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I stepped into the residence.

As I entered, I noticed that more than twenty people were already waiting inside.

Even moving my feet made my skin tingle.

Feeling the atmosphere, I internally clicked my tongue.

“Tch. These uncles with their spirit battles.”

Humans were unnecessarily flexing their muscles.

Whenever martial artists gathered, it was always like this — they stretched their respective territories and sparked fights over bets.

Truly, there were no bigger fools.

“If only they could save some energy.”

How much strength were they exerting? Even combined, I felt like I had more.

They’d just end up boasting until they got themselves killed.

In wars, folks like them would be so worn out they couldn’t muster the strength when it truly mattered — often enough, they’d just get caught and die.

“That’s why you shouldn’t mix with those who haven’t even experienced war.”

I waved my hand while cursing under my breath.

Hoo-ooof!

Once I slightly released the energy coiled and tangled around me, I could finally breathe a bit easier.

However.

“…!”

“…”

Noticing that I had touched their energies, the gazes of the qualifiers pinned onto me.

Feeling it, I awkwardly chuckled.

“Sorry, just a bit out of breath.”

I casually blurted this and found a place in the vicinity.

It didn’t seem like there was a designated spot, so I settled down on the less sunny deck.

Eyes were still on me, but I made an effort to ignore it.

“How long will this take?”

The only thing I was concerned about was the time ahead.

The preliminaries were still ongoing, and I wondered how long until the second stage began.

Not only the time, though.

“I wonder how Wi Seol-Ah and Seongyul are doing.”

I was worried about the others who participated in the preliminary round.

“There shouldn’t be any problems…?”

If the other trials were the same, I felt confident they wouldn’t fail.

Yet still, the worry gnawed at me, especially for Wi Seol-Ah.

“…Is she doing okay…?”

Like a child left by the waterside, every nerve in me was on edge.

I wanted nothing more than to slip out and check if she was doing well.

“In the past, I always found joy in bouncing around. Surely, she wouldn’t be doing that here too.”

Unlike her previous life, Wi Seol-Ah seemed a bit dazed now.

The Divine Sword was so composed and detached compared to her current self.

She seemed better on the surface, but her lack of socialization worried me.

“I wonder who’s worrying about whom…?”

I wasn’t the one lacking social skills.

But Wi Seol-Ah was different; her lack of socialization was a cause for much concern.

“I think I might have been too protective.”

I wanted to let her live differently than in her previous life.

I pondered whether the actions I took then were problematic now.

Suddenly, that thought troubled me.

Rather than distinguishing right from wrong.

Simply judging what was better at this moment.

This was an issue that arose from living merely for the moment.

“Difficult.”

So difficult.

What is the right way to do it?

This was my most challenging dilemma.

Thud.

Just as I was lost in thought, I sensed movement ahead.

Looking up, I saw a shadow looming right before me.

Someone was blocking the sunlight.

“It’s been a while.”

A rough, deep voice.

I wondered who it was, then realized it was the massive figure in dark clothing — the Sword King, Peng Zhou, standing right in front of me.

Unexpected.

“Didn’t think you’d recognize me.”

I didn’t expect that he’d come up to me. Naturally, I assumed we’d ignore each other.

Was this a misjudgment on my part?

When I gave him a puzzled look, the intensity of his gaze deepened.

After all, it was quite an astounding thing that the Sword King spoke to me first.

There was little I could do now.

“It’s been a while, Clan Leader Pang.”

As I offered a brief greeting, I noticed a slight twitch in his brow.

“Didn’t think it was really you.”

“Yes, that would be me.”

As I uttered these words, I stood up.

I would have preferred to stay seated, but I still had to maintain some semblance of propriety.

“The bloodline of the Gu clan meets the Sword King.”

I adopted a Pogo stance, slightly lowering my head.

Even a slight bow seemed to have softened the Sword King’s energy a touch.

Could it be that this uncle was pleased by such a gesture?

“You seem to manage manners better than I expected.”

Could it be true?

