Chapter 493: Do you need it?

A small hill existing outside the Tang Gate.

If you were to consider its use, it was within the Tang Gate, specifically a place where the wolves raised by Tang Xiaoye resided, but.

Kugung-! Kugung-gung-!

Now, due to the presence of one individual, the wolves were not appearing.

A black-haired man, having thrown off his upper clothes, was engrossed in training, holding a rock the size of a house in one hand.

His body, drenched in sweat, and the gaps between his muscles, had sweat flowing down in streams.

The muscles, tightly packed and densely formed without any gaps, were such that others would naturally admire them.

“Hoo….”

The young man, who had been repeatedly training with the rock to his fullest, soon caught his breath and set down the rock he was holding.

Kuuung-! The ground caved in the moment the rock touched it, such was its weight.

The young man twisted his body this way and that, checking his condition, and only then did he grab a cloth placed nearby and wipe himself down.

As he was wiping himself down with a ‘seuk-seuk’ sound, a man who had been watching this descended from a tree, observing the situation.

The young man, having known this from the start, showed no particular reaction.

Seeing the young man wiping himself, the man casually uttered words.

“You look like a mess.”

Hearing those words, Paejon chuckled.

“The first thing you say upon seeing me is crap.”

“You went saying you were worried about your disciple, did you get beaten up or something?”

“Haha!”

At Amwang’s words, Paejon reacted as if it were amusing.

Indeed, Paejon’s left cheek was swollen and red.

It was the aftermath of the struggle he had with his disciple last night.

“I heard you were fierce, but he was quite the tenacious one.”

Paejon couldn’t help but shudder as he recalled his disciple, who, instead of giving up reasonably, had clung on until the very end.

At first, hearing that he had ingested poison at the Tang Gate, I went simply to see his face and figure out what he was thinking.

Gu Yangcheon, whom I met after just a few days, had changed so much.

Even setting aside the increase in his level. The changes in his body were too immense.

“What on earth did he eat to become like that?”

I know he obtained a fortuitous encounter.

Whether it became a spiritual medicine. Or perhaps some kind of enlightenment, I don’t know, but.

“His body itself has changed.”

Whatever fortuitous encounter it may have been. The result is too stark.

His bone structure grew larger and his skin was reinforced.

I see it as similar to what is commonly called ‘bone and marrow transformation’….

“It’s strange that his Dantian itself has changed.”

His lower Dantian disappeared, and everything gathered in the middle Dantian.

What kind of situation would unfold if this happened, even Paejon couldn’t predict.

What kind of experiences could have caused him to change so much in such a short time?

Although he was quite curious, Paejon did not ask Gu Yangcheon about it.

He had the expression of someone who wouldn’t answer anyway, and it wasn’t something important to Paejon right now.

As long as Gu Yangcheon could inherit the Tuoapa Cheonmu, nothing else mattered.

Furthermore.

“I don’t think that guy is the type to do anything reckless with this.”

Even if he inherits the Tuoapa Cheonmu and my name.

Knowing that Gu Yangcheon isn’t someone who would do shameful things with it, Paejon didn’t pay much attention to the changed Gu Yangcheon.

However.

“I am envious of his body itself.”

Whatever it was, Gu Yangcheon’s achieved physique was something Paejon could only envy.

Although he had let go of his attachment now, ultimately, the reason Paejon couldn’t advance his level and felt his limits was due to his body.

“Hmm….”

He repeatedly clenched and unclenched his hands.

Even if I cultivate external martial arts and fill my internal energy, the fundamental vessel isn’t sufficient.

There was no way to advance my level like this.

“This is frustrating.”

Have I hit a limit?

After undergoing the ‘Return to Youth’ transformation, precisely around the time I turned sixteen under the name Bi Yijin.

Paejon reached his peak by swallowing a spiritual medicine obtained from his secret archives, and after that, he could easily reach the ‘Mature Peak’ stage, but.

Reaching the ‘Flower Realm’ was still impossible.

“Tsk.”

It might be possible if I forcibly achieve ‘bone and marrow transformation’ using internal energy, but.

I didn’t have enough internal energy for that.

This inefficient body doesn’t accumulate internal energy properly, no matter how much spiritual medicine I stuff into it.

It meant it was actually a disadvantage.

“So, do you regret it?”

To Amwang’s question, Paejon turned his head.

The man had reverted to his original appearance, the one he possessed before changing it.

He had become an old soul with hair turned white, beyond blonde.

“No, I don’t regret it. If I had stayed the same, I wouldn’t have reached the place I wanted to go.”

I used to think about it sometimes.

I used to fantasize, wondering if it wouldn’t have been better if I hadn’t undergone the ‘Return to Youth’ transformation.

However. That’s as far as it goes.

Even if the situation has changed, this was my choice, and.

Since the path I wish to take hasn’t changed, I just need to keep walking the path I was on.

“Even after giving your cheek to that young disciple of yours?”

