Chapter 748: Start.

When was the first time I felt a wall?

I don’t remember.

Not because there wasn’t one, but because there were countless ones.

His life was like that.

A life of facing wall after endless wall.

They say a warrior’s life is inherently like that, but for Pengjeou, there was no greater humiliation.

Why must so many walls exist before him?

He could understand it if they were seniors, but lined up were peers.

The first wall he faced was the Sword Dragon.

He was the grandson of Namgung Jeolcheon, the current Namgung Family Head and Sky-Blue Heaven, and a likely candidate for the Namgung Family’s Young Family Head position.

Because their ages were similar, he was particularly compared to Pengjeou.

Pengjeou had never managed to gain the upper hand against the Sword Dragon since their first encounter.

Besides him, there was the White Dragon, the Small Dragon.

The Poison Dragon and Sword Peak. And the White Peak, and so on.

Although he entered among the outstanding Later Generation Disciples under the name Black Dragon.

Even so, Pengjeou’s treatment remained the same.

The lowest rank.

Barely managing to hold his position despite receiving the sponsorship and support of countless families.

That was the kind of talent Pengjeou possessed.

An ambiguous talent, neither this nor that.

Falling infinitely short of being called a genius. Higher than being called a dunce.

Exactly the level ordinary people possess.

Ordinary people might have been somewhat satisfied with that, but.

Pengjeou did not belong to that ordinary group.

‘I… am the son of the Sword King.’

The head of the Peng Family and the current Sword King was Pengjeou’s father.

He was known as a warrior with a steadfast character and outstanding mastery.

As the head of one of the Four Great Families, he was a figure of immense standing, yet.

His son, Pengjeou, was always followed by the assessment that he was lacking compared to him.

A bad son from a good father.

It’s a saying for a lacking child, unlike their father.

Pengjeou was a figure who fit that description.

That was a label like hell to him.

Lacking talent, yet of noble blood.

Talent that didn’t resemble the Family Head’s.

Him falling behind peers who transformed outstandingly day by day.

This gradually became the reason choking Pengjeou’s neck and the cause of him falling into inferiority day by day.

As time flowed and flowed, reaching its limit.

One incident occurred.

The Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, held according to schedule.

A certain story became intertwined with this year’s Martial Arts Tournament, which would have been the same otherwise.

It was the Alliance’s announcement that a Divine Dragon would be chosen in this Martial Arts Tournament.

While in the current Central Plains, Divine Dragon also meant the foremost Later Generation Disciple.

It was like a symbol that would lead the Central Plains in the future.

Thus, as much larger crowds and interest than usual poured in.

Many people harbored curiosity.

Who would truly become the Divine Dragon?

That curiosity, that is.

Would it be the Namgung Family’s Sword Dragon?

Or perhaps, the Moyong Family’s White Dragon?

Or maybe the Small Dragon, or the Tang Sect’s Poison Dragon?

Though many discussions were repeated, there were a few common points here.

First, the certainty that the Divine Dragon would emerge from among the Dragons and Phoenixes, and the fact that the Black Dragon was not mentioned among them.

Seeing this, one could understand the great standing the Dragons and Phoenixes held at the time, and.

One could also discern the Black Dragon’s position among them.

The Black Dragon roared repeatedly, unable to contain his anger when he first heard this, but.

Something that made him even angrier happened not long after.

That was.

The birth of the Divine Dragon.

Immediately after the Martial Arts Tournament ended, the Divine Dragon was born as scheduled, but.

Surprisingly, it was not someone from the Dragon or Phoenix lineage.

Shanxi’s Gu Family.

Although a family belonging to the orthodox sects, it was a family barely at the fringe of the renowned families.

A place whose name wasn’t well-known, and which had virtually no prominent figures.

From such a place.

Surprisingly, the Divine Dragon was born.

A member of the Shanxi Gu Family.

The Divine Dragon (神龍) Gu Cheolun.

The youth who appeared at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering for the first time overcame both the Dragons and Phoenixes to take the seat of the Divine Dragon.

And then.

That fact.

-This is ridiculous-!

Became the cause for Pengjeou’s suppressed anger to explode.

-How in the world could someone like you become the Divine Dragon-!

One night, after the Martial Arts Tournament ended and everyone was preparing to return.

-This is ridiculous… Why you-! Someone like you…!!

