Chapter 1146: Scorched World.

Dawn broke. Amidst perfectly clear, cloudless weather. It was the time after dawn had passed, now morning.

Only then was I able to come out of the training ground.

“Nngh…”

As I stretched and came outside, the bright sunlight greeted me. So damn blinding.

Wrinkling my face against the light, I clicked my tongue. It was good weather by anyone’s standards, but it didn’t feel particularly good to me.

Besides, I was already tired from moving my body all night.

Crack-!

I moved, loosening my body stiffened by training. My recovery was quite fast when I was in Manggye, but perhaps because the concentration of inner energy mixed in the air was comparatively much lower, my recovery speed feels a bit slower.

‘Or perhaps it’s because I trained after a long time.’

It might be because I was a bit absorbed in the training of Tua Pachenmu. Because the inner energy itself was quite violent.

Because it was an energy that gave immense fatigue to the body’s energy pathways unless regeneration power supported it.

‘Looking at it like this, it’s truly a fierce energy.’

Just like when I first learned it, the martial art itself called Tua Pachenmu is too brutal.

I felt that once again.

‘How am I supposed to achieve Great Accomplishment in this?’

The Nine Flame Wheel Art reached Great Accomplishment. Although I focused on practicing it for a while, it’s also because most of my enlightenment was directed towards the Nine Flame Wheel Art.

Thanks to that, I was able to become even stronger upon reaching Transcendence, but…

‘I’m lacking.’

Even though I had reached Transcendence, I felt a craving.

‘If I were to pinpoint the cause…’

‘It was like that even in the fight with the Heavenly Venerate.’

The fight with the Heavenly Venerate, where I maximized my power by borrowing the power of Noe-a. The sensation I felt then was the starting point.

‘It’s still insufficient to fight against the Three Venerates level with martial arts alone.’

The fact that I think like this, even against a Heavenly Venerate who had reached the Heart Demon state…

‘It means I wouldn’t be able to win if I faced the current Sword Venerate and Conqueror Venerate.’

It would be another matter if I used the authority and inhuman power I possess. But if I were to fight solely with martial arts, I would probably be defeated.

Upon reaching Transcendence, I became certain after facing them directly.

‘I’m lacking.’

I am still lacking.

Even though I obtained overwhelmingly stronger power compared to my previous life. Especially the enemies I will face from now on.

‘Whether it’s the Blood Demon… or that guy called Taecheon.’

To face the bizarre beings who transcended humanity, I had to become stronger.

‘In my opinion, the fastest way among those methods is…’

…practicing Tua Pachenmu, the power that hasn’t reached Great Accomplishment yet.

I became certain of this upon seeing the Six Forms shown by the Conqueror Venerate in the past.

‘It’s also necessary for strengthening the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.’

The Heavenly Demon Divine Art utilizes the power generated from the friction between energies.

Since it’s a power that combines everything, like sorcery and demonic arts, it’s labeled as Chaos, but…

Ultimately, the main power comes from friction.

To strengthen this friction…

‘I need to make the values of the two powers similar.’

Just like the Nine Flame Wheel Art, which reached Great Accomplishment.

Placing Tua Pachenmu on the same level should further increase the friction.

The problem is…

‘Easier said than done.’

Easier said than done, how could achieving Great Accomplishment in Tua Pachenmu possibly be easy?

‘Even the founder couldn’t reach Great Accomplishment with this power…’

Since it’s a time when even the Conqueror Venerate is struggling to reach Great Accomplishment, that path wouldn’t be easy at all.

“And… I need to touch upon the Heavenly Demon Divine Art a bit too.”

I practiced the energy of Tua Pachenmu all night, but that was all; I couldn’t practice the movements.

In the first place, my level was already too advanced to use my body in the training ground.

If I misjudged the power control even slightly, the building itself would be torn apart, so I couldn’t move my body and could only circulate the energy.

‘It feels like I might grasp something.’

Something brushed past me in that process.

The problem is…

‘…what was it?’

I felt it, but I didn’t know exactly what it was.

A glimpse of enlightenment. Is that all it was, coming briefly?

“Hmph.”

While thinking, ‘At least it came,’ I couldn’t help but feel annoyed that I couldn’t grasp it in the end.

‘Should I ask the Conqueror Venerate?’

Asking the Conqueror Venerate of this era could be one method.

No, perhaps it would be the fastest method.

That person only cares about mastering his own martial arts, regardless of whether I had regressed or anything else happened.

“Hmm.”

I shook my hand, changing my thoughts. Shaking off all the remaining energy, I set my priority.

‘For now.’

I need to move now.

I had to leave the training ground. It was about time for the Azure Dragon Commander to demand assembly.

* * *

The place I headed after leaving was the Azure Dragon Brigade’s training field. I hadn’t arrived late, but when I arrived, it was already crowded with people.

Ah, perhaps I was the latest?

‘Those gazes are intimidating.’

Maybe because I, the youngest, was the latest, the stares glaring at me were intense. However, no one pointed it out specifically.

Was it because of what I did to Namgung Jin, and the fact that I’d hit the same squad member last night?

‘It seems the rumors have already spread.’

The guys glaring at me with swollen faces. I could see the guys I’d hit there too.

Ignoring their gazes, I walked towards Do-yun when someone called out to stop me.

“Baek Yangcheon.”

“Yes.”

It was So-i. She glared at me with a murderous look and spoke.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“What do you mean?”

