Azure Dragon's Roar
Ten days later, twenty Taoists stood tall before Samcheongjeon Hall.
Those left behind concealed their regrets and wished the departing group good fortune in the martial world.
The twenty Taoists, receiving their heartfelt sentiments, flushed with excitement.
Representing Kunlun in the central plains—they reaffirmed their resolve once more.
'We'll show the martial world a Kunlun that's even more splendid, elegant, and powerful.'
'We'll act as true heroes, without bringing shame to Kunlun's name.'
Taoists they might be, but warriors all the same—their competitive spirits inevitably surged.
The atmosphere heated up.
Sensing the reason, the sect leader cleared their heads with a dignified voice.
"Do not strive to exalt our sect's name. I trust you will act in accordance with righteousness in all things."
"Yes, Sect Leader!"
The fervent response drew a wry inner chuckle from the sect leader.
'Heh. Any more warnings, and their morale will plummet. Better leave it here.'
Un Hak, leading this central plains expedition, was experienced and broad-minded, so the sect leader decided to trust him.
Just then, Un Hak nodded slightly as if to say no worries, strengthening that trust.
The sect leader gazed warmly at the others—until his eyes wavered.
Jeong Gwang had met his gaze with a slight nod.
The same gesture as Un Hak's, yet it only amplified his unease.
The sect leader sent a transmission to Un Hu beside him.
—Senior Brother. Did you give Jeong Gwang any special warnings?
—Of course.
—What exactly did you say?
Un Hu merely smiled without replying.
It was the same old advice: stick to being upright like before, to the very end.
—...Seeing your smile only makes me more anxious, Senior Brother.
—Don't worry too much. The one to lead Kunlun won't be old fogeys like us, right? Let's trust and entrust it to him.
Such a perfectly orthodox response left the sect leader speechless.
Instead of arguing, he turned to Jeong Gwang's master, Heo Cheong—a silent pressure to rein in his disciple and prevent mishaps.
But Heo Cheong, more excited than anyone, was already urging the group leader Un Hak.
"Martial Uncle, let's get going. The martial world calls to us!"
"...Heo Cheong, the sect leader's watching you right now."
"Ah! Sect Leader Martial Uncle! We'll be back safe, so no worries! Haha. Come on, Martial Uncle, let's go. Yeah? Hurry up."
"...Alright, alright."
Leaving the sect leader's forlorn gaze behind, the group set off.
As they headed toward the mountain gate,
"Kyaaah!"
"Agh! Don't push, you wench!"
"What are you doing, lady?!"
A horde of female pilgrims swarmed in, turning everything into chaos.
Utter pandemonium!
Anyone would flee in horror, but Jeong Gwang couldn't ignore those who'd cherished him since long ago.
"It's been a while."
"Y-You remember me?"
"Sister, you went off to Gansu Province five years ago, right?"
"Yes! I came back to my parents' home to see True Jade Dragon! But you're leaving today of all days. Sob sob."
"I'm grateful, but you should focus on your family now."
"I've handled everything properly, so no need to worry. But True Jade Dragon, you must be exhausted."
Jeong Gwang was kinder to older married women than the young maidens.
Yet no one found it strange or felt jealous.
They knew these were the very women who'd taught Kunlun Taoists—clueless about child-rearing—how to care for a baby Jeong Gwang.
His memory was ghostly precise; he recounted each one's circumstances exactly.
"Sister, your knee's bad—take it easy coming up."
"How's your mother? It's been ages since I saw her face. Tell her not to overdo it; come back once she's recovered."
"Amitabha. Grandmother's memorial's coming up. Rest assured the elders will perform it with full devotion again this year."
Watching this, the husbands shed moved tears.
And resolved themselves.
'I'll work hard too, so I can hear such warm words.'
'I'll convert my whole family from Lamaism to Taoism.'
'True Jade Dragon doesn't care about age or looks. So impartial.'
In truth, it wasn't quite that Jeong Gwang ignored appearances.
He was human; he noticed.
But in his past life, only nation-toppling beauties surrounded him—so all other women looked much the same, and he treated them equally.
Had shaggy men clung to him like that, the True Heavenly Demon might've revived in Kunlun—who knows. At any rate, ordinary women were fortunate for his impartiality.
"We'll be off now. Take care, everyone."
"Sob sob. Can't you stay?"
"Enough—let's send them off. The Taoists look troubled because of us."
"It's not like they're leaving forever. Send them with joy, and we'll guard Kunlun."
Only after the True Jade Dragon Protection Squad soothed the mourners could Jeong Gwang's group reach the mountain gate.
Already much time had passed.
Yet the gate teemed with crowds, a sea of people.
Kunlun's heroic acts in Qinghai Province over the past year had drawn far more pilgrims up the mountain.
Word of this central plains trip had spread quietly, so those who'd climbed ahead early now blessed the departing Taoists.
"Please return safely."
"We believe you'll be a strength to the world's suffering souls."
While the Taoists bowed in thanks, Jeong Gwang narrowed his eyes.
Familiar scents mingled among them.
'Are they insane?'
Water bandits sliced up on the Yellow River.
Mountain bandits crushed in the Tanggula Mountains.
Unorthodox scum pulverized at Qinghai Lake.
Jeong Gwang sighed inwardly.
'Should've just killed them all.'
A bone-chilling frost gleamed in his eyes.
Not killing intent, just irritation—but those catching his gaze blanched white.
The same thought flashed through their minds.
'N-No way!'
'He knows?'
