Chapter 308: Wicked Cheolyang Cheol. (1)

At the Dragon Soaring Hall, the daily routine isn’t particularly complicated.

As soon as we wake up, after about two hours of morning training.

After breakfast, we begin sword training.

Instructors are assigned according to each specialty.

Depending on the instructor’s discretion, they decide whether to proceed with theoretical lessons or other types of training.

Personally, I tended to hate theoretical lessons the most.

“Because of this… when dealing with Blue-grade monsters, you must remove the magic stone to reduce the risk of explosion after death…”

‘I don’t know how many times I’ve heard this.’

It was even more so because it was content I already knew.

This was the same for the other Hall disciples. They must have learned theory in their families or sects, but most of them were guys who did a lot of physical activity, so theoretical lessons were nothing short of hell.

Everyone kept their mouths shut tight, but they were probably fighting a significant battle inwardly. A life-or-death struggle against drowsiness, that is.

“Ggreeuk…”

Pae Woocheol, who was actually listening next to me, was constantly pinching his own thigh to stay awake.

He’ll end up bleeding…

…It looks like he’s already bleeding.

‘Hmm….’

I thought, ‘Why is so much education needed just to catch monsters?’ but in reality, it was quite a necessary part. It wasn’t an era where warriors fought warriors. As monsters had become the main enemy, such knowledge was essential for safer and more efficient hunting.

‘…Actually, I regretted it quite a bit.’

When I became a demon.

Or, before that, when I was running around as part of the Martial Alliance.

There were more than one or two times I almost died due to lack of knowledge about monsters.

Of course, I had knowledge gained through hard experience, so it’s okay now, but

‘I crashed hard, damn it.’

I’d even ended up inside a Red-grade monster’s mouth and counted its teeth.

No, honestly.

Green and Blue grades can be learned through knowledge, but what about Red-grade monsters?

There was truly no answer for that.

All warriors living in the current era have not experienced Red-grade monsters. Because the Demonic Realm Gate hasn’t opened to that level. This means that the only person in this era who has experienced a Red-grade monster is only me. Assuming that the only being who experienced the strange event called regression is only me right now. That’s why it’s meaningless.

This is also why the other Hall disciples listen to theoretical lessons half-heartedly. Green-grade monsters can be easily dealt with, no matter how many swarm, and Blue-grade ones can be handled by those above first-class level as long as they don’t let their guard down. While unique traits or individual dangers exist, the probability of not being harmed when unleashing Ki is high. This means they aren’t particularly dangerous.

In fact, even in my case, as long as Blue-grade monsters don’t swarm from all directions, it wouldn’t be particularly dangerous. If a mutated individual were mixed in, maybe, but Even when I spent over a year on the front lines, there weren’t any particularly dangerous enemies. Rather, it was convenient because I could fill the stomach of the beggar brat inside me. If anything was dangerous, it was when Gu Huibi got angry.

In that sense, this is an era of peace. Monsters still exist, and the Demonic Realm Gates continue to open, but now, the response to monsters has become considerably faster. Damage to civilians is reported consistently, but most people think it can’t be helped. That they were just unlucky. They just move on.

An era of peace?

In my eyes, it’s an era of oblivion. Since this situation has persisted for centuries, it’s an era of oblivion where people are lost in the thought that perhaps things will be fine if they continue like this.

‘Doesn’t matter.’

It’s not like I didn’t know it was such an era.

I scan my surroundings with a bobbing head. Hall disciples fighting drowsiness were all around.

To inherit their families, or to rise in position within their sects, they build connections and pursue a more comfortable life, but

No one knows that the moment the blood calamity arrives, everything will be ruined.

Green and Blue grades, Red-grade is on another level, so this theory is meaningless.

‘Red-grade will appear in two to three years.’

They started appearing explosively after the Demon Lord’s emergence, but the first appearance is only about a few years away.

Where was the location?

Was it Sichuan, or Xi’an?

Or perhaps Qinghai?

At that time, because it was a Red-grade monster that appeared after a long time, the entire Central Plains was abuzz with it, but my memory is hazy, so I can’t recall.

“Tsk.”

It’s rather important information. To forget something like this.

‘…When Red-grade monsters appear, formations collapse.’

If a peak martial artist, specifically one who hasn’t reached the perfected stage, cannot face a Red-grade monster alone.

In this vast Central Plains, how many perfected peak martial artists are there?

Even if you count the number of martial artists and classify them by age group, it would barely exceed a thousand.

A thousand among the countless martial artists spread across the vast land of the Central Plains. Can that number truly withstand the backlash of Red-grade monsters?

