Chapter 51: Dragon-Phoenix Awakening Tournament
“Haa, why did you have to break the roof for no reason?”
Jin Gwangung clicked his tongue.
“I already knew you were an ignorant bastard, but I didn't realize you'd become this reckless.”
“Master, they're just a few broken roof tiles....”
He was making such a fuss over a few cracked tiles.
It wasn't like I'd brought the entire roof down.
Jin Gwangung glared at me with obvious displeasure.
“Just a few roof tiles?”
His voice rose.
“What if you'd punched a hole through the roof?”
“What happens when it rains and water starts leaking through the ceiling?”
He pointed toward the Abandoned Martial Hall.
“All the martial arts manuals inside would get soaked.”
Then he narrowed his eyes.
“Do you ever think before acting?”
"..."
I couldn't argue with that.
He had a point.
Jin Gwangung sighed.
“Let's go down.”
I blinked.
“Where?”
“Where else? Back to the main sect.”
He jerked his chin.
“We need replacement roof tiles.”
Then he continued,
“We're out of food too.”
“Might as well stop by the Finance Hall and squeeze some money out of them.”
Then Jin Gwangung looked me up and down.
His expression became even more disgusted.
“And look at you.”
“You look worse than a beggar.”
He shook his head.
“We should find you something decent to wear while we're there.”
Only then did I really look at myself.
I had spent nearly an entire month inside that cave training Great Void Golden Body Tempering.
After rolling around in such a rough environment for so long...
my clothes had practically turned into rags.
Even beggars would look better than this.
I had already been thinking of visiting the main sect anyway.
It had been quite a while since I'd seen the others from the search party or the Event Hall.
I looked at Jin Gwangung.
“Let's go, Master.”
And so...
we immediately headed toward Kunlun's main grounds.
The path down toward the main sect felt much easier than before.
A mountain route that would've made me sweat heavily in the past...
now felt like little more than a pleasant walk.
Every movement of Void Night Shadow Step felt light.
Rather than consciously stepping forward...
it felt as though my body simply moved on its own.
Must be because of Great Void Golden Body Tempering.
I finally understood what Jin Gwangung meant when he said it allowed perfect control of the body and energy.
We continued down the mountain with the cool wind against our faces.
Before long...
a familiar sight entered my vision.
The buildings of Kunlun's main sect.
No matter how many times I saw them...
they always looked orderly and dignified.
Soon, Jin Gwangung and I entered the sect grounds.
But then...
...What's with this atmosphere?
The moment we passed through the mountain gate...
I sensed a strange excitement in the air.
It wasn't Kunlun's usual quiet atmosphere.
Taoists were gathered in small groups, murmuring among themselves.
Many stood around talking instead of training.
And this was at a time when most of them should've been focused on cultivation.
There were especially many young Taoists around my age.
Their faces looked visibly excited.
I glanced around.
“Is there some kind of event happening in the sect today?”
Jin Gwangung rubbed his chin.
“Hmm.”
“No idea.”
He shrugged.
“Probably nothing worth worrying about.”
“Let's just get on with what we came here to do.”
“Understood.”
We continued toward the Finance Hall.
We had come to request operating funds for the Abandoned Martial Hall.
Before long...
the Finance Hall building came into view.
Jin Gwangung began chuckling to himself.
“Now then...”
“How much should I squeeze out of them this time?”
His grin widened.
“I can't wait to see Finance Hall Master Hyeoneun's stingy face twist up.”
“Kekeke.”
"..."
How had someone like this ever ended up affiliated with Kunlun?
No matter how I looked at it...
he seemed far better suited to the Green Forest bandits or the Yangtze River Water Forts.
What was heaven thinking when it sent Jin Gwangung to Kunlun...?
While thinking that...
I continued walking toward the Finance Hall.
Then I noticed a group coming out of the building.
Young Taoists.
And among them...
there was one familiar face.
Myeongjeon.
Huh? What's he doing here...?
Then I remembered.
Myeongjeon had been First Elder Golden Hand Na Gwangdo's representative in the Elders' Lecture Gathering.
Na Gwangdo practically controlled the Finance Hall.
So of course Myeongjeon would have reason to be here.
While talking with the others...
Myeongjeon turned his head toward us.
His eyes widened.
“Oh! Martial Uncle Mujin!”
The moment he recognized me, he shouted and ran over.
His face was full of joy.
Anyone watching would've thought a younger brother had finally reunited with the older brother he'd missed for years.
Of course...
I was actually much younger than Myeongjeon.
He rushed over and greeted both of us.
“Goodness, Martial Uncle Mujin! It's been so long!”
Then he bowed toward Jin Gwangung.
“First Elder Gwangung, I hope you've been well too.”
Jin Gwangung gave a slight nod.
I smiled at Myeongjeon.
“Yeah.”
“You've been doing well, Martial Nephew Myeongjeon?”
“Of course!”
Then Myeongjeon looked between us curiously.
