Chapter 714: Divine Dragon Martial Arts Festival.

Sometime while I was training, Sword Master told Wi Seol-ah.

‘Seol-ah. You must always ponder not how to wield the sword, but what to put into it.’

Hearing this, Wi Seol-ah had to tilt her head.

It was because she didn’t understand.

Putting something into a sword.

A sword isn’t a container, so what could she put in it?

As a child, Wi Seol-ah couldn’t know this.

No, it would be more accurate to say she didn’t want to understand.

At the time, she was too impatient to spare any thought for anything else.

Thus, it wasn’t until Wi Seol-ah had surpassed the Hwagyeong realm that she understood her grandfather’s intention.

What sword dance to perform.

Which sword path to follow.

Where to apply strength and how to circulate Qi.

Before pondering such things, she thinks about what to put into the sword.

What thoughts and mindset should one approach the sword with.

Cheonjun (Heavenly Venerate), who had been teaching Wi Seol-ah, said.

‘Martial artists can be divided by realm, but sword masters cannot simply be divided by realm.’

‘How much of yourself can you put into the sword? That is all that matters more for a sword master.’

How much of oneself can be put in.

It’s a truly difficult statement, yet it’s the plain truth.

They call it Divine Sword Integration, don’t they?

The dream of sword masters becoming one with their swords.

It was when she grasped the general idea regarding that, that she began to understand the meaning of those words a little.

However.

‘Putting myself into the sword….’

Then, what is ‘self’ in the first place?

The reason she couldn’t grasp it, despite getting the gist, was likely because Wi Seol-ah herself didn’t know what ‘self’ was.

‘What am I?’

What on earth am I?

Wi Seol-ah continues to ponder, but even with such pondering, she still doesn’t know.

If I keep pondering silently, will I eventually know?

And so, if I become certain of what I am.

Will something change because of that?

Wi Seol-ah.

Felt a sense of fear towards it for some reason.

“…”

Her closed eyes open.

As she lifted her heavy eyelids, her slightly blurry vision came into view first.

A few seconds later.

Wi Seol-ah realized she was being held by someone.

While surprised, she didn’t struggle.

It’s because she instinctively knew who was holding her.

“You’re awake?”

As he walked, the owner of the embrace, Gu Yangcheon, spoke to Wi Seol-ah.

“…Yes.”

A weak reply.

Her body, utterly exhausted, naturally slumped.

Even so, Wi Seol-ah asked Gu Yangcheon.

“…Um. Did I lose?”

“Yeah. You lost.”

Wi Seol-ah nodded at the calm reply.

Seeing that, Gu Yangcheon chuckled and asked.

“Are you disappointed?”

She probably would be disappointed.

Because she lost by such a narrow margin.

‘It really was close.’

A hair’s breadth difference.

If Wi Seol-ah could have used one more flying sword.

Or, if she could have put just a little more intent into the final blow.

Wi Seol-ah, not Shinryong, would have been the victor.

‘Hmm.’

Gu Yangcheon swallowed a groan at the slight pain rising from within him.

He hastily deployed his Qi barrier to block the impact.

He blocked it all, but just enough to sustain a minor internal injury.

The internal injury itself wasn’t a problem. It was an injury that would disappear in less than a day, at most.

The problem was.

‘That I took internal damage.’

The clash between the two. The fact that the resulting aftermath could penetrate him.

He was gaining a strange impression from reaching that level.

‘I can understand Wi Seol-ah….’

After all, she was someone who reached the pinnacle of the world in her past life.

Knowing the strength she displayed in her prime, it wasn’t particularly surprising.

Even though I wished she wouldn’t wield a sword. Once she had, I knew it would turn out like this.

However.

‘What is Shinryong?’

What on earth is that guy?

Each Hundred Steps Divine Fist he threw had intent wrapped around it.

It didn’t seem intentional, but he was putting intent into his movements.

Compared to him, someone like Pungnim or whatever would be easily defeated.

And it wouldn’t take long to catch even the Rolling Bullet Sword.

‘And that’s supposedly at the age of youth?’

It’s absurd.

I gained things through regression, but…

That guy was showing a position far superior to his past life.

‘He’s weaker than when he was Gwisu, but he’s changed so much from his past life.’

The name Shinryong (Divine Dragon).

He’s more than enough to earn that name.

Moreover.

‘…I didn’t even feel the aura of the Blood Demon.’

Even the part I suspected wasn’t felt yet.

I naturally thought he would have been dealt with by those called Yuseong long ago.

But that guy showed no signs of it.

‘Did I fail to sense it?’

That’s a possibility, but Gu Yangcheon decided against it.

Truly the result of pure talent and effort.

Shinryong must have reached that point purely on his own merit.

If so… truly…

‘Isn’t he a crazy bastard?’

Isn’t he a crazy bastard? Gu Yangcheon was convinced.

