Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The World's Greatest Beauty
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"..Sun Wrapper?"
"..Wudang Beetle?"
In that single exchange confirming each other's identities, an awkward silence instantly filled the space.
The two possessors stared at each other with thoroughly flustered expressions.
The onlookers watching their greeting couldn't hide their puzzled looks at the bizarre scene.
"Ladybug?"
"Sun Shooter?"
Baek Hyun, quicker on the uptake, sensed the awkward atmosphere first. He forced his embarrassed expression away and spoke up.
"My apologies, young hero. Your appearance is so distinctive that I unwittingly committed a rudeness."
At Baek Hyun's sudden apology, Cheong-un shot him a look that said, What the hell's wrong with this guy all of a sudden?
"Ah, no, not at all. I've never seen anyone with an aura as unique as yours either, young master, so I was the rude one."
Soon catching on to the surrounding mood, he bowed his head as well, trying to smooth over the clearly odd exchange from moments before.
Fortunately, the most damning remarks had been filtered out, so it was still salvageable.
"Shall we call it even, both at fault this time?"
"That sounds best."
"As expected of a Wudang disciple—such magnanimity."
"You're the same, young master."
"“Hahahahahaha!!!”"
The two possessors clasped hands and forced out laughs, desperately trying to play it off naturally.
The others, who had been eyeing them suspiciously, eventually nodded as if accepting the situation, however awkwardly.
Cheong-un senior brother is a bit small.
Baek Hyun's constitution is a bit unusual.
They were both people with traits startling enough that even sudden shock and bewilderment would have been understandable.
"Indeed, that young master's aura has a peculiar edge to it. It feels quite different from the other Starpoint Sect disciples... Will he be representing Starpoint?"
"Yes, his name is Baek Hyun. He's a direct disciple of our sect leader, just like that boy."
Muk Seon belatedly introduced Baek Hyun, who gave a slight bow to Un-hak.
Un-hak stared piercingly at Baek Hyun for a moment before smiling meaningfully and speaking.
"Impressive... I've heard the rumors, but to think he's the one in question. With such heroic bearing, Starpoint has no need to worry about its future."
With that, Un-hak bowed once more in greeting.
"It would be rude to detain travelers weary from a long journey any longer, so please retire to your lodgings and rest. The Young Dragon Assembly begins in full two days—take it easy until then."
See you later, then.
Un-hak and the Wudang disciples turned to leave.
Even as they all turned away, however, Cheong-un's gaze lingered on Baek Hyun.
Meeting that gaze, Baek Hyun sent a transmission... or rather, a private message.
I don't know the way here, come to me.
Cheong-un's expression twisted oddly at the message, but he soon nodded in acceptance, replying:
On point.
And so, the two possessors secretly arranged to meet.
"Sect Leader, what did you make of that boy?"
On the way back after greeting the Starpoint contingent,
one of the accompanying Wudang disciples asked Un-hak.
Un-hak, as host and sect leader, had come out personally out of duty and courtesy,
but the main reason was to gauge the movements of rival factions and assess promising talents firsthand.
No matter that they were allies walking the same path, they couldn't afford to lose the title of "The World's Foremost Sword Sect," handed down since their ancestors' time.
Thus, Wudang kept a close watch on other sects' activities whenever the chance arose, without overt antagonism.
"That young master... Baek Hyun, was it?"
Un-hak pondered the handsome latecomer he'd just met.
Pale platinum hair, golden eyes shining like the sun, flawless clean white skin without a single blemish.
His looks alone marked him as no ordinary boy, but what stood out even more was the unique, alien atmosphere he exuded.
An aura like sunlight incarnate—pure, warm, benevolent to the extreme.
Yet his rigorously trained body and flawless, razor-sharp presence hinted that this benevolence could turn to merciless retribution at any moment.
"It seems the rumors were greatly understated."
Judging by feel, the boy's realm had already surpassed the transcendent.
Reaching transcendent at that age was astonishing,
but with four others of this generation at that level besides him, it wasn't that shocking.
One was his own disciple, after all.
But that alien sensation from his body... what was it?
To think I couldn't fully gauge a mere latecomer at a glance.
Whatever it was, he was no pushover—that much was clear.
"What do you think?"
Having finished his own assessment of Baek Hyun, Un-hak turned to his disciple for his opinion.
The reaction suggested the encounter had left a deep impression.
He was curious what could impress this disciple, usually indifferent to others.
"That young master is strong. Probably the strongest of our generation."
'!!'
Un-hak paused at the far more glowing evaluation than expected.
This wasn't rote humility.
It was a sincere assessment, utterly unvarnished.
