Chapter 192: Dragon Warrior
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 192: Dragon Warrior
The Xi’an Bi Clan was the preeminent clan of the Xi’an region. Though a noble clan of the Orthodox Faction, they had never been one to seek the limelight.
They did not participate in the Dragons and Phoenixes Tournament, the stage where most young prodigies made their names. They rarely even attended inter-clan meetings. Even when the Gate of Demons appeared, they would not stir unless the threat was catastrophic.
This had been the character of the Xi’an Bi Clan for decades.
This was not due to a lack of talent. The clan boasted many martial artists of significant accomplishment. Among their ranks was one of the world's greatest martial artists, the Dishonored Venerable Bijuu of the Three Venerables, whose very name elevated the clan's status. Furthermore, one of the renowned Six Dragons—the Dragon Warrior—also hailed from the Bi Clan. Their power was undeniable.
It was simply that the clan was like a calm, profoundly deep lake; the dragons swimming beneath its surface remained hidden from view. This was why many found it laughable when others claimed the Bi Clan's actions could shake the world.
…But even so, isn't this a bit much?
Rain fell over Xi’an, its steady patter the only sound echoing through the quiet streets, creating a tranquil atmosphere.
Walking through this rain, his face smudged with dirt, was Chuwong. He had come all the way from Hanam to the Beggar’s Sect in Xi’an.
He had covered the vast distance between the two regions over the past few months by running. Tirelessly, relentlessly running. It was, frankly, a mad thing to do. He could have sent a letter, but instead, he had chosen to move his heavy body all this way.
They say an empty head brings suffering, and they weren't wrong.
Having lived his whole life as a beggar, he was obviously not the sharpest tool in the shed, but this was a new level of impulsivity.
What the hell got into me that day…?
He had been charmed—enchanted by the strange eyes and commanding presence of the True Dragon when the pass was shown to him. In that moment, the True Dragon had seemed like a rope lowered from the heavens. But now, with a clearer head, Chuwong began to question the sheer thoughtlessness of his decision. Had the True Dragon even given a second thought to someone like him?
Damn it…
But it was too late to turn back. He was already in Xi’an, and he had already burned his feet—quite literally, it felt like—gathering information.
The information the True Dragon wanted was regarding the Dragon Warrior of Xi’an.
Chuwong had honestly believed that simply reaching Xi’an would resolve everything. It had been four days since his arrival. Xi’an had a Beggar’s Sect branch, and as Chuwong held a reasonably high position, he thought gathering information would be straightforward.
However…
What in the world is going on?
He couldn't help but feel incredulous.
The information available on present-day Xi’an was almost no different from what the Beggar’s Sect had recorded a decade ago. Beyond the shops the clan openly operated, there was not a single scrap of information about their current activities or internal affairs. It felt as if they were deliberately preventing him from learning anything.
Is all this secrecy really necessary?
If he couldn't get information at his rank, it meant the higher-ups were actively suppressing leaks. That implied involvement from at least a Second Beggar or higher within the sect.
Something big is happening…
He had come here hoping to finally catch a lucky break, but now he felt entangled in a dangerously complicated situation.
Is it too late to run away?
This wasn't a martial artist's intuition; it was pure survival instinct.
And Chuwong, with his sharp senses, had noticed it yesterday… No, he had felt something was off since the first day he started snooping around.
Xi’an feels strange right now. Especially the Bi Clan.
He couldn't pinpoint anything specific, but his gut was screaming at him.
The Bi Clan is acting strangely.
He felt it when he requested information from the local Beggar’s Sect branch; the members there had acted strangely, almost as if they didn't want him around. The current state of the Bi Clan was undeniably peculiar.
Chuwong deeply regretted his decision. He should have turned tail and run at the first sign of trouble.
“You’re a new raccoon.”
If he had, he wouldn't be humiliated like this now.
“I heard someone's been asking a lot of questions about Xi’an lately. That would be you?”
“…Ugh…”
Chuwong was on the ground, clutching his stomach. He hadn't even felt the blow, only a severe impact that knocked him out cold. When he came to, he was vomiting onto the wet cobblestones.
When…? When did he get close?
He hadn't seen anything. Gasping for air, he managed to lift his head and finally saw his attacker.
It was a young man who didn't look a day over twenty—around the same age as the Lightning Dragon. He seemed slightly older than the True Dragon Chuwong had met months ago, but he lacked that same aura of maturity.
And Chuwong recognized him. Despite the years that had passed, he knew this face. He had seen him a few years ago.
