Chapter 294: I’m Not Buying. (2)

“How is it?”

I had to wear a momentarily stunned expression at Bi Uijin’s question.

What is this guy saying right now?

A disciple?

‘My own master is recruiting disciples?’

And on top of that, he wants me to join?

Although he mentions Bi Uijin’s master.

The one he calls master was the Fist Sovereign; and the Fist Sovereign is Bi Uijin…

Which means he’s selling himself out right now.

Seeing that, I thought.

‘Isn’t he embarrassed…?’

It felt like the dignity of the Venerable I felt in my past life vanished in an instant.

This guy… he seems to be missing something, doesn’t he?

And a disciple, no less.

What kind of disciple?

He wants me to become the Fist Sovereign’s disciple?

The answer came out immediately.

“I won’t.”

I refused outright.

“Right, if that’s the case, then next time… What was that?”

Hearing my refusal, Bi Uijin wore a shocked expression that didn’t suit him.

Did he really think I’d accept without question?

That seems like an overly arrogant thought.

‘Well… it’s not just any disciple, after all.’

It’s a disciple of one of the Three Sovereigns, no less, the Fist Sovereign.

To become one of the three successors who reached the heavens in the Central Plains.

It wasn’t just about martial arts;

it was about inheriting their fame and position.

And if one had sufficient potential,

they could even inherit their power and aspire to their level of mastery.

So, refusing such an offer…

was certainly shocking,

but even so.

‘The Fist Sovereign.’

It was a statement that brought many thoughts to mind.

The unique martial art that the Fist Sovereign himself created…

like the Moon-Dancing Swordplay used by the Sword Sovereign, was a martial art that hadn’t even existed for 100 years.

Compared to the Nine Great Sects,

and the new techniques of the Four Great Families, which were perfected through hundreds of years of modification,

his martial art might seem incomplete and lacking.

‘No, there’s no way it could be lacking.’

The Fist Sovereign’s martial prowess was by no means incomplete. I can guarantee it, having seen his single punch firsthand.

I had never seen such a brute-force, powerful martial art in my life.

And the difference between him and the Sword Sovereign?

The Sword Sovereign modified his original martial art to suit himself, and that’s how his was born,

while the Fist Sovereign once told me himself.

He said his martial art was created entirely by him, from beginning to end.

‘Is that even possible?’

It’s a question.

Not only did he create a new martial art,

but in less than a hundred years, even at its longest,

to hone that martial art and rise to the position of a Sovereign…

was a level I couldn’t even imagine.

That’s why.

the Fist Sovereign’s martial art is so revered.

It means it’s a divine technique that any martial artist in the combat path would covet.

However.

I don’t have enough time to learn a new martial art at this point,

“Disciple or whatever, shouldn’t I be able to learn it first?”

I conjured fire at my fingertips

and showed it to Bi Uijin.

Ah, shit… my dantian hurts.

My body was already flowing with the internal energy of the Nine Blazing Wheel Technique.

And it had reached the peak of mastery,

practically reaching the point of complete assimilation.

Learning a martial art…

requires building new energy based on the corresponding cultivation method.

For example, to use the Nine Blazing Wheel Technique, which primarily deals with fire and combat energy,

my body is already accustomed to the appropriate internal energy.

And learn a new martial art in this state?

‘Does he want me to rupture all my acupoints?’

That’s absurd.

As if understanding my reason, Bi Uijin

shifted from his shocked expression.

“Ah, you don’t need to worry about that,”

he continued, as if it were nothing.

What? Could there actually be a way? I leaned in to listen.

“It’s possible if you empty everything out and refill it.”

“…Ah, screw this.”

I spat out a curse at Bi Uijin’s words.

That guy was even crazier than I imagined.

In other words,

he was telling me to empty all the internal energy flowing through my body,

refill it with a new cultivation method, and then learn the martial art.

“Stop talking such bullshit, will you?”

He wanted me to discard the mastery I’d built up so far

and step into a new martial art.

‘This is truly insane.’

