Chapter 307: Why Is That Here? (2)

A few years ago.

It was less than a year after I had regressed.

When I attended the Tang Manor’s Dangbyeongjeonhoe with Wi Seol-ah.

My objective was to find the hidden Bigo of the Geumcheon Family in Sichuan.

At that time, I had succeeded in finding the Bigo with Wi Seol-ah’s help.

The hidden space that was concealed by a formation.

Wi Seol-ah found it far too easily.

Thanks to her, something that I couldn’t even easily predict how long it would take.

I was able to resolve it with ease.

If you’re asking why I’m suddenly bringing this up.

It’s because the situation I’m seeing now somehow resembled that time.

‘Could that really be….’

Wi Seol-ah, crouching down and examining the grass.

And at her fingertips waving through the air.

I felt a sense of strangeness.

It felt as if the very air was rippling.

Unless I was an idiot, I couldn’t possibly not know what that phenomenon was.

‘Really…?’

A formation.

Based on the information from my previous life.

If I, who knew that the Bigo existed beneath the Divine Dragon Pavilion, couldn’t know, then who could?

That was nothing short of a sign that the formation was connecting the inner and outer spaces through energy.

After entering the pavilion, and through the bet with Instructor Cheol Hwan-oh.

After gaining some time in the morning.

Even after searching everywhere for days on end, I hadn’t even found a trace of it.

She’s finding it that easily?

If that’s the case.

‘Is it really a formation?’

I still couldn’t be sure.

As this was near the building where the Pavilion Master resided.

It was possible that the formation existed for his protection.

For now, I approached Wi Seol-ah.

I tapped her shoulder to let her know I was there.

“Ah…!”

As soon as I touched her, Wi Seol-ah quickly turned her head.

“What are you doing right now?”

Wi Seol-ah looked genuinely surprised, as if she hadn’t realized I had approached right behind her.

She had a look of utter surprise on her face.

Her hand gestures, which had been waving through the air, had also stopped.

“Well….”

“Is there something there?”

“I was just touching it because it felt like something was there.”

At Wi Seol-ah’s answer.

I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

Was she touching it with such a casual attitude?

No, it wasn’t something one could just touch simply because they wanted to.

How on earth is she doing it?

I had no idea.

Following Wi Seol-ah’s words.

I also reached out and felt the air.

‘There’s nothing here?’

Contrary to my expectation that I might feel something.

Unlike Wi Seol-ah, I was merely waving through the air, and no unusual phenomenon occurred.

Wi Seol-ah seemed to realize I was doing it wrong, so she carefully grabbed my wrist and moved my hand.

“Not there…. More like here.”

It wasn’t even a big movement.

Just a tiny bit.

And she made me change the shape of my fingertips slightly.

It was just that small a difference.

Woowooong.

“…!”

I could feel it.

I could feel that a formation was laid out in front of me.

It was faint, but clear.

Right in front of me, a formation of considerable skill was laid out.

‘It really is here.’

I didn’t know what kind of formation it was.

But first, it was certain that a formation existed. And judging by the circumstances.

Rather than for protection.

I could sense it was meant to conceal something.

If it were for protection, the energy wouldn’t have felt like this.

‘Then, is this the formation protecting the Bigo?’

The probability was quite high.

To know for sure, the right thing to do would be to break through the formation and enter.

‘Not now.’

I had to remember that Cheonghae Ilgeom was not far away.

Even if Cheonghae Ilgeom didn’t set up the formation, if I broke through it, the energy would surely become entangled for a moment.

There was a high chance that the nearby Cheonghae Ilgeom would sense it.

‘Why would there be a formation near the Pavilion Master’s room of all places.’

In a way, it could be the safest place.

But this Bigo, as far as I know, wasn’t made by the Divine Dragon Pavilion.

Which meant its location wasn’t chosen intentionally.

So, to safely enter this formation.

It would be best to do it when Cheonghae Ilgeom is far away.

‘I’ll see if this is really for the Bigo then.’

For now, the fact that a formation existed in this location.

Just knowing that was enough of an achievement.

Although it was Wi Seol-ah who found it, not me after struggling.

Wi Seol-ah herself showed no particular interest even after seeing such a formation.

