Chapter 1229: Scorched World

The Alliance, which was neither completely quiet nor particularly noisy, was practically boiling over today.

There were a lot more people around than usual, and maybe it was just my good mood, but the air felt positively scorching.

I figured it was because emotions were running high, causing energy to leak out of people’s bodies.

Thinking about it like that left a weird, icky feeling.

I walked along, feeling a peculiar sense of unease. As I ambled along, gazes started locking onto me.

“It’s the Azure Dragon unit.”

“Are those five participating in the martial arts tournament?”

“It’s a bit different from the expected number of people? The Sword Dragon isn’t visible.”

“Sword Dragon? You old geezer. Haven’t you heard? The Sword Dragon had his arm completely mangled after being bitten by the Little Radiant Dog!”

“Ah… that’s right.”

Hearing the words, I perked up my ears. What?

‘Little Radiant Dog…?’

Wait, could that possibly be my nickname? It was so ridiculous, I couldn’t help but glance over.

“Hikk…!”

“Careful now. Word is, they’ll tear you to shreds just for making eye contact.”

“They look terrifying.”

“……”

My head spun. It was ridiculous enough to get a nickname in the first place, but the nickname itself was total garbage.

Little Radiant Dog? What kind of ridiculous nickname is that even supposed to be?

While I was wondering how it came about.

“Lord Pae said that his nickname in his youth was ‘Fighting Dog’,” So-i says, looking at me.

“Since you’re his disciple, and the stuff you’ve pulled wasn’t exactly minor, they came up with this nickname for you.”

“…You know quite a lot?”

“Because I heard it.”

After explaining everything, So-i walked ahead. Seeing that, I sheepishly scratched the back of my head.

It felt like our relationship was steadily deteriorating. But then again, I didn’t exactly have the time to try and clear up any misunderstandings.

It’ll work out somehow.

With that thought, I shrugged my shoulders. Right now, there was no time to worry about So-i.

Afterwards, I reached the destination. It was the place where the martial arts arena was built inside the Murim Alliance.

There, various people were already waiting in line.

Seeing an empty line, Father walked out.

As the confident steps finally stopped.

“Who is this?”

Someone standing next to him spoke to Father, seeing him.

“Aren’t you the great Azure Dragon Unit Leader? Have you been well?”

“Flying Dragon Unit Leader.”

At Father’s words, the man chuckled. He seemed to be the leader of the Flying Dragon Unit.

“Hearing the stories, you’ve been through something big. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“Oh, really? Then that’s fortunate.”

What is that bastard?

The way he was talking really rubbed me the wrong way. I felt like smashing his teeth out.

“Oh.”

While I was thinking that, his gaze turned towards me this time.

“So it’s this guy? The one who supposedly wrecked the Namgung family’s heir apparent.”

As if he had already heard the rumors, the Flying Dragon Unit Leader spoke mockingly.

“The Azure Dragon Unit Leader is truly something else. Sending out someone who smashed up one of his own members like this. Oh, maybe that’s why you sent him out? Because his performance is guaranteed, right?”

His tone was infuriating. What could I do? On the battlefield, I’d have ripped his throat out, but since I couldn’t do that here, I felt my temper rising.

Just then.

“Flying Dragon Unit Leader.”

“Hm?”

Father said, looking at him.

“Shut up.”

“…Huh?”

“You’re noisy, it’s distracting.”

“Your words still lack hierarchy.”

The Flying Dragon Unit Leader spoke, narrowing his brow, but Father wasn’t even looking at him.

“I only show respect to people I deem worthy. If that offended you, apologies.”

“…Ha!”

“Wow.”

So strong. You can totally shut someone down so politely. I watched with fascination.

“Y-“

The moment the Flying Dragon Unit Leader, unable to contain his anger, was about to lash out.

“Stop it.”

“…Golden Dragon Unit Leader…”

“Soon the Alliance Leader will arrive, does it make sense to fight like this? Be careful.”

“…Kkeu-eung.”

The Flying Dragon Unit Leader finally shut his mouth.

“You too. No matter how lacking he is, he’s a senior. Show some respect.”

“I apologize, senior.”

Father responded with proper titles and respect to the Golden Dragon Leader. Seeing that, the Flying Dragon Leader frowned again, but didn’t say anything further.

In that moment, I took in the people with my eyes.

“These are people I’m seeing for the first time.”

Whether it was the Flying Dragon Unit Leader or the Golden Dragon Unit Leader.

All of them were unfamiliar figures.

Thus, when the Sword Units belonging to the Alliance had all gathered.

Kung-! Kung-!

The drum sounded. At that sound, everyone tensed up.

“The Alliance Leader enters!!”

Geom-jon ascended onto the platform. Behind him appeared Cheolhyeol Busan and Eulryeong Geomhu. And Pae-jon appeared together.

Immense figures stood in one place. Seeing that, the Sword Unit members flinched.

“Cheolhyeol Busan is here…?”

“Even Geomhu-nim and Pae-jon too…”

Absolute masters, figures you can’t easily see anywhere else, gathered in one place.

Just that alone, I could feel the martial artists feeling excited.

