Chapter 3 : A Genius Above Geniuses. -01

Chapter 3: A Genius Above Geniuses. -01

‘She was pretty back then too.’

Unlike Jeong Hyeon, who had lost his senses, Ban Hojin’s expression was calm.

Even after seeing the three women said to be the most beautiful in the Central Plains, not a single change appeared on his face.

Oh Jung-geon, who had been glancing at him, wore a look of incomprehension.

It was clear that Ban Hojin truly had no particular interest in the Three Phoenixes, not that he was merely trying to hide it.

“How can you be so unfazed, Senior Uncle?”

“I am admiring them as well.”

“Not at all though? You’re really indifferent. To me, it feels like you’re just looking at a well-drawn painting or a well-written piece of prose.”

“Should I be panting like you instead?”

“W-when did I ever pant?!”

Jeong Hyeon’s voice rose.

He was not arguing; he was genuinely flustered.

Perhaps because of that, Jeong Hyeon’s face flushed bright red once more.

“Put your hand on your chest and reflect on yourself. Think about the look in your eyes when you were staring at the Three Phoenixes.”

“You’re too much…….”

Faced with words he could not possibly refute, Jeong Hyeon lowered his head deeply.

His shoulders drooped as well, looking pitiful to anyone, but Ban Hojin felt nothing at all.

From the beginning, he believed in raising his disciples harshly.

At fifteen, one was already old enough to marry.

“What do you think, Young Master Ban? About the skills of the rising juniors.”

Oh Jung-geon casually asked in place of the deflated Jeong Hyeon.

However, his question carried deeper meaning.

It was not simply an inquiry about their abilities.

“They are excellent.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Aren’t they all from prestigious families? Their foundations are all solid.”

“And the Four Dragons?”

“Wouldn’t it be more appropriate to ask Senior Disciple instead of me?”

Like a sly fox, Oh Jung-geon had tried to draw out his true thoughts, but Ban Hojin smoothly shifted the question to Beopmu.

Oh Jung-geon flinched.

He had not expected such a natural evasion.

“They seem like talents with much to look forward to.”

“Hem hem! Indeed. In fact, more than half of those over there will eventually become the heads of their respective families.”

At Beopmu’s textbook-like response, Oh Jung-geon wore a slightly disappointed expression.

This was not the situation he had wanted.

Meanwhile, just like on this side, the rising juniors were also watching this area closely.

With Beopmu, the head disciple of Shaolin, and Hu Gae of the Beggars’ Sect together, it was only natural that attention gathered.

“Who is that person?”

“He’s the only one with hair?”

“He’s wearing a sword. Is he a disciple of another sect?”

“But doesn’t the atmosphere look really friendly?”

Unlike the men who were wholly absorbed in sparring, the women gathered in small groups and quietly exchanged words.

They spoke while glancing toward where Beopmu and Oh Jung-geon stood.

Then, all of their gazes settled on Ban Hojin.

Oh Jung-geon was a disciple of the Beggars’ Sect, so having hair was not strange, but Ban Hojin was different.

“That’s what I’m saying. His position is right between Great Master Beopmu and the second head disciple. And they’re talking so comfortably.”

“Is he a lay disciple? If the ranking is first-generation disciple, then it would make sense for the second-generation disciple to be so flustered.”

“But even so, he looks too young. Even if he’s a lay disciple, can he really converse that comfortably with Great Master Beopmu?”

All of the women tilted their heads in confusion.

No matter how much they thought about it, the doubts would not clear.

Among them were the three women known as the Three Phoenixes.

“Unni, don’t you think that person is quite handsome?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Unni, since your elder brother is so handsome, I guess your standards are just high.”

Zhuge Hye-jeong, the treasured jewel of the Zhuge Family, puffed out her lips at Namgung So-yeon’s answer.

No matter that she was the precious gem of the Namgung Family, her standards seemed far too high.

“It’s not necessarily that. Maybe it’s just a matter of taste? But who could he be?”

“I’m curious too. He doesn’t look like someone of ordinary status.”

