Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Before anyone realized it, an entire year had passed since Youngho began training the Asura Squad members.

Youngho nodded, his lips curling into a deeply satisfied smile.

“Keuheu! As expected of me. Elder Hyeok, doesn’t it seem like I’m actually quite good at training people?”

At those words, Elder Hyeok let out a groan as he replied.

“Ugh. How on earth did things end up like this…….”

When Youngho had first forced the Asura Squad members into training a year ago, Elder Hyeok had been certain that at least one of them would voice complaints.

Youngho’s training methods were that rough. He pushed forward relentlessly, without tricks or shortcuts, advancing in silence no matter what.

Yet while Youngho was harsh on himself, he was not someone who was cruel to others.

“Tsk. Your hand keeps dropping.”

At Youngho’s correction, a man who looked to be around the same age grit his teeth and raised his sword upward.

“Aaaagh!”

Youngho’s training was extremely intense. But what exactly was a martial artist? For the sake of becoming stronger, they were people who would even learn forbidden demonic arts or heretical techniques.

If it meant growing stronger, what wouldn’t they do?

To people like them, Youngho was nothing short of a divine being. He broke through blocked enlightenment with his guidance and always provided methods that allowed them to grow stronger both reliably and safely.

They could visibly feel themselves growing stronger the more they trained—who would ever quit under such circumstances?

In a way, it was a systematic training method reminiscent of the Nine Sects and One Gang.

Watching them grow at a dazzling pace was more than enough for Youngho to feel pride in his own training method.

However, when Elder Hyeok noticed Youngho forming a bitter smile, he wore a puzzled expression.

‘What is it? Why is he making that kind of face?’

The Asura Squad members had grown tremendously strong compared to before, all within just one year. The effect was especially pronounced among the newcomers, perhaps because they were still young.

The veteran members pushed themselves even harder so as not to be overtaken by those newcomers.

How could someone make such an expression while looking at such a splendid sight?

Elder Hyeok was extremely curious as to why Youngho wore that expression, but he deliberately pushed the thought aside.

Everyone had their own circumstances. Elder Hyeok did not pry.

He might have thought it didn’t show, but Youngho had already noticed exactly what Elder Hyeok was curious about.

‘It’s been a long time since I used this kind of training method.’

This training method Youngho created had been born thanks to his disciple before his regression.

That disciple had been weak. And incompetent. Because of that, Youngho thought and thought again.

How could he make that frail body sturdy? How could he eliminate those shortcomings?

What he ultimately focused on was the intensity of training. Youngho demanded far too much of his disciple, and the disciple could not keep up with everything.

Thus, Youngho spent long, arduous years searching for a training method suited to his disciple.

At times, he even forgot about his own cultivation.

What resulted from that effort was the current training method. Put simply, it was training that solidified the fundamentals.

The fundamentals were the core. The core must never waver, nor should it move. If it moved or shook, then it was not the core.

It was nothing more than poorly learned demonic arts or heretical techniques.

Especially since Youngho’s martial arts were close to orthodox methods, his rate of growth had been slower than others’.

At first, he had been disappointed in his disciple. But upon hearing Kang Hosan’s advice to abandon greed, he realized that it wasn’t the disciple who was lacking—it was the master.

Disappointed in himself, the master devised many methods. And in the end, he created a way to build the core.

It had been a training method created solely for his own disciple, yet fortunately, it proved to be of great help to others as well.

“Hey, your hand’s dropping again. Want to just have a spar with me today?”

“I’m sorry!”

However, while Youngho’s training itself was excellent, sparring with Youngho was anything but.

Recently, Sopyung had been extremely busy. As the number of people in the household had grown, so too had the number of things that needed to be done.

She could leave things like cleaning to the other maids, but when it came to cooking, she wanted to do it herself.

Sopyung’s cooking was nearly finished.

“Sopyung! Bring the food already!”

“Yes! Young Master! Please wait just a little longer!”

With a bright smile, Sopyung carried the meal outside.

The moment she stepped out, the Asura Squad members immediately entered the kitchen and carried out the completed dishes.

Once, one of the men who had received Youngho’s training early on had cursed because Sopyung was slow in bringing the food.

It had been a common occurrence in the Unorthodox Alliance. Maids were considered lowly beings, and anyone belonging to a unit could use them however they pleased.

Upon hearing those words, Youngho had spoken with a gentle smile.

“Then you bring it yourself.”

“What?”

“I said, you bring it yourself.”

“No, that’s a maid’s job—”

Bang—!

At that moment, Youngho chopped down on the head of the squad member who had insulted Sopyung with the edge of his hand.

White steam rose from the man’s head as he slowly collapsed and lost consciousness on the spot.

Fear naturally spread among the squad members.

‘In one strike?’

‘No, he wasn’t someone who’d go that far(?)’

Youngho spoke, killing intent flashing in his eyes.

“You could’ve just brought it yourselves. Why are you cursing at our Sopyung? Elder Hyeok, did you even educate these brats properly?”

“Th-that is…….”

“You come see me in a bit too.”

“……Yes.”

And just like that, the highest-ranking person here naturally became Sopyung.

Later on, when Horyeung learned of this fact and unleashed killing intent at the Asura Squad members was a separate matter altogether.

“Is that bastard Baekcheong still in closed-door training?”

“Yes. It seems he won’t stop his closed-door training until the Dragon–Phoenix Gathering draws near.”

