Chapter 578: Shaolin’s Miracle.

There was a martial artist named Gwiseung (Ghost Monk).

He was a demon, belonging to the Heavenly Net Black Net Unit, a direct subordinate unit of the Heavenly Demon, and before the Ghostly Patrol Sword Unit was formed under the leadership of the Sword Demon.

He was also a figure who had operated as a killing unit under his command.

Although he was a demon famous for his cruel actions, unlike his background at the time.

I didn’t have much contact with him.

At the time Gwiseung was active as a demon, I was just being held captive under the Heavenly Demon.

Back then, I hadn’t yet belonged to or operated any unit, so we had never crossed paths.

He was someone I hadn’t even seen face-to-face before becoming a demon.

It was only natural.

‘I was a complete idiot. And he was….’

Among the generation known for their prowess, the Meteors.

The one known as the most outstanding.

That was Gwiseung…. No, that’s not right.

‘Should I call him the Divine Dragon (God Dragon) now?’

Along with Jang Seonyeon, he was a martial artist called the rising hope of the orthodox sects and the miracle of Shaolin at the time.

He was a figure on a different level from me, who was called the disgrace of the Nine Families and the scoundrel of Shanxi.

That was Gwiseung, the young man before my eyes.

I looked straight at him.

Perhaps because the moonlight shone on it, his particularly gleaming head was the first thing I saw.

Below that, his subtly glowing, amber eyes. His build was just under seven feet tall, with a sturdy physique clearly visible.

Judging by his trained physique.

‘A martial arts type.’

I could guess he was an outstanding martial artist of the physical arts, having trained his external energy to the extreme.

Though, naturally, any Shaolin disciple would be of the external energy type.

‘It’s strange seeing him like this.’

I felt a unique sense of emotion.

I hadn’t expected to meet him like this, let alone.

It was truly a strange thing for the two of us to be facing each other like this.

‘The Miracle of Shaolin.’

Or the Last Divine Dragon, or the Greatest Genius of All Time.

Those were the titles used to call Yu Yeon.

‘Because all three are the truth.’

In a way, you could say even more.

Although the Divine Dragon was chosen not through the Dragon Phoenix Gathering, but through behind-the-scenes manipulation.

Considering the circumstances back then….

‘That guy was more than qualified to become the Divine Dragon.’

He was by no means lacking in his ability to ascend to Divine Dragon.

‘His age…. He said he was probably the same age as me.’

At most, maybe one or two years older.

If he reached the Martial Realm at that age, it wouldn’t be strange to call him the Greatest Genius of All Time.

Although I reached the Martial Realm at a younger age.

‘I’m an exception, of course.’

It didn’t matter much whether that guy was called the youngest Martial Realm expert or the Greatest Genius of All Time.

Because if I hadn’t been around, he would have been called that.

Moreover, looking at it that way, it was actually strange.

‘With his level, couldn’t he have avoided resorting to such bullshit maneuvers?’

Looking at the Divine Dragon’s current state, he could have reached the position of Divine Dragon without needing to scheme with Shaolin and the Alliance.

He was more than qualified.

If he reached the Martial Realm in his late teens, he’d have more than enough qualifications.

Yet, if he had to resort to such measures….

I thought there must be a reason.

And that reason.

‘Could it be related to why that guy abandoned Shaolin and ran away?’

Could it be connected to why the Divine Dragon turned his back on his homeland and fell?

I used to think things like that.

Of course, there was no way to know.

By the time I emerged into the world under the name of a demon, Gwiseung had already met his death at the hands of other Shaolin disciples.

‘They said dozens of Alliance troops and Shaolin experts had cornered Gwiseung to kill him.’

And when they killed Gwiseung, they said half of their strength was lost.

‘I’m curious.’

I looked at the Divine Dragon with interest.

For what reason did that guy become a demon?

Such questions welled up, but this wasn’t the time to ask them.

I had to bring up something else while looking at him.

“You seem to like meat?”

“…”

At my casual question, the Divine Dragon frowned.

He looked displeased.

Well, asking someone from Shaolin who abstains from meat could be considered somewhat rude.

But.

The situation was a bit different now.

‘He ate it.’

I had definitely seen it.

At the inn just before, I saw him eating dumplings.

No…. To be precise, I didn’t see him eating.

‘I saw the leftovers.’

That should be enough.

“Those dumplings there are delicious, but I didn’t realize they were so good that even a devout monk would eat them.”

A taste that makes even those who abstain from meat crave it.

I wondered if it wouldn’t make a killer slogan for the inn.

As I said that with a chuckle, the Divine Dragon finally opened his closed mouth.

“I do not understand what you are saying, Benefactor….”

His previous expression was gone, replaced by a gentle and proper one.

Seeing that, I nodded.

Hmm, I see.

‘He’s going to play dumb.’