…The Dragon Warrior.
Bi Eejin, the Dragon Warrior.
A prodigy who had appeared only once at the Dragons and Phoenixes Tournament, delivered a performance that stunned the world, and then vanished without a trace.
“Who are you?” the Dragon Warrior asked calmly, lowering himself to look directly into Chuwong’s eyes.
He had brown hair tied back and wore a black uniform. His eyes were apathetic, carrying a heavy weight within them. Chuwong had seen similar eyes recently.
They're like the True Dragon’s.
The True Dragon had the fierce appearance of a wolf, a stark contrast to the Dragon Warrior's softer, kinder features. But the look in their eyes was eerily similar. Just staring into them felt like an unknown pressure was crushing Chuwong.
“Are you not going to respond?”
As Chuwong remained silent, the Dragon Warrior reached out and placed a hand on his body.
What is he trying to do?
“…!!”
Chuwong’s confusion turned into an agonized scream that echoed in his own ears. An excruciating, absurd pain rained down upon his body. He screamed for what felt like an eternity, but the moment the Dragon Warrior removed his hand, the pain vanished.
“Huff… Huff…”
“Do you feel like talking now?”
Chuwong realized that despite his loud screams, not a single sound had escaped the immediate area. The Dragon Warrior had erected a Qi barrier to contain the noise—a feat that required an immense amount of energy.
“Where did you come from?”
“W-Wait…”
“Hmm…”
When Chuwong failed to answer again, the Dragon Warrior began to reach for him once more.
Panicking, Chuwong shouted, “I-I am from Hanam!”
“Hanam?” The Dragon Warrior’s expression shifted to one of confusion.
“Y-Yes! Master Bi. I am a beggar named Chuwong who roams the land of Hanam.”
“I see. Hanam, huh?” The Dragon Warrior nodded as if understanding.
But then his hand naturally moved to grasp Chuwong’s neck.
“W-W-Wait…!”
“What is it?”
“That’s what I want to ask…! Why are you grabbing my neck…?”
Even though the grip was slow and deliberate, Chuwong couldn't defend himself. His body was still paralyzed from the earlier attack. A single strike had destabilized his Qi, rendering him completely immobile.
“It’s because I still have more to ask,” the Dragon Warrior replied calmly.
To Chuwong, it sounded like a death threat: answer correctly, or die. And he had no doubt the young man meant it.
…Fuuuck…
How had he been caught? Chuwong had been careful. He hadn't directly approached anyone, especially near the Bi Clan's compounds. He knew that even a reclusive noble clan was still a noble clan, and getting on their bad side was a serious problem. No matter how he thought about it, he couldn't pinpoint any mistake he had made.
Then, a thought struck him.
-You are a new raccoon.
The words the Dragon Warrior had used earlier. ‘Raccoon’ was a term for members of the Beggar’s Sect, but the phrasing ‘new raccoon’ carried a peculiar nuance.
A new raccoon… and the beggars of Xi’an seemed strangely dispirited.
And the odd atmosphere he had felt within the local Beggar’s Sect branch…
Chuwong began to connect the dots. All of this was related to the Xi’an Bi Clan. Or perhaps, more specifically, to this Dragon Warrior himself.
If that was the case, it made sense why he had been caught. The Dragon Warrior had heard about him because Chuwong had requested information from the Xi’an branch.
…Those guys are traitors!
If true, this was a massive problem. It meant an entire branch of his own sect was under the thumb of a single young prodigy.
Though I'm not one to talk, since I traveled all this way because of a kid's request.
He knew he wasn't much different, but that was beside the point. The situation was dire.
The Dragon Warrior stared at him for a moment before speaking. “You are rather sharp.”
“…!”
A smirk played on the Dragon Warrior's lips as he detected Chuwong's realization. His demeanor suggested he didn't care if Chuwong figured it out.
…Does that mean he doesn't care because he was going to kill me anyway? Or does it mean he'll kill me now because I've learned too much?
Either way, Chuwong was in desperate danger.
“You called yourself Chuwong?”
“…Y-Yes.”
“I see. Now that I think about it, you seem familiar…”
“…”
Chuwong averted his gaze. It was true; he had seen the Dragon Warrior before. Not directly, but years ago, during the Dragon Warrior's first and only appearance at the tournament. Chuwong had watched him effortlessly dispatch the prodigies who had dared to bother him.
…
Chuwong's memory of that event was not a pleasant one. Just recalling how the Dragon Warrior had dealt with those nuisances made his back ache.
