The time was a little past noon.
The sun was high in the sky, but it wasn't too hot.
Because the season was already transitioning into autumn.
My hair fluttered in the gently blowing wind.
I don't bother managing it, so it should be dry and brittle, but perhaps thanks to Hwan Gol Tal Tae, my skin and hair are always in good condition.
‘That's exactly why it's so annoying.’
Swish.
I grabbed my long hair and tied it back.
It's a bit less uncomfortable now.
After roughly tying it up, the hair covering my eyes was pushed aside, revealing my field of vision.
The first thing that caught my eye was the cracked arena.
The traces of Hwa-kyung level martial artists exchanging blows were clearly left behind.
I heard they reinforced the arena as they ascended to the Palgang. Where on earth do these people spend their money?
I thought it was a truly pointless expenditure.
Crrrk.
As I lightly stretched my wrists and raised my gaze from the arena, people came into view this time.
One of them was the referee, whose tension had reached its peak.
The reason was probably largely my fault.
‘It must be the aftermath of the last match.’
I didn't do anything major in my fight with Yeongpung, but the spar with Shinryong. The accident I caused there was quite big.
That must be why the referee is so tense.
‘I do feel a bit sorry for him.’
But what can you do.
If you want to earn your salary and live, you have to do anything.
I know from experience that the money given by the Murim Alliance isn't that small.
Seeing the armband, he seemed to be at the level of a vice-leader of a squad, so he must be receiving quite a lot.
Then he has to earn his pay.
‘And.’
The other reason the referee is so tense.
I shifted my gaze slightly to see the person responsible.
Rumble...
A giant of a man, close to eight feet tall, came into view.
A body packed with broad shoulders and heavy muscles.
It was Dao King Peng Zhou.
He was looking at me with his hands clasped behind his back.
I could clearly feel a difference from last time.
‘That old man. He's not messing around with his energy anymore?’
Last time, he was radiating all sorts of energy and pulling off ridiculous stunts.
This time, he was completely serene.
The faintly emitted fighting spirit of a strong warrior was still there, but that was unavoidable, so I let it pass.
The energy he used to leak out excessively was all gathered up and locked inside him.
Yes. That's so much better to look at.
It was really nice to see him not doing useless things.
However.
-Who will win this time?
-Well. Even so, wouldn't it be the Dao King?
-Ah, but Xiao Yan is the one who defeated that Divine Dragon. Would he really lose to the Dao King?
-Even so, the Dao King is one of the Six Seats. For someone like that to lose to a late-blooming genius...
-Then are you saying the Fighting Dragon wasn't a late-blooming genius?
-...Well, that's because Turyong is Paejon's...
All sorts of noise pierced my ears.
Listening to them one by one, a hollow laugh escaped my lips.
‘It's absolutely miserable.’
How did the Dao King end up like that?
To think there are talks that there's no certainty of winning against me.
This was partly because my value had skyrocketed, but largely because the Dao King's value had plummeted.
‘Tsk.’
Perhaps because he knew that, the Dao King's expression kept distorting.
It's a bit unfortunate, but.
What can you do? You have to blame Paejon for beating him like that.
Besides, to be honest, while people's interest lay in the outcome of this match, it was safe to say it was more focused elsewhere.
That was, who would win if I fought Turyong.
This was what many people were currently curious about.
Turyong, who defeated the Dao King but then lost.
Xiao Yan, who came up after defeating the Divine Dragon, who was called the youngest Hwa-kyung.
Since the match was twisted and the two couldn't fight in the end, people seemed even more curious about it.
Who is the stronger of the two?
Who is truly the pinnacle of the late-blooming geniuses?
‘Hah.’
I'm sick and tired of this ridiculous ranking game.
Why is that so important?
‘Damn old man.’
I frowned with irritation.
Seeing how much attention such words are drawing, the appearance Paejon showed must have been quite shocking.
‘Thanks to that, things got tangled up.’
Because he showed such an outstanding appearance, my position became troublesome.
