Chapter 771: Star Dragon Team (Star Dragon Team)

It seems I must kill Mukyeon.

Immediately after making up my mind like that, I started walking.

Then, not long after, I realized. As soon as I came outside, I could feel gazes from everywhere.

The place where I am currently standing is the very center of the Martial Arts Alliance.

Even in the area where recovery was underway, I drew attention, so how could it be different here where the crowd is relatively larger?

Gazes stabbing me from all directions.

I can feel not only martial artists but even ordinary people looking at me.

Was it only looking? Through my ki sense, I could even hear the sound of them murmuring.

[Sacred King…? ]

[What? Sacred King? Where.]

[Look over there. That young man.]

[Where are you telling me to look…. Huk!]

One man startles as he looks at me.

[A fierce face that looks like it could kill just by looking, wearing black martial attire…. That, it’s really just as I heard.]

“…”

Although the way they recognized me was quite strange, regardless, it seems they did recognize me.

‘Damn.’

Not just that man, but it seems everyone else is the same; they’re all looking at me.

‘How did things turn out like this?’

I had expected my reputation to grow. I didn’t know it would be to this extent.

‘Tsk.’

Feeling this, I put strength into my toes.

Hwareuk-!

As flames bloomed, my body rose.

Like before, I leaped to leave the spot before anyone could approach.

“Eot!”

“Ah!”

Whether they had actually intended to approach, disappointed gasps erupted as I leaped up.

Hearing this, an ominous premonition arose.

“…This is a bit….”

For some reason, the thought occurred to me that things would become troublesome from now on.

In many ways, indeed.

---

Uung.

I briefly checked my physical condition.

The energy circulated through all my acupoints and quickly returned to my heart.

Afterwards, I frowned while checking the information the energy carried.

‘I’m fucked.’

First, I burned away the corrupt ki with my fingertips. Although I couldn’t find all of it, it was at the level of a simple treatment.

Ukssin-! With the pain that followed, my brow furrowed involuntarily.

“Huu.”

Just by circulating this much energy, my body screamed. If it’s like this, it seems I’ll have to stop practicing Tua Pcheonmu for a while.

I had always been using it, except when sleeping, but with my current physical condition, that seemed impossible.

‘If you consider the regeneration speed… if it’s fast, maybe two months.’

Although it hurts now, objectively speaking, it will be fully healed in two months.

In the past, it would have been something requiring over half a year of recuperation, but my current body didn’t need that.

‘Of course.’

‘Two months is if I didn’t engage in any combat or training.’

It was two months when I truly only rested; if not, it would take about four months.

Still, it was okay.

‘I’ll reduce this to one month.’

Because a method to quickly fix this body existed for me, for now, it’s a matter of just enduring for a short while.

Although the pain was abundant, it was enough if I endured it.

Tuk-! As I landed lightly on the ground using my internal energy, someone approached as if waiting.

“I greet the Sacred King.”

It was a man wearing yellow martial attire.

He was a martial artist from the Hwangbo Family. As soon as I saw him, I nodded.

“I came to see the Hwangbo Family Head-nim.”

“I heard as much. The Family Head-nim is waiting.”

Following the guidance and walking through the quarters for a bit, I came to stand before the bedroom where Maenghogu Gwon… no, now the Tiger King (Hwangbo Yeolwi) was.

On the bed inside, a large man is seen lying down.

A middle-aged man, wrapped in bandages. It’s Hwangbo Yeolwi, the head of the Hwangbo Family.

“Family Head-nim. The Sacred King has come to visit.”

“I see. Let him in.”

As permission was granted, I stepped into the bedroom. Seeing that, the Tiger King raised his hand and spoke to the martial artist.

“You should leave now.”

“But….”

“It’s alright.”

The martial artist seemed worried about the safety of the injured Hwangbo Yeolwi, but he couldn’t disobey the Family Head’s order.

In the end, the martial artist left.

Huuk–!

Immediately, internal energy erupted from Hwangbo Yeolwi’s body.

The dense energy spread as if enveloping the room. This was a ki barrier for soundproofing.

The ki barrier was completely activated.

