Chapter 684: Tang Soyeol of the Tang Clan.

A young woman with light green hair, smiling brightly, and beside her, a blonde woman who inexplicably couldn’t lift her head.

Seeing Tang Soyeol and Wi Seol-ah, who had suddenly appeared, I nodded.

“What? Why are you here?”

“We’re here to submit our applications for the Martial Arts Tournament!”

It was an obvious answer.

If we met here, it must be to submit applications for the Martial Arts Tournament.

However.

“…You’re submitting…?”

“Yep.”

“You too?”

“…Yes.”

I hadn’t really expected these two to submit.

They were even holding identification tokens in their hands, as if they had already submitted.

‘…Were they interested in something like this?’

Tang Soyeol was originally from a prestigious family and always attended events like the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, but…

I hadn’t realized Wi Seol-ah would also try to participate in the Martial Arts Tournament.

Because I thought she wouldn’t be very interested in things like this.

Moreover.

‘There were even things I did to discourage her interest.’

I had deliberately tried to keep Wi Seol-ah from standing out, so it was quite baffling that she’d come straight here to the Martial Arts Tournament on her own.

‘Was I not paying enough attention?’

Lately, being tossed around here and there, I hadn’t had the time to even consider Wi Seol-ah’s interests.

So, perhaps I didn’t even know she was interested in the Martial Arts Tournament.

‘Tsk….’

This was problematic.

I turned my gaze and surveyed the surroundings.

Just yesterday, the area around the registration desk had been bustling beyond compare, but…

“…Wow….”

“Hoo….”

Only deep admiration flowed out; the noise didn’t intensify.

Gazes were drawn.

Most eyes were directed this way.

‘No.’

More accurately, it would be right to say they were looking at Wi Seol-ah.

“She’s beautiful…. How can anyone be so beautiful.”

My gaze was stolen, and I took a breath as if mesmerized.

It was barely that much.

‘Barely that much, even after suppressing her presence.’

Tang Soyeol, due to whatever training she received from the Shadow King, had almost completely erased her inherent presence.

I could only perceive that she was there, but Wi Seol-ah was drawing attention even after suppressing her own presence.

Ultimately, her beauty bloomed so fully that the extent of it was worse than expected.

Finally, unable to watch any longer, I released my energy to envelop Wi Seol-ah.

Whoosh-!

As the protective aura was layered on, her presence slightly subsided.

Even after using a considerable amount, is it only this much?

I clicked my tongue slightly and spoke.

“Where did you go and sell your veil?”

“…It was a bit too hot to wear.”

Wi Seol-ah replied with an embarrassed expression.

Or maybe not? Rather than embarrassed, perhaps it felt more like displeasure.

Seeing this, I immediately said,

“Hot my ass. If you feel hot at your level, that’s a sickness.”

“…”

The way she pouted her lips confirmed she was displeased.

Why does she make that face when I’m worried about her?

Still, covering her with some energy seemed to have reduced the surrounding reactions compared to before.

“…So, you submitted the applications, right?”

“Yes.”

“That’s right. We’re going to work hard.”

Work hard at what, exactly?

It was something I couldn’t bring myself to say, so I kept it in my mouth.

Since the two of them are martial artists, they might want to participate in the Martial Arts Tournament…. Right.

Participating itself isn’t a major problem.

Probably.

‘Troublesome things are bound to happen.’

Recalling this, I turned my gaze.

Leaving the inn, I carefully extended my spiritual sense.

Woong.

I checked each sensation that spread thinly and entered my awareness.

‘I was already being watched.’

There were six martial artists from the Alliance in charge of registration.

Besides them, there were ten individuals hiding their presence and watching this way.

Five of them seemed to be figures from the Wudang sect.

‘They’re already looking this way.’

I knew they were likely stationed to intervene if something happened, but…

It was clear their gazes were directed towards Wi Seol-ah.

And no wonder.

“…A descendant of the Sword Master? That lovely young lady?”