Even if it was due to the aftermath of internal injuries, it was even more so because Paejon forfeited.
Wouldn't we end up never knowing?
Who is stronger between Xiao Yan and Turyong. People would never know this in the end.
If this happens, the attention is drawn here.
That was a shame.
‘I should have taken it all if possible.’
It feels like I shared half with Paejon.
‘Could it be, did he do it on purpose?’
Turyong, who left while receiving all sorts of praise at the peak of applause.
Was Paejon's action perhaps anticipating this?
‘...You never know.’
He's a person unexpectedly full of slyness.
It might have been all calculated.
The problem is, I can't even hold him accountable for it.
‘It's a pity, but what can you do.’
The water has already been spilled, and also.
‘I do have a way to resolve it to some extent.’
That was the fortunate part. As I was thinking that and tilting my head,
"Where are you looking?"
I corrected my gaze at the Dao King's voice.
"Are you having other thoughts right now, with me right in front of you?"
"Ah, I apologize. I got a little distracted for a moment."
I apologized honestly.
However, the Dao King's expression didn't soften at all.
"...You are truly without equal in your arrogance. Well. You're that bastard's son, so it's only natural you resemble him."
"Hmm."
Biting my middle and ring fingernails.
I recalled a word inwardly and spat out my words.
"It's somewhat natural for a child to resemble their parents... In that regard, it's truly fortunate for Patriarch Peng."
"What?"
"Your son doesn't resemble you, Patriarch Peng. In many ways. Isn't that truly a fortunate thing?"
Honestly, from my perspective, Peng Woo-jin is slightly better, but it doesn't matter right now.
As I spat those words out with a smile, the old man's brow furrowed endlessly.
"It seems I'll have to tear that small mouth of yours apart for you to quiet down."
"That's a truly scary thing to say."
"The world holds you in high regard, so you think everything is yours? You are truly arrogant and overbearing."
Thud.
The end of the Dao King's great blade touched the ground.
Even seeing it again, it was an enormous size.
"Do not be mistaken. I made a mistake against the Fighting Dragon. But no such miracle will happen for you."
"Umm..."
I listened and scratched my cheek.
"Patriarch Peng, you keep pretending not to know."
"Pretending not to know?"
"Why do you keep thinking of it as a miracle? You should know best yourself."
At my words, I could see the corner of the Dao King's eyes twitching slightly.
It seemed he caught on to what I was saying.
"Why do you keep sugarcoating getting your ass kicked? Does it make you feel a little better?"
"...!"
Grrrrind.
Finally, a rough sound came from the Dao King's mouth.
"You got your ass thoroughly kicked. Did you hit your head too hard back then? Why do you keep saying such weird things."
I spat the words out while looking around.
At the same time, I infused my voice with internal energy.
It wasn't sound transmission. It was simply enough to prevent the sound from spreading.
"Stop making a fool of yourself and just hold your sword properly. Why do you keep flapping your mouth when you're so weak? How much more of a beating are you trying to take?"
"You little bastard...!"
Screeeech---!!
The Dao King's muscles bulged as if he would charge at me at any moment.
Even while watching that, my eyes were still looking around.
‘The time is... roughly one gak.’
That was the remaining time. Recalling that, I sent my eyes backward.
It was the location of the pavilion where the great merchant groups and high-ranking figures who had sent their support for the Central Plains would be gathered.
I glanced at it briefly and nodded.
‘Not bad.’
That much is fine.
Judging so, I looked at the referee.
"It looks like you're ready. Let's get started slowly."
"...Yes...?"
At my words, the referee showed a flustered expression.
It seemed the referee also knew well that the Dao King's state was strange.
"It doesn't matter, so you can start."
I said, waving my hand.
Even as I spat those words out, the Dao King's fighting spirit grew thicker.
"I swear."
Perhaps because he really didn't like my attitude, the Dao King's hand holding his blade began to shake roughly.
"On my name. I will trample you right here, at the very least."
Hearing that, I smirked.