Should I call that fortunate?

“Aren’t you surprised?”

“Huh?”

“This.”

Wi Seol-ah’s reaction was quite unexpected.

So I asked her directly.

I asked if it wasn’t surprising, given that there was a formation right before her eyes.

At my words, Wi Seol-ah rolled her eyes for a moment.

Then, opening her rose-red lips, she spoke to me.

“…Everyone has a few secrets they want to hide, don’t they?”

If they’re hiding it with a formation, wouldn’t it be a rather strange secret?

For some reason, Wi Seol-ah didn’t seem very interested.

And it was also a bit awkward for me to break through it right now.

‘I should probably consider it fortunate.’

If someone else had found it, it might have caused problems.

But since Wi Seol-ah found it, it was fortunate.

“Speaking of which. Why have you been avoiding me lately?”

“…Huh…?”

The formation was one thing, but at this point, I had to ask the question I came here for.

This was my original purpose.

Perhaps it was because I suddenly asked something like this.

Wi Seol-ah flinched.

“Ah, I haven’t been avoiding you.”

“Don’t lie, do you think I wouldn’t know?”

Do you think I’m an idiot?

You keep avoiding me.

You avoid my gaze when our eyes meet.

You’re nowhere to be found when I try to find you.

Isn’t that what avoiding someone is?

I don’t understand why you keep avoiding me.

“Did I do something wrong?”

Although I don’t usually treat others well.

I didn’t have many memories of doing wrong to Wi Seol-ah.

At least not in this life.

“…”

Wi Seol-ah didn’t answer.

She seemed like she was about to avoid my gaze again.

“Ugh…!”

I held her chin with my hand to prevent her from looking away.

“What’s bothering you so much?”

I needed to know.

Why she was acting like this. I needed to know before we could talk.

There were times she clung to me even when I tried to push her away.

And now she’s avoiding me? I couldn’t allow that.

Because I had no intention of letting her go now.

Wi Seol-ah looked at me with trembling eyes.

Since she couldn’t turn her head away to avoid me.

She rolled her eyes back and forth.

Meanwhile, she didn’t seem to have any intention of pushing me away with force.

I waited for a long time.

I had no intention of letting go until she spoke.

Her lips, which had been hesitating, finally opened.

Slowly, after some more time had passed.

Even then, it was slow and hesitant.

“…Because I’m embarrassed.”

“Huh?”

Her voice was barely audible, so quiet it seemed to be crawling into my ear.

But I could clearly hear her words.

Embarrassed?

“Embarrassed about what?”

What’s embarrassing about this out of the blue?

She was like this last time too.

I remembered her saying she didn’t want to show me her changed self.

But it couldn’t be about her hair being embarrassing, as she wasn’t wearing her cloak anymore.

It seemed she was embarrassed about something else.

What could it be?

As I pondered Wi Seol-ah’s words.

She added something to her statement.

“Gongja-nim…. It’s become a little embarrassing to look at you.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know.”

Am I doing something embarrassing?

I don’t exactly dress up or anything.

“…It’s hard to look into your eyes.”

“Because I look scary?”

“That’s not it…! I don’t look scary!”

“They’re my eyes, why are you getting angry?”

Should I be thankful that she’s getting angry on my behalf?

“Anyway…. It’s not like that.”

“Okay then, what should I do?”

“…Just… give me a little time.”

“What time? Time to avoid you?”

“Yes…. Just a little.”

Asking for time to avoid me.

What kind of ridiculous request is this?

There were times she said she wanted to see me.

Or that she wanted to meet me.

She even secretly came to watch me.

And now she’s asking for time to avoid me.

“How much time do you need?”

“It won’t take long…. I can do it quickly, very quickly.”

I don’t know why she said it with such a determined expression.

What exactly can she do so quickly?

“Are you trying to go back to how things were before?”

Back to the days when I was a degenerate young master and you were my attendant?

Even though it was only a few years ago, is that what you want?

I had wondered if that might be the case.

“No.”

Wi Seol-ah answered firmly.

“It’s not that. Those were good memories, but…. Right now, it’s actually the opposite.”

“The opposite?”

“I want to be different from how I was then, so I need time. Time for me to make up my mind.”

