Chapter 317: Cheoljiseon. (1)

Koong…! Koong!

In the early morning, at a time when the pre-dawn air filled the training room.

In the large training room, enough to accommodate dozens of people.

A deep roar and vibrations echoed.

Along with it, the expressions of the trainees watching the center of the sound were filled with deep fear.

“Kkeueok!”

The reason was likely Pae Ucheol, who was rolling around making a sound like a pig being slaughtered.

Koong!

Pae Ucheol’s massive body rolled continuously across the floor, making loud noises.

His size was no joke, and dust flew up every time he rolled.

It wasn’t just dust.

The biggest reason the trainees watched the scene, speechless, was likely the sheer amount of debris piled up so badly it reached the ceiling.

Pae Ucheol, who had been rolling listlessly on the floor, desperately placed his hands on the ground to get up, but.

What entered his vision was someone’s hand.

The incoming palm wrapped around the forehead of the rising Pae Ucheol.

And pushed, collapsing his stance.

“Keok!”

It was hardly a move.

The movement, which didn’t even seem to use much strength,

Surprisingly, knocked Pae Ucheol down far too easily.

“If you’re going to lose your balance and get up, you might as well stay down, you idiot.”

Only after enduring that much did Pae Ucheol sprawl flat on the stone floor, gasping for breath.

It seemed his stamina had reached its limit.

“Heok… Heok….”

“At first, you seemed to be calculating your moves, but then you just started rushing in blindly. Why didn’t you just ask me to hit you? You’re huge, but your body is soft as tofu.”

The harsh, spitting tone was incredibly fierce.

At the scathing words, those eavesdropping nervously flinched.

Who else could possibly cut down Pae Ucheol, famous for his foul temper within the Divine Dragon Pavilion, like that?

Probably no one.

Even if there were,

There wouldn’t be anyone as terrifying as the person currently berating Pae Ucheol.

“To throw Pae Ucheol around like he’s a child…”

“He tore apart the Counter-Rebound Qi with his bare hands… Does that even make sense?”

The trainees watched, disgusted. And rightly so,

Because the one playing with Pae Ucheol like a toy

Had a physique that, generously speaking, might be half of Pae Ucheol’s size,

And by age, was one of the younger martial artists in the entire Divine Dragon Pavilion.

Of course. Unlike him,

His talent and martial prowess were well-known.

Someone watching whispered.

“…Jinryong tears people apart.”

As the surrounding people were about to nod at the very quiet words,

“I don’t tear people apart, you crazy bastards!”

“Hieek!”

Jinryong shouted back reflexively, apparently having heard that too.

His hearing seemed quite sharp.

As the trainees scrambled to get away from Jinryong’s shout,

Jinryong, watching this, let out a deep sigh.

“…This is why I don’t come to the training room.”

Especially on days without morning training.

From a martial artist’s perspective, if there’s no group training,

Most people still seek out the training room for personal practice.

On days like this, it’s already crowded,

And I don’t know why I have to go through this trouble because of this giant idiot.

He scratched his head while looking at Pae Ucheol catching his breath.

‘At least this guy is the better option.’

Pae Ucheol at least has grit.

He’s better than the guy who already collapsed in that corner.

The one lying there, motionless and unconscious, was none other than Gu Jilyeop.

“Haha….”

And there was someone smiling awkwardly in front of Gu Jilyeop.

The reason the trainees were glancing over here

Was probably not just because of me, but more likely thanks to that conceited guy.

The one smiling at Gu Jilyeop

Was the foremost genius of Hua San,

The genius who won the title of Sword Dragon, surpassing Namgung and Mudang.

Sword Dragon Yeongpung.

Yeongpung looked at Gu Jilyeop, seemingly bewildered, then

Looked towards me and asked.

“…Young Hero Gu, what should we do about this?”

“What do you mean, ‘what should we do’? Just leave him be. Ah, I’m so embarrassed I can’t even show my face around town.”

I’m so ashamed to be called a fellow Gu clan member anywhere.

‘I asked him nicely, and all he does is land one hit… what kind of one hit is that!’

The reason Gu Jilyeop was lying there so pathetically

Was because he was knocked out cold immediately after taking a single blow in his sparring match with Yeongpung.

Yes, a single blow.

Meaning he couldn’t even withstand one hit.

“Sigh….”

Seeing that embarrassing sight

Made me instinctively rub my face.

Yeongpung was certainly one of the most renowned geniuses of this era, but

If you ask whether Gu Jilyeop was at a level to be subdued in a single blow,

That wasn’t the case.

After all the training I put that bastard through.

Would he really collapse after just one hit?

“Haha…. He… seemed quite nervous.”

“…You’re still trying to cover for him even now. Master.”

“There must be a reason for it.”

“What reason is there for defeat? He lost because he was weak.”

Try saying that in a real battle.

You might not be able to speak if your head’s been chopped off.

“Sigh.”

It wasn’t anything else, but I felt a bit sorry for Yeongpung.

Because I had suddenly asked him to spar with Gu Jilyeop when he came looking to train with me.

“I apologize, Master Yeongpung.”

“Not at all. This is also experience, so it’s fine.”

