Chapter 275: Generation of Shooting Stars. (4)

A day had passed since arriving in Hanam.

Since I had deliberately arrived earlier than scheduled to give myself some leeway.

It was a point in time where about three days remained until the day of entering Sillyong Pavilion.

I had deliberately moved the date forward to arrive leisurely, but…

Despite arriving early, there wasn’t really anything specific to do.

“Grrr….”

“Your posture’s loosening. Aren’t you doing it right?”

“Gack…!”

At my words, a groan close to a scream came from below.

It was Gu Jeolyub, diligently doing push-ups.

For reference, I was sitting on his back.

“Put your strength into your arms properly.”

“Nngh…!”

“You’re doing well, let’s go a bit heavier.”

“No, wai…!”

Thump!

“Gack!”

As soon as I loosened my grip and increased the weight, Gu Jeolyub staggered and then collapsed flat onto the ground.

“Tsk tsk, if you can’t even endure this much, what are you going to do, you damn man?”

“…Most people wouldn’t be able to endure this much…”

“Muyeon did it just fine.”

“…Ngh.”

Gu Jeolyub reacted immediately upon being compared to Muyeon, but it seemed there was no other way.

Gu Jeolyub seemed to be paying noticeably more attention to Muyeon lately.

Knowing that vaguely, I couldn’t help but send a strange look his way.

‘It must be because of the Guseon Sect.’

After Gu Chang-jun died, although the Chief Swordmaster and the First Elder were currently managing it as acting Sect Leaders.

Someday, a proper Sect Leader must lead the Guseon Sect.

The ones most likely to do so right now were Muyeon and Gu Jeolyub.

They were, after all, people who had learned and grown up in the Guseon Sect.

And as they were two exceptionally talented individuals.

If one were to choose the martial artists who would lead the Guseon Sect in the future.

Those two were the most likely candidates.

Of course, there were many martial artists originally active in the Guseon Sect, but…

If judging solely by potential and possibility, there seemed to be no one superior to these two.

‘Originally, Gu Jeolyub would have had the highest probability, but.’

Probability this or that.

Originally, it would have been right for Gu Jeolyub to serve as the Junior Sect Leader, but…

Since Gu Chang-jun had met a dishonorable death by rebelling against the established families.

A problem had arisen for Gu Jeolyub, his descendant, to take the position of Sect Leader of the Guseon Sect.

‘Hmm….’

Gu Jeolyub himself seemed to think it wasn’t a rightful position, and…

He seemed to want to achieve something through his own skills.

If you consider it that way.

‘Why of all people is the competitor Muyeon?’

He was truly a subtle opponent.

Muyeon was still superior in terms of talent, cultivation level, and even disposition.

‘Knowing that, is he trying harder?’

If that’s the case, I could offer some support.

Moreover, isn’t this also a form of help?

I’m pushing him to succeed, aren’t I?

‘It’s absolutely not because I didn’t like what he said yesterday.’

It’s not because of spite.

I’m not that narrow-minded.

“Alright, since we’re on the topic, shall we spar?”

“…What topic are you talking about? That came out of nowhere.”

“You like it too? That’s fortunate.”

“…”

Gu Jeolyub made a face like he’d just eaten a bug.

This bastard…?

I was trying to help him out here.

And while I’m at it, I could blow off some steam too.

How great is that.

Grabbing Gu Jeolyub, who looked like he’d rather die than go, by the neck.

Just as I was about to drag him towards the field behind.

I stopped, sensing someone’s presence.

“Il-gongjanim?”

Gu Jeolyub looked at me curiously, but…

“Excuse me.”

At the voice that soon came from behind, he seemed to realize why I was doing that.

“It seems you have woken up.”

I said to the owner of the voice, without bothering to look back.

“Yes, embarrassingly, I’ve only just come to my senses.”

“I don’t think I hit you that hard.”

“Haha, the journey was a bit tiring…”

Glancing back to check.

As expected, Yeongpung was standing there.

“It’s been a long time. Young Hero Gu.”

“Indeed. It has been a long time.”

It’s been about two years since I went to Mount Hua.

It had probably been about that long.

Yeongpung was vastly different from back then.

His height seemed a bit greater, and his appearance, which had highlighted his youthful charm, had…

…now become well-defined, giving him the air of a true martial artist.

“Hmm….”

As soon as I saw Yeongpung’s face, I scowled deeply.

Still handsome, annoyingly so.

I had thought of it before.

Why is it that talented people are handsome too?

It’s quite displeasing.

‘Furthermore….’

Casually observing Yeongpung’s physique, I could immediately tell.

‘He’d crossed the barrier.’

Although I hadn’t examined him properly yesterday.

