Chapter 56: What Are You Again…? (1)

What Are You Again…? (1)

Three more days have passed since we started traveling together.

The mountain path was particularly rugged and narrow, forcing us to walk instead of ride in the carriage.

“…Grandfather disappeared.”

Wi Seol-ah, who had been walking quietly beside me, spoke softly.

Wi Seol-ah held a box containing a treasured item from Mount Hua.

Upon hearing Wi Seol-ah’s words, spoken as if upset, Elder Shin appeared.

[How curious, I don’t feel any divine energy from it at all.]

After it transferred to me, Wi Seol-ah seemed unable to see it. However, she mentioned that it used to talk to her frequently before I absorbed the item’s energy.

Unbeknownst to others, Wi Seol-ah has excellent intuition.

It was the same when we were looking for Bigo, and she shows extraordinary traits in peculiar situations.

Could this also be a form of talent?

[She’s quite beautiful, isn’t she? For a child, if she’s like this now, she could aim to be the most beautiful woman in the world later on.]

‘What kind of appraisal are you doing while looking at a child?’

Certainly, if I recall Wi Seol-ah when she’s all grown up, she’d more than likely be that beautiful.

But now, she still looks very much like a child. Her baby fat hasn’t even gone yet.

‘I guess feeding her Yakgwa constantly means it won’t disappear.’

Of course, from my perspective, she seemed to have gained a healthy amount of weight compared to the past.

And it’s good for teasing, too.

“A valley will appear soon.”

Said Shin Hyeon, who was walking ahead.

Thanks to Mount Hua Sect’s guidance, the journey had become a bit easier.

Finding the way was much smoother.

Just as Shin Hyeon said, after walking for about an hour, a valley appeared.

Night would soon fall again, so we stopped on our path and prepared to camp.

“Young Hero.”

As Wi Seol-ah and I sat by the river, eating dumplings, Yeongpung approached.

“Yes.”

It’s something I learned over the past few days, but Sword Dragon was quite the talkative person.

If you look at it differently, he felt like the talkative Peng Woo-jin.

Oh… I don’t really like that?

What Yeongpung said to me was far more unexpected than I thought.

“When we get to Shaanxi, would you like to have a meal together?”

“Suddenly?”

“I hardly ever see martial artists of my generation, so I felt strangely pleased.”

What’s his intention?

Looking at his face, I don’t sense any particular ulterior motive….

The more innocent someone’s impression, the more likely they had shady backing, so I couldn’t easily accept it positively.

“I don’t know if you’ll like it, but this is the best dumpling place in Shaanxi.”

“Let’s go together sometime later.”

He’s a good person.

[…Crazy bastard.]

“But you said you haven’t seen other martial artists of your generation?”

“I’ve seen them a few times… but we didn’t really get close. Everyone felt like they had their own distinct territory.”

If Yeongpung saw any martial artists of his generation, it would likely be the Five Dragons and Three Peaks.

Those born with talent are bound to have such firm boundaries.

[It feels like the patheticness of someone who doesn’t have it.]

‘Can’t you just be quiet?’

[From my perspective, you too seem to have reached a level unattainable for others your age, so what is it that displeases you so?]

As Elder Shin said, if you set aside the regression and fortuitous encounters, it could certainly seem that way.

‘Seeing as there’s no reaction to thoughts about regression, perhaps this isn’t being read?’

He notices insults directed at him faster than anyone in the world, but he didn’t say much about this part.

That was fortunate.

Because I didn’t want to talk about this part.

As I was organizing my thoughts, Yeongpung continued speaking.

“Since you’re also Sagyo’s family…”

Yeongpung’s words reminded me of something I’d been curious about.

Why does Yeongpung refer to his sibling as Sagyo? Isn’t he one of the Third Generation disciples? Since we were talking anyway, it was the perfect situation to ask.

“Yeongpung-dojang….”

“Young Hero, since we’re getting friendly, could I ask you for a favor?”

I was trying hard to bring it up, but it got buried by Yeongpung’s words.

But friendly?

I don’t think we’ve gotten that close?

Yeongpung’s approachability, creeping up slowly, was surprisingly fast.

Of course, from my perspective, I felt like keeping some distance.

“…What kind of favor are you trying to ask out of the blue?”

“No, it’s nothing much…”

What could he be asking for, scratching the back of his head so shyly?

Seeing a handsome guy do that was strangely fitting, which made me feel quite bad.

Yeongpung hesitated for a moment before speaking.

As if he had gathered his courage shyly.

“…Would you spar with me?”

“No?”

To the sudden words, I reflexively answered first.

And then, belatedly, a sense of absurdity washed over me.

