Qualification to Have the Opportunity (8)
Drip— Drip— Drip— The sight of golden dew, infused with searing heat, falling one drop at a time was utterly mesmerizing. But.
“…….”
“……Takes forever.”
The speed was just too damn slow. No doubt about it—this was a wondrous, beautiful spectacle. But with drops falling at such a glacial pace, boredom hit fast. And then there was the real kicker.
Ugh, this……
My arms were killing me. Not a single drop of the Oryeong Immortal Dew could go to waste, so I had to hold the canteen way up high to catch it. Even for someone as trained as me, keeping my arms raised like that was brutal.
“Geum Pyo.”
“Yes.”
“I’m giving you the chance to receive the elixir yourself. Come hold this.”
“…….”
Geum Pyo glanced back and forth between me and the elevated canteen, then shook his head.
“No, big brother. I couldn’t possibly handle something this important. I’m fine.”
Why were these kids getting sharper by the day?
“Come take it while I’m asking nicely.”
“……Yes! It’s an honor!”
Geum Pyo forced a smile despite his furrowed brows and shuffled over. As I rolled my aching shoulders and neck in relief, Saryeon stared at me with a blank expression.
“You really… really got the Oryeong Immortal Dew?”
Even after witnessing a scene rarer than rare in my next life, she couldn’t hide her disbelief.
Well… she’s the one who wanted Tae-eul Gate to soar more than anyone.
She’d carried the crushing weight of having to lead the sect her whole life—no one forced her; she shouldered it herself. That’s why her existence had been one long stretch of misery and pain. Knowing her from my previous life, her overwhelming emotion felt like a small comfort.
“Yeah. Tae-eul Gate really got the Oryeong Immortal Dew.”
Moisture welled up in Saryeon’s eyes.
“And we’ll get even more from here on out.”
“…….”
“I’ll make it happen.”
Drops like the Oryeong Immortal Dew soon trickled from her eyes. Saryeon’s face twisted in realization as she hurriedly wiped them away. I casually turned my head, pretending not to notice.
Either way, Tae-eul Gate’s future wasn’t the priority right now. Getting out safely with the Oryeong Immortal Dew was the real issue.
The problem is that stuff(?) is way too slow.
Unlike those Jongnam idiots who lit torches and wasted it all, we’d snuffed ours out ahead of time—no losses. That meant we could fill at least half the canteen. But with Jongnam liable to barge in any second, it was impossible to predict how much we’d end up with.
Please, just keep screwing around a little longer.
The harder Jongnam worked to block outside reinforcements and flush out intruders, the more we’d collect.
How much time passed?
“……Eunho.”
Geum Pyo’s voice came low and strained. No reply.
Eventually.
“E……Eunho!”
Geum Pyo called desperately in a voice like he was dying, but Eunho just kept pretending not to hear.
“That little shit…… ugh, I even hit his pressure point. Why’s he acting deaf…….”
“…….”
Dongryong hesitated amid the brothers’ staredown and edged toward Geum Pyo.
“G-Geum Pyo hyung, want me to hold it?”
Geum Pyo peered down at Dongryong, who wasn’t much shorter than him. Those eyes were shaking way too hard, weren’t they?
“No, you’re too small……”
Of course. No way he’d ask his little bro…… Swish—
“……Hey, where you looking?”
My sharp bark yanked Geum Pyo’s gaze away from Saryeon. Too late—the direction was busted.
“Geum Pyo hyung, that’s low.”
“……Ugh!”
Eunho and Dongryong shot him matching looks of pity, and Geum Pyo exploded.
“W-What?! Why?! What’d I even say?!”
Then Saryeon approached the beet-red Geum Pyo.
“Hand it over. I’ll hold it.”
“N-No, Senior Sister, you rest.”
“Miss even one drop and think of the loss. We’ll rotate.”
“……A-Alright, just a bit…… hehe.”
As they finally enjoyed some breathing room and bickered playfully, my senses pinged.
I shot to my feet and eyed Dongryong.
“Dongryong!”
“……Yes?”
No change in his face. But the aura from my pinged presence felt off—bad news. Definitely the same guy who’d chased us before.