Can you eat and then eat your mind too?

A funny thought crossed my mind.

If I said something now, Wi Seol-ah would probably get completely sulky and wouldn’t even look at me for a while.

“Do you know something, Gongja-nim?”

“What is it?”

That title, ‘Gongja-nim,’ still felt unfamiliar.

It felt particularly so with Wi Seol-ah.

Originally, I was called that by Wi Seol-ah too.

“They say it’s greed to try and possess something you shouldn’t have.”

“Is that what they call greed?”

It’s not always expressed as greed.

Although I thought it included that as well.

Anyway, that’s a rather abrupt statement.

Why greed all of a sudden?

I looked at her, wondering what she meant.

Wi Seol-ah still had an unreadable expression.

It felt like she was trying hard to smile.

“You know.”

“Yeah.”

“I want to be a little greedy too.”

“Huh?”

It was a strange statement.

Wi Seol-ah wanting to be greedy.

If you asked if she had no greed at all.

I think she had some.

Could she mean something else?

Although her face and body had matured considerably.

Wi Seol-ah still had a childlike aspect about her.

Even if she had grown, we were both barely past our adolescence, so she was still a child.

“So please wait for me. It won’t take long.”

Wi Seol-ah said that, forcing a smile.

I wanted to ask more.

But she was smiling as if asking me not to pry further.

Since she said it wouldn’t take long.

I decided to let it go for now.

“…Alright, that’s settled then.”

“Yes.”

“Why were you dragged to the Pavilion Master?”

“…”

For a moment, on Wi Seol-ah’s face.

‘Oops.’

The two letters appeared.

She seemed to have forgotten.

“You said you caused trouble, what kind of trouble did you cause?”

“I, I didn’t cause any trouble.”

“I saw your face earlier, confessing ‘I caused trouble,’ didn’t I?”

“…Ah, no.”

She shut her eyes tightly and turned her head away.

How could I believe her when she acted like that?

I didn’t think Wi Seol-ah had the personality to cause trouble like me.

She would rather endure and let things pass.

She wasn’t the type to just explode like me.

“Are you not going to tell me? Should I go ask the Pavilion Master again?”

“…”

Of course, even if I went and asked, the Pavilion Master wouldn’t tell me about another disciple’s offense.

Perhaps my words got through to her.

Wi Seol-ah, still with her eyes shut tight, explained the situation to me.

At her words, which came out like a confession.

“…You hit someone? You? And not just anyone.”

I unintentionally asked again, as if I had misheard.

It was that unbelievable a story.

“Your personal guard or something?”

“…”

Wi Seol-ah chewed her lips nervously, avoiding my gaze without answering.

No matter how I looked at it, that was a silent affirmation.

It seemed Wi Seol-ah really had beaten someone up.

And quite badly.

---

The second son of the Sichuan Pae Family.

His name is Pae Woo-cheol.

He was a young man who had just passed his adolescence.

His name was quite famous among the later generation disciples.

And he was considered a promising figure with exceptional talent.

While not comparable to the monsters called the Six Dragons and Three Peaks.

He stood out among the swarm of snakes below them.

He knew himself that he was quite an outstanding individual.

It was because the ignoramuses around him were simply too mediocre.

‘I will stand at the pinnacle of them all.’

Even when I first came to the Divine Dragon Pavilion.

Pae Woo-cheol thought so.

The monsters called the Six Dragons and Three Peaks were incredibly strong.

But he thought he was no less capable.

He had surpassed the first-rate.

And he had grown stronger through his father’s training.

He believed he could achieve anything.

In reality.

The Divine Dragon Pavilion’s entrance exam wasn’t particularly difficult for Pae Woo-cheol.

It was rather easy.

‘If this is the standard, it’s too easy?’

How trivial.

He thought.

He thought that at this level, securing the top or second position was a given.

Ironically.

Pae Woo-cheol didn’t even come close to winning an award.

What was even more surprising was.

More than half of the Six Dragons and Three Peaks had participated in this exam, so he naturally assumed they would take all the awards.

But that wasn’t the case either.

The top position was taken by a Dragon.

But the second and third positions were not taken by Dragons or Peaks.

They were a promising young talent without a title yet.

And a swordsman called the Divine Saint.

