'Well, well.'
Watching the sunlight streaming through the bars, I felt a peculiar emotion.
The air felt somewhat humid.
A strangely dark space, considering sunlight was coming in.
Though things looked somewhat well-maintained, others appeared strangely old.
Looking at the things around me, I let out a short laugh without realizing it.
'So this is how it turned out.'
It was a space furnished with chairs and a table, called an interrogation room.
Its location was the underground of the Martial Alliance, and it was also a place that would likely serve a different role as more time passed.
'To think I'd come here again.'
What I was looking at was an intact wall, but bars would be erected after tearing it down.
It was an interrogation room now, but by then, it would be more appropriate to call it a prison.
Yes, this place was in the exact same location as the underground prison where I died in my previous life.
It's just that, for now, it was called an interrogation room and served a different purpose.
Realizing this and looking around, a peculiar sentiment seeped into me.
The unpleasantness of having returned to the place where I died in my previous life.
Mixed with the alienation of having come from a somewhat different position than back then.
While I was lost in such sentiments and turning my gaze.
Click. Slosh, slosh, slosh.
A sound came from the front.
It was the sound of something being poured into a placed teacup.
I looked past the filling tea water at the old man holding the cup.
The dao robe symbolizing a figure of the Martial Alliance.
The symbol of Wudang subtly visible within it.
On top of that, the subtle yet profound Dao qi filling the room.
The presence emanating from him—that of a true martial artist rather than a half-baked one—made my hair stand on end.
Similar to the feeling I had when I saw the Sword Emperor.
It wasn't much different from when I had seen the old man earlier either.
'After all. It's only natural.'
Just as the Sword Emperor was a figure who ranked among the Ten Great Experts.
Since this old man was no different from him, it must be a natural principle.
Once all the tea was poured, his Dao Eye turned toward me.
"It's been a while."
At the old man's greeting, I steadied my breathing.
"Yes, it has been a while, Sect Leader. ...No, I suppose I should call you Alliance Chief now."
I was facing the Wudang Sword Immortal, the sect leader of Wudang.
I was facing the one currently in charge of the Martial Alliance.
At my words, Geomseon slightly raised the corner of his mouth.
"Call me what you will. The title of Wudang Sect Leader is also one I can bear."
I nodded at those words.
'The title of Wudang Sect Leader, also...'
Something about the order felt a bit off.
'It's as if the title of Alliance Chief takes precedence.'
There was already a trend of Geomseon gradually reducing his involvement in Wudang affairs.
I had heard that he had even appointed a proxy Sect Leader to reduce his workload, and hearing him say that gave me a certain feeling.
'Is this proof that the Martial Alliance side is more important?'
From the Alliance's perspective, this might not be a good thing.
'There was a reason they hadn't appointed a sect figure as Alliance Chief for centuries.'
Thinking back on past Alliance Chiefs, there had been a small number of family heads. Geomseon was the first Sect Leader.
The reason was none other than this.
'Usually, Sect Leaders value their sect more.'
As was the case with most sect members.
There were plenty who valued their sect over their own lives.
Since he was the most important figure among them—the Sect Leader—the majority had been reluctant to entrust the Alliance to them.
Moreover, because they were Daoists who pursued enlightenment by nature, they weren't trusted with politics in the first place.
'This old man, really.'
Geomseon—this old man—whether in a good sense or a bad sense, seemed like someone suited for the title of Alliance Chief.
After all, even for a Daoist, a strange materialistic greed had been visible in him since long ago.
As we held each other's gaze like that, Geomseon spoke to me.
"I heard something happened to a precious child, so I came to see for myself."
"I'm not particularly on the precious side, but..."
"Haha. You are precious. The juniors are the future of the righteous faction. How could you not be precious?"
"I'm grateful for your words, at least."
I wasn't thankful in the slightest, but I put honey on my tongue first.
Because there was no point in baring my teeth here.
"So, you had an incident with a senior martial artist."
"There was a fight due to a very minor misunderstanding."
"A fight caused by a misunderstanding, you say..."
As he listened, the Alliance Chief's smile deepened.
Seeing that, I had to hide my discomfort inside.
