Chapter 738: Oops, a mistake.

The day the Round of 16 began.

Unlike the first day, the number of people gathered in the waiting room was noticeably smaller.

This was because, unlike the final preliminary round, even non-participants could briefly come and go, but that became impossible starting from the Round of 16.

Thanks to that, I could sit in a much more relaxed waiting room.

‘The weather’s nice.’

Looking at the sky, it felt particularly clear today.

With not a single cloud, it was truly bright and sunny.

The perfect weather for a picnic if one felt like it.

In such weather, I casually rolled my eyes around to survey my surroundings.

Unlike the bright weather, the atmosphere around was incredibly gloomy.

It was all because of the aura emanating from the martial artists.

‘Sigh.’

Feeling this, I let out a sigh.

Beneath the clear sky, only this place felt dark.

Tension and wariness had seeped into the energy, transforming it into something incredibly rough.

The reason, as I mentioned earlier, was the martial artists, but…

There was a slight issue calling them martial artists ‘plural’.

‘That old man looks terrible.’

This aura was mostly coming from the middle-aged man sitting far away.

It was because it was being felt from Do-wang, the head of the Peng family.

An oppressive pressure that seemed to weigh down the surroundings.

Do-wang was radiating immense killing intent in all directions.

I thought he might be putting on a show with bets like before, but…

‘This time it’s for real?’

The aura was completely different from last time.

Pure emotion; the surging energy was all amplified by Do-wang’s feelings mixed in.

Do-wang, sitting quietly with his eyes closed.

I could feel a chilling rage from him.

I wondered why he was so angry, but the reason was obvious.

‘…It’s because the old man got beaten up.’

Even though it had subsided a bit with my match against Shinryong, the previous match between Tu-ryong and Do-wang was still a hot topic.

The incident where Tu-ryong, one of the later disciples, completely thrashed Do-wang and then forfeited.

Because of that, Do-wang had to be embroiled in all sorts of minor rumors.

Starting with questions about whether he was insufficient to bear the King’s name.

And claims that he was an incompetent head of the Peng family, hidden by the family’s reputation.

Ah, the second one is probably true, so I can skip over it.

Anyway.

‘Thanks to that, all the merchant guilds involved started fleeing.’

Over half of the sponsorships flowing to the Peng family were cut off, and people from the Central Plains began pointing fingers at Do-wang.

I can understand why that old man became such a wreck, but…

‘How old is he to be taking it out on others unfairly.’

If he’s that annoyed, he shouldn’t have come out.

Just standing around acting important for no reason.

Tsk tsk.

I clicked my tongue once and waved my hand slightly.

Whooong-!

I sent my internal energy flowing into the air.

The released energy mixed with the air, untangling the intertwined aura.

Hwaak-!

As Do-wang’s killing intent eased slightly, I heard gasps of relief from those around.

I thought things might get a bit better now.

“…What are you doing?”

A heavy voice came from afar.

It was Do-wang, the source of the aura.

“Doing what?”

I replied to his words.

Because I knew he was talking to me.

Do-wang, with his eyes still closed, was looking at me.

His gaze was sharp.

The guy already had a nasty expression, and him looking at me like that made it even scarier.

“…How dare you touch my aura…”

Was he bothered by it?

Do-wang suddenly pushed himself up from his seated position.

Then, with a ‘Hooook-!’ sound, a much denser aura was emitted.

“Hmm.”

What is it?

Has he really lost it?

I knew Do-wang wasn’t in good shape, but the way he was approaching looked like he was genuinely about to fight.

Fighting without permission during the waiting period would lead to disqualification, is that old man really crazy?

As I watched him with curiosity, the other martial artists seemed to be looking at Do-wang similarly.

Seureuk.

A faint sound came from beside me.

Tang Soyeol, who was with me, was seen clutching something from her sleeve.

A dagger?

‘Hold on.’

As soon as I saw it, I grabbed her wrist.

I understood her intention, but if she acted here, Tang Soyeol would be the only one at a disadvantage.

So, what should I do?

Should I just stand up and roughly block him? As I pondered, tilting my head,

“Family Head.”

Someone grabbed Do-wang’s shoulder.

Upon checking, it was Peng Woo-jin.

“Please calm down. There are many eyes watching-“

Jjaak-!

The chilling sound made everyone around flinch.

It was because Do-wang had just slapped Peng Woo-jin across the face.

Peng Woo-jin’s head snapped to the side.

Beyond him, I could see blood trickling from his mouth.