“You’ve gone through a lot to gather.”

The Alliance Leader spoke, standing on the platform. His voice echoed everywhere. It seemed to contain a challenge.

“Despite it being my unreasonable request, I express my gratitude to those who participated like this. This martial arts tournament…”

I lightly listened to the explanation with one ear and let it flow out. At that moment, my eyes caught sight of the giant looking at me. Cheolhyeol Busan.

Ssi-ik.

Cheolhyeol Busan smiled and waved at me.

Seeing that, Pae-jon distorted his face.

-Have you thought about it?

-If you need more time, I’ll give it to you. If you want…

It was Cheolhyeol Busan. Just as his telepathic message reached my ears, it was cut off shortly after.

-Damn old man.

Another voice cut in. It was Pae-jon. Seeing that, Cheolhyeol Busan looked at Pae-jon.

-What are you doing?

“I tried because I thought you might be up to something, and sure enough, you were. Senior, what is this you’re doing?”

Cutting into telepathic communication. Is this even possible? While being startled by Pae-jon’s control of his energy.

Cheolhyeol Busan looked at him, grinding his teeth.

-Nonsense?

“It’s nonsense, of course. Is this some kind of clean deed?”

“Bi-ju. In the time I haven’t seen you, your head has grown bigger. To dare speak to me like this.”

“That’s a funny thing to say. As if you weren’t like that before. Why? Do you want to have a match after a long time?”

“Ha!”

Kkeu-geu-geu-geuk! The platform shook.

“What is this…?”

“This… Huh?”

Due to the sudden vibration, the martial artists nearby were flustered. Seeing this, Geom-jon’s gaze turned towards the two people.

At that moment.

Jjjak-!

Kwa-ah-ah-ah–!!

With a clap of hands, the energy dispersed. Immense wind pressure engulfed the martial artists. It was the work of Geomhu, who was in the middle.

“Ah. Oh dear. Sorry, there was a mosquito.”

Geomhu said, smiling sweetly. Of course, there was no mosquito. She must have just imbued her energy and struck. Thanks to that, the atmosphere changed.

Cheolhyeol Busan and Pae-jon, who were engaged in a battle of wills, finally stopped. They averted their gazes from each other and looked forward.

“…What are you doing.”

Witnessing this firsthand, I couldn’t help but click my tongue inwardly. These old geezers were pulling all sorts of stunts. Did they really need to act so ridiculously? Seriously, are there any normal people here?

“…Anyway…”

Geom-jon continued speaking again. The content wasn’t particularly important. Although it’s a martial arts tournament, be careful about safety, etc.

remember the meaning and beliefs of the righteous path, etc.

It was a series of clichéd and mundane words. While I was half-listening, half-dozing.

“Thus, for this martial arts tournament, Sword Units that haven’t participated until now have been specially included.”

At Geom-jon’s words, my eyes lit up. Because the important words were finally coming out.

“Divine Dragon Unit.”

At those words, the demeanor of the martial artists nearby changed.

Simultaneously.

Kung!!

People landed in front of Geom-jon. They appeared from nowhere.

In white martial attire with impressive golden patterns. On their chests, the originally blue Murim Alliance crest was embedded with gold plating.

“…It’s the Divine Dragon Unit.”

“…Are they really participating?”

It was a tone filled with obvious anxiety.

The total number is four.

The number of people who appeared, claiming to be from the Divine Dragon Unit, is four.

And.

“Hm?”

The figure standing at the front among them. Seeing him, I narrowed my brow.

It’s a face I’ve seen somewhere?

Where did I see it… While racking my brain trying to recall.

The person I was looking at knelt halfway to Geom-jon.

“Divine Dragon Unit. Having received the Alliance Leader’s summons, we have come here.”

At those words, Geom-jon nodded his head.

So they are the Divine Dragon Unit. The feeling is different. Perhaps because they are indeed elite, they feel like a much sharper sword.

With their appearance, the atmosphere changed drastically.

Just the appearance of the elite could cause this feeling? Tension that wasn’t there before settled on everyone’s faces. Meanwhile, Father felt none of it, though.

“Hmm.”

If there were any energy signature, I could have assessed the opponent’s strength. Right now, I just had to guess based on intuition. Still, I could roughly tell.

“They’re strong, of course.”

There’s definitely a difference compared to other Sword Unit members. Their posture and gaze were different from the start.

Trying to see a bit more closely, I narrowed my eyes. Meanwhile, my gaze turned towards the person I had been looking at earlier.

“The figure who seems to be the Unit Leader.”

The Divine Dragon Unit Leader. He’s the one who appeared leading the Divine Dragon Unit. Since they said the leader couldn’t participate, it seems that man is the Unit Leader.

“Who is it? It’s a familiar face.”

It’s definitely a familiar face.

I’m sure I’ve seen him somewhere…

“Who was it?”

As I pondered and pondered.

“Ah.”

I remembered. That guy. I didn’t recognize him because he looked younger, but now I know.

Even if I don’t know him well, he was someone I knew.

However.

“…Why is he here?”

The fact that he’s a person completely unrelated to the righteous path was the problem.