"That's one of the things I hear really often... but it's a story of someone who has never succeeded even once."
Usually, guys who said that to me ended up as one of two things.
Trampled beneath my feet, or.
Meeting their death with their necks snapped by my hands.
So which side will the Dao King become?
"I won't expect much. I just dare to hope."
Clench.
I repeated opening and closing my fist a few times. Then.
"One gak."
Clamp.
I clenched my fist and said.
"Please just endure that much."
That was all I hoped for from the Dao King.
****************
The days of the Dao King as a late-blooming genius.
This was from the time he was called Mokryong (Ink Dragon) rather than his current title.
Now they are called the Six Dragons and Three Phoenixes, but at that time, there were only two Phoenixes and five Dragons.
O Ryong I Bong (Five Dragons and Two Phoenixes).
It is a story of the days when Peng Zhou belonged there.
The season was not autumn, but winter.
It was the time when the Yongbongjihoe (Dragon and Phoenix Gathering) was in full swing.
The Ink Dragon of that time was much angrier than he is now.
It was a time when the current Dao King had been raised with utmost care and lacked maturity. It was also a time when he was most straying off track due to his inferiority complex about his talents.
Since he received the support of a prestigious family called the Four Great Families, he had the skills to rise to the rank of Dragon, but that was a position he barely managed to reach.
The late-blooming geniuses of mid-to-small families trying to catch up from behind.
The bloodlines of prestigious families standing in the front, blocking him from ever surpassing them.
When everything was pressing down on Peng Zhou.
That day happened to be the day after Peng Zhou was devastatingly defeated by the Sword Dragon Namgung Jin.
-You fuucccking...!!!
Crash--!!
Peng Zhou spat out a rough curse and smashed the table.
-Me... I lost to that mere gigolo--!!!
The fact that he lost to the Sword Dragon and fell from the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering.
Recalling that incident, Peng Zhou continuously spewed out his anger.
The atmosphere in the inn was chillingly cold.
The others were cowering in fear, and the martial artists couldn't step forward easily.
Because while Peng Zhou was a late-blooming genius, he was also the next young patriarch of the Peng family.
If they harmed him, they didn't know what the current Dao King would do.
Because of that, no one could touch Peng Zhou.
Because it was a widely spread word throughout the Central Plains that the Dao King cherished Peng Zhou too much.
-What, what did I lack--!!
Bang-! Crash--!!
The memory is painful.
The number of liquor bottles he drank couldn't be counted, but for a martial artist, he didn't get drunk easily.
The liquor bottles shattered and rolled on the floor.
Peng Zhou's mind was as chaotic as those liquor bottles.
The image of himself, suppressed by the Sword Dragon's Emperor's Sword Form and rolling on the floor, came to mind.
-Uwaaaah--!!
Bang-! Bang-!!
While he was destroying everything in sight.
Something entered Peng Zhou's eyes.
Right after all the women who had been fawning over him had already run away.
At a time when everyone was either terrified of him or feeling awkward, pressed against the wall.
Exactly one person.
Only one person in the inn was eating as if nothing was wrong.
He ordered a small bowl of noodles and was eating quietly.
He was so quiet that he went unnoticed.
Gulp.
When only the faint sound of swallowing echoed.
-...What's wrong with you.
Perhaps because he didn't like that, Peng Zhou picked a fight with him.
-How can that go down your throat in this situation? I'm asking if it goes down!
Throwing a tantrum, Peng Zhou threw a liquor bottle.
However.
Whish-! Thud.
The person eating caught the flying liquor bottle and placed it on his table as if it was nothing.
It was a natural movement.
The moment Peng Zhou's face crumpled at that action.
The other person looked at Peng Zhou.
-...!
Peng Zhou confirmed the other person and trembled slightly.
He didn't know why. The moment he saw the young man's eyes, his body froze on its own.
He was around his age, with black hair and persistently red eyes.
It was a familiar face.
-Hah... I wondered who it was. It's you.
