Have you seen me somewhere before?"
"..."
He wouldn't make those eyes without any reason. It seemed like there was some cause.
I just didn't know what that reason was.
'Strange thing.'
It was like that with Sword Dragon Yeongpung, and now it's Shinryong?
I had no idea why those called geniuses of the era looked at me with such eyes.
Seeing Shinryong give no answer this time either, I clicked my tongue shortly.
"I don't know what the deal is, but should a monk who believes in Buddha make eyes like that?"
"...!"
Hearing my pointed remark, Shinryong's eyes widened slightly.
And then he quickly began to change his expression.
It seemed he realized something was off himself.
Seeing that, I narrowed my eyes.
"What's the problem? What exactly don't you like?"
What on earth could be the problem?
"I told you to just do what you were doing? I don't care about that rumor or whatever, so just keep doing what you were doing. What pity? Pity my ass."
Why would I pity anyone? I'm busy trying to survive.
I said it full of annoyance, but Shinryong's reaction remained unchanged.
"...I cannot comprehend it."
"Comprehend what?"
"With such rumors circulating, why do you not express yourself, Benefactor?"
As the words implied, questions of utter bewilderment piled up on Shinryong's face.
"Could you not correct it at any time?"
"Correct what?"
Is he telling me to correct the rumor?
Or to yell out that I am the real one, not that guy?
"If I don't want to do it, I won't. Who are you to say otherwise?"
It's fine if I just play along and say I won't bother proving it, why is he arguing?
And.
"When did I say I wouldn't?"
"...Pardon?"
As I gave my answer, Shinryong's expression changed.
"Express or whatever. There's no need for it right now, so I'm just 'not doing it right now'."
I'm holding back from showing my strength and correcting the rumor.
As Shinryong said, I can show it and fully correct it, yet I'm holding back.
So don't worry.
"Because there isn't much time left anyway."
Not much time was left until I showed it.
"...If you wish to show it, you can show it at any time. Is that what you mean?"
"It wouldn't be particularly difficult."
As Shinryong himself mentioned, showing it if I wanted to wasn't that hard.
I just didn't bother.
The reason being.
'Enduring and enduring again before showing it would make the impact much greater.'
I'm not an idiot; it's not like I just stayed quiet while hearing those ridiculous rumors.
I was only waiting for the right time. And that time was simply now.
I didn't know why Shinryong cared about me, but even so, I only had one thing to say.
"So if you want to see it, wait. And don't do anything useless."
"..."
I would show it before long.
Coincidentally, the stage to show it was already prepared, wasn't it?
"I don't care about anything."
I would simply show it.
Did they call it the Generation of Shooting Stars?
An era where stars poured down like rain.
Peace was shattered, but not losing hope was largely due to that.
With so many stars to protect them, they could breathe, believing in that.
Amidst all that, not once did I ever think I was a star.
Only looking up from below at the pouring shooting stars.
I never thought of myself as a shooting star coming down.
'Right now, there are simply too many stars. Their value seems too low.'
Rather, I thought that was good.
If countless stars came down, I would gather the light of the pouring stars and burn a flame alone.
By doing so, I would ultimately shine alone, so right now is just preparation for burning that flame.
Thinking so, as I looked at Shinryong indifferently—
Shinryong opened his mouth to me with a gradually lowering gaze.
"...I heard you will also be participating in the Martial Arts Tournament, Benefactor."
"That's right."
As I nodded and answered, Shinryong carefully brought his fist and palm together.
I wondered if he was about to bow.
"Then, I will see you there."
Shinryong added with a calm demeanor.
However, unlike his attitude, the words were no different from a declaration of war.
Hearing the words, I tilted my head and spoke.
"Do I displease you?"
I don't think I've had much contact with Shinryong, so why does he give off this vibe from our first meeting?
"It is not like that."
"Like hell it's not."
His whole body was screaming that he disliked me.
Look at him now, the words themselves mean he wants to fight me, don't they?
'Well.'