“That’s strange. That guy actually going through with closed-door training?”

It hadn’t happened before his regression.

‘Is it because Hong Gakjeong died?’

Youngho believed he had lived a fairly long life. As such, he had experienced many instances where his actions changed results and altered processes.

Why would the future be any different? Since he had already regressed, it was safe to say that most of the future he once knew had vanished.

After all, no matter what happened, Youngho would interfere.

“What about the others’ movements?”

“There seem to be those presumed to be from the Hao Sect nearby.”

“Seriously, those guys are relentless. Relentless.”

Just what do they think they can take from me?

Grinding his teeth, Youngho slurped up his wheat noodles.

At that moment, someone opened the door to Youngho’s house and entered. Youngho paused mid-bite of his Dongpo Pork and spoke toward the newcomer.

“Jongpal, where did you go?”

“I ran an errand for the Alliance Lord.”

With those words, Jongpal tore into the leg of a well-boiled chicken as he continued speaking.

“He told me to call for you, Young Master.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“By when?”

“He said that if you asked that, I should tell you whether you forgot that he told you to come immediately.”

“Ah, damn it! I’m going!”

Even as he left, Youngho carefully grabbed an entire boiled chicken in his hand and shot off at once.

Watching that, Horyeung let out a hearty laugh and said,

“You really haven’t changed from two years ago. You’re like a solid rock of a man.”

At that level, isn’t it just a lack of dignity?

Elder Hyeok and the other Asura Squad members had plenty they wanted to say, but they forcibly held it in and returned to their meal.

Sseaeek!

Each time Youngho’s foot touched the ground, he advanced a full zhang with ease. Yet even so, Youngho was dissatisfied with this speed.

‘Slow.’

Speed was always relative. And while Youngho’s current speed was certainly fast, it still failed to match his speed before regression.

‘If I took a spirit medicine, I’d probably get stronger….’

If he consumed a spirit medicine now, he might even aim for Bone-Marrow Reforging. Youngho’s mind and body could already withstand Bone-Marrow Reforging, but his qi was still insufficient.

“Gnh.”

Letting out a groan, Youngho pushed his speed even further. If he were late by even one more dakyung, punishment would surely follow.

In an instant, Youngho arrived at Cheonung’s Private Training Ground.

After completing a swift body search, Youngho entered Cheonung’s Private Training Ground.

“You called for me?”

“You always come to the training ground instead of my office, don’t you?”

“That is where the pitiful Chief Aide Cheong belongs.”

“I agree.”

Watching Cheonung accept that without batting an eye, Youngho thought to himself,

‘I wasn’t that bad, was I?’

No, surely not.

“What were you thinking about?”

“I was wondering why Master called for me.”

“That’s a lie.”

“Please let it slide.”

“Heh heh, you really are entertaining. There’s only one reason I called you today.”

“Is it something important?”

“No, at least it won’t be important to you.”

“Then why did you call me?”

“Participate in the Dragon–Phoenix Gathering.”

At those words, Youngho’s expression stiffened rapidly.

“There must be a reason.”

“It’s for your sake. Honestly, given your growth rate, I believe you’ll reach the same realm as me within five years—assuming you continue living as you are now, training without rest.”

“This disciple is not even worthy of the dirt under Master’s nails.”

“Youngho.”

Thump.

At Cheonung’s serious tone as he called his name, Youngho felt cold sweat form on its own.

“You will be the next Lord of the Unorthodox Alliance.”

Shaking his head, Youngho replied,

“That may happen in the future, but at least not now.”

“That future could simply come a little sooner.”

“I am still lacking.”

“Indeed. You’re not yet on equal footing with the Murim Alliance Leader.”

“Then why are you trying to make me the Lord of the Unorthodox Alliance so quickly?”

“Because you are one who brings change.”

“…Pardon?”

He couldn’t understand what that meant. A person who brings change? The only thing that had changed about him recently were the calluses on his palms.

And yet, change?

Seeing Youngho’s confused gaze, Cheonung let out a faint chuckle.

“I will stop the Orthodox–Demonic War.”

“Yes. You truly are doing so already.”

“And you will be the one who wins the Orthodox–Demonic War.”

“……”

Youngho could not say anything. He simply closed his eyes in silence.

“To be honest, I have no confidence that I can win the Orthodox–Demonic War. Cheonung is a man who excels at things done alone, but is poor at things done together.”

“Are you saying I’m good at it?”

“At least better than I am.”

“……”

When Youngho remained silent with his eyes closed, Cheonung looked up at the sky and spoke.

“You may even end up fighting that monster from Cheonsan.”

At those words, Youngho’s eyes flew open.

Within them writhed a snake-like wickedness and a killing intent that looked ready to pounce like a tiger at any moment.

“At the very least, I believe you are better than me—your monstrous talent, and your character.”

“I am not a good person.”

“I know.”

“I am not someone particularly good at anything either. I only know things because I have done them before.”

This much, not even Cheonung could understand. What could a boy who hadn’t even come of age yet possibly have experienced to be this adept?

What in the world had he done?

Countless questions arose, yet Cheonung merely gazed steadily at Youngho, like an ancient tree standing tall atop a mountain peak.

“I will participate in the Dragon–Phoenix Gathering. But I don’t think it’s time yet to inherit Master’s seat.”

“That’s enough.”

For now, that was enough.