---

Chapter 169: Jin Ryong (M·K)

“Is that the Jin Ryong?”

“Isn’t that the name of this tournament’s victor?”

On the day the finals concluded, the heat in the inn was more intense than ever before.

It was always like this on the last day of the Martial Arts Tournament.

But this time, the excitement was on another level.

Could it be because a new dragon was born?

Or was it due to the unprecedented number of holy beings produced from this tournament?

Or perhaps it was because the cheers shared by the boy had not yet faded?

In the midst of this, a man quietly spoke up, as if dissatisfied with the fervor.

“Jin Ryong? Isn’t that a rather arrogant name? A real dragon, huh….”

So does that mean the Thunder Dragon or Sword Dragon are just fakes?

“Is this really an impressive victory when he fought those puny little ones who barely have any hair?”

“Hey, look at this guy.”

At the man’s grumbling, a collective sigh of lament escaped the others around him.

Just as someone was about to chime in—

“Let it be, Kim Chung. That guy couldn’t even show up under the guise of work, so he’s throwing a tantrum.”

“Am I wrong? None of the Sword Dragon, Sleeping Dragon, or even the So Sword brought their game. What’s so fun about this Martial Arts Tournament…?”

Kim Chung, with a scowl, downed his drink furiously.

Watching that, the owner of the inn couldn’t help but chuckle.

‘Looks like he’s really sulking.’

Considering the reactions, it was no wonder he felt upset for missing it.

‘I should’ve insisted we went together.’

Why bother showing up when only half of the key players were absent?

Even the inn owner thought…

This tournament was far more impressive than he initially thought, contrary to what he expected.

Surely, the newly emerged late-stage talent and the fresh, named dragon seemed to have made quite the impression by sitting at the head table.

“Still, Jin Ryong…”

“Looks cool, but what’s there to complain about?”

“He’s quite a distance from adulthood; that kind of arrogance doesn’t really suit him.”

“Age doesn’t matter. If he deserves it, he deserves to be called that.”

“That just doesn’t make sense. No matter how high his talents are…. You all saw, didn’t you? This is definitely a privilege from the clan….”

Kim Chung glanced around, seeking sympathy, but others just snickered and continued to ignore him.

“Stop with the privilege nonsense.”

“You’re only saying that because you’re blind to what you can’t see. Kim Chung, you really do know how to make a scene.”

“Then you think that little martial artist is truly worthy of being called Jin Ryong?”

It was the innkeeper who finally interjected.

“Absolutely worthy.”

“Really, Innkeeper?”

Kim Chung turned to the innkeeper in surprise, as he usually wouldn’t get involved in these matters.

The innkeeper looked at Kim Chung and said, “You have yet to see the worth of that young lad, so it’s easy for you to not get it. But at least I have.”

The innkeeper had seen the last match and was left dumbfounded.

Even he, who didn’t know the slightest of the martial arts, could see that the boy’s level was different from other late-stage talents.

In fact, his son, who was present during the martial arts demonstration, chose to abandon his training and continue the family trade, claiming he couldn’t see himself living amidst that crowd.

And the innkeeper respected his son’s choice, thinking he would have made the same decision if it were him.

‘This is what people mean when they talk about terrifying talent.’

As a merchant, one must have a keen eye for worth.

A simple principle among merchants lies beneath countless operations.

The most fundamental aspect being the ability to find valuable things among cheap ones.

‘Unfortunately, I lack that keen vision.’

The innkeeper understood.

Had he had that kind of vision from the start, he wouldn’t just be an ordinary merchant but a significant character in Hanam.

But he wasn’t completely without it.

Living here and struggling had granted him a bit of that learned sense.

“Is it really arrogant to be called Jin Ryong? I think otherwise.”

“Is it enough? It’s more like insufficient.”

The innkeeper questioned, why hadn’t the clan bestowed the vacant seat of the Shin Ryong upon that boy?

He saw Jin Ryong’s performance as more striking than what Peng Woojin had shown before him.

‘They say the Shin Ryong position has already been determined, but is that true?’

It was a rumor circulating in the common world.

This Shin Ryong position had supposedly already been decided.

‘No way, right?’

After the tournament, when the clan leader would come out and commend them for their hard work, the innkeeper examined the leader closely.

