Chapter 39

"Tsk tsk, you were trying to get into that great place with this level of skill? Is that place actually nothing special when you get down to it? You can't even block a single punch thrown after taking one step, and you're the talent who will lead the future of the sect. Are you going to collapse by relying on a rotten pillar of a rising star? Are you going to ruin your sect? You, lock your doors for a while and focus on improving your skills. I advise you, it will be good for your well-being to hole up in a cave and quietly sharpen and polish your sword. Don't even think about wandering outside. My goodness, really. So pathetic and worthless, it's not even fun to deal with you. Your name is a waste, your name is a waste. You should be grateful to me for saving you from utter humiliation. Be grateful!"

But Bi Ryu-yeon's words could not reach the ears of the already fainted Gam Un-su. Bi Ryu-yeon was crestfallen when the so-called number one prodigy of a sect that was said to be something collapsed so helplessly with just one step and one move. No, since the great disciple was already in the Cheonmu Academy, was he the second prodigy? Anyway, shouldn't there be some kind of reaction for it to be exciting? Was one step of the Thunderbolt Step and one move of the Beating to Death Fist so hard to block?

'Huh? What the? I went easy on him, but why did he look stupidly unbelievable when I closed in with one step, and faint when I threw one punch? He scowled like he was about to die with just one hit, and then fainted after two more? How can I beat people up with peace of mind like this?'

This was Bi Ryu-yeon's honest feeling. However, his words could not be said to be all correct. Although he did not lie, he had omitted a few facts. Therefore, it could not be denied that the story was exaggerated.

The Beating to Death Fist, also known as the Three Dog Days Beating Fist Method, the darling of the Dog Beating Method, had overlooked the fact that its one move referred to a barrage of dozens of punches. Of course, it was highly likely that he had deliberately ignored these facts. It was just that there was only circumstantial evidence and no physical evidence. No matter how much he was beaten by the First Dog Day Fist, it was a move that even a considerable master would find hard to block.

Moreover, if it was one step of the Thunderbolt Step, wasn't it a flash of lightning that left no afterimage? The Thunderbolt Step was a footwork that penetrated into the opponent's embrace in the flow of a moment like a thunderbolt, and it was a footwork that had only one step. It is a ridiculous thing to talk about two steps with a footwork that has only one step. Whether he didn't even think of such a thing, or deliberately ignored it, is not well known, but Bi Ryu-yeon was still an absurd fellow as ever.

As Gam Un-su collapsed so simply it was absurd, Bi Ryu-yeon somehow felt skeptical about the Cheonmu Academy. It seemed he was unaware that he himself had become seriously strong. The junior brothers and disciples of Gam Un-su, who had arrived late at the scene and were watching the situation, cried out at this unexpected and surprising situation. Among them, there were also those who burst into anger. A sense of shame, enough to make them want to bite their tongues and die right now, dominated them all. The third disciple, An Hu-gang, who quickly ran over and supported the fallen Gam Un-su, shouted, glaring at Bi Ryu-yeon with eyes full of hatred. Not only that, but the eyes of the junior brothers surrounding him were also fiercely swirling with a terrible hatred for Bi Ryu-yeon.

"To put our senior brother in this state. Y-you, if only our g-great senior brother were here, we wouldn't have been so easily defeated by the likes of you."

The third disciple, An Hu-gang's, resentful voice was full of venom. His roar was also a roar that represented the feelings of all the warriors of Tiger Fang Manor. 'If only the great young master were here, we wouldn't have been so miserably defeated!' was the common sentiment of the disciples. The disciple who was supposed to take the Cheonmu Academy exam this time was the second disciple of the Tiger Fang Manor master, the Tiger Fang Fierce Sword, Ho Cheon-sang, Gam Un-su, but as of today, his luck had run out, just as his name suggested.

But in truth, the real rising star of Tiger Fang Manor was not Gam Un-su. The beloved disciple of the Tiger Fang Manor master Ho Cheon-sang, and the brilliantly shining hope of Tiger Fang Manor, had already passed the Cheonmu Academy exam last year with flying colors and had become a Cheonmu Academy disciple, so he was not here now.

