Chapter 274: Generation of Shooting Stars. (3)

The surroundings are quiet.

The noisy street was filled only with the sound of breathing.

How did it come to this?

Starting with the sudden appearance of the Sword Dragon and the Sleeping Dragon.

Although it was a very sudden start to the martial arts duel, as they were people from Henan, where the Meng and Shaolin sects are located, those familiar with martial artists were paying immense attention to the duel between the two. Especially since these two were ranked high in the Generation of Shooting Stars. The Sleeping Dragon and the Sword Dragon, who were certain to become the representatives of Wudang and Mount Hua among the Nine Great Sects in the future. Furthermore. If the current Sword King, the head of the Namgung Family, were to eventually retire his title, as people saw them as contenders for the position of Sword King (劍王) thereafter. It was a good spectacle for the people on the street. Showing off the strength of young masters was always welcome.

However.

“…Wha…what…?”

“What in the world is that…?”

The situation that had just unfolded was enough to silence the mouths of those who had been cheering loudly.

“The Sleeping Dragon and the Sword Dragon… collapsed?”

The Sword Dragon and the Sleeping Dragon, who had been fighting well, suddenly lost consciousness and fell. The problem was.

“What happened?”

That most people hadn’t realized what had happened. It was just a moment when silence suddenly fell. The Sleeping Dragon and the Sword Dragon stopped, looking at each other. It seemed they were clearly about to do something. Suddenly, the wind swirled around the street. The Sword Dragon and the Sleeping Dragon rolled on the ground and lost consciousness. While many were dumbfounded, one thing was clear. In the center of the two fallen martial artists. Someone was standing there. And judging by the circumstances, he was the one who created this situation.

“Is… is that possible?”

“Is that young man a martial artist too…?”

“I’ve never seen him before.”

That his identity was also unknown to them. His fierce-looking eyes, along with his somewhat youthful face, and his deeply furrowed expression. He had an appearance that made it difficult to approach him easily. As everyone was confirming the situation in shock,

“Ah!”

Someone let out a loud cry from amidst the countless people.

“That face…! I’ve definitely seen it before.”

Such a fierce face, difficult to look at for long, is hard to forget. Especially when recalling what that young man did when he first appeared in the Central Plains.

“The True Dragon (眞龍). That young man is the True Dragon.”

“The True Dragon? No way, that True Dragon…?”

The last newly added martial artist to the Six Dragons and Three Peaks, the figure who toyed with the Thunder Dragon and the Divine Star with overwhelming differences at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, reborn as a new prodigy. The True Dragon, Gu Yangcheon. That young man was Gu Yangcheon. The problem was.

“Ah, even if he is the True Dragon…”

“Isn’t this just a coincidence?”

Even if he was the new genius, the True Dragon who rose as a star of shooting, to take down the Sleeping Dragon and the Sword Dragon, who had already established their names as geniuses who would shake the Central Plains. Could he really do it like this? Thanks to this, most people couldn’t easily believe what they were seeing right before their eyes.

And Gu Jeolyeop and Mu Yeon, watching from afar,

“What is he trying to do?”

“…He’s done it again. Honestly, it seems the First Young Master just acts first and thinks later.”

He used to give advice, telling him to think before acting. Yet here he is, jumping straight into the situation and causing trouble. Of course, even thinking that, Gu Jeolyeop was quite surprised inwardly. Those Sword Dragon and Sleeping Dragon. The First Young Master had subdued them in an instant.

‘I barely saw it.’

It was such a fast movement that he almost missed it. Because he had the experience of being beaten by Gu Yangcheon before, he managed to see it. Without even that, he probably wouldn’t have seen it.

‘Just how strong is he?’

Gu Jeolyeop had never seen Gu Yangcheon fight with true intent. So he couldn’t know how strong he was, or what realm he had reached. Seeing that he was at least stronger than Mu Yeon, he knew for sure that he was a peak martial artist who had overcome the wall. Peak level at that age. How could that possibly be?

“…Really, if it weren’t for his talent, judging by his temper, he’d be more than capable of dying miserably somewhere…”

-Bastard? We’ll talk later.

“…”

Gu Jeolyeop scowled as the message pierced through. That damn First Young Master had sharp ears too.

“Hmm…”

Shit… I need to run away later.

Moreover, Gu Jeolyeop wasn’t the only one flustered. It wasn’t the surrounding spectators who were most flustered, nor Gu Jeolyeop. But rather Woo Yi-hyeok, a disciple of Wudang, who was taking care of the Sleeping Dragon, Woo Hyuk.

“Wha… what?”

