Chapter 694: Divine Dragon Martial Arts Festival

Entered the quarters.

Upon entering, I saw that just over twenty people were already waiting inside.

Even as I moved my feet, my skin tingled.

Feeling the sensation, I had to click my tongue inwardly.

Tsk.

‘What a hassle, these old guys having a power struggle.’

Humans are needlessly putting on airs.

It’s always like this when martial artists gather, but they were staking out their territory and fighting over bets amongst themselves.

They’re nothing short of complete idiots.

‘How much better would life be if they saved a bit on bets.’

Are they really that overflowing with strength? I feel like I have more combined.

They’ll show off their strength like that and end up dying.

In war, they’d end up unable to use their strength when it truly mattered, often dying from neglect.

‘This is why you shouldn’t associate with bastards who haven’t experienced war.’

Muttering curses continuously, I waved my hand.

Whooosh-!

After slightly loosening the clumped and tangled Qi, I could finally breathe a little more comfortably.

However.

“…!”

“….”

Perhaps sensing that their energy had been disturbed, the gazes of the successful candidates locked onto me.

Feeling this, I gave an awkward smile.

“Sorry. I felt a bit suffocated.”

I blurted it out casually and took a seat nearby.

Since there didn’t seem to be any designated seats, I sat down on the wooden floor where the sunlight was less direct.

The gazes still followed me, but I tried my best not to pay attention.

‘How much longer will it take.’

What I’m concerned about now is solely the time ahead.

Since the preliminary rounds are still ongoing, I wonder how long it will take for the second round to begin.

Not just time, either.

‘How are Wi Seol-ah and Seong Yul doing.’

I was worried about the other guys who participated in the preliminary rounds with me.

‘Nothing major happened, right…?’

If the tests were the same elsewhere, I didn’t think they’d ever fail.

Still, what worried me was what worried me.

Especially Wi Seol-ah.

‘…Is she doing okay…?’

My entire attention was focused on her, like a child left by the water’s edge.

If it were up to me, I’d want to slip away right now and check if she’s doing well.

‘She always giggled whenever she had to do anything. Surely she wouldn’t do that here too.’

Unlike in her past life, Wi Seol-ah looked a bit spacey.

Compared to the cool and gaunt Shin-geom, she looked completely different now.

Although her current life seemed better, her lack of socialization was a concern.

‘I wonder who’s worrying about whom…’

I’m the one who doesn’t socialize.

Wi Seol-ah was different, so my worries were mountainous.

‘Maybe I coddled her too much.’

I wanted her to live differently than in her past life.

I wondered if the actions I took with that thought might be causing problems now.

Suddenly, that bothered me.

Rather than judging right and wrong.

Judging what is better right now.

This is a problem that arises from living only that way.

‘It’s difficult.’

It truly is difficult.

What is the more righteous way to act.

To me, it was the most difficult dilemma.

Thump.

Just as I was lost in thought, I sensed a presence in front of me.

Raising my head, I saw a shadow right in front of me.

Someone was blocking the sunlight.

“It’s been a while.”

It was a rough, deep voice.

Wondering who it was, a hulking man dressed in dark clothes, the Sword King(Dao Wang) Peng Zhou, stood before me.

Unexpected.

‘I didn’t think he’d actually acknowledge me.’

I didn’t expect that gentleman to approach me. I naturally assumed we’d ignore each other.

Was I mistaken?

As I looked at him with a puzzled expression, his gaze towards me grew more intense.

After all, it was a surprising enough event that the Sword King spoke first.

If it’s like this, I can’t help it.

“It’s been a while, Patron Peng.”

As I greeted him briefly, the Sword King’s brow twitched slightly.

“I couldn’t quite believe it, but it really is you.”

“Yes, I am that person.”

As I spoke, I stood up.

I wanted to sit a bit longer, but still, I had to maintain some semblance of etiquette.

“A member of the Gu family pays his respects to the Sword King.”

Performing the fist-and-palm salute, I bowed my head slightly.

As I showed even a modicum of respect, I felt the Sword King’s imposing aura slightly subside.

Could it be, this old man is pleased by this?

“Seems you know how to show more courtesy than I thought.”

Seems like it’s true.

Just from a casual greeting, did his mood really lighten up-.