“You seem to be curious about me. Can I ask why?” The question was polite, but the situation made a mockery of courtesy. How could this be considered a question when he was being held by the neck? It was a threat.
“…U-Uh.”
What do I say? Should I even answer?
Telling him that the True Dragon was curious would sound absurd. Even Chuwong didn't know why the True Dragon was interested in a Dragon Warrior he had never met.
Chuwong chose silence, but the Dragon Warrior didn't press further. He only tightened his grip.
I can't breathe, damn it…! Kids these days have no respect for their elders.
Seeing the utter emptiness in the young man's eyes, a look that promised no second chances, Chuwong finally broke.
“D-Dishonored Venerable!” he shouted hurriedly.
The grip on his neck loosened slightly. For a fleeting moment, Chuwong thought he had found a lifeline.
“What did you say?”
Then, a terrifying wave of Combat Qi poured down on him, crushing him with its sheer malevolence. The pressure was brutal, suffocating.
“A…Ah…!”
Had he made a fatal error by mentioning the Dishonored Venerable in front of a member of the Bi Clan?
But Chuwong couldn't stop now. He had to see this through if he wanted to live.
“T-The disciple of the Dishonored Venerable…! He wanted information about Master Bi…!”
To be precise, the True Dragon was only rumored to be the disciple, but Chuwong shouted the words anyway, desperation overriding accuracy.
Suddenly, the oppressive Combat Qi vanished as if it had never been there. The Dragon Warrior released Chuwong’s neck and withdrew his hand.
A moment of silence passed.
Ha-!
Then, the Dragon Warrior burst into laughter.
What the… what's wrong with him?
Chuwong felt a chill seeing the hysterical laughter. The Dragon Warrior laughed uproariously, hands on his stomach, before finally regaining his composure.
“The Dishonored Venerable… so, his disciple is curious about me?” he asked.
“Yes…Master Bi.”
The True Dragon himself denied the connection, but given the letter he carried, his martial arts style, and his overwhelming strength compared to his peers, the rumor had spread like wildfire. Of course, the True Dragon was practically begging people to quash it.
I'm sorry, True Dragon.
But Chuwong had to save his own skin.
“Ah, I see. The Dishonored Venerable’s disciple, huh?” The Dragon Warrior chuckled and rose to his feet.
“Who is it?”
“Pardon?”
“The disciple of the Dishonored Venerable who’s curious about me.”
I was wondering what to do with this guy because I thought an annoying fly was buzzing around again, but it seems a fun scene is unfolding. I wonder who it is.
The Dragon Warrior looked down at Chuwong, his curiosity piqued. He wanted to see the face of the bastard who dared to impersonate the Dishonored Venerable’s disciple.
Such a rumor spreads only because I've been absent from the world. If this had happened while I was still active, I would have crushed him with my own two hands.
He said he'd take care of it nicely, that damn Gu Ryoon. It was my fault for trusting him. 'Take care of it,' my ass. A dogshit rumor like this is circulating, so you clearly did a fantastic job.
Still amused, the Dragon Warrior addressed Chuwong. “Let me hear one thing.”
“Huh? What is it that you want to…”
The Dragon Warrior effortlessly lifted Chuwong and slung him over his shoulder like a sack of rice. Chuwong felt a wave of humiliation, but he was in no position to resist.
“We’ll talk about it once we get there.”
With that, the Dragon Warrior began to move, carrying Chuwong with him. He was going to hear all about this 'disciple' of his.
* * *
While Chuwong grappled with his dire circumstances in Xi’an, Gu Yangcheon had finally returned to his clan.
The journey back had been more draining than expected, with everyone on high alert following the recent ambush. Exhausted from the long trip, they were seeking rest.
“…What did you say?” Gu Yangcheon asked, his eyes wide with shock.
“Brother…” The one speaking to him, her face streaked with tears, was Gu Ryunghwa, who should have already returned to Mount Hua by now.
“…The Second Elder …”
“Tell me clearly. Stop crying.”
Seeing the fierce look in Gu Yangcheon’s eyes, Gu Ryunghwa only cried harder. Wi Seol-Ah and Namgung Bi-ah hurried over to comfort her, but Gu Yangcheon’s expression remained grim. He prayed in his heart that he had misheard her.
What she was saying made no sense.
Gu Ryunghwa looked up at him, tears streaming down her face. “T-The Second Elder … might die.”
Unfortunately, it seemed Gu Yangcheon had heard correctly the first time.