Chapter 682

A chilling sensation brushed across my cheek, sharp and instinctive.

My lips curled into a smirk as my senses identified the hostility emanating toward me.

“Well, look at this guy.”

The intent was unmistakable. I met his golden eyes past his furrowed brows and tilted my head slightly.

“So, you knew?”

“…”

“How did you find out?”

I asked, but Shinryong only bit his lip, refusing to answer.

If he wasn’t going to say anything, why even bring it up?

I stared at him for a moment before asking something else.

“Why, exactly, should I have denied it?”

The claim that the youngest Hwagyeong title was just a rumor—why should I feel the need to refute that? I didn’t see the point.

“That’s because….”

Finally, Shinryong opened his mouth and spoke slowly.

“…Because that rumor is false.”

The youngest Hwagyeong officially recognized by the Martial Alliance was none other than Shinryong himself.

But, of course, that was just the official story.

Then who was the real youngest Hwagyeong?

Was it me?

Perhaps. Reaching the Hwagyeong level before even reaching adulthood was certainly extraordinary.

But could I say that with certainty?

‘Who knows.’

I didn’t know.

Unofficial records were, by definition, unacknowledged information.

Even if I truly were the youngest Hwagyeong, it didn’t matter.

“I don’t really care.”

Such trivial titles didn’t concern me, nor did they hold any real meaning.

‘What significance does something gained this way even have?’

The level I’d reached now was nothing more than the result of relying on my regression.

The title of youngest Hwagyeong? It was utterly meaningless to me.

What use would it serve? It wasn’t important at all.

“If you want it, take it. I’m leaving.”

He could have that title if he wanted.

I had my eyes set on something far greater.

Even if Shinryong knew something, it didn’t matter to me.

He could spread that rumor all he wanted if it pleased him.

I turned to leave, but—

“…Benefactor.”

Shinryong’s frown deepened as he spoke again.

“Are you pitying me?”

Hmm.

I looked back at him, focusing on his eyes.

The emotion swirling in his golden gaze was unmistakable—

‘Inferiority?’

It was a feeling I knew all too well.

Those were the same eyes I had in my previous life, and even now, they weren’t unfamiliar to me.

‘For Shinryong to look at me with those eyes….’

What could make a monk like him direct such a gaze at me?

Curious, I asked, “Have we met before?”

“…”

There was no way he would look at me like that without a reason. But what that reason was, I couldn’t figure out.

‘This is strange.’

First, the Black Dragon Yeongpung, and now Shinryong.

Why did these so-called geniuses keep giving me this look?

Watching Shinryong remain silent, I clicked my tongue in frustration.

“I don’t know what your deal is, but is it really appropriate for a monk who believes in Buddha to look at someone like that?”

“…!”

At my remark, Shinryong’s eyes widened slightly.

He quickly adjusted his expression, seemingly realizing something was off about his behavior.

I narrowed my eyes at him.

“What’s your problem? What exactly do you find so upsetting?”

What could possibly be bothering him?

“Just keep doing what you’ve been doing. I don’t care about those rumors or anything else, so just go on with your life. Pity? Who am I supposed to pity?”

I was too busy trying to survive myself to spare any energy for pitying others.

Though I expressed my annoyance, Shinryong’s reaction remained unchanged.

“…I don’t understand.”

“What don’t you understand?”

“How can you remain so quiet while these rumors circulate about you?”

His face was full of genuine confusion, as if he couldn’t comprehend my lack of action.

“You could set the record straight if you wanted to.”

“What’s there to set straight?”

Did he want me to correct the rumors? Was he expecting me to declare that he wasn’t the real youngest Hwagyeong and that I was?

“If I choose not to, then that’s that. Who are you to question it?”

If I didn’t care to prove anything, wasn’t that better for him?

“And anyway, who said I wouldn’t do it?”

“…What?”

Shinryong’s expression changed at my words.

“I’m not addressing it now because there’s no need to—right now.”

I wasn’t denying the rumors or refraining from showing my power out of inability.

As Shinryong himself pointed out, I could demonstrate it and correct the record at any time.

So don’t worry.

“There’s not much time left, anyway.”

There wasn’t long before the moment to reveal everything arrived.