I stared at Dongryong’s face.
Why’s he blanking this time?
Snapped from my thoughts by their calls.
“Ugh?”
“Senior Brother?”
Saryeon—fresh off swapping with Geum Pyo—and Eunho hurried over.
Right, no distractions now.
Saryeon whispered anxiously.
“What’s wrong?”
“Someone…… heading this way.”
“Ugh?”
“Maybe just passing like before?”
I shook my head at Saryeon.
“They’ve got our number.”
How else would they zero in on us through all those forks?
“Then we stop here?”
Anxiety flickered over Saryeon’s face. Fair enough—sudden as hell.
But.
“No. Collect every last drop.”
Give up elixir right in front of me? Hell no.
I glanced at them and added.
“I’ll hold them off.”
My juniors flipped.
“Senior Brother! What’re you saying?!”
“Big brother! I’m coming too.”
“Me too!”
I cocked my head at their rush. What’s up with them?
“This is big brother’s job.”
I shook my head slowly again, and their eyes filled with complicated feelings.
Hmm, feels like……
Pity for the sacrificing senior mixed with respect. All over one guy…… Ah.
I got their misunderstanding.
Yeah, that’s it.
I cleared my throat a couple times and tacked on.
“Ahem. No matter how many Jongnam throws at us, they won’t breach this spot. So…… you collect till the end.”
My bad for not mentioning it’s just one—but no need to clear it up.
Could be one of a hundred, right? Ahem.
Then Eunho—his pressure point seemingly released—spoke up. Must be touched……
“……Big brother, then why not till now?”
I eyed Eunho.
“Eunho.”
“Yes.”
Said it slow.
“Your turn for the Oryeong Immortal Dew.”
“…….”
Sharp juniors are a pain.
# We’d put some distance from the Oryeong Immortal Dew cave.
I fired sword energy at the ceiling.
Slash— Slash— Slash— Slash—
Rumble— Thud thud—
Severed rocks and dirt rained down, sealing the narrow gap at the entrance.
The faint glow of Oryeong Immortal Dew vanished completely, plunging everything into darkness.
Just in case—no light leaks, lower detection risk.
Flick— Flick—
Flint to torch, bolted toward the approaching presence.
His aura sharpened; killing intent prickled my skin.
Stopped. Waited.
The fast approacher slowed bit by bit, then walked casually.
Like he expected the fight.
No hiding now—I spread senses wide, probing openly.
Not Geukgi range, no exact read. But past-life expert data let me ballpark.
Sect leader…… higher!
Estimate—likely stronger.
Lucky: sect leader tier. Unlucky: elder path……
Cheol Sunjik’s North Dipper Sword Enforcer popped to mind.
Hoping not that unlucky.
Footsteps—
Torch shadows birthed a man, mid-thirties tops. Sword blade gleamed with Beidou constellation mark.
Fuck, for real……
# North Dipper Sword Enforcer.
Jongnam’s last-ditch assault team. Never steps out unless sect survival on line.
Some call it Jongnam’s mutual assured destruction tool.
Jongnam warns: destroy us, and prepare to fall too.
Seeing North Dippers I missed even after Jongnam’s fall in past life.
Strange mood. No—shitty.
Purpose is sect safeguard, so absent from Great War—logical.
But here in Heavenly Cave? Unwelcome.
Jongnam bastards. Pushing it.
Foot— He clocked me at entrance, strode in.
Battle scars: blood splotches on robes, fresh crimson trickling along Beidou blade.
Spotted me, scanned cave, frowned puzzled.
“Alone?”
I nodded.
“Yep. Too young for marriage.”
“…….”
Crackle, crackle. Torch roar hung heavy between us.
# “I……”
Man’s mouth gaped, then shut. Eyes quaked like he forgot words.
“Didn’t mean it like that.”
“Oh? Thought Jongnam greets with marriage talk on first meet.”
Pondered, replied.
“Sorry for the mix-up.”
……An apology? Here?
“Good you get it.”
Hid fluster, nodded.
“Ask again. Where’s the group?”
