The Return of the Sw Chapter 31 : No, Already? -04

Chapter 31: No, Already? -04

Ban Hojin muttered.

In truth, the future had changed from the very mont he beca friends with Seonwu Bang.

In his past life, the first ti they t had been on the battlefield.

But this ti, since they had t far earlier than that, it would not have been strange for the future to change.

“It was sothing I wanted as well.”

Seonwu Bang was an extrely important figure in the coming war against the Four Tyrants of the World.

That was why Ban Hojin had deliberately sought him out and ford a connection.

He was a late bloor, but that did not an his talent had to blossom only later.

So Ban Hojin had changed Seo Joun’s future first and then sought out the Seonwu Family.

Yet Seonwu Bang’s growth speed was far faster than expected.

And with the existence of Seo Joun as well, the stimulation would surely be strong.

“The best outco would be for the Four Tyrants of the World not to harbor ambitions.”

“Huh? What are you talking about? Four what?”

“Ah, it’s just sothing like that. By the way, you’ve improved a lot, haven’t you?”

Seonwu Bang and Seo Joun approached Ban Hojin.

Unlike the energetic Seonwu Bang, beads of sweat were forming on Seo Joun’s face, and just from that alone, the gap between the two could be felt.

“I need to work hard. I can’t keep staring at my friend’s back forever, can I?”

“Go knock down the Heavenly Dragon first.”

“Joun looks like he’s picked up your way of speaking.”

“No way. We haven’t even been together that long. So? The world isn’t easy, is it?”

After briefly glancing at the grumbling Seonwu Bang, Ban Hojin let out a crooked smile and looked at Seo Joun.

Seo Joun must have thought he wouldn’t easily lose to anyone other than Ban Hojin, but reality was never that accommodating.

The world was vast, and masters were many.

Moreover, Murim was a place where if one rampaged around like a thunder-struck fool, trusting only in talent, one could die screaming without anyone noticing.

“I’m going to work harder. I think I was a bit complacent.”

“Quick judgnt was good. Of course, that alone wasn’t enough to close the gap.”

“I lost now, but it’ll be different later.”

“I have no intention of being caught up. And fundantals aren’t sothing you build overnight.”

At Seo Joun’s words, Seonwu Bang smiled aningfully.

He acknowledged the talent, but he had no intention of being overtaken so easily.

And just as much as fundantals, Seo Joun lacked experience, so he still had a long road ahead.

“Competition is a good thing.”

“In a way, the three of us are all competing.”

“If you want to think that way, then go ahead.”

Ban Hojin neither affird nor denied Seonwu Bang’s words.

But one thing was certain.

Both in the past and now, Ban Hojin had no intention of being caught by anyone.

No, in order to survive, he had to grow stronger.

‘Still, I achieved my initial objective.’

Ban Hojin hadn’t sought out the Seonwu Family simply to et a friend.

He had aims.

And not just one—fortunately, everything had been proceeding according to plan so far.

“With that in mind, how about a round right now?”

“A spar?”

“Yeah. For reference, I’m fine. No problem stamina-wise.”

“Hm.”

Ban Hojin’s gaze turned toward Seo Joun.

As expected, there was a slightly wounded pride on his face, but that was all.

Perhaps because he had directly experienced Seonwu Bang’s strength, he showed signs of acknowledgnt.

“You’re not going to dodge it, are you?”

“What do you take

for. Let’s do it right away.”

“Good.”

Ban Hojin nodded shortly.

Experience wasn’t sothing that could only be gained through direct clashes.

Indirect experience was certainly helpful as well, so Ban Hojin accepted Seonwu Bang’s challenge.

“I’ll watch very carefully!”

“Good. Watch closely. It’ll definitely help you.”

“Yes!”

At a glance, the words might have sounded arrogant, but Seo Joun didn’t think so.

He believed that when soone skilled spoke, it wasn’t arrogance but confidence.

