Chapter: 493
A small hill exists outside the Tang Gate.
In terms of utilization, it was a location within the Tang family, particularly where the wolves raised by Dang So-yeol reside.
Boom-! Boom boom-!
Currently, the wolves weren’t appearing due to the presence of a certain individual.
A black-haired man, with his upper body bare, is wholly engrossed in training, holding a rock the size of a house in one hand.
Sweat drips like raindrops through the gaps in his drenched body and muscles.
The tightly packed and dense muscles were enough to make anyone who saw them gasp in admiration.
“Phew….”
Once the young man, who had been tirelessly training with the rock, caught his breath, he lowered the rock he was holding.
Thud-! The sheer weight of the rock created a dent in the ground as soon as it landed.
Twisting his body this way and that to check his condition, the young man finally grabbed a cloth lying nearby and began to wipe his body.
As he wiped himself down quickly, a man who had been watching the scene climbed down from the tree.
The young man showed no particular reaction, perhaps because he had anticipated this.
The man, seeing the young man cleaning himself, casually remarks.
“That’s quite a sight.”
Hearing this, Pajeon burst out laughing.
“Sounds like nonsense, the moment you see it.”
“You said you were worried about your disciple and came back beaten up?”
“Haha!”
Pajeon reacted with amusement to the Dark King’s words.
In fact, Pajeon’s left cheek was swollen and red.
It was the aftermath of a fierce battle with his disciple the night before.
“I said it was toxic—I really did!”
At first, he thought the disciple would give up, but Pajeon shivered at the memory of his disciple clinging on until the very last moment.
Initially, he had heard the disciple was poisoned at the Tang Gate, and he had wanted to see firsthand what had happened.
When he met Gu Yangcheon again a few days later, he was surprisingly altered.
Setting aside the fact that he had improved in skill, the physical changes were immense.
‘What on earth did he eat to become like this?’
He recognized that a fortuitous event had occurred.
He couldn’t tell whether it had become some elixir or led to some enlightenment, but—
‘The body itself has changed.’
Regardless of what miraculous opportunity he had encountered, the results were all too clear.
The skeletal structure grew larger, and the skin became tougher.
It seemed akin to what people often call a transformation…
‘The very dantian changing itself is just bizarre.’
The lower dantian had vanished, with everything concentrating in the middle dantian.
If this truly was the case, even Pajeon could not predict what kind of situation would arise.
What in the world could have happened to elicit such drastic changes in such a short time?
Though he was quite curious, Pajeon refrained from asking Gu Yangcheon.
After all, the disciple had that expression indicating he wouldn’t even respond, and it wasn’t that important to Pajeon at that moment.
As long as Gu Yangcheon could inherit the Tuapacheonmu, anything else was irrelevant.
Furthermore,
‘I don’t think he seems the type to do something foolish with this.’
Even if he inherited the name of Tuapacheonmu and his own identity.
Knowing that Gu Yangcheon wasn’t the sort to make foolish mistakes, Pajeon didn’t feel overly concerned about his transformation.
However,
‘I envy the body itself.’
Whichever way you looked at it, the body Gu Yangcheon had attained was nothing short of envy-inducing for Pajeon.
Even though he claimed to have let go of his regrets, the reason he felt limited and couldn’t elevate his own level lay with his physical body.
‘Hmm…’
He repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fist.
Even if he cultivated exterior skills and filled his inner energy, the fundamental vessel would remain unfulfilled.
It simply wasn’t possible to elevate his level in this state.
‘It feels like a chokehold.’
Are we reaching a limit here?
After returning from the country, precisely at the age of sixteen, he reached a peak after swallowing the elixir he’d brought from within his own secret stash, subsequently reaching a fully mature peak with ease.
It was still impossible to touch Hwagyeong.
‘Tsk.’
It might have been possible to force a transformation with sheer chi.
Yet, he didn’t even have a significant amount of chi to do so.
This inefficient body wouldn’t fully accumulate stamina no matter how much elixir was consumed.
In fact, it represented a loss.
“So, do you regret it?”
At the Dark King’s question, Pajeon turned his head.
That guy had reverted back to his original appearance.
He was an old man whose hair had transformed from blonde to white.
“No, I do not regret it. Had I remained as I was, I wouldn’t have reached where I wished to go.”
He sometimes pondered this.
A delusion surfaced—what if he hadn’t experienced the half-life crisis?
Just one thought.
Even if the circumstances had shifted, this was his choice, and since the path he intended to walk hadn’t changed, he simply had to continue along in silence.
“Even though you offered your cheek to that young disciple?”
The corners of the Dark King’s mouth twitched at his words.
“…Are you, by any chance, teasing me right now?”
“I’ve been doing that from the start, but you’re just slow to catch on. Biju.”
“Hah.”
The absurdity of him pranking under such a cold expression left Pajeon quite dumbfounded.
“Tsk…”
That didn’t leave room for a retort either. That too was a part of the consequence.
‘Sigh.’
