Chapter 22: Frost Ice Snow Lotus
The gathering at the Sect Leader's residence ended after everyone consumed the Soul-Dissolving Pills.
The Kunlun members left looking satisfied.
Baek Cheongu departed with that same disgusting smile until the very end.
I also left the Sect Leader's residence with Jin Gwangung.
Then suddenly...
Jin Gwangung started wildly swinging both arms through the air.
“Kuhahaha!”
“It's been ages since I ate something that effective!”
He looked delighted.
“My blocked blood and energy feel as though they've burst open like a waterfall!”
“I feel thirty years younger!”
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
You damn old fool.
Do you even know what you just swallowed?
That's one of the deadliest poisons under heaven!
The words rose all the way to my throat.
But I kept quiet.
One Soul-Dissolving Pill wouldn't cause any serious problem.
Its first dose genuinely restored vitality and temporarily strengthened internal energy.
Besides...
I didn't have the mental space to worry about Jin Gwangung's nonsense.
My mind was already working constantly on the events to come.
Baek Cheongu will assassinate the Sect Leader one week from now.
At the special banquet for the winner of the Elders' Lecture Gathering.
I needed revenge against Baek Cheongu.
And I needed to prevent the Sect Leader's poisoning.
To accomplish both...
there was one goal I absolutely had to achieve.
I had to win the Elders' Lecture Gathering.
The winner sits directly beside the Sect Leader during the special banquet.
And right next to that bastard Baek Cheongu.
I already had a rough idea of how Baek Cheongu would attempt the assassination.
To stop him...
the person sitting in the winner's seat had to be me.
I'll win.
No matter what.
Just as I strengthened my resolve...
“UWAAAAAAAH!”
Jin Gwangung suddenly screamed toward the sky.
“I can't control it!”
“This overflowing energy!”
“This boiling blood!”
Apparently overwhelmed by the vitality from the pill...
he roared like a bear in heat.
Then he abruptly looked toward me.
“This won't do.”
“I need to go release some of this energy.”
"...What?"
I stared at him.
“Release your energy?”
“Where exactly are you going?”
“Where else would a vigorous man go when he's overflowing with energy?”
Jin Gwangung laughed loudly.
“A pleasure house, obviously!”
“I can already hear the beautiful women crying out for their hero!”
“Kuhahahaha!”
"..."
I was speechless.
Kunlun was a proper Taoist sect that pursued the Dao.
Jin Gwangung was a First Elder who was supposed to embody that path for the younger generation.
Hero, my ass.
You're just a horny old man.
I swallowed the insults rising inside me.
Jin Gwangung had never been someone common sense worked on.
And even if I tried to stop him...
he wouldn't listen anyway.
“...Of course.”
I answered half-heartedly.
“A true man naturally has such needs.”
Then I sighed.
“When do you plan to return?”
Jin Gwangung scratched his chin.
“Hm....”
“About a week from now?”
My vision nearly went dark.
There was exactly one week left until the Elders' Lecture Gathering.
“What?”
I stared at him.
“A week?”
“Then what about preparing for the Elders' Lecture Gathering?”
“What am I supposed to do alone without you?”
Jin Gwangung laughed as though I had asked something ridiculous.
“Preparation?”
“Handle it yourself.”
Then he placed his hands on his hips.
“A real man creates his own path.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Besides...”
“you're already thinking about relying on someone else?”
“Did I raise you to be that weak?”
I couldn't answer for several seconds.
What exactly did you ever teach me?
Other than throwing me into the Abandoned Martial Hall...
what did this old man actually do?
“...Master.”
I forced myself to remain calm.
“I've heard the exact judging criteria won't be revealed until the day of the gathering.”
“But surely martial arts will still decide the outcome.”
“Obviously.”
“If martial arts are involved, then I need at least some preparation.”
I gestured toward myself.
“Look at me.”
Jin Gwangung frowned.
“What am I supposed to look at?”
“I have nothing.”
I spread my hands.
“Every other representative carries some weapon, whether a sword or spear.”
“I'm literally empty-handed.”
“So?”
I stared at him.
“Are you seriously planning to send me into the Elders' Lecture Gathering like this?”
“Is that how sincerely you treat your one and only direct disciple?”
"..."
My desperate appeal finally seemed to reach him.
Jin Gwangung stroked his chin.
Good.
Even someone like him should have at least a little conscience.
If he had even a tiny amount...
he should teach me something for at least a day or two.
But...
the person standing before me was Kunlun's Mad Bear.
A creature unfamiliar with ordinary human responsibility.
Jin Gwangung simply shrugged.
Then he slapped the sheath strapped across his own back.
“You're such an annoying brat.”
“Here.”
“Use this and train however you want.”
His sword, sheath and all...
flew directly toward me.
I instinctively caught it with both hands.
“There.”
Jin Gwangung nodded proudly.
“You wanted a sword, so I gave you one.”
“Handle the rest yourself.”
"..."
He cleared his throat.
“Ahem. I don't have time to keep talking.”
“I need to deal with all this overflowing energy quickly.”
“If this continues, I might even suffer qi deviation.”
"..."
He turned away.
“I'll see you on the day of the Elders' Lecture Gathering.”
“Don't slack off.”
“Train hard.”
After saying everything he wanted...
Jin Gwangung started to leave.
Then he seemed to remember something.
He looked back.
“One last piece of advice, since it may help your training.”
His grin widened.
“I'm sure you'll handle things properly on your own.”
“But if the result of the Elders' Lecture Gathering displeases me...”
He patted my shoulder.
“imagine carefully where this old man's anger might be directed.”
“That thought should motivate you to train harder.”
"Hehehe."
"..."
Then...
