Chapter: 286
A brief waiting period after the first test.
I was staring blankly at the sky, enduring the boring time.
‘The stars aren’t out.’
The sun was gradually setting, but the stars had not yet risen.
Watching the flow of the sky, I steadily circulated the energy within my body, being careful not to roughly brush the blood vessels. It had to be guided to the upper body.
As I drew up my energy like that…
Knock, knock.
The tip of the energy, which hung thin like a thread, knocked politely on the door of the upper chamber.
It was a very shallow and weak energy, not enough to break through or destroy the wall.
Yet, ultimately, what matters is that it has reached contact.
‘After dragging on for so long, I finally managed to connect with it.’
That means I managed to open a passage somehow.
Now I just have to grind and pave this path.
‘The problem is that it takes forever.’
Unlike in the past, my body wasn’t one that poured out bets like a waterfall. This moment was when Noya’s teachings made me realize how crucial compression and control would be moving forward.
With the thin thread, I began to add flesh little by little. To break through a solid wall, it would take tremendous effort.
There might be a way to smash through it all at once through enlightenment.
‘…There’s no way that would work when you already know what you’re doing…’
At least until the Hwagyeong level, genuine enlightenment will be out of reach.
If not that…
‘Eat the White Horse Stone.’
The White Horse Stone, buried deep underground. If I could find it and swallow it, I might be able to force contact.
But I wanted to consume it at the point when I was fully ready for the scenery. That way, I could take everything in completely, without any wasted energy.
“Ugh…”
As I kept circulating my energy, a groan of agony was heard from below.
“Can’t you be quiet?”
“…I’m trying my best to be as quiet as possible…”
“What? Are you talking back to me?”
At those words, I redirected my attention back to the upper chamber and bore my weight down.
“Ugh!”
Gujeol-yeop, who had been serving as my chair, let out a scream.
Thud!
He fell to the floor with a crash. Even as I felt that, my mouth didn’t stop.
“Why on earth can’t you even endure this?”
“…”
Gujeol-yeop wore a somewhat aggrieved expression.
It wasn’t over yet.
“You must have almost fallen because you didn’t have the guts.”
“…”
Had I struck a nerve? Gujeol-yeop’s face morphed into a sour expression.
I guess so.
“So you’ve been rolled around like that, huh? What? Almost made a mistake because your foot got twisted?”
“…Ugh…”
“Why does this kid keep losing focus in real battles? If that’s the case, you should just give up. I can’t show my face to my brother because I’m so embarrassed.”
“I’m older…”
“Oh really? Then for goodness’ sake, act your age, great swordsman.”
“…Ugh.”
Clearly, Gujeol-yeop had nothing to say at that moment, lowering his head in defeat.
This guy’s really something.
Watching from behind, I felt rage building up that I could hardly contain.
‘You almost lost your bet because you misstepped?’
There was a single opportunity to attack the pillar.
It’s fine if you pour all your skill into that one chance.
You could handle it in one strike or one blow.
That’s the condition for a single hit.
However.
The flow of energy surrounding my body must not be interrupted. That was the perspective from which I was watching.
‘This kid almost broke the connection because his stance collapsed.’
It was the same during the previous martial arts events.
When in real combat, if he got nervous, he would throw a tantrum over the slightest inconvenience.
Somehow, I wouldn’t lose my bet.
It was fortunate that I managed to take a swipe at my sword, marking even a small scratch.
“If you’d collapsed there, I would have hit you instead of the pillar.”
“…”
Remembering how I had struck the stone pillar, Gujeol-yeop’s face turned pale in an instant.
At the very least.
‘Even Gu Yeonseo passed with flying colors…’
He may not stand out among others.
Though he didn’t show exceptional talent.
‘But he passed.’
I glanced over, examining Gu Yeonseo, who stood somewhat far away.
Her blank stare remained, but outlines were gradually coming into focus.
‘Looks like she’s not chasing after the sword path.’
That’s a relief.
If she were chasing after the sword of the volcano as the bloodline of the Gu family, that would surely lead to trouble.
I hope she focuses solely on the momentum of the sword instead.
I’m not sure if that would work, though.
‘As for the others… they probably managed fine on their own.’
Given the situation where they couldn’t move indiscriminately, who knows how they fared?
Probably, they were in the same boat too.
But still, I wasn’t concerned.
Even without me, they were kids smart enough to overcome challenges.
But then.
‘Why is Wi Seol-ah here?’
What exactly brings Wi Seol-ah to this place?
What’s more,
‘She’s crossed over the wall.’
At the moment I met Wi Seol-ah after a long time, I could tell she had become an accomplished fighter at her peak.
It had taken her one or two years to transcend the wall, despite knowing nothing about martial arts.