And Ban Hojin had more than enough qualification to say such things.

Currently, Ban Hojin stood at the very peak of the rising juniors.

‘His tone might be like that, but the amount of training he does in a day is honestly insane.’

Seo Joun shook his head.

The first ti he trained physically with Ban Hojin, Seo Joun had learned the aning of the phrase “vomiting blood” with his own body.

Contrary to the claim that he wouldn’t be pushed too hard, Ban Hojin’s training continued right up to the brink of unconsciousness.

That day, Seo Joun had truly vomited until blood ca out and collapsed.

‘I need to work harder than now.’

Seo Joun’s eyes flashed intensely.

Just monts ago, Seonwu Bang had been as unshakable as a solid wall, but now he was being pushed back helplessly.

It didn’t even look like Ban Hojin was pressing him particularly hard, yet Seonwu Bang was pushed back every ti their swords collided.

Seeing the clear superiority at a glance, Seo Joun clenched his fists.

‘I still have a long way to go.’

Seo Joun felt it anew.

That he had been running wild, trusting only in his talent.

At the sa ti, he understood why Ban Hojin had told him to spar with Seonwu Bang.

It was to let him feel with his body just how green and inexperienced he was.

‘Please wait for . I’ll reach near you soon.’

Seo Joun clenched his fists.

Though nothing had been explained to him in detail, he could feel it.

That Ban Hojin was drawing so kind of picture, and that both he and Seonwu Bang were needed for it.

That was why Seo Joun made his resolve.

On the second day after arriving at the Seonwu Family, Ban Hojin left the estate.

They had co all the way to Nanjing, the capital city of Jiangsu Province, and he thought he should at least look around once.

Unlike his past life, Ban Hojin wanted to enjoy many things and live this life with more fun, so as soon as he finished breakfast, he ca out to the marketplace.

“The scale really is different.”

“It feels like a capital city, doesn’t it?”

“Everything’s big.”

“Hey, that’s the sa for the capitals of other regions too. What matters is the atmosphere. Each region has its own characteristics.”

Perhaps because it was an unexpected outing.

Seo Joun looked around the streets with an excited expression.

And beside him, Seonwu Bang was acting as a guide and explaining things.

“Since we’re already in Jiangsu Province, we should go to Suzhou at least once.”

“I’ve heard of it! ‘Above there is heaven, below there are Suzhou and Hangzhou!’”

No sooner had Ban Hojin finished speaking than Seo Joun shouted.

He too had wanted to visit Suzhou at least once.

“Looks like you read it in a book.”

“That’s right. So I was actually planning to subtly ask you about it, big brother. We’ve co all the way to Jiangsu Province—skipping Suzhou would make no sense. They say there’s heaven in the sky and Suzhou and Hangzhou on earth, so you have to go at least once before you die.”

“It’s a good place. It’s also a city of pleasure.”

Since he was from Nanjing, Seonwu Bang had been to Suzhou before as well.

It was also a place that rising juniors visiting Jiangsu Province went to without fail.

“So that’s why you want to go?”

“I’m curious, but I don’t have plans yet. I know very well how important the next five years are for . And I still have a mountain of debts to repay.”

“Won, huh.”

“You get quite a few marriage proposals, don’t you?”

Seonwu Bang asked casually.

Ban Hojin had appeared like a cot, being called the Divine Dragon.

On top of that, he was the unregistered disciple of Abbot Damhyeon of Shaolin, so his background was formidable as well.

Because of that, it was obvious many places would be drooling.

“None at all.”

“……Huh? Really?”

An unexpected answer ca back.

Even when he had been staying at Shaolin, Murong Heesu and Zhuge Hye-jeong had t Ban Hojin by using him as a pretext.

In other words, even daughters of prestigious families had shown interest in Ban Hojin.

So when he said there had been no marriage proposals at all, Seonwu Bang looked incredulous.

