Chapter 277: Winter Rain. (1)

Paejon (Defeated Honored One) Biju.

One of the absolute rulers of the Central Plains, known as the Three Honored Ones of the World.

Even though he had surpassed the limits of transcendence.

A man who never let go of the epithet ‘Pae’ (Defeated).

The pinnacle of martial artists in the martial arts lineage.

Based on countless real battles.

He was a monster expected to have reached the ultimate mastery of practical martial arts.

And indeed.

On the day I clashed with him in the past.

I had to feel a desperate difference.

The way he looked.

The tips of his outstretched fingers.

The tips of his advancing toes.

They made me realize why Paejon was called the pinnacle of the martial arts lineage.

He truly is a monster.

Not just a compliment vaguely calling ordinary people or outstanding geniuses monsters.

Paejon was a martial artist who showed the ultimate mastery of how far one could go with a human body.

If Majianhou (Demon Sword Marquis) had joined even a little later back then.

I would surely have met my death right there.

Furthermore, the wounds I received then were at a level that couldn’t have regenerated without the Heavenly Demon’s touch.

Moreover.

Even that Heavenly Demon, whose level was unthinkable for a human.

Thinking about how he didn’t hesitate to praise Paejon’s movements.

I could gauge his level.

With a single step, he could make the ground tremble.

With a single touch, he could shatter Mount Tai.

He doesn’t refuse a match.

And he doesn’t hesitate to lose.

There’s something Paejon mentioned back when he was a later-generation disciple.

‘Even if I lose once.’

‘As long as my head is still attached.’

‘I will win someday.’

It was an arrogant yet confident statement.

As if to prove that statement.

A man born of the Bi family.

Over twenty years ago.

Back when the man was called by the epithet ‘Paecheolgyeon’ (Defeated Iron Dog).

After he single-handedly killed three of the absolute masters of the Demonic Sect, then known as the Eight Demonic Lords, changing them into the Five Demonic Lords.

The man came to be called Paejon.

Having thus ascended to the position of Honored One, Paejon.

While spending his remaining years staying in his territory to the west, occasionally showing his face in the martial world.

One summer day about ten years ago.

He disappeared without a trace.

I guess it was around that time.

The day he gave up everything and obtained a young body.

I swallowed a gulp of air, trying hard, and looked at the youth before my eyes.

The youth had long, flowing black hair.

And eyes the color of ink, unlit by the faintest dawn.

‘Certainly, different from my past life.’

His impression is much younger than back then.

However.

Gulp-

Is it because I know this youth is Paejon?

Or perhaps it’s this precarious aura poking insistently at my back?

I had to keep swallowing the dry saliva rising in my throat.

‘Biju….’

It’s quite different from when I faced the current Geomjon (Sword Honored One).

Geomjon was truly a frail old man.

Even when I tried to look, or rather, to perceive him deeply.

It meant he was at a level where I could feel nothing.

This signifies that the gap between Geomjon and me has widened that much.

In this land of the Central Plains, the beings who can gauge Geomjon’s power.

Are probably fewer than ten even if you count them all, so it’s only natural.

And that person.

Was one of those ten fingers.

Though perhaps not anymore.

‘I can’t see him.’

At least, I couldn’t perceive Paejon’s current state.

Is it truly because our levels are different?

That wouldn’t be it.

It’s simply because Paejon is skilled at hiding his internal energy.

Which means his ability to hide and control his internal energy is overwhelming.

Or perhaps, as a master of rejuvenation, he might be stuck at a negligible level.

‘Judging by my past life, that’s not the case.’

Back then, Paejon.

Even considering he had undergone rejuvenation.

Was not at a level inferior to the other Three Honored Ones.

His degraded body.

And the internal energy he possessed must have been scattered and gone.

How could he possibly recover that in just a few decades?

It’s something I can’t dare to imagine.

This means that, regardless, to achieve that, he must have already been laying the foundation from now.

