The day the Round of 16 began.
The number of people gathered in the waiting room was noticeably smaller compared to the first day.
This was because, on the final day of the main tournament, even non-participants were allowed to briefly enter and exit, but from the Round of 16 onward, that became impossible.
Thanks to that, I was able to sit in a much emptier waiting room.
'The weather is nice.'
Looking at the sky, today felt particularly clear.
Not a single cloud in the sky, it was truly radiant.
Weather perfect for a picnic, if one simply felt like it.
In such weather, I rolled my eyes slightly and surveyed my surroundings.
Contrary to the cheerful weather, the surrounding atmosphere was incredibly gloomy.
It was all because of the aura exuded by the martial artists.
'Phew.'
Feeling this, I let out a sigh.
Under the clear sky, only this place felt dark.
Tension and vigilance had seeped into their energy, transforming it to be exceedingly rough.
The reason, as mentioned earlier, was because of the martial artists.
However, there was a slight problem with calling them martial artist's'.
'That uncle's state is a mess.'
Most of this energy was coming from the middle-aged man sitting far away.
It was because it was being felt from Dao Wang, the Patriarch of the Peng Family.
A pressure enough to crush the surroundings.
Dao Wang was radiating tremendous fighting spirit in all directions.
I wondered if he was doing a show-off display with his internal energy like before....
'But this time it's real?'
It was an entirely different aura from last time.
Purely emotional, the surging energy was mixed with all of Dao Wang's emotions and was being maximized.
Dao Wang, sitting quietly with his eyes closed.
I could feel a murderous rage from him.
I wondered why he was so angry, but the reason was obvious.
'...It's because the old man beat him up.'
Even if it had subsided a little thanks to the match between me and the Divine Dragon, the previous match between Tou Long and Dao Wang was still a hot topic.
The incident where Tou Long, one of the Late Blooming Masters, beat Dao Wang to a pulp and then forfeited.
Because of that, Dao Wang had to be wrapped up in all sorts of petty rumors.
From whether he was unworthy of receiving the name of King.
To being an incompetent Patriarch overshadowed by the Peng Family's name value.
Ah, the second one is true, so I guess we can skip over it.
Anyway.
'Thanks to that, all the affiliated merchant guilds started running away.'
The sponsorship going to the Peng Family was more than half ruined, and the people of the Central Plains began pointing fingers at Dao Wang.
I understand why that uncle has become such a wreck, but....
'At his age, taking his anger out on the innocent.'
If he's that annoyed, he shouldn't have come out.
Coming out for nothing and just throwing his weight around.
Tsk tsk.
I clicked my tongue once and waved my hand slightly.
Huuung-!
I released my internal energy into the air.
The leaked internal energy mixed with the air and unraveled the entangled energy.
Hwak-!
As Dao Wang's fighting spirit relaxed a little, the sound of people exhaling breaths they had been holding could be heard from around.
I thought it would get a bit better now.
"...What do you think you're doing?"
A heavy voice came from far away.
It was Dao Wang, the owner of the energy.
"What do you mean?"
I replied to those words.
Because I knew it was a remark directed at me.
Dao Wang was staring at me with his previously closed eyes open.
His gaze was fierce.
A man with an already ugly expression looking at me like that made him even scarier.
"...How dare you touch my energy..."
Did it strike a nerve?
Dao Wang suddenly raised his seated body.
Then, with a hwuk-! sound, a much denser energy was emitted.
"Hmm."
What is this.
Has he really lost his mind?
I knew Dao Wang's condition was really bad, but the way he was approaching looked like he was really trying to fight.
If you fight without permission while on standby, you'll be disqualified. Has that uncle really gone crazy?
As I watched him in wonder, the other martial artists were also staring at Dao Wang as if they felt the same way.
Sreuk.
A faint sound was heard beside me.
It was Dang So-yeol, who was with me, grabbing something from her sleeve.
A hidden dagger?
'Don't.'
I grabbed her wrist as soon as I saw it.
I understood her intent, but doing this here would only be a loss for Dang So-yeol.
Then what should I do.
Should I casually stand up and roughly block him? The moment I was pondering while tilting my head.
"Patriarch."
Someone grabbed Dao Wang's shoulder.
Checking, it was Peng Woo-jin.
"Please calm down. There are many watching eye-."
Jjak-!
At the ruthless sound, the surroundings flinched.
It was because Dao Wang had suddenly slapped Peng Woo-jin's cheek.