'To think this person would come in person.'
I thought I might receive a moderate investigation. I never dreamed the Alliance Chief would come to meet me face-to-face.
At most, I had thought the Sword Emperor would come.
'What is going on?'
Why did this old man come looking for me?
I turned it over in my head.
Surely he didn't come just to see a junior disciple who got caught.
I had known for a long time that he wasn't the type to do that.
"For what it is, it seems to have played out quite unusually."
"..."
"I heard you fought evenly with Yu Tangeom. Is that right?"
That stupid bastard.
With so many openings, how could I not hit him and let it slide?
I tried to let it go, but he was so weak that I stomped him harder than expected.
'I can hardly say that...'
I rolled my lips and spat out words.
"It was a coincidence and a miracle. Senior Yu Tangeom was going easy on me."
"A miracle..."
Geomseon put on a strange expression.
Watching him, I also narrowed my eyes.
"Even if it was a miracle, I could tell your potential is outstanding. Impressive."
"Not at all. As I said, Senior Yu Tangeom was going easy on me."
"The Sword Emperor told me that even he could not grasp your level."
"..."
Trying to act humble, I closed my mouth for a moment at the following words.
Because it was an unexpected situation.
If Geomseon's words were true, this was a mistake.
'...Ah, damn. Should I have suppressed it more?'
I had revealed my power to some extent the moment I saw the Sword Emperor, but even that seemed to be insufficient.
It was an obvious mistake.
'My level was higher than I thought.'
I thought I had lowered it to a level that the Sword Emperor could see through.
It seemed I had to lower it even more.
"Perhaps the Sword Emperor was simply tired that day."
"The Sword Emperor? Haha."
Geomseon laughed.
Of course.
There was no way that cold, sharp man would make a mistake because he was tired.
Though he was called the Alliance Chief's bodyguard.
He was, furthermore, a figure who protected the Martial Alliance itself.
He never makes mistakes and never retreats.
The Iron-Blooded Sword Emperor.
That was his epithet.
Geomseon held a smile because he knew that well, and I had to sigh inwardly.
"At first, I thought you had learned a peculiar martial art. But seeing you in person, it's different."
It was because Geomseon's true intentions began to show as he continued speaking.
"You are strong. Probably stronger than the world knows."
"I've never been called weak anywhere."
I changed my expression. I had tried to manage my expression, but it was useless now.
I tried throwing out a joke, but Geomseon's expression remained the same.
Though he was smiling, the emotion within was bone-dry even for a Daoist.
"A great blessing has come to the Central Plains."
"Alliance Chief."
I cut off Geomseon and asked him.
"It seems you have something you want to say. This lacking junior shall listen."
Stop beating around the bush and spit it out.
I spat out those underlying feelings. At that, a minute tremor appeared in Geomseon's smile.
'Feeling me out is tiring, too.'
I think I know why the Alliance Chief came looking for me.
The duel with Yu Tangeom seemed to be the problem itself, and beyond that as well.
'It seems my strength itself is some kind of problem.'
Power far exceeding expectations.
That I possessed it seemed to be a problem.
"I heard you would participate in the Martial Arts Tournament. Is that true?"
"It is true. They say it is a festival directly hosted by the Martial Alliance. As one of the righteous faction's bloodline, I thought I must attend."
I hid justification within my words.
It meant I simply planned to try the tournament you guys are hosting.
Those words contained that meaning.
"I thought it would be an unparalleled experience for an inexperienced martial artist like myself."
"Indeed. It will be a valuable experience not just for you, but for all martial artists."
"Yes. I am very much looking forward to it."
"I'm grateful you say so, but there is one thing you must know."
"I shall listen attentively."
I focused my gaze and looked at Geomseon.
"Because there was a fight within the Alliance, if handled wrongly, your right to participate in the Martial Arts Tournament could be stripped."
I widened my eyes immediately at Geomseon's words.
"Huh...! Is that true?"
I reacted by covering my mouth with my hand, as if I had no idea.
"I didn't know...! That such a grave matter could happen!"
"Therefore, depending on the situation, you may be unable to attend the Martial Arts Tournament."
"I see...."
I lowered my eyes and put on a regretful expression.
