Chapter 497: Give it to me just once.

Kkuuk-.

The pressure pushing the handle was considerable.

Goiseon had to consider whether to draw his sword right then, but.

‘Damn.’

He soon realized his mistake and furrowed his brow.

In that moment, he almost moved, reacting to the killing intent felt from the small monster in front of him.

Small monster (小怪).

That description fits perfectly.

Looking at Gu Yangcheon, Goiseon became certain once again.

‘This is, truly….’

No matter how flustered he was by Namgung Myung’s actions, the fact that he couldn’t grasp Gu Yangcheon’s movements.

And conversely, recalling that Gu Yangcheon had moved after grasping his own actions.

How could that be possible?

This wasn’t a matter that could be dismissed with talk of ‘youngest Hwagyeong’ or anything like that.

Goiseon drew his gaze and met Gu Yangcheon’s eyes.

He could see it.

The look Gu Yangcheon gave him.

His black pupils were tinged with blue, and the surging killing intent from his body was clearly felt.

This guy was already a finished product.

A martial artist equal to himself.

He wasn’t some late-stage disciple who needed to be taught.

This guy should already be placed on the same level as himself.

Goiseon’s own body, shamefully reacting and boiling with killing intent, proved it.

‘Ah, this is truly troublesome.’

Perhaps it was because he hadn’t had a sword fight in a while? His body was heating up uncontrollably.

And against someone the age of his disciple?

‘How pathetic. How pathetic.’

He thought he had left the fervor of youth behind in his childhood, but it seemed he was still standing in the same place.

Goiseon, finding himself absurd, didn’t avoid Gu Yangcheon’s gaze.

Because avoiding his eyes… Gu Yangcheon’s gaze was just too resolute.

“I asked what you were trying to do.”

His firm tone was filled with palpable anger.

He thought no matter what he said, they wouldn’t believe him, but he felt he had to explain first, so Goiseon opened his mouth.

“…Well… this is… uh, it’s a bit complicated.”

“I am not asking Goiseon-께.”

At Gu Yangcheon’s words, Goiseon had to pause.

Not asking me? Then who are you asking?

As Goiseon frowned at the incomprehensible words, Gu Yangcheon spoke, looking towards Goiseon’s chest.

“I am asking Lord Noecheonilgeom. What were you trying to do just now?”

“…!”

At Gu Yangcheon’s words, Goiseon gasped.

Only then did he recall that Gu Yangcheon could also hear Namgung Myung’s voice.

‘Perhaps, is that why he moved?’

Goiseon pondered the reason for Gu Yangcheon’s swift reaction.

He wondered if perhaps he had moved upon hearing Namgung Myung’s voice, but.

‘Could that really be it?’

Goiseon immediately dismissed the thought.

His instincts told him otherwise.

Moreover.

‘If he moved upon hearing it, it would be too late.’

If he had moved upon hearing Namgung Myung’s voice, the timing would have been slightly off.

‘How strong could he be?’

Realizing that much, a sudden curiosity struck him.

To what level had this child ascended?

When he first saw him, he thought he could see, but now that thought had changed.

It was unclear.

Meaning, he couldn’t properly see him.

‘That means…’

The fact that he couldn’t properly grasp Gu Yangcheon meant that…

Gu Yangcheon’s level was comparable to his own.

Not just someone who had barely broken through the wall.

But a fully established Hwagyeong master.

‘How is that even possible?’

It was something unbelievable, even seeing it before his eyes.

He heard he hadn’t passed his twentieth year.

Where did a martial artist not yet twenty stand?

His own disciple, whom he thought was a genius of the world, reached his peak around the time he passed twenty.

That alone was enough to be called a heaven-sent genius, receiving all of Wudang’s expectations.

And yet.

‘What is this guy?’

At an even younger age, he’s on the same level as those called Hwagyeong masters, the current top hundred experts?

Goiseon’s interest piqued, and he couldn’t help himself.

