Chapter 1240: Scorched World

Chu Yeongyeon’s words and reactions. And his gaze.

I kept nodding my head while looking at that guy.

‘What is it?’

Where is that negative emotion coming from? The strange feeling appearing in his gaze towards Soi.

I wondered why that guy was acting like that.

“……Hoo.”

Soi endured the pain and gripped her sword tightly. Her mind seemed to have been shaken by the provocation, but the martial arts match wasn’t over yet.

She raised her sword straight.

“……I’ll go again.”

“Go ahead then.”

Chu Yeongyeon said lightly, raising his fist.

The martial arts match began again.

In reality, it was called a match, but it was something that was nothing more than one-sided bullying.

“……”

As I watched this, looking on blankly.

“There’s something called the Shimseochuga.”

A voice came from beside me. I looked over in surprise, and it was my father.

“It’s a martial family in Shaanxi, and they aren’t on good terms with Hwasan.”

“……They’re not on good terms with Hwasan in Shaanxi?”

Does a martial family that isn’t on good terms with the guardian of Shaanxi actually exist? Shimseochuga?

‘I’ve never heard of it.’

I’d never even heard that such a martial family existed.

What’s more.

‘A place with experts strong enough to enter the Divine Dragon Corps, no less.’

I wondered if a martial family could exist that could withstand not being on good terms with Hwasan.

But why aren’t they on good terms?

“It’s because the ancestor of the Chu family was originally a disciple derived from Hwasan.”

“……Yes?”

A disciple of Hwasan? But if they’re not on good terms…

“……Were they expelled, perhaps?”

“I don’t know the specifics, but that’s likely the case.”

“……”

So it’s a family founded by an expelled disciple who left?

But that seemed a bit strange too.

‘Even after being expelled, they maintained their dantian.’

Not only did they establish a martial family in the same Shaanxi province.

‘They abandoned the sword and switched to martial arts?’

It really is a strange connection.

“Is that even possible?”

“Well.”

My father answered as if he wasn’t entirely sure.

‘If what he said is true.’

That Chu Yeongyeon guy is literally.

‘A pathetic loser, isn’t he?’

It just means he hates Hwasan’s disciples based on his family circumstances.

‘What kind of behavior is that?’

He’s not some neighborhood punk, what kind of idiotic thing is this?

‘No way.’

There must be more to the story.

‘If not.’

Hwasan wouldn’t have quietly allowed an expelled disciple to establish a family in Shaanxi.

Nor would a bloodline strong enough to participate in the Divine Dragon Corps have been born like that.

Everyone has their own circumstances, so perhaps that’s possible, but…

“So.”

I looked at my approaching father and asked something else.

“Why are you telling me something like that?”

What’s your intention in subtly coming over and giving me this information?

To that question, my father stared blankly at the martial arts stage and said.

“Because you seemed curious.”

“……Me?”

When was I?

‘Isn’t he avoiding my eyes right now?’

He even seems to be avoiding my eyes. Even though his expression is blank, it’s subtly obvious.

Just as I was pondering why he was acting like this.

“……Ah.”

I think I figured out the reason.

I chuckled and said to my father.

“You’re sly.”

“……”

My father didn’t reply. He just turned his back as if he was done talking and put some distance between us.

As I was about to let out another hollow laugh seeing that.

KWA-NG-!

“Kkuhk!”

A loud noise was heard. I turned my head towards the martial arts stage and saw Soi rolling on the floor.

---

“Cough.”

She must have been hit hard, as she was spitting blood. The blood flowing from her mouth stained her martial uniform slightly.

“……Well now.”

“She’s no match.”

“I wonder if we really need to drag this out.”

Even the onlookers were narrowing their eyes at the utterly powerless match. It’s only fun if there’s some back-and-forth. That was just plain bullying.

“Hmm.”

Perhaps sensing those gazes, Chu Yeongyeon snorted.

“It seems best to end it here. There’s no need for further disappointment……”

Just as he was speaking, intending to finish it.

“Kkeuh……”

Soi pushed herself up again. At the same time, she wiped the blood from her mouth.

“It’s not over yet.”

Seeing this, Chu Yeongyeon’s eyes widened slightly.

‘What determination.’

Where had the prim and proper-looking Soi gone? Her eyes were filled with fierce determination, blazing. She must have been in a lot of pain and fatigue, but her gaze was sharp.

“Please, again.”

“……”

Chu Yeongyeon showed clear displeasure at her reaction.

“A match with no hope. It’ll be meaningless to continue, won’t it?”

“There is hope.”

Sreeung.

She gripped her sword again. Its tip trembled faintly.

“If the name of Hwasan is with me, there is no surrender.”

“……”

Hearing this, Chu Yeongyeon glanced around.

“With such a difference in skill, isn’t it a bit much to have called for a match?”