“Yes, I definitely heard it.”

“I’d heard the rumors well even at the Divine Dragon Pavilion…. I never thought she’d actually be a woman.”

Talk about Wi Seol-ah was already slowly spreading.

Even having covered her with energy meant it was already late.

Up to this point, it wasn’t much of a concern.

‘It was talk that was bound to leak out eventually.’

It was something I should have expected from the moment Wi Seol-ah started wielding a sword.

Delaying it until now was quite an achievement in itself.

“Wait here for a moment.”

Watching this, I sighed and carefully moved my steps.

It was to take care of the immediate task first.

Just then.

“Bro, Bro…!”

As Bong-soon, who was following behind, tried to speak urgently, I spoke before she could.

“Use the proper title.”

If unnecessary talk spread here, it would be truly problematic.

After I corrected her speech, Bong-soon nodded several times.

Did she understand?

“Young Master! What were those people just now!?”

“…”

There was something bothering me, but I decided to let it pass for now.

She seemed to have understood the gist, which was enough.

“They look just like jewels! Can I bite them? I can bite them, right?”

“Why would you bite people?”

“They look so incredibly expensive! They’re cute! I want to bite them!”

Looks expensive…

In a way, it’s quite a fitting description.

It’s just the follow-up words that are the problem.

‘If that girl bites, she’ll actually bite.’

Shaking my head, I pulled Bong-soon closer.

Seong-yul was following behind us.

After that, we arrived at the registration desk.

I could see slightly more people than yesterday.

Seeing this, I put my hand into my pocket.

And then, I quietly activated my ability.

At that moment.

Sarrr-!!

Two letters were created from my fingertips.

I grabbed them and pulled them out.

“Take these and go register.”

I handed the created letters to Bong-soon and Seong-yul respectively.

“Okay!”

Bong-soon took the letter without a word and ran towards the registration desk.

Seong-yul took his and asked me.

“What… is this?”

In response to Seong-yul’s question, I nodded and answered.

“A letter of recommendation.”

“…!”

The Martial Arts Tournament could not be entered without a letter of recommendation from the Alliance, and neither Bong-soon nor Seong-yul had any reason to possess one.

Bong-soon, naturally.

Seong-yul was also in a situation akin to being a fugitive.

Therefore, I had to use my ability to replicate the letters of recommendation and hand them over to the two.

“Hurry up and get it done.”

“…Understood.”

Seong-yul seemed to have many more questions, but he headed towards the registration desk first.

Watching Seong-yul leave, I thought to myself.

‘The duration… at best, half an hour.’

Although the letters of recommendation were not large, the dense text and sentences within meant my ability wouldn’t last long.

Seeing the line, they would finish within it.

If my prediction is correct, they won’t be caught.

In reality, since I changed their affiliated sect and names before sending them, the chance of being caught if the Alliance checked was high, but…

‘The Murim Alliance isn’t exactly known for meticulous work.’

I was counting on their lazy work ethic, and sure enough, not long after, the two appeared holding their identification tokens.

It seemed they had successfully registered.

“Young Master! My name is Pi Yeon-yeon!”

Bong-soon approached me holding the token, saying in an excited voice.

She seemed happy to have a name.

“…Yes, for now, you are Pi Yeon-yeon.”

Pi Yeon-yeon was a pseudonym I had created.

It was a surname from a real family in the Xi’an region, and a place where I had made arrangements through Nohi.

Bong-soon wouldn’t have to worry about being caught by her name.

The problem here is…

“Young Master Jin, you must also fare well for the time being.”

“…Yes.”

Seong-yul, who had suddenly become Jin Im-seok of the Jin family in Gwangju, was the real issue.

Saying this playfully, I patted Seong-yul on the shoulder and quietly added,

-The Kunlun sect guys will be arriving soon too. If anything bothers you, stay hidden.

“…”

He nodded.

Seong-yul nodded with an uncomfortable expression.