The simple greeting I offered seemed to lighten his mood — a relief!

“It seems you’ve changed since back then. You seemed like you had no value at all back then.”

Seems not.

“Perhaps years have passed, and you’ve gained some wisdom.”

“…Yes, I suppose so.”

Though it struck a nerve, I held back.

This uncle’s attitude was clearly tied to my past transgressions.

“Just a consequence of my childhood.”

It was the price for having lived like a fool.

This much I could accept.

The father of my ex-fiancée.

Given that I had lashed out and severed our engagement, our relationship was undoubtedly a mess.

Did the Sword King also know about this?

“I heard you’re engaged to the Nangong Clan.”

Of all topics, he had to bring up the engagement.

“Yes. That is correct.”

“The daughter of the Sword King… they say she’s called Sword Dance Hero?”

My shoulder felt a prickling sensation.

It was a subtle yet annoying feeling, like being poked with a finger.

Conversing with the Sword King was indeed quite reminiscent of this ticklish sensation.

“The Gu clan is impressive, getting engaged to the Nangong after breaking off with the Pang.”

After breaking off with the Pang, getting engaged to the Nangong?

That meaning was all too apparent.

Hearing this made me smile slightly.

“Thank you. I was just lucky.”

“It’s all because of the Clan Leader’s capabilities.”

The ticklish sensation turned into a light poking.

“I once thought you were the type to kick away your blessings.”

True.

With the Pang clan’s possible life of luxury, I had thrown it away with my outburst; his observation was spot on.

“Now that I see it, I wonder if our Ahee is somewhat lacking.”

“Ha ha… Thank you for the compliment.”

It seemed like a compliment, but it wasn’t entirely benign.

While pretending to be humble, his gaze was filled with deep emotions.

“Coming this far means you’ve broken through the wall. It’s quite an achievement at your age. The future of the Gu clan looks so bright!”

“Compared to Clan Leader Pang, it’s nothing much.”

With a smirk.

The trivial praise seemed to have uplifted the corners of the Sword King’s mouth.

This uncle likely thought I was someone who had just barely made it past the peak.

Though I had passed the first stage preliminaries, I doubted he knew I had reached the Transformation Realm.

It seemed he couldn’t anticipate my actual standing.

I didn’t particularly mind.

In fact, that was likely advantageous for me.

He had given me compliments and accepted them to a degree. Perhaps it was fine to let it pass like this.

Just as I was considering making my exit.

“For sure, the Gu clan will become greater in the future.”

I heard the Sword King add on to his words.

“Unlike the Gu clan leader, who has a child that conducts themselves so well.”

The poison hidden within the compliments dug deeply.

It felt like someone had stabbed me with a sword as I tapped my fingers.

‘This guy…’

I tilted my head slightly and looked at the Sword King.

His words were not just pointed; they were sharpened to a fine edge.

“When I first saw you, I was quite worried. Seems your friend has trained you well.”

“Hmm.”

I gently grabbed my wrist.

The Sword King was right. I had grown up a bit, as he said.

Haven’t I?

Listening to such words without immediately retaliating spoke volumes of my adult maturity.

“You seem to be quite close with our Clan Leader.”

“Oh, of course; we’ve been friends since childhood.”

Why, then, did his eyes hold such malice?

I barely restrained a sigh.

“If only that fool had become the clan leader, things would’ve been better.”

I genuinely felt regret.

I’d heard he had lost the duel against the Divine Sword and couldn’t ascend to the clan leader position, but if the Sword King had risen instead, things would’ve been smoother.

He could have been easily maneuvered like a plaything.

Masking my disappointment, I forced a smile.

“Not just the Gu clan, but the Pang clan will surely thrive, right?”

Heh.

At my words, the Sword King’s grin widened.

Was he simply scoffing at me for not realizing my own intent?

Watching him left only questions lingering in my mind.

“They say the prosperity and decline of clans depend on the Clan Leader… The Pang clan seems to have quite a bit of luck.”