“Are even you looking down on me? Does becoming the Young Family Head mean you covet this position too?”

“…”

At Do-wang’s words, Peng Woo-jin wiped the blood from his mouth.

He must have been hit quite hard, as his cheek visibly turned redder.

“Don’t get arrogant just because you have some talent. I am the Family Head. Don’t try to climb over me.”

Wow.

Just looking at it makes me want to throw up.

I could feel his broken pride and abundant inferiority complex from here.

It couldn’t be more pathetic than this.

What’s more.

‘I sense a demonic possession.’

I could feel traces of demonic possession from Do-wang’s appearance.

It was still shallow, but if left like this, it might consume his entire body.

‘He must have had a really hard time getting beaten by the Fist Lord.’

If he had been hit by the Fist Lord, he wouldn’t look like this, but it seemed he was acting this way because he thought Tu-ryong was the one who beat him.

Pathetic.

As I watched Do-wang with such an expression,

Peng Woo-jin, who had been slapped, let out a laugh.

Seeing this, my eyes naturally furrowed.

“I will keep that in mind. However, I think it would be better to endure it for now.”

Everyone around was looking at Do-wang.

No matter how strange Do-wang’s condition was, they weren’t oblivious to this situation.

“…Tch.”

Hearing Peng Woo-jin’s words, Do-wang looked around, glared at me, and spat out a remark.

“Kid, you were lucky this time. But know that there won’t be a next time.”

“…”

Saying that, he turned his back and left.

‘Good grief.’

I couldn’t help but make a disgusted face at his appearance.

What kind of third-rate villain-like words were those…

‘I feel like I’ve almost never heard anything like that in my life.’

I might have heard it somewhere.

However, I probably would have killed them before they could even finish saying it.

“Ugh…”

It was so cringe-worthy, goosebumps rose on my skin.

I lightly stroked my skin and shivered slightly.

Ugh, how pathetic.

‘Why is he acting like that.’

I forced myself to endure the urge to puke.

Is this what demonic possession and broken pride look like?

I must not grow old like that.

It naturally made me think that.

And on top of that.

‘Their family situation seems like a mess too.’

The reason I frowned looking at Peng Woo-jin.

The moment he was slapped by Do-wang.

I saw killing intent swirling in Peng Woo-jin’s eyes.

Not anger, but killing intent.

I don’t know the exact situation, but it seems their family situation isn’t good either.

‘Hmm.’

Well, that’s not something I need to worry about.

‘They’ll handle it themselves.’

My own family is a mess, so it’s not the time to worry about someone else’s.

Turning my gaze away from the departing Do-wang, I spoke to the people beside me.

“You guys can relax a bit now. It seems like nothing happened.”

As soon as I spoke, Tang Soyeol relaxed her shoulders, and at the same time,

Cheol-geok.

I heard the sound of Yeongpung, who was on my left, gripping his sword.

Tang Soyeol is one thing, but what about Yeongpung?

“…Master Yeongpung, were you about to fight? Why are you holding your sword?”

I asked in disbelief, and Yeongpung chuckled sheepishly.

“Hahaha. It wasn’t exactly an intention… but some tension naturally built up.”

‘Some tension’? Bullshit.

I saw clearly that he was ready to draw his sword if he had come any closer.

I appreciate it, but isn’t it a bit much?

‘I have to fight a match, so I shouldn’t waste energy on pointless things.’

Especially on things like that.

I averted my gaze, but still glanced at Do-wang.

‘A King (王).’

The Six Seats.

Those who inherit titles based on influence.

Martial artists who aren’t quite at the level of the Ten Great Masters but are positioned above the Hwa-gyeong realm.

‘…Influence.’

Hearing that subtle nuance, I recalled.

‘Hmm.’

While their titles carry more weight than anyone else’s, it’s not solely based on martial prowess.

The dissonance arising from that difference is subtle.

This… if I play it right.

‘I think there might be a way to use it.’

I don’t mean using Do-wang himself.

Such an incompetent fellow isn’t worth using.

I mean there might be a way to leverage the prestige of titles like King (王) or Queen (后).

‘How should I use it?’

I think hard.

I had to grab onto ideas that popped into my head like this.

Because every time this happened, it led to a good outcome.

Just as I was trying to think hard about it,

-Contestants waiting, please prepare!

I had to click my tongue briefly at the announcement from the entrance.

Unfortunately, it seems there’s no time to rack my brain.