I’m not telling him not to go out.

If he wanted, he didn’t even have to participate in the Martial Arts Tournament.

Because Seong-yul would likely be in trouble if he caught the Kunlun sect’s eye.

However, Seong-yul probably knew this too.

That if he didn’t step forward in the Martial Arts Tournament, he couldn’t be useful to me.

‘If he decides to participate, I can at least provide some protection.’

I don’t know if I can prevent all problems, but…

I could at least ensure that if problems arose, they couldn’t be helped.

Firmly.

I saw Seong-yul grip the token tightly and put it in his pocket.

Seeing that, I chuckled and turned my back.

Since the registration was done, it seemed the important schedule for today was over.

‘Next, I should contact the Pildu faction and prepare a bait in advance.’

It was about time to start building a foundation, so I needed to organize my thoughts and contact them again.

‘Also, I need to ask Shin-ui about matters concerning curses.’

I thought it was a relatively relaxed day, but when I dug into it, there were always many tasks.

As always, today was one of those days.

‘The fortunate thing here is that Beom-dong hasn’t shown up at all since then.’

It’s only been a day since the incident with Beom-dong.

Not much could have happened in that time, but this was still a possibility.

Because Beom-dong might cause trouble unexpectedly, I had already made plans regarding him.

‘I hope he doesn’t do anything foolish.’

If Beom-dong’s situation gets involved, things get a bit complicated.

So, I hoped he would remain quiet.

That way, it would be easier to use and discard him later.

Afterward, I looked up at the sky and thought.

‘It’s not exactly free time, but time-wise, it seems I can grab a meal?’

I could take the kids out for a meal before the next schedule.

Maybe I should go to that dumpling place I visited with Peng Woo-jin yesterday?

Thinking that, I returned to where Tang Soyeol and Wi Seol-ah were.

“Huh?”

Looking straight ahead, I had to frown.

It was because someone was near Wi Seol-ah and Tang Soyeol.

‘Who is it?’

I saw a man talking to Tang Soyeol.

As I slowly walked towards them, voices reached me from the surroundings.

“…It’s the Oil Bullet Sword (Yu Tan Geom)…!”

“They said he’d participate in the Martial Arts Tournament, was that true after all?”

“Is the Oil Bullet Sword really participating in the Martial Arts Tournament?”

‘Oil Bullet Sword?’

Those words were directed towards the man in front of Tang Soyeol.

Since all eyes were fixed on that man, I couldn’t help but notice.

Moreover, he was quite a famous figure.

‘That guy is the Oil Bullet Sword?’

He was a martial artist even I knew.

The Oil Bullet Sword (Yu Tan Geom), Baek Cheong-jin.

He was a righteous martial artist from the Baek family of Liaodong, one of the prestigious families, and currently ranked among the Central Plains’ Top 100 Experts.

He looked no older than forty, but he was someone who had surpassed the Hwagyeong realm, so he must be older.

He had a sly appearance, but with an air of nobility, he wasn’t an unattractive figure.

A handsome middle-aged man, perhaps.

Perhaps the Oil Bullet Sword himself knew this advantage, separate from his outstanding skills.

‘There were rumors that he was somewhat lustful.’

The sheer number of anecdotes related to women was one of the reasons the Oil Bullet Sword was famous.

And the Oil Bullet Sword is talking to those two…?

My brow furrowed involuntarily, so I slowed my steps and focused my hearing.

First, I decided to figure out what the situation was.

---

“Look over there, it’s one of the Top 100 Experts…!”

“They say it’s the Oil Bullet Sword! Such an expert has come to the Martial Arts Tournament?”

“Unbelievable, what good luck…. To see one of the Top 100 Experts with my own eyes.”

“That’s not the important part. Isn’t it more important that one of the Top 100 Experts is participating in the Martial Arts Tournament!”

The voices constantly heard from the surroundings.

Listening to that, the man slightly lifted the corners of his mouth.