Yeongpung had crossed the barrier and reached the pinnacle in the time I hadn’t seen him.

Knowing that, I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.

‘It feels like anyone can cross it these days.’

As for me, it’s an unusual situation, so I can let that slide.

But why do these guys cross the barrier so easily?

The pinnacle is a realm that a typical martial artist must train their entire life just to barely reach.

The point where one breaks through the dantian, synchronizing energy and body.

As it’s a realm where one breaks through a shell once.

It’s not a place one can simply break through just through effort and desire.

‘…This is why these geniuses…’

They just breeze through it like that after a little nudge.

Wouldn’t you be jealous?

As far as I know, Yeongpung hasn’t even passed his coming-of-age ceremony yet.

‘Isn’t he one or two years younger than Namgung Bi-ah?’

For such a Yeongpung to have risen from the cusp of top-tier to the pinnacle in just over two years.

Since Yeongpung was already at the cusp of the top-tier originally.

Him reaching the pinnacle now wasn’t entirely strange, but…

“Haha….”

Perhaps sensing my gaze, Yeongpung too.

Seemingly a bit embarrassed, scratched the back of his head.

Seeing that, I opened my mouth.

“Congratulations.”

“Thank you…. It’s all thanks to you, Young Hero Gu.”

“What did I do?”

“Knowingly or unknowingly, I know you helped me.”

“Hmm…”

Yeongpung’s words made me put on a reluctant expression.

Helped, you say.

If you consider it help, then I suppose I did help, but…

Honestly, I just beat him up because I didn’t like him showing off.

They say someone destined for success gains enlightenment even by tripping over a rock.

“I didn’t do much, really.”

In reality, I hadn’t done much.

I just beat him up.

Yeongpung kept smiling at this, and then.

Looked at me and brought up another topic.

“I thought I had worked hard in my own way… but seeing you, Young Hero, I realize the path I still have to travel is still very long.”

“…”

It was extremely awkward praise.

Moreover, it meant Yeongpung could gauge my level to some extent.

‘He’s outstanding.’

As expected, a talented person is a talented person.

The Yeongpung I was seeing now was definitely a talented one.

“But why did you act like that yesterday?”

That’s one thing.

I couldn’t understand the incident that happened yesterday at all.

“…Ah.”

“You didn’t seem like the type to do that. Master, did you eat something strange?”

I heard Yeongpung suddenly picked a fight and started a sword fight.

Although there was no intent to kill.

Engaging in a sparring match involving bets on such a crowded street was problematic.

Yeongpung wore a wry smile at my reprimanding question.

He seemed to know he was at fault.

“…It’s because I got too greedy.”

“Greedy?”

“Yes, after crossing the barrier, I haven’t been able to calm down easily.”

I could vaguely understand the reason behind Yeongpung’s words.

As energy permeated and vitality surged through his body.

It sounded like his fighting spirit was bubbling up uncontrollably.

Still, not being able to control himself was this guy’s fault.

Getting caught up in the stakes and picking a fight wasn’t a good thing.

Whether he knew that himself, Yeongpung slowly bowed his head as he looked at me.

“Thank you. I receive your help again this time, Young Hero Gu.”

“You don’t need to thank me.”

It wasn’t just me watching back then.

Moreover, considering the timing of Sword Matriarch’s appearance.

It was highly probable she was watching too.

I’d have to think about why she didn’t intervene, but.

My feeling is that martial artists from the Gonryun Sect were watching too.

‘This time’s Sillyong Pavilion Master was Cheonghae’s Single Sword, wasn’t it?’

Cheonghae’s Single Sword.

One of the Central Plains’ Ten Great Experts, one of the Seven Iron Rods and Three Fists.

I had vaguely heard that the Sillyong Pavilion would be managed by the Gonryun Sect this time.

It seems likely that’s the reason.

Although I moved quickly.

What would have happened if I hadn’t intervened unnecessarily?

‘I would have managed to stop it somehow.’

I could have stopped it.

Just stopping them would have been enough.

That wouldn’t have been bad either.

“By the way, why is Sword Matriarch here?”

“Ah…”

Yeongpung wore a somewhat awkward expression at my question.

What is it? Was that something I shouldn’t have asked?

“Because she had business… I came along with her.”

‘Business, huh.’

Judging by the feeling, it seemed like business she shouldn’t mention to me.

Yesterday too, Sword Matriarch had roughly taken care of Yeongpung and left, so we hadn’t talked for long.

“Did your disciple, Master Yeongpung, come alone then?”

“Ah, no. I came with other senior disciples.”

Yeongpung’s words made me nod.

It was only natural.

As far as I know, there were a few more third-generation disciples around Yeongpung’s age.

