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Chapter 7: Where Did You Go?

“Where have you been?”

As we transitioned from morning to noon, I asked the Heavenly Demon, who had just shown up late.

“A walk.”

I grimaced at the simplistic answer.

“You spent the whole day just walking?”

“Yep.”

“Where exactly did you go?”

“Nearby.”

“Really stellar answers you’re giving me.”

It was almost better if he just said he didn’t want to answer at all.

I almost let out a sigh, but managed to hold it in.

‘It doesn’t really matter anyway.’

What did it matter to me where he went, or even if he disappeared entirely?

Yeah, it’d probably be better if he just vanished, so why bother paying attention?

“Tsk.”

I clicked my tongue and started moving.

As I did, the Heavenly Demon quietly followed behind me. I thought about telling him to go away, but decided to ignore him instead.

I looked up at the sky.

The scarlet sky still felt alien. Also…

‘Hmmm…’

Looking at the sun, I was trying to determine if it was noon or not, but something felt off.

‘Something’s weird about the time.’

From my sense of time, noon should have passed a while ago, and the sun should have already begun to set, but it was still bright and sunny.

‘Is it an illusion?’

Maybe it felt like time was moving slowly, but somehow, that didn’t feel right.

‘A day here is different from the Central Plains.’

That seemed to be the correct perspective.

But then, how could that even happen…? But then again…

‘The very essence of time is different, so what does it matter to focus on that?’

With so many troubles unfolding, it wasn’t the time for me to be delving into the details.

– Ki!

– Ki-Ki!

The sounds of training that had been echoing since morning were still ongoing.

Even after all this time, their enthusiasm hadn’t faded.

As I glanced over, my steps continued onward.

‘Martial Artists, huh.’

They wielded wooden swords, exuding intense momentum. Though their appearances differed, their forms were that of true martial artists.

Beings from another world.

Yet they practiced martial arts from the Central Plains.

That strange sense of incongruity was indescribable.

Was it an issue of prejudice? Or was it…

‘Is it unacceptability?’

I scratched my neck.

An incomprehensible emotion brushed past me. I tried to quicken my pace, pushing those thoughts aside.

“Nice to meet you.”

Someone appeared before me, blocking my path.

I wasn’t particularly startled. After all, I knew she was watching me.

“Yes.”

Though I answered shortly, she didn’t erase the smile from her face.

My gaze instinctively went to her ears.

She was like Gu Bong. Indeed, a person with beast ears and a tail.

The difference was that he looked more canine, while she seemed closer to a feline.

Observing her, I asked, “Who are you?”

“I’m Seol-Young, the first disciple training the current Three Great Disciples.”

Another first disciple, huh.

I unconsciously narrowed my eyes. It was probably due to my previous encounter when I had laid a beating on Gu Bong.

Seeing that, Seol-Young hurriedly waved her hands.

“Oh, don’t worry! I’m nothing like that silly Gu Bong!”

It seemed she knew about my past encounter.

“Prodigies tend to be jealous and a bit clueless, but I expected that guy to get into trouble!”

Her repeated nods made me almost smile.

She undoubtedly had her share of past troubles.

“Fooling around is one thing… If he just lies down like that, I have to do all the cleaning up afterward.”

“Should I apologize?”

“Ah, I wasn’t talking about you. Just that fool’s so exasperating. Wondering if he needs to live like this.”

Her expression was full of genuine frustration.

Seeing that, it seemed she wasn’t here to pick a fight with me.

“So what’s your business here? If it’s nothing to pick a fight about, I’m guessing you have something to say.”

If she wasn’t here to challenge me, I assumed she had some kind of request.

As I pressed for a point, Seol-Young’s eyes widened slightly.

“I heard the story, and it’s definitely true.”

“What story?”

“Old man Do Dong mentioned you resembled the sect leader.”

“…which miserable person said that?”

Who was bold enough to say something so reckless?

I’m definitely going to drag them over and break their limbs.

“Uh… It’s the gatekeeper at the Holy Hall. Don’t you remember?”

“Ah.”

Is she talking about that small old man? I recalled his features.

His name was Do Dong, huh.

‘Wait until I see him again.’

I wouldn’t let it slide so easily.

“Haha…”

As I reacted, Seol-Young seemed to realize something was off and forced a laugh.

Seeing her, I frowned. There was no way I could maintain a composed face after what I just heard.

“So what do you want?”

I couldn’t help but speak a bit more brusquely.

I had already possessed little charm, and now, my patience was worn thin.

“Ah… It’s nothing serious; I heard you lightly defeated Gu Bong.”