Who would do something so crazy?

Especially when I’m already at the peak…

‘…’

As I was thinking, something else suddenly occurred to me.

If he’s saying it so casually, maybe…

Did this guy do that himself?

It’s possible.

That might be why he’s talking about it so matter-of-factly.

A normal person wouldn’t do such a stupid thing,

but humans who lowered their cultivation to reach the level of the Three Sovereigns…

are likely all abnormal.

Of course, I still had no intention of doing it.

“I won’t. Why the hell would I empty everything out and refill it now?”

My answer didn’t change.

How much energy have I built up until now? How much further do I need to go?

Would I throw it all away to learn one new martial art and refill it?

‘I don’t have time.’

I don’t have the time in the first place,

‘This guy might see me as a genius, but I’m not.’

I wasn’t talented enough to do that and still raise my level with a new martial art.

I wasn’t a genius.

The reason the Fist Sovereign is doing this, despite the embarrassment,

is probably because he thinks I’m suitable for learning his martial art.

To others, I must seem like a genius sent from heaven.

That’s how masters who have reached a high level usually are.

They want to show others what they’ve honed,

and they want to pass on what they’ve built up.

Though there are many who don’t have such intentions,

most of the masters I know were like that.

It’s a desire, a purpose.

Why else would they take disciples and teach them martial arts?

‘It’s to leave something behind for posterity.’

That I was an incredible person.

They want to make that known through their disciples.

And then there’s the sect’s honor,

the importance of their name, and all sorts of other trivial things.

In my eyes, it’s no different.

Isn’t that a rather pointless goal?

‘Of course, this guy… doesn’t seem to have that kind of goal though.’

I didn’t care about his motives.

I just didn’t want unnecessary attention.

In that guy’s eyes, I must currently seem like…

the common Heavenly Spirit Body.

Or something like that.

Anyone could see it that way,

but I don’t have the talent to inherit the Fist Sovereign’s martial art,

nor the time.

I’m pressed for time, and I’m supposed to learn some damn new martial art?

“Find someone else. I’m not doing it.”

I turned my back and started walking away.

Honestly, another thought did cross my mind.

‘I have demonic energy, blood energy, and even demonic qi all mixed together. Maybe I can incorporate new energy too.’

Perhaps due to the Demonic Heaven Absorption Technique,

or the hidden power of the Nine Blazing Wheel Technique, I don’t know,

but seeing as my body and acupoints haven’t burst despite containing such impossible energies, allowing me to use them separately,

I wondered if learning the Fist Sovereign’s martial art might be okay.

The thought flashed through my mind for just a moment,

‘but that would be gambling….’

Trying it out on a whim,

and not knowing the outcome.

I didn’t want to do something like that.

“I hope you find a good disciple… no, a junior disciple. I’ll be going now…”

As I tried to get away, putting distance between us,

a voice came from behind me.

“This is a bit problematic. I didn’t expect to be refused.”

As I heard the words, I tried to turn my head,

but in the instant, the Fist Sovereign-no, Bi Uijin-had already appeared before me.

‘Crazy.’

My dantian isn’t functioning properly, so I couldn’t even sense his presence.

And besides that, Bi Uijin himself was incredibly fast.

Bi Uijin spoke to me.

“My master said it would be rather difficult to find anyone else besides you.”

“…When did your master, Young Hero Bi, ever see me?”

“…”

Bi Uijin faltered for a moment at my pointed question.

It seemed like he’d misspoke.

“…Don’t rumors usually spread nationwide?”

“Yes, I suppose so. So? What are you planning to do?”

Does he intend to drag me there by force?

I didn’t think he was such a capricious person,

but seeing him now, that might not be the case.

‘Running away or hiding… that’s probably impossible.’

Between the previous surprise attack

and that last movement, I knew enough.

With my dantian not functioning properly, I couldn’t escape this guy right now.

As I wondered what to do,

Bi Uijin raised his hand and showed me something.

It was a blue sash.

Just as I wondered if Bi Uijin had a blue sash,

“…Huh?”