Seeing that the disciples firmly believed in him even after being so thoroughly beaten, it seemed their trust in him was great. A man who could bear this much trust was surely not an ordinary person with ordinary abilities. Indeed, the great senior brother was the next master of the sect who would carry the sect on his shoulders. It was by no means a position that anyone could have or become. But in any case, he was not here now.

"Really? Then call him over later. I'll take him on anytime. But, tell him to come with the resolve to die. And I'd like to ask you not to resent me too much for shattering your expectations then."

Bi Ryu-yeon was still a punk with a sky-piercing confidence, boasting loudly and arrogantly. And then, with a shamelessly confident stride, he walked towards the inner court. Now, there was no one in this outer court who possessed the ability to stop him.

---

Although there had been no problems or obstacles in stirring up Tiger Fang Manor so far, Yeomdo's complexion had not been good for a while. Three wrinkles were formed on his forehead and between his eyebrows as if he was uncomfortable, and his complexion was not bright either. In fact, from the moment he entered Tiger Fang Manor, Yeomdo had been feeling a strange sensation that stimulated his nerves. It seemed to be an energy that only he could sense. That very unpleasant energy not only made him feel unpleasant but also disturbed his mind, made him feel uneasy, and made his actions awkward.

Woooong! Woooong!

His beloved saber, Hongyeom, had been crying continuously for a while. It was announcing its presence by trembling its blade with a 'woooong woooong' sound. Gently stroking the crying Hongyeom, Yeomdo carefully soothed his beloved saber. It was said from ancient times that famous swords and sabers made by artisans with all their heart and soul had a spirit dwelling in them, and when the owner was in danger, they would make a sound on their own to warn of the danger. It was also said that a weapon with a spirit could read the owner's mind, represent the owner's mind, and reflect the owner's hidden will. A sword or saber with a spirit was said to have its own will and was already treated as a spiritual object.

From this point of view, Yeomdo's beloved saber, Hongyeom, was a famous saber that was not lacking in being called a spiritual object. But that Hongyeom was crying now. But the sound of the saber's cry that Hongyeom was making now was not a sound warning of the owner's danger. Unlike Yeomdo's strange and uneasy feeling, it was a cry with a sorrowful and sad melody, like a yearning love song.

'Resonance? Who on earth is emitting an energy that can make me tremble in a mere martial arts manor of this level? Hongyeom is crying. Hongyeom, which didn't cry even when I was surrounded by a hundred elites of the Black Snake Society, which was called the strongest assassination group... I can't believe it.'

No matter how much Yeomdo thought about it, he couldn't understand. He never thought there would be such a person in Tiger Fang Manor. No matter how much he racked his brain, the result was the same. But he couldn't erase this uncomfortable feeling that had been continuously stimulating his sixth sense for a while.

His mind just wouldn't calm down. His chest churned, and the blood in his entire body circulated fiercely, making his heart pound. It was an ominous premonition. His instincts were sending him some kind of warning every moment. Hongyeom had never cried like this before. That's why Yeomdo felt even more anxious. This cry, like a love song, somehow brought him a greater sense of foreboding than a cry of warning.

But as if he had no interest in Yeomdo's feelings, Bi Ryu-yeon went deeper and deeper into the inner court. But no one blocked his path. Not only did everyone fail to stop his entry, but the price for their resistance was only extreme pain and the unfamiliar, unique experience of seeing stars in broad daylight.

---

• What the Master Must Possess

The Tiger Fang Fierce Sword, Ho Cheon-sang, was engrossed in his after-meal training in his residence, the Black Tiger Hall. This time was always his regular after-meal training time, so he had repeatedly told his disciples to always be quiet and not to disturb him.

But today, for some reason, the outside seemed unusually noisy, and his training was shattered to pieces by the message brought by the chief steward, Seo Mun-gi. The message brought by the chief steward, Seo Mun-gi, was so shocking that it shook his mind.

The outer court of the manor had been smashed to pieces by two strange intruders, and those two intruders had already entered the inner court. It was an unbelievable report that the guests and the inner court warriors had all come out to try to stop them, but it was completely beyond their power.

