Chapter 303: Who’s Messing With My Kid? (4)

There are various types of training at the Dragon Shrine, but…

Most people don’t do more than four types of training a day.

Since everyone here is a martial artist in their own right.

Not only training as swordsmen,

but they also needed time to hone their individual martial arts.

It wasn’t taught in a particularly intensive manner.

Didn’t I always say?

That people come to the Dragon Shrine for its name value.

These were the kinds of things I was talking about back then.

The education is actually quite good, but since there are many aspects that can be taught within families or sects,

it’s not strictly necessary to come.

No matter how many times I say it, it’s unlikely to get through.

Though I don’t bring it up anywhere else.

What difference would it make if I just stated what they already know?

What could possibly change significantly?

Four days had passed since the Dragon Shrine opened.

Some said it was short,

while others felt time had flown by so quickly.

From my perspective, it was a short period, but

several incidents occurred at the Dragon Shrine during that brief time.

One was…

the rumor circulating that a new disciple had defeated an instructor.

That’s right.

It’s my story.

‘Rumors sure are damn fast.’

This rumor started because I won the bet I made with Instructor Cheol Hwan-oh.

Winning means winning the bet, you see.

It doesn’t mean I actually defeated the instructor,

but the story spread as if I had won a martial arts duel.

Honestly, these people really love to exaggerate.

‘If it had been real, it would have been quite tough.’

I know a little about the person named Cheol Hwan-oh,

so it was a situation I deliberately provoked and manipulated.

If Cheol Hwan-oh had actually taken the bait and engaged in a one-on-one duel,

it wouldn’t have been easy.

‘He’s a tough opponent even when I’m fully recovered.’

Ui-cheon Cheong-gwon.

He’s a martial artist just like me, on the verge of the Hwa-gyeong realm.

I remember him reaching the Hwa-gyeong realm even before becoming a demon in my past life,

so in this life too, he’ll eventually reach the Hwa-gyeong realm, right?

Even if not now, reaching the Hwa-gyeong realm eventually means

he possesses considerable potential.

I can’t even predict what would happen if he were in perfect condition,

so being injured internally makes it quite difficult.

‘Ugh, it stings….’

I gently rubbed my lower abdomen.

The stinging sensation still remains.

It was even worse because I had tried to use the Yeom-ok one more time the other day.

Although I didn’t unleash it and managed to retract it, so I wasn’t severely impacted,

it was still pushing my limits.

‘Still, it somehow worked out.’

Just as I expected, Cheol Hwan-oh took the bait and proposed a bet.

I was able to secure victory using the Yeom-ok as leverage.

If the plan had gone awry and we actually had to duel,

I would have had to use all my blood energy and everything else.

‘If I had done that, I would have had to spend at least a month just treating my internal injuries.’

Just thinking about it made me dizzy, but

it was successful, so that’s all that matters.

Thanks to that, I could buy myself time like this in the morning.

‘It’s the time when they’re usually running or tumbling around, so it should be fine?’

With my Ki sense heightened to a certain degree,

I was walking around, looking for a place with fewer people.

My objective was to find the entrance to the Bigō, hidden somewhere underground.

‘The limit is about one si-jin per day.’

Although my training time is a bit longer than that,

I needed to quickly return and get ready, so that was the safe amount of time.

The problem, however, is…

‘I know absolutely nothing about formation arrays.’

If it’s the entrance to the Bigō, traditionally,

it’s highly likely to be surrounded by formation arrays.

Moreover, what’s currently beneath the Dragon Shrine

is likely unknown even to those in the Murim Alliance.

I have almost no knowledge in that area.

‘My habit was to just tear through any formation array I encountered.’

The backlash from tearing through formation arrays

was something I thought I could endure with my body, but

at this point, I couldn’t afford to do that.

‘Since it’s not even picked up by my Ki sense, it must be hidden quite well.’

How did the Heavenly Demon find it?

From my perspective, he probably just smashed everything indiscriminately

and happened to find it.

Formation arrays don’t work on the Heavenly Demon,

so he might have just found it and torn it apart.

‘That’s the more likely scenario.’

The important thing is that the Bigō definitely exists beneath this place.

I needed to find it within half a year.

Because it would be better for my plan.

‘I need to find it before I can even think about any plans.’

It’s already been several days.

Waking up early every morning and looking around everywhere.

‘Tsk.’

Time is getting tight.

Seeing this, it seems today will be another bust.

I took out a piece of paper from my pocket.

Tuk.

I made a small cut on my fingertip and drew a drop of blood.

Then, I wet one spot on the paper.

It was to mark the areas I had searched nearby.

