Chapter 682: Bongsun.

A chilling sensation brushed past my cheek.

My lips curled upwards at the texture my instincts recognized.

“Look at this bastard.”

I could feel clear hostility from the other party.

I met his yellow eyes beyond his distorted expression and gave a slight nod.

“You knew?”

“…”

“How did you know?”

I asked, but Shinryong just bit his lips demurely, offering no answer.

If he’s going to act like that, why did he even ask?

I stared at him for a moment before asking something else.

“So, why should I refute that?”

The statement that the youngest Hwagyeong was a baseless rumor.

Was there really a need to refute it? I wasn’t sure.

“That…”

At my words, Shinryong finally opened his mouth slowly.

“…Because that rumor is false.”

The youngest Hwagyeong officially recognized by the Murim Alliance was Shinryong, standing before me.

However, that was just the official story.

Then who was the real youngest Hwagyeong?

Was it me?

Perhaps. Reaching Hwagyeong before turning twenty was truly an incredible feat.

However.

Could I say it with certainty?

‘Well…’

I didn’t know.

Unofficial information is, quite literally, unknown information.

And besides, even if I really was the youngest Hwagyeong, it didn’t matter.

“I don’t really care.”

I didn’t care about such trivial things, and honestly, it held no real meaning.

‘What meaning is there in something obtained like this?’

My current level was merely something gained based on my regression.

Youngest Hwagyeong? To me, it was just a completely useless phrase.

How could something like that possibly help.

It wasn’t important to me at all.

“You can have it. I’m leaving.”

Take it if you want it.

Because I had to gain something much bigger than that.

I didn’t know how Shinryong knew this, but it didn’t matter much either.

If you want, go ahead and use those rumors.

Saying that, I tried to leave.

“…Are you…”

Shinryong said to me, frowning even more.

“…pitying me?”

‘Hmm.’

Hearing him, I examined Shinryong.

Especially his eyes.

The swirling emotions in his yellow eyes were clearly…

‘Is it inferiority?’

It was a feeling I knew all too well.

The look I had in my past life, and one I still get sometimes these days.

‘Shinryong is looking at me with those eyes.’

I wondered if that damned monk would ever look at me like that.

Staring at those eyes, I asked him.

“Have we met somewhere before?”

“…”

He wouldn’t look at me like that for no reason. There seemed to be a reason.

I just didn’t know what it was.

‘This is strange.’

First Black Dragon Geomryong Yeongpung, and now Shinryong.

It was baffling why these so-called geniuses looked at me like that.

Seeing Shinryong still not answering, I clicked my tongue briefly.

“Whatever the reason, is it okay for a monk who believes in Buddha to have that kind of look?”

“…!”

Hearing my remark, Shinryong’s eyes widened slightly.

Then, he quickly began to change his expression.

It seemed he realized something was off himself.

Seeing that, I narrowed my eyes.

“What’s the problem? What exactly don’t you like?”

What could possibly be the issue?

“I told you to do as you please! I don’t care about that rumor or whatever else, so just do as you please. What pity? What pity are you talking about?”

Who would I pity? I’m too busy trying to survive.

I said it with utmost annoyance, but Shinryong’s reaction remained the same.

“…I don’t understand.”

“Understand what?”

“With these kinds of stories circulating, why do you not express yourself, Siju?”

As he spoke, Shinryong’s face was filled with utter confusion.

“Can’t you correct it anytime you wish?”

“Correct what?”

Is he asking me to correct the rumors?

Am I supposed to shout that I’m the real one, not him?

“If I don’t want to do it, I won’t. Who are you to say?”

If I choose not to prove myself, that should be fine. Why is he pressing the issue?

And.

“When did I say I wouldn’t?”

“…What?”

My response changed Shinryong’s expression.

“Express myself or whatever. I’m just not doing it now because there’s no need.”

I’m refraining from showing my strength instead of correcting rumors.

As Shinryong said, I can show it and correct it, but I’m holding back.

So don’t worry.

“It’s not that long until it happens anyway.”

Not much time is left until I show them.

“…Are you saying that if you wish to show it, you can display it anytime?”

“It probably wouldn’t be very difficult.”

As Shinryong himself mentioned, showing it wouldn’t be difficult if I wanted to.

I just choose not to.

The reason is simple.

‘By enduring and enduring, the impact will be greater when I finally show it.’

I’m not an idiot who just stays quiet upon hearing ridiculous rumors.