“…Are you saying that if you wanted to, you could easily prove it?”

“It wouldn’t be difficult.”

As even Shinryong had noted, it wouldn’t be hard to show them the truth.

The reason I hadn’t yet was simple.

‘The impact is greater when you wait and then reveal it all at once.’

I wasn’t an idiot. I hadn’t been sitting quietly, ignoring ridiculous rumors out of weakness.

I was merely waiting for the right moment, and that moment was drawing near.

I didn’t know why Shinryong was so fixated on me, but it didn’t matter. There was only one thing left to say to him.

“So if you want to see it, wait. Stop wasting your time with pointless things.”

“…”

It wouldn’t be long before I showed them.

The perfect stage for that revelation was already being prepared.

“I don’t care about anything else.”

I would simply show them when the time came.

An era of falling stars, they called it—a time when stars rained down like a meteor shower.

Though peace had been shattered, people didn’t lose hope.

Why? Because there were so many stars to protect them. Believing in those stars, they continued to breathe and move forward.

But not once did I ever think of myself as one of those stars.

I simply gazed up at the falling meteors from below.

I had never considered myself a descending star.

‘But now, there are too many stars, and their value seems so diminished.’

Oddly enough, I liked it that way.

If the stars continued to fall in droves, I would gather their light and burn alone.

I would shine by myself in the end. Right now, I was merely preparing to ignite that flame.

As I thought about this, I looked calmly at Shinryong.

His gaze lowered slightly as he spoke.

“…I heard you’re participating in the Bi-mu-je as well.”

“That’s right.”

I nodded in acknowledgment, and Shinryong slowly clasped his hands together in a gesture of respect.

Was he about to show me some form of deference?

“Then I’ll see you there.”

His words were calm, but the challenge behind them was unmistakable.

Hearing that, I tilted my head and asked, “You don’t like me, do you?”

I didn’t recall having any particular connection with him, so why did he feel like this toward me from our first meeting?

“That’s not it.”

“Yeah, sure.”

His entire demeanor radiated dislike for me.

Even now, his words made it clear—he wanted to fight me.

‘Well.’

It wasn’t like I was the type to be universally loved.

I didn’t care if he hated me. Accepting that, I nodded to myself.

“That’s because I need to prove my worth through you, Benefactor. That’s why I’m saying this.”

Shinryong shook his head slightly as he added those words.

“Worth, huh.”

Proving his worth—what a strange phrase.

“Do you think beating me will prove your worth?”

“I’m not sure. But…”

“If that’s the case, you’ll lose to me.”

“…!”

I cut him off before he could finish.

Hearing my words, his face stiffened.

“…That’s quite an arrogant statement.”

He clearly didn’t like my certainty. Declaring his loss outright must have wounded his pride.

‘Not that I meant it that way.’

I saw no need to correct myself, though. Even if I tried, it wouldn’t change much.

As I continued to watch him, Shinryong’s voice turned sharp.

“Words are meaningless. I’ll show you how complacent your arrogance is. I’ll show you myself.”

With those words, he turned and walked away, his back bristling with anger.

“Hmm.”

Watching his retreating figure, I briefly debated calling out to him but decided against it.

His words didn’t bother me much, but…

‘Should I have mentioned it?’

His mouth was smeared with grease.

The evidence of his indulgence in meat was plain on his face.

‘Oh well. He’ll figure it out.’

I had considered stopping him to point it out, but after how he’d spoken to me, I decided against it.

What was it he’d said?

‘See you there?’

I let out a quiet laugh, recalling his words.

‘Interesting.’

Since he’d initiated it, whatever happened now was on him.

Licking my lips, I turned and began walking back to my quarters.

From the rooftop of a nearby building, Peng Woojin watched the two of us.

His expression, however, had turned cold, entirely different from before.

******************

Time had passed since my return.

By the time the sunset painted the skies with its warm hues, I had completed my afternoon training and made my way to where Namgung Bi-ah was being treated by the Divine Doctor.

I came to check on her condition.

“Are you alright?”

“…Yes….”

Namgung Bi-ah nodded as she quietly ate an apple she was peeling. She seemed fine, as her calm demeanor suggested.

