Chapter: 688
“What on earth are you doing here?”
It was a question I asked my teacher, whom I ran into late at night, right after he finished his training.
Upon hearing my question, Paejon frowned.
“Is that all you can ask your teacher after seeing him for the first time in several days?”
“Well, I thought you would just waltz in,” I replied, feeling a bit cheeky.
I honestly hoped he would come back later, if possible. Just about seven nights to a fortnight…? I figured that would be just right. Unfortunately, he returned too soon.
“However, I didn’t expect you to come back so noisily!” I exclaimed.
_Very loudly,_ it turned out.
“Did you know that Hanam was noisy all day today?” he asked.
“Well, Hanam isn’t exactly known for its silence,” I admitted.
True enough. This place is the most developed area in the Central Plains, so being loud day in and day out was par for the course.
But the real issue was how much hotter it was today!
I looked at Paejon, recalling all the stories I had heard today that were so memorable, they practically rang in my ears.
“Are you really going to enter the tournament?”
The fighting dragon Bi Eejin was going to participate in the military competition, and the word was spreading like wildfire across the streets of Hanam.
During the day, it had only been about me, but the moment this topic came up, it was all swept away as if by a current.
The Six Dragons and Three Phoenixes were heading into the tournament.
This wasn’t really that big of a deal.
They even mentioned that Dokbong’s Dang So-yeol would be participating right away, and it was expected that Shinryong would join as well.
But the uproar over the least-known participant, Turyong, was for a simple reason.
– It was revealed that Turyong is the direct disciple of Paejon, the leader of the Three Deities.
Paejon’s disciple was officially recognized, and just that piece of news had kept the streets buzzing all day long.
But the world doesn’t know.
‘The disciple happens to be Paejon himself…’
I glanced at the man in front of me, who was munching on the dumplings I had bought.
He seemed as if he didn’t care much about my question, but I knew better.
“Why? Is there some reason I can’t go out?”
“It seems like you’re coming to a place where children are playing and causing a ruckus,” he remarked.
“Pfft.”
Paejon burst into laughter like he found it ridiculous.
“Disciple, do you think you’re different in any way?”
“I’m just a kid,” I replied innocently.
“Look at that shameless one.”
With a sigh, I took another bite of my dumpling, eyeing Paejon.
“Elder,” I called.
“Yeah,” he answered casually.
“Was this what you were trying to say last time?”
That time when I faced Shinryong. We were in the guesthouse, and he mentioned that he had something to discuss.
Could this really be it?
I asked with that intention.
“Right.”
Paejon affirmed, confirming my suspicion.
Was he seriously planning to enter the tournament?
I was baffled and asked, “Why on earth would you want to participate?”
“Doesn’t it seem fun?”
“You don’t like that sort of thing,” I chuckled.
He was someone who treated children’s games as the most ridiculous thing and wouldn’t even engage in fake fights.
Sparring was merely a way to teach me and scratch an itch.
Even at a festival, a man who loathes fighting weaklings wouldn’t willingly step into a martial arts competition.
“Sometimes, you need a little chaos,” he replied.
“… By any chance,” I hesitated.
“Yeah?”
“You’re not planning to legally beat people up, are you?”
Whoosh—!
I quickly turned away to dodge an incoming light smack on the back of my head.
After evading it, I felt chills run down my spine.
‘This crazy old man?’
Paejon’s hand was charged with energy.
“Damage?”
“Were you out to smash my head?”
“You won’t die if you get hit anyway.”
“…What kind of brutal statement is that?”
Sure, even if it were true and my head might get a little cracked, I never expected my teacher to say something like that.
“If you’re going to hit me, then just do it.”
“Is that why you tried to hit me, to demonstrate that?”
“It was easy to grasp, wasn’t it?”
“…Yeah, it really was easy to understand.”
Too easy—I could feel my frustration rising.
“There.”
As I frowned, Paejon continued calmly, “Originally, I thought about just dipping my toes in, but I figured it might be easier to spread my name around, so I decided to leverage it. So what? I’m using my own name.”
That was correct.
Even if Bi Eejin claimed to be Paejon’s disciple, no one would contest that.
Turyong was also a direct disciple of Paejon.