It's not like I'm the type to care whether I please anyone or not.
Even if he hated me, it didn't really matter.
Convincing myself like that, I was nodding when—
"It is simply because I must prove my worth through you, Benefactor. These words are for that purpose."
Shinryong added at the end and shook his head.
"Worth."
Proof of worth.
A truly subtle remark.
"Does beating me prove your worth?"
"I am not sure. However..."
"If that's the case, you're going to lose to me?"
"...!"
I cut off the words Shinryong was about to spit out.
Hearing that, Shinryong's face stiffened hard.
"...What truly arrogant words."
It gave the feeling that he didn't like it.
Asserting outright that he would lose seemed to have hurt his pride.
'That wasn't exactly my intention, though.'
I decided to stay quiet since there was no need to correct my words.
Even if I corrected them, it wouldn't make much of a difference.
So I was just staring at Shinryong when—
"Since words are meaningless, I will show you. Just how complacent your arrogance is. I will show you directly."
Shinryong spat out the words, turned his back with smoldering eyes, and walked away.
He seemed quite angry.
"Hmm."
Looking at his back, I wondered whether to stop him, but held back from doing that too.
Shinryong's words didn't really bother me, but... the problem was.
'That... Shouldn't I tell him?'
The grease heavily smeared around his mouth.
Evidence of him enthusiastically eating meat was all over Shinryong's mouth; is it okay to just let him go like that?
'...No, well, he'll figure it out himself.'
I was going to stop him and tell him if possible.
Seeing the way he talked, it seemed fine to just let him go.
What did he say again?
'I will see you there?'
Pfft.
I held back a laugh as I recalled Shinryong's words.
'Amusing.'
Let's remember that he was the one who asked for it first.
Therefore, whatever happened now was that guy's responsibility.
Smacking my lips, I also turned my steps toward my quarters.
Those two people.
"..."
Paeng Ujin was watching from the roof of a nearby building.
With a very cold gaze, different from just a moment ago.
******************
Some time had passed since I returned.
Around the time the sun was setting, I had arrived at the quarters where the Divine Doctor was after finishing my afternoon training.
It was to see Namgung Bia, who would be receiving treatment.
"Are you okay?"
"...Yeah..."
Namgung Bia, who was quietly peeling and eating an apple, nodded.
As the words implied, she did look okay.
I asked, looking at what was in Namgung Bia's hand.
"...Don't people usually peel that with a knife?"
"...Too bothersome..."
*Swoosh.*
Surprisingly, Namgung Bia was using sword aura to peel the apple skin.
I didn't understand why she was using that when there was a perfectly fine fruit knife next to her, but if it was comfortable for her, I guess that was that.
"That much should be fine."
As I was looking at that, the Divine Doctor spoke to me.
"Originally, the external injuries were the bigger problem... and since the girl's body is so sturdy, there was no issue with her qi."
"Is that so?"
Hearing the Divine Doctor's words, I looked at Namgung Bia as if it was amazing.
Normally, if one suffered external injuries, problems would naturally arise within their qi as well.
It seemed Namgung Bia had no such issues.
"Even apart from being a martial artist, her recovery rate is extremely outstanding. I said three months, but... looking at it, she'll be fully healed much earlier than that."
"...That's a relief."
I could breathe a sigh of relief at the Divine Doctor's words.
I looked around and asked the Divine Doctor.
"Where did Gwaeseon go?"
"Hmm. When I saw earlier, it looked like he went out with his disciple. Wouldn't he be taking a walk?"
I nodded at the words.
'It seems he went to try again.'
That guy Wuhyeok must have gone to try his authority on Gwaeseon.
I hadn't heard if there was progress, but seeing as he kept doing that, it seemed like something was working.
'I hope it works.'
Then, if I got hurt, I could just go to that guy for treatment. He would become very useful.
Even if the Divine Doctor's treatment is the best in the Central Plains.
'Ultimately, he couldn't restore a severed arm.'
I took that positively while casually glancing around the surroundings.