‘What the hell has he been doing? This guy’s a psycho.’

I knew it from the moment that bald monk bastard started eating dumplings.

He’s truly someone beyond imagination.

A guy with no hair, no less.

The epitome of talent. A genius sent from heaven, transcending eras.

Even attaching all those descriptors wouldn’t be enough to reach that level.

That’s…

‘You really have to carve bone and flesh.’

One must live a life devoted to training while possessing talent.

Otherwise, one cannot reach that level at that age purely through Qi.

‘Seeing how pure his Qi is, he seems to have stuffed himself with many Great Restoration Pills, but…’

Even if you force-feed yourself dozens of them, would your realm increase?

There’s a limit to that, too.

‘If that were the case, I should have surpassed long ago.’

The Poison Heaven Pill, said to be comparable to the Great Restoration Pill.

Gu Yangcheon carried them around, popping them into his mouth whenever he felt bored.

‘…That guy is the real deal.’

The realest of the real.

Perhaps talent comparable to Wi Seol-ah’s.

In this Central Plains where fakes run rampant, he was one of the few seeds of true martial artists I saw.

That’s why I let it slide.

‘I intended to barge in and tear it all apart.’

I was pissed off by the schemes within the Alliance, and was ready to burn everything down if necessary, but…

I held back because Shinryong wasn’t a fake.

It was also an apology for something I had inwardly dismissed.

‘It wasn’t bad.’

Yellow Child Descends.

I saw Shaolin’s ultimate techniques, which I never witnessed even in my past life.

Gwisu never used Shaolin’s ultimate techniques, so I couldn’t see them, but…

‘…This life seems quite different.’

Even if he’s weaker than Gwisu in his past life, the current Shinryong holds infinite potential.

To the extent that Gu Yangcheon, who is furthest removed from martial artists despite being one, vaguely felt enthusiasm watching him.

Shinryong is an amazing being.

So I think.

‘Will he be a hindrance?’

To the plans I’ve laid out for the future. Will the current Shinryong be a hindrance?

If he is, I’ll kill him beforehand. I think carefully about it for that purpose.

‘I’m still not sure.’

I wasn’t certain.

It seemed I needed to watch him a little longer.

‘What really happened?’

What did he eat wrong to make Shinryong change like that?

Was it dumplings? Are dumplings the problem?

Then did he not eat dumplings in his past life?

In the first place, it was a problem for a monk to eat dumplings.

‘Seriously, which bastard fed him.’

Shinryong wouldn’t have just picked up and eaten dumplings alone. I wanted to see the face of whoever it was.

They surely wouldn’t be a normal person.

Just then.

“…I’m disappointed.”

Wi Seol-ah, who was being held, spoke.

What did she mean? Gu Yangcheon pondered for a moment and recalled.

‘Ah, I asked her.’

Right. I asked if she was disappointed.

Yes, of course she’d be disappointed. Wi Seol-ah would know she lost by such a narrow margin.

As the one who fought the duel herself, she couldn’t possibly not know. But…

“Ah… It’s not that I’m disappointed because I lost the duel.”

I had to express confusion at Wi Seol-ah’s words.

“Huh? Then what are you disappointed about?”

“…”

It’s not disappointment from losing the duel? Then what is it?

Gu Yangcheon asked again, unable to understand, but Wi Seol-ah didn’t answer.

She just averted her gaze slightly.

“…What is it?”

What is it?

I don’t know why she won’t answer after making me curious.

Nevertheless, I didn’t bother asking a second time.

It was clear that even if I asked, she wouldn’t answer anyway.

Wi Seol-ah’s ears turned faintly red.

I considered touching them but refrained. I just smiled lightly.

“Let’s get checked out and go grab some food. She’s waiting too.”

Namgung Bi-ah had already gone outside to wait.

“…Yes….”

“Is there anything you want to eat?”

“I want to eat meat.”

“Oh, yeah… Let’s eat that then.”

Gu Yangcheon inwardly felt relief, as if thankful for her demeanor.

She’s always the same Wi Seol-ah.

That’s enough.

For Gu Yangcheon, that was always sufficient.

---

After the second day of the main tournament concluded.

The entire province of Hanam was filled with stories.

Naturally, they were stories about the previous duels.

“This time, you see, the Sword Dragon of Mount Hua…”

“The duel performed by the Sword King was also like a painting…”

“Who knew there were so many hidden experts in the Central Plains.”

The stories from the first day had completely faded.

At best, maybe the story of Poison Staff shattering the Rolling Bullet Sword?

Among the accumulating stories, the most talked-about was, naturally, predetermined.

“They said she was the youngest to reach Hwagyeong. It truly was an incredible duel.”

“It more than lived up to the name Shinryong.”

“More than just living up to it? I think this Shinryong might be the most outstanding person in history.”

“To think I’d witness such a duel in my lifetime… It was like a dream.”