After confirming that clearly, Hwangbo Yeolwi, who had been lying down, suddenly sat bolt upright.

His huge frame moved quickly, changing his posture.

He knelt and faced me.

“I greet the Cult Leader-nim.”

The Tiger King assumed a posture of respect. Looking at him, I nodded.

‘This guy is amazing every time I see him.’

‘He seems to have a talent for acting.’

He seemed like he was groaning just moments ago, but now there’s no sign of that at all.

In the first place, him saying he was lying down for treatment was a lie, so it was possible.

“So, have you been well?”

“They were perfect days. It’s all thanks to you, Cult Leader-nim.”

“You don’t need to butter me up that much.”

“No, it’s not like that. How could I….”

“Enough. Rather than that, there’s something I want to ask.”

“I will certainly listen attentively.”

“That thing last time. How did you do it?”

The thing where you flew away spitting blood, even though it didn’t even hit me.

And then shaking your body violently before losing consciousness.

How on earth did you do it?

To the question asked out of curiosity, the Tiger King replied:

“By stimulating the acupoints, I attempted to artificially spit blood… Simultaneously, I released a bit of internal energy to send my body flying.”

“I understand up to that point. But what about the shaking or the subsequent reaction?”

“Yes?”

The Tiger King, hearing the question, seemed momentarily flustered before saying to me with a strange expression.

“It seemed more natural that way.”

“…”

A perhaps obvious answer.

Hearing this, I slightly frowned.

‘…Talent.’

‘This guy really has talent.’

‘Is that really that easy?’

It was literally talent.

‘Could it be that the head of the Hwangbo Family is a hidden acting genius?’

I awkwardly scratched my cheek.

“Hmm, yeah…. You worked hard.”

“Thank you.”

“Anyway, that’s done with.”

It passed well, so that’s fine. Now it was time to get to the main point.

“Did you receive the letter?”

“If it’s the one from the Martial Arts Alliance… Yes. I received it.”

It was as expected. The Tiger King seemed to have received a letter asking him to attend the Alliance, just like me.

However, since the setting is that the Tiger King’s current physical condition is extremely poor, it seemed he couldn’t appear at the Alliance.

‘Hmm.’

‘It wouldn’t particularly cause a problem if the Tiger King went there.’

‘After all, if there were words to match, I had already prepared them long ago.’

‘What I’m curious about here is.’

‘Will they really talk about the Grand Elder position to the Tiger King as well?’

‘Will the Martial Arts Alliance offer the same conditions to others?’

That was slightly curious.

‘Probably not.’

‘Although it’s a guess, I’m 90% sure.’

‘They need the Sacred King. They won’t make such an offer to the Hwangbo Family Head.’

‘Besides, he’s the Family Head. And currently, the Hwangbo Family is at a particularly important time.’

‘I heard the debate has started about whether they’ll rise to the Four Great Families.’

With the Tang Family falling out, they’re now called the Three Great Families.

Furthermore, with the incident involving the Sword King, even this was being shaken.

But here, the Hwangbo Family, who greatly contributed to the attack incident.

Seeing their conduct, talk was accumulating that they were worthy of rising to the Four Great Families.

‘Not bad.’

It’s exactly the situation I wanted.

Given that this situation has arisen, it would be a reckless move for the Hwangbo Family to deliberately take the Alliance’s side.

Since the Martial Arts Alliance side also knows that, they won’t make unnecessary demands.

“Hwangbo Family Head.”

“Yes. Cult Leader-nim.”

“After attending, there are a few things you need to do for me.”

“I will serve you.”

The Tiger King readily agreed to do it before I even asked.

Seeing that, I chuckled.

‘Does he know what I’m going to ask and agree to do it right away?’

‘Is it because hope arose, not only from reaching the King rank but also from the possibility of rising to the Four Great Families?’

Compared to last time, the look the Tiger King gave me seemed to have become more intense.

“It’s nothing major. I’ll organize it separately and send it soon, but…”

What I’ll ask of him is nothing else.

“Currently, there are merchant guilds that have turned their backs on supporting the Martial Arts Alliance, you know.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll send you the list of those merchant guilds, so please approach them separately.”

