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Chapter 497 – Just Let Me Hold It Once.

Push…

The pressure on the hilt was considerable.

Gwaeseon had to ponder whether to draw his sword or not.

‘This is troublesome.’

Soon, he realized his mistake and furrowed his brow.

In that moment, he almost reacted to the Qi emanating from the small monster in front of him.

Small monster.

What a fitting description.

Gwaeseon looked at Gu Yangcheong and reaffirmed his conviction.

‘This is truly…’

No matter how flustered he was by Nangong Ming’s actions, he failed to grasp Gu Yangcheong’s movements.

Conversely, Gu Yangcheong had read his actions and moved accordingly.

How could that be?

This was not an issue that could be dismissed as the youngest Transformation Realm practitioner or anything.

Gwaeseon locked eyes with Gu Yangcheong.

He could see it.

The gaze that Gu Yangcheong was directing at him.

His black pupils were tinged with blue, and the boiling Qi from his body was unmistakable.

That guy was already complete.

A martial artist equal to him.

Not some late-stage talents that needed guidance.

He was someone to be placed on the same level as himself.

The fact that Gwaeseon’s body was rising with Qi in response proved that.

‘Ah, this is quite troublesome.’

Had he not been in a sword fight for a while? His body was heating up uncontrollably.

And to someone of his disciple’s age, no less?

‘How unrefined. How unrefined.’

He thought he had left the fires of youth behind long ago, yet here he stood, still right there.

Though he found himself in disbelief, Gwaeseon did not avert his gaze from Gu Yangcheong.

He couldn’t look away. Gu Yangcheong’s stare was exceedingly resolute.

“What were you trying to do?”

The tone was sharp, filled with deep-seated anger.

He thought that no matter what he said, it wouldn’t be believed, but it felt like he needed to clarify, so Gwaeseon opened his mouth.

“… Well, you see… it’s a complicated situation.”

“I’m not asking Gwaeseon.”

Gwaeseon froze at Gu Yangcheong’s words.

Not to him? Then who was it meant for?

As confusion clouded his brow, Gu Yangcheong glanced toward Gwaeseon’s side and said.

“I’m asking Thunder Fang. What were you trying to do just now?”

“…!”

The breath caught in Gwaeseon’s throat at Gu Yangcheong’s words.

At that moment, he recalled that Gu Yangcheong could also hear Nangong Ming’s voice.

‘Could that be why he moved?’

Gwaeseon pondered why Gu Yangcheong had reacted so swiftly.

Could it be that he moved upon hearing Nangong Ming’s voice?

‘Could it be?’

Gwaeseon quickly dismissed the thought.

Instinct was telling him that it wasn’t so.

Furthermore,

‘If he moved upon hearing it, it would have been too late.’

If he had indeed reacted to Nangong Ming’s voice, that would mean he acted a touch late.

‘How strong could he be?’

At that point, curiosity struck him.

To what extent had this kid risen?

Initially, he thought he had seen through him, but now his thoughts had changed.

It was vague.

It meant he couldn’t see him clearly.

‘What that means is…’

Failing to properly comprehend Gu Yangcheong meant that—

Gu Yangcheong was likely on a similar level to him.

Not merely having crossed the threshold.

Fully established in the Transformation Realm.

‘How is that even possible?’

It was something he couldn’t believe, even while witnessing it.

He heard that he hadn’t yet passed his twenties.

What status does an unripe martial artist hold? The disciple he thought was a genius had arrived at perfection by the time he crossed that age.

It meant he was hailed as a heaven-sent talent and that Wudang placed all its hopes in him.

But—

‘What about this guy?’

To be at the same level as those called Transformation Realm masters at such a young age?

Gwaeseon was unable to suppress his rising interest.

A thought from Nangong Ming crossed his mind.

– There’s a bigger monster around…

Nangong Ming had surely said that when referring to Gu Yangcheong.

That means—

‘Does he have something attached to him as well?’

Similar to himself?

As Gwaeseon’s emotions rarely fluttered,

Wooom…

The Thunder Fang he held began vibrating as if resonating.

[That’s impressive.]

That was the voice of Nangong Ming.

[Though I was displeased that he was not a swordsman, it seems he has indeed cultivated properly.]

“Ha.”

As expected, Gu Yangcheong let out a chuckle right after Nangong Ming had spoken.

“It seems you have some misunderstanding, senior.”

[What?]

There was a sudden shift in tone compared to their last encounter, where he had been relatively polite.

Now, there was a slight smirk and a frown that hinted he was barely hanging onto being polite.

“Our Noya hasn’t done much. I grew up on my own.”

[Huh…?]

Nangong Ming seemed taken aback by Gu Yangcheong’s casual remark.

It was as if he never expected such a response.

Gwaeseon felt reassured upon hearing Gu Yangcheong’s response.

Clearly, someone else was present by that kid’s side.

Shin Cheol.

He recognized that name from somewhere…?

Just as Gwaeseon was wracking his memory to recall who it was,

“I’ll ask again.”

