Chapter 364: Orthodox Sect Gathering. (5)

‘Crazy.’

The first thought that burst out upon seeing him was a curse.

It couldn’t be helped.

Gooooo…

The presence felt from Bi Ui-jin’s body was that powerful.

‘…What is this?’

Clearly, as far as I knew, Bi Ui-jin was at the peak of his physical body.

No matter what kind of person was hidden inside, their cultivation level shouldn’t be able to deceive.

‘How can this be?’

Deuldeul.

I could feel my fingertips trembling.

It was a tremor unrelated to my intentions. It wasn’t due to fear.

I wasn’t scared.

This was purely evidence of being overwhelmed by the opponent’s presence.

It meant my presence was starting to be consumed by the presence emanating from Bi Ui-jin.

It was different from the sensation felt from vitality or killing intent.

When one repeatedly cultivates martial power and gains enlightenment, the years lived for it naturally seep into the soul.

That was the presence of a martial artist.

It was the vessel itself that one had built and expanded.

This is something that cannot be known unless the person reveals it.

In other words, Bi Ui-jin was now intentionally revealing his presence to me.

And, as I perceived it, that presence was like an overwhelmingly mighty wall.

‘This is the Three Existences (Sam-chon)…’

Even if he had lost his cultivation and possessed a weakened body.

One of the three strongest individuals to reach the Central Plains.

The presence of the man called the pinnacle of the current martial arts world was this high and heavy.

“Ah-hae-ya.”

Bi Ui-jin’s voice, speaking to me, had changed.

The pitch of his voice had lowered a notch, and the rhythm had disappeared from his speech.

The smile he had been wearing, however slight, had also vanished.

His appearance was the same, but it felt like he had become a completely different person.

“Since when did you notice?”

“Not long ago.”

That was a lie.

I had realized it the moment I saw him and already knew what state he was in.

There was no need to mention that unnecessarily.

Bi Ui-jin’s change wasn’t just that.

His gait, as he approached me step by step, had changed.

It was a very subtle change, but from a martial artist’s perspective, it was a huge one.

‘Can one do that?’

A martial artist’s movements are, after all, based on the martial arts they use.

Because the martial arts honed over a lifetime differ for each person, even the slightest difference is bound to be ingrained in their movements.

That’s why one could discern whether an opponent was a swordsman or a martial artist just by their gait or posture.

Accordingly, the movements of Bi Ui-jin, who belonged to the martial arts lineage, hadn’t changed drastically.

But in my eyes, they had clearly changed.

That means, those movements are precisely.

Not Bi Ui-jin the Dragon Fighter (Tu-ryong).

But the movements of Bi Ju the Fallen Lord (Pae-jon)?

Bi Ju’s dark eyes turn towards me.

What I felt upon meeting his gaze was like facing a bottomless pit.

It was different from the chilliness felt from the Dark King (Am-wang).

“Does anyone else know about this?”

Pae-jon didn’t utter any denial regarding my words.

Although he had spoken with certainty from the start.

It was something I hadn’t expected, that he wouldn’t deny it at all.

“No one.”

“Alright.”

Saying that, Pae-jon casually sat down on a rock. Even that action was clearly different from when he was Bi Ui-jin.

Unlike when he was Bi Ui-jin, where the etiquette and grace unique to the Myung family bloodline existed, albeit casually.

In his current state, even that had vanished.

‘He must have been controlling that difference.’

Even setting aside his actions.

It seemed he was even controlling his unique habits and mannerisms.

It meant he was controlling and perfectly mastering every movement he made.

To that extent, I wondered if it was even within human capability.

“If you had told this to someone else, it would have become a bit troublesome.”

“Yes…”

Pae-jon, who had been speaking, changed his posture, crossed his legs, and looked at me with a strange gaze.

Even amidst that, his presence was still undeniably distinct.

While I tried hard to hide the flowing cold sweat.

Pae-jon asked me.

“How did you notice?”

He was asking how I noticed that he wasn’t Bi Ui-jin, but Pae-jon.

Since that was something I couldn’t say, like ‘In my past life, I almost died by your hand, and I remembered you directly calling yourself Pae-jon even after returning.’

I brought up another story I had prepared.