-Gu Yangcheon of Shanxi Province and Yeongpung of Mount Hua, please come up right now!

Because I was the first one scheduled for this match.

“It seems it’s our turn.”

As soon as the words were heard, Yeongpung stood up.

“Please take care of me.”

Yeongpung said with his characteristic smile.

Looking at his face, I also nodded.

‘Right.’

For now, I need to focus on the guy in front of me.

Yeongpung said something to me, but…

‘I have business with him too.’

It was because I also had business with Yeongpung.

More precisely… rather than Yeongpung.

‘With that aura.’

The familiar aura within Yeongpung.

I had business with that.

---

If there was one thing that changed the most with the preparation for the Round of 16, it was probably the martial arts stage.

It seemed like there was something prepared beforehand, as unlike the preliminaries, the state of the martial arts stage had changed.

It had become much harder, but above all else.

‘It’s wider.’

The martial arts stage, widened several times over.

It seems the reason they gave us a few days of rest was for this.

Originally, it should have been much further from the spectator seats.

As the stage widened, the surrounding area seems to have shrunk.

Tuk tuk.

I tapped it a few times with my toes.

I could tell just from that.

‘It’s hard.’

It’s harder than the one used in the preliminaries.

It seemed they had mixed in more Man-nyeon-han-cheol than the original amount.

‘With this much…’

It probably won’t break easily.

As I was roughly assessing its hardness and nodding,

-It’s So-yeomra!

-Waaaaah-!!

Cheers erupted from the spectator seats.

As I lifted my head, countless people were waving at me.

-Waaaaah–!!

-So-yeomra!

“…Ugh…”

The overwhelmingly loud noise and my still unfamiliar alias.

Seeing the people waving excitedly at me, I couldn’t quite manage my expression.

I was used to resentment and criticism; such reactions were completely unfamiliar.

-Go for it!

-Cool!

-Handsome…!

W-well, cool!

What the heck, why did they change it mid-sentence?

‘…Geez.’

While finding it absurd, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

Should I wave back?

No, that might be a bit much.

I just calmly clenched my fists.

It’s hard to react.

Even if this situation was created out of necessity, it still felt that way.

The cheers and attention that I shouldn’t have originally received.

That’s still how I felt.

“You seem a bit shy.”

Yeongpung, who was standing facing me, spoke to me.

He said that after seeing my reaction.

Hearing that, I scratched my neck slightly.

“…It’s not really that.”

“It’s alright. Rather… shouldn’t Young Master Gu have received this attention much earlier?”

At Yeongpung’s words, I tilted my head slightly.

“What do you mean by that?”

In response to my question, Yeongpung glanced at the spectator seats and continued.

Even then, the spectator seats were still pouring with intense interest.

“I’ve thought this for a while, but with Young Master Gu’s skills… shouldn’t you have received this kind of attention much sooner? That’s what I thought.”

“…Why go that far.”

“Rather, I find it quite amazing. That even after reaching such heights, you still possess humility. It’s truly a sight that earns the respect of many.”

“…”

I feel like I’m going to throw up.

How much more praise are they going to heap on me?

If it continued any longer, my expression might break.

Just as I thought I might have to cover my ears, thinking he might say more,

Fortunately, Yeongpung brought up a different topic.

“I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you again.”

Thanks? That was out of the blue.

“Suddenly?”

“Yes. If I hadn’t met you, Young Master Gu, back then… I would still be looking at the sky from within a well.”

Ah.

I see what he means; it seems to be about when we met at Mount Hua.

“Outside the well, there were countless people. Many individuals beyond my wildest imagination.”

The Foremost Talent of Mount Hua.

If we’re talking about talent with the sword, the most outstanding among the later disciples.

Yeongpung was the person evaluated like that throughout his childhood.

Because of that, in his past life, he was trapped in a well and couldn’t bloom, but…

‘In the end, it’s true.’

I don’t deny it.

Yeongpung’s talent was certainly worthy of such a title.

If we only consider the sword (劍)… Yeongpung is definitely a considerable talent.

It’s just that there are also Wi Seol-ah and Namgung Bi-ah, who are comparable or slightly higher.

“Every time I faced such individuals… I recalled the moment I met you, Young Master Gu.”

“…Recalling it sounds a bit gross.”

“Haha… I apologize. But, I truly did.”

‘Truly?’ That makes it even grosser…? Such thoughts came to mind, but I didn’t voice them.

“And then, I started thinking. That it was fortunate I met you first, Young Master Gu.”

