Chapter 286: You Won't Be Able To Catch Up (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 286: You Won't Be Able To Catch Up (1)
Bored as I waited for the second portion of the exam to begin, I found myself staring blankly at the sky.
No stars.
The sun had set, but the stars had yet to make their appearance.
My eyes remained fixed on the twilight hues as I circulated Qi through my body. Maintaining a careful awareness to avoid damaging my meridians, I guided the energy upward toward my upper Dantian.
After some time…
Tap, tap.
The tip of the Qi flow, fine as a silken thread, gently brushed against the gateway to my upper Dantian. It was too insubstantial to force a breakthrough, but the significant fact was that I had reached it.
It took a while, but I finally made contact.
Reaching it meant I had forged a path. Now, it was simply a matter of reinforcing that same route.
The time it will take, however, is problematic.
Unlike in my previous life, I no longer possessed a body where Qi cascaded like a waterfall. Elder Shin had impressed upon me the critical importance of compressing and controlling my Qi with precision. Strengthening this faint thread would require gradual, painstaking effort to break down the formidable barrier blocking my path.
An epiphany could allow me to shatter it in one strike…
…But since I already possess that knowledge, such an enlightenment is impossible…
Further profound insights would likely have to wait until I reached the Fusion realm.
Alternatively…
I could use the White Demonic Stone.
The stone was concealed deep within the basement. If I retrieved it, I could breach the wall by force, but my plan was to consume it only after attaining the Fusion realm. That was the most efficient method, ensuring none of its power would be wasted.
“Ugh…”
A pained groan sounded from beneath me, interrupting my cultivation.
“Be quiet,” I ordered.
“…I’m… trying… my best.”
“Oh? Talking back now?”
Hearing his reply, I withdrew my Qi from the upper Dantian and subtly increased the weight bearing down on him.
“Ughh!”
My chair—Gu Jeolyub—let out a choked cry as…
Thud!
He collapsed to the ground.
I didn’t miss a beat. “What? Is this too much for you to handle?”
“…”
Gu Jeolyub looked thoroughly frustrated, but I wasn’t finished.
“You nearly failed due to a simple lack of spirit.”
“…”
My words struck a nerve, and his expression soured. As well they should.
“After all the effort I invested to get you here, you almost throw it away because you tripped?”
“…Ngh…”
“Can’t you take a single exam seriously? Why not just discard your family name? This old brother can hardly hold his head up after your disgraceful performance.”
“But I’m older than you…”
“Is that so? Then start acting your age, oh Master of the Sword of Heroic Flame!”
“…Oufgh.”
Having no retort, Gu Jeolyub could only lower his head in defeat.
This insane bastard…
I barely restrained my irritation as I recalled his performance.
He nearly lost control of his Qi just because he stumbled?
Whether he executed a full buildup or a simple strike, it all counted as a single attempt. The only rule was that he could not break the flow of his Qi.
Yet this fool almost disrupted his entire energy flow from a single misstep.
A similar thing happened in his last fight. This guy always seems to crack under pressure in critical moments. It was sheer luck that he managed to leave a mark on the pillar without fully losing control of his Qi.
“If you had failed, I would have shattered you instead of that pillar.”
“…”
The memory of what happened to the stone pillar during my attempt instantly drained the color from his face.
Even Gu Yeonseo passed without a hitch.
Her performance wasn't exceptional compared to the others…
But she still succeeded.
I glanced at Gu Yeonseo from a distance. She still seemed spaced out, but there was a new light in her eyes now.
It doesn’t look like she’s merely chasing the shadow of a sword.
That was a relief. I hoped she would aspire to the Sword Queen’s spirit, not just her blade. For a scion of the Gu Clan to pursue Mount Hua’s sword arts… well, I wasn’t sure if she would succeed, but the intention was what mattered.
As for the others… they should manage on their own.
My movements were restricted, so I had no idea what they were up to. The feeling was probably mutual, but I wasn’t worried. They would be fine without me hovering over them.
However,
Wi Seol-Ah.
Why was Wi Seol-Ah here?
Moreover,
She has already broken through her bottleneck.