Pengjeou found Gu Cheolun late at night.

His face was flushed from being heavily drunk.

He shouldn’t have gotten drunk so easily, given the bet.

He ended up drinking enough to become completely intoxicated.

Because he felt he wouldn’t be able to endure otherwise.

Upon Pengjeou’s appearance, Gu Cheolun stared intently at him.

-I see.

Then, as if realizing something, he continued speaking.

-It’s that guy from back then.

-What…?

-It took me a moment to recall.

At those words, Pengjeou let out a choked gasp.

The incident that happened at the inn in the past.

Did that mean he had forgotten him despite such an event?

-Haha… Huh…?

Pengjeou’s lips curled upwards.

Why him, of all people?

To a place he couldn’t even dare to covet. Why did that guy have to ascend?

Not one of the Four Great Families or the Nine Great Sects.

Some nobody, who never even had a name, suddenly appeared and took everything away.

He had tried to kill him somehow.

If it was impossible here, even if he had to return to his own family, he wanted to deal with that guy somehow.

-You became the Divine Dragon…?

It was instantaneous.

It took mere days for that guy to soar and reach a place far higher than him.

A position he had longed for his entire life.

That’s how little time it took for that guy to snatch it away.

-This is unbelievable.

He knew he was strong.

Strong enough to put him in that state at the inn. Pengjeou knew that guy was strong, but he couldn’t believe it.

The guy who ignored and trampled him became the Divine Dragon? That shouldn’t have happened.

-I see. That’s why.

So he uttered words he shouldn’t have.

-You said you were from the Shanxi Gu Family? What kind of scheme did you pull off?

-Hm?

As his family was mentioned, Gu Cheolun tilted his head.

-There’s no way you rose through honest means. Surely, surely you must have schemed behind the scenes. It makes no sense otherwise.

His drunkenness was overwhelming, making his vision blurry.

Even while barely able to see, Pengjeou continued speaking, looking at Gu Cheolun’s clear red eyes.

-What sorcery did you use! How could something like this happen in that obscure, pathetic family that was never even known?

Yes, it must have been sorcery.

It wouldn’t make sense otherwise.

-You said you were the Family Head’s son, didn’t you? What trick did your father pull? Or did you do it? If so, tell me. What exactly did you do to…

Suddenly.

Pengjeou’s mouth, which had been spitting out taunts, shut closed.

-Gah.

A single sound.

With that sound, Pengjeou felt his body tilt.

Whoosh-! Thump.

His vision dropped sharply as one of his knees hit the ground.

What was happening? Even as he couldn’t properly comprehend.

Slap-!

His head snapped sideways. What was that? Pain surged after the impact. His cheek felt like it was tearing.

Only then did he realize. That he had been slapped.

-You bastard-!!

Pengjeou tried to lunge forward in rage, but.

Slap-! His head snapped to the other side.

-Gasp…!

Slap-! Smack! Slap-!

The sounds erupted consecutively. Each time, Pengjeou’s head jerked rapidly.

-Gack.

Drip.

Blood flowed from his nose and mouth onto the floor.

While his cheeks burned hot, Pengjeou swallowed the blood and lifted his head.

-Finished barking?

There stood Gu Cheolun, with red eyes, looking down at him.

They were the same eyes as at the inn, but perhaps clearer because he saw them in the darkness.

Drip.

The blood flowing from his mouth ran down his neck, soaking his upper body.

At that moment, Pengjeou felt all his drunkenness vanish.

-You…!

However, his anger did not subside.

Such a humiliating sight.

Pengjeou tried to push himself up again, as if unable to accept what had happened, but.

Wham-!

-Guh!?

He couldn’t even succeed in that due to Gu Cheolun’s large hand.

Swoosh-!

-Gnnnh…!

Pengjeou’s large frame was grabbed by Gu Cheolun’s hand and lifted up.

He struggled, but the situation was the same as at the inn. He was subdued as if it were useless.

Then.

-It’s fortunate for you.

Gu Cheolun said to Pengjeou.

-I heard not to kill others in Hanam, so I cannot kill you. This is fortunate for you.

As soon as he heard that, goosebumps rose on his skin.

The killing intent contained in every word began to pierce Pengjeou’s eyes, nose, and mouth.