Was he the bloodline of the Gu family?
He was the bloodline who had appeared for the first time at this Dragon and Phoenix Gathering. And he was the guy showing good results at the friendly sparring competition.
From what I heard, he luckily won against that unlucky bastard, the Little Dragon of Wudang?
His name was probably.
-Gu Cheol... Gu Cheol-hyeong?
-Gu Cheol-woon.
At the voice speaking the name, Peng Zhou clicked his tongue.
The voice was deep and incredibly weighty.
-Right, Gu Cheol-woon. You damn bastard. What are you?
At the irritable words, Gu Cheol-woon tilted his head and showed his chopsticks.
-Can't you tell by looking? I'm having a meal.
-Who said I was asking about that!?
Thump-! Thump-! Peng Zhou approached Gu Cheol-woon.
Then he grabbed the table. He tried to flip it over right then, but.
Creak.
-...!?
The table didn't lift.
Rather, only Peng Zhou's hand, which he had put strength into, was trembling.
What was going on?
When Peng Zhou checked in bewilderment, he could finally understand.
That guy Gu Cheol-woon's hand was placed on the table.
Could it be because of that?
It was unbelievable.
Didn't this make it seem like he was being overpowered in strength?
It was an absurd notion.
If nothing else, he was the best in strength among the late-blooming geniuses.
There was no way he would be pushed by a guy like this...
Whoosh-!
-Hup!?
The table suddenly lifted and soared into the sky.
Peng Zhou, whose posture collapsed from the recoil, fell awkwardly.
Pitter-patter-!
The noodles spilled over Peng Zhou's head.
Crash-! Crack-!
Then the table fell to the floor and shattered.
-My.
Seeing that, Gu Cheol-woon spat out a word.
-You lost precious food. It was something that suited my taste after a long time.
Spitting it out as if he was disappointed, that was the end.
-...Ha... hahaha...!!
At this, Peng Zhou burst into laughter.
The people around expressed horror at that laughter.
Because anyone could see he was out of his mind.
-You bastard... Do you know who I am and you're doing this right now! Do you really want to die, I am the Hebei Peng Family's...!
-I'm not interested.
At Gu Cheol-woon's words, Peng Zhou's mouth instantly shut.
-You little bastard...?
Creak.
Gu Cheol-woon slowly rose from his seat.
Seeing that, Peng Zhou's eyes widened.
He was big.
It was a massive physique that might even be slightly larger than his own.
-I'm not interested in your name.
Thump.
His heart beat loudly.
From the moment he saw Gu Cheol-woon's eyes.
Red eyes looking down at him.
The moment he met those eyes, for some reason, Peng Zhou felt his own body shrinking back.
-Wh-what...?
He's not interested?
-This lowly bastard is daring to speak---!!
Crunch-!
-Kkeok!?
Peng Zhou, furious, tried to move his body, but.
An arm suddenly reached out, grabbed both of Peng Zhou's cheeks, and pried them apart.
The giant hand managed to grab even Peng Zhou's large face with one hand.
And shoved the other hand into his mouth.
At first, he tried to struggle somehow.
But strangely, his body wouldn't move.
He hadn't been struck in an acupoint. He had only had his face grabbed, but his body had frozen solid.
He later realized that he had been crushed by the killing intent at the time, but by then it was already too late.
Peng Zhou at that time.
Could do nothing against the killing intent Gu Cheol-woon emitted.
Crrrrunch-!
-Kkeureok...!? Kkeuuuuugh!!
His molars were pulled out.
Even then, he couldn't put up any resistance.
Afterward, a finger touched the spot where the molar had been pulled out.
And then.
Sizzle---!!!
-Kkeoeoeoeoeoeo----!!!!
The heat cauterized his wound.
Peng Zhou screamed in pain.
He struggled in pain without even being able to resist.
Only after struggling like that for a long time did Gu Cheol-woon let go of Peng Zhou.
Whoosh! Thud-!