It had been a long time since I last saw her, and I could perceive she had now reached the Peak realm. For someone with no prior martial arts foundation to overcome her wall in roughly two years… it was a feat that went far beyond mere talent.
Furthermore,
Is it inevitable?
Wi Seol-Ah had ended up wielding a sword. I wondered if there was anything I could do to change that. Many things had shifted in this life, but everything about Wi Seol-Ah remained stubbornly the same. Would any of my struggles make a difference?
Enough of this nonsense.
After a moment of grim reflection, I smirked. I noticed Gu Jeolyub staring at me strangely, so I increased the pressure again.
“Agh!”
There were many things in this world I would be powerless to change…
But I had to change what I could.
It was far too late for me to give up now.
There must be a reason I returned.
A purpose for my regression through time. Given everything that had happened, it would be strange to dismiss it as a simple ‘miracle.’ Lately, I’ve felt more and more that someone deliberately sent me back for a reason.
…
I hoped it was just speculation, but my premonitions are never wrong. My life is truly cursed with misfortune.
“…Tsk.”
“Uh, Young Master… Could you please lighten—”
“Quiet. I’m in a foul mood.”
“Understood…”
The things I wished would stay the same had changed. The things I wanted to change remained immutable.
How infuriating.
My life was already set to an extreme difficulty, yet there were no rewards for my suffering.
What do you want from me?
The heavens would not answer, and anyone I asked would think me mad. All I could do was pose the question to myself. In the end, I arrived at a single conclusion. Even if it seemed impossible, it was the only viable path forward.
First…
Wi Seol-Ah and Jang Seonyeon.
I needed to focus on the more immediate concerns.
My gaze drifted to where the first group was gathered.
It doesn’t look like they’re engaged yet.
In my past life, Wi Seol-Ah was a little over twenty when she became engaged. It was not long after I had become a Demonic Human. That meant I could still prevent it.
The problem was…
What repercussions would stopping their engagement cause?
Realistically, I wasn't in a position to interfere directly. If I did succeed in preventing it, I had to consider the consequences for both Wi Seol-Ah and myself.
There don’t seem to be any major issues at the moment.
I was sure there would be minor complications, but those were manageable. Excluding those, no significant problems came to mind. At least, that was my feeling.
Despite that, one thing gave me pause.
Why did the Sword Emperor choose the Taeryung Clan?
In both this life and the last, I never discovered why the Sword Emperor allied himself with the Taeryung Clan. The clan's lord was the current Alliance Leader, and as a former Leader himself, perhaps the Sword Emperor felt some dependency there.
But I suspect there’s another reason.
The reason he left the Gu Clan for the Taeryung. That was what I needed to uncover. It was necessary if I wanted to ensure she came to no harm. Only then could I eliminate Jang Seonyeon without hesitation.
As I lost myself in these thoughts…
-The second part of the exam will begin shortly. Prepare yourselves.
The instructors’ shouts echoed from a distance. The long wait was finally over. I was a little disappointed; I would have liked to torment Gu Jeolyub a bit longer.
However, my slight disappointment turned to a frown as soon as I heard the details of the second exam.
Now, back to the present.
The woman before me settled into a battle stance, while I could only stare, speechless.
For this segment, we were required to spar with one of the instructors. It felt utterly nonsensical, like a test concocted with zero effort. Judging by the excessive time they took to prepare for something so simple, they had probably made it up on the spot.
Too many must have passed the first test.
This was clearly a method to thin the herd.
It just creates more work for the instructors, yet they’re proceeding with it.
If it were up to me, I would have simply failed those who seemed lacking. But I suppose the Orthodox Sects didn’t want to compromise their pride by doing a half-hearted job. Still, sparring with an instructor?
I could only hope there wasn’t some absurd condition like having to defeat them. If that were the case, the higher-ups from the great clans and sects would have protested vehemently. Therefore, while the test wouldn't be easy, the passing standard had to be relatively low.
“I understand the premise.”
“Then?”
“Isn’t my assigned opponent a bit… unusual?”
Everything else was straightforward. I would have gladly taken the test, but of all the people present, why did it have to be her? I stared at my opponent with profound displeasure.