Pae Woo-cheol could only nod as he looked at the two.

Their aura was extraordinary; truly, the strong were different.

However.

Could I catch up? If I worked hard, someday.

Such thoughts flashed through his mind.

It was a feeling that stimulated his competitive spirit.

But amidst it all.

‘Who is that guy?’

Pae Woo-cheol observed the Dragon who took the top spot.

He was young.

He was clearly younger than himself.

He was among the younger disciples present.

Could this guy, who possessed a Dragon that he himself didn’t have, and even took the top spot?

He was even nonchalant.

Even while Cheonghae Ilgeom was delivering his speech.

He was shaking his legs in the back.

And looking around with an expression of utter boredom.

Thinking, ‘What kind of crazy person is this?’

That was his first impression of the famous True Dragon.

That evening.

Pae Woo-cheol lost consciousness after being hit by a single blow from the True Dragon.

He couldn’t even properly use his strength.

The next day.

As soon as Pae Woo-cheol woke up, he rushed at the True Dragon in anger.

And was once again pummeled by the True Dragon’s fists.

Even though he had ambushed him while he was sleeping.

The True Dragon woke up as if he knew everything.

And proceeded to beat Pae Woo-cheol into shape with all sorts of violence.

Only then.

Pae Woo-cheol truly felt the gap between himself and the True Dragon.

Nothing could reach him.

He couldn’t even see him.

Could movements without even a shred of effort be so fast and powerful?

Could movements without even a shred of effort be so fast and powerful?

The difference was like a wall.

Pae Woo-cheol realized this.

Of course, just realizing it.

Didn’t stop the True Dragon’s violence.

-Ah, I get it…. S-stop.

-Stop what, you bastard? Why are you disturbing me while I’m sleeping?

-Aack! Th-there, please don’t!

-What’s impossible? Stay still, alright? If you move, you might not be able to have children.

-J-just a moment! Hyung-nim! P-please, Hyung-nim…! Kkuaaak!

He didn’t want to remember what happened that morning anymore.

Just thinking about it sent a shiver down his lower body.

Ah, this guy is a mad dog.

Pae Woo-cheol realized.

He thought he himself was quite crazy.

But the True Dragon was truly a mad dog.

Pae Woo-cheol couldn’t forget the look in the True Dragon’s eyes as he beat him all over.

He was clearly enjoying it.

The True Dragon, who had been beaten into submission and forced to call him ‘Hyung-nim’.

Up until then, he had been looking for an opportunity to get revenge on the True Dragon if he could.

But that changed.

It was after finishing his first training session with Instructor Cheol Hwan-oh.

Monster hunting.

Against Instructor Cheol Hwan-oh, known as the ‘Righteous Heaven Blue Fist’.

In a training session where all the disciples of the Jo clan rushed forward.

Pae Woo-cheol felt an immense sense of powerlessness.

No matter how much they rushed, they couldn’t reach him.

Even with so many disciples attacking at once.

They couldn’t even brush the collar of Instructor Cheol Hwan-oh’s clothes.

‘…Is this… an instructor?’

Pae Woo-cheol’s pride, which had surpassed the first-rate and become tainted with arrogance.

Was shattered with a resounding crash.

As he lay helplessly rolling on the floor.

Instructor Cheol Hwan-oh spoke.

-Why aren’t you moving?

Behind him.

He was speaking to the True Dragon, who stood aloof.

In fact, the True Dragon had stood still throughout the training, merely watching them.

-If I interfere, the training becomes too easy.

Even after witnessing Instructor Cheol Hwan-oh’s strength.

How could he be so arrogant?

Yet he himself had already crumbled.

His smirking face.

And his unwavering confidence.

Pae Woo-cheol found it simply astonishing.

Is that why he’s a Dragon?

He genuinely thought so.

Isn’t that cool?

The ability to remain confident even in such a situation.

Of course, Instructor Cheol Hwan-oh didn’t seem to think so.

He proposed a bet with the True Dragon.

It was a bet in name only; in reality, it was no different from saying he would destroy the True Dragon.

The other disciples too.

No matter who the True Dragon was, they were convinced he couldn’t do anything to Instructor Cheol Hwan-oh.

