Chapter 12: Returning to Kunlun
Jin Gwangung stood alone at the edge of the Abandoned Martial Hall's roof.
His arms were crossed as he looked down at us.
His robe fluttered in the wind, making his already imposing appearance even more impressive.
When did he get up there?
I had been confident that after practicing martial arts in the Abandoned Martial Hall, my qi perception had improved considerably.
Yet even though Jin Gwangung had been right nearby...
I hadn't sensed him at all.
The old man really is a monster.
It made me think I should be much more careful when practicing martial arts inside the Hall.
He might secretly hide nearby and watch me again.
Tap.
Jin Gwangung lightly kicked off the edge of the roof.
He landed smoothly on the ground between Na Gwangdo and me.
He glanced at me once.
Then turned toward Na Gwangdo.
"What brings you all the way here?"
Jin Gwangung grinned.
"I'm surprised an old man who starts panting after walking a few steps managed to come this far."
Na Gwangdo's body trembled.
"...Watch your words, Elder Gwangung."
"The sect's disciples are present."
"Oh?"
Jin Gwangung looked around.
"So you brought some brats with you."
Then he shrugged.
"But did I say anything wrong?"
"Aren't you the one who became so obsessed with money that you threw martial training aside?"
"W-What are you saying?!"
Na Gwangdo's face flushed.
"I've trained diligently every single day!"
"Training?"
Jin Gwangung laughed.
"Look at your stomach before saying that."
"It's swollen like a watermelon."
"Who would look at you and think you're a martial artist?"
"You look more like some moneylender who spends all day lying around counting coins."
"Hehehe."
"Ugh...."
Jin Gwangung really didn't hold back.
Even when dealing with another First Elder like Na Gwangdo, he showed absolutely no respect or formality.
He was practically just insulting him.
"Anyway."
Jin Gwangung waved his hand.
"Why did you really come?"
"I heard you talking about the Elders' Lecture Gathering earlier."
Na Gwangdo pointed toward me.
"The details are in the letter held by that servant..."
He paused.
"...No."
"Your disciple."
I handed the letter to Jin Gwangung.
He unfolded it and quickly read through the contents.
"Let's see..."
Then his expression changed.
"What?"
"They're moving the Elders' Lecture Gathering forward?"
"One week from now?"
Na Gwangdo nodded.
"That's right."
"The schedule has suddenly become much tighter."
"The Sect Leader ordered every participant currently outside the main sect to return immediately after receiving this letter."
"Why?"
Jin Gwangung frowned.
"Why was the schedule suddenly changed?"
"I'm not certain."
Na Gwangdo shook his head.
"But I heard it concerns the Righteous Alliance."
My heart turned cold.
The Righteous Alliance?
Why is that cursed name appearing here?
A memory from before regression suddenly flashed through my mind.
No way...
Could it be related to that incident?
There was one event I remembered extremely clearly.
About one week from now...
something would happen inside Kunlun.
An incident shocking enough to throw the entire sect into chaos.
I need to confirm this.
If that incident really has something to do with the Righteous Alliance...
I focused more closely on Jin Gwangung and Na Gwangdo's conversation.
"Dammit."
Jin Gwangung scratched his head.
"I was planning to prepare at my own pace."
"One week is annoying."
Na Gwangdo gave him a strange look.
"Even if the schedule was moved forward, shouldn't it make little difference to you?"
"What do you mean?"
Jin Gwangung narrowed his eyes.
"Gwangdo, what exactly are you trying to say?"
"You chose someone from the Event Hall as your representative."
Na Gwangdo smiled faintly.
"So naturally, I assumed you had already given up on this Elders' Lecture Gathering."
Jin Gwangung snorted.
"What's wrong with someone being from the Event Hall?"
"If I like him, that's enough."
He looked annoyed.
"And what nonsense are you saying?"
"When did I ever say I was giving up?"
"This gathering is supposed to feature disciples personally trained by the First Elders."
Na Gwangdo looked toward me.
"Don't you think the difference in status and skill between them and your Event Hall-born representative may be too great?"
"I'm simply worried he may damage your reputation."
He pretended to be concerned about Jin Gwangung.
But in reality, he was obviously trying to irritate him.
Yet instead of becoming angry...
Jin Gwangung laughed.
"Hehehe."
"Damage my reputation, my ass."
"Since when have you ever worried about me?"
"Even a dog walking past would laugh at that."
Then Jin Gwangung glanced at me.
"Instead of worrying about my reputation, you should worry about yourself."
"Myself?"
Na Gwangdo frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Jin Gwangung looked at me once more.
Then smiled.
"I've got a feeling this brat is going to cause one hell of an incident during the Elders' Lecture Gathering."