What a ridiculous sight did the later years produce?
‘…That bastard.’
Thinking of his disciple evoked a curse. That insufferable brat!
He wished to resolve the clash between the feeling of detachment from the body and the suffocation he felt after surpassing his peak.
In addition, the chi seemed to be a bit tangled, so he had used the excuse of training to push for a hardening of the acupoints.
Even without that, his muscles were significantly stronger and his movement quicker, making attempts extremely arduous.
‘But that guy…’
Pajeon ground his teeth at the memory of the wildly energetic Gu Yangcheon.
Gu Yangcheon wasn’t entirely devoid of martial arts sense—he probably realized that he was trying to push towards awakening his own acupoints.
‘So he used that as an excuse to come attacking me?’
Just as he realized this, Pajeon recalled how attacks intensified thereafter.
It was utterly ridiculous. How could a disciple behave like that?
‘…I’ve taken a madman as my disciple.’
Pajeon finally grasped this, though it was already far too late.
How could it not be?
‘If that bastard didn’t possess such talent, I would’ve thrown him out ages ago.’
Even to Pajeon’s eyes, Gu Yangcheon was an extraordinarily gifted individual.
He seemed to possess a sense of inadequacy that he wasn’t even aware of, which Pajeon couldn’t comprehend.
Regardless of the fact that he was the disciple he chose.
Given Gu Yangcheon’s current level of attainment in martial arts was already beyond what could be reached at his age.
Taking into consideration that those who currently held the status of the Three Lords reached Hwagyeong around the time they turned adulthood.
Likewise, recalling that the Central Plains had been in an uproar about the genius of the century.
The moment news spread that Gu Yangcheon had indeed reached Hwagyeong, which was currently dismissed as unfounded rumor.
‘The world will turn upside down.’
All sorts of families and sects would be in a tumult.
A young man who hadn’t yet reached maturity claiming he had reached Hwagyeong would surely lead to him becoming the number one in the world in the future.
Even if he had become engaged to Namgung Ga, it might be a tale that some family with a beautiful daughter would carry forth boldly.
What Pajeon didn’t understand was why Gu Yangcheon, possessing such influence, was so devoid of confidence.
He would surely handle things himself, but if it became problematic, Pajeon might have to intervene.
That abhorrent sense of inadequacy might obstruct his learning of martial arts.
As he considered this, Pajeon suddenly remembered there was something he had wanted to ask the Dark King.
“By the way, have you finished what you were doing?”
For the past two days, the Dark King had been away, claiming he had matters to check in Sichuan.
The Dark King slightly nodded at Pajeon’s query.
“Yeah.”
“Did it go well?”
“No.”
“Then it didn’t succeed?”
“No.”
“Do you want to die…?”
“No.”
“…”
Pajeon found himself frowning at the Dark King’s responses.
Engaging in a conversation with this guy felt like it was going to raise his blood pressure to unhealthy levels.
As Pajeon sighed repeatedly, the Dark King finally spoke up slowly.
“I simply felt a sense of certainty.”
“What kind of certainty?”
“…”
The past couple of days.
The Dark King visited the location where the note regarding Geumcheonyeon-ga that Gu Yangcheon had mentioned was said to be.
There were indeed traces.
Traces of some intricate magic or special power had lingered.
But beyond that, there was nothing left.
Seeing that allowed the Dark King to regain his certainty.
“My forebears clearly didn’t consider their descendants at all.”
“…”
Pajeon could offer no response to the Dark King’s words.
Who could possibly afford to berate the one who forged the Central Plains?
Only the Dark King standing in front of him could.
“They left nothing behind. Knowing full well their bloodline would suffer immensely.”
There was an underlying cold fury even in the matter-of-factness of his voice.
“Moreover, learning of the existence of that note only recently through someone else—which truly makes one feel like dying.”
“Ugh…”
Pajeon nearly blurted out the Dark King’s birth name, but managed to suppress the urge.
The King loathed his name to the core.
“It’s humorous, is it not, that one can’t die even if one wishes to? Don’t you think so, Biju?”
“…”
Pajeon bit his lip at the dark king’s dry tone.
There wasn’t much he could say to his dear friend right now, and even if there were, it wasn’t something he could address.
“…When do you intend to return?”
Attempting to recall the matter, Pajeon shifted to a different question.
The Dark King had to return at some point. It wasn’t right for the head of a faction to be absent for an extended duration.
“Hmm.”
The Dark King turned his head away, gazing elsewhere.
A location radiating a strong energy.
It wasn’t the pressure one could feel from a mere martial artist.
This sensation emanated from the Dark King’s primal instincts.
“Just a bit longer.”
Should we call it the last hope?
That’s unlikely. What remains for the Dark King is merely time.
“Just a bit longer. There’s still work to be done.”
“Alright.”
In response to the Dark King’s words, Pajeon simply nodded, not uttering anything further.
“Oh, but don’t come looking for me for seven days and nights.”
“Hmm?”