“You must have changed since back then. You seemed worthless back then.”

Or perhaps not.

“Have you perhaps matured with the passage of time?”

“…Yes. Something like that.”

I was stung, but I held back.

It’s because I definitely bear responsibility for why that old man is acting this way.

‘It’s just the karma from my childhood.’

It’s the price for having lived like an idiot.

I could accept this much.

The father of my former fiancée.

What’s more, I’m the one who broke off the engagement with verbal abuse, so it’s truly a dog-like relationship.

Perhaps the Sword King knew that too.

“I heard you got engaged to the Namgung family.”

Of all things, he brings up the engagement.

“Yes. It happened that way.”

“The Sword King’s daughter… they call her Sword Dancer, don’t they?”

My shoulder felt itchy.

It felt like someone was subtly tickling me with their finger.

Conversations with the Sword King feel like that kind of tickle.

“The Gu family is truly amazing, breaking off the engagement with the Peng family only to be betrothed to the Namgung family again… you have quite the talent.”

To get engaged to the Namgung family after breaking off with the Peng family.

After ending up like that, you still want to get engaged to one of the Four Great Families.

That’s the meaning contained within his words.

Hearing his words, I gave a slight smile.

“Thank you. It was merely good fortune.”

“Nonsense. It’s all the Family Head’s ability.”

The tickle changed into a more direct poking sensation.

“At one time, I thought you were someone who kicked away his own fortune.”

That’s right.

With the Peng family, one could live in luxury, yet I unleashed verbal abuse on top of that, so his words were spot on.

“Looking at you now, I wonder if my child wasn’t somewhat lacking.”

“Haha… thank you for the compliment.”

It looked like a compliment, but it wasn’t entirely so.

While feigning humility, his eyes were filled with intense emotion.

“Coming this far means you’ve overcome a hurdle. It’s a great achievement for your age. The Gu family’s future is very! bright.”

“Compared to you, Patron Peng, it’s insignificant.”

Heh.

Perhaps pleased by the trivial compliment, the Sword King’s lips curled upwards.

This old man seems to think I barely cleared the peak.

Since I passed the first preliminary round, I must have cleared the hurdle, but it seems he doesn’t know I’ve reached the Flower Realm (Hwa-gyeong).

It’s one thing to conceal my level, but it seems he simply can’t even guess it.

It didn’t really matter.

In fact, it would be helpful.

He complimented me, and I accepted it to some extent. So, wouldn’t it be okay to wrap this up reasonably at this point?

Just as I thought that and was about to leave.

“Indeed, the Gu family will grow even greater in the future.”

I heard the Sword King add words to me.

“Unlike the Gu Family Head, his child knows how to conduct himself so well.”

The poison hidden within the compliment dug deep inside.

From the fingertips that were patting me, it suddenly felt like being stabbed by a sword.

‘This bastard.’

Nodding my head slightly, I looked at the Sword King.

His words weren’t just barbed; they were sharpened and repeatedly thrust in.

“When I first saw you, I had many worries, but it seems that friend raised his child very well.”

“Hmm.”

I gently grasped my wrist.

The Sword King was right. As he said, I had matured a bit.

Isn’t that so?

Since I’m not immediately beating him up after hearing such words, how mature am I.

“You seem quite close with our Family Head.”

“Of course, we were close friends since childhood.”

While saying that, why does he hold hostility in his eyes?

I barely managed to suppress a sigh.

‘It would have been better if that bastard had become the Alliance Leader.’

I was genuinely regretful.

I heard he lost in a clash with the Sword Sage and couldn’t become the Alliance Leader, but if the Sword King had become the Alliance Leader instead, handling matters would have been easier.

Then I could have played with him like a toy.

Hiding my regretful feelings, I forced a smile.

“Won’t the Peng family flourish even more, not just the Gu family?”

Heh.

At my words, the Sword King’s laughter deepened.

Was it a sneer because he perhaps didn’t understand the meaning of my words?

Looking at him, only questions arose.

“They say the prosperity and decline of clans are determined by their Family Heads… the Peng family seems truly fortunate in this regard.”

“You don’t need to speak so sweetly. I’m not someone who clings to such things…”

“Even if it’s wavering now, the day Young Master Bi Seong ascends to the position of Family Head, the Peng family will surely gain wings.”