“It’s a hunch.”

“…What?”

Hearing my answer, Pae-jon looked at me with an expression of disbelief.

Regarding me realizing his identity.

It was natural for him to make that face, having given ‘a hunch’ as the answer.

“A hunch? Did you just say a hunch?”

“Yes. A hunch…”

“Ah-hae-ya.”

Pae-jon stood up again from the rock he was sitting on.

Seeing that, I almost instinctively took a step back.

The aura was different.

It was a weight different from the killing intent emitted by a peak martial artist.

“As you know, I think highly of you.”

Yes, I know.

Pae-jon definitely thought highly of me.

And I knew that the reason was my apparent talent.

‘What a truly annoying reason.’

In other words, it meant that if I didn’t have talent, I wouldn’t have even caught Pae-jon’s eye.

That’s obvious.

Because it’s a world where talent is everything, to the point where they even give ridiculous names like the Generation of Meteors.

What would my position be within that?

Peak cultivation before reaching the age of twenty. That alone is a great achievement.

To have surpassed that and reached the Flower Realm (Hwa-gyeong).

If this properly became known.

How would the world see me?

A genius who will go down in history? They’d probably call me that.

‘It bothers me.’

The more I thought about it, the more it gave me goosebumps.

Wanting to be called such a genius was just a childhood delusion.

It’s the kind of delusion any martial artist would have thought of at least once.

Everyone dreamed of being the greatest talent under heaven.

In a world where they also dreamed of becoming a master, if one actually achieved that.

It would be a romantic story in its own way.

‘The problem is, there’s no time to indulge in such romance.’

I only gained it because of my regression.

I shouldn’t forget my place.

Don’t the past days show what happens when you forget your place, even for a moment?

“The reason I’m not crushing you right now, knowing my identity, is also for that reason.”

‘…That’s a scary way to put it.’

Not ‘I’ll kill you,’ but ‘I’ll crush you’.

In a way, it was the speech pattern that best highlighted Pae-jon’s disposition.

Even while saying that, Pae-jon was still looking at me without taking any other action.

I could feel it in his gaze.

He wants me to bring up the next topic.

Otherwise, he’ll act on it.

Seeing that, I could only let out a hollow sigh inwardly.

‘This person and that person. In the end, is there no one normal?’

Well, whether they’re obsessed with martial arts or obsessed with slaughter.

They must be obsessed with something to reach this position.

It was undeniably a world where it was truly difficult for gentle and delicate beings like me to survive.

“If it’s not an explanation you can understand….”

“Around the time of the entrance exam. You sparred with me, didn’t you?”

First, I cut off Pae-jon’s words.

Honestly, this was the part that made me most nervous.

Pae-jon sent an uncomfortable look regarding this, but he didn’t dwell on it.

It meant he was letting it slide.

The intention for me to quickly add an explanation was a bonus.

“That’s when I knew. That Young Master Bi wasn’t Pae-jon’s disciple, but you yourself.”

Actually, it was ambiguous to call it a sparring match.

While my physical condition was weakened, the difference in skill level was extreme from the start; it was right to consider that Pae-jon was just playing around.

‘My pride is a bit hurt, though.’

Even if my pride was hurt, I had to let it go at that.

From the perspective of someone who had experienced Pae-jon moving properly in my past life, I had to understand it from the fact that my body was intact after the fight.

“You call that a hunch?”

His gaze turned cold.

It seemed he wouldn’t understand it with that alone.

Around the time Pae-jon introduced himself as Bi Ui-jin.

He had called himself Pae-jon’s disciple.

I thought this was to create an excuse, should he end up using Pae-jon’s unique martial art, the Dragon Breaking Heavenly Dance (Tu-a-pa-cheon-mu).

Let’s recall my past life.

If Pae-jon, living as Bi Ui-jin, hadn’t revealed himself upon reaching the Blood Calamity (Hyeol-geop).

He had lived concealing his existence to the point where perhaps no one would have ever known.

Seeing this, Pae-jon likely possessed a rather cautious personality.

‘So, rather than beating around the bush annoyingly, I should choose a slightly better method.’

I took a breath and started speaking.

“It’s not just that.”

A setup I had made previously.