Surely they didn’t just recommend Yeongpung for entry into Sillyong Pavilion?

‘Whether they pass or not is another matter, but it wouldn’t be like that.’

As I was lost in thought for a moment.

Yeongpung bowed his head again to greet me.

“Today, hearing you were here, Young Hero, I came briefly to pay my respects and offer my thanks.”

“Why bother? Doesn’t your neck hurt?”

“…It’s fine.”

Seeing his expression, he must be hurting.

Did I hit him too hard to knock him out?

Regardless, since he’s reached the pinnacle, he’ll recover quickly.

“Is, is she doing well?”

“Who… Ah, perhaps you mean Gu Sa-go?”

“Yes.”

He asked about my sibling.

After all, since her master, Sword Matriarch, was here.

I was also curious about what Gu Ryeong-hwa was doing alone.

“Sa-go is always busy.”

“Busy?”

“Yes, after all, even though Young Master So Sabaekjo isn’t here, Gu Sa-go receives a lot of attention from the martial uncles.”

From Yeongpung’s words, it seemed she was generally well-liked and doing well.

‘That’s fortunate.’

Although we occasionally exchange letters.

It seemed that knocking her out without permission before we parted last time might still have been on her mind.

Gu Ryeong-hwa was still sending letters with her resentment towards me written at the end, so I was a bit concerned.

Even so, I couldn’t go all the way there just to see her face.

As I was thinking that, Yeongpung suddenly spoke up.

“I’m glad I could greet you briefly.”

“Are you leaving now?”

“I suppose I can’t stay long, as my senior disciples are waiting.”

Judging by the feel of it, he really just came to say hello.

Seeing Yeongpung about to leave without lingering, I spoke up.

“Shall I return it?”

This statement.

Was from before.

Before parting ways with Yeongpung at Mount Hua.

It was about the item Yeongpung had given me.

I had kept it.

Since I knew I’d meet him this time, I had brought it along.

At my words, Yeongpung showed a surprised expression.

A look that said he didn’t expect me to remember.

Then soon after, hiding his expression, he shook his head slightly.

“Please keep it for now.”

“…Then when will you return it?”

I don’t have a hobby of keeping men’s belongings?

Understanding the meaning of my words, Yeongpung chuckled.

And then said in a rather honest voice, as if sincere.

“When I stand in an equal position with you, Young Hero, I want to receive it then.”

“…Oh.”

The words spoken with a serious expression seemed truly sincere, but.

…It was quite cringe-worthy.

Because I’m weak in this area, it was a bit awkward.

I don’t know what goal he set.

But why did he choose me?

“That might be a bit difficult then?”

It was realistic advice, in a way.

However, perhaps he liked it even more, as Yeongpung just smiled wider.

“I expected you to say that.”

It seemed like he interpreted it differently, but.

…If he’s happy with it, then that’s fine.

“I’m glad we could meet again. Young Hero Gu.”

“…Yes, I’m glad you’re glad to see me.”

“I’ll visit you again later.”

“If you’re busy, you don’t have to…”

Perhaps not intending to hear my final answer.

He quickly bowed and left.

See you later?

‘Right, since we’ll be going inside anyway, we’ll see each other even if we don’t try to.’

Unless a major natural disaster occurred.

There was no way Yeongpung wouldn’t be admitted to Sillyong Pavilion.

And the same applied to me.

We’ll probably see each other once inside.

Whether it’s Yeongpung.

Or that guy U-hyeok.

After Yeongpung left like that.

As I was about to move again.

A voice came from below me.

“Il-gongjanim…”

“Huh?”

“…Can you please move aside now?”

“Ah, right.”

Gu Jeolyub’s voice reminded me I was sitting on him like a chair, so I got up slightly.

“Sorry, I was concentrating for a moment.”

As I apologized and moved away.

Gu Jeolyub struggled to get up.

Was he like this the entire time I was talking to Yeongpung?

Yeongpung not even noticing that would be stranger…?

As I moved away.

Only then did Gu Jeolyub get up.

“…Ngh. It’s okay. Now we should also return…”

“Where are you going? We have to go spar now.”

“…”

“Bastard, stop pretending you didn’t hear. Follow me.”

“…My foot.”

“What?”

“No. My foot… my sole hurts a bit.”

“After cursing me out, what do you mean, foot sole? You wanna die?”

“No, you heard everything anyway, why pretend you didn’t hear… Aack!”

Gu Jeolyub, mid-sentence, rolled on the ground from my kick.

This bastard keeps getting bolder day by day.

I continued to roll him towards the field.

Then, I began the brazen training session of sparring.

Since I had diligently set up even the soundproof barrier, Gu Jeolyub’s screams probably couldn’t be heard.