He'd sensed the boy was extraordinary, but he'd never imagined his own disciple felt so thoroughly outclassed.
Un-hak had to ask again.
"How... do you figure that?"
Cheong-un hesitated briefly before murmuring so low only Un-hak could hear.
"Because he's Sun Wrapper..."
"...Hm?"
"No, I mean... just a gut feeling."
Gut feeling.
Vague as it was, without tangible proof, it was no simple thing to dismiss.
A highly honed warrior's instinct often outstripped the conclusions of hundreds of brilliant strategists.
With Cheong-un's special constitution, he might have unconsciously sensed factors Un-hak missed.
Is that boy really that formidable?
Just as Un-hak's expression darkened,
"But don't worry too much. Just because the opponent is stronger doesn't mean we can't win."
Cheong-un gripped the sword at his waist with his small, delicate hand and continued.
It was a custom shortsword, made short and small to fit his unusually petite frame.
"No matter who the opponent is, I have no intention of losing."
Cheong-un burned with resolve, his face majestic like a general marching to battle.
His master and fellow Wudang disciples gazed at him and thought in unison:
So cute.
Cute.
Adorable.
Aww, so precious.
Cheong-un basked in his sect's abundant affection.
"...My mood just soured. You guys aren't thinking weird stuff, are you?"
Though it was affection the subject himself wanted no part of.
I never imagined I'd run into another possessor right after arriving in Hubei Province.
Baek Hyun unpacked his belongings in the quiet lodging, recalling the striking encounter.
Muk Seon and the other Starpoint disciples had left for errands right after unpacking, leaving only Baek Hyun and a few attendants behind.
Though it was his first time seeing the face in person, the moment he laid eyes on him, certainty struck.
That's Wudang Beetle.
How could he not know?
The tiny avatar he'd fought tooth and nail with before possession.
Everything but height differed from the game, but that height etched firmly in his mind was proof enough.
Who knew Wudang Beetle looked like that in reality...
The image was still vivid.
Unlike the flat, generic game avatar, he had a handsome, captivating look that would drive certain tastes wild.
His youthful features leaned more cute than handsome, but that face would have made him a heartthrob in the real world.
Unfortunately, no more growing here—he was stuck as a shota forever.
It was surprising that such a guy was a hardcore gamer who'd sunk thousands of hours into it.
His face alone could've starred as the male lead in some modern romance novel for women.
"When's this guy showing up, anyway? It's been ages since we split."
Baek Hyun scowled at the darkening scenery outside.
He'd said he'd come, but two hours had passed with no sign.
At this rate, the elders and senior brothers would return first.
Maybe he can't send signals inside the lodging?
As Baek Hyun debated waiting outside,
-knock knock, knock-knock-knock, knock
The unmistakable beat any Korean would recognize came from the door handle.
"Damn, he shows up quick when he wants."
Grinning, Baek Hyun rushed to the door.
The second possessor he'd met since Maeng Yeon.
A gaming buddy from before possession, no less.
Mountains of things to discuss, things to do together.
What would the real guy feel like?
Would face-to-face talk be awkward since they'd never done it? Or just like in-game chats?
Oh right, if he's older, should I call him bro?
Either way, anticipation brimmed.
"Hey, why'd you take so long to..."
But when he flung the door open, the figure before him was utterly unexpected.
"Hmm, more presentable than I imagined?"
A radiant yet serene beauty, like dawn's first light piercing the night, filled Baek Hyun's vision.
Her hair, as if sculpted from pure snowflakes, gleamed with a clear, cool light like moonlight. As the waist-length locks swayed in the breeze, a soft glow rippled, overwhelming all surrounding colors.
Her eyes, like gems crafted from the finest azure, lay still as a flawless lake, their unfathomable depths beyond measure. They silenced onlookers with an oppressive splendor, as if stellar light from the heavens had descended into human form.
Her skin, dazzlingly pale and soft, absorbed faint moonlight and shone like jewels. Her bearing was ethereal, unreal—like an immortal briefly visiting the mortal realm.
Slender yet not frail, her every motion graceful, even the flick of a sleeve imbued with elegance.
A beauty no artist could replicate, even in a single line—the one absolute stunner permitted to the world.
People hailed that pinnacle of beauty thus:
The World's Greatest Beauty
She continued with refined poise, a smile breathtaking enough to stop hearts.
"First time seeing you in person, right? Number One Ranker. Allow me a proper introduction. I'm the young head of the Zhuge Clan, and..."
"Holy shit, you're Sam-soon!? Sam-soon!!?"
"Don't yell it, you idiot!!"
It was his meeting with the third possessor.