“More precisely, there was no way for word to reach . I lived alone using training as an excuse. And not long after, I descended from the mountain.”

“Ah, that could be it. Maybe word went to Monk Beopmu instead.”

“Senior brother didn’t say anything about it.”

“Could it be because you didn’t seem interested?”

“Well, that could be it too.”

Though he was his senior brother, the age gap was large enough that he felt more like an uncle.

Beopmu also looked at him less like a fellow disciple and more like a nephew or son.

So Seonwu Bang’s words made plenty of sense.

“Marriage proposals, huh. Well, big brother is at the age where one starts thinking about marriage.”

“I’ve just co of age.”

At Seo Joun’s muttered words, Ban Hojin snorted.

Even in his past life when he had died, Ban Hojin hadn’t even properly held a woman’s hand, let alone married, until he was thirty.

Because of that, the age of twenty didn’t feel old at all.

“You do intend to marry soday, right?”

“Of course.”

“But it’s funny. I’m not the one who should be worrying about you. Worrying about soone like you who could even et the White Phoenix or the other Three Phoenixes.”

Seonwu Bang muttered in a bitter tone.

He couldn’t even take care of himself, yet he was worrying about a friend.

And Ban Hojin was soone who didn’t need worrying about.

“W-What?! The White Phoenix? Are you talking about Young Lady Murong, the White Lotus Flower?”

“That’s right.”

“Wow!”

Seo Joun’s eyes widened.

One of the goals Seo Joun had secretly set when leaving ho was to et the Three Phoenixes of Murim.

After luckily eting Nan Hee-ju, the Rumor Lord of the Hao Sect, Seo Joun had his eyes opened.

So he really wanted to et the Three Phoenixes at least once.

“It wasn’t just eting her. The White Phoenix ca to seek him out herself. And even the treasured daughter of the Zhuge Family.”

“Huk!”

Seo Joun opened his mouth wide, his eyes bulging like he was about to have a fit.

Then his eyes quickly began to sparkle.

“But this guy didn’t show much interest. My heart was pounding like crazy.”

“C-Can I et them too?”

“Who knows. If you stick with this guy, there might be a chance.”

“Hehehehe!”

Seo Joun grinned broadly.

He didn’t say anything and just laughed, but both Ban Hojin and Seonwu Bang could see it clearly.

What Seo Joun was thinking right now.

“We ca to the marketplace, so shouldn’t we eat sothing?”

“I love snacks!”

Having spent most of his ti at ho—more precisely, in his own room—Seo Joun answered eagerly.

If it was a local delicacy that could only be eaten in Nanjing, he wanted to try everything.

Perhaps because of that, Seo Joun began eating every street food that looked unfamiliar.

“Hm?”

Unlike Seo Joun, who was distracted by street food, Ban Hojin focused on leisurely sightseeing.

Perhaps because he had lived in a temple, he didn’t have much desire for food.

But then, a wall in a dim alley caught Ban Hojin’s attention.

More precisely, a wall surface that looked like it had been scribbled on haphazardly by children.

“……That is?”

Ban Hojin’s eyes slowly widened at what he saw.

Sothing he had never thought would be here had been left on the wall.

“Why?”

With his hands clasped behind his back, Ban Hojin, who had been slowly following the group, unconsciously changed direction.

Though it was dim, it was adjacent to the marketplace, so there were many people passing by.

Yet Ban Hojin cut through them and stopped in front of the wall.

“What is it?”

“N-No, it’s nothing. I just found the graffiti interesting.”

“There are kids who draw like paintings. Surprisingly talented ones, even. But graffiti like this is everywhere you go, isn’t it?”

Seonwu Bang approached from behind Ban Hojin, who was staring blankly at the wall.

Seo Joun followed, his hands full of everything from skewered grilled chicken to all sorts of other grilled foods.

However, Seonwu Bang’s words didn’t reach Ban Hojin’s ears.

‘The Ironblood Fortress was still active even now?’