Chapter 166 : Chapter 166
Chapter 166 - Will it be able to reach?
“Hooooo…….”
Hot steam leaked from the mouth and ears of the man sitting in the lotus position.
It wasn't a season cold enough for breath to turn white.
This was a unique reaction that occurred after consuming a rare elixir.
“Hoo……”
The man continued to take deep breaths, as if struggling to manage the energy within his body.
A young, robust body that appeared to be in his early twenties.
And valiant-looking eyes with a chiseled jaw.
Although his proportions were slightly off due to his large head, he had an overall reliable appearance.
Flash.
The man’s eyelids, which had been closed all along, shot open towards the sky.
His eyes were a mixture of deep emotion and agitation.
“……Have you mastered it?”
A haggard voice came from behind the man, who was trembling slightly.
The man suddenly shot up and prostrated himself before the old man sitting behind him.
“Thank you for your grace, Elder!”
The agitation contained in his pupils was fully expressed in his voice.
The old man looked extremely weary, but on the other hand, he seemed immensely satisfied.
“With this, your internal energy will have no rival among your peers. The future of the True Dragon Sect will change depending on the path you walk from now on.”
The man continued to tremble with his face pressed to the floor.
A third-generation disciple of the True Dragon Sect.
Hanjin, the One Heart, One Path chosen by Mayeon.
He had no idea how he could ever repay this grace.
A man with a sturdy build spoke to the prostrated man from the side.
“Are you not in any particular pain?”
It was the second-generation disciple of the True Dragon Sect, Daebyeong.
His expression was similar to Mayeon’s, yet had one different aspect.
If one side of his face held satisfaction, the other was filled with envy.
Was it because of the Great Dragon Supplement Pill that Hanjin had just taken?
That was part of it, of course, but the bigger reason lay with the utterly exhausted old man.
It was because this old man, who suddenly looked ten years older, had just shared his own internal energy with Hanjin.
“I feel better than ever. However, Elder Mayeon……”
As Hanjin made a worried expression, Mayeon waved his hand dismissively.
“It’s not as if I transferred all of it. I will be fine soon if I continue to practice my internal energy technique.”
However, contrary to Mayeon’s words, it seemed it would take a very long time for his haggard appearance to return to normal.
Perhaps, he might never return to normal.
“I will be sure to live up to the expectations of the Elder and my Master.”
One could tell just by looking at his brightly shining eyes.
Hanjin had perfectly absorbed the Great Dragon Supplement Pill without leaving a single speck behind.
He could say with certainty that there would be a difference of more than double between him and his two peers who had taken the Great Dragon Supplement Pill at the same time.
“Cough. Cough.”
Hanjin quickly supported Elder Mayeon as he struggled to get up.
The reason Hanjin was able to master the Great Dragon Supplement Pill was entirely thanks to Mayeon.
He had sold his present as an elder of the True Dragon Eight Swords to buy Hanjin’s future ahead of time.
For the time being, he would be in a state worse than even a second-generation disciple, let alone one of the True Dragon Eight Swords, but seeing the grown Hanjin, he had no regrets.
“Seeing you makes my heart race. Will you show me?”
“Yes? What do you mean……”
“Spar with Daebyeong here.”
“!”
Hanjin looked back and forth between Mayeon and Daebyeong in surprise.
Daebyeong smiled awkwardly and slowly created some distance.
“Well. Do you think I came here for no reason?”
“Master. How can I……”
“Don’t say that. I was also a disciple of One Heart, One Path, but I was just a half-wit who couldn’t obtain the Great Dragon Supplement Pill. Take this opportunity to grant me the joy of seeing the student surpass the master.”
In the past, during his time as a third-generation disciple, Daebyeong had not ranked within the top three in the final rankings.
He had to watch from a distance as the three promising talents received the Great Dragon Supplement Pill.
Of course, valuable elixirs and privileges continued to be provided after that, but there was an enormous difference between having taken the Great Dragon Supplement Pill and not.
‘The pain of my generation must end here.’
Before him was a promising talent who had received not only the Great Dragon Supplement Pill but also Elder Mayeon’s internal energy.
Memories of searching all over Yunnan, not to mention Guangxi Province, to find a talented child flashed by like a revolving lantern.
Among them was the reckless fool he had met at the Yi Family Clan.
A man in his late teens who had given him unforgettable humiliation and frustration.
