Why did you leave out the story of Emei Sect's betrayal?
At those words, Gwonseon's reaction was truly fierce.
Widened eyes, hastened breath, and even a thumping heartbeat.
Everything pointed to a single conclusion.
Seeing that reaction, the corners of my lips rose.
'Honestly, I was just testing the waters.'
It gave me about fifty percent certainty.
A creeping sense of disgust. Feeling that, I organized my thoughts.
The conclusion drawn from that was exactly this.
Squeeze-!
I put strength into the hand gripping Gwonseon's cheek.
"Keugh...."
At that, she let out a short groan.
"Almost nothing you said makes sense."
The reason Emei Sect is looking for Bongsun is to clear the Eulryeong Sword Empress's false charge?
What pretty words.
There were circumstances that made the previous Sword Empress leave Emei Sect and act independently, but since she was still a person of Emei Sect, they should clear her name if it was a false charge.
If that were the true meaning, it would be quite a noble sight.
But there was a problem here.
"If that were the case, you should have done it sooner."
Why are they stepping up only now?
"It's been at least twenty years since the war ended."
A long time has passed since the Righteous-Demonic Great War ended.
Yet, what did Emei Sect do during that time?
"They did nothing."
They did absolutely nothing.
Being treated as a demonic faction and starting a war was a false charge? If they knew that, they should have done something.
"You're old. The fact that you could only step up because Bong... no, Pi Yeonyeon appeared is just an excuse."
There should at least be word that you did something before that.
"Ah, there was something."
What must have happened in Emei Sect over the past ten-odd years.
I knew of it.
'I looked into it the moment it was said to be related to Bongsun.'
It wasn't exactly a secretive piece of information, either. It was something you could find out with just a little digging, but...
Tied together with the current situation, it couldn't help but seem quite strange.
"Over the past twenty years, the sect has become quite active. It's not like the merchant guilds providing sponsorship increased, you see."
"...!"
Gwonseon's body briefly trembled at my words.
Seeing that, I continued speaking.
"Only now are you called the guardians of Sichuan... but until recently, that wasn't the case, right?"
Only now that the Tang Clan has stepped back does Emei Sect take responsibility for Sichuan.
Until then, the Tang Clan occupied most of the territory.
The difference in influence was on another level.
The Tang Clan held the majority of Sichuan.
With the merchant guilds' sponsorship, as well as the clan's own business ventures, the Tang Clan's foothold was practically skyrocketing.
The Demonic Gates opening all across Sichuan were also handled by the Tang Clan, meaning Emei Sect was in a state where they couldn't really assert themselves.
Yet.
"Rebuilding of buildings. Not to mention expanding the land... You even held quite a few festivals."
Just where did the money come from to do all that?
Being one of the Nine Sects One Faction, they couldn't be without money, but compared to their foothold, it was undeniably excessive spending.
"Just where could such money have come from?"
Full of doubts.
"Huh? I asked where it came from."
Furthermore, Emei Sect rarely attended the Alliance's major events.
At the Dragon Phoenix Gathering, their rising stars would occasionally appear, but they never achieved good results.
Despite this, the number of disciples increased.
The number of disciples shows a sect's standing, but naturally, as the number grows, the cost to manage them has no choice but to increase.
'At a time when they didn't particularly build relations with the Alliance and merchant guild sponsorships were scarce. Yet, far from their sect's standing decreasing, they didn't just maintain it—they even rose.'
How could that be?
Did the sect's money rot from overflow?
That might be possible.
'They might have secretly discovered a hidden vault.'
Money varies depending on various circumstances, so that could happen.
Also, the fact that Emei Sect hadn't stepped forward regarding the Eulryeong Sword Empress until now.
It could be because they didn't know of Bongsun's existence and had only recently found out about the false charge.
However.
"That's not it."
Crush.
I don't believe in such miraculous situations.
"Keuh... eup...."
"You must have known it was a false charge from the start. Did you find out when the war ended? Or did you know beforehand? I don't care about that. What's important is that you knew."
It's highly likely that Emei Sect knew of the Sword Empress's circumstances.
That is why.
"The fact that you kept your mouth shut until now, despite knowing that... is probably because you struck a separate pact."
The reason they maintained their position as one of the Nine Sects One Faction while being pushed back significantly by the Tang Clan.
"What did you receive from the Alliance?"
"...!!"
"Even if it wasn't money, you must have received something. A pledge for the future, or money to hold on for now."
The turmoil rising in Gwonseon's eyes.
A faint fear swirled within them.
"You must have swallowed it up so well. For a human who is the sect leader of a sect."
I had to be careful.
If I failed to control my strength, Gwonseon's head would be crushed.