Watching her work on the fruit, I asked, “...Don’t most people use a knife for that?”

“…It’s bothersome….”

Scratch.

She was peeling the apple’s skin using sword energy instead of the knife lying right next to her.

I couldn’t understand why she would bother with that, but if it was more convenient for her, so be it.

“That’s nothing to worry about,” the Divine Doctor said as he noticed my gaze.

“Her external injuries were the bigger concern in the first place…. But the young lady’s body is exceptionally resilient. Her Qi shows no signs of issues.”

“Is that so?”

I looked at Namgung Bi-ah with intrigue. Normally, external injuries would affect one’s internal energy as well, but she seemed to have avoided that entirely.

“Her recovery rate is remarkable, even beyond what one might expect from a martial artist. While I initially estimated three months, she might heal much sooner than that.”

“That’s a relief.”

The Divine Doctor’s reassurance allowed me to relax a little. As I glanced around the room, I asked, “Where’s Goeseon?”

“I’m not sure. Last I saw, he went out with my disciple. Perhaps for a walk?”

I nodded at the explanation.

‘He’s probably testing his abilities again.’

Woo Hyuk must have gone to see if his powers worked on Goeseon.

I hadn’t heard any updates, but the fact that he kept trying suggested he was making some progress.

‘I hope it works.’

If it did, I’d have a capable healer to rely on whenever injuries occurred. That would be immensely useful.

Even though the Divine Doctor was said to be the best in Zhongyuan—

‘Even he couldn’t restore my severed arm.’

As I mused on this, my gaze wandered around the room, searching for someone.

“…They went out….”

This time, Namgung Bi-ah answered my unspoken question.

I cleared my throat awkwardly. “Ahem. What do you mean?”

“…You’re looking for So-yeol and Seol-ah… aren’t you?”

She chewed her apple calmly as she spoke, her tone unbothered.

She was right.

I had been wondering where they went, and it seemed she’d noticed immediately.

I scratched my cheek awkwardly. “It’s not like that….”

For some reason, looking for the others in front of Namgung Bi-ah made me feel oddly guilty.

As I averted my gaze, I heard a faint snicker from somewhere.

I turned to Namgung Bi-ah.

“…Was that you?”

“…What?”

“Did you just laugh?”

“…I don’t know….”

If it wasn’t her, then it had to be the Divine Doctor.

“What are you staring at?”

“…Nothing.”

Strange. The laugh had sounded distinctly feminine.

“Are you sure it wasn’t you?”

“…I don’t know….”

Her answer wasn’t a denial or confirmation, which only made me more suspicious.

‘It has to be her.’

I considered pressing her further, but just as I was about to—

“…Ah, that’s right….”

Clap!

Namgung Bi-ah clapped her hands together, her expression overly exaggerated.

I let out a hollow laugh at her poor acting and decided to let it slide.

But then—

“…Tomorrow… Father is coming.”

“Hmm?”

The words that followed were far more significant.

“The Sword King is coming?”

“…Yes.”

The head of the Namgung family and Namgung Bi-ah’s father, the Azure Sky Sword King, was coming to Hanam.

This was critical information.

Moreover—

“…My younger brother is coming too….”

“…Is that so?”

Another one of Namgung’s geniuses, the Thunder Dragon Namgung Cheonjun, was coming as well. Hearing his name, I tilted my head slightly.

‘It’s been a while since I last heard that name.’

The last time I’d seen him was at the engagement ceremony.

‘I turned him into a Majin and left him to his fate.’

He was the first person I had ever demonified.

Initially, I had planned to use and discard him, but—

‘I completely forgot about him.’

He had slipped my mind entirely.

‘And now he’s coming here?’

This was peculiar.

Namgung Cheonjun’s presence in Hanam was unsettling for one reason:

‘I’m sure I placed restrictions on him.’

I had imposed a command that he was not to leave Anhui and was to stay away from his sister.

‘How did he get out of Anhui?’

The fact that he was coming here only made things worse.

If Namgung Bi-ah’s information was accurate, this was an impossibility.

‘Could the restrictions have been broken?’

Yet, there were no signs of that.

As I pondered the situation—

[Master.]

A faint telepathic transmission reached me. It was Nahi’s voice.