Pae Woo-cheol himself was no different.

The Vice-Captain of the Azure Dragon Unit, and.

A renowned peak master in the Central Plains.

Just as he thought, ‘How could a later generation disciple possibly defeat such a figure?’

The bet match began.

Pae Woo-cheol had to hold his breath.

-Yeomok.

The immense energy unleashed from the True Dragon’s hand took his breath away.

Was he hiding such energy?

It was an energy that Pae Woo-cheol had never seen from the True Dragon before.

The overwhelming heat made it feel as if the surrounding space was distorting.

Cheol Hwan-oh, noticing this, immediately charged at the True Dragon.

That statement implied the energy was threatening even to Cheol Hwan-oh.

But Cheol Hwan-oh couldn’t block the True Dragon’s martial arts.

The movements of Cheol Hwan-oh, which Pae Woo-cheol couldn’t even comprehend.

The True Dragon dodged with such ease.

As if targeting that haste and movement.

The True Dragon instantly retracted his energy.

And touched Cheol Hwan-oh’s body.

Claiming victory.

It meant that even that immense energy was a feint.

And that he had psychologically toyed with the great martial artist Cheol Hwan-oh.

“…”

Pae Woo-cheol’s eyes widened.

As if enjoying Cheol Hwan-oh’s shocked expression.

He thought, looking at the True Dragon’s beaming smile.

It wasn’t jealousy or competitiveness.

It was awe.

The difference in class was too vast.

He couldn’t feel any condescending emotions.

This person is fundamentally different from me.

As that thought occurred.

He instinctively thought.

‘I want to be by his side.’

Soaring higher and higher.

A monster spreading its wings, seemingly capable of piercing the very end of the sky.

Now is the time.

I must be by his side from now on.

This is an opportunity.

His pride had been shattered long ago.

Jealousy is something you can only feel when you can even look up to someone.

While the monster folds its wings and stays on the ground for a moment.

If not now, there won’t be another chance.

For Pae Woo-cheol, who had already lost half his mind, there was no room for hesitation.

“Hyung-nim!”

Towards the True Dragon, who was talking with Cheol Hwan-oh and tending to his body.

Pae Woo-cheol shouted and charged.

He was knocked out again by the True Dragon, who found him bothersome, after being hit in the jaw once more.

A few days passed after that.

Pae Woo-cheol voluntarily attached himself as Gu Yangcheon’s subordinate.

Gu Yangcheon, tired of Pae Woo-cheol sticking to him no matter how much he cursed or beat him.

Had given up, telling him to just do as he pleased.

Kwang!

Pae Woo-cheol, engrossed in beating a wooden dummy during his personal training session.

Soon retracted his fist and exhaled.

“Hoo…”

Tudududuk.

His body felt refreshed after the training he hadn’t done recently.

But he wasn’t particularly satisfied.

‘To catch up to Hyung-nim, this isn’t enough.’

Gu Yangcheon, whom he had watched for days.

Was a more amazing person than Pae Woo-cheol had thought.

He embraced both Poison Phoenix and Snow Phoenix, and even Sword Dancer, a heroic and handsome man.

Does beauty follow those with strength and talent?

Even so, three already? He just seemed great.

Moreover, what about his appearance when he went to other teams and gave them a hard time?

He possessed a boldness that didn’t care about others’ opinions.

Even when called by the instructor, Pae Woo-cheol was inwardly anxious.

Because even from his perspective, the trouble Gu Yangcheon caused didn’t seem minor.

However, Gu Yangcheon’s face showed no signs of worry.

Was it that he wasn’t afraid of someone like Cheol Hwan-oh, whom he had already defeated?

Yes, it must be.

Because his Hyung-nim was that kind of man!

As Pae Woo-cheol wore a proud smile at that thought.

“Hmm?”

As he finished training and was heading back to his dorm, a familiar back view caught his eye in the distance.

“…Ji-seon Hyung-nim?”

It was Cheol Ji-seon, Gu Yangcheon’s friend.

Although his martial arts level seemed much lower than his own, his Hyung-nim called him a close friend.

So he had to treat him as an elder brother.

He thought it was proper etiquette towards Gu Yangcheon, and Gu Yangcheon also seemed to care for Cheol Ji-seon.