At Amwang’s words, the corner of Paejon’s mouth twitched slightly.

“…Are you, perhaps, teasing me right now?”

“I’ve been doing so from the start, you’re slow to notice. Bijoo.”

“Ha.”

To think he played a prank with such a cold expression, it’s simply absurd.

“Tsk….”

I didn’t have anything to say about it, either. That was also a result.

“Aish.”

I don’t know what kind of state this is in my twilight years.

“…Damn brat.”

Thinking of my disciple, curses naturally came out. He was an incredibly annoying brat.

Feeling a disconnect with his body and seeming frustrated after his level advancement, I intended to help him release it.

Furthermore, as his internal energy seemed a bit tangled, I used the beating as an excuse to perform ‘Pushing the Palace, Passing the Acupoints’.

Even without that, his muscles had strengthened and his movements had become faster, making it damn difficult to attempt.

“But. That guy….”

Recalling Gu Yangcheon rampaging wildly, Paejon gritted his teeth.

Gu Yangcheon wasn’t a fool when it came to martial arts, so he must have known I was attempting ‘Pushing the Palace, Passing the Acupoints’ on his body.

“Using that as an excuse, he actually attacked?”

Paejon recalled how his attacks intensified the moment he realized that.

It’s absurd. How could a disciple do such a thing?

“…I took a madman as my disciple.”

Paejon finally realized this, but it was already far too late.

It’s understandable, considering.

“Damn brat, if he didn’t have talent, I would have kicked him out ages ago.”

In Paejon’s eyes, Gu Yangcheon was an exceptionally outstanding talent.

He seemed to have some unconscious inferiority complex. Paejon couldn’t understand this.

Leaving aside the fact that he was his chosen disciple.

The level and martial prowess Gu Yangcheon had reached now were already beyond what someone his age could achieve.

Those currently in the positions of the Three Venerables, including myself, reached the Flower Realm around the time we passed twenty.

And that was even considering that the Central Plains were abuzz calling him a genius of the century.

The moment news of Gu Yangcheon reaching the Flower Realm, currently treated as mere rumor, turned out to be true.

“It will cause an uproar.”

It would be a story that would make every noble family and sect stomp their feet in frustration.

The fact that a young man, not yet twenty years old, had reached the Flower Realm was a sure sign he would become the number one under heaven in the future.

Even if he was engaged to the Namgung family, any sect with a somewhat pretty daughter might brazenly try to offer her to him.

Why Gu Yangcheon, possessing such influence, lacked so much confidence was a mystery to Paejon.

He’d probably handle it himself, but if necessary, Paejon could intervene.

If that pathetic inferiority complex caused problems in his martial arts training.

Having thought that far, Paejon suddenly remembered something he wanted to ask Amwang.

“Speaking of which, did you finish what you were doing?”

For the past two days or so, Amwang had been away, saying he had something to check in Sichuan.

Amwang nodded slightly at Paejon’s words.

“Yes.”

“Did it go well?”

“No.”

“Then it didn’t go well?”

“No.”

“Do you want to die…?”

“No.”

“…”

At Amwang’s answers, Paejon grabbed the bridge of his nose.

Because talking to this guy made him feel like he’d die of frustration.

As Paejon kept sighing, Amwang finally spoke slowly.

“I simply gained certainty.”

“Certainty about what?”

“…”

Over the past two days.

Amwang had gone to the location where Gu Yangcheon said the secret archives of the Geumcheon Yeonga were.

There were traces.

Traces of some formation or special power having been placed.

However, nothing more remained.

Seeing that, Amwang could be certain once again.

“My ancestor. Did not consider his descendants even slightly.”

“…”

Paejon could offer no answer to Amwang’s words.

The only one who could curse the person who made the Central Plains what it is now.

Was only Amwang before him.

“He left nothing behind. The one who knew his own bloodline would suffer terribly.”

In his words, spoken calmly with a blank expression, a chilling anger was embedded.

“Moreover, to only learn about the existence of the secret archives through others now. It truly makes me want to die.”

“Yeon….”

At Amwang’s words, Paejon almost inadvertently spoke his real name, but managed to hold back.

Because Amwang hated his own name enough to die.

“Even though you can’t die even if you want to. Isn’t it amusing, Bijoo?”

“…”

At Amwang’s dry voice, Paejon bit his lip.

There wasn’t much he could say to his friend right now, and even if there were, it wasn’t his place to say it.

“…When do you plan to return?”

Forcing himself to think of it, Paejon asked something else.

Amwang had to return someday. A leader of an organization couldn’t be away from their post for so long.

“Hmm.”

Amwang turned his head, directing his gaze elsewhere.

A location where a strong energy could be felt.

It wasn’t the pressure a martial artist possesses.

This was a sensation felt by Amwang’s fundamental instincts.

“A little longer.”

Should I call it the last hope?

It probably wouldn’t be that. Because all Amwang had left was time.

“Just a little bit longer. There are still things left to do.”

“Alright.”

