Chapter 91

Chapter 91

Even excluding Tanyeong, the number of people who came looking for Youngho was considerable, as if they had somehow learned about him.

Whether Orthodox or Unorthodox, they all sought him out, and no matter how much it was Youngho, he could not help but feel puzzled.

‘Did I do something that would make me stand out?’

Horyeung, having noticed Youngho’s question, smiled gently.

“The last Dragon–Phoenix Gathering was quite remarkable.”

“I didn’t really show much, though?”

“You may not realize it, Young Master, but the martial might you displayed at the last Dragon–Phoenix Gathering was unbelievable for someone considered merely a Junior Disciple.”

“That’s true.”

“If your current martial might were to spread across the world, the number of people seeking you out would be far greater than this.”

Youngho deeply agreed with Horyeung’s words.

During his time as the Lord of the Unorthodox Alliance, the number of people who had offered bribes to curry favor with him had exceeded four digits.

Of course, compared to the leaders of other factions, that number had been insignificant. Namgung Cheon, who had been the Murim Alliance Leader at the time, had dealt with several times as many people as Youngho.

“My rotten personality back then was quite helpful.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s nothing. In any case, could you all step outside?”

“Is something the matter?”

“I have a guest.”

It was an abrupt remark. Until now, even when guests had arrived, Youngho had never asked them to leave the room.

However, everyone present assumed there must be a reason and nodded before stepping outside.

Even Sopyung did so.

Once his subordinates had retreated a fair distance beyond the range of his Sensory Perception, Youngho sent a voice transmission.

—You may come in.

The moment his voice transmission shot out, someone flung the door open and entered the annex.

Thud. Thud.

The footsteps were strangely stiff, but Youngho paid no attention as he rose from his seat and brewed tea.

Thud.

Soon, Namgung Cheon and Zhuge Lianhua greeted Youngho.

“It has been a while.”

“It’s been a long time.”

Youngho briefly glanced at where Namgung Cheon and Zhuge Lianhua stood, then refocused on brewing the tea as he replied,

“It has indeed.”

At that attitude, Zhuge Lianhua’s expression stiffened for a moment.

—It failed.

At Namgung Cheon’s voice transmission, laced with amusement, Zhuge Lianhua shot him a glare.

When she had offered her greeting, she had deliberately acted coquettishly—an enchanting smile that seemed as though one might melt at the sight of it, smiling eyes, and even a gaze that felt mysteriously alluring.

She had thought it a flawless seduction. No—more precisely, she had expected at least the slightest flicker of agitation.

Yet contrary to her expectations, Youngho had glanced at her as though she were a passing pebble on the roadside before calmly returning to steeping the tea.

At this absurd situation, Zhuge Lianhua could only sit down with an uncomfortable expression.

Looking at Zhuge Lianhua—still fresh and youthful, not yet the worn and hardened figure she had become in her days as Chief Strategist of the Murim Alliance—Youngho unconsciously smiled.

At moments like this, he keenly felt once more that he had returned to the past.

Handing each of them a teacup, Youngho asked,

“For what reason have you come here?”

Just as Zhuge Lianhua was about to respond with an alluring smile in her eyes—

“You truly do not intend to participate in the Dragon–Phoenix Gathering?”

Namgung Cheon spoke first.

It was an utterly straightforward question, so pure that not even a speck of calculation could be detected.

Rendered speechless, Zhuge Lianhua shot Namgung Cheon a sharp glare.

Yet without even looking in her direction, Namgung Cheon continued,

“I heard there was a dispute with the Demonic Dragon.”

“How surprising. It was merely a trivial conflict, yet it seems word has already spread.”

“Given that it was a dispute among the Three Dragons, it is only natural that people would grow curious.”

Youngho smiled gently.

“It is true that there was a dispute with Cheon Muback. And it is also true that I will not be participating in the Dragon–Phoenix Gathering.”

“But why…?”