-Therefore, it’s regrettable for me. If not for that, I wouldn’t have had to listen to your useless barking in the middle of the night.

-Let…let go of me… I, I am… from the Peng Family….

Pengjeou tried to open his mouth somehow to speak, but.

-As I said last time, I’m not interested.

Gu Cheolun had no intention of listening.

Squeeze.

-Grrrk..

His mouth opened.

Could this be?

A bad premonition flashed through Pengjeou’s mind.

-Since you only have one molar left, I’ll make it a pair for you.

That premonition instantly became reality.

Crunch-!

-Gaaahk!

The remaining molar was also pulled out.

Screeeech—!!!

This was also like last time. The hole was plugged again. He screamed in the tearing pain.

Immediately after, Pengjeou’s body collapsed onto the floor.

Gu Cheolun had released his grip.

The moment Pengjeou tried to writhe in unbearable pain.

Crash-!

-Gaaahhhk!

Gu Cheolun kicked and stomped on the broken guy’s leg once more.

-Don’t move. If I put more force into this, you won’t be able to use it ever again.

-…Guh…ughhh…sob…Guh….

-The Sword King’s son, Pengjeou.

-…!!

At the words that followed, Pengjeou’s eyes widened.

Because Gu Cheolun had uttered his name.

He had seemed not to know his name, hadn’t he?

-You…? How do you know my name… No way, did you do this to me knowing who I am?

Did he make me end up like this, knowing I was of the Peng Family bloodline?

-Aren’t you afraid of the Peng, the Peng Family!

Even at Pengjeou’s shouted words, Gu Cheolun’s expression didn’t change.

-Do you think that name will protect you?

He was merely indifferent.

-If you think so, then try it.

He lowered his tall frame to meet Pengjeou’s eye level.

-I fear nothing. If you can, try whatever you want.

-….

Tremble… Tremble tremble.

Pengjeou immediately grabbed his own arm.

He wanted to hide his uncontrollably trembling arm.

Gu Cheolun, who had been watching that arm intently, stood up again and turned his back.

And then he said to Pengjeou.

-From now on, I will walk away. Within that time, I’ll give you a chance to ambush me.

-What…. What did you say?

-If you truly want to, then try it. However, after that, there won’t be a next time.

Pengjeou asked again, as if asking what he meant, but.

Gu Cheolun didn’t say anything further.

Thump.

Then, as if keeping his word, he began to walk away slowly.

Watching Gu Cheolun’s back like that, Pengjeou’s heart began to pound.

Ambush him?

In this situation?

Though that was his thought, Pengjeou’s hand was already gripping his cherished weapon.

The guy’s back, walking as if he didn’t care at all.

And his mouth, causing tearing pain.

The guy who had pulled out both his molars and given him humiliation was right there.

Could he cut him down now?

Could he kill that guy now?

Clang.

His grip tightened on the hilt.

To just stand by after suffering such humiliation? He couldn’t do that.

Resolving himself like that, he tried to draw his sword, but.

Freeze-!

-…Grit.

Pengjeou couldn’t move.

The red eyes that had faced him surfaced in his mind.

The image of him grabbing his neck, the strength that crushed him. All remained throughout his body.

He clenched his teeth as if they would break.

He had to pull it out.

He had to draw it and swing his sword at that guy.

But.

-Guh…ugh…Guhhh…! Fuck….

Pengjeou ultimately couldn’t move and released the strength in his hand.

He had given up out of fear.

Just then.

-What a shame. I could have gained justification. Your patheticness saved you.

Gu Cheolun’s voice came from where he had walked off into the distance.

Flick-!

Simultaneously, something rolled towards Pengjeou.

It was the single remaining molar Gu Cheolun had just pulled out.

-Take it. It’s disgusting to carry around. I hope that next time we meet, you won’t bark carelessly.

Tremble, tremble.

Pengjeou couldn’t say anything, even while listening to the words.

Until Gu Cheolun’s figure disappeared.

Pengjeou remained there, merely enduring the pain.

That was the memory.

A terrible nightmare that ultimately made it impossible to ever forget.

Those eyes that had looked down at him then.

His trampled pride, which would never be forgotten for a lifetime.

Why then.

“Gaaahhhk!”

Am I ending up like this, not from that guy, but from his son?

That was the thought that flashed through Pengjeou, floating in mid-air.