It’s terrifying to even label it talent.
What’s more,
‘Is this also something unavoidable?’
The inevitable path seems to be that Wi Seol-ah eventually picks up the sword.
I felt utterly powerless regarding it.
Even having changed so much.
In the end, nothing changes about Wi Seol-ah.
No matter how much I struggle, is that just the way it is?
That thought crossed my mind.
‘It’s absurd.’
As I turned my thoughts, I let out a hollow laugh.
Seeing this, Gujeol-yeop made a strange expression, and I increased the weight I bore down on him.
“Ugh!”
There are plenty of things in this world that can’t be helped.
‘But still, things that need changing should be changed.’
It’s already too late to give up now.
‘There must be a reason for my return.’
Going back in time.
I couldn’t dismiss the tangled up things as mere ‘miracles.’
I’d felt this way lately.
As if there were some underlying intention behind my regression.
‘…’
I would have preferred it to be just a delusion.
But as always.
My bad feeling never proves wrong.
It’s a life utterly devoid of luck.
“… Tsk.”
“Your Highness… could you please wake up soon…?”
“I’m in a bad mood right now; just try to keep it quiet.”
“Yes…”
As the things I hoped wouldn’t change gradually started to shift.
What I wanted to change, in fact, remained unchanged.
‘It really makes a person feel like crap.’
As if life wasn’t already painstakingly difficult.
You keep rolling about, yet there’s no reward.
‘What do you want from me?’
Even if I asked the heavens, there’d be no answer.
And if I asked others, I’d likely be called insane.
As always, I sought the answers myself.
Eventually, the answer I found through this method ended up being singular.
Even if it didn’t work out, my only option was to try.
For now.
‘Is it about Wi Seol-ah and Jang Seon-yeon?’
I had to start struggling with what bothered me the most.
The direction I was looking was where the first group was.
‘They don’t seem to be engaged yet.’
In my previous life, when Wi Seol-ah got engaged, she had probably just crossed over her prime.
That was the time just after I had become a mine myself.
So, stopping it might not be too late.
If I were to mention a problem that could arise…
‘Is there an issue with preventing an engagement?’
What right do I even have to stop that engagement?
And if I were to block it, would it cause any harm to either Wi Seol-ah or myself?
‘At present, no.’
There could be some complications, but anything that comes to mind could be resolved.
Aside from this.
I thought it wasn’t too much to worry about.
Yet knowing all this, I still hesitated.
‘Why did the Sword Master go towards Jangga?’
In my previous life as well.
In this current one.
I don’t know why the Sword Master insisted on courting marriage.
The current leader is merely a married man.
If it’s said that he entrusted his body to the previous leader.
That could also be one reason.
‘I feel like there’s more to it.’
The reason the Sword Master had to leave the Gu family and head to Jangga.
I needed to uncover that.
So that she wouldn’t face any harm.
Ultimately, too.
It would allow me to kill Jang Seon-yeon without hesitation.
With those thoughts swirling in my mind…
-The secondary exam will begin; please prepare yourself.
I heard the instructor’s shout from a distance.
It seemed that the long wait had finally come to an end.
I was a little disappointed; I wanted to torment Gujeol-yeop a bit more.
Upon receiving the details about the second test, I couldn’t help but frown immediately.
So now, back to the present.
I found myself at a loss for words as I watched the woman in a combat stance right in front of me.
The second test is a mock battle with the instructor.
I wonder why the content feels so loosely thrown together and absurd.
Just thinking about how long we waited for something so trivial makes me suspect this is a hastily crafted exam.
‘There must have been too many successful candidates.’
An obvious reason crossed my mind.
Due to the overly large pool of successful applicants.
It seems they chose this method to filter successful candidates once more.
‘It’s just a headache for the instructors; why go through with this?’
If it were me, I would have just looked at them and dismissed the ones not up to the standard.
Apparently, he’s trying to avoid being labeled as a naysayer in the politics of this.
And a mock battle with the instructor, huh?
I doubt there’s some ridiculous winning criteria or something.
If they had put something crazy out there, the higher-ups from various clans would have flipped their lids.
That said, even the benchmark may be set lower now.
But it shouldn’t be easy.
“I get that.”
“Right.”
“But I feel like my opponent is a bit strange.”
This is the part that really gets me.
It’s all well and good, but why the hell is my opponent that person?
I looked at my opponent with eyes full of displeasure.
She’s a woman adored by the masses, a heroine among the current martial arts community.
The title of sword spirit, which has been passed down generations, is investigated in the ‘cleanest’ manner by her.
Plum Blossom Sword Spirit, So-yi.
She was my opponent.
‘So then, why the hell am I facing her?’
She’s also an instructor, so if this is a test, it could come up.