“…”

“Isn’t that right, Patron Peng?”

As I spoke after wiping away my smile, I saw the corners of the Sword King’s eyes tremble.

He kept poking me with his words, so I decided to do the same. It seemed to have worked well.

It’s because you, the bastard, are sitting as Family Head that the Peng family is wavering.

Once Peng Wu Jin takes over as Family Head in the future, the Peng family will stabilize, unlike someone like you.

So, stop talking bullshit and stay put.

That was the meaning I intended to convey.

“This bastard…”

Fortunately, the Sword King seemed to understand my meaning, as his face began to crumple.

“I’ve met Young Master Peng a few times. He’s truly a remarkable individual.”

“…Haa….”

It was supposed to be a compliment about his son, yet the Sword King’s expression just kept deteriorating.

At the same time, I felt a sense of oppression.

It was because the aura emanating from the Sword King had intensified slightly.

“I thought you only resembled him a little facially.”

Grrrk.

Chulk-!!

As the Sword King’s killing intent intensified, those around us adopted a defensive stance.

The martial artists reacted instinctively.

“Even your words truly resemble your father’s.”

At those words, I tilted my head.

Was that meant as an insult? It sounded like a compliment.

Pondering, I looked into the Sword King’s eyes.

I could see much more intense hostility than before.

What could be the problem?

I was provoked to some extent, but such a strong reaction was unexpected.

‘Lack of ability as Family Head. Comparison with his son. Or what could be the problem?’

As I thought, a strange sense of dissonance suddenly struck me.

Rather than those things being the problem.

‘Perhaps I am the problem.’

No, not exactly me…

‘Is Father the problem?’

He definitely mentioned my resemblance to Father and his aura intensified,

Could the problem lie there?

If that’s truly the case, what is the problem?

After pondering for a moment, something came to mind, so I asked the Sword King.

“Patron Peng. Perhaps…”

“What are you trying to say now-.”

“Have you ever been hit by my father?”

“…”

Stiffly.

At my words, the Sword King stiffened his body.

Even the aura he was emitting vanished in an instant.

Seeing that, my eyes widened.

“Oh, it seems true?”

Did he really get hit?

Judging by his reaction, it seems so?

‘Wow.’

I wondered why he was acting so crazy, thinking about what Father might have done to the Sword King.

Is he taking out his frustration from being hit by Father on me?

‘Father… what on earth were you doing in your youth.’

I wonder how he ended up hitting the Family Head of one of the Four Great Families.

It was at that moment I suddenly became curious about my father’s past.

“Grrrk.”

Rough sounds came from the Sword King’s side.

It was the same with his tightly clenched jaw and the killing intent felt from his balled fists.

Then, desperately managing his expression, he spoke.

“…Child of the Gu family.”

“Yes.”

“Be grateful that this place is within the Martial Arts Alliance and that the Alliance’s laws exist. If there were no set rules, you would be crawling on the ground right now.”

Fighting without permission during the preliminary rounds results in immediate disqualification.

Since that was the information received before the preliminaries began, the Sword King uttered this, telling me to be grateful.

“Indeed.”

That was something I also found quite regrettable.

“Rules… aren’t they truly something to be grateful for?”

Beasts that don’t know their place should be beaten like dogs.

The rusted cage is protecting them, which is truly regrettable.

The Sword King, who had been radiating killing intent, glared at me for a long time before turning his back.

As he said, it seems he couldn’t control his temper any longer.

What a shame. If he were a bit more like a bull, things might have been different.

In the meantime, was this really the end of his business?

‘Did he really just come here to pick a fight?’

It seems a person who holds the title of Family Head has nothing better to do.

‘Tsk.’

Even after seeing him for just a moment, I could understand why Father hit this man.

Suppressing a sigh, I sat back down on the wooden floor.

I already feel tired.

So, I closed my eyes for a moment.

Just wishing for time to pass quickly.

Wishing so, I took a brief rest amidst the converging gazes.

The next test began half an hour (ban si-jin) after this moment.

---

The sky was dyed red.

It was the time when the sun was setting, casting a sunset glow.

Considering the test started at noon, quite a lot of time had passed.

I stood among the gathered crowd, preparing once again.

The first round had all concluded.