He had to be thorough.

‘Where is he going in such a hurry?’

Seeing Cheol Ji-seon hurrying into the forest.

Pae Woo-cheol recalled the other day when Cheol Ji-seon was being bullied.

Out of concern, he followed, suppressing his presence.

Fortunately, Cheol Ji-seon didn’t seem to notice Pae Woo-cheol, who had suppressed his presence.

Following Cheol Ji-seon stealthily led him to.

An secluded area near the Divine Dragon Pavilion.

And there, someone was waiting for Cheol Ji-seon.

Pae Woo-cheol was inwardly surprised the moment he saw that person.

‘That guy!’

It was someone Pae Woo-cheol knew.

None other than Jang Seon-yeon, the Divine Saint.

He was one of the leaders of the faction causing a stir in the Divine Dragon Pavilion lately.

‘Why are he and Ji-seon Hyung-nim together?’

When he saw them last time, Gu Yangcheon and the Divine Saint didn’t seem to be on good terms.

The rumors spread were that the True Dragon was unilaterally jealous and envious of the Divine Saint.

But from Pae Woo-cheol’s perspective, that wasn’t the case.

Rather…

‘It looked like the Divine Saint was envious of Hyung-nim.’

It was a rumor that sounded absurd to Pae Woo-cheol.

But Gu Yangcheon simply told Pae Woo-cheol not to worry about it.

Along with saying that it didn’t matter.

So he was holding back.

In this situation, Cheol Ji-seon, Gu Yangcheon’s friend, and.

Jang Seon-yeon meeting.

Pae Woo-cheol heightened his senses.

Because if he made a mistake, his stealth could be detected.

He had to control it as much as possible.

As he heightened his hearing.

Cheol Ji-seon’s voice could be heard faintly.

-I apologize for calling you out like this late at night. Young Master Cheol.

“…Why did you call me?”

“I have some business with you, Young Master.”

Jang Seon-yeon’s smiling face looked quite kind.

But somehow, he didn’t trust him.

Why was that?

Pae Woo-cheol himself didn’t know.

To Cheol Ji-seon, who looked somewhat anxious.

Jang Seon-yeon spoke with a smile.

“First, Young Master Cheol. Ah, no, it would be more appropriate to call you differently.”

For a brief moment.

Jang Seon-yeon’s mouth moved, but no sound could be heard.

It seemed he had activated a barrier.

‘Damn.’

It seemed he hadn’t noticed, but it was likely a conversation that shouldn’t be overheard.

As there was a risk of being discovered if he stayed longer, Pae Woo-cheol turned his heavy body and walked away.

Cheol Ji-seon and Jang Seon-yeon.

Having a conversation that shouldn’t be overheard?

Pae Woo-cheol didn’t know what it was.

But first, he had to quickly report this to his Hyung-nim.

Pae Woo-cheol urgently ran to find Gu Yangcheon.

And told him about what he had just witnessed.

It seemed like a very shocking fact.

However.

“Oh, really?”

Gu Yangcheon was unfazed even after hearing such a story.

Which made Pae Woo-cheol even more bewildered.

“H-Hyung-nim?”

“I was wondering if you didn’t know since you weren’t moving, and I was a bit disappointed. But it seems you’re finally going to act.”

“…Yes? What do you mean…?”

“Forget what you saw today for a moment.”

“Huh?”

Gu Yangcheon said that and quickly made his bed, then lay down.

“Don’t just stand there, lie down. I need to sleep now.”

“Ah, understood.”

“Oh, right, Woo-cheol-ah.”

“Yes, Hyung-nim.”

“What’s for breakfast tomorrow?”

“I don’t know.”

“…Next time, don’t bring up secret stories like that, just memorize what’s for breakfast.”

“Yes.”

It seemed like a huge revelation.

But Gu Yangcheon’s reaction was as if he already knew it would happen.

It seemed like the breakfast side dishes were more important to him than that.

‘…That’s strange?’

Is he always like this?

Pae Woo-cheol had his doubts.

But he quickly forgot and fell asleep.

For the record. Although he answered.

Pae Woo-cheol, until the day he left the Divine Dragon Pavilion.

Never memorized what was for breakfast.