They gradually managed to defend only when a system began to take shape, but by the time they reached that point, it would already be a sea of flames.

‘Troublesome.’

If I’m lucky enough to stop the Demon Lord, maybe I can somehow get through it, but otherwise, it’s the same sequence as my previous life.

Creak.

As I leaned back in my chair, a sound echoed.

I closed my eyes briefly and shifted my thoughts.

‘I need to gradually release information.’

Weaknesses and information about Red-grade monsters.

I feel like I should slowly release it into the world, as far as I know.

Of course, they’ll dismiss it as mere fantasy, and only those who believe will believe it, but

For now, I had to do at least that.

Should I pass it on to the Beggar’s Sect?

For matters like this, the Hao Clan might be better.

“…nim.”

Or perhaps, anonymously distribute it to families or sects…

“Hyung-nim.”

“…Ah.”

While my brain was working overtime.

A gruff voice snapped me back to attention.

“Are you alright?”

It was Pae Woocheol.

“What? Is it over?”

“Yes, it just ended.”

It seemed the theoretical training had concluded. It was supposed to take about two hours, but after spacing out the entire time, it went by quickly.

“You don’t look well, are you alright? Hyung-nim.”

“I’m fine.”

My body feels stiff.

Since I couldn’t focus on the training, the time spent spacing out increased.

‘Since it doubles as training, there are no easy days.’

Ever since I found a place that seemed suitable for my status, I’ve been using the morning training time for personal practice.

Traces of internal injuries remain, but most of them have healed, so it’s at a level where I can train now.

Though it’s only basic cultivation training.

‘It’s not easy.’

I need to raise my cultivation level as soon as possible.

Perhaps it’s because of that impatience.

The wall simply wouldn’t break.

It’s strange.

‘The conditions seem to be met.’

My body is a bit lacking, but I’ve satisfied the internal energy requirements.

It’s strange that my internal energy is insufficient after eating so much.

At this level, it should be enough to advance.

‘Where is the bottleneck?’

However, I couldn’t break through the wall for some strange reason.

If I were to find a few reasons for such a situation,

First, it’s that in my previous life, I didn’t reach the Martial Realm through normal means.

‘…Ugh.’

Compared to reaching a realm through various insights and long training,

I used the internal energy absorbed through the Demonic Path Heavenly Absorption technique to forcibly raise my cultivation level.

Should I say that the overflowing internal energy shattered the wall?

Since I ascended through that process, it might not be easy to ascend through the standard method like now.

‘…It would be resolved if I obtained the White Demon Stone, but’

In that regard, if I acquired the White Demon Stone and absorbed its energy, it would be resolved in one go, but

As I mentioned before, I wanted to obtain that only after reaching the Martial Realm.

That way, I could fully obtain the White Demon Stone’s energy.

If I get greedy, I’ll lose much more.

So I had to endure.

‘I’m impatient. This isn’t a good situation.’

I cannot take the old approach. Because the end was too clear that way.

From now on, I had to build my cultivation through more upright methods, but that’s why I felt anxious.

‘If only Old Man Shin were here at times like this.’

Ha.

Thinking about it makes me chuckle emptily.

After living life driven by impulse, now I find myself needing someone to crave guidance from.

It seems I’m quite cornered.

“Hyung-nim?”

“Yeah, I’m tired. Let’s go eat.”

I stood up.

Thinking about what has no answer won’t yield anything.

I just need to keep doing what I’ve been doing.

‘Instead of overthinking, I should do what needs to be done.’

I don’t even have time to feel discouraged.

What a great life. Like a beggar.

“Woocheol-ah.”

“Yes, Hyung-nim.”

“There wasn’t anything important, right?”

“Yes, as always, it was nothing special.”

“…”

No, even if it’s nothing special to me, wouldn’t it be a bit different for you?

I looked at Pae Woocheol, who seemed dumbfounded.

Pae Woocheol clapped his hands as if remembering something.

Clap!

Perhaps because his hands were so big, the clap sound was loud too.

“Ah, it’s nothing major… At the end, the instructor said the theory part was finished, and now for the practical training…”

“There you are.”

Just as Pae Woocheol was about to give me the information, someone appeared before me and cut him off.

“Huh?”

I wondered who it was and checked.

First, his handsome eyes, nose, and lips caught my attention, and I saw the sword hanging at his waist.

Confirming the martial attire that proved he was from Wudang, his identity became clear.

“We’ve met before, haven’t we?”

The handsome young man smiled brightly at me.

One of the few people in this land I could trust.

“…Sleeping Dragon.”

Sleeping Dragon, Woo Hyuk.