“Even so, it’s the Divine Dragon Corps… I thought there must be some reason.”

“It’s not like bullying children.”

The reactions were worsening.

‘This isn’t good.’

Chu Yeongyeon swallowed inwardly. He knew he had been greedy. It was right after returning from a mission. Hwasan’s name had recently come up, piquing his interest, and he wanted to do something he hadn’t been able to due to being busy with work.

‘Hwasan’s Sword Peak.’

The Chu family, which had a bad relationship with Hwasan.

The greatest prodigy produced by that place.

They said she was one of the greatest Sword Peaks in history, and not just anyone, but a direct disciple of Plum Blossom Immortal.

That’s why.

‘Hwasan.’

He had acted out of greed simply because he hated that name. How great she was. Or rather, how powerless that great person could become. He had intended to find out with such foolish intentions. The unit commander had told him to do as he pleased, but any further would tarnish the reputation of the Divine Dragon Corps.

But.

‘……Her spirit is good.’

Even after being so thoroughly defeated, that woman continued to hold her sword.

‘Annoyingly.’

He wished she would fall easily, but she didn’t. It felt as if it meant Hwasan wouldn’t collapse, no matter what.

-I must defeat Plum Blossom Immortal.

Someday.

Defeating Plum Blossom Immortal, who resides at the summit of that Hwasan.

And finally ending the family’s burden.

That was Chu Yeongyeon’s conviction.

‘I can’t even break this one small thing.’

A beautiful flower, yet surprisingly tough. He had handled her carefully, fearing she might be uprooted and die.

“I made a mistake.”

KUUUUUUUUUU–!

As he uttered the words, Chu Yeongyeon unleashed his energy.

“Kkuhk!?”

“Huh!”

Those nearby flinched.

“Understood. I’ll do it properly now.”

I should have gone a bit more seriously. Then she wouldn’t have been able to show such defiance. I was complacent.

“……”

Soi faltered at the surging energy. Her stance, bracing herself against being pushed back, was visible.

But.

“Here I come.”

As if it wouldn’t be any different this time, she thrust her sword forward.

Swift speed. A precise sword path. Even the subtle flow of sword energy connecting them. Everything showed she had surpassed the level of a late-stage disciple, but.

KWAD-DEUD-!

“……!”

Before Soi’s sword path could even gain momentum, Chu Yeongyeon’s fist knocked her sword away. Fragments of energy scattered, sending Soi’s arm flying.

TUNG-!

“……Kuhk!”

Chu Yeongyeon’s fist grazed her jaw. Soi collapsed immediately.

Chu Yeongyeon, watching Soi, suddenly clenched his fist. Just before she fell. He had intended to try one more attack before her body fully touched the stage.

“Ah. That’s not it, is it?”

“……!”

Before he could move his arm, Chu Yeongyeon froze.

‘What is it?’

Someone was in front of him. Someone who had supported the falling Soi and slung her over his shoulder.

It was a familiar face. He was the guy everyone was talking about the most during this match.

“……Baek Yangcheon?”

Baek Yangcheon of the Azure Dragon Corps. It was him. He was looking at Chu Yeongyeon with a smile.

Seeing that, Chu Yeongyeon flinched. His expression was the problem. His mouth was smiling. But his eyes were not smiling.

“Growing up to be a big adult, that was just too pathetic. You should know when to stop.”

“……What are you talking about?”

Chu Yeongyeon asked.

“What am I asking? You know perfectly well, so why pretend?”

At those words, Baek Yangcheon tossed Soi aside. Soi, thrown off the martial arts stage, seemed like she would fall straight to the ground, but.

WHOOSH-!

She floated in mid-air and landed safely. It must have been Gu Cheolun using Void Manipulation to catch her.

“Hey, mister. You were about to hit her one more time just now, weren’t you?”

“……”

Chu Yeongyeon didn’t deny it.

“It was during the match.”

It was something that happened during the match, so it was permissible. He said that with that meaning in mind, but.

“Ah, bullshit.”

“What?”

At the ensuing profanity, Chu Yeongyeon’s brow furrowed tightly.

“During the match, my ass. What a show. Trying to hit a knocked-out kid one more time, how is that a match? Aren’t you ashamed?”

“……You……”

“I don’t need to know your family’s circumstances, but acting like this shit isn’t right.”

“What business is it of yours?”

“Why wouldn’t it be my business? I’m-.”

Baek Yangcheon stopped mid-sentence. What should I say? Come to think of it, I realized there wasn’t really any connection. At least, not in this world.

“……A junior.”

He managed to spit it out. The connection of being fellow Azure Dragon Corps members was the only thing. No, perhaps that was enough.

“But seeing them get beaten like that, it kind of stung. So.”

It was always like this.

“How about a match with me?”

When beating up someone I didn’t like, the justification was never that important.