Seeing Woo Hyuk collapsed and unconscious, Woo Yi-hyeok kept muttering foolishly. He shouldn’t be like that…? It was impossible for his senior brother to fall so listlessly like that? Even in the martial arts duels with the sect elders. He was a senior brother who, even when defeated in the end, didn’t easily get pushed back. He was a sloth-like human, bundled with laziness and annoyance, but the Sleeping Dragon, Woo Hyuk, his senior brother, possessed talent enough to cover all that.

“Huh…? Huh?”

Woo Yi-hyeok wondered if he was seeing an illusion. Otherwise, the situation unfolding before his eyes had no sense of reality. Just then.

“What are you just staring at? Aren’t you going to take him?”

It was the voice of the young man, wearing an expression twice as annoyed as his senior brother’s. Then Gu Yangcheon grabbed Woo Hyuk, who had lost consciousness, by the back of his neck and tossed him towards Woo Yi-hyeok.

“Aargh!”

As he was tossed like a light object, Woo Yi-hyeok exclaimed in shock and caught Woo Hyuk’s body. Having confirmed that, Gu Yangcheon spat on the ground.

“Knowing everything they should, they’re having a duel in this crowded situation. It’s absurd.”

Hmph. His sigh seemed quite annoyed.

“At least they could have just lightly swung their swords…”

Tsk. The True Dragon clicked his tongue and forced himself to swallow the rest of his words. Who would have known these crazy bastards would actually try to fight, drawing out their spirit weapons in the street? If he hadn’t stopped them, the street might have been devastated.

‘These idiotic bastards.’

Anyway, being men, they had a competitive spirit. If it had gone all the way, it seemed neither of them would have backed down. Gu Yangcheon then looked somewhere with a resentful gaze.

“If you’re going to do a job, do it properly.”

Woo Yi-hyeok momentarily wondered where Gu Yangcheon was looking as he whispered, and followed his gaze, but there was no one there.

“What are you spacing out for? Hurry up and take him.”

“Ah…”

“What about this one? Why isn’t anyone coming?”

The one nudging with his toe was none other than Mount Hua’s promising talent, the Sword Dragon, Yeongpung. However, to Gu Yangcheon, he was just useless baggage number two. It was true that his face was somewhat familiar after a long time, but in this state, even that familiarity would likely disappear. While there was someone to take the Sleeping Dragon, for some reason, no disciples of the Mount Hua sect were visible nearby. What should I do?

‘I can’t just leave him and go….’

As Gu Yangcheon pondered what to do, an idea flashed through his mind. Isn’t there no need to not leave him and go? Who would dare touch a disciple of the Mount Hua sect? Gu Yangcheon nodded shortly after. He decided to just leave him and go.

“Yeah, I’ll just dump him somewhere and go find lodging…”

“I will take care of the child, so don’t worry.”

Yeongpung, who had lost consciousness after being hit on the back of the neck. Gu Yangcheon, who was about to leave him as he was, stopped his movement upon hearing a beautiful voice from behind. A subtle floral scent could be felt. It was a scent far richer and more fragrant than the faint plum blossom scent emanating from Yeongpung.

“It’s been a while.”

At the sight of the woman speaking with a gentle smile, Gu Yangcheon showed a somewhat flustered expression.

“…Why are you here?”

The woman was someone who didn’t quite fit in this place. She. Should have been spending time with her own disciples in the mountains right about now. In response to Gu Yangcheon’s words, the woman replied with a smile.

“Because there’s something I need to do.”

With the woman’s smile, the floral scent spread widely around. How fragrant it was. The men watching swayed visibly. In white martial robes, like Yeongpung’s. A light pink plum blossom drawn on the chest. The female master of the most beloved orthodox sect by all people. The Plum Blossom Sword Queen (梅花劒后), So Yi. She was standing before Gu Yangcheon.

---

Inside a certain building located on the peak of a mountain in Henan.

Sarak.

A small meeting room where sunlight quietly shines. With a cup of tea whose warmth had not yet cooled, and inside the room where the winter wind blew coolly. An old man, seemingly weathered by time, was repeatedly brushing calligraphy onto a letter. On the azure armband worn on his shoulder, the word ‘Governor’ (官主) was written in white letters. The old man, moving his brush slowly, asked the man standing before him again.

“The dragons fought a duel in the street?”

The old man’s eyes, as he slightly lifted his head and shifted his gaze, had pupils as white as clouds. It was a gaze filled with heavy, clear spirit energy. The man receiving this had to swallow his saliva inwardly.

“…That is correct.”

“What was the reason given?”

“…It is said the Sword Dragon attacked the Sleeping Dragon first.”

“The Sword Dragon…”

Governor. Qinghai Ilgeom, the master of Kunlun, tilted his head slightly at the moniker that came to mind.