Along with that level of training.

There must have also been a fortuitous encounter to recover his internal energy.

As I was diligently recalling Paejon in my mind.

Tuk-tuk.

‘…!’

Paejon, no, the youth now called Bi Uijin, took a step towards me.

Tuk-tuk.

He walked slowly.

His gaze and direction were towards me.

‘What the hell?’

My breath caught in my throat.

I was already flustered by the sudden appearance of that man.

Does he have business with me…?

‘-I’m going to go see your face once.’

‘Ah.’

Only then did I recall the letter Paejon had sent me.

‘…No way, he didn’t come to see me, did he?’

No, why would the Paejon of the world, having nothing better to do,

Come all the way here just to see me?

‘Did Tyrong leave the Divine Dragon Academy in my past life?’

I don’t remember well.

Tyrong or whatever.

Ta-da~!

‘Paejon was actually Tyrong!’

I never cared until I heard something like that.

How would I know that?

‘Maybe he doesn’t know who I am?’

I briefly held onto that hope.

He probably doesn’t even know my face well, so couldn’t he just let it slide…?

“Ah, Young Master Bi! Over here! This is the Young Master Gu I mentioned!”

“…”

I was planning to bolt.

But I crumbled the moment Tang Xiaoye, sitting next to me, excitedly spoke.

Oblivious to my thoughts, Tang Xiaoye continued speaking with a silly grin.

She even whispered in my ear as if proud.

“I bragged a lot about you, Gongja-nim.”

“What… did you say?”

“How cool you looked at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, how incredibly handsome you are… and how strong you are?”

“…”

What should I do?

I think I’m screwed?

Wouldn’t it be okay if I just ran away right now?

I had already confirmed an escape route the moment Bi Uijin entered, but.

Thump.

By the time I thought of that, Bi Uijin was already standing before me.

It’s too late.

At this distance, even raising my internal energy wouldn’t be enough to escape.

Should I just charge at him?

That might even be better.

“…”

His eyes are heavy.

Empty and dark.

Impossible to know what he’s thinking.

That’s what they were like.

Filled with tension.

I raised all my senses, looking at Bi Uijin.

So I could react immediately, no matter what happened.

Then.

Swish.

As if he had been waiting, Bi Uijin moved.

---

The youngest of the Bi family.

And the one playing the role of the younger sister among the three siblings, Bibi.

Was looking at her second older brother, lost in peculiar thoughts.

‘It’s strange, my brother showing interest in someone.’

He didn’t seem particularly interested in worldly affairs.

My brother, who seemed only interested in resting or strolling within the family estate.

Was showing interest in someone else for some reason.

Of course, it wasn’t that he had no interest in anyone at all.

Sometimes it seemed like he went to meet someone, calling them a friend…

But Bibi had never seen them, so she thought her second brother was lying.

There was no way someone with that bizarre personality could have friends.

Her second brother, who was three years her senior.

Was truly a strange person even from his younger sister’s perspective.

While others risked their lives fighting over who would become the family head.

It was like how he readily gave up the position of junior family head to his first older brother.

And how he had no interest whatsoever in external matters.

‘My second brother is much stronger, though…’

It seemed like he was keeping it a secret from her, but.

Bibi had seen it.

A few years ago, her first older brother getting beaten black and blue by her second brother late at night.

She didn’t know the reason, but.

Her first brother must have gotten caught acting out again.

Bibi simply thought so.

She also knew that her first brother had been depressed for a while after that day.

Wasn’t her first brother even listed among the later-generation disciples called the Six Dragons and Three Peaks, something he couldn’t even achieve?

Bibi felt proud about this.

After all, it was she who had forcefully persuaded her second brother, who absolutely refused to go to the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, to attend.

She had hoped the world would recognize how strong her brother was.

As planned, he gained the epithet Tyrong and received public attention, but.

That man seemed completely uninterested in going out into the world after that.