“If anything, I should be the one asking. Surely the Young Hero Namgung Cheon, hailed as the future of the Orthodox Sect, did not truly enter the den of the Unorthodox Faction merely out of such curiosity?”

“……”

When Namgung Cheon avoided his gaze in silence, Youngho instead looked flustered and said,

“No, was that truly all?”

“……”

As Namgung Cheon still failed to answer, Youngho turned an almost pitying gaze toward Zhuge Lianhua.

Understanding that look, anger surged up from deep within her heart, but she steadied herself and spoke,

“Calling this place a den of the Unorthodox Faction seems rather exaggerated.”

“I am the fifth disciple of the Alliance Lord.”

It was a statement laden with meaning. Any mention connected to the Alliance Lord always sent ripples far and wide.

Zhuge Lianhua’s eyes widened, clearly not having expected him to bring up the Alliance Lord so openly.

“You are being quite bold.”

“Do you have anything further to say?”

“……”

No. In truth, there was nothing. Zhuge Lianhua had merely spoken idly to prolong the conversation, if only slightly.

The two of them thought so, yet it seemed that at least Namgung Cheon did not.

“Why will you not participate in the Dragon–Phoenix Gathering?”

“That is a secret.”

Youngho’s resolute tone made it clear he had no intention of answering Namgung Cheon’s question.

Namgung Cheon let out a groan.

When someone declared they would not reveal something, to press further would be a grave discourtesy.

Watching Namgung Cheon look at him with a troubled expression, Youngho thought to himself,

‘Still just a greenhorn.’

His actions were far too simple. Zhuge Lianhua was likely aware of this flaw in Namgung Cheon.

‘He is still too young to become the head of an organization.’

At this point, Youngho even felt a faint impatience. It was likely a side effect of having grown rapidly due to retaining the memories from before his Regression.

The one consolation was that Namgung Cheon had grown considerably stronger.

‘Though he falls slightly short compared to Cheon Muback, at this level….’

Previously, he had thought Tanyeong might catch up to Namgung Cheon, but upon reconsideration, he changed his mind.

Tanyeong would never surpass Namgung Cheon. Unless Tanyeong encountered an extraordinary fortuitous opportunity, this conviction would not change.

As if soothing a child, Youngho spoke in a gentle tone.

“I have circumstances that prevent me from participating in the Dragon–Phoenix Gathering any further. If you wish to have a Sparring Match with me, then come find me after the Dragon–Phoenix Gathering ends.”

Namgung Cheon’s expression brightened noticeably compared to before.

“I understand. It seems we have only taken up your time.”

“Not at all. By the way, would it be all right if I offered you a piece of advice?”

“Please do.”

From the way he answered, it seemed that at present, nothing but a Sparring Match with Youngho occupied Namgung Cheon’s mind.

“This time will be different. Chowon has worked very hard.”

For an instant, Namgung Cheon’s face stiffened.

Chowon. It was a name he knew.

The one who had left the deepest impression during the last Dragon–Phoenix Gathering.

‘Certainly….’

Namgung Cheon still had not forgotten the eyes Kang Chowon had shown that day—eyes sunk to a frightening depth, filled with unwavering focus.

It was the mindset of a Swordsman that even Namgung Cheon himself needed to learn.

“I acknowledge that you are far stronger than the others, but do not let your guard down.”

With his face still hardened, Namgung Cheon nodded. He, too, understood. Youngho’s words were not empty; he truly needed to be wary.

Zhuge Lianhua said nothing, merely watching the exchange between the two.

After a brief silence in which they faced one another, Youngho and Namgung Cheon rose from their seats at the same time.

“I shall see you out.”

“That is not necessary. And it seems I have much to think about.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

“Then I will not escort you.”

After observing proper courtesy, Namgung Cheon departed together with Zhuge Lianhua.

With their departure, no one else came seeking Youngho.

A week passed, and before long, the preliminaries for the Junior Disciples began.

“What?”