Daebyeong, pointing his sword at Hanjin, sincerely wished.
‘Please, defeat me.’
Only then would he gain the hope that they could seize victory against the Diancang Sect.
“Tahat!”
Daebyeong’s sword aura and movements.
Seeing them, Hanjin could immediately grasp it.
That his master was giving his all.
“!”
Hanjin moved his sword with a determined gaze.
The tip of the sword, which was heading towards the approaching opponent, slowly began to shake.
Sreureu…….
“!”
Daebyeong and Mayeon’s eyes widened simultaneously.
The Heavenly Roaming Dragon Sword, permitted only to the chosen third-generation disciples.
It was because the Wind and Cloud Dragon Sword, which could be called the superior martial art to that swordsmanship, had manifested.
Tadang!
The swords of Daebyeong and Hanjin intertwined, sending sparks flying everywhere.
There were no thick, enveloping clouds like the ones Elder Yubeop used with his Wind and Cloud Dragon Sword.
However, Hanjin’s dense clouds certainly disoriented Daebyeong’s vision, and in just a few seconds, Daebyeong lost his grip on the sword he was holding.
Ddalgeurak.
Swordsmanship and internal energy.
It was Hanjin’s overwhelming victory in both.
“Impressive……”
Pride was deeply etched on Elder Mayeon’s face.
Just because one’s internal energy increased didn't mean a swordsmanship one didn't have would suddenly appear.
Hanjin had not been satisfied with the Heavenly Roaming Dragon Sword and had been establishing the martial studies of the Wind and Cloud Dragon Sword whenever he had time.
That was precisely what Elder Mayeon was praising.
The defeated Daebyeong, as if he had the same thought, hugged Hanjin’s body tightly.
‘……Now I have done all I can.’
Perhaps he had dedicated more than he should have.
However, for the True Dragon Sect, which had become a laughingstock of the world, to turn the atmosphere around, they needed an overwhelmingly strong next-generation disciple.
If Hanjin performed well in the martial arts tournament, the True Dragon Sect could restore its honor, and furthermore, he would have raised the True Dragon’s number one sword with his own hands.
‘Will it be able to reach him?’
A handsome and dignified man, as if etched in Mayeon’s mind, came to mind.
Whether the current Hanjin could defeat that man, only the heavens would know.
***
On the day the swordsmen who were to participate in the martial arts tournament left Diancang Mountain.
There was someone who visited the Sect Leader’s residence late at night.
“Sect Leader. Are you there?”
“Come in.”
The person who appeared holding a gourd bottle full of wine was Hyeokri Chong.
“It seems you are lonely with the children gone, Sect Leader. Still drinking.”
“Hoh hoh hoh. It is a scene you can see every day if you come at this time.”
“Is that so.”
Although Hyeokri Chong was famous for his usually rough speech, he was an exception in front of the Sect Leader.
It was a kind of courtesy towards the previous Sect Leader who had saved his life.
Jjororok.
Hyeokri Chong, who had poured wine into Jeokseo’s cup, cautiously broached a subject.
“Actually, there is something I wanted to ask you, Sect Leader.”
“Please speak.”
“Sect Leader, what do you think of the children who are participating this time?”
At that, Jeokseo gave a mischievous smile.
“Could it be that Hong-ah put you up to this?”
“Put me up to what? That’s absurd.”
Hyeokri Chong’s face turned red even though he hadn't drunk any wine.
It seemed he didn't want to be misunderstood as running an errand for his granddaughter.
“Hong-ah was not eligible from the start. What I am curious about, however, is the reason for taking a child who cannot even properly extend a sword.”
“Hoh hoh hoh.”
Jeokseo brought the cup to his lips without any particular answer.
A swordsman who couldn't even properly extend a sword.
It was an extremely shameful expression for a martial artist.
But surprisingly, there was no exaggeration in Hyeokri Chong’s expression.
Because the child in question was still choosing to flee instead of fighting.
Hyeokri Chong opened his mouth again with a dumbfounded face.
“My goodness, is there any other swordsman besides him who has realized the Vast Sky Eagle Body Method by just running away? It’s so absurd and ridiculous that people on the streets wouldn’t believe it.”
As Hyeokri Chong said, Solbo was the first among the next-generation disciples to master the Vast Sky Eagle Body Method.
Although his level was only at the first stage, the fact that he had learned the Diancang Sect’s advanced martial art first was highly significant.
