Chapter 90
An atmosphere so suffocating it naturally stole one’s breath pressed down on the people around them.
So even shuddered involuntarily under Cheon Muback’s savage gaze, which made it impossible to take even a single step.
Youngho spoke with a relaxed smile.
“Why did you co to
specifically?”
“We’ll et in the finals.”
“I distinctly recall you saying the sa thing at the last Dragon–Phoenix Gathering….”
Setting down the cup of water he had been drinking, Youngho continued.
“But did you even make it to the finals back then?”
Crack!
The situation had changed greatly from before.
Four years ago, Youngho had clearly been the one driven by desperation, while Cheon Muback had been the one at ease.
But now it was the opposite.
Youngho looked at Cheon Muback, who was glaring at him fiercely, and said,
“I’m not in the mood to fight right now.”
At his perfectly executed needling words to the very end, Kang Hosan and Kang Chowon couldn’t help but admire him inwardly.
‘He’s a master!’
‘That’s what a real master looks like.’
Whether in words or in actions, he never lost.
“Co outside.”
At the bold declaration, Youngho’s eyes turned cold for an instant as he looked at Cheon Muback.
A chill ran through the air.
Though it was rely a glance, goosebumps rose from the tips of the toes to the crown of the head.
Cheon Muback bit down hard on his lip. Youngho stared at him for a mont with eyes as dark as the abyss before speaking.
“Are you saying we should settle it right now?”
“…Yes.”
Even as goosebumps prickled across his skin, Cheon Muback did not retreat in the slightest.
‘Stubborn bastard.’
He had thoroughly crushed him before so that he would fall into despair, yet it seed that incident had instead beco Cheon Muback’s driving force.
‘He’s grown ridiculously strong.’
To be honest, Youngho even felt that Namgung Cheon might lose to him at this point.
He was no longer at the level of a Junior Disciple; he seed capable of standing among the elders of a Great Sect.
‘Still below .’
At the end of the day, he was still just a brat.
A sneer curved Youngho’s lips.
“I won’t be attending this Dragon–Phoenix Gathering.”
“…What?”
Had he just heard sothing impossible? Cheon Muback’s bloodshot eyes widened.
“You’re not participating in the Dragon–Phoenix Gathering?”
“That’s right. I’m rely a spectator. Surely you wouldn’t pick a aningless fight with soone who isn’t even participating?”
Among those taking part in the Dragon–Phoenix Gathering, it was possible to provoke one another out of competitive spirit.
It was an unspoken rule of the Murim that had continued for hundreds of years.
Cheon Muback clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white as he spoke.
“…The Fla Dragon won’t be attending the Dragon–Phoenix Gathering?”
“I didn’t realize you’d cling so desperately to such a childish nickna. Think whatever you like. I have no reason to fight.”
“…Do you even know what the prize for this Dragon–Phoenix Gathering is?”
“No. I don’t know anything. You may leave now.”
At the continued attitude of treating him like air, Cheon Muback glared at Youngho with fury blazing in his eyes.
But soon, his anger-smoldering expression gradually relaxed, and he broke into a grin.
“Fine. It doesn’t matter if you don’t participate. You and I are destined to clash anyway.”
“Hmm?”
Before Youngho could ask why, Cheon Muback had already turned on his heel and strode out of the inn.
Only then did the people inside finally release the breaths they had been holding.
“That was the Demonic Dragon just now, right?”
“The pressure was overwhelming….”
Those inside the inn began discussing Cheon Muback. So cast occasional glances at Youngho, yet not a single word about him left their mouths.
It was likely because he had conversed so calmly with Cheon Muback—the Demonic Dragon—as if it were nothing.
After all, Cheon Muback’s presence monts ago had been the most oppressive in the entire place.
Slurping up the beef noodles the inn attendant had brought him, Youngho said,
“Why do you both look so drained?”
He had asked Kang Hosan and Kang Chowon because their eating seed half-hearted, and it appeared he had asked the right question.
At his words, Kang Chowon imdiately opened her mouth.
“He’s just too strong.”
Youngho’s eyes widened in apparent shock at her statent.
“Our Chowon has grown quite arrogant, hasn’t she?”
“Pardon?”
The unexpected response made Kang Chowon flinch. Chewing on his noodles, Youngho said,
“For soone not yet of Coming-of-Age Age to be thinking of defeating a man nearly forty… honestly.”
Only then did Kang Chowon realize what she had implied, and her earlobes turned red.
“Th-That’s not what I ant….”
“So you’ve grown stronger than Hosan and now nothing’s in your sight, is that it?”
“Young Master, why bring
into this?!”
When Kang Hosan shouted in protest, Youngho burst into laughter.
“You should’ve worked harder. Harder.”
“This isn’t a matter of effort!”
Kang Hosan’s reaction amused Youngho so much that he continued chuckling.
“Anyway, this one’s gotten too strong and can’t see anything anymore. Since it’s been a while, shall we do so ‘practical combat’ training?”
At the words that left Youngho’s mouth, even Kang Chowon—who loved training more than anyone here—turned pale as she spoke to him.
“I-I’m sorry. Young Master, I was being arrogant, wasn’t I?”
“It’s quite pleasing to see you flatten yourself so quickly for the sake of survival. Still, co out early tomorrow at dawn. I’ll devote my precious ti exclusively to you.”
Kang Chowon looked blankly at Kang Hosan, but even he—who cherished his younger sister dearly—quietly avoided her gaze, lest the stray spark land on him instead.
Unconsciously, Kang Hosan recalled his own past ‘practical combat’ training with Youngho.
Death.
Youngho’s ‘practical combat’ training was extrely simple.
To feel death.
Feel death, and feel it again, and yet again. If one explained it like that to others, they would never understand.