At Amwang’s words, Paejon simply nodded without saying anything else.

“Ah, but still, don’t look for me for seven days and nights.”

“Hmm?”

At Paejon’s words, Amwang tilted his head.

Why seven days and nights specifically?

Unable to comprehend, Amwang frowned and glared, but.

“…Anyway, something like that is happening.”

Paejon had no intention of explaining about it.

---

“Agh, it stings.”

He thought while examining his swollen cheek. That it hurt like hell.

“Damn it….”

Not just his face, but his entire body was in this state.

His body, beaten up here and there, was swollen arbitrarily, causing pain, and honestly, even walking was quite difficult.

“He really took all his frustration out on me.”

Recalling Paejon, who had beaten him, he had to grit his teeth inwardly.

That old man must have had quite a lot pent up against me. He really beat me relentlessly.

“Ha….”

Even so.

Paejon is still at the ‘Mature Peak’, and I have just reached the complete ‘Flower Realm’.

It’s absurd that there’s still such a gap.

“I can’t reach him.”

Moreover, I even used all the strength I could.

Of course, I didn’t use forbidden techniques, as it could cause problems in the vicinity, but.

Paejon would be the same, so let’s overlook that.

“I’m definitely faster.”

My speed was overwhelming.

I tried to get ahead of his moves using my superior internal energy capacity and advanced realm, but.

Every move seemed to be read by Paejon and was thwarted.

I can’t reach him.

No matter how fast I am.

[It’s because the level of enlightenment gained is different.]

“…”

[In the first place, it’s likely due to his exceptional eyesight, but also because the realm he has achieved is extraordinary, and he perfectly understands his own body.]

I know this, but even so.

“To think he dodged all of that….”

Knowing that he even attempted ‘Pushing the Palace, Passing the Acupoints’ on my body in that situation, I couldn’t help but feel the gap even more.

Even though my realm should clearly be higher, Paejon stood firm before me like an overwhelming wall.

If I continue to learn the Tuoapa Cheonmu, will I be able to reach transcendence and defeat him, as Paejon wishes?

I don’t know. Recalling Paejon from my past life, he could only be described as a monster.

If Paejon before his ‘Return to Youth’ was stronger than Paejon back then.

“Wasn’t Paejon in his prime actually the number one under heaven?”

I can’t be sure because I didn’t properly witness the might of the Three Venerables, but it’s enough to make me wonder if that wasn’t the case.

“Still, anyway. I landed at least one hit, so I did win.”

Even if my whole body aches from being beaten.

Since I won in the end, I won.

[The one who beat the person pretending to be knocked out and trying to get up is talking quite eloquently.]

“That’s usually called improvisation.”

[No matter how coolly you package it. You can’t erase the fact that you’re shameless.]

“Since I didn’t have anything like a conscience to begin with, it doesn’t matter, does it?”

[I’m going crazy.]

Just as Shin Noyah seemed to exude an atmosphere of ‘What should I do with this guy?’,

I clutched my throbbing cheek and surveyed the front.

Because there was another old man there looking at me strangely.

“Have you been well?”

“Even in that state, you speak quite clearly….”

“Well, it’s… I’m used to it. Haha….”

Having been beaten and swollen up many times.

This much was easy.

After the martial arts match with Paejon.

I immediately came to find Shinui.

I hadn’t originally planned to visit since morning, but I thought it would be best to quickly finish things that were bothering me.

“Yes, what is it?”

Shinui seemed to be asking, holding back his urge to ask about my messed-up face.

It would be better if he didn’t ask annoyingly, so I decided to let it slide.

“I visited the Baekhwa Merchant Guild yesterday and heard some things.”

“Huh…?”

At my words, Shinui’s face contorted.

He seemed to have realized what I had heard. Well, after all, we met in front of the guild, and I went inside afterward. It wouldn’t be difficult to predict.

“That idiot seems to have forgotten his duty as a merchant. I must reprimand him severely.”

“I obtained it by speaking as if I were threatening him, so please don’t be too angry.”

By the time I had already sent a letter to Madam Mi, it would have been somewhat difficult for me if that person got exposed.

Perhaps because of that. Shinui’s anger shifted direction upon hearing my words.

“Then, I must direct my anger towards you. How dare you…!”

Just as Shinui was about to truly rage and unleash his anger upon me.

Sreuk.

Seizing the moment, I took out the item I had brought from the room just before and showed it to Shinui.

“…!”

The moment Shinui saw the object still holding a brilliant white color, he froze stiff as a stone.

“I heard you needed this.”

After hearing my words, his eyes, which had been surprised by my wrecked appearance, vanished. Shinui looked up at me with an expression close to shock.

Seeing that, it seemed the branch chief’s words were indeed true.

Furthermore.

“Do you need it?”

Looking at Shinui’s face.

He seemed to want the White Horse Stone much more than I expected.

Confirming this, I smiled slightly.

That’s fortunate.

Great earnestness means.

It’s convenient to use it.