But I’d heard beforehand that the sword spirit wouldn’t be participating in this exam.
“But how is it that you’re in front of me?”
“You’ve heard a rumor, I suppose. I, too, am an instructor; wouldn’t that be the case?”
She spoke calmly, almost as if denying she was the sword spirit.
My eyes narrowed on their own accord.
“…Are you not lying in the name of the Volcano?”
I shot the question at her, my eyes wide with curiosity.
In that instant, I noticed the sword spirit’s shoulders twitch slightly.
“…How could a mere combatant like me risk the honor of the Volcano? That’s a harsh statement.”
“Are you sidestepping the topic?”
“…”
That’s a lie.
She just came out.
It’s apparent that the figure known as the sword spirit couldn’t bring herself to lie, even if it meant sacrificing the honor of Hwasan.
Hmm…
So she said she wouldn’t come out, and now she’s standing before me ready to face off?
“Why?”
“…”
There was no reply to my inquiry.
Looking at how she was avoiding eye contact made it seem like she had no intention of responding.
She simply.
Lifted her sword.
Upon that, the instructor addressed me.
“Group Two’s Gu Yangcheon… Let’s begin the test.”
“…Trying to sound dignified now, but it’s already too late.”
That was her way of telling me to come forward at last.
It seems the other side has already begun.
I thought it might be an easier go this time.
‘If I take it easy, I doubt they’ll allow it.’
If passing hinges on the instructor’s abilities.
It’s clear why the sword spirit was being stubborn with me.
She’s probably conveying that I shouldn’t even think of taking it lightly.
‘Hmm…’
What the sword spirit was doing wasn’t anything special.
She was merely pointing the tip of her sword toward me.
With an unwavering sword tip.
And a gaze that examined me gracefully.
Even standing there calmly seemed nothing out of the ordinary, yet.
There was a subtle heaviness about her presence.
That might be because she reached the complete ‘state’ I envision.
The only Hwagyeong-level martial artists I’ve faced thus far could be counted on one hand.
Recalling the hidden guest from the Hwangbo clan I had encountered recently.
‘There’s no way to compare them.’
The level difference was too vast to even bring them into comparison.
Moreover, while I could take down opponents with magic and distractions, with a sword spirit, that wouldn’t be an option.
Just as not all peaks of skills manifest as the same.
The same goes for Hwagyeong.
If I think of the countless divisions that emerge from that plane, the understanding will be easier.
But for now, I needed to focus solely on the sword spirit in front of me.
‘Sword Spirit…’
Sword Spirit (劍後).
That name is enough for anyone.
To the world.
Simply having that title proves she stands as the pinnacle among the top female martial artists of this age.
Currently, she’s serving as an instructor here.
Though that may make her seem somewhat low-profile now.
That’s solely due to her choices.
Her path of martial arts had hardly dwindled.
“First of all, may I ask you something?”
“Speak.”
“You’ll be taking it easy, right?”
“…Hmm.”
At my question, the sword spirit smiled, replying.
“You can count on it.”
‘Of course she wouldn’t think so.’
I nodded along, confident in her answer.
With a thud, I stepped down and sprang directly into the sword spirit’s embrace.
Her surprised expression came clear into view.
I swung my fist without any hesitation, pouring my energy into it.
Whoosh!
At that moment, sparks exploded around me.
The wind howled as it swept in like a storm.
The blazing flames enveloped the sword with my determination.
Amidst it all.
Flick.
Small plum leaves began to mix with the flames.
Crash!
At the back of the plain leading to the forest.
While the first group’s test continued.
All eyes turned towards the strange sound coming from afar.
It’s quite odd that dozens of people stopped in their tracks, looking in a single direction.
The instructors running the tests weren’t any different.
Everyone here was a martial artist.
It wouldn’t be just a loud noise that drew their gaze.
The heat felt mingling with the energy penetrated their innate martial instincts, allowing their gazes to shift inevitably.
Who could it be?
That can reach this far…
Whoever it was radiating such a fierce aura.
The energy in the air was chilling to the bone.
“Cough, cough…”
Those of lower levels stifled coughs as they struggled for breath.
Due to that commotion, the secondary test, which had only just started, was momentarily frozen.
In this situation, focus would be impossible.
Seeing this unfold, Dang So-yeol appeared to be energetically thrilled.
“Why are you so excited?”
The one who asked was Peng A-hee, who had joined this entrance exam.
Being from the Peng Clan, she couldn’t miss out on the Heavenly Dragon Academy event.
From her point of view, her brother’s actions there were numerous and varied.
It was only expected she would want to distance herself from comparison.
However, she also recognized that her bloodline’s involvement wasn’t something she could just ignore.
Thus, she had come here, keeping her mouth shut.
