Chapter 576: Shaolin’s Miracle.

What kind of situation is this?

Seeing the situation unfolding before my eyes, I had to think countless thoughts.

No, first I needed to understand rather than think.

‘What is that.’

Why are those old geezers here?

Not to mention that Shin-ui, whom I was already trying to find, was here.

Pae-jon, who should be in Shanxi, why is that guy here?

‘What is going on?’

No matter how I looked at it, I couldn’t understand.

When I came to the accommodation I was guided to after requesting it from the Baekhwasangdan.

Not only were Shin-ui and Pae-jon there, but what on earth was this situation?

Just as I was unable to say anything due to my panic.

Pae-jon’s eyes, which were chuckling heartily while looking at the fallen Shin-ui, turned towards me.

“Oh.”

Our eyes met. Pae-jon reacted to this and smiled slightly.

“Good to see you. It’s been a while?”

“…?”

I wondered why he was acting like that with his unusual tone, but then I realized that Seong-yul and Tang Soyeol were right behind me.

Since these two probably don’t know Pae-jon’s true identity, Pae-jon must be reacting like this.

“…Yes. It’s been a, a long time.”

Pae-jon beams at my greeting.

Seeing that smile, I had to break out in a cold sweat.

‘That guy.’

He’s definitely angry.

There was one thing I learned after being beaten by Pae-jon for several years.

It was that the angrier Pae-jon got, the more he smiled.

Smiling because something is funny and smiling because one is angry weren’t the same.

There was a very subtle difference, but I could figure it out if I watched closely.

When I saw that.

‘Damn it.’

It was clear that Pae-jon was angry right now.

“How many months has it been? I heard you said you’d be back soon. Haha.”

“…”

Hearing that, I think I understood why that guy was so angry.

The problem was that I had said I’d finish my business and return to Gu Clan, but I ignored that and came straight to Ha-nam.

‘Oh no….’

Although it didn’t take long to get here from Gwang-dong.

In reality, several months had passed since I left Gu Clan.

It was because I had some business to take care of beforehand before heading to Gwang-dong.

‘…So that’s why he’s like this.’

According to the original plan, I was supposed to finish my business in Gwang-dong, turn Seong-yul into a Mind-slave, and then return straight to Gu Clan.

That was the plan, which is why I wrote in the letter that I would return soon, but.

‘My schedule got messed up when I went to Wu-dang.’

Because of that, I ended up coming straight to Ha-nam.

‘…Why is that old geezer here.’

In this situation, why were Shin-ui and Pae-jon here, not to mention them?

Just as my brow was about to furrow from the incomprehensible situation.

[It’s obvious, isn’t it.]

Pae-jon sent me a telepathic message.

[…What is.]

[Since there was no way you’d act as you said you would. I knew you’d come straight here.]

[…]

What that means is. If so….

[…So you came straight here?]

Does that mean he came himself because he knew I wouldn’t listen?

It was truly absurd.

[No, you told me to leave before.]

When I was diligently training, you asked me every day when I was going to leave.

Now that I’m finally leaving, why are you acting like this?

As I spoke in disbelief, Pae-jon chuckled with his characteristic smile and said.

[Yes, I definitely told you to leave.]

[Then why are you acting like this?]

[That disciple who left like that.]

Tsk tsk.

[It seems he’s causing unbelievable trouble.]

[…!]

My breath hitched at his words.

‘No way.’

Does Pae-jon know something?

It wasn’t just a meaningful statement; his voice was filled with certainty.

Cold sweat beaded on my forehead.

I shouldn’t have done anything that would get me caught. If he noticed, how did he notice?

As I looked at Pae-jon with trembling eyes, he tilted his head slightly and continued.

[I definitely trained you enough so you wouldn’t get beaten up somewhere.]

Pae-jon’s arrogant gaze swept over me from head to toe.

[Your physical condition is terrible. Tsk tsk.]

[How… did you know that?]

[Know what? Why didn’t you just fix your messed-up internal energy and hide it?]

That was something I felt wronged about.

I was definitely managing my internal energy somehow.

And ever since hearing Wu-bong Chwi-gye’s words, I had been paying considerable attention to my movements.

It seemed Pae-jon figured out my physical condition just by looking.

‘Does Shim-an have that kind of power?’

Pae-jon always said he lived with his Shim-an activated, so the secret seemed to be hidden within it.

The problem was.

‘The important thing is, how does that guy know I’ve been causing trouble.’

As I stared at Pae-jon, still flustered.

I had to frown because something felt off.

It was because Pae-jon seemed different somehow.

It was a subtle difference, hard to recognize, but something had definitely changed.

Seeing that, a thought crossed my mind: ‘Could it be?’

[Elder…]

[Yes.]