'Impossible! How?'
As Jeong Gwang eyed their panic and hardened his heart—'Gonna slaughter them all'—Un Hu's transmission arrived.
—Heh. These pilgrims came with weary steps to bless you, and you think of bloodshed?
—Can't I?
—I'm worried the pilgrims might get hurt.
—Ah. Don't worry about that. Killing those punks won't even take a breath.
Un Hu's transmission grew urgent.
—Aren't you the one who sees big and broad?
—Ah! Swing by their lairs before heading central and wipe them out, right?
—...Hm. A bit broader. There's a way to resolve it without blood.
Wrinkles creased Jeong Gwang's brow.
Anyone else spinning such convoluted talk, he'd ignore it and start the blade dance—but...
It was Un Hu.
'Resolve without blood? How?'
After brief thought, Jeong Gwang concluded.
'Impossible.'
The martial world was a ruthless law of the jungle.
Might made right.
To defend your justice, kill the opponent.
Show a gap, and you're bitten; spare the sprout, and it grows.
These scum proved it.
Should've eradicated them at the grudge's start—instead, mercy let them crawl here to scheme.
—Grandmaster. Easier to just kill 'em.
Un Hu gazed at him a moment, then transmitted again.
—Maybe they're not here to harm the sect, just to scout. Kill everyone you dislike, and corpses'll pile at every step— for the world's sake, and yours, don't.
The long explanation meant little to Jeong Gwang.
But the final line: for your sake too, don't.
Jeong Gwang scratched his head vigorously.
—Just scare 'em off, right?
—Heh. You get it—why torment this old man?
—Sigh. Fine, I'll do it.
As Jeong Gwang reached for his sword, Un Hu's transmission pierced his ear.
—Ideally, make a dragon soar over Kunlun.
—...Pardon?
—What'll they do then? Flee in terror, never return. A grand gift to your devoted pilgrims too.
Jeong Gwang's face twisted.
Such an embarrassing stunt before all these people? Even for Un Hu's request, no way...
—You said you'd show me.
—...!
—Do it now.
—...
Silent, Jeong Gwang sighed.
He was a man who kept promises scrupulously.
"Haaah. Driving me nuts."
Muttering, Jeong Gwang drew his sword.
The scouts, watching his mood, paled to ashen.
But his blade didn't turn toward them.
His foe was the sky.
Jeong Gwang's body soared into the air.
In the empty heavens, he flew free as a dragon.
His sword became dragon claws, cleaving the pouring sunlight;
His hands, a dragon's tail, scattering white clouds.
The crowd clasped hands or knelt in awe.
Beautiful.
Yet mighty.
A true dragon graced Kunlun.
Everyone understood why True Jade Dragon was True Jade Dragon.
—Heh heh heh.
It could've ended there, but Un Hu transmitted to Jeong Gwang.
—Lad. Do the Azure Dragon's Roar too.
—Haaa...
From Jeong Gwang's lips erupted a roar that shook the Kunlun range.
Mountains trembled, clouds vanished.
One of the Nine Great Sects and One Gang, sacred ground of Taoism—Kunlun Sect!
The founder reborn, opening its gates!
Un Hu and the Kunlun disciples swelled with thrilled joy.
The pilgrims trembled in reverence.
The scouts pissed themselves.
True Jade Dragon's first legend, proclaiming his existence to the world.
'Crazy. Turned into that swaggering founder geezer.'
Black history for Jeong Gwang, but so it was.
* * *
"Aaaaah! *Cough* *Cough*."
Someone mimicked Jeong Gwang's roar and hacked up dry coughs.
Jeong generation's eldest, Jeong U—respected for his sturdy character and diligence.
"Hoo. Can't even imitate with my inner power. Little bro, was it close?"
Normally no such pranks from him, but descending the mountain for the first time since initiation had him giddy.
The others understood, laughing good-naturedly.
Jeong Gwang smiled too.
A smile, but chilling to the bone.
Jeong U shrank back quick.
"Ahem. Just envy. Don't look so scary."
"I just looked—why overreact? Big bro feeling guilty?"
"Hey now, guilty? Your eyes were terrifying. Want some admiration?"
"If big bro views me with such thoughts, sure. Look with pure heart, it'd look pure."
"Ugh. I lose. Your Dao's higher."
The Taoists walking along chuckled softly at the banter.
Jeong U wasn't exaggerating; Jeong Gwang showed proper Taoist conduct.
'Heh. How admirable.'
'Thought him a high-martial kid, but he's grown.'
Many days since leaving Kunlun Mountain. They headed for Xining, Qinghai Province's capital, receiving lavish welcomes everywhere.
Kunlun's inherent fame plus a year's heroic acts.
Even amid the journey, disciples held rites and blessings with commoners, busy days—Jeong Gwang, once awkward, now joined in aiding them.
The Kunlun Taoists who'd watched him since infancy couldn't help but feel proud.
Group leader Un Hak called out with a smiling face.
"Alright! Xining soon—straighten up, everyone!"
"Yes!"
Soon, Xining's walls appeared.
Un Hak eyed it curiously.
"Huh. What's with that crowd at the gates?"
True enough, people swarmed the gates.
"Hey? Someone's galloping in on horseback."
"Two horses?"
Two riders charged at tremendous speed.
"Huh? Why are those people...?"
Un Hak asked Jeong Gwang's mutter.
"Know them?"
"Yeah."
"Who?"
Jeong Gwang's follow-up was even more baffling.
"My wet nurse and uncle."