It was to find someone.
"...The two of them went out..."
This time, Namgung Bia answered me.
Hearing that, I let out a slight dry cough.
"Ahem, what do you mean?"
"...Soyeol... and Seol-a... Aren't you looking for them...?"
She said calmly as she quietly chewed the apple.
...It was the correct answer.
I was wondering where they went and looking for them, but it seemed I was caught immediately.
I awkwardly scratched my cheek.
"It's not particularly like that..."
I wonder why.
Looking for other girls in front of Namgung Bia gave me a somehow pricking feeling.
Because of that, as I was avoiding her gaze, a "Pfft!" laughing sound was heard from somewhere.
I turned my head and looked at Namgung Bia.
"...Why...?"
Namgung Bia, whom I looked at again, had the same expressionless face as always.
"Wasn't it you?"
"...What was...?"
"You just laughed."
"...I don't know..."
Isn't it Namgung Bia?
Then the only one left is the Divine Doctor.
"What are you looking at?"
"...No. It's nothing."
Strange? The laughing sound was definitely a woman's.
"Are you sure it wasn't you?"
"...I don't know..."
When I pressed Namgung Bia for an answer, she shook her head and spoke.
What's important here is not whether it's a yes or no, but the answer that she doesn't know.
'It seems like it definitely was her.'
Should I press her a bit more? As I was pondering that.
"...Ah... right..."
*Clap-!*
Namgung Bia clapped her hands and put on an unconvincing act.
Seeing that, I let out a hollow laugh.
So I decided to just let it slide roughly.
However.
"...Tomorrow... the Family Head is coming."
"Hmm?"
The words that followed were quite important.
"The Sword King is coming?"
"...Yeah."
The Family Head of the Namgung Family and Namgung Bia's father, the Azure Heaven Sword King, was coming to Henan.
This was rather important information.
Along with that.
"My younger brother said he's coming too..."
"...Is that so?"
It included the information that one of the Namgung Family's geniuses, the Female Dragon... no, the Thunder Dragon Namgung Cheonjun, was coming along.
Hearing that name, I tilted my head.
'It's been a while since I heard that name.'
It was a guy I hadn't met since running into him at the engagement ceremony in the past.
'I turned him into a Demonic Human and left him be.'
He was also the first human I turned into a Demonic Human.
At first, I planned to use and discard him at some point.
'I forgot about him for a bit.'
I had completely forgotten about him in my memories.
'That guy is coming too...?'
This was a somewhat strange occurrence.
Namgung Cheonjun coming to Henan. That couldn't be anything but a bothersome matter.
Because.
'I'm sure I put a restriction on that guy, right?'
The restriction I placed on him was to never leave Anhui, along with a restriction not to approach his sister.
'How did he get out of Anhui?'
Even coming here was a problem.
If Namgung Bia's words were true, this was an impossible situation...
'Did something go wrong with the restriction?'
I didn't sense any such signs.
What was going on?
As I was pondering this question.
[Master.]
A small sound transmission was heard.
It was Nahui's voice.
['Chang' has awakened.]
"..."
Hearing Nahui's words, I scowled deeply.
Of all times, it had to be now.
I was planning to stay a bit longer.
Suppressing a sigh inwardly, I spoke to Nahui.
[Put him back to sleep.]
I said it thinking I'd knock him out again and go later.
[...Excuse my presumptuousness, but.]
Hearing this, Nahui answered with a slightly troubled voice.
[I have already knocked him out for the fourth time... and if I do it again, Chang shows signs of going on a rampage.]
"..."
Damn it.
"Haa."
Hearing Nahui's words, I finally couldn't hold back and let out a sigh.
As I was frowning with eyes full of annoyance.
*Stroke.*
Namgung Bia stroked my cheek.
"...What?"
Wondering what she was doing, I looked at her, and Namgung Bia put the rest of the apple in her mouth and said.
"Come back safely..."
"..."
Hearing those words, I widened my eyes slightly.
