Chapter: 306
The path leading to the Gwanju’s office is located behind the students’ lodgings.
The figure known as Gwanju is a master acknowledged by the Murim Alliance. As he is the strongest martial artist within Shinryonggwan, it was meant that in case of a dangerous situation, he would be able to protect the students as swiftly as possible.
‘This is going in circles.’
On the contrary, the instructors are situated on the opposite side, meaning that to get to the governor’s office from there, I had to take quite a detour.
‘… If it was going to be like this, he could have just said the governor called from the start.’
What was the point of going to Cheol Hwan-oh? Isn’t my route a complete mess?
Crunch.
The sound of crunching fallen leaves tickled my ears. As I grumbled and walked, I realized I was almost there.
If I consider this time beneficial in some way, it is that I managed to skip one training session after responding to the governor’s call, apart from lunchtime. Unless it involves some extremely deep theories that I haven’t tackled, I have already experienced most things in practice, making it pointless for me to learn them now anyway.
‘Is there no escort?’
Surprisingly, no other Kunlun warriors were guarding Gwanju. Well, if one reached the level of Cheonghae Ilgeom, there wouldn’t be a need for unnecessary escorting.
At the moment, the only beings capable of breaking through Cheonghae Ilgeom’s aura and entering the Gwanju’s office are likely just those on the examination list. What this implies is, as soon as I set foot on the path up, it was as if I had already stepped into his mental aura.
‘The fact that the governor called me separately…’
Could there be another reason? With that thought in mind, I moved my feet. After all, I’ll find out when I see him.
I entered the building slowly. It appeared slightly larger than it actually was. There seemed to be several spacious rooms visible. Just as I was pondering which door to open, Creak.
The door opened from the inside, and I confronted someone.
“Uh?”
“Ah.”
A woman with golden-brown hair—that troublemaker who had been bothering me lately—it was Wi Seol-ah.
“Why are you here?”
Without meaning to, my voice came out a bit louder than intended. Wi Seol-ah looked surprised, as if she hadn’t expected to see me here. Like-wise, I was rather shocked too.
‘I didn’t detect any movement inside.’
Let’s chalk up the aura from Cheonghae Ilgeom to part of the reason, but I couldn’t even sense Wi Seol-ah’s presence stirring back to life.
This means there’s something around dampening the senses. Is it due to Cheonghae Ilgeom’s powers? I doubt it. At least, as far as I know, he didn’t possess such abilities.
I realized I knew a surprising amount about Cheonghae Ilgeom. While I didn’t know much about his martial arts, I even knew a nickname he hadn’t yet acquired.
‘Then, is it the power of a spirit artifact?’
That theory seemed the most plausible. I wasn’t sure what kind of artifact it was, but it looked pretty effective.
“You…”
“The governor summoned me just for a moment.”
“Your Excellency?”
Cheonghae Ilgeom called Wi Seol-ah?
‘Is it because of the sword?’
Since Wi Seol-ah is the successor of the Sword Master, Cheonghae Ilgeom could have desired to meet her separately. I don’t really know if that was true, but judging by Wi Seol-ah’s reaction, it didn’t seem likely.
Embarrassment? That was definitely evident on her face. Why was she feeling embarrassed just by looking at me?
“… You.”
As I called her out suspiciously, Wi Seol-ah flinched.
“What have you done?”
“…!”
It seemed my words hit the mark, as she hung her head low. It implied that what I said was right.
‘Wi Seol-ah caused an accident and was called to the governor?’
It didn’t stop at the instructor level. I was simply curious how justice led to Gwanju.
No, more surprisingly was the fact that Wi Seol-ah managed to create an accident the moment before.
“What happened to you…?”
Just as I was about to ask Wi Seol-ah what’s going on…
Knock knock.
The door that had been closed suddenly opened, making a sound.
Whoosh!
A wind gusted through the door from inside.
I immediately sensed it.
That wind was thickly mixed with aura.
“—Please come in.”
A heavy, resonant tone sounded, like a weight hitting my head. Even just hearing the words made my whole body resonate.
Having only heard that tone, I felt this much.
‘It seems Cheonghae Ilgeom’s level is even higher than I expected.’
I had underestimated him, thinking he was lower than the Plum Blossom Sword Master.
Well, the head of the Gupae-bang couldn’t possibly be weak.
“You go outside and wait.”
“…Go outside?”
“Yeah, there’s something I must say, so wait for me.”
After ensuring I couldn’t make an escape, before Wi Seol-ah could say anything further, I took my steps into the room.
The gap connecting the entrance and the room was the moment my toes touched in.
Woom!
“…!”
I felt a huge presence wrapping around me.
The air outside felt radically different.
Under the overwhelming aura, I broke out into a cold sweat.
‘This old man…’
I tried hard to ignore that weight and moved forward.
The air wasn’t so heavy that breathing was impossible.
The reason the sweat poured down wasn’t due to a struggle I couldn’t bear.
‘Is he planning to capture one person?’
I could recognize how the pottery spread in the room could transform into incredibly brutal weapons under just one gesture by Cheonghae Ilgeom.
Feeling the prickling aura, I took a step forward, walking neither quickly nor slowly. Eventually, I saw a figure seated in front of me.
With pure white hair and a small, skinny body, how many sharp swords could possibly be concealed within that little frame? From my current level, it was impossible to gauge.
The old man kept his eyes closed but was certainly watching me.
“Remarkable.”
As I almost reached him, the old man opened his mouth.
“Rumors circulated fervently about how exceptional a child you would be, and I was curious.”
Several expressions exist to introduce an elder, and I am sure that irrespective of how it’s attributed, it wouldn’t fall short.
Known as one of the top ten masters of the Central Plains, he is one of the Seven Iron Three Swords and considered a master known as the Five Great Swordsmen.
He is the leader of the Great Kunlun Sect situated in Qinghai.
And.
“Instead, the rumors are rather trivial.”
Later, he would be called the Cheonghae Demon Sword, becoming a servant of the Celestial Demon, he stood before me, smiling.
(…)
Translation Notes:
I have summarized the key points and expressions for clarity and comedic touch, leaving in some casualness reflects the genre’s style. Additionally, applied italicization for sound effects as specified.
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