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Chapter 193: Two Dragons?

Two Dragons? (1)

When Seo Anbi speaks, she refers to the distinguished three families of the Seo An region.

Even if classified under the righteous faction, it’s not like the family stands out that much.

Of course, they participate in the Dragon Meeting, which most of the late-stage talents from prestigious families attend.

They don’t particularly take a stand on the front lines either.

As for the Demonic Gate, they only get involved if it’s not a dangerous situation—there’s just no presence from that clan.

For the last ten years, Seo Anbi has been like that.

But it’s not completely true to say that the Bi Clan lacks late-stage talents or martial artists.

If you pick out warriors from the Seo Anbi family, you can easily find those who have achieved great feats.

Furthermore, the renowned Pejon, Bi Ju, known as one of the Three Eminent Beings of the current righteous faction, is actually from the Seo Anbi family—this alone confirms the Bi Clan’s status.

Not to mention, the recently transformed Two Dragons, which are now known as the Six Dragons, also hail from the Bi Clan. So, it’s not like their history is lacking.

It’s just that the calm lake is so deep.

You just can’t see the dragons thrashing about beneath the surface.

Many say that when the Bi Clan moves, the Central Plains will shake, which likely adds to the absurdity of this situation.

‘…Still, isn’t this too much?’

Rain began to fall in Seo An, and the quiet streets were filled only with the sound of raindrops.

In the downpour, a man drenched in mud was none other than Chu Yong, who had lived as a beggar in Hanam.

For the past few months, he had run until his feet felt like they were on fire, just to make it from Hanam to Seo An.

Honestly, it was a crazy thing to do.

He could have simply sent a letter instead of dragging his heavy body all the way here.

‘They say if your head’s empty, your body suffers. Oh, you impulsive fool.’

He had lived as a beggar his entire life, so it’s not like he had any wisdom stuffed in his head.

But even so, this was too impulsive.

‘What was I thinking at that time? Damn it….’

He was bewitched by the cards that Jin Ryong had shown him and the subtly strange look he sensed at the time, and ended up coming all this way.

At the moment, it had seemed like a lifeline thrown down from the heavens.

Now that he thought about it, Jin Ryong probably didn’t think that much of it, and he felt he had moved for no good reason.

‘Damn….’

Now it was too late to go back.

He had already arrived at Seo An and was desperately gathering information, almost like his feet were on fire.

The information Jin Ryong sought about Seo Anbi, particularly concerning the Two Dragons.

To be honest, Chu Yong thought everything would be settled as soon as he arrived in Seo An.

It had been three days since he arrived, and while there surely was a Beggar Clan base in Seo An, he assumed that with his influence, it would be easy to get the desired information.

But.

‘What in the world is going on…?’

There was an absurd lack of information.

The information on the Bi Clan was no different from what was recorded in Hanam ten years ago.

Aside from the branches that they operate themselves, he had no clue what they were currently up to or how they were running their clan.

It felt almost like they were shut away from the rest of the world within the Beggar Clan.

‘Is there really a need for that?’

If his level was at a point where he couldn’t grasp it at all, it meant there were major powers blocking it.

At least, it should be something like their chief.

Or even higher than that.

‘Something feels tangled up here…’

What had started out as a simple desire to grab a thread had turned into a feeling that he might’ve gotten caught up in a major mess.

‘Should I just bail right now?’

This wasn’t just about martial artists; it was a matter of survival.

Chu Yong, who had an instinct for danger, felt something was off since the very first day he started gathering information.

‘Right now, Seo An feels off. Especially the Bi Clan.’

He couldn’t point to a specific detail, but his instincts were telling him that the current situation with the Bi Clan was strange.

Especially when he had asked for information about the Bi Clan at the Beggar Clan branch in Seo An—he sensed a peculiar hesitation.

The current Seo An is definitely peculiar about the Bi Clan.

Chu Yong now regretted that he should have bolted as soon as these thoughts crossed his mind.

“Looks like a raccoon I’ve never seen before.”

If that had been the case, he wouldn’t be in this predicament.

“I’ve heard someone’s been curious about me lately. Is that you?”

“…Kkhk…”

Chu Yong was clutching his stomach as he crawled on the floor.

He hadn’t even managed to register how he was hit.

When he finally came to his senses, he was already vomiting on the ground.

‘When…? When did he approach?’

He hadn’t sensed a thing.

Gasping for breath and barely raising his head, Chu Yong finally caught sight of his attacker.

It appeared to be a boy who, at a glance, looked no older than a young adult.

If anything, he might be similar to Thunder Dragon.

He looked older than Jin Ryong, whom he had met a few months back, but still had an immature vibe about him.

Chu Yong recognized that boy. Though his face had changed with time, he was undeniably the same boy he had seen years ago.

‘…The Two Dragons (歸龍).’

The Two Dragons, Bi Yi-jin.