“Could he be a disciple of Shaolin? Shaolin has sword techniques and blade techniques as well.”

Namgung So-yeon’s eyes sparkled.

Though rare, exceptional swordsmen and blade masters did emerge from Shaolin from time to time.

That was why Namgung So-yeon thought that man might be one such case.

“They do exist, but I heard they’re difficult to master, so they usually aren’t passed down.”

“Doesn’t that just mean his talent is extraordinary?”

“Hm.”

Zhuge Hye-jeong narrowed her eyes.

She was not just anyone; she carried the bloodline of the family known as the Divine Zhuge.

Since she was second to none in intelligence, Zhuge Hye-jeong scrutinized the man, who appeared to be around the age of coming of age, with sharp eyes.

“And wouldn’t there be a reason why Lord Hu Gae went over there?”

“That’s right. In fact, this time too, it didn’t feel like they joined by coincidence.”

“Who could he be.”

Just like Zhuge Hye-jeong, Namgung So-yeon also observed the young man with curious eyes.

Unfortunately, there was very little she could discern.

There were limits to what could be known by simply looking.

Yet there were others who were curious about him as well.

“Could it be him?”

“Most likely.”

“But he doesn’t look particularly special?”

Namgung Gwang, ranked as the foremost among the Four Dragons, who were called the greatest rising juniors of the Orthodox Martial World, wore a dubious expression.

He looked nothing like what he had heard from his father.

And the same was true for Zhuge Gi-jeong, whom he could call a friend.

Contrary to what they had been told, nothing particularly outstanding stood out about the young man.

“He could be in the state of Return to the Origin Realm.”

“That realm isn’t something just anyone can reach. Return to the Origin Realm.”

“Or it could be a martial art that doesn’t reveal its aura easily. Honestly, not much is known about Shaolin’s sword techniques, right? Aside from the sword arts practiced by lay disciples, the ones comparable to the Seventy-Two Ultimate Arts.”

“That’s true.”

Namgung Gwang nodded.

As the Namgung Family was called the greatest sword clan under heaven, their pride in the sword was immense.

Because of that, compared to other families, they were also more knowledgeable about the sword techniques held by Shaolin.

That was why he was so curious.

“What will you do?”

“At times like this, there’s only one method. We have no choice but to collide head-on.”

“As expected, you’re bold.”

“You’re curious too, aren’t you?”

“That’s why I’m rooting for you.”

When Zhuge Gi-jeong smiled slyly, Namgung Gwang let out a snort of laughter.

Then, without hesitating, he moved his feet.

He headed straight toward where Ban Hojin was.

“Huh?”

“What is it?”

“Why is he going over there?”

At Namgung Gwang’s sudden movement, everyone except those engaged in sparring began to murmur.

Since he was inexplicably walking toward where Beopmu and Oh Jung-geon were, they all found it strange.

However, a few of them grasped Namgung Gwang’s intentions and their eyes gleamed.

“Greetings. I am Namgung Gwang of the Namgung Family.”

Having strode over briskly, Namgung Gwang offered a light bow to Beopmu and Oh Jung-geon, then alternated his gaze between Ban Hojin and Jeong Hyeon as he greeted them first.

At that, Jeong Hyeon’s eyes widened.

He had not expected one of the Four Dragons, and the young lord of the Namgung Family, to greet them first like this.

Perhaps because of that, Jeong Hyeon flustered and hurriedly pressed his palms together.

“I, it’s an honor to meet you! I am Jeong Hyeon, the second head disciple of Shaolin!”

“The pleasure is mine.”

“I am Ban Hojin, a lay disciple.”

Unlike the restless Jeong Hyeon, Ban Hojin remained calm.

The prestige of the Namgung Family held no meaning for him.

It was certainly impressive, but there was no need to be startled or excited like Jeong Hyeon.

If one were to compare statuses, there was nothing for him to feel inferior about.

“Could you perhaps be the Abbot’s youngest disciple?”

“That’s correct.”

To Namgung Gwang’s courteous yet confident question, Ban Hojin replied calmly.