Did she hear the sound transmission? That shouldn't be possible.
"How did you know? That I have to go right now?"
"Because your eyes say so..."
My eyes aren't a mouth, what could they possibly say.
I looked at Namgung Bia with a dumbfounded expression.
Then.
"...Come back..."
Namgung Bia pulled back the hand she was stroking with and waved it slightly, as if telling me to hurry back.
At that sight, I smiled slightly without realizing.
Funnily enough, it seemed I was finding reassurance in such a sight.
"Alright. I'll come again."
"Yeah."
I spat out the words and stood up. I didn't want to go if it were up to my heart, but it seemed I had to go.
After giving my greetings to the Divine Doctor who was making medicine beside me, I stepped out the door.
The place I headed to afterwards was where my quarters were. And the moment I stepped inside.
*Kwaaang---!!!*
A sound of something exploding was heard from inside.
"Tsk."
I clicked my tongue briefly and immediately spread my qi in all directions.
A qi barrier formed around the quarters.
The place the sound came from was the back of the quarters.
It was a somewhat secluded space, and I had to squeeze my eyes shut at the scene that greeted me upon arriving.
The space was a complete mess, of course.
"...Ugh..."
Over by the rocks in the distance, Seong Yul had fallen, letting out groans.
'Why is he here?'
Leaving the abruptly present Seong Yul behind. In front of him was Nahui holding a dagger, aiming at someone.
"Grrr..."
A sound came from where dust was rising thickly.
It sounded like a beast's cry.
"...Cult Leader... where is the Cult Leadeeeer!!"
*Kwaaah-!!*
At the sharp, ringing cry, a sudden gust of wind pressure struck.
Swept up in the wind, the dust vanished in an instant.
Looking at the one remaining there, I slowly approached.
"I said where's the Cult Leader!! Where are you!! Come out right now! If you don't come out--!!"
"What are you gonna do if I don't, you crazy bitch."
"Huh!"
The woman, who was recklessly wreaking havoc while radiating qi, flinched and looked this way.
It was a woman with short black hair and purple eyes.
At first glance, she looked quite pretty, but she possessed such a shitty personality that it completely buried her appearance.
The woman's expression changed as she confirmed it was me.
"It's the Cult Leader! The Cult Leader! The Cult Leader is over there!"
As if excited by something, the woman looked around her surroundings.
Soon, the woman reached her hand out into the air.
At that moment.
*Shwiriririk-!!*
A staff flew from somewhere in the forest and landed in the woman's hand.
It was a long staff painted black.
"Liar Cult Leader. You didn't even answer when I called, you tied me up and locked me away! You didn't even play with me!"
*Gooooo---!!*
An immense fighting spirit began to flow from around the woman holding the staff.
It was truly rough and vast.
Just the fighting spirit alone was enough to make the surrounding trees tremble.
"I need to punish you for this! I can't stand it!"
After that, the woman aimed the staff at me.
*Kwang-!!*
She kicked off the ground and charged at me.
At the chilling killing intent, my eyebrows twitched slightly.
Can't be helped.
"I'm going to punish--!!"
[Bow down.]
*Woo-ung-!*
"Kkuak-!"
*Kwadeudeudeuk-!!*
The feet of the woman running with all her might got tangled, and her face plunged into the ground.
The recoil was considerable, as she rolled in front of me while still face-planted on the ground.
Seeing that, I moved my foot.
*Kkyuk-!*
"Kkeueueue...!"
I stepped on the head of the groaning woman.
Adding pressure so she couldn't move, the trampled woman started to struggle.
"Keuraang... you're being too mean... oh, wait? Maybe this feels good..."
A pathetic voice was heard. Hearing that, I had to grab my forehead.
'As expected, I shouldn't have called her.'
The more I looked, the more I thought I had definitely made a mistake in calling her.
The woman's name was Bongsoon.
She was the Demonic Human who would later sweep across the battlefield under the name Gwichang (Ghost Spear).
And also the sole bloodline of the former Sword Empress.