Whether it’s Bi Eejin or Bi Ju, they are both from Seoan, hence they have ample justification.
Yet.
“What reason would a person who dislikes such things have for spreading his name…?”
Paejon was known to keep quiet until the war broke out in his previous life.
Had he not mentioned that he had become younger through the process of transformation, others would probably still be clueless about it.
Why would he do something to make things so convenient?
Just as I was about to voice my doubts—
“There’s no better way to squash silly rumors.”
…!
I had to swallow my surprise at Paejon’s words.
At the same time, I stared at him, my eyes slightly widened.
What did he mean by that?
‘Is it because of the rumors circulating in the Central Plains?’
Suddenly a group labeled the Demonic Cult appeared in the Central Plains.
It was around the time when rumors first began to surface, stating that the leader, Cheonma, was a traitor.
The rumors hadn’t spread too widely yet. Everyone believed the Three Lords wouldn’t do something like that, treating the matter as mere hearsay.
However, even that was creeping into my mind.
‘No, way.’
Is that why Paejon is taking this step?
And what’s the intention behind it?
Is it due to some misunderstanding that annoys him?
‘No. He’s not the type to let such trivial gossip bother him.’
He’d scoff at inconsequential rumors, but I couldn’t imagine him acting on that.
Why would he bother?
If I were to find a reason, one thing was bothering me.
‘…Is it me?’
This was because of me.
What if Paejon suspected that I was linked to the Demonic Cult, thus deciding to step forward to clear the rumors himself?
If Turyong truly became Paejon’s disciple and Paejon was training him, that could quell the rumors currently spreading.
That was a plausible trail of thought.
‘That… seems unlikely, though.’
No, he wouldn’t have acted for my sake.
When he first heard the information, he seemed suspicious, but that suspicion wouldn’t drive him to make such a move.
There’s no way he would do that.
I wanted to think that to myself.
“Why are you looking at me that way?”
“Uh, uh, not at all,” I stuttered.
“Worrying too much.”
Paejon chuckled at my reaction.
“Anyway, since I’m going out, just so you know.”
“…Understood.”
Facing a tournament with Paejon involved.
‘Will it be alright?’
I was already at the point of keeping tabs on those heading out.
Now that Paejon had joined the ranks, would there be any complications in the plan?
‘I should see how things unfold.’
Judging by the situation, I anticipated it would hinge on the circumstances.
The good news was that it didn’t seem likely to cause significant issues.
“…Now I can beat you candidly. Hehe.”
I swept away the soft mutter I heard.
After letting out a light sigh, a sudden thought struck me. I turned to Paejon and asked, “Oh, Elder.”
“What?”
“Just asking, but… do you know anything about my grandfather?”
“Hmm?”
Paejon tilted his head in confusion at my question.
It must seem odd to bring up my grandfather right away, but I had my reasons for asking.
‘Paejon is close to Elder Il and the Dark King, and the Dark King mentioned something about my grandfather.’
So perhaps Paejon might also know something about him.
That was the intention behind my inquiry.
“Well…”
Paejon gave an ambiguous answer.
“Should I say that I know a little… I ponder.”
“What does that mean?”
“I mean it literally. But why do you ask?”
“Oh, it’s just something I was curious about.”
Not wishing to explain in detail, I decided on a vague response.
“Didn’t your father tell you?”
“Not at all.”
My father had never shared anything about my grandfather.
At least, that’s what I remembered.
Since the time I was born, my father was the head of the Gu family, and it had been the same in my past life.
“Hmm…”
Upon hearing this, Paejon seemed to fall into deep thought.
He appeared to be contemplating how he should respond.
‘Is this even worth pondering?’
I was only trying to learn about what kind of person he was; yet, something seemed to weigh on him.
“If I were to critique it… you are like a fusion of both,” he finally said.
“Excuse me?”
I raised an eyebrow at his unexpected remark. What does that even mean?
“He was a mix of you and your father.”
“What do you mean by that…?”
“Essentially…”
With a delighted clap, Paejon seemed to have his epiphany.
“A respectable madman.”
…?!
“What does that mean?”
“That’s genuinely the vibe he gave off.”
He looked surprisingly pleased with himself for saying that.
‘What does that even mean?’
I couldn’t understand it at all.