“Yeah. Why? Should I fight you next?”

“Eh? No? I don’t like to fight!”

“…”

Why did she say ‘I’ instead? Was Gu Bong that fool fond of getting beaten?

That was information I really didn’t want to know.

“Then what…”

“Ah, it’s just that.”

Seol-Young cautiously broached the subject with me.

“I was training our disciples, and… Well, I thought it could be refreshing, a different experience for them.”

“And?”

“Since they’ve only been training here every day, I thought you could show these kids a fresh perspective on the world…”

Now that I had listened, I understood what she was asking.

So essentially—

“You want me to be a spectacle in front of the disciples?”

“Rather than a spectacle, something like a martial arts demonstration…?”

“Not a chance.”

I immediately brushed past Seol-Young. I was already too swamped as it was; why would I engage in such nonsense?

“Ah! Wait!”

Seol-Young followed right after me.

“Still, for the budding seedlings, could you please just give it a shot?”

“Absolutely not.”

“No, but… What if you just showed a bit of generosity?”

“My generosity is not wide. It’s narrow, and then some.”

“Hey! You only think that because you think it’s narrow! You could easily widen it if you wanted!”

“…”

I halted and turned back to glare at Seol-Young.

“Ugh.”

Seol-Young flinched at my expression.

My face must’ve been full of vexation.

“Why are you pestering me? I said I don’t want to do it.”

“Hahaha…”

“Am I that easygoing? I rarely get told I have a good character!”

“Yeah. You definitely seem that way.”

“What?”

“No, just joking. Hahaha…”

What the hell is with her?

This was a type of attitude I’d rarely encountered.

After all, at this point, she should have been zipping off, but she was pretty persistent. Ugh, what to do?

‘Should I hit her?’

Should I just smack her to send her off? The thought flitted through my mind.

“I don’t like to fight.”

Seol-Young said this like an apparition.

“…You can read minds?”

“No, I’m just guessing… was I right?”

“You’re quite sharp.”

“Thanks for the compliment. I do hear it pretty often.”

“But, if you keep pushing me like this, I can show you how I handle things?”

“…”

Seol-Young took a cautious step back.

Just as expected, she was as perceptive as she claimed.

But looking at her, I could tell she was not someone likely to drop this easily.

That being said, I surely couldn’t resort to violence, so I let out a sigh and chose another route.

“No matter how urgent your request, it’s not like you can order me around. You need to get permission.”

“Permission?”

“Yeah. If you go to that old man you call the sect leader and get a green light from him, maybe I’ll think about it.”

“Ah, I’ve already got that covered.”

“…What?”

I frowned.

What did she say?

“I just got approval from him.”

“Yeah? The crazy old man said what?”

“He said to let you do as you please.”

“…”

I instinctively rubbed my temples.

That was utterly insane.

What kind of permission was that? I couldn’t help but express my confusion.

“…Are you kidding me?”

Was he just saying that casually? But after questioning, Seol-Young explained a bit more.

“Well, he mentioned that you should just get out here and do something instead of sleeping, taking up space, and wasting food.”

“…”

That was evidently the words of a divine man named Shin Noya.

“Haaaa…”

A sigh escaped me.

With all that was weighing on me, I was already hustling to figure out a way to return to the Central Plains, and now, suddenly what? “Go help out with the disciples’ training”?

‘Is he sober?’

Telling me not to go out while he disappears comfortably, and yet giving me such tedious tasks?

“…That old man really.”

My temper flared up. I thought about flipping the table and storming off.

Just as I had those thoughts,

“Ah.”

A new thought crossed my mind.

“Excuse me?”

“Let’s go.”

“Huh?”

“I said let’s go. I’ll do it.”

“Suddenly?!”

Seol-Young looked bewildered at my abrupt consent.

But I was being serious.

In fact, I was slightly amused, which made her eyes twitch nervously.

“This should be fun. Let’s see how it goes.”

“…What…?”

Though Seol-Young’s reactions kept getting weirder, I was dead serious.

‘Oh, they’re doomed.’

How audacious of them to ask something like that? The heat slowly began to engulf my body.

As I had told Seol-Young earlier.

‘I will make them regret this.’

My patience was incredibly low and remarkably petty.

*

Following Seol-Young, we arrived at the place where training shouts had echoed since morning till evening.

“Instructor!”

As soon as Seol-Young appeared, those swinging wooden swords halted and approached us, their faces lit up with brightness.

“Have you all eaten lunch?”

“Yes!”

The response was vigorous.

They varied greatly in age.

Some looked in their early teens, while others seemed just over the age of twenty.

