Chapter 155
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 155
Chapter Title: Fame at the Inn
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Seol Hwa-un approached Jin Pyo and spoke.
“All of them must be participants in the Yongbong Assembly.”
“What? All these guys?”
There were far more than twenty young men in sight.
“That’s right. Most seem to come from minor or mid-tier sects.”
“Wow, there really are so many. Over twenty rising stars in just one inn…”
“It’s an inn at the crossroads leading to Shanxi Province, so it’s not that surprising when you think about it. Shanxi alone has countless sects, doesn’t it?”
“That’s true.”
“And there are dozens of provinces like that. Even if just one person came from each of those countless sects, the number would be staggering.”
Jin Pyo was aware of this, but it hadn’t really sunk in until now.
“…It really hits home how many competitors there are.”
Seol Hwa-un chuckled.
Among the rising stars visible now, not even three could withstand a single strike from Jin Pyo.
‘He still doesn’t realize his own standing.’
Of course, three years ago, Jin Pyo had clashed evenly with the Mount Hua Sword Master, but he chalked it up to sheer luck.
“But why are they fighting? With the Yongbong Assembly coming up, they should be preserving their strength.”
Yu Gong-seon patted his shoulder and said.
“They’re at that hot-blooded age, aren’t they? One wrong glance, and they’re at each other’s throats.”
“Oh, is that so…?”
Jin Pyo didn’t seem entirely convinced.
“Haha, looks like the Vice Sect Leader never went through that wild phase.”
As Yu Gong-seon said, Jin Pyo had matured early and skipped the stormy years of youth.
That was why he couldn’t quite relate to these rising stars.
As they talked, the duel grew increasingly fierce.
At a glance, the Plain Sword Sect youth with the sword seemed to have the advantage, but the Staff Harmony Sect youth proved surprisingly seasoned.
The Plain Sword Sect youth, relentlessly closing the distance and swinging his fists, struggled to land a counter.
“Y-You bastard! Back off a bit!”
“No chance! You think I’d let you?”
Seol Hwa-un watched the scene with approval.
‘His lower body is well-trained, giving him solid footwork. The fist techniques are simple, but he knows how to handle swordsmen.’
‘Green on green,’ before he knew it, he was rooting for the Staff Harmony Sect youth wielding fists.
As Seol Hwa-un observed, something suspicious caught his eye.
‘Hm?’
A red-faced boy in the same uniform as the Plain Sword Sect youth was stealthily moving behind the Staff Harmony Sect youth.
‘That kid…’
His eyes darted around suspiciously, clearly plotting something nefarious.
Sure enough.
“How dare you attack my senior brother, you arrogant punk!”
Roaring, he drew his sword from his waist and thrust at the Staff Harmony Sect youth’s back.
Shuuuk!
The Staff Harmony Sect youth, oblivious, focused solely on his duel with the Plain Sword Sect youth.
“Tsk.”
In an instant, Seol Hwa-un’s figure vanished.
Grab!
The boy thrusting his sword jolted in shock.
“Gasp!”
A sudden hand had seized the blade.
His sword was clamped between someone’s index and middle fingers, utterly immobile.
“E-Empty Hand Seizing White Blade?!”
Empty Hand Seizing White Blade. A feat of catching a sword barehanded, requiring perfect reading of the blade’s speed and path.
It signified a vast gap in skill.
“…!?”
The boy hesitated, then looked at the hand’s owner. It was Seol Hwa-un.
With a chilling gaze, he said.
“Striking a duelist from behind is cowardly. Didn’t your sect teach you that?”
“Y-You…!”
The boy didn’t answer, straining desperately to pull his sword free, but it wouldn’t budge.
“W-Who are you? How dare you interfere with the Plain Sword Sect’s affairs?”
“…”
Amused by the absurdity, Seol Hwa-un answered straightforwardly.
“My name is Seol Hwa-un.”
“Seol Hwa-un? Who the hell is…?”
The boy’s eyes widened mid-sentence.
“N-No way, the North Heavenly Dragon?”
The rising stars already watching Seol Hwa-un’s sudden appearance were stunned.
“The North Heavenly Dragon!”
“That’s him, the North Heavenly Dragon?”
“His face matches!”
“Look at that hand. Who else could grab a blade so easily?”
“It’s the North Heavenly Dragon!”
In moments, a crowd surged toward him.
“Oh no.”
The two engrossed in their fierce duel halted, staring blankly at Seol Hwa-un.
Not just them—everyone gathered fixed their eyes on him.
“…”
The boy whose sword was caught asked in a deflated voice.
“A-Are you really… the North Heavenly Dragon?”
“Yes.”
As the tension left the gripped blade, Seol Hwa-un finally released it.
“Ah…”
Then, the Plain Sword Sect youth rushed over and smacked the boy on the back of the head.
Whack!
“Ugh! S-Senior Brother!”
“You fool! What the hell were you trying to do?”
“I-It was…”
The boy tried to make excuses, but the Plain Sword Sect youth ignored him, turning away.
“We’re sorry, Senior Seol! My young junior made a grave mistake!”
The Plain Sword Sect youth bowed repeatedly to Seol Hwa-un in apology.
“Apologize to that friend over there, not me. He nearly got ambushed mid-duel.”
“Ah… Sorry.”