“I recall him not being such a hot-tempered child.”

Mount Hua’s top prodigy, and one of the few prides of that damned Plum Blossom Immortal. He had actually seen him before. He remembered him not being a child with a temper so fierce that he’d draw his sword first out of anger towards an opponent. Having recalled that much, Qinghai Ilgeom nodded.

“Well… young fellows might spar a bit, but.”

The important thing isn’t about the Sleeping Dragon and the Sword Dragon.

“The outcome of that Sleeping Dragon and Sword Dragon’s duel came from elsewhere?”

“Yes.”

Naturally, if there was an outcome, it should have been decided between the two who were dueling. Qinghai Ilgeom thought perhaps the Sleeping Dragon would win, but surprisingly, It was another martial artist who stopped the two. They said it was another martial artist who stopped the two.

“The True Dragon.”

“Yes, the son of Hu Xie, from Shanxi.”

“Hmm…”

Hu Xie, Gu Cheol-un. And the True Dragon.

“Yes, I’ve heard of him.”

The young child who swept through the martial arts tournament and sat at the very end. He heard he was of the same bloodline as Hu Xie, and even Sword Phoenix. Thinking of how the Sect Leader and Cheonan must have had headaches back then, he felt a sense of relief inwardly.

‘Even so, to subdue the Sleeping Dragon and the Sword Dragon.’

Not by intervening and stopping the duel. He heard that he incapacitated both of them in an instant. It was quite a surprising feat for a mere late-stage disciple. Qinghai Ilgeom then said to the man reporting, his eyes shining.

“Is there no falsehood in your words?”

“…Yes, I saw it clearly with my own two eyes.”

As the man spoke, he inwardly swallowed dryly. Because he had mixed falsehood into his report to his sect leader, and the current Governor of Sinryong Hall, Qinghai Ilgeom. The words “saw it clearly with my own eyes.” Ironically, the man had missed the True Dragon’s movements at the time. Even though he himself had reached the peak of perfection.

“Wi Seol-ah.”

“Yes, Sect Leader… no, Governor.”

“Could you do that?”

At the Governor’s question, Jo Wi-seok clenched his fist behind his back, out of the Governor’s sight.

“…I am not sure.”

This was also a lie. He would not be able to do that. This was a certainty. For him to do so, the level of the Sleeping Dragon and the Sword Dragon was far higher than expected. Their level was too different to be called late-stage disciples. In fact, it might be necessary to view them as equals to himself.

‘Then what on earth is that guy?’

The True Dragon, who subdued such a martial artist in an instant. Furthermore. Jo Wi-seok gnawed his lip slightly, recalling what happened at the end. Jo Wi-seok, who was hidden on the rooftop, secretly watching. The True Dragon saw through him so casually and met his eyes. And then, looking at him, said:

-If you’re going to do a job, do it properly.

To have his stealth technique seen through by a mere late-stage disciple. No, the True Dragon was already at a level that couldn’t be called a late-stage disciple. The man thought. If the True Dragon were to truly enter Sinryong Hall like this, among countless pythons or mountain snakes, and those barely showing signs of being an imugi (young dragon). It would truly be like releasing a giant dragon among them.

“They say the son of Hu Xie is a good father and a good son, but it seems that’s not the case.”

From what he vaguely heard, it was clearly the case in the past. What could have happened for him to change so much? Qinghai Ilgeom savored Jo Wi-seok’s words and let out a shallow breath.

“Anyway, since he’s said to be that strong, I’d like to see his face at least once.”

If Jo Wi-seok’s words were true. It meant the child called the True Dragon was surely a monster who would grasp a handful of this era. Qinghai Ilgeom let out a joyful laugh and took a sip of tea.

“Wi Seol-ah.”

“Yes. Governor.”

“This matter is settled for now, so go investigate something else.”

“What kind of…?”

As Jo Wi-seok asked with a puzzled expression. Qinghai Ilgeom quietly whispered to Jo Wi-seok.

“It is said that the descendant of the Sword Venerable is seeking Sinryong Hall.”

“…!”

“Since they said he’s of late-stage disciple age, go find out what kind of child he is first. He should arrive in a few days.”

“Under…stood.”

It was such shocking news that the talk of the Sword Dragon, Sleeping Dragon, or even the True Dragon completely faded from his mind. Jo Wi-seok went out the door with a slightly pale face. Qinghai Ilgeom, left alone, turned his gaze out the window and closed his eyes.

Five days left until the Sinryong Hall entrance exam. The geniuses of this generation were particularly shining. Moreover, with such geniuses gathering in one place at the right time. It felt like a storm was approaching.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

What will happen indeed? Qinghai Ilgeom couldn’t help but smile with great anticipation.