“What do you mean?”

“Whenever a bit of arrogance started to creep in… I’d recall you, Young Master Gu, and it would die down like a scared mouse. As if thinking, ‘What right do I have to think like this?'”

“…”

Hearing that, I swallowed dryly.

Wouldn’t that be more of a bad thing than a good thing?

Did I beat him up a bit too much…? No, I don’t think so.

I don’t think I beat him that badly?

It was even a time when I hadn’t reached the peak yet.

How excessively could I have beaten him up back then?

“Thank you again. Thanks to you, Young Master Gu, I was able to come this far.”

“…Yes… uh… yes, well…”

Thanking me for beating him up well back then… it was a difficult thing to respond to.

As I awkwardly scratched my cheek, I suddenly looked at Yeongpung and asked.

“So, Master Yeongpung.”

“Yes.”

“How about now?”

“Hm?”

This was purely out of curiosity.

“Now, do you think you can win?”

“…”

Back then, he was like a wall, so how would it be now that we meet again?

To that question, asked with that intention, Yeongpung remained silent for a moment.

The referee seemed to be watching for cues, but I ignored it.

A few seconds of silence passed, and finally, Yeongpung spoke to me.

“I don’t know.”

He gave a rather ambiguous answer.

“But.”

Seureung.

At the same time, he drew his sword.

“I’ve always only thought of getting my Hero Sword back from you, Young Master Gu.”

Seeing the sharply honed sword tip, I let out a smirk.

Around the time I first went to Mount Hua. There was an item I received when parting ways with Yeongpung.

It was an item he asked me to return when we met again someday.

Although he said it like that. Both Yeongpung and I knew the meaning behind that conversation.

It wasn’t simply asking for it back when we met again.

‘A satisfying match.’

Or rather, a request to return it when Yeongpung won.

We both accepted it, knowing this.

My answer to Yeongpung, both then and now, was only one thing.

“Master Yeongpung. Then that won’t do.”

Uduk.

I slightly loosened my grip and said to him.

“You’ll probably never get the Hero Sword back.”

I will always remain as your wall, so try climbing over me if you can.

Both then and now.

My answer was the same.

As I entered my stance, the referee, seeing this, raised his hand as if waiting.

Seueuk.

“The Divine Dragon Martial Arts Tournament, Round of 16…”

As the referee’s hand was raised and his voice echoed, the spectator seats fell silent.

It was a reaction showing they would focus solely on the match.

“Gu Yangcheon of Shanxi Province versus Yeongpung of Mount Hua… Match. Begin!”

The match began with that shout.

Hwa-ahak—-!!

A splendid plum blossom bloomed from Yeongpung’s body.

There was no hesitation.

The plum blossom petals, much denser and fully bloomed than before, spread out in all directions.

The quality and quantity were incomparable to before.

He’s definitely grown.

As I watched the petals with an unidentifiable emotion,

‘Huh?’

I looked at Yeongpung amidst the rushing plum blossom petals.

Through the petals that bloomed and fell ceaselessly, Yeongpung was reflected.

But.

‘…What is it?’

Something felt strange.

‘What the?’

Every time the petals brushed past, Yeongpung’s appearance seemed to subtly change.

It seemed like he was growing taller, or perhaps the clothes he wore were changing.

What kind of situation is this?

‘Is it some kind of formation or illusion technique?’

It didn’t seem like he was actually changing.

It seemed to be reflected only in my eyes…

As I frowned and assessed the situation,

“…!”

I had to widen my eyes as big as saucers.

His face was changing.

Yeongpung’s face was literally changing.

Wrinkles appeared, and his facial structure was gradually transforming.

I thought maybe Yeongpung was taking on the form of an old man, but that was absolutely not the case.

It was fierce.

A look completely opposite to Yeongpung’s gentle eyes.

He was an old man with fierce, fierce eyes and sharp features.

Just by looking, he was clearly a person with a foul temper and rough speech.

Yet, it was a familiar face.

Though I hadn’t seen him much, I had met those eyes once.

A face that looked like it would click its tongue and curse me as a rotten bastard any second.

The moment I met that face.

Swish-!

Kwaang-!

“Kuhuk!?”

Without realizing it, my fist shot out.

Yeongpung took a hit to the face and flew straight into the ground, rolling.

“Oops.”

Yeongpung rolled across the ground.

He must have been hit a bit hard, as blood stained the path he took.

Seeing that, I realized.

“…Ah.”

I misjudged my strength.