And then I continued.
"Since those are the Martial Alliance's laws, I shall act according to your judgment. It is my fault, after all."
I said with a smile.
If they wanted to disqualify me, so be it. I could respect that choice.
That was my true feeling.
'Because looking at the situation, something seems to be going on.'
If the Alliance Chief, Geomseon, came in person to probe me, something must be mixed in.
So I was checking.
Whether they could really remove me or not.
Though technically I had committed a fault, my thoughts upon entering were different.
They cannot remove me.
'To be exact, they can't remove me, who is entangled with Yu Tangeom.'
It was true that a fight had broken out.
Separate from that, the problem lay in the fact that those involved here were Top Hundred Experts of the Central Plains.
A Top Hundred Expert of the Central Plains participating in the Martial Arts Tournament.
That alone gives considerable value to the tournament's name.
Excluding a Top Hundred Expert from the tournament over nothing? This would inevitably be a huge loss for the Martial Alliance.
So they would try to gloss it over somehow.
Moreover, rumors about me must have already spread.
'A youth who fought a Top Hundred Expert, and such... in that direction.'
Even a little interest would be generated.
The Martial Alliance wouldn't easily cast that aside.
Especially if it was a time when they needed to draw attention.
So before long, I would be able to get out.
'That was the judgment I came in with.'
But seeing Geomseon's reaction, I could tell something was different.
'If they remove me here, there is a reason for it.'
Normally one should be disqualified for breaking the rules, but the Martial Alliance wouldn't handle matters that way.
This was also a conviction of sorts.
The conviction that they absolutely would not do so.
Because I knew that, if they removed me even in this situation.
'Something must be happening behind the scenes.'
It would be proof that I am an obstacle to that matter.
If I obtained that proof, I just needed to change my plans slightly.
'The Martial Arts Tournament? Damn it, if I can't go, so be it.'
The plan using Bongsuni had been pushed somewhat to the back.
If things got tangled, there would be no problem using it immediately.
Thinking so and looking at Geomseon.
"..."
Silence fell.
Having heard my words, Geomseon was also looking at me.
I met his gaze without avoiding it.
What choice would he make?
Or what words would he say?
I was looking at him with curiosity.
"Haha."
Geomseon held a smile again.
"There is no need to worry so. Today... I came purely because I was curious about you."
"Th-that's how it is."
"The interrogation, too, is said to be finished, so you will likely be released soon. If I stole your time with this meeting forced by my obstinacy, I am sorry."
"Those are truly fortunate words."
It seemed something wasn't happening as expected after all.
"I shall have to check internally, but likely nothing serious will happen."
Those were the Alliance Chief's words.
That was close to a definite answer.
"We cannot block a great star of the Central Plains from rising over such a trivial matter. Is that not so?"
"...A star, you say. Those are embarrassing words."
Yes, I had no intention of remaining as a mere star or anything like that.
Sliding.
Geomseon spoke and rose.
"I am sorry for taking your time. I hope next time we meet, it will be for a different matter."
It seemed the conversation was over for now.
We hadn't even talked much, but had Geomseon achieved his purpose?
'Or perhaps he judged it ambiguous to try something more.'
Whatever the case, Geomseon had come to me with a purpose.
Knowing that was enough.
Without dropping his smile, Geomseon said to me.
"I hope you achieve good results in the Martial Arts Tournament."
"Thank you for your words. I shall do my best."
"Yes, ah, right. I heard you are a close friend of my child."
Naturally, the child Geomseon mentioned meant U Hyeok.
"Yes. An unparalleled close friend."
"He has always been a worrisome child. It relieves me to see he has gained an outstanding friend. I do hope you get along well with him."
"Haha...."
I laughed at those words.
It wasn't funny at all.
To think the man who, in my past life, told U Hyeok to his face not to associate with the likes of me, would say such words now.
Moreover.
'A worrisome child?'
What utter bullshit.
For the bastard who threw him away like trash in his previous life to say he's worried.
'Why did U Hyeok die?'
Among the reasons was none other than what Wudang had done, yet seeing him come out like such a kind Sect Leader made me nauseous.
But I endured.