I felt something was off and searched my clothes, checking the sash I had.

Only then did I realize.

The sash that guy was holding

was the one I had.

Seeing it, I let out a huff and asked,

“…Are you going to take that, at least?”

Losing just one blue sash wouldn’t change anything.

I could just get it back from someone else,

or from a monster lurking in the forest.

At my words, Bi Uijin gripped the sash tightly and said,

“I understand your position. Let’s talk about something else.”

His tone had changed.

Whether it was subconscious or not, I suspected this was closer to his true manner of speaking.

I didn’t point it out.

“If you take this sash back from me, I’ll willingly give up.”

Bi Uijin said it as if doing me a favor,

and I couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief.

“Why should I do that?”

“If you refuse, I plan to follow you around and pester you relentlessly. How about that?”

“What?”

What is he even saying right now?

“I’ve been observing your reactions, and it seems you don’t particularly desire anything from the Divine Dragon Pavilion. Perhaps you’re like me.”

“…No, I do! I really want to go?”

How did he know?

“That wasn’t the impression I got, but if that’s the case, shouldn’t you do this?”

The swaying blue sash was irritating.

He’s more cunning than I thought.

Is this how he schemes when I refuse?

‘What a coercive person.’

I didn’t see him that way before.

If not, it means he really needs me enough to go to such lengths.

What could be the reason?

I examined Bi Uijin’s eyes.

It was clear he had no intention of letting me go.

This guy.

If I didn’t do this, he really seemed prepared to disqualify me.

“…What will you do if I can’t retrieve the sash by the end?”

“Anticipating defeat beforehand is rather pathetic.”

“That’s because I’m usually the pathetic type.”

I won’t fall for wordplay like that.

“You’re not forcing me to become a disciple, are you?”

“Well, I’m not the type to forcibly drag someone who doesn’t want to.”

“Your master, Young Hero Bi?”

“…Yes, I misspoke. My master, that is.”

He grinned.

This is ridiculous.

So that’s how he managed not to get caught all this time.

Ah. That must be why he never left the family compound.

“If you, by any chance, fail to retrieve this sash by the end,”

“Fail?”

“You just need to meet my master once.”

“…You mean the Elder Fist Sovereign?”

“Yes.”

Meet him? What meeting?

He’s right in front of me now.

‘…But I can’t say that.’

What could Bi Uijin’s intention be?

Asking me to meet the Fist Sovereign while he’s right here?

‘Does he plan to use a double?’

I couldn’t tell.

His goal was likely persuasion,

but given the current situation, if it’s just a meeting….

“Alright….”

Slam-!

Along with a sharp pain directly hitting my face,

my head snapped back.

“Gack…!”

What the hell was that.

“…Ooh.”

Bi Uijin, who had thrown the punch, then expressed admiration.

I had to regain my balance, which was about to falter.

“To think you could dodge slightly even now. Truly impressive.”

“You lunatic… What the hell are you doing?”

“Huh? What are you talking about?”

As I rubbed my nose with a bewildered expression,

Bi Uijin grinned and waved the blue sash.

“Surely you didn’t think you could just grab the sash easily and be done with it?”

“…What the…”

“I never said I wouldn’t hit you, did I?”

This cunning old man?

‘…Wait.’

I’ve seen this scene somewhere before.

‘Ah.’

It comes back to me.

When the current First Elder was the Second Elder,

when he utterly destroyed Peng Woojin, who was throwing a tantrum about attending the Nine Dragon Gathering.

-…Second Elder, weren’t you just dodging?

-I never said that.

‘Birds of a feather flock together.’

None of that old man’s friends were normal.

Fortunately, it only grazed me,

but the world was still spinning.

‘I almost got hit in the jaw.’

If I hadn’t moved in that split second,

I would have been knocked out cold.

“…Hah.”

Why did I have to get involved with someone like this?

Could this be punishment for actually bothering Gu Jeoryeop?

Crack.

This is really irritating.

I already have so much to do.