Considering that Jin Ryong’s opponent had been Jang Seonyeon, who just recently earned the title of Holy Being—

‘How could he maintain his composure after seeing his child collapse like that?’

From the stance of a father witnessing his child’s defeat, the clan leader bore the front of the clan leader.

The innkeeper couldn’t help but feel curious.

“Kim Chung. Stop sulking like that. Find something else to talk about.”

Seriously, how old are you? Throwing a fit over not witnessing a tournament?

‘If it were me, I would have regretted missing that match my whole life.’

Understanding his feelings was one thing.

No matter how you look at it, it was the birth of a martial artist that would sweep the times.

For someone from the Central Plains, missing out on witnessing such a moment would be the biggest shame.

The innkeeper silently recalled the boy’s face.

‘Jin Ryong…’

Once I heard his name, I didn’t know who he was without his last name.

Now he’s known as Jin Ryong of the Mount Shan Clan.

In just three or four days since I learned of him, he’s made quite an achievement.

It might just be the most significant upheaval I’ve seen all year.

Just…

‘That last look still bothers me.’

The heavy expression on the young boy’s face didn’t seem to fit someone who had just won a tournament against other late-stage talents.

Even though people said it was cool not to be overjoyed about winning such a tournament.

The intuition that comes with being a genius isn’t that simple.

From the distance of the Martial Arts Tournament of the clan, I stood alone, watching the falling snow.

The snow gently left its mark on the ground.

But while I simply gazed at it, I found my mind racing with complications.

– Dogo Jun is looking for me.

The last moment of the tournament.

The name he left echoed in my ears.

‘Dogo Jun.’

It was a name I had never heard before.

In both this life and my previous life.

It wasn’t a name tied to a sect or anything I knew.

It was a name I had never encountered before.

‘Who could he be… who is he?’

Whoever he was, the one who spoke through Jang Seonyeon.

How could he make such an impact?

A being similar to Shin Noya? But that felt completely different.

The unsettling presence felt like a sword-tip aimed at the crown of my head.

If I had to make a comparison…

He resembled the Heavenly Demon.

‘Comparing him to the Heavenly Demon feels too grand, but that’s how it felt.’

The one who was called a god, the Heavenly Demon, was a step beyond, but the sensation was reminiscent of that.

And there’s something more.

The one hiding within my body.

‘Damn it… Can’t I just live life a bit easier?’

As one thing ends, another thing jumps out to complicate matters.

To top it off, it felt like I was about to crumble under the weight of what I already had.

If there is a god, he surely isn’t my ally.

“Just say something. Don’t just shut your mouth.”

My voice, held back by frustration, was carried away by the gentle breeze.

Standing alone in the empty fields, it wasn’t exactly a monologue.

“You were quite chatty earlier, but now why are you silent?”

The one who appeared at the end of the tournament, consuming energy like mad.

I tried talking to the mysterious being coiling around my body, but since Jang Seonyeon lost consciousness, he had returned to silence.

“How annoying…”

I figured it was merely a curse that came with my reincarnation.

The Demonic Absorption Technique was the power of the Heavenly Demon; thus, it wouldn’t be surprising if some mysterious situation arose.

Even if I rebelled against time, I still couldn’t escape the Heavenly Demon’s grasp.

That’s what I thought.

But something felt more twisted than that.

“Do you want something from me? Why are you pestering me so?”

Maybe it was the chaos in my head, but those were the only words spilling out.

Was Jang Seonyeon always in possession of such power?

Or was it due to some changed circumstances?

‘More likely than not, it was something I just wasn’t aware of.’

What I discovered after my reincarnation contrasted with what I knew in my last life.

So it’s likely true again.

‘What the hell is he?’

The Black Night Palace not only used crude demonic energy but was also engaged in shady dealings to nurture such a warped flower.

And even on Jang Seonyeon’s side, he was up to things that others didn’t know.

Whether this was right or wrong didn’t matter to me. I wasn’t a heroic blade.

What mattered was that I was unaware.

‘What do I need to do?’

Now that I was aware, was it time to take action?

The being talking to me through Jang Seonyeon must have recognized me, meaning he likely had information about me already.

Biting my lips due to the dreadful situation, I shouted.

“If you want something, just say it. That way, I can choose to listen or not!”

This was addressed to the being inhabiting my body.