It’s half and half, but calling him a “respectable madman” is something I can’t grasp…
‘So because I’m the more grounded one, does that imply my father is the madman? No, but my father doesn’t seem to fit that description.’
As I puzzled over that, Paejon continued.
“If you’re curious, ask either your father or the Dark King when you see him.”
“You mean the Dark King?”
“Exactly. He would know more than I do.”
…
I found myself biting my lips at such an unhelpful response.
My father still hadn’t made an appearance, and the Dark King was also absent.
This took me down to one conclusion:
I have to find Gu Hee-bi.
I must go and ask the questions in the end.
That was the only conclusion left hanging.
‘At any rate, putting it off holds no purpose.’
I shifted my gaze toward the drawer.
To be specific, I focused on the broken jewel, Eun Yoo’s jade, concealed inside the drawer.
It was the precious item that was given by my father to Mrs. Mi.
‘I need to see it for this reason too.’
I needed to repair the damaged artifact, which meant it was inevitably related to Gu Hee-bi.
No, it was tied to the Heavenly Horse that Gu Hee-bi held.
I had to seek her out and, subsequently, track someone down through Cheonma.
‘If it’s Cheonma, she should know.’
An old man interacting with the entirety of the Demonic Cult’s operations.
Also,
‘A person who artificially creates treasure.’
The engineer, Taejeol Gwi.
If anyone knew where he was, it’d be Cheonma.
As time ticked on and the sun rose high in the sky,
The streets of Hanam were bustling with a massive crowd, every corner crammed with people.
“Everyone! Be careful!”
“Don’t stick your neck out too far! You might get trampled by a horse!”
That should be obvious.
With throngs of people navigating even the spacious roads, it was bound to become cramped.
Just the sight alone was enough to take away your breath.
Who would have imagined such a dense collection of humanity could gather without a single gap?
‘If it were me, I’d feel suffocated enough to lose it.’
Just looking at the scene made me want to bolt right away.
The ones actually present in the streets had expressions of eager anticipation.
The reason behind their excitement was quite simple.
“Here they come!”
“Where? Where?”
“It’s the Amipa!”
People could spot fighters rolling in from the entrance of Hanamseong.
The horses slowed down as they pulled their carriages into the arena.
I nodded at the fluttering banner.
‘Ah, Amipa…’
It was familiar. Of course, they were a renowned sect, so their presence was expected.
Amipa, one of the Ten Great Sects.
A prestigious clan that established itself in Sichuan.
‘I don’t particularly recall any past connections with them.’
In my previous life, I had heard that during the siege of Sichuan, the Sword Demon had slain the leader of Amipa.
While the sect didn’t face total annihilation, it was close to that level of devastation.
Aside from that, not much else lingered in my memory.
I simply hadn’t thought it significant enough.
So while watching their march with a half-hearted gaze, I was momentarily pulled from my thoughts.
“I didn’t think Amipa would arrive first,” Mo Yong-hee remarked, sipping her tea.
I turned my attention toward her sudden comment.
“Why?”
“The women of Amipa are exceptionally proud. I didn’t think they’d come from the get-go,” she explained.
Amipa was composed solely of women, or so I had been told.
‘Well, fair enough.’
Sequence could also be part of their internal battles. It was a slightly unique twist in their demeanor.
‘Whatever the reason, I’m not too invested in it.’
It truly was an inconsequential matter.
Amipa passed through, drawing the attention of the spectators, while I noticed more arrivals behind them.
“Mokhwa—! Hwasan faction!”
At that call, my gaze reflexively drew toward the sound.
Hmm.
This time, it wasn’t a carriage but purely a throng of people.
Familiar attire caught my eye, wafting with the gentle scent of plum blossoms. I spotted plum leaf embroidery on their pristine white outfits.
It was the Hwasan sect, renowned as the guardians of Shaanxi.
Slightly, a grin crept onto my face.
“It’s been a while.”
With dozens entering at a leisurely pace, the leading figure was an elderly man with a kind expression.
“It’s Mae Hwa-seon!”
“Waaah—!”
The elderly gentleman was no other than the distinguished leader of the ten great masters of the Central Plains.
Mae Hwa-seon had indeed come.
‘I never thought he would come personally.’