[Perhaps.]

I paused as if hesitating for a moment, then continued my question.

[…Did you overcome the wall?]

[Hmm.]

Hearing the question, Pae-jon gave a slight reaction and then chuckled lowly.

[Rather than ‘overcome,’ wouldn’t it be more accurate to say ‘regained’?]

[…!]

My eyes widened the moment I heard his words. It was practically an affirmative answer.

What that means is.

‘Pae-jon has reached Hwa-gyeong.’

It meant that Pae-jon, who had been at the peak of mastery, had now reached Hwa-gyeong.

No… more precisely, as Pae-jon said.

‘He regained his level.’

It would be correct to say he regained some of the levels he had lost.

[When… exactly…]

[Hmm, it seems it was not long after you left.]

Hearing that, I involuntarily swallowed dryly.

You might wonder why I’m reacting like this to Pae-jon’s advancement in level.

The reason is simple.

[Originally, I intended to take it slow.]

Right now, I had just started getting beaten less by Pae-jon as my level and skills increased.

The fact that Pae-jon’s level has risen now.

[Since that disciple of mine grew so rapidly, I couldn’t help it. Haha, as he got bigger-headed, he started getting a bit cheeky.]

It meant that just when I thought I might finally escape, I was likely to get beaten up again.

[When did I get cheeky again?]

[Even now, you should be congratulating your master on his advancement, yet your eyes are full of displeasure.]

That’s because your eyes are shining with the thought of beating me up.

…The words rose to the tip of my throat, but I couldn’t bring myself to say them.

[…Congratulations.]

Although I offered congratulations belatedly, Pae-jon’s expression only soured further.

Sigh.

A short sigh was heard; it was Pae-jon exhaling.

[Still, it seems your eyes are still alive, so I’ll let it slide.]

[Not just my eyes, other parts aren’t dead yet either.]

[If they aren’t dead, shall I kill them for you?]

[…But. It hurts a bit.]

Just when I thought it was finally getting a little better.

To end up like this again was truly shitty.

Ignoring the throbbing headache, I asked Pae-jon.

[…So, how did you end up like this with this person?]

I asked, pointing at Shin-ui, who had fainted from anger.

Speaking of which, he really fainted?

I wondered how angry one had to be to faint.

‘He’s quite old, too.’

Pae-jon wasn’t paying any attention to Shin-ui, not even looking at him.

[I happened to come by and ran into him coincidentally.]

I wondered what the probability was of running into both Pae-jon and Shin-ui upon arriving in Ha-nam, but I didn’t pry.

[Since neither of us had anywhere else to go, Shin-ui asked the Baekhwasangdan leader. So, accommodations were arranged.]

Hearing that, I had to think of all sorts of things.

‘So Madam Mi knew those two were staying here.’

It also meant she deliberately sent me here knowing that.

In other words.

It also meant I had to spend the next three months here.

It was possible to find separate lodging if I didn’t like it, but.

‘…Would this guy just let that happen?’

Pae-jon was the problem.

Staying with Shin-ui was potentially positive since I could receive treatment, but.

Staying with Pae-jon posed several problems.

‘I was thinking of taking a little break this time. But if this is the case, that plan is ruined.’

For the past few years, I’d been cooped up in the sect, only training, so this time I planned to take a break while handling my business.

Even if that weren’t the case, now that I had internal injuries, I felt I should rest briefly while getting treatment.

With Pae-jon around, this becomes impossible.

‘He won’t go easy on me just because I have internal injuries.’

Do you know what’s scary about Pae-jon?

If I say I can’t do it because it hurts.

It’s that he finds training I can do while injured.

Even if such training doesn’t exist.

‘He’d create it if necessary.’

He would even create something new just to make me use it.

‘Damn it.’

I wanted to sigh, but I had to endure.

I didn’t know what would happen if I sighed right in front of him.

As I continued to face Pae-jon, I felt the gazes of Tang Soyeol and Seong-yul watching me from behind.

At this point, when I felt I needed to react in some other way.

“We can greet each other later. It’s best you unpack your luggage first.”

Pae-jon said to me with a smile.

“In the meantime, Gu Gong-ja, you and I should go somewhere.”

“What? I don’t want to.”

Pae-jon’s eyebrows twitched at my instinctive refusal.

Oops. I let it slip without realizing.

“…Well, don’t I need to unpack my luggage too?”

“Your luggage looks the least substantial.”

“…”

I had no rebuttal.

Because Pae-jon was right.

My already minimal luggage was being carried by Seong-yul.

‘Damn it.’

I never thought this would become a problem like this.

Just as I was wondering if there was any way out.

[Anyway, it’ll take a while for Shin-ui to wake up. Follow me obediently.]