No matter how large the Dragon Shrine is, I’ve spent days investing time searching,

so I feel like I’ve covered most of it, but

the fact that I still haven’t found it means

‘Either it’s not detected by my Ki sense, or the entrance is outside the Dragon Shrine.’

This is difficult.

I thought it wouldn’t be easy, but it really is.

‘If it’s outside the Dragon Shrine, that becomes a bit problematic.’

There’s a barrier spread around the Dragon Shrine.

They said it was probably set up like a protective barrier using Gwimul.

Since many people of noble lineage are gathered here, it would be a disaster if they were attacked,

so it was put up for protection.

Because of that, I couldn’t just go outside carelessly.

‘Tsk.’

What should I do?

If it really is outside the Dragon Shrine, I’d have to wait for the summer break when everyone temporarily returns to their families, but

that would be a huge waste of time and effort.

‘…For now, I should slowly head back….’

Given the time, even if I have thoughts, I need to go back and think.

Just as I started walking towards my lodging,

Pasak.

I sensed movement from the bushes behind me.

At the same time, the fine hairs on my body stood on end.

‘Why?’

My Ki sense is already heightened to the maximum,

so someone grabbing my back means that person is also skilled at concealing their presence.

Furthermore, the fact that I didn’t sense them means

‘What kind of guy is this?’

Internal injuries or whatever, I instantly raised my Ki.

Wrapping my body in heat, I quickly turned towards the direction of the movement.

‘First, let me identify… Huh?’

Ttuk!

Just as I was about to fully unleash my fighting spirit,

the moment I saw the person who appeared behind me, my body froze stiff.

“Huh…?”

The other person also flinched upon seeing me.

She, no, she was also taking a stance to draw her sword.

The woman, who seemed slightly over twenty years old,

was a beauty with a radiant aura.

She wore pristine white martial attire and a light blue outer robe symbolizing her status as a Dragon Shrine instructor.

The plum blossom pattern visible beneath the outer robe caught my eye.

“Why….”

A remarkable woman from Mount Hua, who inherited the title of Sword Queen of the current era.

The Plum Blossom Sword Queen.

She opened her mouth, looking at me.

“Are you here?”

Her words, spoken with apparent surprise,

were exactly what I wanted to ask.

---

Behind the buildings of the Dragon Shrine.

It’s a small forest within the grounds.

From what I’ve heard, it was made into a walking path, but very few people use it.

It’s understandable, considering how pressed for time everyone is with the teachings at the Dragon Shrine and honing their own martial arts.

Who would have enough leisure time to enjoy a stroll?

“Why are you here?”

In that sense, this encounter was bound to be unexpected.

The Sword Queen immediately looked at the person she encountered.

A disciple who should be engrossed in morning training right about now.

An individual already starting to gain notoriety among the instructors, a person of interest.

was standing right there.

“…Greetings?”

Offering a greeting with a hesitant expression. It was a familiar figure, actually.

“Isn’t it time for morning training? Why are you here…”

“…Instructor Cheol Hwan-oh kindly allowed me to skip morning training.”

Although she might wonder what that means,

‘Ah, so that’s what that was about.’

the Sword Queen could understand immediately.

She herself had heard the rumor that Instructor Cheol Hwan-oh was defeated by a disciple.

I heard he was summoned by the Headmaster and reprimanded….

“Setting that aside, you should be in your quarters. Why are you here?”

“I came out for a stroll. I heard the walking paths here are nice.”

That’s a lie.

The Sword Queen knew instantly.

That Gu Yangcheon’s words were false.

“I see…”

“And why are you here, Instructor?”

“…”

“Isn’t it currently training time for the disciples?”

At Gu Yangcheon’s words, the Sword Queen quickly thought to herself.

“…I’m in charge of the afternoon training.”

“I see. Then why are you here…?”

“…I’m… strolling.”

“Ah, yes.”

The conversation paused momentarily.

The atmosphere was strange, with both of us sizing each other up.

Gu Yangcheon knew it too.

That the Sword Queen had immediately recognized his words as lies.

Furthermore.

The Sword Queen also knew that her own words

were not being believed by Gu Yangcheon, but

we simply exchanged a moment of silence.

‘What is it?’

A question arose, Gu Yangcheon had to wonder as he looked at the Sword Queen.

‘What is she hiding?’

Judging by the Sword Queen’s demeanor, it seemed she had something going on.

The very fact that she came to the Dragon Shrine as an instructor in the first place

made me suspect she had some objective, but

seeing her now, it looked like the Sword Queen was also searching for something.

‘Could she be looking for the Bigō?’

The way the Sword Queen was moving around the Dragon Shrine so suspiciously.

Perhaps she was also looking for the Bigō?

That thought flashed through my mind for a moment.