I tilted head.
“Group? Came solo.”
Confusion redux.
“Then…… you killed ‘em?”
This guy? Moron?
“Ah, if you mean travel buds, split ages ago—each our way.”
“…….”
Stared holes through me forever.
“Lies.”
……Not total fool.
Tsk. Denied hard again.
“What bullshit. Never lied once in life. Daoist of Jongnam judging rashly?!!”
My bark left him sheepish.
“……R-Really?”
Really what. What’s his deal?
“Yep. Zero lies ever.”
“Then why mask?”
“……Super shy.”
“I see……”
……Buys it easy.
Fuck—high psych op?
Then curiosity hit. Felt he’d spill.
“Really North Dipper Sword Enforcer?”
“Gah!!!”
Shit. What?
“H-How’d you know?!!!”
“…….”
Beidou mark on blade screams it. Thought hidden?
“Heard North Dippers only move for sect extinction. Why for petty elixir?”
My jab lit him up.
“Jongnam’s in crisis!”
Own words shocked him.
“Oops! Secret!”
“…….”
Selection standards sus af.
Still muttering, eyes wild.
Bites lip, resolved.
“No killing in Heavenly Cave…… but you know too much. Unavoidable.”
“……Not big secret.”
“Still. Sorry.”
Shit! Didn’t beg to hear!
North Dipper Heavenly Gang Step—form blurred.
Illusory Shift?
Heavy sword cleaved air, speed mocking light blades.
Boom!
Black Dragon parried—shoulder crushed like cavefall.
What strength!
Knew above heaven-earth realm, but this chasm from regulars.
No wonder “final assault.”
Halfwit this skilled? Hackles rose.
Idiot act to drop guard?
Bang! Bangbangbangbang!
Boom!
Each clash sinks feet deep.
Max inner energy—Twin Heaven Conclusion, Small Heaven Sword Technique unleashed.
Swoooosh!
Dozens shadows, thunder tips hunt vitals—but reversed blade guards 36 dirs, blocks all.
No myriad swords—identity risk. Sword aura instead.
Hummm—
Foot-long aura from Black Dragon tip, Twin Heaven scattered.
Dark lit by aura beams everywhere.
Aura out—his blade? Just energy.
Can’t use aura?
Easy win? Shattered.
Not full 36 like Nine Palaces 36 Swords—supreme blade masters nine palaces for dual defense-attack.
Realized: no need for aura.
Clangclangclang! Clangclangclang!
Energy blade vs aura—zero flinch.
Twin Heaven whirlwind ends—his sword lightning drops.
Boom boom! Boomboomboom! Boomboomboomboom!
Each block, blast rattles guts.
Long digested—nausea surged.
Suppress? Fuck that—food?
Felt Jongnam’s investment.
Lucky not all seven—others likely older, stronger.
Full throttle or bust. But traces linger.
Knew power in Great War, dodged direct.
Hold up……
Idea sparked.
Hard gauge—above Ilgak, below Jegumhak.
Perfect.
Might work in my favor.
This level won’t drop dead from overkill.
Trust Jongnam power.
Got skill for power sans ID.
While scheming, Cosmic Rainbow Sword qi locked body.
Unlike 36 swords’ 36 dirs—pins 18, immobilizes.
Tae-eul Eight Myriad Divine Steps—barely escaped.
Cartoon Invincible Fist gaps distance, yelled.
“Wait! Last words!”
“L……ast words?”
Fl inch.
“L-last ones—allow it?”
Pondered, nodded. Bought my death.
“Speak.”
As he paused.
“Please…… no death, no grave wounds. Faint just right.”
Full inner pour.
“That’s your……huh?!”
No last words.
Sensed wrong, charged—late.
White Moon Heaven-Subduing Three Forms, First: Extreme Swiftness.
Blade whipped, air ripped.
Swoosh— Odd vibe—heavy raise late.
Slashhh—
Long line cross chest, blood geyser.
“L-Liar…… l-last……”
Yeah. Yours.
Thud—
North Dipper crumpled like abandoned kid.
Tsk. Why that face? Feels like I’m the asshole.