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Chapter 324: Practical Training (3)

Two months had passed since I joined the ranks.

Soon, the cold winter would transition into the vibrant spring,

as the frozen ground began to thaw and prepare for blooming flowers.

Damn it.

I hadn’t done a single thing, yet I had aged another year.

‘What a pain.’

In the past, I didn’t particularly care about aging.

But now, the fact that I was getting older meant

that the busy days were piling up one after the other.

I wasn’t feeling great about it.

I knew my remaining time wasn’t the same as others.

Each day felt precious.

Besides, it had been a month since I visited the Gu Yangcheong at Shinryong Temple.

Many things had happened in that time.

First, the information about the Gu Yangcheong reached the Martial Alliance.

For now, training at Shinryong Temple was ongoing.

I couldn’t investigate directly,

but there was a strong formation set up around where the Gu Yangcheong was located.

Moreover, owing to the fact that Jin Ryong and I had been wandering outside,

the number of instructors patrolling at night increased drastically.

It felt pointless like the night watch.

The instructors were probably a bit resentful towards us for putting them in this situation.

‘That’s a bit unfortunate.’

I wasn’t fond of the night watch even in my previous life, so

I felt pretty sorry about that.

But hey, what can I do? It was my own mess.

‘Tsk.’

Anyway, with the Martial Alliance’s investigation scheduled in tandem,

additional cooperation was requested regarding locating the Gu Yangcheong.

Once again, I emphasize—‘cooperation.’

It wasn’t an interrogation or investigation, but rather a request to cooperate on how I discovered the Gu Yangcheong.

This was likely because of my background as a member of the Gu Clan

and my alias as Jin Ryong.

‘So the help from the Beggar Clan was beneficial after all.’

The fact that my information source belonged to the Righteous Faction, the Beggar Clan, would’ve been helpful.

Fortunately, it seemed to have worked out.

Of course, breaking rules by wandering around at night

and other matters could be points of deduction.

For now, I decided to push those thoughts aside.

‘Next is the issue regarding the Sword Demoness.’

The reason why the Sword Demoness responded to my request and briefly caught the attention of Cheonghae Ilgeom

was none other than the Plum Blossom Stone, a treasure.

According to the Sword Demoness, she thought it would be at the Gu Yangcheong.

Even if it was there, what if

‘it’s already gone?’

The Sword Demoness had said there was nothing she could do if she couldn’t find it.

But judging by her expression, it wasn’t like that.

‘To be precise, it seemed like a bigger problem.’

For some reason, she was lost in thought, her expression blank.

‘What’s going on? Did she hear something from Cheonghae Ilgeom?’

I had no way of knowing what their conversation was about, so I had to let it go.

The only problem here was,

‘What should I do about this thing on my arm?’

It was a problem regarding the object wrapped around my left arm.

The light pink cloth seemed like a bandage,

but the issue was that it wasn’t just a regular piece of cloth.

It was firmly attached to my arm and wouldn’t come off.

I tried everything I could to remove it, but

it felt like it was made of genuine leather or something; no matter what I did, it wouldn’t budge.

Furthermore,

‘If it were normal cloth, it wouldn’t be a problem.’

From the bound arm, a subtle…

No, was it subtle?

It was faint yet distinctly thick.

At that moment, I felt the immense and dense Taoist Qi I had sensed when Shin Noya saved me from the Gu Yangcheong.

This was unquestionably Hwasan’s Taoist Qi.

Thanks to this, the Hwasan’s Taoist Qi settled inside my Lower Dantian resonated with my energy all day long.

‘The problem is… what the heck is this cloth?’

The fact that Shin Noya had forcibly clung to my body meant that

Shin Noya also knew about this treasure,

and there was a high probability that it was something he used.

The thoughts of Yeon Ilcheon suggested that

this Gu Yangcheong was originally prepared for Shin Noya.

‘So what is it?’ What could this treasure be?

I already had a few treasures attached to me—adding more would just be comical.

What could be this prominently visible treasure?

‘It doesn’t seem to have any special abilities.’

Would it be easier to just think of it as a cloth emitting Taoist Qi?

Or does it have another use that I’m unaware of?

‘The person who could tell me is back to sleep again, which is the problem.’

Right when I needed him, Shin Noya had fallen back asleep.

And then,

‘Even that beast has gone quiet.’

The creature that used to cry for food every day

had since vanished its presence after that point.

Did it disappear? No, that wasn’t the case.

I could tell it was still inside my body.

Only time flowed by without a care.

In the meantime, unknown events floated by.

They swirled around me, creating a dizzying effect.

Did they think they were real fish?

Thud. Thud.

I kept tapping the table with my fingertips.

An old habit I picked up during complicated times.

‘…The Gu Yangcheong is over.’

I had a habit of pushing aside things I couldn’t understand.

It was a newly formed habit.

There were many things to do,

and I couldn’t afford to waste time drowning in matters I had no answers for.

I pushed those aside and focused on what I had to do now.

This was a sort of compulsion.

Thud. Thud.

As I continued to tap the table with my fingertips,

the faces and names of people came to mind.