The most beloved figure in the Central Plains, the one who had earned the title of Sword Queen in the ‘purest’ manner possible.
The Plum Blossom Sword, Soi. My sparring partner.
Yes, but why?
It made sense for the Sword Queen to be involved as an instructor, but I distinctly remembered the announcement stating she would not be participating in this particular test.
“So, why are you standing before me?”
“It seems you heard a false rumor. Why would I not participate? I am an instructor, after all.”
Hearing her denial, my eyes narrowed instinctively.
“…Do you swear that on Mount Hua’s honor?”
As I peered at her suspiciously, I saw her shoulders tense for a brief moment.
“…How could a mere martial artist like me swear upon Mount Hua’s pride? You overstep.”
“Are you evading the question?”
“…”
So, she had lied. She had come here specifically for me. Swearing a false oath on Mount Hua’s honor would be a grave insult for a Sword Queen.
Hmm…
She wasn't supposed to be here, but she came anyway… to fight me?
“Why?”
“…”
The Sword Queen remained silent. By the way she avoided my gaze, it was clear she had no intention of answering.
Raising her sword, she spoke formally. “Gu Yangcheon of the Second Group… Your test begins now.”
“…A bit late to start acting dignified, don’t you think?”
She was telling me to make the first move. Watching the others who had already begun, I wondered if I would have an easy time of it…
But they can’t make it too simple.
If the goal was to satisfy the instructor, the Sword Queen’s insistence on facing me was a clear warning not to take this lightly.
Hmm…
Her stance appeared deceptively simple. The tip of her sword aimed steadily at me, her gaze clear, her posture calm. This ordinary-seeming stance felt incredibly heavy precisely because she was a martial artist who had reached my ideal—the Fusion realm.
So far, I had only crossed blades with a handful of Fusion realm experts. But if I considered the assassin from the Hwangbo Clan…
She’s on a completely different level.
He wasn't even fit to be compared to her. Moreover, unlike when I killed him by exploiting Demonic Qi and his carelessness, such a tactic would be impossible against the Sword Queen.
Not all Peak realms are equal. This disparity is even more pronounced in the Fusion realm. Fighting practitioners of different levels would have made it clearer, but for now, my focus was solely on the Sword Queen before me.
Sword Queen…
The title said it all. It meant she was recognized as the greatest swordswoman of our generation. One might think she was lacking for being a mere academy instructor, but that was by her own choice. It didn’t negate a lifetime of experience.
“One last question.”
“Go ahead.”
“You’ll hold back a little, right?”
“…Hmm.”
The Sword Queen smiled faintly at my question. “We’ll see.”
Damn it.
She had no intention of going easy.
Her response left no doubt. I could only nod in resignation.
Slam.
I stomped the ground and shot toward the Sword Queen. Seeing the flicker of shock on her face, I didn’t hesitate, swinging a fist brimming with Qi.
Blaze!
Flames erupted. Qi and wind intertwined, forming a storm. Following my will, the burning inferno surged to engulf the Sword Queen.
And amidst the conflagration…
Rustle.
Petals from a phantom plum tree began to dance among the flames.
Craaack!
On the field behind the forest, every member of the first exam group turned in unison toward the monstrous sound.
It was a strange sight—dozens of Young Prodigies and instructors halting their tests to stare in a single direction. As martial artists, a loud noise alone wouldn’t warrant such a reaction.
What seized their attention, what irresistibly dragged their gazes, was the Qi—a dense, scorching aura that prickled against their martial instincts.
Who was it? Who could possibly generate Combat Qi so potent that its pressure could be felt from this distance?
“Cough, cough…”
The terrifying aura made breathing difficult. The weaker Young Prodigies struggled, coughing uncontrollably. With the examinees unable to maintain focus, the newly commenced exam ground to an abrupt halt.
In stark contrast, Tang Soyeol observed the situation with visible cheer.
“Why do you look so happy?” asked Peng Ah-hee, who was taking the exam alongside her.