“Look at everyone’s faces; how can they not be exhilarated?”
“Why the hell do you care, Soyeol?”
“How could anyone not care? I was so tired of feeling overlooked by everyone!”
Peng A-hee merely sighed at Dang So-yeol’s reply.
Is it that even pleasant?
She pondered this internally.
Yet even Peng A-hee felt compelled to look toward the direction of the intense aura flowing.
‘…Is this truly emanating from that kid?’
Watching Dang So-yeol’s reaction, it was clear this intensity was definitely from her ‘ex’ fiancé.
‘This is ludicrous.’
As she felt the energy, doubt darkened her mind.
It wasn’t at all at the level of mere examination.
Only having been a few short years…
How could he transform from a reckless rebel, adorned with a devilish scowl, into a master?
‘This isn’t even the finals….’
It’s only a matter of years.
While others might not grasp the transformation, this time span felt minuscule for a martial artist.
That little window might struggle to breach any singular boundary.
It felt like a stretch to conclude mastering one’s foundational technique could happen in that duration.
Gu Yangcheon was venturing far beyond all this.
It was likely a height above where he could even contemplate looking up.
‘It’s a bit infuriating, changing each time I lay eyes on him.’
Yielding a slight chuckle at that thought.
Not that she felt any regret over breaking off the engagement.
Yet there lingered a trace of longing.
‘If only he had been like this earlier.’
Had that been the case, perhaps the engagement wouldn’t have terminated.
Naturally, if he had behaved the way he is now,
His talent would have shot up, and they still would have been broken off.
Yet…
‘Oh, come on!’
It would be pointless to dwell on such thoughts.
So Peng A-hee looked back at a still-excited Dang So-yeol and inquired:
“I know you’re fond of her, but where did she go?”
“Huh? What sister are you referring to…? Ah, Sister Via?”
Where has her current fiancé wandered off to?
Suddenly, Pang A-hee found herself curious about that.
“Right? I told you not to roam around recklessly… Where on earth did she vanish off to? She’ll surely get lost if she’s wandering alone…”
“How big do you think this place is that she could get lost?”
“…Ahee simply doesn’t grasp it; that sister is genuine.”
“…”
At first, she thought it was a joke.
This sentiment shifted as she saw the genuine concern on Dang So-yeol’s face.
However, truly, how could a person, regardless of their sense of direction, lose their way in such a crowd?
Peng A-hee shook her head at Dang So-yeol, then glanced around.
The test that had been fervently ongoing all of a sudden halted.
Boom—! Crash—!
They all looked focused just on the series of loud explosions echoing relentlessly.
So this was unexpected.
‘I thought you’d despise this sort of thing.’
Gu Yangcheon, who’d seemingly loathed the limelight…
It was astonishing he engaged in something that caught everyone’s attention.
It was profoundly unexpected.
As if someone were trying to showcase something to someone.
‘Hmm?’
During those thoughts,
Peng A-hee’s gaze accidentally caught someone.
A handsome young nobleman.
With an arresting appearance that naturally drew people’s attention.
Yet that wasn’t the reason she was looking at him.
‘That person…’
She recognized him.
Naturally, nearly everyone around here hailed from renowned clans or noble houses.
But this figure stood out for a different reason.
‘Jang Seon-yeon.’
She recognized him more by name than the divine title, for some reason the moniker didn’t register properly for her.
Of course, the same could be said about Gu Yangcheon.
Peng A-hee perceived that Gu Yangcheon resembled a brawler or rabid dog more than a noble figure.
Conversely, why Jang Seon-yeon didn’t mesh with divinity was uncertain.
‘What could this mean?’
As she dwelled on why her attention lingered on Jang Seon-yeon unusually long,
Everyone was focused on the sound’s direction.
Likewise for Jang Seon-yeon; he was no different.
But there was something distinctively different.
The reason her gaze lingered longer than others was evident.
What could possibly account for that?
“Ah.”
In no time, a realization dawned on Peng A-hee.
While countless individuals here were filled with admiration or wonder…
‘But why does that look come from him?’
Within Jang Seon-yeon’s eyes,
It was unmistakably clear to Peng A-hee.
Feelings of self-doubt, inadequacy.
And it appeared laden with thoughts of inferiority complex and disenchantment.
As the only son of the chief,
His handsome face and talent resembling a fallen sword.
How could someone known for his amiability have such an expression?
Peng A-hee held on to that questioning thought.
But soon after.
Whoosh.
Jang Seon-yeon turned his head and started walking away, and she could no longer catch a glimpse of his face.
Having passed the exam long ago, to him it seemed trivial.
As she secretly watched the scene, Peng A-hee felt a weight of unease.
“Something feels off…?”
She had no choice but to sense that dreadful uneasiness bubble up within her.
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