I hadn’t intended to use it for this moment, but it couldn’t be helped.

I hadn’t intended to use it like this in the first place…

After a moment of hesitation, I forced the words out.

“For a long time now, I’ve been interested in you, elder.”

“…Hmm?”

Even as I said it, my throat felt itchy.

It was because I was bringing up a ridiculous story myself.

“What did you say?”

“…You are called the greatest martial artist, and the meaning of your alias deeply impressed me.”

The former is somewhat true.

Although the martial arts used are different, the fact that he uses his fists is the same.

Pae-jon, after all, was a figure called the pinnacle in that field.

“So I even contacted the Beggars’ Sect to ask them to look into Bi family matters.”

This was also true.

I had actually asked Choo-ong, who belongs to the Beggars’ Sect, to look into Tu-ryong.

Of course, due to the rumors about him being Pae-jon’s disciple.

It was to observe his reaction, not knowing how he would react upon hearing the rumors at the time.

“It seems you’re talking about that raccoon fellow.”

“Yes.”

Pae-jon himself knew about Choo-ong.

Ah, didn’t Choo-ong say he was captured by Pae-jon?

Regarding that part, all I could do was lend him justification.

Pae-jon, who had been lost in thought, seemed to have quickly sorted things out and spoke to me.

“I understand you saying you respected and wanted to see me.”

“I didn’t say that much, though?”

Why did words I didn’t even say appear?

I’ve never uttered the word ‘respect’.

Pae-jon lightly ignored my words, which I uttered as if to deny them.

“You must know well that that doesn’t fit as a reason, right?”

That’s right.

Sending someone to look for Tu-ryong.

And realizing now that Bi Ui-jin is Pae-jon, it wasn’t a fitting explanation.

Despite that, the reason I went out of my way to bring up this story.

Was to let him know that I was interested in the person named Pae-jon from the start.

It was around this point that I had to properly mention the reason I had thought of.

“I became certain around the time of the sparring match… but more precisely, I had expected it to some extent even before that.”

“Does that mean… you knew my identity from the start?”

“Not certainty, but…”

“How?”

Pae-jon’s reaction became a bit more intense.

If I didn’t explain properly here, it felt like one of my limbs, an arm or a leg, would truly be broken.

The fortunate thing was.

The reason I was about to utter was simple and straightforward.

And it was a part with considerable plausibility, more than I expected.

Because there couldn’t be a better-fitting story than this.

“…Our elder mentioned it casually.”

It’s enough to say Elder Il mentioned it to me.

I could vaguely tell that the two of them had a connection.

Seeing as Elder Il had said he received a letter of recommendation from Pae-jon in the past.

It could be seen that they met even after experiencing rejuvenation.

Therefore, the best thing to use as an excuse right now was to sell out Elder Il.

Of course, I would have to clean up the mess later, though.

‘…Elder, I’m sorry, but I’m going to sell you out.’

What’s family for?

He calls me grandson and everything every day, so he’ll probably forgive me for selling him out just once.

Now, what’s important is Pae-jon’s reaction.

I pretended to be fine on the outside, swallowing my trembling, and looked at Pae-jon.

Pae-jon, whose eyes widened upon hearing the story.

Soon showed me a reaction.

“That crazy bastard…”

Although it was a somewhat intense reaction, it actually allowed me to breathe a sigh of relief.

“Gu-ryun… this rotten bastard, really…”

Pae-jon covered his forehead as if his head was throbbing.

Seeing that, it seemed their relationship wasn’t shallow.

Rather than anger, he seemed more dumbfounded.

“…Did you say Gu-ryun told you?”

“He didn’t explain properly. I just inferred it from something he casually mentioned.”

Still, if I had said everything properly.

I covered it up a bit, not knowing what might happen later.

I don’t know if this will work, though.

“…Tsk.”

Pae-jon repeatedly clicked his tongue, seemingly displeased.

I only noticed it now, but the presence Pae-jon had been emitting all around had already been retracted.

‘When did he retract it?’

It was such a mighty aura, yet I didn’t even notice when the aura disappeared.

“Ah-hae-ya…”

“Yes.”

Pae-jon, seeming to have finally calmed down, spoke to me.