I was just waiting for the right time, and that time is now.

I don’t know why Shinryong cares about me, but even so, I have only one thing to say.

“So if you want to see it, wait. Don’t do anything pointless.”

“…”

I’ll show you soon enough.

Isn’t the stage perfectly set for me to show them?

“I don’t care about anything.”

I will simply show them.

They called it the generation of shooting stars, didn’t they?

An era where stars rained down like precipitation.

The reason they didn’t lose hope despite the shattered peace was largely due to that.

There were so many stars to protect, so they could breathe, trusting in them.

Amidst all that, I never once thought of myself as a star.

I only looked up at the falling shooting stars from below.

I never thought I was a shooting star descending on my own, but…

‘Now, there are just too many stars, making their value seem so low.’

Actually, I thought that was good.

If countless stars fall, I will gather the light of the falling stars and burn my own flame alone.

In doing so, I will ultimately shine alone, so this is just preparation to ignite my flame.

Thinking thus, I calmly watched Shinryong.

Shinryong opened his mouth to me, his gaze gradually lowering.

“…I heard that you, Siju, will also participate in the Martial Arts Tournament.”

“That’s right.”

As I nodded in confirmation, Shinryong carefully clasped his fists and palms together.

I thought he might be offering a greeting.

“Then, I shall see you there.”

Shinryong added, maintaining a calm demeanor.

However, unlike his attitude, his words were no different from a declaration of war.

Hearing him, I nodded slightly and said.

“Do you dislike me?”

I didn’t think I had much interaction with Shinryong, so why did that guy give off such vibes from our first meeting?

“It’s not like that.”

“Not like that, my ass.”

His entire body radiated clear signs of dislike towards me.

Look now, his words themselves mean he wants to fight me, don’t they?

‘Then again.’

I’m not the type of person who easily pleases others, or whom others easily like.

It didn’t really matter if he disliked me.

Accepting this, I nodded.

“It is simply because I must prove my worth through you, Siju. I say this for that purpose.”

Shinryong added, shaking his head.

“Worth.”

Proving one’s worth.

Such a subtle statement.

“Does beating me prove your worth?”

“I don’t know. However…”

“If that’s the case, you’ll lose to me?”

“…!”

I cut off whatever Shinryong was about to say.

Hearing that, Shinryong’s face hardened.

“…Those are truly arrogant words.”

It felt like he disliked it.

Declaring I would win without preamble seemed to have hurt his pride.

‘That wasn’t my intention, though.’

There was no need to correct myself, so I decided to stay silent.

Besides, correcting it wouldn’t change much anyway.

So I just kept looking at Shinryong.

“Words are meaningless, so I shall show you. How complacent your arrogance is. I will show you myself.”

Shinryong spoke, then turned his back with blazing eyes and started walking away.

He seemed quite angry.

“Hmm.”

I watched his back, debating whether to stop him, but decided against it.

Shinryong’s words didn’t bother me much… but the problem was…

‘That… shouldn’t I tell him?’

The grease smeared all over his mouth.

Shinryong’s mouth was full of traces from enjoying his meal; could I really just let him go like that?

‘…No, he’ll probably figure it out himself.’

I would have stopped him and told him if it were anyone else.

But seeing the way he spoke, I figured I could just let him go.

What did he say again?

‘I shall see you there?’

Pfft.

I chuckled, recalling Shinryong’s words.

‘This is amusing.’

Let’s remember that he was the one who initiated this.

Therefore, whatever happens now would be his responsibility.

I smacked my lips and turned my steps towards my own quarters.

Those two people.

“…”

Peng Woojin was watching from the rooftop of a nearby building.

With a gaze much colder than before.

---

Some time had passed since my return.

As dusk began to settle, I arrived at Ui’s quarters after finishing my afternoon training.

I was there to see Namgung Bi-ah, who was receiving treatment.

“Are you okay?”

“…Yeah…”

Namgung Bi-ah, who was quietly peeling and eating an apple, nodded.

She did seem okay, as she said.

Looking at what Namgung Bi-ah held in her hand, I asked.

“…Don’t people usually peel that with a knife?”

“…It’s bothersome…”

Sikak.

Namgung Bi-ah, peeling the apple, was surprisingly using her sword energy to peel it.

It was baffling why she was using that when a perfectly good paring knife was right beside her, but if it was convenient for her, then so be it.

“That much should be fine.”

As I watched this, Ui spoke to me.