It would have been natural to show surprise, yet he showed no such sign at all.

Rather, Beopmu and Oh Jung-geon, who had been listening to the exchange, were the ones taken aback.

They had not imagined that Namgung Gwang would know about Ban Hojin.

Swoosh.

Because of that, Beopmu unconsciously looked at Oh Jung-geon.

He wondered if the source might be the Beggars’ Sect.

–It’s not me!

As if on cue, Oh Jung-geon urgently sent a voice transmission when he met Beopmu’s gaze.

Since he had expected Beopmu to suspect him, Oh Jung-geon lightly shook his head, looking utterly innocent.

As if to say he had not leaked a single thing about Ban Hojin.

However, despite Oh Jung-geon’s expression and response, Beopmu did not withdraw his suspicion.

–It really isn’t me! The Namgung Family hasn’t even asked me about him!

Facing Beopmu’s unwaveringly suspicious gaze, Oh Jung-geon hurriedly added.

As though he had truly been wronged.

“If it would not be discourteous, may I request a sparring match? As a swordsman myself, I have long been curious about Shaolin’s sword.”

While Oh Jung-geon was still flustered, Namgung Gwang spoke bluntly.

He left no room for retreat at all.

At that sight, Ban Hojin smiled as if amused.

Though polite, the arrogance firmly seated within was visible to his eyes.

“If this place is uncomfortable, we can move elsewhere.”

“No. We cannot treat guests who have come to our temple differently. We will do it here.”

“Thank you for accepting my sudden request.”

Namgung Gwang clasped his fists in salute, as splendidly as his handsome appearance.

At the salute that felt respectful to the extreme, low exclamations arose from afar.

The women watching the scene let out near-screams of admiration at Namgung Gwang’s appearance.

And Jeong Hyeon was looking at him with an envious gaze.

“Let’s begin right away.”

“Understood.”

“Please come this way.”

Having heard the entire exchange between Namgung Gwang and Ban Hojin through inner energy, Zhuge Gi-jeong went ahead to the front courtyard first and cleared the surroundings.

He asked those who had been sparring for their understanding and made space.

Yet no one showed any displeasure.

Upon hearing that Namgung Gwang, one of the Four Dragons, and Ban Hojin, who seemed to hold a considerable status in Shaolin, were going to spar, they instead sparkled with anticipation.

“Shall we begin then.”

“Yes.”

Letting Namgung Gwang’s gaze, tinged with a strange anticipation, pass by, Ban Hojin replied leisurely.

Seeing not a trace of tension no matter how hard one looked, an unusual light appeared in Namgung Gwang’s eyes.

He surely knew who Namgung Gwang was, yet he acted so relaxed that it was slightly irritating, but at the same time refreshing.

Since gaining the nickname Heavenly Dragon, not a single rising junior had ever shown such a demeanor, so Namgung Gwang looked at Ban Hojin with eyes half intrigued, half astonished.

“Since I requested the spar, I will go first.”

“Please do.”

From a certain point onward, Namgung Gwang had not moved first when sparring.

In matches against rising juniors, he had always been in the position of the strong, so he usually yielded the initiative.

But this time, since he himself had requested the spar, Namgung Gwang drew his sword first for the first time in a long while.

At the same time, he felt anticipation within.

He hoped Ban Hojin would show martial prowess beyond expectations.

Of course, even so, victory would be his.

Screeeech!

‘This guy hasn’t changed either.’

Watching the sword thrust that pierced toward his heart the instant the blade was drawn, flowing like water, Ban Hojin smiled faintly.

It seemed that his temperament ten years later and his temperament now were not all that different.

However, there was one clear difference.

‘But does this fellow know? That in a few years, those he thought were beneath him will overtake him.’

With a grin, Ban Hojin drew his sword.

By then, Namgung Gwang’s sword had already surged to within arm’s reach of him.

Yet Ban Hojin’s sword had not even fully left its scabbard.

At that sight, disappointment settled into Namgung Gwang’s eyes.

Claaang!