Unlike before, Yeongpung had shed all his arrogance.

He still possessed the essential pride and

A certain level of competitiveness that a martial artist should have, but

The excessive arrogance regarding his talent and martial prowess was gone.

‘…His mind, energy, and body are perfect.’

As his mental state stabilized, enduring Hua San’s notoriously harsh training,

His energy permeated him as his talent bloomed.

He had reached a level that made it difficult to recall the Yeongpung I saw before.

The peak, and even just before complete mastery.

That was Yeongpung’s current level.

‘He’s so different from my past life.’

I don’t know much about Yeongpung back then,

But I know he reached the peak and struggled for a long time afterward.

Thinking about that actually makes me a little jealous.

‘…I just tapped him lightly.’

I felt guilty towards Hua San, and I didn’t like how he was showing off, so I just beat him up a bit.

And starting from that point, Yeongpung broke through.

While someone else is rolling around, literally shitting blood.

If he continues to grow like this and breaks through the Age of Bloodshed,

In my opinion, Yeongpung will likely be the next Sword King.

The Plum Blossom Sword King? Maybe that’s what they’ll call him.

‘I was expecting a bit more from Mu Yeon.’

Although not yet known in the Central Plains,

Once Mu Yeon sheds the guise of a bodyguard and steps forward as a martial artist,

I knew he would quickly make a name for himself.

‘He’s also one of the few people I can trust.’

I don’t trust him completely, but

Excluding connections from my past life, Mu Yeon was the person I trusted the most.

Gu Jilyeop had somehow ended up in that group too, but

Seeing his current state, maybe I should reconsider.

“…What a mess.”

I’d been busy since enrolling, so I left him alone for a bit,

And look at him now, it hasn’t been that long.

“Ucheol-ah.”

“Y-Yes… Yes, Hyungnim….”

Pae Ucheol answered weakly to my call.

It seemed not enough time had passed for him to catch his breath.

“Take that guy and get him out of the way.”

“…Uh…. Should I just throw him on the floor nearby?”

“If possible, throw him in his room. The floor is a bit… much.”

“Understood.”

Pae Ucheol replied, sounding somewhat disappointed.

Why does this bastard keep getting fired up to fight that guy?

It was truly baffling.

Since the training time was almost over,

I slowly got up.

“Are you leaving?”

“Yes.”

“…That’s a shame. I was looking forward to some enjoyable training with you, Young Hero.”

Yeongpung’s words made me frown slightly.

No, I don’t recall it being enjoyable…?

I thought the same when I visited Hua San Sect before.

Anyway, those guys obsessed with plum blossoms are all certifiably insane.

“Let’s train together next time. I’ll keep it in mind.”

“Oh…. Really?”

I had said it casually, like suggesting grabbing a meal together next time,

But hearing this, Yeongpung’s eyes lit up.

…It seems I misspoke.

“No… that is…”

“I will definitely remember that.”

“…Yes, please do.”

Since it was already out of my mouth,

It was too late to take it back.

Yeongpung grinned foolishly, looking excited.

‘Why is he so happy about this.’

He must be training himself to death at Hua San.

Besides, from what I occasionally see, he doesn’t seem to have a bad relationship with his fellow disciples like before.

While I pondered such questions,

Yeongpung said to me with a smile,

“It seems my fellow disciples dislike training, as they stopped showing up midway through our intense sessions, so I was a bit lonely.”

“…”

Hmm.

Hearing Yeongpung’s words, I nodded slightly inwardly.

‘I see.’

‘…So you’re saying they all couldn’t handle it and ran off midway.’

It wasn’t that the Hua San disciples were strange.

Now that I think about it, maybe Yeongpung himself is the strange one?

It was the moment my perception of Yeongpung shifted slightly.

Just then.

“Hmm?”

Yeongpung, who had been smiling at me, suddenly tilted his head.

His gaze was directed towards my arm.

“…Huh…?”

He looked at my left arm for a moment, as if sensing something unusual.

“What’s wrong?”

I called out to Yeongpung in a tone that asked what was wrong.

Only then did Yeongpung seem to realize his action was rather rude,

And took a step back.

“Ah, no. I apologize. I just felt a familiar energy.”

“It’s fine. I have other plans, so I’ll be going now.”

Leaving Yeongpung behind, I exited the training room.

Pae Ucheol would handle the aftermath.

The moment I left the training room,

I vaguely heard the trainees inside sigh in unison.

It’s like they’re treating me like some kind of monster.

I’m already used to such gazes from my past life, so that doesn’t bother me much…

The problem was Yeongpung’s gaze just before.

‘…Did he sense it?’

Yeongpung was definitely looking at my left arm.

Thinking back, I slightly rolled up my sleeve,

“…Ugh.”

And my forearm, wrapped in a light pink bandage, came into view.

Yeongpung was likely drawn by the energy emanating from it.

I’m trying to hide it, but it seems unavoidable when dealing with a Hua San disciple.

‘What should I do about this troublesome thing.’

Sigh.

With a sigh, I recalled the events of the previous day.

