Chapter 112
Chapter 112
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: Sichuan's Number One Later Generation Disciple
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While I was chatting idly with Tang Gon, a sudden murmur rippled through the crowd around us.
“That guy...!”
“To think I'm meeting Sichuan's top later generation disciples like this!”
“I wonder what they're talking about?”
Pushing through the throng, a group of people approached us.
The Three Iron Palm Heroes.
And Yi Cheolsan was with them.
The man who had held the title of Sichuan's foremost later generation disciple until I showed up.
Tang Gon quickly excused himself from the spot.
“What's this? Looking all mopey, hanging around here by yourself?”
Tang Gyujin tilted her head at the teacup sitting on my table.
“Networking.”
“Networking?”
“Yeah. Gotta make a good first impression on the instructors if I want those high scores, right?”
Tang Gyujin let out a hollow chuckle and turned to Tang Gon.
Ahem!
Tang Gon cleared his throat lightly and shook his head with a serious tone.
“I was just in the middle of warning him that if he pulls the same stunts here in the exam hall that he did back at the branch family, I'll cut him down without mercy.”
“See? Sis, isn't our martial uncle way too heartless?”
“You and your antics...”
Tang Gyujin shook her head helplessly, as if she couldn't do anything with me.
That's when Yi Cheolsan slipped in slyly.
“If it's networking like that, even I can't help you. I want to make a good impression on the instructors too—”
“Don't you start too, big senior brother. People might actually misunderstand!”
Yi Cheolsan feigned surprise, blinking his eyes.
“Huh? Misunderstand? I'm dead serious, though?”
“Big senior brother!”
“Hahaha. Alright, alright. If I keep teasing here, she'll really eat me alive.”
“Watch out. Eat you alive? This is the Tang Clan—you might get poisoned.”
“Oh no! I forgot!”
“Big senior brother, Tang Unhwi!!”
With my banter and Yi Cheolsan's perfect accompaniment, Tang Gyujin's face flushed bright red.
Teasing her gave just as satisfying a hit as teasing Tang Gon—my sister was the best for that.
Yi Cheolsan and I burst into loud laughter together.
The more we did, the more Tang Gyujin's fists trembled.
「The senior disciples of the Nine Great Sects are usually so stiff—」
「This one's different. Fascinating.」
「Hm! He seems more flexible than he looks, not the stuck-up type.」
Just as the lingering spirits assessed, Yi Cheolsan had a personality that differed slightly from my initial impression.
He was upright, as befitted a senior disciple of one of the Nine Great Sects.
Every little gesture screamed rigorous training.
Yet, for all that, his heart seemed wide open.
His bold, hearty side stood out strongly.
Even if it was his natural disposition, maintaining that personality couldn't have been easy. I had to admire him for it.
It was something I felt living in the martial world: most martial artists were stubborn obsessives.
Day after day was a battle against the urges to slack off and grow lazy.
The fight against oneself was always a lonely one.
That made it all too easy to sink into one's own little world.
Especially for a young man who'd risen steadily on praise like "Sichuan's top later generation disciple" or "next greatest sword under heaven" from a tender age—what then?
Even if he didn't want to, arrogance would creep in inevitably.
Keeping an open heart would be even harder.
Yet Yi Cheolsan showed none of that.
"Superior goodness is like water," they said. It wasn't just his demeanor; his sincerity shone through.
That made him all the more frightening.
He clearly had a far sturdier mind than I'd thought.
How on earth had the Azure Purity Sect taken in a talent like this?
And.
A chill!
As I kept meeting his gaze, an inexplicable unease crawled up my spine.
‘As I thought.’
My hunch was right.
「Young cult leader, this couldn't be... ?」
‘Yeah. It's a spiritual root.’
「N-No way!!」
「Doesn't that mean the Azure Purity Sect holds two spiritual root bearers?」
‘Pretty much. There might even be more.’
「...If word got out, it could cause an uproar.」
The reason I'd instinctively sensed Yi Cheolsan wouldn't be easy the moment I saw him.
It wasn't just his firm resolve or exceptional talent.
He possessed a spiritual root—no ordinary one, either.
Definitely top-grade.
「What kind do you think it is?」
‘Not certain, but probably in the star or mountain-water root lineage. I'd need to observe closer or open my purple demon gaze for details.’
Spiritual roots came in many varieties, and star roots and mountain-water roots were among the highest ranks in the immortal path lineages.
Star roots, especially, absorbed starlight directly, granting incredibly fast growth and pure spiritual power.
A pure soul meant upright character and outstanding talent.
Yi Cheolsan could've made it big even as a scholar, not a martial artist.
‘And—’
「...There's more?」
‘He's already sprouted beyond the root stage.’
「!?」
「Y-You mean he's begun growing into a spiritual tree?」
‘Seems like it. The Azure Purity Sect must've poured everything into him.’
「Heavens...!」
「Such a thing!」
If the root was the spiritual root, the tree was its trunk.
As the tree grew, so did the spiritual stature.
And when it flowered and bore fruit in turn, that person became a god—or so the legends went.
But cases of roots growing into trees were exceedingly rare.