‘…That guy comes from the Beggar Clan, so it’ll be hard to find him right now. Where’s the other one from?’

The reason I recalled people one by one was simple.

‘There are more than I expected. Can I clear them all?’

I was thinking of those I needed to kill.

I knew very well that the world of justice had long been dead.

That realization hit hard right after the Blood Calamity occurred.

Although there were many who put on a façade, claiming to be righteous,

the reality was far more rotten underneath.

Looking at the part where they acted as they pleased while opposing the Demonic Sect made me think that the Demonic Faction might actually be cleaner.

This was why I said that the moment I left Shinryong Temple was crucial.

I would kill everyone I had to.

The reason I was so desperately trying to reach the realm of nothingness was

to ensure I could smoothly execute this process.

Ugh.

Not again.

I frowned at the sensation I felt.

Lately, my head had been dizzy like this from time to time.

If I held on a bit longer, it would eventually subside,

but the nauseating sensation wasn’t pleasant.

Would throwing up ease it? I even thought about that.

“…Survival.”

‘Is this due to insufficient training? I should extend my time a bit more…’

“Gu Yangcheong, Gwandosaeng.”

“…!”

I was so lost in thought that I didn’t catch who was calling me.

When I focused and looked up, I found Cheol Hwan-O glaring at me with a furrowed brow.

Right, we were in a training session.

“Yes.”

“The instructor has called you three times, and you didn’t reply. Shall I assume you weren’t concentrating?”

“I did respond, but perhaps my answer was too soft for you to hear.”

“…Oh ho.”

Of course, that was a lie.

Cheol Hwan-O probably knew that; hence his distorted expression.

I could see how much someone’s face could squish like that.

What a unique piece of information.

“Since you say you were concentrating, may I ask you a question, instructor?”

“Yes. I will listen carefully.”

“Why is the Cheongui Cheonjo particularly less active at night…?”

“That’s probably because they’re mating. Those guys are quite perverted, only doing it at night.”

“ ”

“Oh, as long as you’re careful of their weaknesses, it should be fine. But… if they can’t even take off, they can’t escape, so just nab them and burn them…”

“Enough.”

“Yes, sir.”

This is such good information, but you’re not listening.

The Cheongui Cheonjo is a type of Blue Demon Beast,

an odd bird that cannot fly despite having wings.

While it has a bit of a long neck to be considered a chicken,

anyway.

It’s one of the rare species of demon beasts that mate,

strangely enough, it only does so at night. Perhaps because of that,

there are fewer incidents of them attacking after afternoon.

Hunting is easier during that time too.

Cheol Hwan-O let out a sigh, disappointed as if my response was correct and resumed the training.

‘I really do need to concentrate.’

Of course, concentrating didn’t mean focusing on the training;

it meant I’d act even harder to pretend I was focused.

‘Soon, it’ll be here, I suppose.’

It wouldn’t be long until the awaited time came.

As the training was coming to an end,

Cheol Hwan-O left me with some words.

“In a bit, it’ll be the practical training period, so don’t forget to prepare.”

Hearing that, I nodded internally.

It was information I had been waiting for days.

After finishing my duties and eating, I usually chatted a little with the party.

That was the only time I could mentally relax.

However, these days I had been reducing that time and increasing my training significantly.

With the others getting busier over the last two months,

I myself felt pressed to move more urgently.

‘The arm needs to go a bit farther.’

Whoosh! Bang!

I adjusted the angle and released the bet.

A small trace of the bet lingered in the void.

It’s too bad. I exploded it a little late.

‘… A little faster is impossible. Should I mix more energy?’

Though focusing primarily on realm training,

moving my body like this was

a review of the martial arts sparring I had during the past.

‘As long as I’m fast, they’ll get caught and stop me.’

On the day I faced Jin Ryong or Pejon,

that day left bitter memories that lingered, prompting me to review it like this.

‘What’s the issue?’

Speed-wise, I was faster.

My energy went without saying.

But I couldn’t break in.

Even if I entered their domain somehow, I never got a hit.

They were slower than me, yet faster than I was.

Was it a difference in perception?

I could clearly feel my shortcomings and was trying to fill them up,

but it wasn’t easy.

Even though the one who made me lose was Pejon, the pinnacle of the martial arts world,

there are no excuses. A loss is a loss.

Was I frustrated about my defeat? Not really.

I had experienced numerous defeats and

was aware it was impossible to catch up to a genius.

That’s why I needed to search harder.

‘If only my brain worked a bit faster.’

Then I could utilize what would happen in the future more efficiently,

and make better use of my body.

What if I could think half as well as the Tian Yu and Ah?

In my frustration, such futile thoughts arose.

Flame Burst.

I gathered the flames surrounding my body,

sent the heat to my Lower Dantian, then exhaled deeply.

The surrounding plains were filled with the heat I emitted.

“What do you think?”

After collecting all my energy, I asked the onlookers.

“…Huh?”

A dull reply.

I expected that kind of answer.

It was understandable since the spectator was none other than Nangong Bi-ah.

“What do you see?”

“…It was…cool?”

“No, not that…”

I almost felt good for a moment.