Considering he approached me friendly, suggesting we grab a meal, isn’t this request too aggressive?

The problem was Yeongpung’s reaction afterward.

“Huh? Why?”

‘Why, you bastard…’

He had such an innocent expression, as if he genuinely had no idea why I would refuse.

That was even more absurd.

“Why are you suddenly asking to spar?”

“I heard that to become friends, you have to fight each other, isn’t that right?”

“…Who told you such crazy nonsense?”

“Our Sect Leader did.”

“…..”

[Ahem… Ahem!]

Elder Shin had a seizure at Yeongpung’s shocking statement.

The Sect Leader of Mount Hua said such eccentric words, not someone else? Is that right…?

Is that really a Taoist temple?

[…Ahem, it’s not exactly wrong, is it?]

‘It seems wrong no matter how I look at it.’

The Elder tried hard to cover for it, but it was clearly wrong.

Moreover, such a combative way of bonding in the Taoist path… what is this, not banditry?

[B-Banditry! Where else is there a Taoist sect as dignified and proud as Mount Hua.]

‘Just don’t raise your voice…’

Yeongpung looking at me with clear eyes, as if asking what was strange, was scarier.

It was clear, this guy was just like Peng Woo-jin.

“So, are we not sparring…?”

“…Why do you say that as if you’re so upset?”

Please, take the moisture out of your voice, I’m telling you nicely.

It gave me chills when a guy spoke like that.

“Can’t you just spar with other disciples?”

Yeongpung isn’t the only Third Generation disciple at Mount Hua.

As befits the symbol of the Nine Great Sects, the number of disciples must be immense.

Yeongpung smiled bitterly at my words.

“The other disciples don’t really enjoy sparring with me.”

“Ah.”

It wasn’t difficult to understand the meaning from his shadowed face and meaningful words.

Monstrous talent is inherently like fear to ordinary martial artists.

Especially in an era like this, where stars are pouring down.

Sword Dragon (劍龍).

Thinking about the name he carries, it must be a difficult trial for the disciples of Mount Hua living in the same era.

If Gu Huibi hadn’t been around, he would have taken the top spot among the later generation disciples.

I could tell just by looking.

It was almost insulting to even compare him to Thunder Dragon.

Mount Hua’s youngest Plum Blossom Swordmaster.

He was a genius swordmaster who bloomed the plum blossom, which one can barely achieve by the age of thirty, at a much younger age.

For the Third Generation disciples training with him, who are around the same age, he must be the biggest wall or burden.

They’re probably just figuring out whether or not to infuse internal energy into their swords, while that guy has already bloomed the plum blossom.

‘The problem is that the gap will never close, no matter how much time passes.’

It’s something I can tell just by watching, and sparring with Yeongpung?

This means having to step onto the path of inferiority complex and inner demons, which a martial artist shouldn’t possess.

If I were in their shoes, could I have endured it?

Thinking about my past life, where I lived under the shadow of my sisters, it might be the same, but honestly, from the sect’s perspective, wouldn’t it be harder?

“Setting aside those reasons, why are you proposing a spar with me?”

“I thought it would be okay with you, Young Hero.”

At Yeongpung’s words, I made a reluctant face.

I could feel his confidence and certainty about his own skills and talent.

I could also feel his desire for the sword.

The reason he asked me to spar is that when assessing our levels, he thought we were on the same line.

[The kid has a good eye.]

It would seem so from my perspective, and Elder Shin, who can objectively observe my body, would also see it that way.

Still, sparring out of the blue.

Perhaps sensing my reluctance, Elder Shin spoke to me.

[Why don’t you do it.]

‘You say that so easily, as if it’s not your business.’

[There’s no particular reason to hesitate, is there?]

Elder Shin was right.

If it was just a light spar, there was no need to keep my distance anymore.

Because it was simply sparring.

I didn’t have any fear of defeat either.

I had experienced too many defeats for my emotions to be swayed by something like that.

It was just.

Really, just.

I didn’t want to get involved with the people of Mount Hua.

That was all.

[What makes you feel so guilty?]

‘…Stop reading my mind so carelessly.’

“Young Hero?”

Yeongpung called out to me with a puzzled expression.

I hesitated to answer.

At this point, it was something no one else would know.

Because it was something only I needed to know.

The problem was that I couldn’t see it simply.

As I stood there blankly, Elder Shin spoke.

[I don’t know why you feel so apologetic towards Mount Hua, but if you really feel that way, why not just accept?]

“….Hmm.”

[When someone comes asking for a spar as a fellow martial artist, it’s a good thing, so why hesitate, you man-child? Tsk tsk, if you’re going to be like that, might as well cut off your balls.]

