Record of the Dragon-Slayer’s Return

Cheonho had never learned martial arts systematically.

Naturally, he lacked both knowledge and experience.

Therefore, he couldn't even imagine modifying another person's martial arts to suit himself.

In truth, it wasn't something that could be done just by having a lot of knowledge or experience.

In the end, Cheonho chose the simplest option.

"I have no choice but to try with the Six Harmonies Fist..."

That was all he had.

He couldn't steal what belonged to others, and creating his own was even more impossible.

He had to solve it somehow with the Six Harmonies Fist.

"First, the Pine Wind Sword Art."

Cheonho went over the moves of the Pine Wind Sword Art he had memorized one by one, devising a way to break it.

Of course, it was not an easy task.

Although the Pine Wind Sword Art could not be considered a superior sword art, its moves were incomparably more elaborate than the Six Harmonies Fist.

Some moves could be countered with the Six Harmonies Fist, but a considerable number of moves could not, so no solution emerged. He was blocked from the very beginning.

"Groan."

Cheonho let out a pained sound. It was too difficult. But there was no sign of giving up. This much was expected from the start.

"First, the easy ones."

Knowing and moving were separate issues.

His hands had to move naturally without conscious thought.

In the end, it was a matter of repetition.

He didn't even think of wiping away the sweat that flowed down. He felt that good.

Although it was just a disjointed breaking method, it felt like he was training in proper martial arts for the first time.

And because he had made it himself, it was even more precious.

"Hmm..."

However, that did not last long.

Since there were only a few moves to begin with, it ended in the blink of an eye.

Another tedious period of contemplation followed. It was still dark.

While continuing to ponder the Pine Wind Sword Art, Cheonho did not stop training his body.

It was because he knew that no matter how good a sword he had, it was useless if his body didn't move.

So that day too, he left the cave before the sun rose.

But on that particular day, a heavy rain poured down.

Rumble! Crash!

Whoosh!

As if a hole had been punched in the sky, thick raindrops blurred his vision.

Frowning for a moment, Cheonho eventually sighed and stepped into the downpour.

This too was part of his training.

Fights didn't always proceed neatly.

He had to be prepared for any situation.

Splash! Splash!

Water rose up to his ankles.

Naturally, his body was bound to be duller than usual.

Before long, his body became as heavy as a thousand catties, and his breathing became rapid. Cheonho's face contorted.

"This is annoying. I won't be able to fight properly like this..."

The rain was so strong that his stamina consumption was several times that of usual. Even though it was a short time, his movements became sluggish like a water-soaked cotton ball.

"I feel like I've fallen into a swamp."

That's right. This was a swamp.

Once you fall in, the more you struggle to get out, the tighter it holds you.

No matter how strong you are, you can't escape a swamp.

At that moment, as if a thought had struck him, Cheonho's eyes sparkled.

"A swamp?"

In an instant, a streak of light flashed and brushed past his mind.

"Yes! A swamp!"

It was the first time Cheonho had smiled brightly since setting foot on Green Willow Mountain.

***

Zhuge Guk had a headache. He pressed his temples as he walked.

If it was moderate, he could at least think of covering it up, but the trouble caused was too great. The matter was too serious to be covered up rashly.

"To think he would beat up all one hundred Dragon and Phoenix Inn students."

It wasn't just any hundred Dragon and Phoenix Inn students.

It was a formidable force mixed with a considerable number of rising stars from the Nine Sects One Gang and the Five Great Families.

But he had beaten them all up. He couldn't believe it even after seeing it with his own two eyes.

The matter was so big that while searching for a solution, he had even intentionally ignored the fact that Zhuge Yeon had been shocked during the mid-term examination.

"How do I solve this..."

It was really difficult. No matter how much he racked his brain, he couldn't think of a suitable way to protect Moyong Gi.

There was a high possibility that the remaining sects, excluding Wudang, the Beggars' Sect, and the observing Kunlun and Emei, would band together and aim only for Moyong Gi.

If he were in the opposite position, Zhuge Guk himself would have done the same. The difference in power was too great.