At Pajeon’s words, the Dark King tilted his head in confusion.
Why seven days and nights?
Frowning in confusion, he stared at Pajeon.
“…Anyway, something along those lines.”
Pajeon had no intention of elaborating further.
‘Argh, that stings.’
Looking at my swollen cheek, I thought it hurt like hell.
‘Damn….’
Not only my face but my entire body was in this sorry state.
My body, battered here and there, was swollen with pain, and to be frank, walking was no simple task.
‘Just let it all out.’
I had to grit my teeth while recalling the Pajeon who had mercilessly beaten me.
That old man must have had a lot on his chest. He really beat me without pause.
‘Sigh….’
No matter how one looked at it, here I was.
Pajeon remained at the peak of maturity while I had just reached full bloom.
It was absurd to think there was still that much of a difference.
‘I can’t reach it.’
On top of that, I had used every bit of energy I possessed.
Of course, I didn’t go all out to the point of causing issues around me, but still.
This was equally true for Pajeon, so let’s just overlook that.
‘No doubt I’m faster.’
Speed was where I had the upper hand.
Trying to get the jump on him with my superior stamina and advancements in level.
Yet inevitably, all my maneuvers felt as though they were read by Pajeon, and often countered effortlessly.
It was out of reach.
No matter how fast I was, it remained out of reach.
[Because the level of enlightenment acquired is different.]
‘…’
[It’s likely as much due to his own impressive perception as it is to having achieved a level of mastery that allows him perfect understanding of his own body.]
I understood that, yet still.
‘It’s downright infuriating how he dodges everything….’
Even while I knew he was already trying to draw blood from me in that situation, it only highlighted the gap even more.
The level was undoubtedly higher on my end, yet Pajeon stood resolutely before me as an overwhelming barrier.
If I were to keep gaining proficiency in Tuapacheonmu, could I eventually transcend and defeat Pajeon, as he wanted?
I had my doubts. If I recalled the Pajeon of my previous life, he could only be labeled a monster.
If the Pajeon I knew were stronger than the one I faced before Banro Hwandong.
‘That prime Pajeon—was he truly the greatest in the world?’
I couldn’t say for certain since I hadn’t properly witnessed the might of the Three Lords, but it was enough to make me question.
‘Nonetheless, I’ve hit him once, so whatever happens, I’m definitely victorious.’
No matter how much my body throbbed after that beating.
Since I emerged triumphant in the end, I had won.
[The one who hit the person pretending to faint and tried to get up makes a claim like that.]
‘That’s what they call improvisation in the usual sense.’
[No matter how elegantly you try to frame it, you can’t erase the stain on your conscience.]
‘I never really had a conscience to worry about from the start, did I?’
[I think I might lose my mind.]
As the atmosphere thickened with the notion of just what in the world should Shin Noya do with such a character,
I held onto my throbbing cheek and glanced straight ahead.
For there stood an elderly gentleman looking at me oddly.
“I hope you’ve been well.”
“Your pronunciation remains quite commendable…”
“Well, you know… I’ve grown accustomed to it. Haha…”
Given how often I found myself beaten up and swollen, this level felt trivial.
Post my duel with Pajeon, I immediately sought out Shinui.
I hadn’t planned to visit in the morning, but I felt compelled to settle matters that weighed on my mind sooner rather than later.
“Alright, what’s the matter?”
Shinui appeared to be holding back the urge to inquire about my disheveled appearance.
I figured avoiding bothersome questions would be for the best, so I chose to sidestep it.
“I went over to Baekhwa Sangdan yesterday and picked up a few tidbits.”
“Huh…?”
Shinui’s expression darkened at my words.
Seemingly aware of what I had gleaned, it wasn’t hard to predict—after all, I met him in front of the establishment before stepping in.
“That fool seems to have forgotten his merchant duties. I’d best give him a severe scolding.”
“I kind of extorted it out of him, so please don’t be too enraged.”
As I had already sent a letter to Mrs. Mi at that point, it would be uncomfortable for me if that individual got thrown into trouble.
Was that why? Upon hearing my statement, Shinui redirected his frustration toward me.
“Then, it seems I should be angry at you. How dare you…!”
Just as he was about to unleash his wrath upon me for his genuine fury,
Swoosh.
In that moment, I felt it was the right time to produce the items I had brought from my room and present them to Shinui.
“…!”
Upon seeing the item that still shimmered with brilliant whiteness, Shinui froze, his expression turning stony as though struck by ice.
“I heard you needed this.”
After hearing about the necessity of that item, his initial shock regarding my messy appearance was quickly replaced with awe as he gazed up at me, visibly taken aback.
Noticing this, it seemed the branch manager’s earlier words held some truth.
Moreover.
“Do you require it?”
Looking at Shinui’s expression,
It appeared he desired the white stone far more than I had anticipated.
Confirming that, I managed a slight smile.
Thank goodness.
It implied that the urgency was substantial.
That indicated it would be convenient for me to leverage that fervor.
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