“There’s no need to sweet-talk me. I’m not concerned with such things…”

“Though now it seems you’re wavering, once Prince Bi Seongdo takes the position of the Clan Leader, the Pang clan will spread its wings.”

“…”

“Isn’t that so, Clan Leader Pang?”

As I spoke, I watched the Sword King’s eyes twitch.

He seemed to catch on to my underlying meaning, because he began to frown more and more.

Given that you were clan leader, the Pang clan is shaking only because of you.

Soon, Peng Woojin, your son, will rise to power, and the Pang clan will stabilize.

Shut up and stay put.

That was the implication in my words.

“This brat…”

Fortunately, it appeared the Sword King understood, as his expression crinkled increasingly.

“I’ve met him a few times. Prince Pang is a remarkable person.”

“…Ha….”

It was neither here nor there. Even as he praised my son, the Sword King’s expression only became grimmer.

And an inexplicable frustration swelled within me.

The energy radiating from him intensified further.

“I thought you only resembled your father a little.”

Heheh.

Crack!

As the Sword King’s spirit thickened, those around began to tense.

The martial artists reacted instinctively.

“Even your words sound just like your father!”

I tilted my head in confusion.

Was that supposed to be an insult? It sounded like praise.

I gazed into the Sword King’s eyes, reflecting on my mixed feelings.

The malignant energy was far thicker than before.

What was the issue?

I figured I had rubbed him the wrong way, but I hadn’t expected such a strong reaction.

“Was it the lack of capability as a clan leader? Or perhaps the comparison with the child? Or was it something else entirely?”

Lost in thought, a vague sense of unfamiliarity washed over me.

Rather than those concerns.

“Am I the issue?”

No, not me precisely…

“Is my father the problem?”

He had indeed mentioned that I resembled him while his energy thickened.

Could that be where the problem lay?

If so, what could it be?

I briefly contemplated this, then thought of something to ask the Sword King.

“Clan Leader Pang, if I may.”

“What do you wish to say—”

“Have you ever been struck by my father?”

“…”

Suddenly, the Sword King stiffened.

The energy he had been exuding vanished in an instant.

Seeing this, my eyes widened.

“Oh, could it really be true?”

Did he actually get hit?

From his reaction, it seemed likely!

‘Wow.’

So that was the reason for this commotion, I thought my father had done something to the Sword King.

Was he venting his anger at me on my father’s behalf?

‘Father… what on earth did you do when you were young?’

How on earth did he manage to punch a clan leader of the four great clans?

As I pondered, curiosity about my father’s past ignited.

“Creeeek.”

A rough sound emanated from the Sword King.

His jaw tightened, and the energy radiating from his clenched fist was tangible.

Yet he struggled to maintain his expression, finally managing to speak.

“…Child of the Gu Clan.”

“Yes.”

“Appreciate that this is within the Martial Alliance and has its laws governing it. Had there not been such rules, you would now be lying on the floor.”

During the preliminaries, any unauthorized fighting would result in immediate disqualification.

The Sword King stated that with a sense of gratitude since I had received a warning before entering.

“Indeed.”

That was truly regrettable for me.

“Isn’t it fortunate that rules exist? It’s truly something to be grateful for.”

A beast that didn’t know its bounds needed to be shown its place.

Yet we, the rusted guan, were here to ensure that, which was quite regrettable.

As the Sword King’s spirit dissipated, he stared at me for quite a while before turning away.

Perhaps he felt that if he stayed longer, he wouldn’t be able to control himself.

What a pity. If he could’ve been more like a bull, things would have been different.

Was this truly the end of our exchange?

“Did he come just to stir up trouble?”

It seemed the clan leader had little else to do.

“Tch.”

Even this brief encounter made me understand why my father had felt that way.

Suppressing a sigh, I sank back onto the deck.

I already felt tired.

So, I closed my eyes for a moment.

I just hoped time would pass quickly.

With that in mind, I sought a moment of rest amidst the gazes lingering on me.

The next test began half a time point later.

 

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