I loosened my body slightly

and focused power into my dantian.

Zing-

I still felt the sharp pain,

but it was bearable if I gritted my teeth.

For now, at least.

Swoosh….

I drew up my energy.

As soon as the energy flowed up through my dantian, I felt my body expand.

If internal energy alone wasn’t enough,

I had to resort to something else, however cheap.

[Grrrr…!]

As I drew up the energy, the beast cub reacted particularly violently.

It was strangely sensitive to energy.

Blood energy.

It would be better than demonic qi right now.

This side showed more power in an instant.

‘Will one time be enough?’

I didn’t know.

I had to try.

“Hm?”

Bi Uijin seemed to sense something from me,

and his expression changed,

Crack.

but as I pushed off the ground, I shot towards Bi Uijin.

Moving my left shoulder, I extended my arm.

The power of the blood energy I’d drawn up after so long

was much faster than I expected.

Bi Uijin also flinched and moved.

He must have realized the direction my hand was aiming

was his wrist, wrapped in the blue sash.

However.

my target wasn’t his wrist.

Perhaps because of the unexpectedly high speed,

Bi Uijin was just a fraction of a second too late in noticing the feint.

My moving hand deviated from its path.

“…!”

Only then did Bi Uijin realize what I was aiming for,

Thud.

but it was after my arm had burrowed into Bi Uijin’s abdomen.

Confirming the hit, I immediately followed up.

Whoosh!

I unleashed my internal energy from my fist.

Kuaaaaah-!

The internal energy exploded outwards,

creating a chaotic storm of wind pressure around us.

*****************

Kuwung-!

Just as unknown explosions began to erupt from the mountain opposite,

Namgung Bi-ah stood on a wide plain, surveying her surroundings.

Although the area was filled with furtive glances and a foul stench,

she was used to it by now.

‘…Yellow.’

The sashes I have in my possession are…

Red and Blue.

Namgung Bi-ah needed to find Yellow,

and she had just found someone with a Yellow sash.

Or rather, it was more accurate to say he had come looking for Namgung Bi-ah.

Another person stood beyond the wide plain.

The source of the foul stench enveloping this area.

Namgung Bi-ah frowned slightly as she observed the culprit.

His face looked familiar.

Who was it….

“What a coincidence. I didn’t expect to meet you here.”

“Ah.”

Only after hearing the young man’s voice

could she remember.

It was the man who was with Wi Seol-ah last time.

There was something else too, I think.

I’m not sure.

“I wonder if you remember me this time. Sword Dancer.”

“…”

Namgung Bi-ah didn’t reply to his words, which implied he knew her.

She felt disinclined to answer,

and she genuinely couldn’t recall.

Perhaps sensing this,

the young man’s face contorted slightly.

“This guy… and that guy…”

His muttered words

briefly brushed past Namgung Bi-ah’s ears.

“I don’t like it… I really don’t.”

The man’s smiling eyes unfocused,

revealing a cold, sharp gaze.

But it was only for a moment.

The young man smiled again and spoke to Namgung Bi-ah.

“It seems we both have what the other needs. How about it? Shall we exchange pointers?”

The young man needed Red,

and Namgung Bi-ah needed Yellow.

The scent mixed with malice made her stomach churn.

Namgung Bi-ah momentarily recalled her fiancé’s face,

and only then did her stomach settle.

She wanted to go meet him right away,

but Namgung Bi-ah suppressed the urge.

She knew she had to learn to stand on her own, so she could be of help to him.

Namgung Bi-ah had realized this.

Therefore, she would endure this stench and situation,

overcoming it all.

And so,

she would stand proudly beside him.

“…”

In response to the young man’s proposal,

Swish.

Namgung Bi-ah pointed the tip of her sword at the young man.

Then,

Pajijik-

her lightning energy surged, and Namgung Bi-ah’s hair began to flutter.

“…Lightning Resembles Heaven (雷比意天).”

As she uttered the words softly,

the plains were engulfed in rampant lightning, making the clear sky seem insignificant.