"An incident?"
"My disciple is much better at using that little head than he looks."
"Who knows?"
"Maybe this cheeky brat will completely crush the representatives of the other First Elders."
"Hehehe."
Na Gwangdo shook his head as if Jin Gwangung had said something ridiculous.
"What nonsense...."
I tilted my head too.
Has this old man finally gone senile?
Why is he suddenly praising me?
Since when did he trust me that much?
Don't tell me he secretly watched me training in the Abandoned Martial Hall.
I had several questions.
But in situations like this...
keeping quiet was usually best.
So I stayed silent and simply listened.
Their conversation was already reaching its end.
Na Gwangdo sighed.
"You truly are impossible."
"Living alone in the Abandoned Martial Hall seems to have destroyed even your sense of reality."
"Well, I sincerely hope at least a small part of your delusion comes true."
"Don't worry."
Jin Gwangung waved dismissively.
"My disciple and I will handle ourselves just fine."
"We don't need your prayers."
Na Gwangdo's eyes narrowed.
"...You're still just as arrogant as ever."
"Why would I change?"
Jin Gwangung laughed.
"They say when someone suddenly changes, it means they're about to die."
"I've still got plenty of years left."
Then he pointed at Na Gwangdo's stomach.
"If you want to live long too, lose that belly first."
"Hehehe."
"Ugh...."
Na Gwangdo looked exhausted.
"Fine."
"I've delivered everything I came to say, so I'll leave."
He gave both Jin Gwangung and me cold looks.
Then he turned around and walked away.
His fast, heavy steps clearly revealed just how angry he was.
The remaining Finance Hall disciples awkwardly followed him.
Soon...
they disappeared from sight.
"Hehehe."
Jin Gwangung chuckled.
"Na Gwangdo is still as fake as ever."
"Though teasing him is still just as fun."
Then he suddenly turned toward me.
"Your mouth isn't bad either."
"Pardon?"
I blinked.
"What exactly did you hear?"
"Calling Hyeoneun 'Fellow Disciple' right to his face."
Jin Gwangung burst out laughing.
"I liked that."
"A man should have that much spirit."
He looked extremely pleased.
"That annoying bastard Hyeoneun."
"He acts all high and mighty because he's Finance Hall Master."
"Every year he complains about cutting the Abandoned Martial Hall's funding."
Jin Gwangung grinned.
"Seeing that fox's face turn bright red was truly satisfying."
"He looked irritating from the moment I saw him."
"Exactly!"
Jin Gwangung laughed.
"Thanks to you, years of bottled-up anger disappeared all at once."
His massive hand, as large as a pot lid, landed on my shoulder.
"They say a tiger never raises a dog."
Jin Gwangung nodded proudly.
"As expected of my disciple, you've got a proper temper."
"Your future looks wonderfully crooked already."
"Hehehe."
That's not even how that saying is used.
And what do you mean my future looks crooked?
I ignored his ridiculous expressions and strange compliments while repeatedly nodding.
Still, it's good that he seems to like me.
Getting closer to this eccentric old man shouldn't hurt me.
Actually...
the closer our relationship became, the better.
It would help me obtain information about the Elders' Lecture Gathering.
And more importantly...
about the incident that would soon happen inside Kunlun.
So I played along.
"Just listening to Hyeoneun speak made it obvious he lacks character."
I intentionally raised my voice as though furious.
"He stepped into the Abandoned Martial Hall where Master resides, yet showed no care for his words or behavior."
"The moment he saw me, he immediately spoke down to me."
"It felt less like he was insulting me and more like he was insulting you, Master."
"I simply couldn't tolerate it."
Jin Gwangung nodded repeatedly.
"Exactly!"
"Hyeoneun deserves whatever he gets."
"Well done."
"As expected of my disciple."
I continued seriously.
"From now on, if I see anyone disrespect Master, I will personally teach them proper manners."
"Good!"
Jin Gwangung looked delighted.
"This old man has found himself a trustworthy disciple."
"As expected, my eyes for people are excellent."
I snorted internally.
Trustworthy disciple, my ass.
Since dragging me to the Abandoned Martial Hall, he had practically ignored me.
Still, there was no reason to say that aloud.
Instead, I continued flattering him.
For a while...
Jin Gwangung and I happily exchanged insults about Hyeoneun.
After our strangely warm master-disciple bonding session ended...
Jin Gwangung stroked his beard.
"It's about time we returned to Kunlun."
"Because of the gathering schedule?"
"Yes."
"The Sect Leader directly ordered us to return immediately."
"We should move before flies like Na Gwangdo keep gathering around the Abandoned Martial Hall."
I felt a little disappointed.