Peng Woo-jin's head snapped to the side.
Beyond that, blood was seen flowing from his mouth.
"Even you disregard me? Does rising to Young Patriarch mean you covet even this position?"
"..."
At Dao Wang's words, Peng Woo-jin wiped the blood from his mouth.
He must have been hit quite hard, as his cheek was visibly turning red.
"Don't get arrogant just because you were born with some talent. I am the Patriarch. Don't try to crawl up."
Wow.
Just looking at it makes me want to vomit.
Broken pride and abundant inferiority complex were felt all the way here.
It couldn't be more disgusting.
Furthermore.
'I can feel a demonic heart.'
Traces of a demonic heart could be felt from Dao Wang's appearance.
It was still shallow, but if left like that, it might devour his entire body.
'Being beaten by Paejon must have been really hard for him.'
At least if he had been beaten by Paejon, he wouldn't be in this state, but it seemed he was acting like this because he thought he was beaten by Tou Long.
Pathetic.
When I was looking at Dao Wang with such an expression.
Peng Woo-jin, who had been slapped, let out a laugh.
Seeing this, my eyes frowned involuntarily.
"I will keep that in mind. However, it seems better to endure it for now."
Everyone around is looking at Dao Wang.
No matter how strange Dao Wang's state was, he wasn't ignorant of this.
"...Tch."
After hearing Peng Woo-jin's words, Dao Wang looked around, then glared at me and spat out a word.
"You were lucky, kid. Know that there won't be a next time."
"..."
Saying that, he turned his back and returned.
'Good grief.'
I couldn't help but make a disgusted expression at that sight.
Why such third-rate villain-like words....
'I think it's almost the first time I've heard something like that in my life.'
I would have heard it somewhere.
However, I would have killed them before they could finish spitting it out.
"Ugh...."
It's so cringeworthy that goosebumps rose on my skin.
I rubbed my skin and shivered slightly.
Ew, so cheesy.
'Why is he acting like that.'
I forcibly held back the urge to get sick of it.
Is that what a demonic heart and shattered pride are like?
I must not grow old like that.
It made me think that involuntarily.
On top of that.
'The family situation seems like a mess too.'
The reason I frowned while looking at Peng Woo-jin.
The moment he was slapped by Dao Wang.
I saw killing intent hovering in Peng Woo-jin's eyes.
Not anger, but killing intent.
I don't know what the situation is, but it seems their family's situation is also not very good.
'Hmm.'
Well, that's not for me to worry about.
'They'll handle it themselves.'
My family is also a mess, so it wasn't the time to worry about someone else's.
After turning my gaze away from the retreating Dao Wang, I said to the people on either side of me.
"Relax your strength a bit. It seems like nothing will happen."
At my words, Dang So-yeol released the tension in her shoulders, and at the same time.
Chulkak.
The sound of Yeongpung on my left straightening his sword was heard.
Dang So-yeol is one thing, but what's up with Yeongpung?
"...Daojang, were you trying to fight? Why are you holding your sword?"
When I asked in disbelief, Yeongpung smiled awkwardly.
"Hahaha. It wasn't really that intention... I just put some strength into it without realizing."
A little, my foot.
I saw you were ready to draw your sword if he came just a little closer.
I'm thankful, but isn't it a bit much?
'We have a sparring match to do, so you shouldn't waste your energy in weird places.'
Especially in such useless places like that.
I withdrew my gaze while still glancing at Dao Wang.
'A King (王)?'
The Six Seats.
Those who inherited their titles based on influence.
Martial artists who are not at the level of the Ten Great Masters, but are positioned at the upper ranks of the Transformation Realm.
'...Influence.'
I recalled it, hearing that subtle nuance.
'Hmm.'
While the weight of their title is higher than anyone else's, it's not a place judged solely by martial arts realm.
The sense of heterogeneity stemming from that difference is subtle.
If handled well.
'I think there's a way to use this.'
I don't mean to use Dao Wang. There was no question of using such an incompetent guy.
I mean there seems to be a way to utilize the name value of Kings (王) and Queens (后).
'How should I use it.'
I thought about it carefully.
Things that pop into my head like this need to be grasped.
Because it always led to a decent conclusion at times like this.
Just as I was trying to think hard about it.
-Participants, please prepare!
At the words coming from the entrance, I had to click my tongue briefly.
Unfortunately, it seemed there was no time to rack my brain.
-Shanxi Guga's Gu Yang-cheon and Huashan's Yeongpung, please come up right now!