"I."
A tremor entered my voice.
"This is why I hate you all, you fucking bitches."
Rumble.
A vibration erupted from my toes, cracking the training ground.
"I couldn't like you even if I tried. What a disgusting bunch."
Maybe it's because I lived diligently after regressing, but I've developed some patience.
Look at me now. Aren't I keeping this senile old woman alive instead of killing her?
"Keup... keuheup... heup."
Drip.
Blood flowed from beneath the hand covering her mouth.
It was the blood Gwonseon was shedding.
Heat inhabited the hand gripping her.
Though my body was burning from emotion, my head was colder than ever.
"Now, let's summarize."
Emei Sect, who gorged themselves on money and kept their mouths shut until now. What could be the reason they finally showed themselves?
Was it really Bongsun's appearance?
No.
They only discovered Bongsun after coming to Henan.
Then, it's correct that they didn't know before that.
Then why did they come out?
Things like this could be quickly figured out by connecting the circumstances. The reason Emei Sect reappeared was nothing else.
The reason was.
"Because the Tang Clan fell."
The fall of the Sichuan Tang Clan due to the incident.
That would be the reason.
As the Tang Clan fell, their foothold shrank.
Naturally, Emei Sect's standing rose.
The number of times they handled the Demonic Gates must have increased.
Accordingly, the frequency and amount of sponsorships from merchant guilds would have increased.
Then what happens?
'What happens? Their heads get bigger.'
Anyone is like that.
When humans receive more than their capacity, they forget their place.
Meaning, they forget how they lived in the past.
I knew that situation all too well.
And I didn't think it was particularly strange.
'Because all humans are like that.'
My expectations for humans were rock bottom to begin with.
I merely thought it was natural since they were originally such beings.
It's just that.
'I just hate the bunch who deny it while knowing this.'
Those who think they are the exception.
Seeing those bastards made me want to burn them alive.
Just like right now.
"So you revealed yourselves?"
The reason Emei Sect appeared in Henan.
"Since you've regained some power, did the wrongs of the past just come to mind?"
This was a warning regarding the Martial Alliance.
That they hadn't forgotten what you had done.
How laughable is that?
I also know that Emei Sect tried to pull some cheap tricks on the participants of the Martial Arts Tournament.
I don't know what their intent was with this, but in the end, there's only one important thing.
"Since your heads got bigger, you just couldn't resist coming to the surface?"
I swung the hand that was holding her and sent Gwonseon flying.
Boom-! Roll, roll!
Gwonseon's old body rolled across the floor.
"Cough... cul... keok!"
Boom-!
I brought down the coughing Gwonseon and stomped on her with my foot.
"Keugh... euugh..."
"Worse than insects. Old woman. You've eaten up all those years and still failed to become an adult."
Yes, Gwonseon had failed to become an adult.
That's why.
'She's just being subjected to cheap tricks by her own disciples.'
This was a matter that had progressed far beyond Gwonseon's knowledge.
Ah, of course, I had no intention of telling her this.
Let alone the slight pity I had.
Respect had long disappeared from my words.
Respect for adults is limited to 'adults'.
In my eyes, Gwonseon was not an adult.
Looking at her, all that remained was contempt and disgust.
"What do you want?"
"Heup... y-you..."
"What are you trying to do by finding Pi Yeonyeon?"
Creak.
"Keuheok!"
I put strength into the foot crushing her. Crack! A sound rang out.
Gwonseon's chest was shattering.
"How does her existence help you?"
I pondered.
And I thought.
My cooled head spun rapidly.
I would probably reach a conclusion in no time.
I knew that well, but.
"It doesn't really matter."
It was a meaningless act now.
Swish.
I removed the pressing foot and reached out my hand.
Then, Gwonseon's prone body floated up, and her neck was caught right in my hand.
"Keugh... heo... eok..."
"I think this is enough confirmation."
There was no need to see more.
"You are not human to me."
That was the judgment I passed on Gwonseon.
It seemed there was no further need to look.
"What... what are you... talking about?"
Gwonseon struggled slightly, as if she didn't understand my words.
Her eyes were full of doubt, along with confusion.
"Are you... perhaps thinking of harming me...?"
"My, what scary words you say."
I smiled at her.
"The Sect Leader of the great Emei Sect came to find me; you wouldn't have come without informing them. If I kill you here, imagine how troublesome things will get."
For now, it's just troublesome. I'm not sure how it'll be later.
"Besides. I shouldn't kill such a precious person, right?"
I spat those words and put force into my heart.
Thump-!
My heart pounded wildly as demonic energy spread throughout my body.
Sseueueu--!! The heat permeated my pupils.