"There's also a possibility that the Alliance Leader will turn his back..."

The reason Jinsan had lent his strength was because he thought Moyong Gi would be useful.

Although that judgment was not wrong, he would never have imagined that he would make so many enemies.

If the situation worsened, Jinsan was a man who would abandon even his own disciple.

"Considering Yeon, it's right to protect that child..."

Although his martial arts were not high, Zhuge Guk was quick-witted.

Although Zhuge Yeon had not been able to show her skills properly, she had easily subdued Eon Juhye, and afterwards, no one had even touched Zhuge Yeon's collar.

Although she couldn't show the divine presence of Myung Jin or So Moogyeol, he had an inner expectation that she would be at least at the level of Woonhyun or Cheon Youngyoung.

This was a tremendous growth. And he also knew that it was Moyong Gi who had led that growth.

A fortuitous encounter had happened to Zhuge Yeon. It was right to protect him unconditionally.

Yet, he hesitated.

"The situation is too dangerous."

It was a problem that could lead to the isolation of the Zhuge family if handled incorrectly.

Not to mention Wudang or the Beggars' Sect, Kunlun and Emei were also not to be taken lightly.

Other orthodox sects, while looking down on them, could not touch them carelessly.

But the Zhuge family was different. It was perfect for being torn to shreds. It was a really difficult problem.

Zhuge Guk suddenly stopped walking and raised his gaze. And then, sighing, he lamented.

"Surrounded on all sides..."

At that moment, someone tapped Zhuge Guk's shoulder.

"What are you doing here?"

It was Hong Sochen. Chunghuh was next to him.

Zhuge Guk quickly cupped his hands.

"Greetings, Sect Leader, True Man Chunghuh."

"We meet again here."

Chunghuh smiled and cupped his hands.

Hong Sochen looked at Zhuge Guk with a sullen expression.

"Forget the greetings, I asked what you were doing."

Chunghuh nudged Hong Sochen.

"What's with your manner of speaking to the strategist?"

"What about me? Did I say something I shouldn't have?"

Chunghuh's face contorted. And then, just as he was about to chide Hong Sochen, Zhuge Guk quickly intervened.

"I'm fine. I know well that Sect Leader Hong doesn't have any ill intentions towards me. You don't have to worry."

Hong Sochen grinned and looked at Chunghuh.

"See? He said he's fine."

Chunghuh clicked his tongue at Hong Sochen's childish behavior.

"How is it that you don't mature even after getting old?"

"Is that important? There are many who can't act their age even after getting old."

"Still..."

"Ah, forget it. Before you blame me, do something about that nagging of yours. I thought your face had relaxed a bit, but the nagging is still the same."

Hong Sochen huffed and turned his head away. And then he looked at Zhuge Guk again.

"What are you doing? I asked what you were doing."

"Ah... I was just thinking because I had something to worry about."

Hong Sochen knew what Zhuge Guk's worries were.

It would be the same as his own worries. So he was about to speak, but Zhuge Guk beat him to it.

"I was worried about what to do because it seems Yeon was shocked."

At Zhuge Guk's words, Hong Sochen's face contorted.

It was because it wasn't what Hong Sochen had wanted to hear.

"Good grief, are all the guys from the Five Great Families like this."

He was wary, wary, and wary again. He rarely revealed his inner thoughts. It would be convenient if they just matched their words with some tact, but he was dissatisfied with the fact that they confirmed until the very end. So his face contorted without him realizing it.

As Hong Sochen had a displeased face, Zhuge Guk had a troubled expression. Chunghuh clicked his tongue and intervened.

"Tsk. What are you saying that for? It's making the strategist uncomfortable."

"You can see that the strategist is uncomfortable, but you can't see that I'm uncomfortable?"

"No, what I mean is..."

"Forget it, forget it. It'll just hurt my mouth to say more. By the way, Strategist."

Hong Sochen, who was grumbling with a still contorted face, called, and Zhuge Guk quickly answered.

"Yes, Sect Leader."