“…”

In the end, I had no choice but to nod at Pae-jon’s gentle tone mixed with a threat.

---

The street at night.

As the sun set, brighter lights filled the street.

Also, no matter how late it got, the number of people filling the street kept increasing.

It was truly a bustling street.

Amidst such a street. I was strolling along, holding a skewer.

“Have you been well.”

Pae-jon, walking beside me with food in hand, asked.

“Yes… well.”

Pae-jon chuckled tsk tsk at my brief reply to his greeting.

“Anyone can see you haven’t been doing well. Yet your answer is so simple.”

“…”

“After going out of your way, did you get beaten up somewhere?”

“…I wasn’t exactly beaten up.”

As I spoke defensively, Pae-jon immediately said to me.

“Then it must mean you foolishly couldn’t control your strength.”

“…”

“You used it, didn’t you?”

He asked without looking at me.

There was nothing I could deny.

“…Yes.”

The second form of Tu-a-pa-cheon-mu.

I affirmed when asked if I had used it.

Hearing this, Pae-jon nodded.

“You managed not to use the subsequent forms, it seems.”

I smiled sheepishly at Pae-jon’s words.

Did he also realize I hadn’t used the third or fourth forms?

“…It wasn’t really a situation where I needed to use them.”

“Hmm.”

Hearing my answer, Pae-jon’s head turned towards me.

“But your body ended up like that, you say.”

“…”

I sustained internal injuries even though I hadn’t used it since the second form.

Hearing this, I heard Pae-jon click his tongue disapprovingly.

“As I told you before, I said I wouldn’t interfere with whatever you did after learning my martial arts.”

“I remember.”

He had clearly said it was my choice how to use Tu-a-pa-cheon-mu after learning it.

Pae-jon had definitely said so.

“As my words imply. I will not meddle in whatever you do.”

“…”

I felt that those words held multiple meanings.

Just how much did Pae-jon suspect? It made me subtly uncomfortable.

“Judging by your condition, it seems you haven’t used ‘that’.”

At Pae-jon’s mention, I paused briefly and replied.

“…That’s right.”

“Good. I repeat, do not use it unless you are certain.”

I nodded at his firm warning. I knew why Pae-jon was acting this way.

“That cannot be used unless it reaches the realm of the mind’s eye. I understand your desire, but you shouldn’t be hasty.”

“…Yes, I know that too.”

A power that even Pae-jon, the creator of the violent martial art Tu-a-pa-cheon-mu, warned about.

It was that dangerous.

In fact, I once tried to use it in front of Pae-jon and ended up having my internal organs rupture.

But.

‘I have to use it someday.’

I had to make every effort to control even this. It was a time when I had to use everything I could.

Soothing those regretful thoughts, I asked Pae-jon this time.

“Elder.”

“Yes.”

“So, what did you want to talk about?”

Pae-jon narrowed his eyes at my question and said.

“You’re not unintelligent.”

I didn’t feel particularly good hearing the compliment.

It was natural.

The reason we came out alone right after meeting.

I thought it was because he had something to say to me.

Furthermore, I judged that it was out of consideration for my internal injuries, so I wouldn’t use telepathy.

Indeed, as soon as we stepped out of the residence, I could feel Pae-jon erecting barriers around us.

This was surely an action taken with me in mind.

Moreover, it also meant there was something that shouldn’t be overheard by others.

‘Although we’ve been talking somewhat until now.’

The main point hadn’t come up yet.

There wasn’t anything substantial to say yet.

So what exactly was he trying to say?

‘If Pae-jon is this concerned, it seems like an important matter.’

Could it be that he’s going to directly mention the trouble I’ve been causing?

If so, what excuse should I make? Or should I just answer honestly?

He said he wouldn’t care what I did.

Wouldn’t he not care much even if his disciple went around wrecking the Meng?

Or perhaps the opposite….

‘…Will he try to tie me up with my own joints, calling it useless nonsense?’

That old geezer was perfectly capable of doing that.

Countless thoughts flashed through my mind in an instant.

I had already identified escape routes in case of an unforeseen situation.

Meaning, I planned to make a swift getaway if necessary.

Just as I was building up the tension, Pae-jon spoke to me.

“Ah, it’s nothing much.”

Words spoken hesitantly, unlike Pae-jon.

I perked up my ears, focusing on his uncharacteristic demeanor.

Just then.

“The martial arts tournament held at the previous Meng….”

Pae-jon, who started speaking, and I simultaneously looked in a certain direction.

Because I sensed something troublesome approaching.

I hoped it was my imagination, but seeing Pae-jon react similarly, it didn’t seem like my imagination.

And as if to prove it, not long after.

-Kyaaaaaak-!

A loud scream echoed from afar.