I had to endure.
"Yes. I shall take good care of him."
"Yes, yes. Thank you."
Slam-!
Geomseon finally left the room, and the door closed.
Only after the door closed like that could I erase the smiling expression I had been wearing.
'It isn't easy.'
It's really not easy.
I know there are far, far too many people in this world who deserve to die.
Because I know that better than anyone.
It truly wasn't easy.
******************
After Geomseon left, at most half a shichen had passed.
Only then was I able to exit the Martial Alliance.
As I came outside following the Martial Alliance's guides, something suddenly popped up in front of my face.
"...What is this?"
"It's tofu."
"This is really absurd."
With a bright smile, Dang Soyeol held out tofu to me.
I carefully received it and took a bite.
It's tasty, though... well made.
"You worked hard... is your body alright?"
"What wouldn't be alright? I just sat there and came out."
Literally, it wasn't very difficult.
They called it an interrogation, but they just watched my mood intently and asked a few questions.
Yu Tangeom likely hadn't said much either.
'As if he'd talk about it, embarrassed as he must be.'
That is what martial artists are.
They tirelessly boast of victory but clamp their mouths shut about defeat.
And how could a grown man who is supposed to be a senior say that he was messing with a woman and nearly had his groin shattered?
'I should have definitely shattered it, not just nearly.'
If I had kicked a bit harder, it would have really broken, but since it could have become a big problem if it truly shattered, I had controlled it to some extent.
You could say I left it at a treatable level.
'I'm a professional in that area, after all.'
This is also an advanced torture method, something only a skilled person can do.
It's something only I can pull off. Because I'm me.
I chewed the tofu in my hand and asked Dang Soyeol.
"Where did that human go?"
It was a question about Yu Tangeom.
He must have come out before me, so there were no issues, right?
"Ah... he did come out earlier. He glared our way and quickly disappeared."
"Is that so?"
It seems there will be no more fighting.
"What were you doing waiting? I told you to go first."
Before entering the Martial Alliance, I had told Wi Seola and Dang Soyeol that they could go.
The two of them seemed to have been waiting until I came out.
Bongsuni and Seongyul seemed to have quietly disappeared.
It was fortunate; if those guys had been waiting too, it would have been more annoying, so not seeing them was a gain.
"How could we go first... you were dragged away because of me."
Dang Soyeol spoke with a gloomy expression, so I laughed aloud.
"Did that look like I was dragged away?"
"Whether you went on your own feet or by force, it's true that it was because of me... if only I had held back a little."
"As long as nothing happened, it's fine. And what do you mean, hold back?"
I said while patting Dang Soyeol's head.
"If you hadn't held me back then, I would have caused an even bigger mess. That's what it means."
It ended at that level because Dang Soyeol seemed to be angry.
I don't know what she said to make Yu Tangeom so furious, though.
'Thanks to that, more attention was drawn to me... but it's not a big problem.'
More gazes drawn to me? I didn't really care about that.
"So stop making that face and let's go eat."
I roughly took those words and tried to take Wi Seola and Dang Soyeol with me.
"Ah, young master..."
Dang Soyeol avoided my hand and spoke.
"Since I've seen you come out... I'll be going first."
"Where are you going?"
Skipping a meal, where are you going?
To my question, Dang Soyeol spoke with a smile.
"I have some business. I'll be back before it gets late."
"...Alright. Take care."
Since she said she had business, I didn't pry unnecessarily. Lately, Dang Soyeol hadn't been seen often, but there shouldn't be a big problem. She would handle it herself.
After that, Dang Soyeol disappeared somewhere.
"What should we eat? Shall we have dumplings?"
When I asked, recalling the dumplings we had eaten before, Wi Seola smiled brightly.
"I like anything."
"Let's go then."
I brushed back Wi Seola's hair and slowly began to walk.
******************
As expected by Geomseon and Gu Yangcheon, rumors began to spread little by little in Henan.
-A young martial artist clashed with Yu Tangeom, a Top Hundred Expert, and the match was not properly decided.
It was something those who witnessed the fight at the time began to spread by word of mouth.
"It's a lie."
"S-surely if you're going to lie, you should be a bit more realistic?"