Tiger Fang Manor was largely divided into an outer court and an inner court, and the inner court warriors were composed of masters whose skills were far superior to those of the outer court warriors. The guardians who protected the inner court were also masters who were evaluated as having already reached a considerable level. Moreover, the guests invited from all over the Murim were also warriors whose skills were evaluated as at least first-class. For them to be unable to stop just two people and be in disarray, Ho Cheon-sang couldn't help but doubt his own ears. He even had the suspicious thought that the chief steward might be playing a prank on him in collusion with others. But judging from the urgency on the chief steward's face and the sweat that soaked his entire body, it didn't seem to be a prank at all.

As soon as he heard this shocking news, Ho Cheon-sang rushed out to the inner court yard. He was in such a hurry that he was bare-chested, without even putting on the top he had taken off during his training. Rushing out to the yard out of breath, Ho Cheon-sang's eyes widened when he saw the two uninvited guests. And his focus was on the middle-aged man of the two. The inner court warriors who were fainted on the floor and piled up like luggage, the guests who were fainted with nosebleeds, and the still-intact inner court warriors and guardians who were confronting them, barely suppressing their surging fear, did not enter his eyes.

His entire gaze was focused on one middle-aged man and would not leave. Just a moment ago, he had doubted his own two ears, and now he was doubting his own two eyes. This was because he had recognized at a glance that one of the two was the famous Yeomdo Gwak Yeong-hui. Of course, the only person in Tiger Fang Manor who wouldn't be able to recall his name even after seeing Yeomdo's distinctive appearance would probably be the foolish disciple, Gam Un-su. If he had had proper eyes, would he have dared to rush in so recklessly without knowing his place?

Until a little while ago, Ho Cheon-sang couldn't believe the fact that his manor had been attacked in broad daylight, the outer court had been breached, and the intruders had even reached the inner court.

'What on earth were all those disciples and the guests who were just sitting around eating for free doing? Were they just sucking their thumbs out of boredom?'

It was true that he had such a strong suspicion. But now he could believe the fact of the intrusion. Of course, Bi Ryu-yeon and Yeomdo were only thinking of it as a simple visit. When Ho Cheon-sang himself arrived at the scene in a hurry, the elders and guardians of the manor who were on duty had also thrown away all their work and rushed out to confront the intruders. But no one moved rashly first. This was because they also clearly knew who one of the intruders was.

The warriors who were currently lying on the ground in the inner court had become a case of having their funerals prepared after rushing in without confirming the opponent's identity. By the time they confirmed that one of the intruders was Yeomdo, dozens of warriors and three or four guests had already fallen into a state of unconsciousness. It was a crisis situation where the foundation of the manor could be completely ruined if things went wrong. So everyone was just watching each other's reactions and couldn't make a rash move. The atmosphere in the manor became tense, and an unavoidable heavy tension hung in the air.

Bi Ryu-yeon and Yeomdo did not like this commotion and tension. It seemed like a simple matter was getting unnecessarily complicated. They had come with a light heart, but it seemed people were bothering them too much. But the two did not realize that the situation was already a tangled mess. In fact, they didn't even want to care. This was because they were full of confidence that they could handle it with a single slash, no matter how tangled the situation became. Whether they were laid-back or their nerves were dull, it was certain that both of them were a breed that far surpassed the common sense of ordinary people.

To break this standoff, Ho Cheon-sang politely made a fist-and-palm salute to Yeomdo and spoke first. As the master of Tiger Fang Manor, he had the responsibility to resolve and overcome the situation.

"I am the master of this manor, Ho Cheon-sang. Though I am unworthy, my fellow practitioners praise me as the Tiger Fang Fierce Sword. To meet Great Hero Yeomdo Gwak Yeong-hui, one of the five great saber masters of the world, whose fame is renowned in the Murim, is the glory of three lifetimes."

Ho Cheon-sang said, maintaining the utmost courtesy. Although they were uninvited guests, considering Yeomdo's position in the Murim, it was something he could never treat carelessly.

"For what business have you visited my humble manor, Great Hero Gwak?"

"..."

Yeomdo did not answer at all. He just remained silent. Since he had been dragged here against his will, his mood could not be calm.

"Great Hero Gwak, please tell me the purpose of your visit to my humble manor."