‘Father is strange too.’

Her father, the head of the Bi family, was also somewhat strange.

There was no discrimination like it.

Her father would find any excuse to nag the first brother and herself.

But he seemed to have given up on the second brother, barely paying him any attention.

No, that’s not right.

Sometimes he would ask her how her second brother was doing.

Seeing as he asked about his mood, it seemed he did care.

But why ask her instead of him directly?

She had no idea why he asked her…

Anyway.

Father doesn’t seek out her second brother.

Rather, if there was business, her brother would visit their father.

Each time, she saw their father’s face turn grim.

‘…Is he getting scolded?’

She had amusingly thought that once. The thought of her brother scolding their father.

But she quickly dismissed it, thinking, ‘Surely not.’

Moreover, this trip to Henan was for a similar reason as the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.

Bibi wanted to get her second brother out of the family estate somehow.

She used his particular weakness towards her as leverage.

And had devised all sorts of plans…

Unusually.

‘-Let’s go.’

This time, he followed without much resistance.

His compliance made her suspicious.

She was so suspicious that she even tied their arms together with a rope, fearing he might run off after agreeing to come.

‘Strange.’

A person who hated going out, even if it meant death.

Agreed to come to this Shingnyongguan without complaint.

Bibi found it strange.

She had even prepared to starve for a week.

‘Meeting Miss Tang midway was also fortunate.’

Meeting the famous Poison Phoenix by chance during the journey. Isn’t that remarkable?

Bibi’s gaze fixed on Tang Xiaoye.

‘Pretty….’

Her beautifully colored hair.

Her round, large eyes.

And the attractive mole beneath her eye.

Moreover, her martial arts were outstanding enough to be called the Poison Phoenix.

To Bibi, Tang Xiaoye was a fascinating person.

Traveling with a female martial artist she somewhat respected was quite a novel experience.

What was slightly puzzling, though.

‘Her personality doesn’t seem like that?’

Quiet and cold.

The way she said everything she needed to while maintaining politeness.

Was exactly the image of a daughter from a prestigious family that Bibi had dreamed of.

That was Tang Xiaoye herself.

But now…

“Gongja-nim, you know, I encountered a demonic beast on the way here….”

Her clinging to the side of an unknown man and chattering away was completely different.

It wasn’t that she was disappointed, but it was certainly an unfamiliar sight.

Next, Bibi shifted her gaze from Tang Xiaoye.

She looked at the person Tang Xiaoye was fawning over.

‘That person…’

Is the martial artist my brother seems interested in.

And the main topic of conversation for Tang Xiaoye throughout the journey.

The True Dragon (眞龍) Gu Yangcheon.

He was the last person to join the Six Dragons and Three Peaks, wasn’t he?

‘He really looks fierce.’

That was her initial impression.

His face shape was fine and proper, but his eyes were sharply upturned.

And his expression was furrowed as if displeased.

It was a face that wasn’t easy to approach.

‘Even my second brother isn’t like that.’

Even Bi Uijin, who is often called cold and expressionless.

Isn’t on that level.

Tang Xiaoye had been talking nonstop about how handsome and cool he was the entire way.

She wondered how great he must be.

‘…?’

Only questions arose in Bibi’s mind.

He wasn’t ugly, but he wasn’t exactly handsome either.

Moreover.

‘…!’

As Bibi turned her head, she involuntarily gasped.

Because the other companions sitting next to Gu Yangcheon were unusual.

‘What the…? How can a person look like that…?’

A stoic-looking, cold beauty with white hair sat there.

Her gaze was fixed solely on Gu Yangcheon, but she seemed to be subtly observing her surroundings.

Sssip.

As soon as Gu Yangcheon’s teacup was empty, she poured another.

And glanced sideways at the chattering Tang Xiaoye.

Even such glances, combined with her appearance, made her look like a painting.

The woman next to her was also unbelievably beautiful, but with a different aura…

‘Wait, isn’t that person Snow Phoenix?’