Namgung Myung’s words flashed through his mind.

-‘Since a bigger monster is attached…’

Namgung Myung had definitely said that when referring to Gu Yangcheon.

That means.

‘Does this guy also have something attached to him?’

Like himself?

Just as Goiseon’s emotions were rarely stirring.

Woong.

The ‘noe-a’ within his embrace began to vibrate as if resonating.

[Surprising.]

It was Namgung Myung’s voice.

[I wasn’t pleased because he wasn’t a swordsman, but separately, it seems Shincheol raised him properly.]

“Ha.”

As expected, Gu Yangcheon let out a hollow laugh the moment Namgung Myung finished speaking, as if hearing his voice.

“I think Senior-nim is mistaken about something.”

[What?]

Unlike last time, a drastic change in tone was felt. Compared to the previous meeting where he was relatively courteous.

Now, with slightly upturned lips and an annoyed expression, it felt like he was barely maintaining courtesy.

“My Old Man didn’t really do much. I grew up on my own.”

[Huh…?]

At the words casually spoken, Namgung Myung let out a surprised gasp.

It seemed he hadn’t expected Gu Yangcheon to give such an answer.

Hearing Gu Yangcheon’s answer, Goiseon was convinced.

Indeed, someone must be attached to that guy’s side as well.

Shincheol, huh.

It’s a name I’ve heard somewhere…?

Just as Goiseon was trying to recall who it was by rummaging through his memories.

“I’ll ask again, but.”

Gu Yangcheon said, his face much more contorted than before.

“What were you trying to do just now?”

[It’s none of your business to interfere.]

At Namgung Myung’s words, Gu Yangcheon laughed. He seemed to be smiling, but looking at his expression, it was more accurate to say he was angry.

“So, you saying it’s none of my business means it’s true that you were trying to mess with him, right?”

[…Can’t you understand that it’s a family matter?]

“Haha.”

Gu Yangcheon let out a slight laugh, and.

Spoke in a low voice.

“Family my ass.”

Hmph.

At the words Gu Yangcheon spat out, the surroundings grew chillingly quiet. Woo Hyuk, watching from behind, covered his mouth with his hand and widened his eyes.

Namgung Bi-ah, standing beside him, turned her head and closed her eyes.

From their expressions, it strongly felt like, ‘Here we go again.’

[What… did you just say?]

Namgung Myung asked Gu Yangcheon again as if he had misheard, but Gu Yangcheon’s expression remained the same.

“Ah, damn it all. Are all the men with the Namgung surname crazy? Why do they all try to draw their swords first? Try to draw them. Wouldn’t it be nice if they were a bit more peaceful?”

Even the courtesy he was barely holding onto shattered.

Is that his true form?

[You… ! Are you insulting the Namgung family right now?!]

“I’ve been wronged so much, I can curse a bit. Family matters are bullshit, I tried to endure it, but the world just doesn’t help. Why is a dead guy questioning family matters? That’s senility, Senior-nim.”

“Wow.”

Goiseon couldn’t help but admire Gu Yangcheon’s words, which poured out like a machine gun.

Because everything he wanted to say while looking at Namgung Myung was contained within them.

In the meantime, it hurt a bit when the men with the Namgung surname were cursed all at once.

No matter how much Namgung Hyung wanted to discard it, his surname was still Namgung.

Looking at Gu Yangcheon, Goiseon’s eyes gleamed.

Cursing so shamelessly was something even he couldn’t do.

Gu Yangcheon, grinding his teeth fiercely, suddenly looked at the empty air and said as if growling.

“Ah, what’s there to endure! The situation is already shitty, and I’m barely holding it together. They started it first, didn’t they?”

It seemed he was speaking to someone other than Goiseon or Namgung Myung.

“Why bring that up? If it were Old Man, would you have endured it? See? Then why are you only blaming me.”

“…Uh. Little monster… no, Young Master. Calm down for a moment.”

Goiseon tried his best to calm the situation, but.

