Chapter 69: First Impression
Before long, another group entered the building.
Snow-white Taoist robes.
A red plum blossom embroidered over the right side of the chest, standing out sharply against the white fabric.
And a sword hanging at each waist.
The Mount Hua Sect.
At the front of the group walked an elderly Taoist.
He looked around the same age as Jin Gwangung.
Fine wrinkles naturally lined the corners of his eyes, giving him a warm and approachable appearance.
Three young Taoists followed neatly behind him.
The old Taoist glanced around after entering.
Then his eyes landed on Yu Gwangcheol and Jin Gwangung.
“Goodness, how long has it been?”
He approached them with a smile.
“Must've been over ten years.”
His voice was as gentle as his appearance.
Jin Gwangung laughed.
“Kekeke. Ten years?”
“It's already been more than twenty.”
He looked the old Taoist up and down.
“Still alive and kicking, I see.”
The old Taoist laughed heartily.
“Hahaha! Taoist Gwangung hasn't changed one bit either.”
Watching the two greet each other warmly, Yu Gwangcheol suddenly spoke.
“...It's been a while, Taoist Wonho.”
The moment I heard that name...
my ears perked up.
Wonho...?
Someone immediately came to mind.
Plum Blossom Sword Wonho.
The swordsman known as Mount Hua's greatest sword...
and one of the Five Great Swordsmen of the martial world.
...Don't tell me this is really that Plum Blossom Sword?
From appearances alone...
he just looked like an ordinary, good-natured old Taoist.
I swallowed inwardly and studied Taoist Wonho.
He laughed as he looked at Yu Gwangcheol.
“Taoist Gwangcheol.”
“We haven't seen each other in twenty years, and you don't look happy at all.”
He chuckled.
“Aren't you being a little cold?”
Yu Gwangcheol answered bluntly.
“Since when were you and I close enough for that kind of greeting?”
“Don't say unnecessary things.”
Taoist Wonho didn't seem offended at all.
“Haha.”
“Among fellow Taoists who pursue the Dao, what does it matter whether we're close or distant?”
Even though Yu Gwangcheol's words could easily have been considered rude...
Wonho simply laughed them off.
Jin Gwangung chuckled beside them.
“Taoist Wonho, don't bother.”
He waved a hand.
“It's hardly the first time that old man Gwangcheol has acted stiff around you.”
“Kekeke.”
Taoist Wonho scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
“Haha. Is that so?”
“I never noticed.”
Yu Gwangcheol turned his head away and snorted again.
Do Yu Gwangcheol and Taoist Wonho not get along?
Just as I tilted my head...
Taoist Wonho's attention shifted toward us.
“Hm.”
His gaze moved across Hyeongwon, Yu Seola, Myeongjeon...
then finally me.
“So these must be the young disciples participating in the Dragon-Phoenix Awakening Tournament.”
He smiled.
“I heard Kunlun would be joining this year, and I've been rather curious.”
The surroundings went slightly quiet.
Taoist Wonho continued,
“I'd always thought Kunlun had little interest in outside events like this.”
“Didn't you keep your distance because you considered them places that chased empty fame?”
Yu Gwangcheol replied bluntly,
“It wasn't that we lacked interest.”
“The timing simply wasn't right.”
Taoist Wonho's eyebrows rose slightly.
“The timing... wasn't right?”
He repeated the words quietly.
Then smiled meaningfully.
“Then I suppose that means...”
“Kunlun is participating now because you're confident.”
His gaze returned to us.
After studying us for a moment...
he nodded.
“All of them seem well trained.”
“I think I can understand why Kunlun decided to enter this tournament with confidence.”
Yu Gwangcheol slowly looked over the four of us.
Hyeongwon.
Yu Seola.
Myeongjeon.
And me.
Then Taoist Wonho's gaze stopped directly on me.
“...Is that him?”
His eyes narrowed slightly.
“The one with that rather interesting title.”
“Kunlun's Young Hero.”
A strange itch ran down my spine.
Hearing my title directly from a master like Plum Blossom Sword...
felt oddly unreal.
Taoist Wonho kept looking at me with interest.
“I'm curious whether his skill is worthy of such a grand title.”
Then he added,
“One of our youngsters has also been very curious about Kunlun's Young Hero.”
Taoist Wonho turned his head.
“Jinwon.”
“Come forward.”
“The Kunlun's Young Hero you were curious about is right here.”
At his call...
one of the young Taoists standing behind him stepped forward.
His steps were light.
His center steady.
The unmistakable gait of a trained martial artist.
He stopped beside Taoist Wonho and gave a martial salute.
“I am Jinwon of the Mount Hua Sect.”
The moment I heard the name...
I immediately realized who he was.
Jinwon.
One of the Five Dragons and Two Phoenixes.
One of the people everyone had mentioned as a leading contender to win this Dragon-Phoenix Awakening Tournament.
Up close...
Jinwon didn't look like a martial artist at all.
Like Taoist Wonho, he had an approachable appearance.
A round face.
Narrow, smiling eyes.
The kind of face that naturally put people at ease.
Jinwon looked toward me and spoke again.
“I've heard much about Taoist Han Mujin's reputation.”
His tone was polite and refined.
There was sincerity in both his voice and his gaze.
I could see curiosity and a competitive spirit in his eyes...
but only lightly.
It wasn't the blazing, almost obsessive competitiveness Hyeongwon carried beside me.
Jinwon continued.
“I heard you saved many people at Black Spirit Valley.”
“It was truly impressive.”
I returned his greeting with a martial salute.
“You're too kind.”
“It is an honor for me as well to meet Taoist Jinwon, one of the Five Dragons and Two Phoenixes.”
Jinwon modestly lowered his head.
“Not at all.”
“If anything, I think Taoist Mujin would fit among the Five Dragons far better than I do.”
It didn't sound like empty flattery.
He really is polite.
We'd only exchanged a few words...
but at least from this first impression, Jinwon seemed like a decent person.
Taoist Wonho watched our exchange and laughed.
“Haha.”
“To see young rising stars who will lead the martial world gathered together like this...”
He nodded approvingly.
“What a wonderful sight.”
Yu Gwangcheol snorted.
“Rising stars?”
“You still say far too many nice things.”
He looked at us.
“They're nothing but brats who haven't even gotten rid of the smell of milk yet.”
Taoist Wonho merely laughed again.
“Haha. Perhaps you're right.”