Much like my previous expectations during the last political assembly, I doubted Mae Hwa-seon would show up this time in Hanam.
But for some reason, he had departed from Shaanxi to be here now.
As the crowd erupted in cheers, Mae Hwa-seon waved slightly.
That gesture only amplified the jubilation.
I watched this entire scene unfold from the window of the guesthouse.
It was a room pre-booked by Baekhwa Sangdan, offering a perfect view of the lively street.
“I guess this is when everyone decides to come together.”
In spare moments, Wi Seol-ah and Dang So-yeol poked their heads out beside me.
“That’s right. It’s about time for them to start arriving.”
Not just Amipa and Hwasan, either.
A majority of the Ten Great Sects, perhaps all of them, were on their way.
Numerous influential masters and distinguished families were converging.
Gathering.
The core of the righteous factions was assembling in one place, leading to an influx of spectators that was significantly larger than on the first day.
The sheer number of people dwarfed anything I had previously witnessed.
As I continued to observe the steady stream of arrivals, I turned and asked Mo Yong-hee, “Will the Mo Yong family be attending too?”
Given that the Mo Yong family was evidently one of the Four Great Families, I wanted to confirm their role at the tournament. She answered,
“No, I’ve heard they won’t be participating in this competition.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Furthermore, their family leader has said that they cannot come to Hanam at this time.”
“Hmm…”
The head of the Mo Yong family, Baekcheon Sword Master, won’t be showing up in Hanam?
‘That’s odd.’
I had assumed that he would come.
As an adept in both politics and business, I figured Baekcheon Sword Master wouldn’t miss this event.
This felt quite unexpected.
‘What could be more important than this tournament?’
I felt a sense of confusion trickling in, but I brushed it aside.
There had to be a reason, I surmised.
‘Regardless, with the Mo Yong family not attending, that means only two of the Four Great Families will be present.’
I had heard that the Peng family and Namgung family were attending.
As for the Tang family—
‘Dang So-yeol will be there, but… it feels a bit iffy.’
Due to the current situation, the Tang family’s standing was uncertain, meaning that the Dae Won wouldn’t be coming to Hanam.
In reality, it was safe to say that just two of the Four Great Families would attend.
“Two places—while the Gu’s Ten Sects side will have at least five…”
“Excuse me?”
“No, I just need to think about something for a moment.”
The numbers seemed fine to me.
Organizing my thoughts, I resumed looking outside.
“Geumga’s Noble East Advance Sword!”
“If it’s here, then the Silent Preparation Demon Fist is also involved?” Does that imply that the Silent Preparation Demon Fist is participating too?”
“We’ve also got the Golden Iron Sword showing up!”
The names of various groups and promising new talents rang through the air.
As more and more martial artists gathered, their prowess was thick enough to mix into the very atmosphere.
It was an effect created when a multitude of capable experts congregated.
Feeling this buildup, my eyes flickered.
‘I’m getting a sense of urgency.’
The powerful were arriving.
As I watched, it was impossible not to feel it.
‘The Dragon Warriors’.
Finally, the stage was set for mayhem at this official gathering planned by the Murim Alliance.
It had indeed arrived.
As Gu Yangcheon surveyed the crowd to cool off,
someone was standing on a rooftop, looking down.
Countless folks glanced around, staring at the excitement.
The figure with hands clasped behind his back examined the throngs of people below, musing,
“There are so many. So very many.”
Were there always this many?
The old man tried to ponder but found it challenging, as it felt like ages since he’d last been here.
He had long since forgotten everything, making it no surprise he couldn’t even recall.
“There are so many that I feel like burning them all.”
The sudden statement was spine-chilling.
The expressionless manner he said it only added to the eeriness.
He could do it in a heartbeat if he so wished.
A surge of temptation rushed, but the old man chose not to budge.
“….”
He recalled his purpose.
He had not come here to squash ants.
“… Right. There was indeed a reason.”
The old man shook his head slowly and turned away.
Taking a step forward, remarkably, not a sound escaped his footsteps.
“Where shall I go?”
Where could he go to encounter his ‘grandchild’?
As the old man’s red eyes glimmered, he contemplated.
In an instant, he turned into a flaming burst and vanished without a trace.
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