Most of the countless stories were about Shinryong’s duel.

How could they not talk about it? It was such a brilliant and intense spectacle.

“Perhaps it’s a reincarnation of Hwang-a Bulyeong?”

Hwang-a Bulyeong (Dazzling Buddha).

One of Shaolin’s heroes who stopped the Blood Calamity in the past.

Some even came to believe that the current Shinryong would become comparable to him.

Then again.

With talent of that caliber, it wouldn’t be difficult.

Through this duel, Shinryong certainly etched his presence.

Shaolin’s hope and the strongest of the Five Dragons and Three Peaks.

It means he’s recognized as the talent who will lead the Central Plains in the future.

Moreover, Shinryong wasn’t the only one who appeared that way.

“And what about the Sword Master’s successor?”

“That young lady was amazing too! They said she was the Sword Master’s successor, and she truly lacked nothing.”

“Beautiful flying swords roaming the sky. To think martial arts could be so beautiful… I’d only heard rumors, but it was true.”

“And on top of that, her appearance…”

Moon-Dancing Swordplay.

The Sword Master’s unique martial art is already very famous.

Its characteristic golden light, and the beautiful sword path imbued with moonlight, are also notable.

Especially the fact that she uses Qi, materialized into flying swords, is eye-catching.

Materializing Qi requires delicate application of energy, and using it as flying swords suspended in mid-air… just how precise must the movements be?

Since a woman of such youth wielded such martial arts, it was natural for others to view her with amazement.

Thanks to that, Wi Seol-ah also gained a subtle moniker.

“Crescent Moon Sword… She truly seemed like the Sword Master had reappeared.”

“A perfectly fitting epithet.”

Crescent Moon Sword.

It seemed they named it after the crescent-moon-shaped sword strikes Wi Seol-ah displayed at the end.

Hearing that, I recalled.

‘Crescent Moon Sword… Seems a bit weak compared to my past life.’

Wi Seol-ah’s past life, where she was called the Little Sword Saint.

It’s a disappointing epithet compared to then, but it’s not bad.

Gulp.

A high-rise inn.

I took a sip of tea there.

Listening to the sounds while drinking felt fine.

I deliberately didn’t activate my Qi barrier.

It was to listen to the talk of Tang Soyeol and Wi Seol-ah.

As I filtered the rumors and stored them bit by bit in my ears.

“…The Amipa side isn’t making any particular moves. They seem to be cautious after the previous incident.”

Cheol Ji-seon, who was eating with me, continued speaking.

It was a bit late at night; we had specifically come out to the county and entered an inn.

The reason was simple: to check how the rumors were spreading among the people.

At his words, I glanced at him.

Simultaneously, I moved my hand and deployed my Qi barrier.

Woong-.

It was time to get down to business.

“The ones lurking around have all disappeared too?”

“Yeah, at least according to the reports.”

“What a shame. I hoped they’d be a little dumber.”

Does this mean Bunseon (Powdered Immortal) isn’t entirely incompetent?

Then again, if they moved after such an open warning, they should have abdicated the Sect Leader position long ago.

“Anything else?”

“The Huangbo Family Head sent word. He said preparations are complete and to tell him anytime.”

“Good.”

I like that things are moving quickly.

I can feel the Huangbo Family Head sharpening his sword.

‘Does he want to ascend to the position quickly?’

The position of Family Head of the Four Great Families, which he dreamed of so much.

The Huangbo Family Head’s desire to reach that place was starkly visible.

This is also not bad.

Because he possessed such ambition, he was easy to handle.

“Send word for him to wait a little longer.”

“Got it.”

At most, less than ten days remain.

Since I wanted to use it at the most opportune moment, having him wait now was the priority.

‘The most important thing isn’t ready yet.’

It should be about time for news to arrive. The moment I thought that…

“Ah, and… the Huangbo Family sent another contact.”

I listened to Cheol Ji-seon’s words.

He hesitated slightly before spitting out his words.

“Tell me. It’s fine.”

“…The First Dragon Leader is apprehending a martial artist in Hubei and escorting them back.”

Halt.

Hearing this, I stopped the teacup I was lifting.

“The martial artist is one of the members of the Demonic Cult (Mogyo) who attacked Wudang….”

Cheol Ji-seon spoke bit by bit, taking breaths in between.

“His name is said to be Tang Deok.”

Thud.

I placed the teacup I was holding down without drinking it.

Cheol Ji-seon’s gaze upon me was peculiar.

What would he ask me?

Would he ask if I’m okay?

Or, would he ask how to extract him?

As far as I could see, it wasn’t either of those.

If it were the Cheol Ji-seon I know, he would surely ask this.

-This.

“Yangcheon-ah. Did you do this…?”

“…”

At Cheol Ji-seon’s question, I slightly lifted the corners of my mouth.

As expected, that guy is smart.

“That’s right.”

He guessed the correct answer so directly.