Gu Yangcheong said with a face far more contorted than before.

“What were you just trying to do?”

[That’s none of your business.]

Gu Yangcheong smiled at Nangong Ming’s words. It seemed he was smiling, but looking at his expression, it would be more accurate to say he was furious.

“That I’m not to intervene means you were indeed trying to mess with him, right?”

[… Don’t you know it’s a matter of family?]

“Ha ha.”

Gu Yangcheong let out a slight laugh.

With a low voice, he murmured.

“Family matters? My, that’s absurd.”

Thump!

At Gu Yangcheong’s words, the atmosphere around turned icy. Woo Hyeok, who had been observing from behind, covered his mouth in shock.

Nangong Bi-ah, who stood beside, turned her head and closed her eyes.

The sensation was overwhelmingly strong, as if to say, ‘Here we go again.’

[What did you just say…?]

Nangong Ming asked, as if he couldn’t believe his ears, but Gu Yangcheong maintained the same expression.

“So, what about this? If it had been Noya, would you have let it slide? Look, then why are you only coming down on me?”

“… That small monster… I mean, Prince, please calm down for a moment.”

Gwaeseon tried to help cool the situation.

But that introduced a problem.

“Why is that kid’s family so messed up? No wonder his martial arts got tangled up.”

Bang!

With Gu Yangcheong’s words, a shockwave rippled from the Thunder Fang. Gwaeseon realized his feelings and thought he had just blundered.

But it was too late.

Gu Yangcheong had brought up the topic that Nangong Ming most wanted to avoid: tangled martial arts.

Whether or not that kid knew about the issues of the Nangong Clan was up in the air,

[Descendant.]

This was surely a point of contention for Nangong Ming.

His voice was significantly more subdued than usual.

Gwaeseon could tell that Nangong Ming was genuinely angry from the tone.

No sooner said than done.

[It seems I have to punish that boy, after all.]

At Nangong Ming’s words, Gwaeseon had to tightly shut his eyes.

‘Old man, I’d prefer it if you didn’t…?’

That meant he was telling him to teach Gu Yangcheong a lesson.

The problem was that, despite the Qi boiling around him, Gwaeseon had no desire to mix hands with Gu Yangcheong.

Though he tried to treat him as an equal martial artist.

Apart from that, the mere act of fighting against his disciple’s friend was uncomfortably thorny.

‘If only I could overlook what that kid said casually…’

He attempted to let it slide lightly,

But—

[This is an order.]

‘… Huh?’

Gwaeseon swallowed hard at Nangong Ming’s words.

‘Old man, are you out of your mind?’

An order.

That was a pact among Nangong Ming, Gwaeseon, and Nangong Hyeong.

Five times only.

Under the condition that any given request by Nangong Ming would be listened to without fail.

It was a pact made during their escape from the Nangong Clan.

He would abide by whatever Nangong Ming decreed.

That was the agreement.

Of those, three commands had already been used.

The first command was to learn the true Sword Path of the Nangong Clan to one day pass it down.

The second was to block the grand Demonic Gate that occurred in the commoners’ village.

The third was… something Gwaeseon didn’t want to think about, so he let it go.

‘So you’re using an order just to punish that kid?’

Gwaeseon thought in disbelief as he addressed Nangong Ming.

But he was unwavering.

[While I can tolerate many things, I won’t let slander against the Nangong Clan slide. Therefore, this is unacceptable.]

‘Troubling, indeed.’

Why was it so hard to let that pompous praise about the Nangong Clan go?

Nangong Hyeong genuinely thought that way.

But there was no choice.

The pact couldn’t be brushed aside.

At that instant, Gwaeseon made up his mind.

Taiiang!

“…!”

Gu Yangcheong’s fingertips were flung away from the sword hilt they were gripping.

Though Gwaeseon had shown no sign of action, the recoil sent Gu Yangcheong’s hand flying.

As Gu Yangcheong’s eyes widened at his tingling hand, Gwaeseon calmly spoke to him.

“You may or may not have heard, but I’m afraid I’ll have to teach you a lesson.”

“… Gwaeseon.”

“Ah, I really detest getting involved in these things, especially in front of my disciple.”

Gwaeseon scratched the back of his head, showing irritation.

Clearly, he hadn’t washed in a while; flakes fell from his blue and white hair with each shake.

Gu Yangcheong widened his Qi perception.

“…”

He stopped breathing.

He could feel it.

The Qi slowly surging from Gwaeseon’s body.

It felt too rough and coarse to be called the aura of an enlightened being.

A complete Transformation Realm.

No, even a little higher.

The realm that the Pejon had spoken of, close to the transcendental, was definitely where Gwaeseon’s pressure was weighing heavy.

An ominous sensation tightened around his neck.

It seemed Gwaeseon was genuinely intending to fight him.

Chills ran down Gu Yangcheong’s spine as he sensed that.

‘Hoo.’

He could finally release a sigh of relief.

Indeed.

‘As planned.’

Fortunately, things were flowing according to his plan.

 

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