His age was also just in his early twenties.
It was because he was surrounded by such formidable promising talents, but elsewhere, he was a child who would be called a genius.
The problem was that he only used that talent of his for running away.
“I would at least understand if you threw him onto a battlefield. They say when one is cornered with no way out, they will finally extend a sword, right?”
“Hoh hoh. As far as I know, that is correct.”
“But it’s a different story in a duel. There is an escape route called forfeiting. I heard that he also forfeited to Biyoung in Simao in the past.”
“Thanks to that, he was able to avoid being beaten to a pulp like the other next-generation disciples.”
“Sect Leader……!”
Hyeokri Chong did not welcome Jeokseo’s joke.
A swordsman who only widens his big eyes and goes ‘Heek!’ whenever he gets a chance is participating in a martial arts tournament.
Most likely, Solbo will just run away and choose to forfeit in this martial arts tournament as well.
Even if the Diancang Sect’s next-generation disciples achieve brilliant results, that achievement could be overshadowed by laughter.
He would rather go deaf than hear such stories.
“Lord Hyeokri’s words are correct.”
Jeokseo filled his own cup and continued in a calm tone.
“Gajin…… Danseol…… Uma…… these children……. The children who grew up in Simao have now become martial artists who can be sent anywhere without worry. Even Lord Hyeokri’s granddaughter, Hyeokri Hong.”
“………….”
“So now, isn’t it time for him to break out of his shell as well? Even if it’s by force.”
By force.
Hyeokri Chong felt a strange sense of dissonance with that expression.
Calling taking him to a duel ‘by force’ was far from enough.
Because there was always room to give up during a match.
When Hyeokri Chong couldn't quite grasp it, Jeokseo hinted at a clue.
“Hoh hoh hoh. Biyoung requested a special medicine, didn't he? I understand it is related to the Phantasmal Confusion Forest.”
“Yes…… he insisted on crossing that place and asked me……”
Hyeokri Chong, who was answering without thinking, quickly shut his mouth.
Did something click?
Knowing it was rude, Hyeokri Chong stared intently at Jeokseo’s face.
“Sect Leader. Then that Biyoung fellow is……?”
“Hoh hoh.”
Jeokseo emptied his cup at once with a pleasant laugh.
It was a clear sign of affirmation for anyone to see.
***
The journey to Mount Song was much more peaceful than expected.
In the past, when he had crossed the Guizhou province along the Yangtze River like this, his heart had been filled with a desire for revenge.
He had entered Hunan Province along this road and fought against the Ghost Face Gang in the Changsha region.
And the Diancang Sect was able to right its collapsed past.
“Damn it. What’s with all these people……”
However, that peaceful expedition was brutally shattered upon entering Xi'an in Shaanxi Province.
“There are so many!”
Uma burst out with a complaint, his face contorted.
It felt like he was seeing all the people he would encounter in a year in just one day.
The narrow streets were so packed with people that there was no room to set foot, and those who bumped into him inevitably made unpleasant faces.
“Aigoo. Why does he look so filthy?”
“Tsk. My luck is bad today.”
“Hey, check your wallet. Your wallet.”
It even reached the point where someone suspected Uma of being a pickpocket based on his appearance.
“Kekeke. Senior Brother Uma shouldn't even go near places like Luoyang.”
“Shut that mouth.”
Uma glared at Biyoung with dagger-like eyes, and Eung Gajin also cleared his throat and rebuked Biyoung.
“You brat. Why do you judge a person only by their appearance? No matter how much Uma’s appearance is filthier than a river filled with filth, you still shouldn’t do that.”
“………….”
Uma looked at Eung Gajin’s face with a dumbfounded expression.
“Are you saying that as a consolation right now?”
“Keum. Keoheom.”
As Eung Gajin was trying to avoid his gaze, a welcome sign came into his view.
“Oh. The biggest inn in Xi'an is over there. Let’s hurry before it’s full.”
“No. Don’t change the subject.”
Eung Gajin hurriedly quickened his pace, and Uma with dagger-like eyes followed him.
“Then the three of you go ahead and get a room. I have something to do with Junior Sister Jeong.”
Solbo, who was following at the very back, asked with wide eyes.
“We just arrived in Xi'an, what business could you have?”
“This.”
Biyoung made a circle with his thumb and index finger.
It was the shape of Biyoung’s favorite thing.