Honestly, I had no intention of complying.

But it felt like I needed to hear something to ease my heart.

“Haa…”

I brushed my hand across my face.

Repeating the same gestures over and over.

Even after wrapping up most of what I aimed to achieve by coming to Hanam, I still felt uneasy.

‘Did he call it a gift?’

That last remark from the one who identified himself as Dogo Jun.

That he left me a gift.

I wouldn’t take long to realize what that meant.

I let out a hollow chuckle, asking, “Why are you eating well but avoiding this?”

The energy I extracted from Jang Seonyeon.

Technically, the energy Dogo Jun had given me was not being purified properly.

It was occupying one side of my Lower Dantian, struggling to clear out the void left by demon energy.

This guy was coiling up in the empty space.

‘Is the purification really happening correctly?’

Demon energy is immediately purified as if devoured by the Technique of the Flame Wheel.

So what about the power currently flowing through me?

‘I can’t tell.’

I didn’t feel the sense of purification at all.

Rather it seemed to be merging with the Technique of the Flame Wheel.

Petting my belly while gathering strength in my body.

The flow of energy spread throughout my body via my blood from the Lower Dantian.

This was the basic phase of strengthening my physicality through a bet.

Unless I used the clan’s skill of gathering heat within my body, normally, this would be where it ended.

“…Haa.”

Focusing my Qi slightly on my Lower Dantian, an energy that previously lay dormant surged along with my Qi.

In that instant, I could feel my physical strength rapidly enhance.

This was the gift Dogo Jun spoke of.

Just like Jang Seonyeon had, just like Nangong Cheonjun had, I too could now use the power they wielded.

‘This is insane.’

I didn’t utter this with admiration.

It was a comment steeped in an unsettling feeling like another shackle had been placed upon me.

Receiving power from someone I didn’t even know was one too many.

No, even one was too overwhelming.

Just moving my body briefly revealed that this was far from merely a helpful power.

I could feel the energy within me depleting at an alarming rate.

Yet, even considering that, an overwhelming sense of strength crashed over me.

Moreover, it didn’t just end with my body being enhanced.

Flame Burst.

I busily sparked energy in my palm to ignite flames.

Having witnessed the enhancement of Jang Seonyeon’s martial arts, I tried this to see if it worked for me.

“…What the hell.”

The instant I saw the blazing flames, I had to curse aloud.

The once radiant flames, infused with the energy of the clan, were nowhere to be seen.

Now, they were spewing forth a blue flame.

“I see, I’m drawing attention to myself.”

Given the color of the flames, it was the perfect shade to invite whispers of demonic arts.

To think the color of my flames changed like this.

“If my father catches wind of this, there’s no way I could explain.”

Imagining how my father or others from the clan would react gave me a chill.

How would I explain it?

“Oops! I just dyed my flames a different color after receiving a gift in Hanam.”

‘Damn it.’

My head throbbed.

Bang!

I clenched my fist and unleashed the flames.

Then when I ignited the flames once more—

Flame Burst—

‘We’re back to normal.’

It returned to the original color I would usually emit.

It seemed the color change was merely a matter of energy being used and not used.

‘If I need to hide it, I might be able to do so.’

On the bright side, as I calmed my energy, I was about to take another step when—

“…!”

I felt lightheaded, and my body swayed. It was just a fleeting sense, but I quickly regained my balance.

‘Was that a recoil from using energy?’

Just a moment of usage caused such a backlash.

If this was the outcome with just this much impact, I understood why Jang Seonyeon didn’t use that power continuously.

What puzzled me was—

Considering how much energy Jang Seonyeon must have used, it must have involved even more than this.

But he appeared to be perfectly fine.

‘Either I suffer from a harsh recoil, or he doesn’t use a lot of energy.’

Either way, whether it’s one or the other, it wouldn’t change how fortunate I felt, being within such a terrible situation.

I still had to force a smile.

“…I’ll withstand this.”

No matter how much this world threw obstacles my way.

At least it was better than how I lived in my previous life.

None of the people I regretted had died, and I could eliminate those who left scars on me with my own hands.

I could endure this much.

“I’m tired…”

I felt somewhat drained.

The heat within my body had risen to its peak, yet the cold wind swirling around me was refreshing.

Was it particularly chilly today?