Because the first order of this sparring match was me.
"It seems it's our turn."
As soon as the words were heard, Yeongpung stood up.
"Please take care of me."
Yeongpung said with his characteristic smile.
Looking at that face, I also nodded.
'Right.'
For now, I should focus on the guy in front of me.
Yeongpung had also said something to me, but.
'I have business on my end too.'
I also had business with Yeongpung.
More precisely... than Yeongpung.
'To that energy.'
The familiar energy inside Yeongpung.
I had business with that.
******************
If there was one thing that changed the most as the Round of 16 was prepared, it would probably be the sparring stage.
It seemed like they had something prepared in advance, as the state of the sparring stage had changed unlike the main tournament.
It had become much sturdier, but above all.
'It got wider.'
The sparring stage, which had widened by more than double.
It seemed the reason they gave a few days of rest period was for this.
It was originally supposed to be quite a distance away from the spectator seats.
As the sparring stage widened, the distance seemed to have decreased.
Tuk tuk.
I tapped the ground a few times with my toe.
That alone was enough to tell.
'It's sturdy.'
It's sturdier than the one used in the main tournament.
It seemed like they had mixed more Myeong-cheol (Ten-thousand-year cold iron) than the original amount.
'At this level...'
It won't break easily.
While I was roughly assessing the strength and nodding.
-It's Xiao Yan!
-Waaaaah-!!
A cheer came from the spectator seats.
When I raised my head, countless people were waving their hands at me.
-Waaaaah--!!
-Xiao Yan!
"...Umm..."
The packed, noisy sounds and my still-unfamiliar title.
Seeing people waving their hands at me as if excited, I couldn't manage my facial expressions well.
I was used to resentment and criticism, but I was completely unaccustomed to such reactions.
-Cheer up!
-Cool!
-Hand...! I-I mean, cool!
Why change it in the middle?
'...Good grief.'
I felt it was absurd, but I ended up letting out a small laugh.
Should I wave my hand back?
No. That's a bit too much.
I just calmly clenched my fist.
It's hard to react to something.
Even if it was a situation created out of necessity. It still felt that way.
Cheers and attention that I shouldn't have originally had.
I still only felt that way.
"You must be shy."
Yeongpung, who was standing facing me, spoke to me.
He said it after seeing my reaction. Hearing that, I scratched my neck slightly.
"...It's not really like that."
"It's okay. Rather... isn't this the attention you should have received long ago, Young Master Gu?"
At Yeongpung's words, I tilted my head slightly.
"What do you mean by that?"
At my question, Yeongpung glanced at the spectator seats and continued speaking.
Even then, hot attention was still pouring out from the spectator seats.
"I've been thinking about it since before, but with Young Master Gu's skills... shouldn't you have received this kind of attention much earlier? That's what I thought."
"...You don't have to go that far."
"Rather, I'm just more amazed. Even after reaching such heights, you still possess humility. It's an appearance that many people can't help but respect."
"..."
I feel like I'm going to throw up.
Even if you gild my face, how far are you going to go?
If he went on a little more, it felt like my facial expression would break.
Just as I was wondering if he would do more and thinking I should block my ears, fortunately, Yeongpung brought up another topic.
"I wanted to use this opportunity to say thank you again."
Thank you? It was an out-of-the-blue statement.
"Suddenly?"
"Yes. If I hadn't met Young Master Gu back then. I would still be looking only at the sky from inside the well."
Ah.
I wondered what he meant, but it seemed to be about the time we met at Huashan.
"The world outside the well was full of people. There were also many people I couldn't even dare to imagine."
Huashan's greatest genius.
If we were to pick talent in the sword, he would be the most outstanding figure among the Late Blooming Masters.
Yeongpung is a figure who was evaluated like that throughout his childhood.
Because of that, in his past life, he was trapped in a well and couldn't bloom, but.
'In the end, that's right.'
I don't deny it.
With Yeongpung's talent, calling him that was not an exaggeration.
If we only talk about the Sword (劍)... Yeongpung is definitely a considerable talent.
It's just that there are people like Wi Seol-a and Namgung Bi-a who are equal or slightly higher.
"Whenever I faced such people. I recalled the moment I met Young Master Gu."
"...Recalling it is a bit creepy."
"Haha... I'm sorry. But, I truly did."
If it's true, it's even more creepy...? Such words came to mind, but I didn't spit them out of my mouth.