Naturally, the majority did not believe it.
But.
"Ah, it's true, I tell you! I saw it!"
"It's true. I saw it too!"
Because there were so many who actually saw it and so many spreading it, it didn't take long for the rumors to spread.
A young martial artist.
At that, a junior-level martial artist and a Top Hundred Expert had clashed evenly.
That alone was enough to heat up the surroundings.
"If it's Yu Tangeom, he is one of the absolute experts, so who is this person who fought such a man?"
"I heard he is called Soyeomra."
"Soyeomra...? Could it be, the Divine Dragon Hall..."
News of one whom the Beggars' Sect and the Martial Alliance had intentionally suppressed also spread.
"At that time, there was much talk of a new hero. Even if he is a genius, how many years have passed... does that make sense?"
"If it's Yu Tangeom, he would be a martial artist of the Transcendent Realm... if they fought evenly, could it be that Soyeomra has also reached the Transcendent Realm?"
"Nonsense. If it's Soyeomra, he's only just passed twenty! The Transcendent Realm? The Transcendent Realm isn't some neighborhood dog's name!"
"Why is it nonsense? The Divine Dragon reached the Transcendent Realm immediately."
"That's because he's the Divine Dragon...!"
"Have you forgotten that Soyeomra was also called the True Dragon? Even then, rumors spread first that he was the youngest to reach the Transcendent Realm."
"But the Martial Alliance officially acknowledged that the Divine Dragon was..."
The arguments never ceased.
With that one short fight, the surroundings were gradually heating up.
This was something even Gu Yangcheon had not expected.
No, it would be more correct to say the backlash was much greater than expected.
Was that rumor true?
Had Soyeomra truly reached the Transcendent Realm?
If so, when did he reach the Transcendent Realm, and what became of the past rumors?
Moreover, if the rumors were true.
What became of the value of the Divine Dragon, which the Alliance officially acknowledged?
When many words were becoming a small whirlwind in Henan.
"It's here."
Someone was handing over a letter at the Martial Arts Tournament registration desk, still crowded with people.
"No... so Soyeomra is... here..."
"Yu Tangeom, well..."
Hearing the sounds constantly coming from the surroundings.
A black-haired youth took on a strange look in his eyes.
It was an expression that seemed dumbfounded.
"What has he been doing in the few days I haven't seen him? Tsk tsk...."
He had left his seat briefly due to business, and it seemed trouble had been caused again in that gap.
'He said he was embarrassed about making a name for himself and didn't want to. I wonder why he bothered holding back if this was going to happen.'
Anyway, he was a piece-of-shit bastard.
Though it was funny that he himself was raising such a bastard.
A martial artist of the Alliance took and unfolded the letter the youth handed over.
"...Oh."
The registrar's eyes widened slightly as he received and read the letter.
"Y-young master Bi Uijin of Seoan Biga... Confirmed."
The youth, Bi Uijin, held a slight smile at the registrar's words.
As the registrar carefully prepared the waist token.
"Ah, right, and this is something my master asked me to deliver."
"Yes?"
"He said to thank you for the letter, and also to convey his apology that he himself is too busy to come."
"What do you mean..."
Along with those words, he handed over another letter.
The registrar received it and unfolded it again.
"...Hwaak!!!"
The registrar's expression, unlike before, was filled with far greater shock, and his body began to tremble.
It couldn't be helped, as the owner of the letter was none other than.
"P-P...Paizun...!"
One of the Three Venerables of the Orthodox Heaven.
Biju, the Baizun, unmatched in martial combat.
It was his letter.
While the registrar was trembling and looking at the letter, Bi Uijin snatched the waist token and moved his feet.
"I have conveyed everything, so I shall take my leave now."
"Wa...wait-!! Young Master Bi...!"
The registrar urgently called Bi Uijin, but he had already disappeared long ago.
The second day of Martial Arts Tournament registration.
Fighting Dragon Bi Uijin had requested to attend the Martial Arts Tournament with the Baizun's letter.
That is.
It was no different from acknowledging that the Fighting Dragon was the direct disciple of the Baizun.
Before long, Henan was filled with yet another rumor.