Seol-Young smiled at them before shifting her gaze in my direction.

“Everyone, greet our special guest from the sect leader.”

“Nice to meet you!”

Their outfits appeared strikingly similar to martial robes from the Hwasan Sect of the Central Plains.

‘Did they make something to match those?’

It seemed like Shin Noya had not forgotten his legacy.

What on earth did he even manage to create?

‘…Has he spent over a hundred years honing it?’

I was slightly concerned, but it seemed that was unnecessary.

I scanned each of the Three Great Disciples before turning to Seol-Young.

“Um, Seol… Seol Young?”

I stumbled over how to address her, causing Seol-Young to giggle slightly.

“You can just call me Seol-Young. The sect leader has referred to me like that as well.”

“Alright, Seol-Young.”

“Not that I meant for you to drop all formalities…”

“The instructor requested that I show a few tricks to help with training.”

I prepared to brush aside Seol-Young’s words and moved forward.

I glanced back to see where the Heavenly Demon had gone. She was now crouched under the nearby tree’s shade.

Confirming that, I turned back to the disciples.

And then…

Flame Burst.

I enveloped my hand in the blue flame.

“Wow…”

“Oh…”

As it wrapped around my body, the fire steadily spread.

Their reactions brightened as sparks fanned throughout my body.

“Wow…”

The same awe filled Seol-Young. She too seemed entranced by my flames.

They were experiencing something they’d never seen before.

To me, however, their forms were far more fascinating.

Observing their reactions, I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“What I can show you is along these lines.”

If I made an effort, I could make it even more flamboyant, but I refrained from bringing that up.

Suddenly, the flame winked out.

Their eyes filled with disappointment at its disappearance.

They clearly craved more, but I mentally thought,

‘Don’t worry, I’ll show you plenty soon.’

I flicked my hand as if brushing dust off my chest to redirect their attention.

“However, rather than just showing you such tricks, I think we should focus on something more practical.”

“Practical?”

She asked, and I responded with a grin, “Yes. If it’s training, wouldn’t it be better to let you experience it first-hand?”

“Eh…? What do you mean…?”

“How about a spar with me?”

“Excuse me?!”

Just as Seol-Young looked flustered,

“Ha…”

A sound of suppressed laughter rang out from somewhere. Turning my head, it seemed to be a particularly burly lad among the group.

As our eyes met, he wore a face suggesting something displeasing.

Just as I thought.

‘As expected.’

No matter how world views differ, there’s always that type of person, and I was hoping for one such fellow to appear.

I questioned him.

“Why are you laughing?”

As I pinpointed my inquiry, he seemed momentarily taken aback.

Yet, appearing to have some pride, he broke away from his group and strolled over.

As he approached, his frame appeared even larger. He surpassed my father and Elder Lee in height.

He almost looked like a bear… a bear?

‘Now that I think about it, his ears…’

They bore a striking resemblance to those of a bear.

“Hey! Brother…!”

“That guy’s starting again!”

As he stepped forward, exclamations sprang from the Three Great Disciples.

He evidently had quite the fiery temperament.

Nevertheless,

“I apologize.”

He unexpectedly offered an apology as he approached me.

Was he failing?

I pondered as slight disappointment crept over me.

“Though you’re a guest, your words raised suspicions.”

“Suspicious? What do you mean?”

“Seeing no signs that you qualify to spar.”

“Oh.”

I was taken aback. This fellow was bold enough to speak his mind openly.

“Do-Woong! You…!”

Seol-Young exclaimed in alarm while trying to intervene. But I raised a hand to halt her.

It seemed that most of these kids were unaware of how I had decimated Gu Bong.

If they did know, they wouldn’t dare speak so carelessly.

Grinning broadly, I turned to the guy named Do-Woong and inquired, “You think I look unqualified?”

“Honestly, I don’t see how.”

His gaze scanned me up and down.

“I don’t believe much faith can be placed in you.”

“Hmmm.”

Though his words hinted at my roughness, I still appeared youthful.

Once, in my past, I had often been subjected to such treatment. Each time, it felt refreshing and entertaining.

‘Though I did consciously conceal my aura somewhat.’

That was irrelevant; it wouldn’t concern him.

“So, what you’re saying is, you think I’m too weak to be a teacher?”

“Not quite that severe, but…”

“Just sit there and wait to be blasted with fire, is that it?”

“Well, I didn’t necessarily…”

“Alright. So, nothing major here.”

I flicked my wrist slightly, producing a loud thud.

“Excuse me… just wait a second…”

As the situation turned oddly, Seol-Young flustered approached me.

