Chapter 1241: Scorched World

“Hah.”

My words caused Choo Yeongyeon’s expression to change. It was only for a moment, but I clearly saw it twist into a vicious grimace. As if he’d been properly scratched, the bastard grinds his teeth.

“……This is absurd.”

Kkuggeuk.

The sound could be heard. It came from his body, sounding like the noise made when forcefully tensing muscles.

It meant he was applying that much pressure. It also meant his emotions were highly developed.

Meaning, he was provoked.

“You said your name was Baek Yangcheon.”

“You even remember my name, how glorious.”

“I’ve heard the rumors.”

Tududuk.

Choo Yeongyeon speaks as he loosens his grip.

“They say your skills are quite outstanding. I could tell just from watching the sparring match. However, you seem to be a bit clueless about your place.”

Hwoooowww-!!

The air changed. It seemed like he was releasing some sort of pressure.

“Kkeuk!”

“Ugh……. T-to think you’d have this much aura…!”

“As expected… Shinryongdae…!”

Seeing them stagger, I have nothing to say. From my perspective, I couldn’t even feel much aura, so I should have just stayed still.

“Hah. So you’re saying I have spirit, is that it?”

That guy kept contorting his face, perhaps due to some misunderstanding. I didn’t do it on purpose, though.

“Hmm…”

I scratched my head.

“Whether something should be felt or not… it doesn’t matter…”

I said it quietly. It was naturally a remark to myself, but perhaps I said it a bit too loudly, as Choo Yeongyeon ground his teeth again.

“Are you saying I’m not even worth feeling?”

“Ah, it’s not like that…”

Though it seemed I’d misspoke.

“No… let’s just leave it at that.”

It’s too bothersome to deny it. So I spat out the words curtly. Why bother explaining? It seems fine to just leave it as is.

“You…!”

Perhaps enraged by my reaction, Choo Yeongyeon speaks.

“This won’t do. It seems you’re getting cocky after winning against the Biryong Corps Commander. Know your place. Don’t you know who stands before you?”

Peolreok.

As he spoke, he gestured to his chest. A Chinese character for God (神), framed in gold, fluttered.

Oof.

“What the hell are you doing, showing off like that…? I can see it even without you doing that.”

Why is he acting like this, seriously? I get that being from Shinryongdae is something to be proud of, but this is just excessive showboating.

“Ugh…”

“…”

At my disgusted reaction, Choo Yeongyeon’s grip seemed like it might loosen for a moment, but.

Kkwaak.

He managed to tighten his grip.

“…This won’t do.”

His eyes filled with rage.

“Get up here.”

His bulging muscles clearly showed his emotions.

“I’ll show you reality.”

Hearing that, I laughed.

Reality.

‘That’s such an unfitting word for this place.’

I couldn’t help but recall such a jest.

* * *

I stepped onto the sparring stage. By now, it’s tiresome even to count how many times I’ve been up here.

Tteuduk.

I stretched and checked my condition. I could feel that my muscles hadn’t fully recovered. Fatigue had accumulated from several fights without using aura. And at the end…

‘The backlash from using aura remains.’

My body was surprised by the sudden burst of aura. Because I exerted speed and strength I don’t normally use, I felt a stiffness.

I gave myself a few shakes and moved my hands a couple of times.

‘Hmm.’

Will it be okay?

It’ll probably be fine.

Just as I was thinking that.

“Are you nervous?”

Choo Yeongyeon spoke to me.

“Hmm? Nervous?”

“Judging by your look, you seem to regret what you said a little. That’s understandable.”

“…What are you talking about?”

“I saw how you handled the Biryong Corps Commander. You must have spotted an opening and launched a surprise attack. By deliberately creating the impression that you weren’t using aura.”

“…”

What is he even saying? I have no idea what kind of bullshit this crazy bastard is spouting.

‘Surprise attack?’

Ah.

Now I get what he means.

‘That guy. He thinks I took down the Biryong Corps Commander with a surprise attack.’

The fact that I wasn’t constantly using aura.

And that I suddenly used aura against the Biryong Corps Commander – he seems to think it was all part of a plan.

‘Hmm.’

That’s possible. Though it wasn’t intentional.

Do others think the same way? That’s why their reactions were so mild, considering I beat a Corps Commander.

‘They think I just used my brain.’

Now I understand.

“Ah… haha.”