He had only appeared once.

He had displayed himself at the Dragon Meeting and etched his image in many people’s memories before disappearing.

“Who are you?”

The Two Dragons calmly bent down, meeting Chu Yong’s gaze.

With brownish hair tied up, dressed in a loosely fitting black martial robe, and with those seemingly emotionless eyes hiding an unknown weight.

It felt as if Chu Yong had seen that gaze somewhere recently.

‘He resembles Jin Ryong.’

Unlike the somewhat soft impression the Two Dragons gave off, Jin Ryong had a fierce wolf-like appearance, yet the weight in their gazes was surprisingly similar.

Just staring into those eyes made Chu Yong feel overwhelmed.

“Are you refusing to answer?”

When Chu Yong didn’t answer, the Two Dragons slowly stretched out his hand and placed it somewhere on Chu Yong’s body.

Just when he found himself wondering what the Two Dragons was trying to do.

“…II”

Chu Yong screamed as if the world was falling away around him.

Unthinkable agony began to flood through his body.

He screamed for a long, torturous time, but as soon as the Two Dragons removed his hand, the pain dissipated instantly.

“Ugh… ugh…”

“Are you thinking of talking now?”

Chu Yong realized something.

His wild screams hadn’t escaped to the outside at all.

In that moment, the Two Dragons had sealed the sound, keeping it from leaking.

It was an overwhelming application of pressure.

“Where did you come from?”

“W-wait a moment…”

When Chu Yong didn’t answer again, the Two Dragons reached out his hand once more.

Seeing this, Chu Yong shouted right away.

“I-I’m from Hanam!”

“Hanam?”

The Two Dragons raised an eyebrow at Chu Yong’s shout.

“Yes! Yes! I am Chu Yong, the beggar active in Hanam!”

“I see. Hanam, huh.”

The Two Dragons nodded thoughtfully, but in contrast, his hand smoothly tightened around Chu Yong’s neck.

“W-wait…!”

“Why is that?”

“That’s what I want to ask! Why are you choking me…?”

Chu Yong couldn’t even resist until the moment the Two Dragons gripped his neck.

Perhaps it was due to having been struck just before, but his body wasn’t responding.

It meant that he had shaken and paralyzed the qi within him with just a single blow.

The Two Dragons replied to Chu Yong’s words.

“Because I still have many questions to ask.”

His voice was calm.

But to Chu Yong, it felt threatening, as if he would be killed if he didn’t answer properly.

And it was likely intended that way.

‘…Damn it….’

How did he figure that out?

Chu Yong hadn’t gotten too close yet.

In fact, he had been careful not to venture close to the Bi Clan’s sphere of influence.

No matter how subtly they hid their presence, a clan is still a clan; if he made a mistake, he could easily be found out.

With that in mind, Chu Yong thought he hadn’t done anything that would raise suspicion.

Then all of a sudden, a thought crossed his mind.

—A raccoon I’ve never seen before.

The term ‘raccoon’ itself meant a beggar.

The Two Dragons’ words had a strange undertone to them.

‘A raccoon I’ve never seen… So that’s why the beggar kids around Seo An looked a bit wrinkled….’

The strange atmosphere hanging around this side added to that thought.

Somehow, Chu Yong began to feel like all this might be related to the Bi Clan.

Or perhaps, it was the Two Dragons.

If that were the case, then it would almost make sense that he had been discovered.

If the reason his name had reached the Two Dragons’ ears was that he had inquired about the Two Dragons at the Seo An branch of the Beggar Clan, then.

‘…Those traitorous bastards!’

If that were true, it would be a huge problem.

It would mean that the branch of the Beggar Clan was tightly holding onto him solely below the level of late-stage talents.

‘Though I’m not in a position to comment after rushing here because of a brat’s request.’

Although his own state was no better, it was a problem nonetheless.

As the Two Dragons silently observed Chu Yong, he muttered a single phrase.

“You’re quite perceptive, aren’t you?”

“.…!”

It seemed the Two Dragons had noticed that Chu Yong had caught on to something and smiled faintly.

As if it didn’t matter to him.

“Whether you realize it or not, you’ll die.”

Could it mean that those who did realize would die sooner?

Either way, Chu Yong was in a life-threatening situation.

“You said your name was Chu Yong.”

“…Y-yes.”

“I see. Now I remember where I’ve seen your face before…”

“ ”

The moment the Two Dragons spoke, Chu Yong averted his gaze.

As he had mentioned, he had seen the Two Dragons before.

Not directly, but when the Two Dragons had first appeared at the Dragon Meeting and had taken care of a late-stage talent that had been picking a fight, he had watched from afar.

‘…’

That memory wasn’t a pleasant one for Chu Yong.

Just recalling how the Two Dragons had dealt with those fighting him sent a chill down his spine.

“It seems you’re curious about me. May I ask why?”