There were still many martial manuals inside the Hall that I hadn't checked.
But I couldn't ignore the Sect Leader's order.
Actually, maybe this is for the best.
For the remaining week, I should focus on properly practicing the martial arts I've already obtained.
Kunlun Azure Soul Scripture.
Void Night Phantom Step.
Flowing Flower Kunlun Sword.
I still hadn't fully mastered any of the three.
Learning even more martial arts now would only make my training shallow.
I can inspect the remaining manuals after the gathering.
Nobody but me cares about those discarded books anyway.
Once I made up my mind...
I felt lighter.
I even became excited at the thought of returning to Kunlun.
I wonder how Sogwang is doing.
I was dragged away so suddenly that I couldn't even say goodbye properly.
Sogwang was one of the very few friends from my previous life.
Maybe Wang Dusik's group had started bothering him again after I disappeared.
If so...
returning to Kunlun quickly was probably a good thing.
I turned toward Jin Gwangung.
"Master, I'll prepare to return to the main sect."
Jin Gwangung's lips curved upward.
"Hehehe."
"Prepare?"
"What?"
"Huh?!"
His right arm suddenly swept around my waist.
Before I knew it...
my body was thrown over his shoulder again.
"A true man acts the moment he makes a decision."
Then he kicked off the ground.
Whoosh!
The wind tore across my face.
Once again...
I was flying through the sky while hanging over Jin Gwangung's heavy shoulder.
Just like the day I first came to the Abandoned Martial Hall...
my departure was exactly the same.
Kunlun's Mad Bear was providing express delivery.
Damn it.
This looks ridiculous.
I complained internally while watching the Abandoned Martial Hall disappear into the distance.
Around the same time Han Mujin and Jin Gwangung prepared to return to Kunlun...
Na Gwangdo's group was also heading back.
A long time had already passed since they left the Abandoned Martial Hall.
Yet not a single word had been exchanged among them.
The reason for the heavy silence...
was Na Gwangdo, who walked at the front.
Since leaving the Abandoned Martial Hall, he hadn't spoken even once.
He merely walked forward with a stiff expression.
Hyeoneun and the other disciples could only watch his mood and quietly follow.
Eventually...
Hall Master Hyeoneun approached Na Gwangdo.
"Master, are you still upset because of Elder Jin Gwangung's rude behavior?"
"..."
"He's merely a madman who isn't in his right mind."
"Please calm your anger."
"..."
Hyeoneun continued trying to comfort him.
But Na Gwangdo remained silent.
"Someone who chooses an Event Hall servant as his representative clearly has no ability to think."
Hyeoneun scoffed.
"During this Elders' Lecture Gathering, Elder Jin Gwangung will surely humiliate himself..."
"Did you call him a lowly servant?"
Na Gwangdo suddenly stopped walking.
Hyeoneun mistook his master's response for agreement and eagerly answered.
"Yes."
"Choosing a lowly servant as his representative..."
"How could anyone make such a decision unless they were insane?"
Na Gwangdo slowly turned.
His expression was colder than Hyeoneun expected.
He looked toward the sky and sighed.
"You fool."
Na Gwangdo's voice became sharp.
"Did that boy truly look like nothing more than a lowly servant to you?"
"What?"
Hyeoneun looked confused.
"What do you mean?"
Na Gwangdo frowned.
"The letter you were holding."
"What happened to it?"
"The gathering letter?"
Hyeoneun paused.
"That servant took it from..."
His face suddenly hardened.
He had finally realized something.
Na Gwangdo spoke quietly.
"Now you understand?"
"That 'lowly servant' you looked down on snatched the letter from your hand."
"And he moved so quickly that you, the Finance Hall Master and my direct disciple, couldn't even react."
"..."
Na Gwangdo stared at him.
"How many people inside the Finance Hall could move fast enough to take something from your hand that easily?"
"Answer me."
"...None."
Hyeoneun lowered his head.
Na Gwangdo looked toward the other disciples.
His expression hardened.
"Listen carefully."
"The moment we return to the Finance Hall, we will select a new representative for the Elders' Lecture Gathering."
"I will personally inspect and choose that person again."
The remaining disciples lowered their heads in shame.
After saying that...
Na Gwangdo began walking forward again.
Then, in a voice only he could hear, he muttered to himself.
"What did he do...?"
"How could an Event Hall servant move like that?"
Jin Gwangung's earlier words returned to his mind.
That Han Mujin would cause a major incident during the Elders' Lecture Gathering.
Impossible.
There's no way....
He repeated that thought to himself.
Yet...
an unpleasant feeling remained in one corner of his chest.
Without realizing it...
Na Gwangdo's steps toward Kunlun became faster.