It seems he intends to feign ignorance since there’s no proof.

Unfortunately, there was proof.

“If you’re going to do that, you should at least wipe the grease off your mouth.”

At my words, the Divine Dragon paused and started wiping his mouth.

Watching him, I continued speaking.

“There’s even parsley stuck between your teeth.”

“…!”

As he tried to move hastily again, I added.

“Ah, that was a lie.”

As I said that with a laugh, the guy froze like a stone.

His expression changed too.

He probably knew there was no escape route left.

Seeing this, I also laughed.

A brief silence passed, and the Divine Dragon soon cleared his throat.

“Ahem….”

He changed his somewhat ungraceful posture and straightened up.

“Do you have business with me, Benefactor?”

It seemed he intended to pretend the previous conversation never happened.

How absurd.

I let out a hollow laugh and took a step forward.

It was an action taken without warning, but the Divine Dragon showed no particular reaction.

Is he not paying attention?

He certainly looked that way.

Jireureureuk.

As he made his move, my heart reacted involuntarily.

I could feel it.

Wooong-!

A surge of energy was gradually spreading from the Divine Dragon’s feet.

The thick energy spread in all directions, creating a domain.

In a short moment.

Before I knew it, the entire area was covered by the Divine Dragon’s domain.

I smiled as I saw this.

‘Good.’

The way he wielded his energy was swift, detailed, and meticulous.

The densely packed energy was so impressive it elicited admiration.

It wasn’t bad.

Feeling it, I spoke.

“Is it okay for a Buddhist pursuing reincarnation to be this violent?”

As I spoke while sensing the energy, the Divine Dragon said to me.

“You still haven’t answered my question, Benefactor.”

“Hmm.”

Hearing him, I nodded.

If he had simply spread his energy to create a domain, perhaps.

‘His energy feels a bit rough.’

My heart was reacting involuntarily to the energy I felt.

This meant.

That his energy contained hostility.

‘Did I upset him by teasing him?’

Is that why he’s reacting like this?

It’s possible.

Having figured that much out, I immediately spoke to him.

“Sorry if you were offended.”

“…?”

“Monks can eat meat too. How can people live without eating meat?”

As I said that with a smile, the guy’s expression instead showed surprise.

His face suggested he hadn’t expected an apology.

Meanwhile, I focused my strength and unleashed my energy.

Woong-!

The energy flowing from my heart pushed back the Divine Dragon’s energy slightly.

Only then did breathing become a little easier.

Uddeuk-!

At the same time, I loosened my body slightly.

However, I didn’t close the distance any further.

‘It’s not like I came here to fight.’

At least, that wasn’t my intention today.

I looked the Divine Dragon in the eyes and said.

“I was just curious.”

Recalling the purpose of this meeting.

It was literally that.

I was simply curious.

“Isn’t it strange? I stopped by the inn, and the Miracle of Shaolin was eating dumplings there.”

“…”

Shaolin’s Miracle.

Hearing those words, I could see the Divine Dragon’s brow twitch.

Perhaps because he had no hair, it was particularly clear.

“One of the Taoist guys I know eats some meat too. But it was the first time I saw a monk eating it?”

He’s half crazy despite being called a Taoist, so I don’t pay him much mind, but.

Shaolin felt a bit different.

That’s how perception works.

‘…Well, they say Hwang-A Bulyeong also ate meat.’

According to Elder Shin, even Hwang-A Bulyeong, hailed as Shaolin’s hero, secretly ate meat, so it was hard to blame him.

Still, the reason I deliberately pointed this out.

Was simply to strike up a conversation.

Though it seemed to have taken a much rougher turn than expected.

“Benefactor, you seem to know who I am.”

“I know well. How could I not?”

If you were to pick the most famous figures in Henan these days, one would be the new Alliance Leader, the Wudang Sword Saint.

And the other would be the Divine Dragon before my eyes.

“The new Divine Dragon. Right?”

“…”

Even if he said no here, I wouldn’t believe him anyway.

A face that looked barely past his late teens.

Despite his face still holding a hint of youth, his physique was overwhelming.

Furthermore.

‘To pretend ignorance while possessing such energy is quite shameless.’

Including the weighty Shaolin energy contained within him.

Anyone who saw him would know, one hundred percent.

‘He’s definitely amazing.’

In my previous life, I only saw him from afar, and my own cultivation level was pathetic, so I didn’t truly grasp the Divine Dragon’s power.

Now that I faced him up close, I could understand it well.

‘He deserves to be called a monster.’

To achieve that level of cultivation merely in his late teens?

No matter how much I looked, it was incomprehensible.

How could he have done that?

Could it be….

“By any chance, did you too… become Yeon Ilcheon?”

“What?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

I took back what I said abruptly.

Even so, I figured that couldn’t be it.