“Besides, the external injuries were the bigger issue… And the girl’s body is so robust that her internal energy wasn’t affected.”

“Is that so?”

Hearing Ui’s words, I looked at Namgung Bi-ah with curiosity.

Normally, external injuries would cause problems with one’s internal energy as well.

But Namgung Bi-ah seemed to have no such issues.

“Even setting aside her being a martial artist, her recovery rate is quite exceptional. I stated three months, but… seeing her now, she’ll likely recover much sooner than that.”

“…That’s a relief.”

Ui’s words eased my mind.

Looking around, I asked Ui.

“Where did Goeseon go?”

“Who knows. Earlier, I saw him leaving with my disciple. Perhaps they went for a stroll?”

Hearing that, I nodded.

‘Looks like he went to try again.’

Woohyeok must have gone to try using his abilities on Goeseon.

I hadn’t heard if there was any progress, but seeing him persist like this, it seemed like something was happening.

‘I hope it works out.’

If it works, I could just go to him for treatment if I get hurt, making him quite useful.

Even though Ui’s healing was the best in the Central Plains.

‘In the end, he couldn’t restore a severed arm.’

Thinking this, I casually glanced around.

I was looking for someone.

“…They went out…”

This time, Namgung Bi-ah answered me.

Hearing that, I let out a small cough.

“Ahem, what are you talking about?”

“…Aren’t you looking for Soyeol… and Seol-ah…?”

She said calmly, quietly chewing her apple.

…She was right.

I was looking for them, wondering where they went, and got caught immediately.

I scratched my cheek sheepishly.

“It’s not really like that…”

Why was this?

I felt strangely guilty about looking for other girls in front of Namgung Bi-ah.

As I avoided her gaze because of that, I heard a ‘Pfft!’ sound of laughter from somewhere.

I turned my head and looked at Namgung Bi-ah.

“…Why…?”

Namgung Bi-ah, whom I looked at again, had her usual blank expression.

“Wasn’t that you?”

“…What…?”

“The laughter just now.”

“…I don’t know…”

Wasn’t it Namgung Bi-ah?

Then the only one left was Ui.

“What are you looking at?”

“…No. It wasn’t me.”

Strange? The laughter was definitely a woman’s.

“Really, wasn’t it you?”

“…I don’t know…”

I pressed Namgung Bi-ah, asking like I was interrogating her, and she shook her head.

The important thing here wasn’t whether it was her or not, but her answer: “I don’t know.”

‘It really seems like it was her.’

Should I press her a little more? Just as I was pondering this…

“…Ah… Right…”

Clap-

Namgung Bi-ah clapped her hands, putting on a rather unconvincing act.

Seeing that, I let out a wry chuckle.

So, I decided to just let it slide.

But then.

“…Tomorrow… the Family Head is coming.”

“Hm?”

The words that followed were quite important information.

“The Sword King is coming?”

“…Yeah.”

Changcheon Sword King, the head of the Namgung family and Namgung Bi-ah’s father, is coming to Hannam.

This was rather important information.

Furthermore.

“My brother is coming too…”

“…Really?”

The information included that one of the Namgung family’s geniuses, Nyorong… no, Naeryong Namgung Cheonjun, was also coming.

Hearing that name, I tilted my head.

‘It’s been a while since I heard that name.’

I hadn’t met the guy since the engagement ceremony long ago.

‘I had turned him into a Mind Demon and then abandoned him.’

He was also the first human I had demonized.

At first, I planned to use and discard him eventually.

‘I’d completely forgotten about him.’

He had completely slipped my mind.

‘So he’s coming too…?’

This was rather strange.

Namgung Cheonjun coming to Hannam.

That was undeniably bothersome.

Because.

‘Surely, I placed a restriction on him?’

The restrictions I placed on him included never leaving Anhui and not approaching his sister, didn’t they?

‘How did he get out of Anhui?’

Even coming here was a problem.

If Namgung Bi-ah was right, this shouldn’t be possible…

‘Did something happen to the restriction?’

I didn’t sense anything like that.

How could this be?

Just as I was pondering this question…

[Master.]

A faint telepathic message reached me.

It was Nari’s voice.

[‘Chang’ has awakened.]

“…”

Hearing Nari’s words, I scowled deeply.

Why now of all times?

I had intended to go a little later.

Suppressing a sigh inwardly, I said to Nari.

[Put him back to sleep.]

I said that, thinking maybe I could knock him out again and go later.

[…Forgive my presumption, but.]