Because all the successful candidates had gathered to start the second preliminary round.

“There are fifty-eight successful candidates from the first preliminary round.”

An Alliance martial artist organized the document and handed it to someone.

The person receiving it was an old woman with white hair, possessing sharp eyes that gave the impression not a drop of blood would come out even if pierced.

The old woman glanced at the received document, then sent her perfectly straight back and stiff gaze towards us.

“Tsk tsk…. Greetings. I am Yeo Seon, the Captain of the Wind Dragon Squad(Pungryongdae)…”

Hearing the introduction, I sensed a slight flinch from those around me.

Captain Yeo Seon of the Wind Dragon Squad.

Or Yeo Seon, the Demon Mother(Bimapa).

She was the only female captain in the Alliance, and as far as I knew, the oldest active martial artist in the current Martial Arts Alliance, excluding the Sword Master.

However, she wasn’t particularly outstanding in terms of martial prowess.

The Wind Dragon Squad itself dealt with formations and sorcery, and its captain, the Demon Mother, was also an expert in that field.

If ranked by martial prowess, she’d be the lowest among the captains.

But that didn’t mean she was weak.

In a way, that old woman was the most troublesome person among the Alliance captains.

‘…I went through quite a bit of trouble because of that old hag.’

The one who helped the Alliance strategist, Zhuge Jihee, who killed Cheon Yu-rang-a, was this Demon Mother.

The formations and sorcery she employed were extremely bothersome.

From illusion-type techniques to traps using formations.

It was safe to say she was a figure specialized in warfare rather than individual combat.

It was enough that the Sword Devil and the Green King, who fought each other every time they met, joined forces to kill that old woman, showing how great the Demon Mother’s value was.

“I will be in charge of this second preliminary round, so please cooperate….”

There were no murmurs at the Demon Mother’s words.

It was a completely different scene from the first round.

Well, that makes sense.

Because by this point, most people had already been filtered out during the ‘Han-cheol Breaking’ stage.

What remained for them wasn’t excitement from seeing a master.

What kind of test would hit them.

All that remained was curiosity and tension about it.

So, everyone swallowed hard while looking at the Demon Mother.

“The second preliminary round is a simple test, similar to the first one.”

The Demon Mother began her explanation without hesitation.

Thwack-! Grrrk.

As she spoke, she drew a long horizontal line on the ground before her feet with the staff she held.

And then she said.

“From now on… those who cross this line will be deemed successful.”

“…What?”

“Cross the line?”

Voices that were barely held back flowed out at the Demon Mother’s words.

All we have to do is cross that line?

Faced with completely unexpected information, everyone wore bewildered expressions.

Isn’t it too simple, even for simple?

Everyone was clearly showing such thoughts.

However.

“I have already set up a formation around this quarters….”

Following the Demon Mother’s continued explanation, everyone had to stiffen their expressions.

“Since you are already inside the quarters… it will be difficult to escape easily….”

A formation had been set up in the quarters.

At her words, everyone scanned their surroundings with stiff faces.

When exactly did we enter the formation?

It was something everyone had failed to notice.

Is this the power of the Alliance’s foremost formation expert, the Demon Mother?

Just as everyone was sending looks bordering on shock.

“Since I said there were fifty-eight… exactly half should suffice.”

The Demon Mother spoke towards the martial artists.

“The first twenty-nine to arrive.”

Following her voice, everyone began to focus their eyes.

Break through the Demon Mother’s formation. Everyone instinctively knew it was something that looked simple but was by no means easy.

“Only the twenty-nine people who cross this line and tap my shoulder can pass the second preliminary round.”

The Demon Mother swept her gaze across the audience, her wrinkled eyes curving.

“Then, let’s begin…”

“You said we just need to tap your shoulder?”

As she was about to start, a question was heard, causing the Demon Mother to pause briefly.

“…Yes, cross the line and tap my shoulder then…. Hmm?”

Still, the Demon Mother, who was about to explain, suddenly had to close her mouth.

It was because the voice was heard from too close.

Tap, tap.

At the same time, I felt a touch on my shoulder.

The Demon Mother turned her head.

And then our eyes met.

Then, looking into the Demon Mother’s eyes, I asked with a smile.

“Can I go home now?”

“…?”

Just like in the first round, no answer was heard this time either.