It was likely the item that Noyah possessed using my body in Bigo,

And it seemed I was able to survive thanks to the power contained within this cursed object.

Just like how Shin Noyah used it,

Judging by the reactions of Sword Empress and Yeongpung,

Anyone could tell it seems to be a cursed object of Hua San Sect.

That’s all fine and good.

It proves that Bigo wasn’t an illusion,

And it’s true that it’s a grateful friend that saved my life.

The problem is.

‘Why won’t it come off.’

This cursed object simply won’t detach from my body.

‘I’m going crazy….’

It was wrapped around me in the form of a bandage, so I thought I could just unwrap it, but

It wouldn’t come undone.

I tried carefully unwrapping it,

I even tried using my internal energy to undo it,

And I even hit my arm out of sheer frustration.

‘…I don’t know for sure, but it must be bruised.’

I hit it a bit too hard, which made it difficult to get up earlier,

But I had to try something.

It just wouldn’t come off, no matter what.

Why the hell won’t this thing come off?

Being tied to my arm makes it inconvenient even when washing,

And it’s embarrassing to show anyone.

When I showed the tightly bound thing to Sword Empress,

She pondered over what to do,

And concluded that since it was a cursed object of Hua San, she’d likely have to ask Mae Hwaseon.

Additionally, I informed her that I couldn’t obtain the Plum Blossom Stone she wanted.

Sword Empress asked if what was wrapped around my arm was the Plum Blossom Stone, but

How could this possibly be a stone?

‘Of course, when I picked it up, it felt like that.’

At first, it felt like stroking a jade bead.

It’s unclear why it ended up like this now, but

Sword Empress said she would ask Mae Hwaseon about it,

But there’s no telling when she’ll get a response,

And I knew someone who could provide a much better and faster answer.

“So, I need you to explain something, anything.”

However,

I asked persistently, chewing my words, but

No answer came.

Shin Noyah, the hero of Hua San and the one who arbitrarily settled within my body.

This crazy old man briefly showed his voice then,

And disappeared again, who knows where.

‘…This is driving me insane.’

I don’t know what else I’m supposed to do.

It’s obvious he knows what this is, but

It’s not like he’s playing games with me.

Appearing and disappearing. What on earth is he doing?

“Nothing is going right, really.”

Regarding Bigo, who was apparently at the Divine Dragon Pavilion,

Until the Martial League starts its investigation,

I want to take care of everything possible, but

Accidents keep happening, preventing things from proceeding as planned, which is irritating.

I have plenty to worry about even without this stuff.

‘…My future schedule, what was it again. Was it called practical training?’

I recalled the upcoming schedule at the Divine Dragon Pavilion.

They said it was practical training for the education received so far.

Something like that, I guess.

Given the situation,

‘It’s about time for him to make his move.’

If I have one prediction that’s close to a certainty,

It’s that, based on the circumstances, Jang Seonyeon will start making moves soon.

If I were him, I’d think this practical training is the perfect situation to try something against me.

Conversely,

This also means it’s a good situation for me to make a move against him.

Doesn’t he know that?

‘I even whispered it in his ear. There’s no way he wouldn’t know.’

That you will die here.

I kindly told him so.

There’s no way Jang Seonyeon wouldn’t know.

That’s why his chosen method must be Cheol Jiseon.

‘How did he find out.’

What’s somewhat puzzling is

Without knowledge of a past life like mine,

It’s strange that Jang Seonyeon would know information about him.

It’s possible that Cheol Jiseon’s surname is Zhuge,

But if he approached Cheol Jiseon,

It’s highly likely he approached knowing about that ‘power’,

So how did he find that out?

Information from the League?

Although the Open Sect belongs to that side, this isn’t the kind of information that can be dismissed so easily.

“It means he must have some backing.”

And it probably isn’t a normal kind of backing.

For example,

The guys I caught last time when I took Wi Seora.

‘It’s probably them.’

If that’s the case, then Jang Seonyeon has already strayed far from the righteous path.

‘Does Nakgeom know about this?’

I wanted to know if the League Leader knew as well.

This would tell me whether the entire Martial League is in on it or not.

‘Even if they aren’t in on it,’

The people in the League aren’t trustworthy anyway,

So I wasn’t expecting anything, but

Thinking that, I whispered quietly.

“I won’t let this slide this time.”

Regarding what’s to come,

He’s the most significant obstacle, and someone I wanted dead no matter what,

So I had to get rid of him for sure this time.

Ever since I decided to enroll in the Divine Dragon Pavilion with him,

That was my intention.

‘Assuming no world-shattering variables appear.’

I sincerely hoped for that, but

That evening,

While it wasn’t quite world-shattering,

I encountered an unexpected variable.

“…What?”

As I was about to take a spoonful of rice,

The guy eating with me said something strange.

“What did you just say?”

I asked again, as if I’d misheard,

And Cheol Jiseon repeated the same words.

“…Shinseong asked me to help kill you.”

It was a rather abrupt confession.

From my perspective, I couldn’t help but be stunned for a moment.

And no wonder,

‘I already knew that…?’

Because I expected as much anyway.

It’s just that

I didn’t expect Cheol Jiseon to tell me directly.