He threw the molar he was holding at him, then roughly wiped his saliva-covered hand on his clothes.
With an expression that said it was nothing.
-Consider this as receiving the price of the noodles.
He said it nonchalantly.
At those words, Peng Zhou threw a fit.
-Heok... kkeu... you... this... you little... bas...tard...
As Peng Zhou spat out curses with a gasp, Gu Cheol-woon approached closely and met Peng Zhou's eyes.
-Why.
-...!
-Do you have anything more to say?
-...Kkeu... eu...
-Say it. I am listening.
He wanted to spit out curses.
Do you know who I am. That I am Peng Zhou of the Peng family.
He wanted to shout like that and dominate the bastard, but.
Peng Zhou could no longer move his mouth.
Because his instinct was telling him.
-I told you to speak more.
If he spat out more, he might die.
No, he would definitely die.
Gu Cheol-woon's eyes and Peng Zhou's instinct were saying so.
-...Kkeok... kkeu-uk.
His pride and anger rose to the top of his throat, but ultimately, Peng Zhou kept his mouth shut.
His pride was not heavier than his life.
-Heok... heok...
Thus, Peng Zhou only groaned instead of speaking.
Gu Cheol-woon watched him for a moment, then soon stood up again.
-It's a good thing I didn't hear your name.
As he slowly moved away. Peng Zhou could clearly hear it.
-He was a guy not worth remembering.
The whisper Gu Cheol-woon gave to Peng Zhou.
With his trampled pride, Peng Zhou ground his teeth, but he couldn't spit out a single word until Gu Cheol-woon left the inn.
Crrrrunch.
He clenched his fist.
He resolved.
He will kill that bastard at the very least.
He will kill him no matter what.
Whether he returns to the family and borrows the Patriarch's power, or steps forward himself.
He will never forget this humiliation and will surely execute him someday.
He made up his mind like that, but.
Such a wish of Peng Zhou was not fulfilled.
Because not long after that, Gu Cheol-woon soared to a place too far away.
‘Gu Cheol-woon...’
The blade of resentment harbored in his chest.
That resentment had reached the point where he tried to use his daughter in an engagement scheme.
Even that got tangled up and failed, but.
Peng Zhou never forgot that time for a single moment.
Because of that, it was even more so.
-Hebei Peng Family's Peng Zhou versus Shanxi Gu Family's Gu Yang-cheon.
Appeared before his eyes.
A young boy who resembled that damn bastard.
The fucking bastard's son who had those eyes from back then.
A damn bloodline who even possessed a shining talent resembling his father.
Although his appearance didn't deeply resemble him.
His unique atmosphere stimulated Peng Zhou's emotions.
‘If he had crawled on the floor, I would have let it slide a little.’
Perhaps because he resembled his father, his personality was arrogant and nauseating.
He also didn't know his place enough to defy him, the Patriarch of the Peng family.
He didn't like him.
The lowly bastard called Turyong.
And that Gu Cheol-woon's son.
Crrrrunch.
-Start-!
He will crush him.
He has to tear him apart somehow.
Mokcheol (Silent Iron).
Ggggrrrr---!!!
Black energy gathered on his great blade, reinforcing it.
The Dao King, grabbing it, leaped with all his might.
The distance between the two narrowed in an instant.
The moment the great blade, filled with all sorts of emotions, poured down toward Gu Yang-cheon.
Clang-!
Whirrrl-!!
Thud-!
"...Huh...?"
Peng Zhou thought.
That his hand felt strangely light for some reason.
His eyes rolled.
He checked his right hand.
It wasn't there. The great blade that should clearly be in his grasp was nowhere to be seen.
Where did it go? Suddenly, where did that...
"Ah, fuck. Seriously."
A curse pierced his ear.
Whish-!
In an instant, the Dao King's field of vision drastically changed.
Crack-!
"Kkeo-heok!"
His face was stomped on by a foot, piercing through the arena and burying into it.
"Aaaargh!!"
A scream burst from the Dao King at the excruciating pain.