Ho Cheon-sang asked politely once more. His mood was also extremely uncomfortable. Bi Ryu-yeon nudged Yeomdo's side with his elbow, who was just standing there curtly without any reaction even after being asked politely again. It was a gesture to urge him to answer quickly.

Because they had agreed to keep their relationship a secret before coming here, Bi Ryu-yeon could not step forward carelessly. If he made a mistake, their relationship might be exposed. If that happened, it wouldn't be a very serious matter for Bi Ryu-yeon, but it would be a great embarrassment for Yeomdo. Yeomdo also did not want to take that risk. Finally, Yeomdo's mouth opened. It was a low but dignified voice.

"I came to receive one item."

"An item? What item are you talking about?"

No matter how much he thought about it, Ho Cheon-sang couldn't help but be puzzled.

"I have no idea what you are talking about, this unworthy one."

Yeomdo resolved the curiosity of Ho Cheon-sang, who was tilting his head in puzzlement.

"It's an item whose owner is being claimed by someone who is not qualified. It's the Dragon Riding Plaque."

"D-ragon, Riding, Plaque!"

Not only Ho Cheon-sang, but also all the warriors of the manor who were surrounding them in a standoff, let out the same cry of astonishment. It was a natural reaction.

Dragon Riding Plaque!

A special privilege given only to a small number of sects recognized as first-class. A plaque that proves the qualification of one disciple from a carefully selected first-class sect to take the Cheonmu Academy special screening exam without going through the once-a-year Ascending Heaven Martial Festival, the Dragon Riding Plaque!

This plaque, which depicted a dragon ascending to heaven on a sword after passing through the dragon gate, was as precious as life itself to young warriors who dreamed of the future. And now, Yeomdo was asking for it so casually. Anyone who heard it would find it an unreasonable demand that was beyond common sense. It was a demand that could never come from the mouth of a sane, common-sense person.

"Great Hero Gwak! You must be joking, right? That item already has a designated owner."

"Really? As far as I know, the Dragon Riding Plaque has no owner. I definitely heard that only skill is the measure to discuss the qualification to be the owner of the Dragon Riding Plaque. Was I wrong? If not, then my ears must be wrong. If you have something to say, say it."

Yeomdo's words were all true. According to the rules set by the Cheonmu Academy, anyone with skill could take over the ownership of the Dragon Riding Plaque through a proper martial arts contest. However, it was under the condition that life and death would not be decided. It was specified in the academy's regulations that if life and death were decided during a martial arts contest, both parties would be disqualified. This rule was added as a clause because otherwise, there was a risk of numerous casualties over the Dragon Riding Plaque.

If even this much of a clause was not attached, the value of the Dragon Riding Plaque was such that it could call for blood and create a river of blood. Although it was frustrating, what Yeomdo said was a fact without a single error.

"However, that is already my second son, Un-su's. Isn't it too unfair to claim that we should decide its ownership now?"

"Un-su? Ah, you mean the greenhorn who collapsed so helplessly earlier? He was a pathetic fellow. He was happy that he had mastered the sword method after learning only the shell of the sword method, the sword form. Can a sword method without the sword intent be called a sword method? So I gave him a little lecture. It must have been a good lesson for him. He should be grateful to us. We saved him from being utterly humiliated. They call this a narrow escape from death in the world, right? You guys were extremely lucky this time."

Hearing the long taunt that was not at all like Yeomdo, Ho Cheon-sang's eyes widened. He gripped the hilt of his beloved saber, the Roaring Tiger Saber, so tightly that it seemed it would shatter. A domineering fighting spirit, as if he would draw his sword and decide life and death right now, emanated from his entire body. The proof was that his hand, which was gripping the hilt, was trembling.

"Was it you, Great Hero Gwak, who gave my Un-su a lecture?"

"No, the one who gave the lecture was not me, but this person."

Yeomdo's hand pointed at Bi Ryu-yeon, who was standing silently next to him. Naturally, Ho Cheon-sang's gaze turned to Bi Ryu-yeon. Even after receiving Ho Cheon-sang's gaze, which was flashing fiercely like a tiger's eyes and shooting down at him, Bi Ryu-yeon was still composed. No, he even went a step further and smiled, waving his hand at Ho Cheon-sang as if he were happy to see him.