"Then, a thought occurred to me. That I was lucky to have met Young Master Gu first."
"What do you mean?"
"Whenever a little arrogance tried to rise. Recalling Young Master Gu, it would die down like a dead mouse. As if asking what someone of my status was thinking of."
"..."
Hearing those words, I swallowed some dry saliva.
Isn't that more of a bad thing than a good thing at that level?
Did I beat him too hard...? No. I don't think I beat him that hard?
It was even a time when I hadn't reached the peak.
Even if I beat him, how excessively could I have beaten him?
"Thank you again. Thanks to Young Master Gu, I was able to come this far."
"...Yes... well... yes, um..."
Saying thank you for beating me well back then... it was a very hard remark to respond to.
Scratching my cheek awkwardly, I suddenly asked Yeongpung.
"Then, Daojang Yeongpung."
"Yes."
"How about now?"
"Yes?"
This was a question asked purely out of curiosity.
"Now, do you think you can win?"
"..."
Back then, I had established myself as a wall, but what did he think it would be like now that we met again.
At the question asked with such intent, Yeongpung fell silent for a moment.
It seemed the referee was watching, but I ignored it.
A few seconds of silence flowed, and finally, Yeongpung spoke to me.
"I don't know."
He spat out a somewhat ambiguous answer.
"However."
Sreung.
At the same time, he drew his sword.
"I am always only thinking of getting my Hero Sword back from you, Young Master."
Looking at the sharply honed tip of the sword, I let out a smirk.
Around the time I first went to Huashan. There was something I received when I parted ways with Yeongpung.
It was an object he told me to return when we met again someday.
He certainly said so. But both I and Yeongpung knew the meaning contained in that conversation.
It wasn't simply asking me to return it if we met again.
'A satisfying match.'
Or the meaning of asking for it back when Yeongpung won.
We both understood that and accepted it.
Both then and now, I only had one answer for Yeongpung.
"Daojang. That won't do."
Uduk.
I slightly loosened my hands and said to him.
"You will probably never be able to get the Hero Sword back."
I will always remain your wall, so try climbing up once.
Both then and now.
My answer was the same.
As we entered our stances, the referee, seeing that, raised his hand as if he had been waiting.
Seuk.
"Divine Dragon Martial Tournament, Round of 16...."
As the referee's hand was raised and his voice echoed, the spectator seats fell silent.
It was a reaction showing they would focus solely on the sparring match.
"Shanxi Guga's Gu Yang-cheon versus Huashan Sect's Yeongpung.... Sparring match, begin!"
With the shout as the signal, the sparring match began.
Hwaaaak---!!!
Brilliant plum blossoms bloomed from Yeongpung's body.
There was no hesitation. Plum blossom petals, much denser and fully bloomed compared to before, spread out in all directions.
Both the quantity and quality were incomparable to back then.
He had certainly grown.
While I was looking at the petals with an unknown emotion.
'Huh?'
I looked at Yeongpung amidst the swirling plum blossom petals.
Through the endlessly blooming and falling petals, Yeongpung was glimpsed.
But.
'...What is it?'
Something was strange.
'What?'
Every time the petals brushed by, Yeongpung's appearance seemed to change subtly.
He seemed to grow taller, and then the clothes he wore seemed to change.
What is this situation?
'Is it a formation or illusion art type?'
It didn't seem like he was actually changing.
It seemed like it was only appearing that way to my eyes....
As I frowned and examined the situation.
"...!"
I had to widen my eyes to the size of lanterns.
His face was changing. Yeongpung's face was literally changing.
Wrinkles formed, and the shape of his face was gradually changing.
I wondered if Yeongpung was taking the form of an old man. But that was absolutely not it.
It was fierce. An appearance completely opposite to Yeongpung's gentle eyes.
An old man with sharp, fierce and again fierce eyes, and such features.
A human who, at a glance, obviously had a filthy temper and a rough mouth.
Yet a familiar face.
Eyes I hadn't seen much, but had faced once.
A face that looked like it would click its tongue at me at any moment, calling me a rotten bastard.
The moment I faced such a face.
Shwik-!
Kwang-!
"Kuhak!?"
My fist swung out before I knew it.
Yeongpung was struck in the face and flew straight back, rolling on the ground.
"Uh."
Yeongpung tumbling and rolling across the ground.
Perhaps he was hit a bit too hard, as blood stained the path he rolled over.
Seeing that, I realized.
"...Oops."
I failed to control my strength.