‘If so, how does the Sword Queen know about the Bigō?’

This was information no one knew until the Heavenly Demon appeared.

It was strange that she knew about it.

‘If she knows, what should I do?’

Search together?

What about the fact that I know this information?

‘That’s not good.’

It might not be about the Bigō right now, but

it seems certain that the Sword Queen also has some objective.

This encounter

must surely be related to that.

Just as Gu Yangcheon was pondering what to do,

the Sword Queen spoke to Gu Yangcheon, who was agonizing over it for a brief moment.

“I… heard something.”

“Please, tell me.”

I focused automatically, wondering if it was about the current situation.

After all, the Sword Queen must have thought about it before saying it.

“That technique you used in the test chamber…”

“Yes, yes? Yes…? Suddenly?”

Because she suddenly brought up such an out-of-the-blue topic,

Gu Yangcheon was momentarily flustered.

Wondering why she was suddenly talking about that time.

‘Is there some reason for this?’

Just as I was thinking that,

the Sword Queen continued.

“I heard that the martial art you used then didn’t need to be unleashed.”

“…”

At her completely unexpected words,

Gu Yangcheon’s mind went blank for a moment.

Oh… shit.

‘How could she… Ah.’

Just as I wondered how the Sword Queen knew that,

Gu Yangcheon remembered the duel with Cheol Hwan-oh.

Specifically, how he used a feint while retracting a secret technique.

It seemed Cheol Hwan-oh had reported the situation.

Sweat began to trickle down my back.

‘…I’m screwed?’

This was something I had forgotten even during the sparring match with Cheol Hwan-oh.

I had forgotten the fact that I had used a secret technique to trouble the Sword Queen during our duel.

‘Ah, I forgot about this, you idiot….’

If I had known this would happen, I would have used a different method.

“Actually, because of this, I thought I should visit you once…”

“Me? Why?”

“Well?”

Not telling me the reason was even scarier.

“…That.”

“I’ll just let that part slide.”

“What?”

The Sword Queen smiled faintly as she looked at me.

That refreshing smile was even more terrifying.

“Don’t we now have a secret to protect each other? We should let something like that go.”

“…”

She was being direct.

The Sword Queen’s words meant she’d overlook this incident,

so I should keep quiet too.

It was beneficial, in a way,

but the Sword Queen’s gaze felt quite burdensome.

It didn’t look like the gaze of someone who would just let it go, no matter how I looked at it.

“Um, Sword Queen-nim.”

“Yes.”

“Are you really okay… Never mind.”

Gu Yangcheon stopped himself from asking.

Because anyone could see she didn’t look okay.

She seemed a little angry,

but she was forcing a smile to endure it.

In times like these, the best strategy is probably to quickly get away.

“Then I’ll be going first. Enjoy your stroll.”

“Alright.”

Gu Yangcheon quickly escaped from the Sword Queen and started walking towards his lodging.

Her gaze followed his retreating back.

The Sword Queen watched with a peculiar expression.

---

During the three days the Dragon Shrine was open,

various incidents, big and small, occurred.

One was the incident where Jin-ryong provoked an instructor

and ultimately achieved victory.

Since there were so many witnesses to this,

it added fuel to the exaggerated rumors about Jin-ryong.

They said he crushed the instructor’s limbs,

trampled on the head of the unconscious instructor while cursing his parents,

or grabbed a bystander disciple and did the same to them.

Although the already widespread negative rumors about Jin-ryong grew even larger,

in addition to that,

talk began to emerge suggesting that Jin-ryong might be the strongest among the Six Dragons and Three Peaks.

Being able to defeat an instructor meant he was at a level that was hard to consider him just another disciple.

Another story was…

that several factions had begun to form among the Dragon Shrine disciples.

It could be by squad,

or perhaps even larger groups, but

it was a confirmed rumor that factions were starting to emerge within the Dragon Shrine.

You might think factions forming in just a few days is strange, but

at least, from Cheol Ji-seon’s perspective, it seemed certain.

“Hahaha, you know about it too, Sin-seong?”

“Of course. That was probably the first one created in Ha-nam, wasn’t it?”

“Oh, that’s right. Speaking of which, I know the craftsman who made that sword…”

‘What a show-off.’

Several disciples were gathered closely, chatting and laughing.

Each held an important position in their respective families or sects,

and they were proudly boasting about their achievements.

Whether those words were true or not, I didn’t know,

but the arrogance and posturing on their faces were clearly visible.

And amidst those numerous individuals,

I saw someone holding the center.

Sin-seong Jang Seon-yeon.

He was a disciple assigned to the same squad as Cheol Ji-seon,

and although not one of the Six Dragons and Three Peaks, he was famous for possessing immense talent.