Bibi unconsciously frowned as she examined the woman.

Her pale blue attire and glossy, straight black hair.

Including her alluring appearance.

And her sky-blue eyes.

Those clothes were definitely from the Moyong Family.

And she had heard that only Snow Phoenix possessed such characteristics there.

‘…Poison Phoenix and Snow Phoenix… What on earth is going on?’

How could such women be surrounding the True Dragon?

Bibi felt her head grow somewhat complicated by the inexplicable situation.

In this inn with few patrons.

It meant four people, Dragons and Phoenixes, were gathered.

It’s not like it’s the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering…

Just as Bibi was starting to feel overwhelmed by the situation.

‘This might not be so bad, actually?’

It felt somewhat romantic and acceptable.

When else would she find herself in such a situation?

‘One must stay positive.’

Bibi inwardly nodded.

For now, she just had to watch how her brother would react.

‘What is he planning to do?’

Bi Uijin walked slowly and stopped in front of the True Dragon.

Watching him, she felt a growing sense of unease.

Usually, when that man acts like that.

It’s either when he’s beating someone to a pulp.

Or when he’s fixing the guy he pulverized.

‘…Surely he’s not going to hit him, is he?’

No matter how crazy my brother is.

He wouldn’t just throw the first punch at another Dragon…

‘Or would he?’

Recalling when she followed and watched her brother participate in a martial arts tournament back then.

Remembering how he mercilessly destroyed everyone, dragons or otherwise, with a blank expression.

The thought that maybe he would flickered through her mind.

Just then, Bibi saw Bi Uijin’s hand move.

Ah, damn it. That’s the real deal?

He must be planning to start by slapping him.

Bibi quickly moved.

She intended to pull Bi Uijin away by hugging him from behind.

“Older bro…!”

But Bi Uijin was faster.

Bi Uijin’s hand swiftly reached out towards Gu Yangcheon.

“Nice to meet you.”

“Huh?”

He offered Gu Yangcheon a handshake.

Seeing that, Bibi had to stop her movement.

“I am Bi Uijin of the Bi family.”

“Huh?”

Could it be that this stone-like man.

Is greeting someone else first?

As if confirming it.

Bi Uijin continued speaking while looking at Gu Yangcheon.

“Are you the young hero Gu Yangcheon, known as the True Dragon?”

It seemed Bibi wasn’t the only one surprised; Gu Yangcheon also looked at Bi Uijin with a somewhat dazed expression.

As if it were an unexpected situation.

However, the silence was brief.

Gu Yangcheon gave a slight nod in response to Bi Uijin’s words, confirming it.

“I see.”

Upon hearing the answer, Bi Uijin grinned.

Bibi broke out in a cold sweat at that moment.

“Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you from my master.”

Because he was usually on the verge of causing some major trouble.

What was strange, though.

Was that Gu Yangcheon’s expression also changed upon hearing Bi Uijin’s words.

How should I describe that?

‘…It feels like something’s gone wrong?’

That’s probably the feeling.

It was just a greeting, why would he make that kind of expression…?

But the doubt was fleeting.

‘But… did my brother have a master?’

Bibi had to question Bi Uijin’s words.

After all, she had never seen her brother learn martial arts from anyone.

Their father hadn’t assigned any other teachers to her second brother either.

Even without that, Bi Uijin had grown stronger on his own.

But.

‘Master?’

Who could he be referring to?

Bibi couldn’t understand.

As the situation slowly unfolded.

Tududuk.

Tuk.

Unexpected sounds came from outside the window.

Bibi casually glanced out the window.

And there.

“Bi?”

Rain was falling.

It wasn’t heavy rain, but.

It was somewhat unusual for it to rain in the winter weather like this.

Considering the cold, snow would have been more appropriate than rain, but.

As if such things didn’t matter.

Winter rain slowly began to fall from the sky outside the inn.