‘Praise me more, you primitive fools. Yes, I am the Oil Bullet Sword.’

The Oil Bullet Sword, Baek Cheong-jin.

He suppressed the laughter that threatened to escape as he listened to the voices.

The words tickling his ears were truly pleasant to hear.

He was a man who particularly loved the praise of others.

‘You won’t see anyone like me anywhere else. It’s only natural.’

Look at me more.

And praise me more.

The boiling interest and praise were also the reasons he lived.

“I heard the Oil Bullet Sword has reached Hwagyeong. His aura certainly feels extraordinary.”

“I saw several peak experts just yesterday…. But Hwagyeong is on a different level, isn’t it?”

“Indeed. Ordinary experts can’t compare to absolute experts.”

These were indeed pleasant words.

However, amidst it all, the Oil Bullet Sword felt a slight displeasure.

‘To be compared with guys who are merely at the peak. Tsk.’

How dare they compare me with such trash.

He was the true of the true.

To be compared with young fellows who couldn’t even properly overcome a wall.

Tsk tsk.

As displeasure slowly grew, the Oil Bullet Sword had to force a wider smile without showing it on his face.

He couldn’t help it.

Because before him lay what the Oil Bullet Sword liked second only to attention.

Women.

The Oil Bullet Sword liked women.

Especially young and beautiful ones.

To such a man as the Oil Bullet Sword, the people before him were undeniably tempting treasures.

“I’ve heard the rumors well, but such paltry words cannot capture it.”

The Oil Bullet Sword spoke, his eyes scanning someone.

It was a small-framed woman with light green hair, and she was quite a beauty.

She was among the few women I’d seen recently who stood out.

Moreover.

‘The woman behind her is on a different level.’

Behind the woman with light green hair stood another woman.

The blonde woman was at a level of beauty I considered the most stunning among all the women I had ever seen.

Just looking at her made my mouth water.

So much so that I wanted to take her away right now, shamelessly.

‘I must endure.’

The Oil Bullet Sword suppressed the surging emotions.

He couldn’t help it.

That was poison.

A poison so beautiful it could kill me in an instant if I touched it.

‘They said that woman was a descendant of the Sword Master (Geomjon), didn’t they?’

Just hearing it sent a chill down my spine; her background was formidable.

Those who know will understand how terrifying the existence of the Sword Master is to swordsmen who have reached a certain level.

As he was a swordsman who had reached the heavens, meddling carelessly with his descendant could also lead to trouble.

What a shame.

It was maddeningly disappointing, but the Oil Bullet Sword endured.

Not as a replacement, but there was another person in front of him.

“If I’m not mistaken, perhaps you are the precious jewel of the Tang family, young lady….”

“…”

At the Oil Bullet Sword’s words, the woman’s brow furrowed.

Even that was beautiful.

“Or perhaps, am I mistaken?”

“…No. I am a member of the Tang Clan, greeting you, Senior Oil Bullet Sword.”

Tang Soyeol performed a fist-and-palm salute to the Oil Bullet Sword, showing respect.

Then, the people around began to murmur.

“If she’s a daughter of the Tang Clan…. Then that young lady must be the Poison Phoenix.”

“Poison Phoenix? No, wait, the Tang Clan?”

Gazes directed at Tang Soyeol increased.

At the same time, a chill began to emanate from those gazes.

“You mean that clan that deserves to be beaten to death?”

“They say they were caught kidnapping children for human experiments and were kicked out of the Four Great Clans, didn’t they?”

“What nerve does a descendant of such a clan have to come here. Tsk tsk….”

Instead of Tang Soyeol’s appearance or nickname, talk related to the Tang Clan began to surface.

Hearing those words, a shadow fell over Tang Soyeol’s face.

The Oil Bullet Sword, confirming this, chuckled awkwardly and said,

“Oh dear, it seems I’ve made a mistake. That wasn’t my intention….”

“…No. I believe this is something I must inevitably face.”