He was the only son of the current Murim Alliance Leader, Nak-geom Jang Cheon.

Jang Seon-yeon was on the list of people Cheol Ji-seon needed to approach, but

surrounded like that, it wasn’t easy to get close.

“Hey, aren’t you going to answer?”

Cheol Ji-seon wasn’t in a situation where he could approach them right now.

Bbaak-!

“Gkeuk!”

Someone smacked the back of my head. Thanks to that, Cheol Ji-seon’s head instantly drooped.

“You keep ignoring me when I call you.”

Clutching my throbbing head, I turned around.

It was a disciple standing behind me.

Called me? That’s a lie.

He hadn’t called Cheol Ji-seon.

“…What is it?”

Knowing that, Cheol Ji-seon endured it.

“I just felt like calling you, what? Are you offended?”

As he snickered and laughed, the onlookers around him also chuckled.

‘Sigh….’

At that sight, Cheol Ji-seon sighed inwardly.

Ever since I started having trouble keeping up with training,

some guys started picking on me.

I wondered why this was still happening even after coming to the renowned Dragon Shrine, but

I felt utterly pathetic for not being able to say a word.

‘This isn’t why I came here.’

My fists clenched on my lap.

This really isn’t why I came here.

I knew it would be tough,

but to be in this state right from the start.

“Your eyes look strange? You must be upset. Hey, apparently the great hero Cheol Ji-seon is feeling displeased.”

“He’s displeased? What a shame, you must have been quite displeased when you were stammering earlier too.”

“…”

When the instructor asked Cheol Ji-seon about the theory they had taught,

the nervous Cheol Ji-seon had stammered his answer.

Now they were bringing that up to mock him.

“If you don’t like it, why don’t you challenge me to a duel?”

He boasted, flexing his bulging muscles.

The guy glared at me.

I heard he had surpassed the first-rate level,

so he wasn’t someone Cheol Ji-seon could handle.

In the end, I had to grit my teeth and stay silent.

“Look at you, tucking your tail right away. You look so delicate, I wonder if you really don’t have the goods down there.”

“Who knows, maybe you really don’t have any. Or maybe it’s just really small.”

“Still, you’re good-looking, so maybe you can make a living off that? Like being a male escort.”

Ppudeuk.

My clenched fist tightened.

“Oh, but hey. Do you have a sister?”

Uttuk.

At the sound, Cheol Ji-seon’s trembling body froze.

“Does your sister look like you? That would be great. I like having many concubines. Maybe introduce her to me.”

-Jin-seon-ah, you shouldn’t use that power.

My sister’s voice tickled my ears, but

my fingertips started moving instinctively.

Maybe just once would be okay.

“Someone like me could make your life bloom. It’s a great opportunity, you know?”

I could tolerate anything else,

but I couldn’t stand anyone touching my sister.

Just as Cheol Ji-seon started to rise and move his hand,

“Why isn’t this punk answering again….”

Kwang-!

“Keok!”

With a loud bang,

the guy spewing insults suddenly rolled on the floor and flew towards the wall.

Cheol Ji-seon’s eyes widened.

The guy, suddenly hit, grabbed the wall and started trembling violently.

Hududuk-!

Blood flowed from his mouth, soaking the floor.

“Wh-what….”

As the guy looked up, bewildered,

he saw a person he’d never seen before standing there.

At least, he wasn’t from the same squad.

“Wh-who the hell are you?”

He shouted angrily in his confused state, but

the person who appeared out of nowhere immediately grabbed a chair and threw it at the guy.

Kwaduk!

“Kkeuak!”

“What am I? Just a friend passing by, you punk.”

Hit squarely by the chair, he screamed once more.

Meanwhile, the one who acted was completely nonchalant.

As he spoke, the fierce look in his eyes slightly curved.

His smile in this situation

made him look even more terrifying.

Cheol Ji-seon was startled upon seeing him.

Because it was an unexpected person.

“Ah, I came thinking I’d grab a meal with my friend here. What a useless piece of shit.”

The person was scratching his head as if annoyed.

He had a fierce face and a vulgar way of speaking.

It was a face Cheol Ji-seon recognized.

How could he not?

He was someone who had half-forced… no, almost completely forced himself to be my friend.

Since our squads were separated, I thought he wouldn’t come see me anymore,

and at the time, Cheol Ji-seon actually thought it was a relief.

He thought the guy would single him out and bully him, but

I thought he gave up after the squads were separated.

That’s why Cheol Ji-seon couldn’t help but be flustered.

In the current situation.

the person who suddenly appeared and saved me was none other than

‘…Jin-ryong?’

It was Gu Yangcheon himself.