"Since we're on the topic, why is that girl like that? Didn't you teach her properly at home?"

It was about Zhuge Yeon. Although the answer was difficult, he opened his mouth with difficulty and made an excuse.

"Ah, that's... since she's a girl, we focused more on teaching her other things than martial arts. I think we were a little negligent in martial arts."

At Zhuge Guk's answer, Hong Sochen sighed long with a regretful face.

"Haa... the Zhuge family has ruined a prodigy."

Zhuge Guk looked at Hong Sochen with a puzzled expression. Chunghuh, whose curiosity was piqued by the word 'prodigy', asked for him.

"What do you mean by that?"

"What do you mean, what do I mean. It's just as I said. The Zhuge family has ruined a prodigy."

"No, I mean, explain it in a little more detail. Don't just say things out of the blue."

"What is there to say? It's just as I said."

Chunghuh's face contorted.

At that, Zhuge Guk narrowed his eyes and asked.

"By any chance, is that prodigy... Yeon?"

"Then who would I be talking about? Are there any other children of the Zhuge family in the Dragon and Phoenix Inn besides that girl?"

As Hong Sochen agreed that his words were correct, Zhuge Guk had a dazed expression.

'Did Yeon have enough talent to be called a prodigy?'

Although martial arts was not the main focus of the Zhuge family, they had paid more attention to it than he thought.

It was a natural thing for a martial family with enemies in the martial world.

Especially for a great family like the Zhuge family, it was unlikely that they would miss a prodigy to the extent that Hong Sochen would admire. So he was puzzled.

That was the same for Chunghuh.

"Oh... did that child have that much talent?"

"You haven't seen her properly, have you? Since she was like that in the mid-term examination... but you didn't know either, Strategist?"

Hong Sochen looked at Zhuge Guk. Zhuge Guk could not easily open his mouth. Hong Sochen, who had confirmed Zhuge Guk's hesitant expression, clicked his tongue.

"Well... if you had been able to recognize it, you wouldn't have just left her like that. It's a pity in many ways."

Zhuge Guk's eyes narrowed. However, he soon used his head and opened his mouth with a serious face.

"Sect Leader Hong. In your eyes, does our Yeon really have a talent for martial arts?"

"Do I look like an old man who eats expensive food and spouts nonsense to you?"

He was too ignorant. He wondered if it was okay to neglect a child like this.

Hong Sochen sighed and then opened his mouth again.

"I wouldn't say this if I went somewhere else because it's embarrassing... but our Moogyeol has exactly three children he can't handle in the Dragon and Phoenix Inn. One, as you know, is that guy, Moyong Gi."

Hong Sochen glanced at Chunghuh.

"The other one is that guy's disciple. And the last one is..."

However, before Hong Sochen's words could end, Zhuge Guk couldn't bear it and asked.

"By any chance, is that... our Yeon?"

"If not? Do you think I would have said it was a pity because I have no eyes?"

"No! That's impossible!"

As Zhuge Guk unknowingly raised his voice, Hong Sochen's face contorted.

"You brat! Why are you shouting!"

Hong Sochen shouted.

Zhuge Guk didn't even register it. It was that big of a deal.

Zhuge Yeon's talent was a talent, but the fact that the family had not recognized it was a more serious problem. A huge hole had been made in the family.

Chunghuh glanced at the dazed Zhuge Guk and then asked Hong Sochen.

"Does that child have that much talent?"

"The word 'talent' is not enough. If she had learned properly from a young age, she might have been better than your disciple."

"To that extent?"

Hong Sochen nodded.

"Moogyeol couldn't even think of doing anything. If that girl had learned how to fight early, even your disciple wouldn't have had it easy."

Chunghuh's eyes widened.

Zhuge Guk's jaw dropped.

There was no such high praise.

Zhuge Guk couldn't even think of closing his open mouth for a while.

Hong Sochen looked at Zhuge Guk with a suggestive face.

"So you, don't think of useless things and just hold on to that guy. So you can benefit from your amazing nephew-in-law. To do that, shouldn't we have a talk?"

(End of Chapter)