The path was so arduous, it required completely abandoning the mortal world for cultivation.
Even the methods were secret transmissions, hard to obtain, and no guarantee of success even then.
Thus, most spiritual root bearers died still possessing just the root.
They lived comfortably as prodigies hailed from youth—what need to chase uncertain cultivation?
Yet here was Yi Cheolsan, not fully detached from the world, already sprouting.
With ample nourishment, the tree would shoot up vigorously.
I suspected that was why the Dark Lord held him in such high regard.
‘The Azure Purity Sect must have advanced spiritual root cultivation methods.’
Which meant Tang Gyujin might sprout hers someday too?
Right then, Onma's voice pierced my ear.
「Young cult leader. If it's truly begun growing into a tree—」
‘No. Rejected.’
「But.」
‘Don't even think about it, Onma. This is a warning.’
「...Understood.」
Onma seemed eager to suggest eliminating Yi Cheolsan preemptively, by any means.
If he truly became the righteous faction's leader, wouldn't he hinder me forever?
His logic had merit, but I had no desire to stoop that low.
If I played such villainous moves just because he might be a future threat, how would I differ from those Heavenly Mountain cult traitors?
Moreover, there was a immediate reason not to touch Yi Cheolsan.
Just look at Tang Gyujin's eyes beside him.
Dripping with honey, they were.
A sight I'd never seen since opening my eyes as Tang Unhwi.
No way she'd believe we had "no relation," right?
『...Why are you looking at me like that?』
Tang Gyujin noticed my odd gaze and furrowed her brow.
『Heh heh heh.』
『...You.』
『Heh heh heh heh heh!』
『I don't know what you're thinking, but it's not like that!!』
『Heh heh heh heh heh heh heh!』
『No it's not!』
『I! Heh heh! Haven't! Heh heh heh! Said! Heh heh heh! Anything! Heh heh heh heh! Yet!』
『Hey!!』
Whoa, the grin wouldn't leave my lips.
Tang Gyujin was about to snap with fury, but Yi Cheolsan stepped in, defusing it.
“Forgive my belated greeting as a guest. Glad to meet you. I'm Yi Cheolsan of the Azure Purity Sect.”
“I've heard so much about you from sis. I'm Tang Unhwi of the Nine Dragons Branch Family.”
“Hm? From my junior sister?”
Yi Cheolsan rounded one eye in surprise.
I grinned and sneaked a glance at Tang Gyujin behind him.
Tremble!
Her fist was shaking.
I nodded emphatically, as if to say "look at this."
“Yes. She said you have so many admirable qualities to learn from. It's an honor to meet you in person.”
“To hear about me from junior sister... I'm worried she didn't say anything too harsh. Hahaha.”
Oblivious Yi Cheolsan just guffawed.
Tang Gyujin jumped in frantically.
“Big senior brother, what are you saying...? When did I ever badmouth you?”
“Oh? Didn't you tell Woojin junior brother last time—”
“Ah, enough about that already!”
“Got it, got it. Hahaha.”
“Tch, always teasing people like this.”
Tang Gyujin's cheeks were slightly flushed.
Looks like he lived for teasing Tang Gyujin, just like I did with Tang Gon.
Couldn't just sit back then.
「Ah, that Azure Purity bastard's gone and awakened the little devil inside the young cult leader...!」
「Tang Gon was first; now Tang Gyujin's his prey.」
As the lingering spirits shook their heads in unison, my grin widened.
“Absolutely, sis never said anything harsh.”
“Oh? That's a relief. I've teased her so much, I've always felt bad about it.”
“Instead.”
I trailed off, flicking my gaze toward Tang Gyujin.
She was glaring daggers.
Yi Cheolsan tilted his head.
“Instead?”
“You always grin slyly while hanging out with the other junior sisters—”
“Waaah!”
“??”
Tang Gyujin barged in, face beet red.
Question marks floated over Yi Cheolsan's head.
Turning her back so he couldn't see, she thrust her fist at me.
『Hey! Tang Unhwi!! Wanna die!?』
『Nah, can't die yet. Gotta at least hook up the world's Azure Purity Divine Sword and my sis before I go—』
『Hey!!!』
Any further, and she'd really draw her sword, so I backed off.
“Not only that, but you're kind to new disciples without bullying them. Sis said you helped her a ton when she first settled on Azure Purity Mountain, and she's deeply grateful for it.”
Only then did Tang Gyujin lower her hand from her sword hilt.
Yi Cheolsan scratched his cheek.
“Just doing my duty as senior brother. If she thinks that highly of it, now I feel bad toward her.”
“N-No, I really am always grateful to you, big senior brother.”
Tang Gyujin bowed her head shyly.
Hard to believe this was the same woman who'd been raging to kill me moments ago.
「What a pity—」
「To get caught by the young cult leader of all people—」
「Still, a meeting of spiritual root bearers. Both such fine specimens. They suit each other well, no?」
As I chuckled quietly, the tongue-clicking lingering spirits were joined by Yu Sumyeong and Sama Seon chuckling awkwardly.
They stared at me like I was some妖怪...
What? I just thought they matched well and tried to play matchmaker.
I decided to brazen it out.