Youngho glared at Jongpal with an incredulous expression. Jongpal, on the verge of tears, protested unfairly.

“I didn’t know I’d get eliminated either!”

“Then who did you face, you bastard?!”

“Gyaul!”

Youngho kicked Jongpal in the backside.

“I said tell me who you faced!”

“Someone from the Tang Clan!”

Youngho’s body abruptly stilled.

“The Tang Clan?”

“Yes!”

Youngho cast a glance toward Hyeon-gang. Understanding the meaning behind that look, Hyeon-gang’s veins bulged at his temples as he spoke.

“How long are you going to milk the fact that I used to be from the Tang Clan?”

“…For life?”

“Ah, seriously!”

As Hyeon-gang exploded in frustration, the others burst into laughter.

“Don’t you laugh! It’s hard enough dealing with the Young Master alone!”

“What can we do? It’s funny, hyung.”

“……”

It was Jongpal’s way of speaking that left one utterly speechless.

Hyeon-gang glared at Jongpal in silence for a moment.

“Stop glaring and at least tell me—do you have any guess who it might’ve been?”

Recalling the information he had known during his time in the Tang Clan, Hyeon-gang spoke.

“Now that I think about it, I did hear that a genius of Hidden Weapons had emerged.”

“A genius of Hidden Weapons?”

“Yes. I believe they said he had the greatest talent in history… though he’s probably just some pampered Young Noble Master favored by the higher-ups.”

Though several years had passed, deep resentment toward the Tang Clan still lingered within Hyeon-gang.

Youngho looked at Hyeon-gang with interest.

“What’s his name?”

“Gunhyeon… I’m certain it was Tang Gunhyeon.”

“Tang Gunhyeon?”

“Yes.”

Youngho closed his eyes as though sinking into thought. Soon, he opened them again and smiled.

“Isn’t he the one who showed off and got himself killed?”

“…Pardon?”

Youngho had also heard the name Tang Gunhyeon before his Regression.

‘Didn’t he die to one of the Demonic Cult’s Guardians?’

More precisely, if memory served, he had been killed by the Chief Guardian. In war, deaths were commonplace, but the reason Tang Gunhyeon’s name remained in Youngho’s memory was simple.

‘Since when is there one-on-one in war? Idiot.’

He must have been raised with excessive indulgence within his clan. In the midst of war, he had suddenly insisted on a fair duel to the death and ended up struck with a fatal blow by someone other than the Chief Guardian.

‘And the Chief Guardian finished him off.’

Because of that incident, the Tang Clan’s influence within the Murim Alliance had been significantly reduced.

Youngho stared at Hyeon-gang for a moment before speaking.

“This time, you were right.”

“What do you mean all of a sudden?”

“I mean you were right. If it was him, Jongpal losing makes sense.”

“You know him?”

“I do. Though he doesn’t know me.”

“…Pardon?”

“In any case, Jongpal, you did well. It’s a wonder you weren’t injured.”

The Tang Clan’s weapons were Hidden Weapons and Poison. And Hidden Weapons were notoriously difficult to control.

Once released, they could not be maneuvered at will, nor could they be retrieved.

That was why most people found Sparring Matches against the Tang Clan troublesome. One could truly die.

In such circumstances, the fact that Jongpal had not been wounded by Hidden Weapons meant either that his opponent possessed extraordinary mastery over them, or that Jongpal himself had considerable skill in dealing with them.

And in Youngho’s view, in Jongpal’s case, it was the latter. Jongpal was not at the level of Kang Hosan, but he was still one of the stronger members of the Asura Squad.

And being strong within the Asura Squad meant he had digested Youngho’s training well.

Which, in turn, meant he survived exceptionally well in any situation.

After all, Youngho’s training specialized primarily in survival.

Seeing the situation unfold in a more interesting direction than he had expected, Youngho grinned.

“This Dragon–Phoenix Gathering is going to be quite entertaining.”