Will this explanation suffice? I’m not sure.

“All good. That you somehow figured out my identity. For now, there’s something more important, so I can overlook it.”

Hearing Pae-jon’s words, I thought inwardly.

‘It seems he doesn’t believe it all.’

It seemed he didn’t believe everything.

However, Pae-jon seemed to have something more important than the true meaning of my explanation.

“The fact that you’re bringing up now that you know my identity… it’s safe to assume you have another intention, right?”

“…”

Pae-jon is right.

I could have just pretended not to know and kept quiet about Pae-jon’s identity.

Despite that, the reason I called him here now and spoke like this was something else.

“The offer I made to you last time. Do you remember it?”

“I remember.”

“Is this matter related to that, then?”

“That’s right.”

The offer Pae-jon made to me.

Specifically, it refers to the offer he made to me using Bi Ui-jin’s name.

The words telling me to become his disciple.

Pae-jon had clearly told me so.

To become his disciple.

This was to give him an answer regarding that.

“This might even be a good thing. Then the conversation will be easier.”

Pae-jon puts on a slightly pleased smile again.

“My offer is still the same as then. I’m telling you to become my disciple.”

Where did the Pae-jon who had dominated the atmosphere just moments ago go?

He even looked somewhat excited.

Is it that good of a thing?

I don’t know.

‘Does he know what my answer is?’

Doesn’t he think I’ll refuse?

I agonized continuously right up until I was about to answer.

More precisely, it was from around the time I received the offer.

The benefits of becoming Pae-jon’s disciple were clear.

But I, in my current state, didn’t have the time to become his disciple and learn new martial arts.

What he had achieved.

When I only saw the martial power he displayed in my past life, it was definitely a power I coveted.

It was to the extent that I felt an overwhelming wall when facing him.

But there was also a clear problem.

To receive new martial arts, I would have to rebuild everything in my body.

That was impossible.

That’s why it’s difficult.

The Nine Flames Wheel Technique (Gu-yeom-hwa-ryun-gong) is also a martial art sufficient to be called a divine technique.

So, my thought just a few days ago was that there was no need to unnecessarily become Pae-jon’s disciple or anything like that.

Meeting the Heavenly Demon (Cheon-ma) brought about a change.

The speed is tens of times faster than in my past life.

I thought that if things continued like this, it would be enough.

I was arrogant.

And also complacent.

Intoxicated by the words calling me the True Dragon and such, I had forgotten for a moment without realizing it.

What kind of existence the Heavenly Demon was.

‘There’s no chance of winning.’

How can I win?

I rack my brain every day.

No matter how I look at it, there’s no chance of winning like this.

So I must find another way.

As long as giving up isn’t an option.

I absolutely had to find another way.

I had considered going to my father to ask about the path forward, but…

Will that be enough?

I didn’t think so.

Including the battles so far.

What I had learned through the years I lived as a martial artist was also a problem.

‘Martial combat (Wu-dou). It’s lacking in itself.’

The biggest problem was that my unarmed combat skills were inflexible and lacking.

And I believe the person before me is the most suitable person to impart such teachings to me.

Because the person at the pinnacle of that field was Pae-jon.

“…Your disciple. If it were up to me, I would want to.”

Honestly, I didn’t think becoming Pae-jon’s disciple would automatically be a solution.

It’s just a struggle, hoping this might become a method.

Moreover, he also wanted me to become his disciple.

I don’t know what Pae-jon’s objective is.

I just think there must be a clear reason why Pae-jon, who never took any disciples, wants me so badly.

“Before that, there’s something I’d like to ask.”

“A request?”

At my words, Pae-jon tilts his head.

I was nervous he might be uncomfortable, but fortunately, it didn’t seem so.

The request wasn’t anything else.

While I do want to receive teachings from Pae-jon right now.

As I said earlier.

Discarding what I’ve built up so far.

And I don’t have time to incorporate new things.

Furthermore… there was something I wanted to confirm about this.

“I want to learn your martial arts while keeping what I’ve built up so far intact.”

It means I want to incorporate Pae-jon’s martial arts without discarding the Nine Flames Wheel Technique contained within my body.

Hearing this, Pae-jon’s face contorts.

My words were that nonsensical.