The reason I was suddenly doing this with Nangong Bi-ah

was that among the crowd, only she had no schedule, so it had been a while since we had practiced together.

Normally, Nangong Bi-ah would disappear after doing half of the training I usually do.

But today, I asked her to just stick around.

Tang Soyeol hadn’t been seen recently,

and Wi Seol-Ah had gone off with a purpose, looking all gloomy.

I had brought Nangong Bi-ah with me since Moyong Hi-ah was always busy.

“Do you see anything lacking?”

I didn’t expect any good answers by asking partway.

But she was a martial artist who had surpassed the peak already,

and she was undoubtedly a genius, who would undoubtedly become a master in the future.

So I wondered if she might have noticed something.

Upon hearing my question, Nangong Bi-ah tilted her head, then looked into my eyes and answered.

“Too fast…”

“Then should I slow it down…?”

“My body looks impatient.”

She repeated her words while opening and closing her fist.

Impatient.

I knew I was being impatient myself,

but did it show in my movements as well?

Guess I’d have to fix that.

I nodded along.

If my impatience reflected even in her eyes, that was a bit perilous.

As she watched me, Nangong Bi-ah paused for a moment before bringing up something else.

“…Want to spar?”

I was caught off guard by her words for a second.

“You’re supposed to add a subject when speaking.”

Letting out a deep sigh and reminding her,

Nangong Bi-ah appeared to have realized she’d forgotten and clapped her hands in surprise.

That startled me.

“Want to spar…?”

It was indeed sparring.

But I grimaced slightly at Nangong Bi-ah’s inquiry.

Now that I think about it, I had never actually sparred with Nangong Bi-ah.

In this life, she had always clung to me, saying she wanted to spar, but

I had never obliged her even once.

And at some point, she had stopped suggesting it.

“Right, when did she stop asking me to spar?”

Perhaps she was tired of it since I had refused.

But now that she’s asking again, maybe it’s different.

With those thoughts in mind, I voiced them,

Nangong Bi-ah tucked her hair behind her ear and opened her mouth.

“…Because it’s…scary…”

Scary?

“To spar with me?”

“No….”

Nangong Bi-ah’s blue eyes turned to me.

“Sparring with me…you seemed scared.”

“ ”

Was it the words I heard?

It felt as though my breath paused for a moment.

“Scared? Me?”

“Yeah.”

What does that mean?

But I already understood the implication.

I didn’t want to fight Nangong Bi-ah.

Even if it was just sparring.

“So…please don’t ask me. It’s fine.”

“Just now, you did.”

“Then… would you feel more comfortable?”

“No,

it would be quite uncomfortable.”

“Then that’s fine.”

Nangong Bi-ah returned to her original expression, as if she had left no mysteries behind.

She was indeed a quick changer of moods.

“Will you do it someday…?” “…Why do you make it sound like sparring is a big deal?”

“Isn’t it?”

“No, it is.”

Once all the Blood Calamities are finished and situations stabilize,

when there’s no threat and peace can finally be attained,

would it be worth even considering something as trivial as sparring?

“What about Wi Seol-Ah?”

“…!”

Nangong Bi-ah’s words widened my eyes.

Out of nowhere, a conversation about Wi Seol-Ah.

What could she possibly mean by that?

‘What’s going on?’

Did she know about what Wi Seol-Ah had said to me?

“What…”

“…Just joking…”

As I stammered with a shaky voice,

Nangong Bi-ah slightly smiled while replying.

Then, she gently waved her fingertips toward me.

It was a gesture telling me to come closer.

It felt like she was beckoning like a dog.

I grumbled lightly as I approached.

“What’s going on…?”

As I got closer, Nangong Bi-ah affectionately ruffled my hair with her unique gentle touch.

“…It’s okay.”

“…What’s this about?”

I questioned, stunned by her sudden action.

Nangong Bi-ah chuckled softly and said to me,

“When you do this… it makes me feel good.”

“So?”

“That’s why… I’m doing this for you…”

She was saying she was doing it to make me feel good.

I didn’t particularly feel bad, but

it was amusing that it somehow made me feel good amid this situation.

While watching Nangong Bi-ah happily patting me,

I couldn’t help but snicker.

Thanks to her, it seemed this training would be sufficient.

As the night approached,

the full moon hung in the sky.

On top of the walls surrounding Shinryong Temple,

a figure of indeterminate gender stood.

Within the walls filled with the aura of Cheonghae Ilgeom,

it stood in a precarious position that just barely avoided detection.

The figure stood there, quietly staring down.

Without moving even a little,

it just gazed below.

But the figure’s eyes were fixed solely on one person.

Flap.

As it continued its observation, a bird suddenly flew toward the figure.

As if familiar, the figure took out a letter tied to the leg of the bird and unfolded it.

– In four days. Proceed.

The message confirmed that the target date was approaching.

As the figure crumpled the letter,

the bird around its shoulder dispersed like mist.

Immediately after the bird vanished,

the figure similarly concealed itself in the void,

leaving no trace, as if it had never been there to begin with.

The figure’s alias was King of Demons.

The master of the night.

 

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