“Why are you laughing?”

“Ah, nothing. Something funny just popped into my head.”

What more could I say to someone who can’t see?

So that’s why Pajeon and Cheolhyeolbusan kept looking at me and smiling. It was for that reason.

“Are you done talking?”

As I said, lightly stretching my toes, Choo Yeongyeon’s nose crinkled.

“Truly hopeless. Yes, there are times like that. Times when you’re convinced you’re an incredible being.”

Seuuk.

Choo Yeongyeon thrusts out his fist.

“Everyone has those times. Everyone here has had them. They were all individuals called geniuses or mediocrities in their respective regions.”

The Eight Swordsmen of the Murim Alliance.

It’s a place you can’t reach without considerable talent.

Just as he said, the people gathered here were all individuals who were called geniuses in their respective regions and circles.

“There’s a time for everything. A time for arrogance and conceit. And then.”

Kkuk.

He adjusts his stance. I could feel his momentum.

“You hit a wall once and realize the reality of things.”

“…Mm.”

Hearing that, I nodded.

“So, are you saying you’re that wall now?”

“Please don’t think it’s too thick. It’s just that reality is that way.”

“…”

A wall.

Is Choo Yeongyeon a wall to me? I had nothing to say, so I just clenched my fist.

‘That’s true.’

It’s always like that.

‘Everyone talks a lot before they get hit.’

They spout so much damn crap before getting beaten. So what should I do?

‘I have to shut them up.’

That was the only answer. The referee, sensing I was ready, raised his hand.

“Shinryongdae’s Choo Yeongyeon.”

“Cheongryongdae’s Baek Yangcheon.”

I tensed the muscles in my thighs.

“Sparring. Begin.”

Tung-!!

With the signal, I shot forward rapidly. The distance closed in an instant.

As I lunged towards his abdomen, Choo Yeongyeon’s gaze followed me.

Sensing that, I threw a punch.

Shwiik-!

The angle wasn’t bad either, but.

“Hmph.”

With a snort from Choo Yeongyeon, my wrist was deflected.

Tung-!

The angle of my strike was thrown off. Even though it was just a light tap on the back of my hand, it sent a jolt through me.

“Didn’t I tell you?”

My vision is obscured.

Ppaak-!!

“…Kkeuk!”

My head snapped back. His knee drove into my face. I managed to block it with my palm.

“I am different from the others.”

It’s heavy. Because my body was pushed back, it was hard to keep my balance. I somehow braced myself.

I barely held on. Relaxing my abdomen, I leaped.

Hwiririrk-!!

Twisting my waist, I put strength into my legs. Spinning once and aiming my toes at the bastard, but.

“…Did you not understand?”

Kwak-!!

He grabbed my ankle and threw me once more.

“Or are you still ignorant of reality?”

Hwoooook-!!

Kwang-!!

“Keoheok!”

He slammed me into the sparring stage floor. My back dug into the ground. I could feel my bones cracking. Ah, damn it, this is a lesson that makes me keenly feel the importance of protective aura again.

And it wasn’t over.

“Keuuk…”

My vision spun. He threw me once more while still holding me. I was shot through the air. If this continued, I’d fly right off the stage.

Twisting my body, I forced my feet towards the ground. My soles barely touched the ground.

Friction erupted.

Chiiiiik-!!

I barely held on, but the remaining momentum sent my body rolling across the floor.

Kung.

Still, I didn’t go off the stage.

“Hoo…”

I sighed and lifted my head. My whole body aches.

Ah, I’m gonna die.

Choo Yeongyeon stood before me, looking at me. He hadn’t moved a single step from where he initially stood.

“Use your aura.”

It was like a warning.

“There won’t be a second time.”

“…”

Ppudeuk.

I cracked my neck. He’s definitely different.

‘His level is different.’

The Biryong Corps Commander. He seems stronger than him.

Shinryongdae is Shinryongdae, that’s what this means.

To think a regular member is on par with other Corps Commanders. That says it all.

Just then.

“The Corps Commander seems to think highly of you, but I’m different.”

He suddenly brought up Taehoan’s name.

“You don’t belong in that position. Corps Commander? You shouldn’t take that seat.”

“…No, who said I was taking it?”

“I wouldn’t take it even if offered, so why the nonsense? Ah. Perhaps.”

I looked at him and said with a smirk.