‘Having more regressors would be too much of a headache.’

I knew it was impossible, but seeing the Divine Dragon’s state made me unable to help but suspect.

That’s how incredible his level was.

Even setting aside myself, having experienced many things, reaching that state without any special encounters.

‘Means he truly is the Greatest Genius of All Time.’

A talent bestowed by heaven.

There could be no other title to describe him.

While admiring the Divine Dragon’s appearance, I continued speaking.

Because I hadn’t introduced myself yet.

“Ah, I am….”

“I know.”

“Huh?”

As I was belatedly trying to introduce myself, the Divine Dragon cut me off.

Hearing that, I had to show a slight surprise.

“You know?”

“It means I know who you are, Benefactor.”

“Hmm…?”

You know me?

With a curious look at his words, I glanced at the Divine Dragon, and he said to me.

“So Yeomra, Gu Yangcheon….”

“…”

“Aren’t those your epithet and name, Benefactor?”

My eyes widened at his words, spoken without hesitation.

“What the heck, how did you know?”

It was truly unexpected.

How does that guy know about me?

Just as that question crossed my mind.

“I simply believed.”

The Divine Dragon said to me with a stern expression.

“If someone possessed power like yours, it had to be him. That’s what I believed.”

“Oh.”

I exclaimed in admiration upon hearing that.

This meant that the reason I was certain he was the Divine Dragon and the reason he was certain I was me were the same.

The problem is, if there was something else within it.

“But why do you hate me?”

The hostility in the Divine Dragon’s energy was deepening.

The moment he confirmed who I was.

The hostility in the energy he directed at me increased.

When I asked about it.

“…”

The Divine Dragon offered no particular answer.

Usually, if asked so directly, one might say they don’t hate me.

Isn’t that tantamount to an admission?

‘What is it?’

Is it really because I teased him too much?

Or is it because I was rude from the start?

Hmm.

‘Both are actions that could cause dislike.’

I recalled it and could admit it. It seemed plausible.

Still, I wouldn’t change it.

‘However, it feels like that’s not the whole story.’

It could be due to a bad first impression, but there was something else about the Divine Dragon.

Something else that made him dislike me.

I stared into his eyes, remaining still for a few seconds.

“…Benefactor.”

After a brief pause, the Divine Dragon looked at me and said.

“Did you come to participate in the Martial Arts Tournament?”

It wasn’t an answer to my question; rather, he asked one back.

It meant he wasn’t going to answer what I asked earlier.

So, I decided to go along with his intention.

“Since it’s being held anyway, I do intend to give it a try.”

“I see.”

Hearing that, the Divine Dragon nodded.

“That’s fortunate.”

“Hmm?”

Fortunate? What does that mean?

“Our meeting today was pleasant, Benefactor. Next time… let’s meet in three months.”

Then, he suddenly bid farewell and turned, walking away.

Watching his retreating back, I tilted my head.

The former seemed like a blatant lie.

The latter….

‘Meeting in three months… does that mean he’s also entering the Martial Arts Competition?’

So, was his statement just a sort of declaration of war?

Thinking of this, I gave a short clap inwardly.

Because it felt refreshing.

‘This is another first, I think.’

Perhaps it’s the first time since my regression.

‘I don’t like you, so follow me to the Martial Arts Competition.’

‘I’ll teach you a lesson.’

It seemed to mean exactly that, no matter how I looked at it.

It had been so long since someone spoke to me like that.

And to be spoken to like that by someone I just met today!

Recalling that.

“Hey.”

I immediately called out to him.

Jjeok.

At my call, the Divine Dragon stopped in his tracks.

At the same time, I could see.

His shoulders subtly shifting.

Is he thinking of fighting right here?

He seemed fully prepared to do so, but unfortunately, I didn’t feel like it.

“I’ll keep your secret about secretly eating dumplings, safe from Shaolin.”

“…”

After I stated the reason for calling him back, he stood there blankly for a moment.

Then he turned and looked back at me.

Immediately after.

“…Th-thank you… for that.”

The Divine Dragon clasped his hands in greeting and turned his back again.

And then he started walking again on his path.

For some reason, his steps seemed a bit faster.

He must have been embarrassed.

“…Haha.”

Watching him, I let out a hollow laugh.

That guy didn’t seem quite right either.

Wudang, Shaolin, or Mount Hua. Why are the people who should be the most sensible all missing something?

It was clear the world was a mess.

Thinking so, I stroked my chin.

“In three months….”

The Divine Dragon’s words just now bothered me.

I hadn’t seriously intended to participate in the Martial Arts Competition, so I hadn’t thought much of it, but.

Hearing words like that made things difficult.

“This might stir up some feelings.”

My hands might get carried away with emotion.

If that happens, it’ll be hard to control my strength.

And that would be quite inconvenient from my perspective.