I turned to face her, saying, “The sect leader gave his word. He said to earn your keep. So I guess I’m doing that, so keep silent.”

“But…”

“Don’t worry; nothing will happen.”

“…”

After taking a dry swallow, Seol-Young stepped back.

“Qualifying? Hmmm… what can I do to showcase that?”

I mulled it over before addressing Do-Woong again.

“Great! How about we make a bet?”

“…A bet?”

“Let’s say if you manage to touch my clothing just once… I’ll get that old man you call the sect leader to grant you one wish.”

“…!”

Do-Woong’s eyes widened.

After I mentioned Shin Noya’s name, the others’ gazes all shifted, as if viewing something unexpectedly monumental.

It seemed the old man’s reputation pre-emptively struck a chord here.

“Well, what do you say?”

“…Do you really believe you can achieve that?”

“Oh please. Why bother thinking about it so quickly?”

I waved his doubts away.

“I should only start worrying when we actually engage. That won’t happen at all.”

“…!”

I had ruffled his pride, and his expression contorted displeasedly.

Seeing that face, I prodded further, “Will you take that on?”

He didn’t respond to my question. Instead, he assumed posture for battle.

“I’m Do-Woong, of the Three Great Disciples of the Hwasan Sect.”

The aura that he had previously exuded disappeared, replaced by a much formal presence.

I gazed at him curiously, sensing the conviction of Noya’s teachings within his posture.

“I’m Gu Yangcheong of Mount Shan.”

And so this time, I reciprocated respectfully.

Once the formalities concluded, Do-Woong immediately positioned his sword to strike.

“Don’t you dare regret it.”

Do-Woong’s demeanor shifted as the other disciples cautiously edged back.

I remained stationary, inspecting his build.

Solid muscle.

The moment he assumed stance, his muscles sprang into action. His lower body was especially sturdy, and if I compared it, he could be on par with Tang Deok.

‘This guy’s a notch above the standard of the Three Great Disciples.’

The warriors of the Central Plains typically stood at or around second-rate levels, top-tier being all that high.

Even when I first saw them, aside from Yeongpung, they all seemed unremarkable.

‘Yet here, they seem significantly stronger.’

This felt undoubtedly different from what I had experienced with Gu Bong.

‘Is it due to the teachings of Noya? Or perhaps…’

Was it merely their different breed altogether?

I relaxed my fingers slightly.

“Prepare yourself.”

Do-Woong met my gaze.

Taking in my smile, he remarked, “Get ready.”

Yet I decided to offer some parting words before our bout began.

“Oh, and just a heads-up.”

Do-Woong paused for a moment.

“Yesterday, someone was overly careless and got dealt with rather roughly; so come at me with seriousness. Recognize the situation.”

“…”

Dude grimaced but offered no further reply. Instead, he simply gripped his sword’s hilt tighter.

I turned my attention back to Seol-Young.

Her reaction displayed an unspoken desire, and sensing this, Seol-Young urgently exclaimed.

“Oh! Uh… Let’s begin!”

Her hand raised up.

“Start!”

With a flick of her delicate fingers toward the floor.

Kwoosh!

Just then, as Do-Woong attempted to draw his sword from the sheath—

Thunk!

“…Huh?”

For some reason, the sword blade failed to free itself. Its movement halted as though it were snagged.

What was going on?

Do-Woong’s expression morphed into one of profound surprise.

“I told you.”

“…!”

He quickly looked up.

In that instant, my form had already arrived directly before him.

I pressed down firmly on the hilt of his sword, ensuring he wouldn’t draw it.

At that moment—

Thud!

I struck his knee, causing his upper body to buckle forward.

“See? No need to worry!”

As his face crumbled before me, I threw a fist straight into him.

BAM!

With a resounding impact, he tumbled to the ground.

Thud. He collapsed weakly against the floor.

Though I evaded, a cloud of dust billowed upwards.

Thus, the spar came to an abrupt end.

“…”

“…Huh?”

Those watching had blank expressions.

It seemed they were unable to comprehend what had unfolded.

An uncomfortable silence loomed.

Amidst that stillness,

“…”

Seol-Young gazed at me in shock.

-You said nothing would happen.

Her eyes, now considerably round, bore the message that it was all over.

Awestruck, I simply answered her expression with:

-You really thought I was going to trust that?

“…No!”

“Okay.”

Ignoring her rising tension, I shifted my focus to the remaining Three Great Disciples.

“Next.”

Of course, none dared to step forward.

Ah, but…

There was no way I’d leave quietly if they didn’t make an attempt.

 

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