Chapter 53: Gathering
There was a firm resolve in the Sect Leader's voice.
I quietly waited for him to continue.
“Mujin, you and the other representatives are all recognized within Kunlun in your own ways.”
That was true.
After the Black Spirit Valley incident, the members of the search party had begun to be called the future of Kunlun.
The Sect Leader looked away for a moment before continuing.
“And that's exactly why it's dangerous.”
“Dangerous...?”
When I asked cautiously, he nodded.
“Within Kunlun, it'll be difficult for you to find opponents around your age who can truly rival you.”
His gaze returned to me.
“When that happens, people naturally begin overestimating themselves.”
Then he spoke more firmly.
“But the martial world is vast.”
“There are countless geniuses out there.”
He was absolutely right.
Being strong inside Kunlun and being strong enough to stand out across the entire martial world were two completely different things.
Thanks to the experiences of my previous life, I understood that difference better than most.
“Prestigious righteous sects like Wudang, Mount Hua, and Shaolin will be participating.”
“So will numerous great families.”
The Sect Leader's voice lowered.
“There is no telling how many young geniuses among them have yet to reveal their names.”
He looked directly at me.
“If you enter the Dragon-Phoenix Awakening Tournament satisfied with your current strength...”
“you may fall in a single strike.”
I couldn't deny it.
The world had a cruel habit of showing reality to those who believed they were already strong enough.
That was the point the Sect Leader was making.
“That's why I intend to put you through special training.”
“I want to see whether your martial arts are progressing in the right direction.”
“And where your weaknesses are.”
“We'll correct those before the tournament.”
I asked,
“Who will be in charge of the special training?”
The Sect Leader didn't answer immediately.
After a short silence, he slowly spoke.
“I'm still deciding.”
“It won't take long.”
“Yes.”
“That will be all for today.”
“You may go.”
“I'll summon you again soon.”
“Understood.”
I bowed and started to leave.
Then...
“Mujin.”
The Sect Leader's voice stopped me.
I turned.
“The martial world is vast and deep.”
His expression was calm.
“There are undoubtedly many powerful people in this world.”
"..."
Then his eyes sharpened.
“But...”
“I don't believe our Kunlun is inferior to any of them.”
I bowed once more.
“Yes.”
“I'll prove that your belief is correct, Sect Leader.”
The moment I left the Sect Leader's Palace...
I saw a familiar figure.
Jin Gwangung was leaning against the wall of the building.
“Finished?”
“Yes, Master.”
I looked at him.
“But what about the Finance Hall?”
Jin Gwangung looked me over and smirked.
“How long could something like that take?”
He folded his arms.
“I just told Hyeoneun that some ill-tempered disciple smashed up the roof.”
"..."
He continued without shame.
“Then I said all the secret manuals in the Abandoned Martial Hall were about to turn into scrap paper because of it.”
His grin widened.
“He handed over the operating funds immediately.”
"..."
Then Jin Gwangung chuckled.
“From now on, whenever we're short on money...”
“maybe we should just break a few parts of the Abandoned Martial Hall.”
He nodded as though discovering some profound truth.
“Very useful.”
Then he looked at me.
“Thanks.”
“It's all because of you.”
“Keh-heh-heh.”
"..."
I was still wondering how to respond when Jin Gwangung suddenly asked,
“So what did the Sect Leader say?”
“Ask you to restore Kunlun's prestige at the Dragon-Phoenix Awakening Tournament?”
There was no reason to hide it.
“He said there'll be special training for the tournament participants.”
Jin Gwangung's eyes narrowed.
“Special training?”
Then...
the corner of his mouth rose.
“Kekeke.”
A short laugh escaped him.
“Interesting.”
“That stiff old man talking about special training.”
He looked amused.
“Seems this Dragon-Phoenix Awakening Tournament is bothering him more than I thought.”
“Is that unusual?”
“Of course it is.”
Jin Gwangung pushed himself away from the wall and started walking.
I followed.
His voice became quieter.
“The Sect Leader is the kind of man who only moves as much as necessary.”
“He never reaches for more than he needs.”
He glanced back at me.
“But special training?”
He chuckled.
“That means he's found something he wants badly enough to be greedy for it.”
That made me feel strangely uneasy.
If someone who rarely acted went so far as to call this "special training"...
then whatever awaited us was probably intense enough to deserve the name.
I asked,
“Who do you think will be in charge?”
Jin Gwangung looked openly delighted.
“Well...”
“I have a rough guess.”
His grin widened.
“But it'd be no fun if I told you already.”
“Kekeke.”
“Master....”
Seeing my exasperated face only seemed to entertain him more.
“You'll find out soon enough.”
Then he shrugged.
“And does it really matter who it is?”
“Surely this special training can't be harder than learning Great Void Golden Body Tempering.”
“Haa....”
I let out a small sigh.
Jin Gwangung kept chuckling as though my reaction amused him.
And with that...
we returned to the Abandoned Martial Hall.
I continued training.
The Flowing Flower Kunlun Sword.
Void Night Shadow Step.
Kunlun Blue Soul Scripture.
And Great Void Golden Body Tempering.
I trained my body and focused my mind, trying to become more comfortable using all of them.
But no matter what...
the words "special training" kept circling in one corner of my mind.
Several days passed.
Then one late afternoon...
someone knocked on the gate of the Abandoned Martial Hall.
“Taoist Mujin!”
I recognized the face.
He was the same disciple who had once been sent to urgently bring me to the Sect Leader's Palace before the Black Spirit Valley search mission.
“I have a message.”
His expression was solemn.
“The preparations for the special training are complete.”
...So it was finally here.
The long-awaited special training was about to begin.
Jin Gwangung had been away since early morning.
I left a short note in his room explaining where I was going.
Then I took only my sword and immediately headed toward the training location mentioned by the messenger.