Gwonseon, watching this, widened her eyes.
"Wh-what... keup!"
She spat out words in shock, and her body froze.
It was bound to happen. By now, a vast energy would be seeping into her body.
"Kkeoeok... keuheueueu!!"
Gwonseon's flesh began to tremble violently.
I watched that with calm eyes.
'Just a little.'
If there had been even the slightest decent corner, I wouldn't have gone this far.
Thinking that, I still let out a chuckle.
'No, that's not it.'
This felt a bit off. I knew it would come to this anyway, didn't I?
'If I had to pinpoint the moment, it was probably the day of the Martial Arts Tournament.'
A few days ago. Right after killing the Emei Sect martial artist who fled after seeing Bongsun.
If they knew, they must have known since then.
'That it would turn out like this.'
If there was a problem here, it was that I had useless expectations.
Maybe she was a decent person.
Maybe she wasn't completely rotten.
Such bullshit expectations.
"I have a lot of issues too. As my body got younger, I became pointlessly emotional."
Saying this made what I said to Cheoljiseon seem laughable.
"Still, it's a relief. Thanks to you, it became certain."
I erased the expectations within me.
Thanks to that, I could smile.
"I'll use you well and toss you aside. Especially you, you'll have quite a lot to do."
What I would toss aside.
I didn't bother mentioning it. Because it was something she would know even without saying.
I said to Gwonseon with a smile, and...
"Heoeok-!!"
Her two eyes were then dyed in darkness.
******************
It had already been four days since the third main selection ended.
That much time had passed since it was delayed by Turyong smashing the arena.
I heard the news that the repairs on the broken arena were finally done, and the fourth main selection would begin.
Since it was an unprecedented event, there were a few changes.
The third main selection that couldn't be finished properly.
The small number of people who should have competed back then were mixed into the fourth main selection.
Originally, there weren't that many matches left, but with the addition of personnel, the tournament bracket also saw changes.
Most probably wouldn't care much, but...
"Why is your face like that?"
I had to let out a hollow laugh as I looked at the person who came with me.
"Whatever do you mean?"
"You're way too different from last time."
The person I was looking at and speaking of was none other than Seong Yul.
The guy who was extremely tense last time, looking like he'd drop dead at any moment, now even looked somewhat relaxed.
The reason was probably.
'Because of the changed bracket.'
Seong Yul, who was supposed to face the Kunlun martial artist.
But with the bracket changed, he was set to face a different opponent.
Because of that, Seong Yul looked completely at ease.
"...Are you that happy?"
"I don't know what you mean."
"..."
I shook my head at Seong Yul's reaction.
What a ridiculous lie. Why on earth was he so uncomfortable?
At this point, I couldn't help but be curious even if I wasn't before.
Should I look into it? I feel like I could just beat it out of him until he spills.
After pondering for a moment, I soon erased the thought.
'It doesn't seem like the time to be that happy just because the bracket changed.'
It was pathetic to see Seong Yul so relaxed just because it changed.
I turned my gaze and looked at the tournament bracket.
-Gwangju Jin Clan, Jin Imseok vs. Hebei Peng Clan, Peng Ujin.
"Sigh."
Did they really have to clash like this of all things?
I sighed as I looked at Seong Yul, who was pretending to be expressionless while feeling at ease.
'He'll figure it out himself.'
For reference, the Kunlun disciple who was originally supposed to face Seong Yul ended up facing Dang Soryeol.
Now, there were truly only a few left.
It was the time when familiar names meeting each other one by one became natural.
As if proving that, familiar names could be seen on the bracket.
-Xi'an Pi Clan, Pi Yeonyeon vs. Huashan Sect, Yingfeng.
Surprisingly, Bongsun was set to face Yingfeng.
'Who will win?'
Pure curiosity colored my thoughts.
Looking at their compatibility, Bongsun had the advantage, but...
'You never know.'
I didn't know how much stronger Yingfeng had become since I last saw him.
This was a part I couldn't be certain of.
Besides that, the Transformation Realm level martial artists I had identified in advance appeared in droves.
Just as a few individuals who seemed to be hiding their strength were catching my eye...
"Haha."
I checked my name written at the bottom of the bracket and couldn't help but burst into a hollow laugh.
"I wondered why they even bothered changing the bracket."
I thought it would have been enough to just add them logically, so why bother doing that, but looking at this, I seemed to understand.
I checked the opponent's name written across from mine and let out a sigh.
I had no choice but to do so.
Because the opponent was who they were.
-Shanxi Gu Clan, Ouyang Tian vs. Shaolin's Yuyeon.
Shenlong (Divine Dragon).
My opponent was the hope of Shaolin.