A problem arose here.

“Seriously, why is that guy’s family like that? That’s why their martial arts are twisted.”

KUNG-!

At the words Gu Yangcheon spat out, a shock was felt from the ‘noe-a’. Only then did Goiseon feel a sense of ‘Oops,’ but.

It was already too late.

Gu Yangcheon.

Had brought up the topic Namgung Myung most wanted to avoid. That their martial arts were twisted.

Whether that child spoke knowingly of the Namgung family’s issues was unknown, but.

[Descendant.]

This must have been quite irritating for Namgung Myung.

His voice was much calmer than usual.

Goiseon could tell from that voice that Namgung Myung was truly enraged.

As expected.

[It seems I must punish that unweaned brat.]

At Namgung Myung’s words, Goiseon had to grit his teeth and close his eyes.

‘Old man, I don’t particularly want to do that, you know?’

What that meant was, he was telling Goiseon to punish Gu Yangcheon.

The problem was, unlike his body boiling with killing intent, Goiseon didn’t particularly want to cross hands with Gu Yangcheon.

He intended to treat him as an equal martial artist, but.

Separately from that, fighting a friend of his disciple was an extremely awkward matter.

‘Well, since it’s something a child said, if I just overlook it…’

He thought he could just wrap it up lightly, but.

[It’s an order.]

‘…Huh?’

At Namgung Myung’s words, Goiseon had to gasp.

‘Old man, are you sane?’

An order.

This was a promise only between Namgung Myung, Goiseon, and Namgung Hyung.

Exactly five times.

For those five times, no matter what, Namgung Hyung would obey Namgung Myung’s words.

It was a promise made when escaping the Namgung Family.

Whatever it was, if Namgung Myung gave an order, he would follow.

That was the promise.

Three of these had already been used.

The first order was to learn the Namgung Family’s true sword path according to Namgung Myung’s will and pass it on to the Namgung Family later.

The second was when stopping the great demonic gate that occurred in a civilian village.

The third was… an event he didn’t particularly want to remember, so let’s skip it.

‘Ha, you’re going to use an order just to punish that guy?’

Goiseon said to Namgung Myung as if it were absurd, but.

Namgung Myung was resolute.

[While I can tolerate other things, I cannot let insults against Namgung pass. That is why it cannot be done.]

‘This is driving me nuts.’

How can that nauseating Namgung pride be overcome?

Namgung Hyung truly thought so, but.

There was no choice.

Because a promise couldn’t be ignored just because he disliked it.

The moment Goiseon resigned himself to it.

TANG-!

“…!”

Gu Yangcheon’s fingertips, which were pushing the sword’s hilt, were flicked away.

Goiseon hadn’t made any move, yet his hand was flicked away by the recoil.

As Gu Yangcheon widened his eyes while looking at his tingling hand.

“I don’t know if you heard the conversation, but it seems I have to punish you.”

Goiseon calmly spoke to Gu Yangcheon.

“…Goiseon.”

“Ah, I really hate this kind of thing. Especially being embarrassed in front of my disciple.”

Goiseon scratched the back of his head irritably.

He must not have washed properly, as dandruff kept falling whenever his silvery-white hair swayed.

Gu Yangcheon expanded his senses while watching that, and.

“…”

He stopped breathing altogether.

He could feel it.

The killing intent slowly rising from Goiseon’s body.

It felt like something too rough and unrefined to be called the aura of a Taoist master.

A complete Hwagyeong.

No, slightly higher than that.

The realm of a superhuman on the verge of transcendence, as mentioned by Paejon. Goiseon’s pressure, clearly close to that, was this heavy.

A chilling feeling that tightly gripped his throat.

It seemed Goiseon genuinely intended to fight him.

Gu Yangcheon felt the chilling goosebumps spreading because of it, and.

‘Hoo.’

He could let out a sigh of relief.

It was understandable, because.

‘As planned.’

Fortunately, things were proceeding according to plan.