[The "Spear" has awakened.]

“…”

Hearing this, I frowned deeply.

‘Of all times, now?’

I had hoped to delay this a little longer.

Suppressing a sigh, I replied to Nahi.

[Put them back to sleep.]

It was a casual suggestion to knock them out again and deal with it later.

[…With all due respect, Master.]

Nahi’s tone held a hint of unease.

[This is already the fourth time I’ve done so. If I attempt it again, the Spear may go berserk.]

“…”

Damn it.

“Hah.”

I couldn’t suppress my sigh this time. With annoyance clear in my expression, I furrowed my brow.

Swipe.

Namgung Bi-ah reached out and brushed her hand against my cheek.

“…What are you doing?”

I turned to her, puzzled, as she popped the rest of her apple into her mouth and spoke.

“Go on….”

“…”

Her words widened my eyes slightly.

Had she overheard the transmission? That shouldn’t have been possible.

“How did you know I need to leave?”

“Your eyes… told me….”

My eyes weren’t a mouth, so what could they have possibly said?

Looking at her in disbelief, I saw—

“…Go on….”

Namgung Bi-ah withdrew her hand and gave a faint wave, urging me to leave.

Despite myself, I smiled slightly.

Oddly enough, her gesture brought me a sense of calm.

“Alright. I’ll be back.”

“…Okay.”

I stood and turned to leave. As much as I didn’t want to go, it seemed I had no choice.

After giving a quick goodbye to the Divine Doctor, I stepped out the door.

My destination was my own quarters.

The moment I entered—

KABOOM!

An explosion echoed from the back of the residence.

“Click.”

I clicked my tongue and immediately spread my Qi to envelop the surroundings in a barrier.

The source of the commotion was a secluded area behind the quarters.

When I arrived and saw the scene, I instinctively closed my eyes briefly.

Not only was the area completely trashed—

“…Ugh….”

But Seong Yul lay collapsed near a boulder, groaning softly.

‘What’s he doing here?’

Setting aside Seong Yul’s unexpected presence, I noticed Nahi standing in front of someone, dagger in hand.

From the cloud of dust rising around them, a low growl emerged.

“…Where’s the Cult Leader? Where is he?!”

KABOOM!

A piercing shriek filled the air, followed by a sudden gust of wind that cleared the dust in an instant.

When the view cleared, I stepped forward.

“Where is the Cult Leader?! Tell me now! If you don’t—”

“If I don’t, what are you going to do, you lunatic?”

“Ah!”

The woman, who had been radiating murderous intent, froze and turned to face me.

She had short black hair and violet eyes.

Her appearance was deceptively beautiful, but her vile temperament overshadowed any charm she might have had.

Her expression transformed the moment she saw me.

“It’s the Cult Leader! The Cult Leader is here!”

She looked around excitedly before extending her hand into the air.

At that moment—

Whoosh!

From somewhere in the forest, a long, black staff flew into her hand.

“You lying Cult Leader! You tied me up and locked me away without even letting me play!”

HUMMMM!

As she gripped the staff, an overwhelming aura of bloodlust erupted around her.

It was so intense and chaotic that even the trees nearby began to shake.

“I’m going to punish you! I can’t hold back anymore!”

The woman pointed her staff at me and leapt forward.

KABOOM!

The ground cracked as she launched herself.

Her murderous intent made my brow twitch slightly.

‘No choice.’

“Prepare to be punished—!!”

[Lie down.]

HUMMMM!

“Ugh—!”

THUD!

The woman, mid-leap, tripped over her own feet and slammed face-first into the ground.

The impact was so strong that she rolled to a stop right at my feet.

I moved my foot forward.

Stomp.

“Ughhh…!”

I pressed her head into the dirt with my foot, pinning her down.

As she squirmed under the pressure, she muttered, “Oh no… you’re too rough… but maybe I like it…?”

Her pitiful voice made me pinch the bridge of my nose.

‘I shouldn’t have called her.’

The more I looked at her, the more I regretted summoning her.

Her name was Bong Soon.

One day, she would be known as the Ghost Spear, a demon who would wreak havoc across the battlefield—and the only living bloodline of the former Sword Queen.