Only those who had experienced it could know.
Youngho let out a low chuckle.
“Still, you should be grateful you’re far weaker than . Look at Horyeung—I can’t even give him practical combat training.”
At that, Horyeung wore an awkward expression.
“I still feel death, you know…?”
“You can resist.”
“…Yes.”
“Try feeling death without being able to do anything. Do you know how utterly powerless that makes you feel?”
Horyeung looked at Kang Chowon with pity in his eyes.
At least Horyeung’s situation was sowhat better. Kang Chowon and the others could not even react, nor could they prepare themselves—they could only feel fear at the sudden sensation of death.
After finishing their al, Youngho’s group headed toward the inn that Cheonung had previously selected.
Thanks to Cheonung arranging matters for Youngho’s convenience, they were able to secure lodging quickly this ti, unlike before.
As the Asura Squad mbers unpacked their belongings inside their quarters, Youngho spoke to Sopyung.
“Sopyung, if there’s sowhere you want to go, go ahead.”
“What about you, Young Master?”
“I’ll just sleep.”
“Then I won’t go either. I’m your maid—I should diligently attend to you!”
“You’re still a child.”
Sopyung puffed out her cheeks.
“Young Master, you’re young too!”
“You’re not yet of Coming-of-Age Age, so I can’t quite hear you.”
“Ah! Seriously! There’s only a three-year difference between us!”
“Still not of Coming-of-Age Age, are you?”
While Youngho teased Sopyung—
“Young Master.”
Elder Hyeok approached and spoke.
“A disciple of the Hainan Sect wishes to see you.”
“Hainan?”
“Yes.”
“Let him in.”
“He hasn’t even given his na yet.”
“It’s probably Tanyeong. I did him a favor—makes sense he’d co looking for .”
“Don’t tell … the State of No-Self…?”
“That’s right. The one who entered the State of No-Self while sparring with .”
“I see….”
Elder Hyeok nodded as if that explanation sufficed.
Soon, Tanyeong entered the annex and looked at Youngho.
“It’s been a while.”
As Tanyeong greeted him, Youngho returned the smile.
“When my Master said the Hainan Sect had produced the future Sword King, I did not quite understand. But seeing you now, even ‘future Sword King’ seems sowhat insufficient.”
“I made much progress thanks to you, Young Hero. I believe my efforts were not in vain, but your help was significant.”
“That achievent is yours. There is no need to lower yourself so much.”
“Thank you for saying so, but….”
Tanyeong stared at Youngho intently before clearing his throat.
“As expected, I still cannot perceive it. I thought I had grown quite strong.”
“I haven’t been idling around either.”
Realizing he had unintentionally belittled Youngho’s efforts, Tanyeong hurriedly spoke.
“I-I apologize. That wasn’t my intention….”
“I know. I’m not bothered.”
“By the way….”
Tanyeong failed to hide his astonishnt as he looked toward Kang Hosan and Kang Chowon.
He was genuinely surprised. Before arriving, he had seen a few mbers of the Unorthodox Alliance.
They had been high-level martial artists in their own right, yet here he already saw two individuals who were his equals—or perhaps even stronger.
Seeing Tanyeong’s amazent, Youngho smiled in satisfaction.
“They’ve grown much stronger than before, haven’t they?”
“Yes. Even before, when I saw him withstand Namgung Cheon’s attack, I thought he was no ordinary talent. But to have grown to this extent….”
“Do you not rember Hosan?”
“Ah? Well, that….”
As Tanyeong looked apologetically at Kang Hosan, the latter thought inwardly,
‘That just makes it more irritating.’
Kang Hosan laughed lightly.
“It’s fine. I don’t mind.”
“No. My gaze was drawn more toward you.”
“…Pardon?”
Was it that unexpected? Kang Hosan stared blankly at Tanyeong.
Understanding that look to an continue, Tanyeong gave an awkward smile.
“I felt you were the sa type as . That’s why my eyes were drawn to you.”
“What does that an…?”
“It ans you have talent, but you don’t yet know how to properly use that strength.”
When Youngho interpreted it, Kang Hosan looked at Tanyeong with a twitch of his brow, as if asking whether that was accurate.
Tanyeong nodded.
“That’s correct.”
At a glance, it could easily have sounded like a provocation. That was precisely why Kang Hosan was even more surprised.
‘How does he know what Master and Young Master always tell …?’
Of course, Youngho and Horyeung had criticized him far more harshly than that. Youngho had likely softened the wording considerably this ti.
‘Is he really the sa type as ?’
Otherwise, how could he identify his flaw so clearly?
For the first ti, Kang Hosan looked at soone of the sa kind with a flustered expression, and Tanyeong returned a look that seed to say he understood everything.
“I understand. It is my first ti eting soone like myself as well.”
Youngho nodded as though this worked out perfectly and said to the two of them,
“If it’s about martial arts, it would be better for Hosan to speak with him from now on.”
“What? Young Master?”
“Just do as I say.”
Tanyeong appeared indifferent, but Youngho shoved Kang Hosan lightly from behind.
“You don’t have any friends. Take this opportunity to make one.”
“What are you—!”
Kang Hosan was about to retort, but unfortunately, there was an outsider present.
That ant he could not behave as usual. Catching sight of Horyeung’s terrifying gaze, he instinctively shut his mouth.
Soon, practically pushed out the door by Youngho, Kang Hosan stared at him in disbelief.
“I hope you have many fruitful discussions about martial arts.”
With that, Youngho closed the door, silently cheering for Tanyeong and Kang Hosan’s budding friendship.
Returning to his seat, he spoke with an expression that suggested he found everything in the world botherso.
“Finally got rid of one nuisance.”
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