The Staff Harmony Sect youth accepted the apology half-heartedly.
“I-It’s fine.”
He mumbled while approaching Seol Hwa-un.
With a serious expression, he said.
“Senior Seol.”
“…?”
“Thank you so much. And I truly admire you!”
He bowed deeply. That sparked it.
“Me too, Senior Seol! I admire you!”
“I’ve always wanted to meet you!”
“To think I’d see the North Heavenly Dragon here!”
In an instant, Seol Hwa-un was surrounded by rising stars.
“Senior Seol, could we talk for a moment?”
“Senior Seol, could you take a look at my martial arts?”
“Senior Seol!”
As Seol Hwa-un grew flustered, some rising stars kept their distance, watching without approaching.
“Hmph, spineless fools. What’s so great about an Outer Realm barbarian?”
“Yeah, he just got lucky and made a name for himself, right?”
“He’s got luck on his side, sure. Killed two of the Four Demon Envoys, after all.”
“Probably stumbled into it during the chaos. Heavenly luck, nothing more.”
“I always have bad luck whenever I see those Northern savages.”
Overhearing them, Jin Pyo bristled.
“Listen to those bastards…!”
Yu Gong-seon held him back.
“Let it go.”
“But Strategist Yu, their words go too far!”
“No matter how angry the Vice Sect Leader gets, it won’t top how the man himself feels.”
“Ah…”
A closer look revealed Yu Gong-seon’s impassive face burning with quiet fury in his eyes.
“It’s something we expected. Even without the Outer Realm label, those jealous of rapid fame always show up.”
“…”
“Seeing them only fuels my fighting spirit.”
His eyes gleamed coldly.
“I look forward to whether they’ll dare say that once the Brigade Leader and main force’s fame echoes across the Central Plains.”
Despite his higher martial prowess, Jin Pyo felt a chill for a moment.
‘As expected, Strategist Yu is no ordinary man.’
* * *
After a tumultuous meal, Seol Hwa-un’s group headed straight to their annex.
Fortunately, it was a bit away from the inn, allowing for quiet rest.
Once everyone except the North Dragon Brigade sentries had fallen asleep, Seol Hwa-un slipped out alone.
He exchanged nods with the sentry and headed to a small clearing between the inn and annex.
The North Dragon Brigade sentries knew he trained at night, so they said nothing.
‘Alright, let’s get started today too.’
Standing in the clearing’s center, Seol Hwa-un slowly executed forms.
“Huuuup.”
His figure moved swiftly. But the forms were unusual—not North Sea Ice Palace fist techniques, nor Origin Harmony Sect ones.
Yet they vaguely resembled Ice River Nine Splits Divine Fist or Blazing Flower Fist. Utterly ambiguous movements.
After a long while, Seol Hwa-un finally stopped.
‘Hmm.’
In truth, he was blending martial arts from both sides. Possible only with memories of his past life.
‘Both are too advanced; it’s tough.’
Even Seol Hwa-un, who had quickly fused Ice Arts and Sun Yang Arts harmonies, found merging supreme techniques far from easy.
‘I’ve got a feel for it, but…’
He sensed an invisible wall. Breaking through it felt like it would birth a world-shaking absolute art.
‘Nothing for it but persistent effort.’
Mid-thought, Seol Hwa-un turned his head.
“Who’s there.”
“…!”
He felt someone flinch.
“Come out.”
A shadow emerged from the tree shade at his command.
“My apologies.”
He was a somewhat short youth with a youthful face.
Though it was dark, Seol Hwa-un’s keen eyes made him out clearly.
‘Hm?’
Large eyes, sharp features—a handsome youth. But Seol Hwa-un’s surprise stemmed from elsewhere.
‘He looks awfully familiar. Where have I seen him?’
Then, the youth with a wooden sword at his waist spoke.
“Sorry for intruding. I thought no one was around…”
Curiosity piqued, Seol Hwa-un replied.
“No harm done. I’m Seol Hwa-un. And you are?”
The youth’s eyes widened.
“…The North Heavenly Dragon?!”
With weaker eyesight, he hadn’t recognized Seol Hwa-un.
Startled as he was, the youth quickly regained composure.
“You’re the famous one. I’m Moon Yi-cheon.”
He showed no intimidation by Seol Hwa-un’s renown.
‘Moon Yi-cheon?’
Seol Hwa-un racked his brain, but it was definitely a new name.
‘How strange.’
“Indeed, the North Heavenly Dragon, training at night?”
“Yes. And why are you out here, Brother Moon?”
“I came to train too.”
Moon Yi-cheon’s eyes sparkled as he said.
“Since it came up, I have a request. Could you step aside so I can train?”
Quite bold for a request.
‘An interesting fellow.’
“I was about to rest anyway. Mind if I stay nearby?”
Watching a martial artist train was taboo, but Moon Yi-cheon replied breezily.
“Not at all. My sect’s arts can’t be stolen just by watching.”
Immense confidence.
Seol Hwa-un shrugged and retreated to the edge.
As if waiting, Moon Yi-cheon took the center.
“Huu.”
After a deep breath, he drew his wooden sword into low stance.
“…”
Soon, the sword tip began moving slowly.
Whooo.
Watching sidelong, Seol Hwa-un jolted.
‘That’s…!’