“If you don’t mind, won’t you join me for a meal?”

My friend from my previous life had come to find me.

---

Sleeping Dragon, Woo Hyuk.

He was one of the few close friends I had in my previous life, and at the time, he was a highly ranked late-blooming disciple among the Five Dragons and Three Peaks.

He was the most anticipated disciple of Wudang, and unlike his lazy and indolent personality, the sharpness he displayed whenever he held a sword made him stand out immensely.

And.

What I could clearly ascertain at the time the Demonic Realm Gate Incident occurred was that the person known as Sleeping Dragon, contrary to the impression he gave in the Central Plains, was neither lazy nor indolent, but rather, he was always sharp and alert, as I came to know.

Even in that shitty situation, the reason why far more people could survive was because Wi Seol-ah, known as the Sword Sage, Sleeping Dragon, and Snow Phoenix, among others, moved relentlessly.

-“Just bear with it three times.”

-“Flame.”

Sticking to me until I was sick of it, I sometimes remember that handsome face that teased me.

As if teasing me was that enjoyable, sticking close to me, who spat out fierce and angry words, that guy who just took it all while chuckling, was merely a lunatic to me.

A lunatic, indeed.

-“You go ahead, I’ll be there shortly.”

Because of a simpleton like me.

Someone who throws away his own life is definitely a lunatic.

-“Let’s grab a drink when we get out.”

That memory still weighs heavily on me, making me remember it even now.

“Wow, did you know the food here is tastier than expected?”

“Isn’t that meat…?”

“It’s delicious, would you like to try some?”

“…No, eat plenty.”

A Taoist priest is even eating meat.

I heard Wudang disciples don’t eat meat, is that okay?

“…Hyung-nim, please…”

A person who looked like his junior disciple wore a crestfallen expression.

As expected, it seemed it wasn’t okay.

‘Even when told not to, he still eats it.’

It’s a memory from my past life.

I suddenly remembered that the supposed prodigy of Wudang ate any meat without discrimination.

“Saje.”

“…Yes?”

To Woo Yi-hyeon, the Wudang disciple trying to stop him, Sleeping Dragon seemed to have something serious to say and began speaking.

“Do you know what the most important rule at Dragon Soaring Hall is?”

“…What is it?”

“It’s to forget your background and name, and live as a disciple of Dragon Soaring Hall.”

“And?”

“Which means, while I’m here, I’m not a Taoist priest.”

“…And?”

“Since I’m not a Taoist priest, shouldn’t I be allowed to eat meat?”

“…You think so?”

“If you don’t like it, tell the Grandmaster to come!”

“Wow, he’s really crazy.”

To bring up the Grandmaster himself.

Is he really a Taoist priest of Wudang?

I nodded, watching that.

The young Sleeping Dragon was still a lunatic.

He was like that from birth. It’s somewhat fortunate.

Putting that aside,

“So. Why did you come looking for me?”

“Hmm?”

I had to ask what I needed to ask.

Seeing Sleeping Dragon was one of the reasons I came to Dragon Soaring Hall, but there were too many other things, so I hadn’t sought him out specifically, but I didn’t expect him to seek me out first.

‘Is he still holding a grudge about the time I beat him up?’

Peng Ah-hee relayed that Sleeping Dragon had asked about me, but I didn’t know the reason.

Could it really be that he’s holding a grudge because I interfered during his match with Jin Yeong-pung?

‘That doesn’t seem like his personality, though.’

At least, that’s how I knew him.

“You must have a reason for showing up so suddenly?”

“There is a reason. But Young Hero Gu, first, may I ask something?”

“What is it.”

“Why are you speaking informally?”

At Sleeping Dragon’s words, the surroundings instantly fell silent. It was because, from what I heard, it sounded cold.

“I believe I’m older than Young Hero Gu.”

“That’s right.”

Three years, or maybe two.

Sleeping Dragon must be older than me.

“So why are you speaking informally to me?”

-“Why are you speaking informally to me?”

Sleeping Dragon’s voice echoed twice.

It’s because I remembered having this exact conversation in my previous life.

Back then, I was much more ill-mannered than now, so there was no way I would have spoken respectfully to Sleeping Dragon.

And Sleeping Dragon back then asked the same thing as now.

I, who was wrapped entirely in pride, couldn’t let go of it.

-“If you don’t like it, you do it too.”

If any other martial artist heard that, it wouldn’t be strange if they immediately attacked and beat me to death. What kind of unheard-of weakling was acting tough and picking fights like this.

It was a time when it wouldn’t be strange if fists flew at me, Sleeping Dragon chuckled and replied.

“Very well.”