The Tiger King’s eyes widened slightly upon hearing my words.

Approaching the merchant guilds that broke away from the Alliance. The Tiger King seemed to vaguely understand what that meant.

“Approach, you say…?”

“Exactly as I said.”

As the quality of the prey decreased, the big fish started falling off one after another.

Normally, those gathered in one place would scatter in search of other prey, but…

I had no intention of just watching idly.

“That there’s something enticing. Ask them if they wouldn’t mind hearing about it once before they join hands with others.”

Before the prey disappears and scatters.

If even more appetizing prey is placed nearby, the big fish will naturally flock.

The big fish must be caught first.

Only then can I buy time until the barrier is set up.

Yes, a barrier (幕).

A barrier that prevents the gathered big fish from escaping again.

I intended to use the Hwangbo Family to create that.

For this, after conversing a bit more with the Hwangbo Family Head, I came outside.

Although I need to have more detailed conversations, I needed to bring Cheoljiseon later for this part.

Just as I was about to move to the next location.

“Huk!”

I shifted my gaze at someone’s surprised cry.

Then, a familiar face appeared.

“Oh, long time no see?”

“…”

A big guy who completely stiffened as soon as he saw me.

A rough-looking young man who resembled his father.

A direct blood relative of the Hwangbo Family.

It was Young Master Hwangbo Cheolwi.

“I just greeted you. Aren’t you going to greet me back?”

“O-oh, long, long time no see.”

His stiff appearance is quite amusing.

Looking at Hwangbo Cheolwi like that, I said.

“I was going to ask if you’d been well, but seeing your condition, it seems you’ve been doing well. You must have worked hard?”

Your cultivation level has significantly increased compared to before.

From what I can see, it seems you’ve overcome the wall of the Peak stage.

Was it First-Class (Ilryu) the last time I saw you?

Years have passed since then, and if you’ve already reached the Peak stage, it’s decent talent.

‘It’s just that those around me are all crazy. This is how it should normally be.’

‘Reaching the Flower Realm (Hwagyeong) stage before even turning fifteen.’

‘Or being in the Flower Realm (Hwagyeong) just after reaching the age of twenty.’

In the first place, that was nonsensical.

Even just being a master of the Peak stage should earn you the label ‘crazy.’

Considering that, Hwangbo Cheolwi, reaching the Peak stage at that age, must possess considerable talent.

“…Thank you.”

Hwangbo Cheolwi smiled awkwardly upon hearing the praise.

It seems slightly absurd to him, hearing such words from me.

Indeed.

If it were me, hearing it from me would be quite shitty.

To be told by someone younger than him, who’s recently been called a King, that my cultivation level has increased and that I worked hard… If it were me, I would have wanted to kill him.

‘I mean it.’

If only I mean it, it’s meaningless.

Knowing that, I just patted his shoulder.

“Work harder in the future.”

While doing so, I moved slightly closer and whispered in his ear.

“Only then can you beat your brother, become the Family Head, and so on, right?”

“…!”

Hwangbo Cheolwi shuddered upon hearing my words. I patted his shoulder a couple more times.

Then.

“I’m sorry, but your distance is too close to the Young Master.”

A hand blocking me appeared.

Wondering what it was, I looked at the owner of the hand.

“Ah.”

Seeing him, I let out a low sigh.

Surprisingly, the one who blocked me was Hwangbo Seon.

In my past life, he was known as Mukgwon (Black Fist).

“Hey, you bastard! What are you doing!”

Although Hwangbo Seon was the one blocking me, Hwangbo Cheolwi, surprised instead, grabbed him and pulled him back.

However, Hwangbo Seon didn’t move.

Looking at him like that, I asked with a strange look.

“You… are you guarding this guy?”

“Yes. That’s correct. I am Hwangbo Seon, the guard of Young Master Yi.”

‘I wondered what he was doing, turns out he’s acting as Hwangbo Cheolwi’s guard.’

‘Definitely much better than before.’

One of the guys who soared in my past life.

His talent is likely several times better than Hwangbo Cheolwi’s.