Crazy, what the hell does he mean ‘cut them off’?

Although it was rough and low-quality speech for a Taoist sage recorded in history.

There was nothing wrong with it.

Finally, I calmly got up and said to Yeongpung.

“…Let’s spar.”

Maybe it’s okay to indulge them sometimes.

“Ooh!”

“Young Master… are you fighting?”

It was Wi Seol-ah, who had been watching nervously beside me while just eating dumplings.

Seeing her eyes filled with worry, I gently stroked Wi Seol-ah’s head.

“I’m not fighting, this is how they become friends.”

[Right, right!]

Of course, the standard is Mount Hua Sect’s standard, but…

Wi Seol-ah, resting her head under my touch, said in a pleased voice.

“Win and come back!”

“…I’ll try my best.”

---

We found a suitably flat area for the spar.

Meanwhile, Yeongpung had gone to report to Shin Hyeon.

When he returned, Yeongpung had a large bump on his head.

Shin Hyeon, who appeared with him, gave me a slight bow.

“I apologize… Our junior disciple is still immature.”

“It’s alright. It’s just a spar, isn’t it?”

In fact, this was the first ‘proper’ spar I’d had since regressing.

I’d been involved with so many crazy people that calling those encounters sparring felt a bit ambiguous.

Aside from Mu Yeon and Shin Hyeon coming to observe the spar, disciples from Mount Hua Sect also gathered towards us.

“What is it? What are they doing?”

“They say Yeongpung-sajil is sparring with that Young Hero from the Gu family side.”

“…In this situation? That guy must really be crazy.”

“When he comes back, next time we should tie his limbs together so he can’t mess around.”

“Let’s just gag him so he can’t even breathe.”

“Won’t he die then?”

“If he dies, we’ll find a way to revive him, I guess.”

…I think I’m hearing some scary conversation.

“Is that alright?”

I asked Yeongpung about the chilling conversation, but he didn’t seem to be thinking much about it.

“It’s fine. I’ve mastered the art of running away.”

Ah, he was just resigned to it.

The increased number of spectators bothered me slightly, but I tried hard to maintain a calm state.

Yeongpung took the wooden sword he received and assumed a stance.

[Oh, upright. Well-trained.]

For a swordsman, stance is the most common indicator of the years they’ve trained and how much foundational skill they’ve built.

In that regard, Yeongpung was already near perfection.

It was a point that showed not only talent but also relentless effort.

“Hoo…”

I also slowly exhaled, wrapping myself in internal energy.

The red aura gradually enveloping my body was impressive.

The return of the faint glow was likely thanks to Elder Shin.

A spark appeared in Yeongpung’s eyes.

At the same time, something shimmered at the tip of the wooden sword.

It looked very small and fragile, but it was definitely a plum blossom.

‘He doesn’t plan on holding back, does he?’

Not even bothering to test the waters from the start, pulling out the plum blossom right away.

I let out a hollow laugh at his seemingly serious demeanor.

If I take it easy, I’ll probably get cursed at.

“Begin.”

When preparations seemed roughly complete, Shin Hyeon said softly.

Yeongpung immediately swung his sword.

I too gathered my internal energy at my toes and leaped.

Regardless of the time spent gathering senses, the match was instantaneous.

KWAANG!

Along with a roar that echoed through the forest, dust swirled around.

“Oof!”

With a strange scream, Yeongpung flew far away.

On the flat ground, I couldn’t help but freeze with a bewildered expression.

This wasn’t something I did.

I hadn’t even gotten close to Yeongpung.

But suddenly, Yeongpung was sent flying far away.

‘…An attack?’

I hadn’t felt any killing intent in the first place.

My vision was obscured by the thick dust, but I could sense someone’s presence where Yeongpung had been standing.

“Huh…?”

A sound of confusion came as I sensed the presence.

It was a familiar presence.

“What the…?”

It was a presence that shouldn’t be here.

Why could I sense the presence of a person who should be swinging a sword in Anhui Province?

The dust flew far away on the breeze.

“…Ah.”

The owner of the presence uttered a short word.

She stood in the empty space where Yeongpung had flown off.

Her martial attire and hair, messed up as if she had just returned from a war, caught my eye.

Even in her rough and dirty state, her fair complexion and elegant appearance, which hadn’t lost its dignity, remained the same.

Eventually, as if she had found me, her blue eyes turned towards me.

She met my gaze and smiled.

Very brightly.

“Found you….”

Her beautiful voice pierced my ears.

I hoped it might be an illusion, but her presence was undeniable.

“Finally, I found you.”

Smiling as she said that was none other than Namgung Bi-ah.