“Everyone else has already arrived. Does it make sense that you’re only arriving now?”

At So-i’s words, I nodded.

“…What’s wrong with that?”

“What?”

“I wasn’t exactly late. In fact, I arrived early. It’s just that the sunbae-nim-deul arrived even earlier.”

If I were late, I’d at least apologize. But they arrived early themselves, isn’t it wrong for them to pick a fight with me like this?

“……”

At my words, So-i shut her mouth for a moment. I thought this last time too; the future Sword Empress wasn’t as verbally strong as I thought.

“That’s…”

This could also be said as meaning she’s easy to tease.

“Ah, surely not. You wouldn’t say something just because I came last, sunbae-nim, you who will lead Hua San in the future, would you? You wouldn’t be indulging in such stale, stagnant, pathetic, and murky methods, would you?”

“……”

So-i’s expression fell. At the same time, I could see her ears turn slightly red.

Seeing that, I laughed inwardly.

‘I don’t know why such a soft-hearted person is acting like that.’

The Sword Empress is a good person.

She’s a woman with deep consideration and strong self-sacrifice, among the best I know.

Such a person wouldn’t do bad things just because she was young.

This, in my opinion…

‘Whose doing is this?’

It doesn’t seem like So-i’s own action. Someone must have instigated it.

Of course.

‘There might be the factor that she dislikes me, but…’

Since So-i herself currently views me unfavorably, she might have acted upon it, but she didn’t decide and act on it herself.

“Isn’t that right, Sunbae-nim?”

“That’s…”

So-i hesitates. She probably realized herself that it was not the right thing to do.

Someone’s influence was clearly involved in this.

Finding out who it was was simple.

“This is absurd.”

‘Found them.’

The guy who would butt in during this situation. All I had to do was look at him.

Just then, someone interrupted our conversation between So-i and me. It was someone I hadn’t seen before.

“If you’re a rookie, you’re supposed to set an example yourself and do what’s proper. Are you trying to break the unit’s rules, you punk?”

“Hmm.”

Who was it? It was a man characterized by small eyes and a thin jawline. His age seemed to be around the early twenties.

“…Why are you staring at me like that?”

As I stared intently at him, the man asked me back.

“Ah. It’s nothing much, I just don’t know who you are. Who are you?”

“……!”

At my question, those around flinched.

“…You don’t know who I am?”

“Yes. Ah, of course, I know you’re a fellow Sword Brigade member.”

I just don’t know who he is. So when I asked, the man’s face instantly turned red.

“…This punk! Because the Commander favors you, you don’t know the fear of the world!”

“…No, why are you getting angry…”

“You don’t know me, Bi-mun Geom Wi-seok?!”

“…How would I know that… Huh? Wi-seok?”

Hearing the name, I paused. As I asked back in surprise, Wi-seok chuckled, perhaps pleased by it.

“Yes, you finally realized. I am Bi-mun Geom Wi-seok.”

“…Wi-seok?”

The guy proudly uttered his epithet, looking triumphant, but what surprised me was the guy’s name itself.

‘If it’s Wi-seok.’

Later, during the outbreak of the Jeongma Great War, when the Snow Flower Brigade was founded, the guy who was appointed as its commander.

The director of the Gwangdong branch, whom I killed while going to meet the Sword Demon.

That’s his name.

Remembering that, I stared calmly at the guy.

‘…Come to think of it, he looks similar?’

Looking at him now, he does resemble him. Could this possibly be…

‘That bastard?’

That damned bastard’s childhood, the one who betrayed Wi Seol-ah.

Is that him?

As I stared blankly, recalling that.

“Ha, it’s fine if you know now. If you show proper etiquette immediately, I’ll forgive your current rudeness.”

Wi-seok chuckled, looking at me, and spoke.

That’s when it happened.

“Now, come at me-“

CRACK!

“Gah…?”

My foot moved on its own and struck the guy’s knee joint.

Hearing the sound of something breaking, Wi-seok staggered.

“Ah, seriously.”

Seeing the staggering guy, I laughed.

“Ruining my mood right from the morning.”

“Nnngh-!”

As he tried to scream in belated pain, I clamped my hand over his mouth.

“Nnngh…! Mmph!”

The guy struggled with a pained expression.

Looking at him, I said.

“Hey.”

“Nnngh…”

“Shut up. Before I rip your neck off.”

“…!”

Fsssh-!

With the killing intent leaking out with my words, those around flinched.

Ah, crap… This was troublesome.

‘Seeing the bastard I want to kill, I can’t control myself well.’

I tried to hold back, but it wasn’t easy at all.

It’s not just any guy, and it’s especially this guy.

Even as I thought I should let go, my strength unintentionally increased.

The impulse to actually rip his neck off was surging up to the top of my head just as…

“Oh my. What is this situation?”

I paused.

At the voice that reached my ears, my head turned involuntarily.

“……?”

I made eye contact with the owner of the voice. There was a woman at the entrance, looking curiously this way.

She also smiled when our eyes met.

“Nice to see you? Should I say it’s been a while? It hasn’t been that long, though. Anyway.”

Her tone was cheerful as she spoke. She looked exactly like someone I knew, but with a completely different aura.

“…Miss Hyeon?”

Namgung Bi-ah’s mother. Hyeon So-yeon.

She, who shouldn’t have been here, was here.

Seeing her, I released the grip on Wi-seok.