Hearing this, Nari replied in a slightly troubled tone.

[He’s already been knocked out four times… If I do it again, Chang seems likely to rampage.]

“…”

Damn it.

“Haa.”

Hearing Nari’s words, I finally couldn’t hold back and sighed.

As I frowned, looking thoroughly annoyed…

Swoosh.

Namgung Bi-ah stroked my cheek.

“…What?”

Looking at her, wondering what she was doing, Namgung Bi-ah popped the remaining apple into her mouth and said.

“Have a safe trip…”

“…”

Hearing her words, my eyes widened slightly.

Did she hear telepathically? That shouldn’t be possible?

“How did you know? That I have to go right now?”

“Your eyes say so…”

What are my eyes saying? They aren’t my mouth.

I stared at Namgung Bi-ah with a dumbfounded expression.

Then.

“…Go on…”

Namgung Bi-ah removed her hand from my cheek and waved slightly, as if urging me to go.

Seeing that, I couldn’t help but smile slightly.

Strangely, it seemed her gesture reassured me.

“Alright. I’ll be back.”

“Yeah.”

I said that and stood up.

As much as I didn’t want to go, it felt like I had to.

After bidding farewell to Ui, who was preparing medicine nearby, I stepped outside.

Afterward, I headed to my own quarters, and the moment I stepped inside…

KWA-AA-ANG!!!

A sound of something exploding came from inside.

“Tsk.”

I clicked my tongue sharply and immediately spread my energy in all directions.

A barrier formed around my quarters.

The sound came from the back of my quarters.

It was a somewhat secluded area, and upon arriving, the sight I witnessed made me squeeze my eyes shut.

Not to mention the space was a complete mess.

“…Guk…”

Far off near the rocks, Seongyul lay collapsed, emitting groans.

‘Why is he here?’

Leaving the out-of-place Seongyul behind, Nari stood before him, aiming a dagger at someone.

“Grrr…”

A sound came from a place thick with dust.

It sounded almost like the growl of a beast.

“…Sect Leader… Where is the Sect Leader?!”

KWA-AAAA-!!

The sharp, piercing cry caused a gust of wind pressure to surge momentarily.

Swept away by the wind, the dust vanished in an instant.

Seeing the person remaining there, I slowly approached.

“Where is the Sect Leader?! Where?! Come out now! If you don’t–!”

“What if you don’t come out? You crazy bitch.”

“Wha-!”

The woman, who had been causing a ruckus while emitting energy, stopped and looked towards me.

She was a woman with short black hair and violet eyes.

At first glance, she looked pretty, but she was a woman with a damn personality that overshadowed even her appearance.

Upon seeing me, the woman’s expression changed.

“It’s the Sect Leader! The Sect Leader! The Sect Leader is there!”

The woman looked around, seemingly excited.

Finally, the woman reached her hand out into the air.

Just then.

Swishiririk-!

A stick flew from somewhere in the forest and landed in the woman’s hand.

It was a long, black-painted stick.

“Lying Sect Leader! You called me, but didn’t mate with me, then tied me up and locked me away! You didn’t even play with me!”

Gooooo—!!

Immense battle intent began to emanate from the woman holding the stick.

It was truly rough and vast.

The battle intent alone made the surrounding trees tremble.

“I have to punish you for this! I can’t stand it!”

Then, the woman pointed the stick at me.

KWA-ANG!!

She kicked off the ground and charged at me.

My eyebrows twitched slightly at the chilling murderous intent.

Can’t be helped.

“I’ll punish you–!!”

[Get down.]

Woong-!

“Guaaak-!”

Kwaddeudeuk-!!

The woman’s feet, running at full speed, got tangled, and her face slammed into the ground.

The recoil must have been significant, as she tumbled forward and landed in front of me, face-first in the dirt.

Seeing that, I moved my foot.

Kkuuk-!

“Gggueeee…”

I stepped on the groaning woman’s head with my foot.

Applying pressure so she couldn’t move, the pinned woman began to squirm.

“Gwaaang… You’re… too much… Ah, wait? Maybe this feels good…”

I heard a pathetic voice.

Hearing this, I had to pinch the bridge of my nose.

‘I shouldn’t have called her after all.’

The more I looked at her, the more I felt I had made a mistake calling her.

The woman’s name was Bongsun-i.

She was the Mind Demon who would later be known as Ghost Spear, sweeping across battlefields.

And she was also the sole descendant of the previous Sword Empress.