While it seemed like he was trying to be polite, given the situation, it wasn’t really so.

Lying on the floor with his neck gripped, how could he ask a question?

It was a threat.

“…W-w-well.”

What was he supposed to say?

Was he even required to answer at all?

He thought about saying Jin Ryong was curious about you.

But that felt too absurd to utter.

To be honest, even Chu Yong couldn’t figure out why Jin Ryong would be interested in the Two Dragons whom he had never met.

Choosing a path of unavoidable silence, the Two Dragons didn’t rush him.

He simply increased the pressure in the grip on his neck.

‘This is what you call pressure, damn it…!’

Honestly, those bratty children nowadays have no respect for their elders.

With a gaze that seemed to indicate he wouldn’t give him a second chance, Chu Yong finally shouted out.

“P-Pejon!”

In that moment of desperation, his shout had an effect.

The hand that had been tightening around Chu Yong’s neck abruptly loosened.

As he called out, it felt like he might have been saved.

“What did you say?”

At that very second, Chu Yong faced overwhelming pressure from all sides.

The weight of the qi was suffocating him.

“Ugh… ugh…!”

Was it problematic to have uttered the name of Pejon in front of a member of the Bi Clan?

The qi pouring from the Two Dragons was so intense, it was staggering.

But Chu Yong couldn’t stop there.

Now that he had voiced it, he had to spit something out to survive.

“P-Pejon’s disciple is… is seeking information regarding the Bi Clan!”

Strictly speaking, it was his disciple (presumably), but to stay alive, Chu Yong decided to throw that out first.

Then, like a lie, the pressing qi disappeared.

The grip that the Two Dragons had on Chu Yong’s neck released.

Finally, the Two Dragons burst into loud laughter.

‘What’s going on… that’s scary.’

Laughing as if it were incredibly amusing, the sight frightened Chu Yong.

After a while of rolling with laughter, the Two Dragons calmed himself and asked Chu Yong.

“Pejon… really, Pejon’s disciple is curious about me?”

“Y-yes.”

Though Jin Ryong himself claimed he wasn’t Pejon’s disciple, he walked around with a letter of recommendation.

His martial arts style leaned toward the “bok” fighting style, and his presence was outstanding compared to others his age.

People were starting to spread rumors that he had certainly been instructed by Pejon.

Of course, Jin Ryong had been begging to have that rumor quashed.

“I’m sorry… Jin Ryong.”

Chu Yong had no choice; it was either that or death.

“Oh, is that so? Pejon’s disciple, huh?”

Chuckling, the Two Dragons rose to his feet.

He turned to ask Chu Yong.

“Who is he?”

“Eh?”

“Who is the Pejon’s disciple who is curious about me?”

Feeling like that annoying fly had gotten tangled in the web, Chu Yong thought about how to reply.

It turned out he had stumbled into a rather amusing situation.

‘Who could it be?’

The Two Dragons gazed down at Chu Yong, their curiosity piqued.

He found himself wanting to see the face of the person who would dare impersonate Pejon’s disciple.

‘Once I disappear, it seems news even about these rumors begins to circulate.’

When he had been around, something like this would have been resolved with immediate action.

‘Trusting that guy, Gu Ryoon, was a mistake.’

He had certainly miscalculated trusting him to handle things.

Standing by and letting such ludicrous rumors spread like wildfire—what kind of handling would that entail?

With that, the Two Dragons who had been laughing for quite a while looked at Chu Yong and said.

“Let’s hear some stories.”

“Eh? What kind of stories do you mean…?”

The Two Dragons lifted Chu Yong effortlessly and threw him over his shoulder.

Being treated like some sack of rice was utterly humiliating, but it was not the time to think about resisting.

“That’s something you’ll need to consider carefully.”

The Two Dragons walked on, heading to hear about the one they referred to as “his” disciple.

While Chu Yong was undergoing unpleasant experiences in Seo An, Gu Yangcheong had just arrived at his own clan.

Given that they had all been on high alert since the ambush, the journey back was far more exhausting than expected.

While many were weary from the fatigue of traveling.

“…What did you say?”

Gu Yangcheong repeated the question with wide eyes in surprise.

“O-Oppa…”

It was surprisingly Gu Ryeonghwa, who should have returned to Hwasan by now, speaking to him with tears welling in her eyes.

“…Elder Lee…”

“Stop crying and speak properly.”

At Gu Yangcheong’s fierce urging, Gu Ryeonghwa burst into tears.

As Gu Ryeonghwa cried, Yu Seol Ah and Nangong Bi rushed over to hold her, but Gu Yangcheong couldn’t relax his expression.

He wished with all his heart that what he heard was a misunderstanding.

It was just too absurd to even consider.

Wiping her tears, Gu Ryeonghwa told Gu Yangcheong.

“T-the Elder Lee might… die.”

 

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