“Were you perhaps coveting it?”

“…”

“Looks like it.”

So you were subtly aiming for the Corps Commander position. That’s why you got so worked up when Taehoan offered it to me.

“Oof… seriously.”

Anyway, I don’t know why these guys are so greedy for positions. Why they crave such useless honor.

“I’m sick of it.”

Tuk tuk.

I brushed off the stone fragments from my body.

“I’ll admit it.”

Still, there was one thing I could admit.

“You are different.”

“…”

“It’ll be tough without aura.”

He’s different from the others. I felt that I couldn’t win without aura.

If it continues like this, I’ll lose. So I looked towards someone watching me from the side.

A woman in the spectator stands, wearing a veil, next to Mi Hyoran.

I looked at my mother.

A brief eye contact.

In that instant, I heard it.

‘Shall I help?’

It wasn’t telepathy. I just read her lips. Even though she wore a veil, her lip movements were faintly visible in the gentle breeze.

Seeing that, I nodded.

‘Just a little.’

At those words.

Hwoooowww—!!

My upper dantian stirred.

* * *

‘This is absurd.’

Choo Yeongyeon thought as he looked at Baek Yangcheon.

‘What makes that guy so great?’

Taehoan, the Corps Commander, made an unprecedented offer. He told a mere junior Swordsman that he would eventually pass on his Corps Commander position and asked him to join Shinryongdae.

It was truly an unbelievable offer.

I had heard long ago that the guy was outstanding. It was said that Pajeon’s disciple was affiliated with Cheongryongdae. And that Pajeon moved to take him as a disciple upon seeing someone so exceptional.

A remarkable fellow has arrived. I could understand that much.

‘Why pass it over me?’

To pass on the Corps Commander position.

It’s unacceptable.

‘I, myself.’

How long have I waited to obtain that position?

Taehoan is someone whose thoughts are incomprehensible from the start, but this time, he crossed a line.

‘I can’t let him give it to a punk like that.’

Not just any position, but the Corps Commander’s seat? Even if that guy refused, it would be the same. That position could not be given to anyone.

It was solely mine.

‘Therefore.’

I will crush that arrogant bastard right here.

If he had shown even a modicum of respect, I might have let it slide. But he’s a fool who doesn’t know his place.

‘He didn’t even use aura in the sparring match.’

He was so intent on disrespecting his opponent that he dared to spar without even using aura. I realized that when I saw him surprise the Biryong Corps Commander.

‘He’s a cunning one.’

He used the situation to make the Biryong Corps Commander lower his guard. He must have set the stage to face someone of Corps Commander level.

But.

‘I am different.’

He was different. He had no intention of falling for such tricks.

So.

‘Show me.’

Even after showing the difference in class, how much longer will he stubbornly persist? Or perhaps he thought it would be more satisfying to lose without aura?

‘If that’s the case.’

Then I must utterly crush him.

As Choo Yeongyeon thought that, he looked at Baek Yangcheon.

“…Hoo.”

The guy let out a sigh as he got up.

That was the moment.

Ossak.

“…!”

Choo Yeongyeon took a step back.

Cheolgyeok- Cheolgyeok-

Sounds of swords being gripped echoed from all around. Everyone reacted instinctively.

“…What?”

A sudden sensation.

What is this?

Choo Yeongyeon looked at his own hands.

Deoldeoldeoldeoldeol.

They were trembling slightly. What could possibly be happening all of a sudden?

As Choo Yeongyeon’s eyes began to tremble from the inexplicable feeling.

“…What did I say?”

Baek Yangcheon began to speak.

“Did I call it a wall? Said it was necessary to realize reality.”

‘You hit a wall once and realize the reality of things.’

Those were his own words from earlier. Mentioning that, Baek Yangcheon ran a hand through his hair.

His blue eyes were incredibly chilling.

“Those are good words. So try to endure it well.”

“What the-.”

Before he could even finish speaking.

“…!”

Baek Yangcheon appeared before him.

At the blinding speed, Choo Yeongyeon tried to move quickly, but.

“I’m originally…”

Baek Yangcheon’s fist struck Choo Yeongyeon’s side directly.

Udeudeuk.

“Keoheok…!”

With the sound of bones breaking, my vision turned yellow. In the brief moment of disorientation, Baek Yangcheon spoke.

“I like breaking things… whether it’s a wall.”

Or a person.