I missed the cozy warmth of Shin Noya, even if just a little.

Not just longing.

I had a question I wanted to ask Shin Noya.

Somehow, I had a hunch that he might know something about Dogo Jun.

For reasons unknown to me.

‘So please wake up softly soon.’

Time was of the essence.

After practicing a bit more with my energy experiments, I returned to the barracks.

The sun had long set. With the Martial Arts Tournament concluded, the place felt somewhat diminished in crowd.

There were still the leader’s congratulations for the victor, or the semifinals of Nangong Bi-ah and Mo Yonghui remaining.

But they didn’t appear to be treated as very important events.

‘In any case, it’s a place that only cares about the champions.’

In every world, that was true, yet this place seemed overly obsessed with being the best.

“Oh! Young Master!”

As soon as I entered the barracks, Wi Seol-Ah dashed over and jumped into my arms.

“Ugh…!”

The impact of her greetings was a bit too strong and I accidentally yelled out.

Was it because I was stacked with exhaustion from checking my energy crisis that her greeting felt particularly painful?

‘…or is she just sturdier now?’

“Um… Young Master, are you okay?”

Wi Seol-Ah, concerned at my outburst, gazed up at me with worry.

I tried to assure her with a smile, “I’m fine. Just a little startled.”

“When you smile like that, it usually means something’s up…”

“…What do you mean?”

Scary…?

Even though I tried my best to manage a cheerful smile.

Sensing my mood, I pinched Wi Seol-Ah’s cheek playfully, just as another voice chimed in from the side.

“Has the Gu Prince arrived…?”

It was Tang Soyeol. Upon closer inspection, I saw Nangong Bi-ah sleeping soundly with her head on Tang Soyeol’s knee.

“Ah, she fell asleep waiting for you, didn’t she?”

“She really did?”

“No way she just dozed off, right?”

“Y-yeah, really!”

“…I see.”

It was hard to accept, but I decided to let it slide.

“Speaking of, earlier today, someone from the Beggar Clan was looking for you.”

The Beggar Clan?

At Tang Soyeol’s words, I immediately recalled Chu Yong’s image.

He must have rushed over after hearing the news.

“When I arrived, Wi Seol-Ah was already meeting with him.”

“She was?”

“Wooowwww….”

Wi Seol-Ah must have met with Chu Yong—now that must have been an interesting sight.

Regrettably, I was unable to witness it.

‘He would’ve been one of my companions from my past life, after all.’

The King’s Sword, the Divine Sword, and others.

A formidable group consisting of formidable talents.

Considering how precious Wi Seol-Ah’s friendship was, their interaction held significance.

Had I just remembered?

‘By this time, he would have been an absolute beggar.’

“Please tell Jin Ryong that once he arrives, the Beggar Clan’s Chu Yong has visited.”

“Thanks for passing the message. I’ll be sure to mention it later….”

As I replied to Tang Soyeol, a strange statement floated up in between.

“Wait, what was that about Jin Ryong?”

“Jin Ryong!”

Upon my inquiry, Tang Soyeol answered with excitement.

“…Jin Ryong?”

Could it be referring to me?

‘Seems likely.’

Seeing Tang Soyeol’s eyes sparkling with excitement, it must be true.

I had no choice but to let out a sigh.

“…What’s with that ridiculous nickname?”

A real dragon, huh.

Just hearing it sent shivers down my spine.

‘Though the nickname I had in my past life was far worse.’

At least Jin Ryong sounded better.

“Aren’t you happy?”

“Why would I be happy…?”

“Of course you should be happy!”

Should I really be pleased about mingling with a group of geniuses?

Sure, that’s how it’s been, but now, expressing delight over the situation seemed ridiculous.

Since Tang Soyeol continued to throw hopeful looks at me, in the end, I feigned excitement and finally uttered,

“Waaah… I’m so thrilled….”

“…Wow, Gu Gongja, your face looks completely devoid of spirit.”

I had surely put in effort, but—

Meanwhile, whispering behind my back, Tang Soyeol added, “Even a straight face still looks handsome.”

Afterwards, Wi Seol-Ah gazed up to the western sky beyond the barrack’s tent.

The direction of her gaze was unmistakably toward the Martial Alliance, particularly where Jang Cheon and Jang Seonyeon would be.

 

---