It was an obvious statement, but it wasn’t a mistake.

The repercussions were greater than expected, but this too was anticipated.

The Oil Bullet Sword, wearing his characteristic smug smile, continued speaking to Tang Soyeol.

“To make such a big mistake upon our first meeting…. I am truly sorry. Though it may be insufficient as an apology….”

As he spoke, he took a step closer to Tang Soyeol.

“If you’re amenable, young lady, perhaps I could treat you to a meal somewhere nice. How about it?”

As the Oil Bullet Sword spoke to Tang Soyeol in a suggestive voice,

“That’s alright. I can accept just your goodwill, Senior.”

Tang Soyeol rejected his offer with an expressionless face.

Not a hint of hesitation could be felt.

“…”

Hearing that, wrinkles formed around the Oil Bullet Sword’s eyes.

Did she just reject me? Me?

Tsk.

‘Look at her, she’s got some pride.’

A mere girl from a fallen, declining clan, acting proud without knowing her place.

‘Instead of being grateful that a man like me approached her, she should be accepting it.’

Truly, she was an unintelligent girl.

As these thoughts crossed his mind, the Oil Bullet Sword smiled even more broadly.

“Haha. Just goodwill? As a man of duty, how could I possibly do that? It’s fine if you don’t refuse.”

“I really mean it. I fear I might be disturbing your time, Junior.”

“Disturbing? How could having a meal with a lovely junior possibly be a disturbance? Don’t worry, let’s just chat casually…”

As the conversation continued, the Oil Bullet Sword began to get annoyed.

She’s a girl with nothing but a pretty face.

It was infuriating that the successor of a ruined clan was defying his will.

Moreover, the surrounding gazes were starting to become awkward.

If this dragged on any longer, troublesome matters would arise.

Finally, unable to handle the situation and his emotions, the Oil Bullet Sword reached out and grabbed Tang Soyeol’s wrist.

“I’m really fine, so just come along.”

His words became curt.

Since showing respect seemed to make her arrogant, I decided to take a stronger approach.

Her white wrist was grabbed.

The touch of her pale, cold skin made my mouth water.

I wanted to lay her on a bed right away, but that could cause problems.

Even if she refused like this now, once she started the meal with me, it wouldn’t take long.

Most women I’d met were like that.

So, I tried to drag her along like that for now, but…

Grip.

“…?”

For some reason, she wasn’t being pulled along.

‘What the…?’

The Oil Bullet Sword turned his head to look at Tang Soyeol.

Even though I was applying force, Tang Soyeol stood still in her spot, staring at the Oil Bullet Sword.

I was flustered.

‘Did I not apply enough force?’

Just dragging one girl. Was that not enough?

No, I felt like I applied enough strength.

Unable to overcome the strangeness, the Oil Bullet Sword paused for a moment.

“…Haa….”

A small sigh was heard.

It came from Tang Soyeol.

‘A sigh?’

Could she possibly have sighed at me?

Right to my face?

As the Oil Bullet Sword stared incredulously, Tang Soyeol whispered softly to him.

“Senior.”

“Hm…?”

“Perhaps, because your groin is attached to your brain, you don’t understand instructions well?”

“Huh…?”

Hearing this, the Oil Bullet Sword wore a dumbfounded expression.

What did she just say? His expression distorted as if he’d heard things.

It was a situation that defied understanding.

How could he understand?

“Just now…. What did you say…. Ah, no. Was that you, young lady…?”

He asked again for confirmation, but Tang Soyeol’s eyes only grew colder.

“Since I’ve been patient, it seems you don’t know your place, so I think I need to make myself clearer.”

Tang Soyeol took a step closer to the bewildered Oil Bullet Sword.

Then, in a chillingly cold tone, she whispered into the Oil Bullet Sword’s ear.

“…You can’t have me, not even if you die, so piss off. You worm-like bastard.”

“…!”

At Tang Soyeol’s words, the Oil Bullet Sword’s face hardened stiffly.