It was exactly the same as in my previous life.

An answer that was incredibly straightforward.

Instead, those around expressed even greater surprise.

Woo Yi-hyeon glared at his Hyung-nim, and the others around were looking at me as if asking why I was acting this way this time.

Because no matter how terribly I behaved, I had never acted this badly before.

Sleeping Dragon, seemingly unfazed by such gazes, continued speaking to me.

“Since we’re speaking informally now, are we friends?”

The words, so incredibly light, were almost disheartening.

The conversation was exactly the same as in my previous life, it almost made me feel ridiculous.

He was still the same.

If there was anything different,

-“What are you talking about? Aren’t you leaving?”

“Yes.”

It must be that my answer was different from back then.

“…What? I didn’t expect you to accept it right away.”

Sleeping Dragon seemed surprised by my reaction instead.

I didn’t really have any intention of refusing, though.

Ignoring Sleeping Dragon, who wore a slightly disappointed expression, I continued asking questions.

“So, as a celebration of becoming friends, I’m asking: why did you come looking for me?”

“To see my friend?”

“Save the cheesy jokes for later.”

I had no intention of accepting his sly deflection.

“But that means you’re willing to accept jokes later, right?”

“Do you want to talk after getting beaten, or get beaten after talking?”

Sleeping Dragon chuckled, looking dumbfounded.

Those around looked on, wondering what kind of conversation this was.

Their eyes showed they couldn’t understand how the conversation was proceeding.

I don’t know either.

It’s just been like this since my previous life.

“It’s not for any particular reason, but…”

Sleeping Dragon, after chuckling briefly, changed his expression and got to the point.

“I heard you were just forming a faction.”

“…What?”

I had to frown the moment I heard it.

A faction? My faction?

What faction.

At the sudden, shitty news, I stared intently at Sleeping Dragon, but Sleeping Dragon continued speaking without pause.

“I’d like to join it.”

“In the faction…?”

Sleeping Dragon nodded.

It was such an incredibly bizarre statement that I was rather taken aback.

He came all the way here just to ask to be included in my faction?

For such an idiotic reason…?

‘Why bother?’

He’s probably one of the least interested in Dragon Soaring Hall, so I couldn’t understand why he’d seek me out for this.

“So?”

Perhaps Sleeping Dragon’s voice wasn’t quiet, as the Hall disciples eating nearby all looked this way.

Because it meant Sleeping Dragon was joining the wicked Jin Long’s faction.

Seeing those gazes, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.

It wasn’t for any particular reason.

I just wanted to mess with him.

And maybe quell some rumors while I’m at it.

“…I’m sorry, but I can’t accept you into the faction.”

“…!”

When I refused, Sleeping Dragon’s eyes widened as if he hadn’t expected to be rejected.

“Wh-why?”

“Whether to do that or not isn’t my jurisdiction.”

“What?”

“Our faction… that is… um…”

I thought for a few seconds.

It couldn’t take long.

“R-right. To join the Cheolyang Cheol Faction, you need our leader’s permission.”

“…Cheolyang Cheol Faction? Leader?”

For reference, the Cheolyang Cheol Faction was the ‘Cheol’ from Cheol Ji-seon, the ‘Yang’ from Gu Yangcheon, and the ‘Cheol’ from Pae Woocheol.

I immediately regretted saying it. I thought there might have been a better name, wondering why it had to be that one.

“Hyung-nim, we had a name too… Ggeureuk!”

I gently pressed Pae Woocheol’s instep to silence him as he tried to interrupt.

-“Jin Long… isn’t the leader?”

-“Then who is it? Who handles that wicked Jin Long?”

The surroundings murmured.

It was because I spoke without unfolding my aura.

For reference, Moyong Hi-ah, Tang Soyeol, and Namgung Bi-ah weren’t even looking this way.

They probably realized I was up to something long ago.

It felt like they’d seen it so much they just accepted it.

I, having put on a very serious expression, said to Sleeping Dragon.

“…Mad Dog Cheol Ji-seon.”

“…!”

“Of our Cheolcheolyang Faction…”

“Hyung-nim, wasn’t it Cheolyang Cheol?”

“…To join the Cheolyang Cheol Faction, his permission is needed.”

Sleeping Dragon’s eyes widened upon hearing this.

Was it because of the unexpectedly shocking truth?

Sleeping Dragon, whose eyes darted around, soon spoke to me.

“…Who is that?”

“There’s someone like that.”

Sleeping Dragon’s reaction was incredibly bland, but it wasn’t the same for those eavesdropping nearby.

Rumors about Mad Dog Cheol Ji-seon were just added another line.