As if to prove it, Hwangbo Seon’s cultivation level was actually higher than Hwangbo Cheolwi’s, unlike before.

Seeing this, I asked Hwangbo Cheolwi.

“Surely, they agreed to give collateral relatives the same opportunities as direct relatives. Isn’t that right?”

“…That’s right.”

“But what is this?”

Why is Hwangbo Seon doing something like guarding you?

When I asked about this, the answer came from Hwangbo Seon.

“I applied for it.”

“You?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Is there a reason I should tell you that?”

“Heoeop….”

At Hwangbo Seon’s attitude, Hwangbo Cheolwi’s face turned pale.

He seemed worried about how I would react.

However.

“…”

Looking at Hwangbo Seon like that, I didn’t show any particular reaction.

Should I have gotten angry?

Regrettably, that wasn’t the case.

Rather…

-You guys cannot approach the Grand Elder.

At the memory that surfaced, I could only stiffen momentarily.

-As long as I am here, you won’t be able to take a single step closer.

-Come.

-I am Hwangbo Seon, Mukgwon of the Black Flame Squad.

The face of that idiot, who took stab wounds all over his body, comes to mind.

The damn bastard who never moved aside even when I shouted like that.

“…”

That time faintly flashed by, I was momentarily dazed, and then smiled.

“Do you know who I am?”

“I know.”

At those words, I narrowed my eyes slightly.

“Because it’s impossible not to know you recently in Henan.”

Naturally, the words that followed were not the answer I expected.

“But you’re acting like this? Knowing how I would react, can you beat me?”

“No.”

It was a confident statement.

“However, as long as there is someone to protect, that doesn’t matter.”

At the words filled with conviction, my lips curled downwards.

A few years ago, because he was so weak, I wondered if he was really Mukgwon, but seeing this, it seems he really is.

“Right. But you know.”

Continuing my words, I moved my hand slightly.

“…Keuk!?”

As my hand moved, Hwangbo Seon reacted, but it was insufficient to block.

My rapidly moving hand reached the end of Hwangbo Cheolwi’s neck, not Hwangbo Seon’s.

It was a move that would have instantly killed Hwangbo Cheolwi if it hadn’t stopped.

Hwangbo Seon’s eyes had widened considerably seeing this, and I looked into his eyes and said.

“It’s best to know your place when stepping forward. Otherwise, you won’t even be able to protect what you want to protect.”

The intention is good, but step forward considering your opponent.

Only then.

‘You can live while protecting your own life too.’

I swallowed the last intention deep inside.

Hwangbo Seon’s expression darkened rapidly, perhaps feeling helpless.

After confirming that, I withdrew my hand.

“I’m leaving.”

“…Hu… huu…. Ah, alright.”

Ignoring the surprised Hwangbo Cheolwi, as if without any lingering attachment, I moved forward and leaped briefly.

Stroking my stuffy chest, I clicked my tongue.

Is it bothering me that Hwangbo Seon stepped forward to protect someone else?

‘Disgusting.’

Even feeling this emotion was disgusting.

It’s better this way.

It must be so.

-Grand Elder-nim.

-I’m sorry.

-If perhaps we meet again…. I… a little… more….

But at the thought that surfaced, I had to loosen my stiff neck.

Next time, bullshit. What are you looking at?

‘Just live as you are.’

Don’t get caught up in revenge uselessly; live protecting only what you need to see from now on.

I’ll handle it myself, so you just stay where you are.

Thinking that a few times, I erased the memories.

“…Hmm.”

After several years, I feel like drinking a bit.

How long has it been?

Just how long has it been that I’ve craved alcohol?

Although I don’t like alcohol much, strangely, I felt like drinking a bit now.

However, I probably won’t drink it.

Time and emotions to spend on such things were too precious.

As my steps slowed down a bit.

“…Nahi.”

[Yes. Master.]

At the softly spoken words, an immediate reply came.

“Tell those guys.”

What I chose instead of alcohol is always just one thing.

“I have something to say, so tell them all to gather.”

Without stopping for even a moment, I keep moving forward.

It was always just that.