As a blood relative of the Peng Clan, Peng Ah-hee had no choice but to attend the Heavenly Dragon Academy. She didn’t want her older brother’s academy achievements held over her head, but as a clan member, she had silently acquiesced.
“Just look at their faces. How could I not be happy?”
“But why exactly does that make you happy?”
“How could it not? Seeing all of them look down on him was infuriating.”
Peng Ah-hee could only sigh. She couldn’t help but glance in the direction of the sharp, oppressive Combat Qi, wondering why Tang Soyeol held him in such high esteem.
…Is this really his Qi?
Judging by Tang Soyeol’s reaction, her ‘ex’-fiancé was undoubtedly the source.
It’s unbelievable.
Even feeling it firsthand, she found it hard to accept.
This level…
‘It can no longer be considered that of a Young Prodigy…’
In just a few years, the troublemaker with a demonic face—the one she used to beat up regularly—had become a master far surpassing the level of a Young Prodigy. All in the span of a few years.
For ordinary people, that might be significant, but for martial artists, it was an astonishingly short time. Most would barely master a single technique in such a period, let alone ascend to a new realm. Yet, Gu Yangcheon had not only surpassed that but was now soaring to heights she couldn't even glimpse.
It’s unfair how much he changes every time I see him.
A wry smirk touched her lips. She didn’t regret breaking off the engagement, but she felt a twinge of disappointment.
If he had been like this from the start, I probably wouldn’t have called it off.
Although, regardless of his talent, she would have still ended it if his vile personality had remained. But what about now?
Sigh.
She dismissed the pointless line of thought.
Peng Ah-hee turned back to the still-beaming Tang Soyeol. “I get you’re happy, but where did that sis go?”
“Hmm? Sis? Who?… Oh, Bi-ah sis?”
Peng Ah-hee found herself suddenly curious about the whereabouts of his current fiancée.
“Huh, you’re right. They told us not to wander off… So where did she go? She’ll get lost if she goes off alone…”
“How could she get lost? This place isn’t that big.”
“…You don’t know her well enough, Ah-hee. She’s… built differently.”
“…”
Peng Ah-hee initially thought it was a joke, but Tang Soyeol’s genuinely worried expression said otherwise. She might have a poor sense of direction, but was it really possible to get lost with so many people around?
Shaking her head slightly, Peng Ah-hee began scanning their surroundings. The exam had completely stalled.
Slam-! Slaaam-!
Everyone was captivated by the relentless sounds of explosion.
I thought he disliked attention.
Peng Ah-hee found it somewhat ironic that Gu Yangcheon, who seemed to despise the spotlight, was now doing something that captured everyone’s focus. It almost seemed as if he was trying to attract someone’s attention in particular.
Hmm?
Then, Peng Ah-hee’s gaze landed on a strikingly handsome young man. His face was captivating enough to draw any eye instantly, but that wasn’t why Peng Ah-hee stared.
That person…
She knew him. Of course, she knew most people here—they were Young Prodigies from noble clans—but this individual stood out for a different reason.
Jang Seonyeon.
She remembered him by name, not by his title. For some reason, that title felt ill-fitting. It was the same with Gu Yangcheon; to her, he was more a fighting dog or a maniac than a True Dragon. Conversely, she couldn't pinpoint why the title ‘Meteor Sword’ didn’t suit Jang Seonyeon.
Huh?
Peng Ah-hee pondered why she couldn’t look away from him. Jang Seonyeon was also watching the commotion, but something felt different.
The reason her gaze lingered…
What was it?
“Oh.”
After a moment, she understood. While others watched with shock and awe…
Why does he…?
Jang Seonyeon’s eyes were filled with unmistakable shame, a deep sense of inferiority, and guilt.
The only son of the Alliance Leader. Handsome, talented, compared to the Harmonic Sword. Known for his kind nature. So why did he look like that?
Peng Ah-hee mulled it over, but soon…
Swish.
She could no longer see Jang Seonyeon’s face as he turned away. It seemed he didn’t care, having already passed the exam. And for some reason, Peng Ah-hee, who had been secretly observing him…
“Why do I feel so uneasy about this…?”
…began to feel a creeping sense of dread.