Chapter 43
The Dragon Phoenix Gathering unfolded exactly as I had predicted.
‘The Four Heavens Party with the Poison Dragon and the Namgung Family with the Infinite Sword Emperor...'
These were the families of the powerful figures shown in the original "The King of the Vajra Fist." Originally, they were characters who would have joined hands with Kim Hyul to stop Bi Wol, the Heavenly Demon.
Although the situation had changed now, their presence could still be felt from the past Great War between righteousness and evil.
"What is martial arts, and what is chivalry!"
In that war where the Martial Alliance and the Four Great Swordsmen fought to determine who was the true master of the martial world, I was classified as part of the evil faction because I fought for the weak, like ronin and the sick.
"Why are you considered evil? Isn't your heart closer to the righteous path?"
I had tried my best to minimize the deaths of people in that incident.
I had begged the gods, prostrating myself dozens, hundreds of times for days on end, and prepared to treat people by gathering various medicinal herbs from the Secret Cave.
I never expected that what I had merely described as a past event in the work would actually happen.
"Well, Bing Yeon, was it? Looking at your actions, many things seem different."
In the end, I managed to conclude the Great War between righteousness and evil as smoothly as possible, and in recognition of my survival and contributions in that battlefield, I received the title of Ice Dragon.
The fact that I, classified as evil, could participate in the Dragon Phoenix Gathering held by the current leader of the Martial Alliance showed how things had changed to mutual recognition.
"Master, this Bi Wol has returned with victory...!"
As if to demonstrate such change, Bi Wol was running towards me so quickly that I could hear her rapid footsteps from afar.
With her arms wide open as if to embrace me and a bright smile on her face, I found myself at a loss for where to look and shifted my gaze to the ground.
"...Well done."
"Why won't you embrace me!"
I pressed my forehead firmly as I blocked Bi Wol's approach, and she was complaining to me as if dissatisfied.
"You're not a child anymore."
Bi Wol, now a grown martial artist participating in the Dragon Phoenix Gathering, who should have been revered as the Heavenly Demon and become the leader of the demonic cult, was now just an innocent figure yearning for my embrace.
"Then, will you accept my feelings?"
Bi Wol rubbed her face against my hand, giving me a sly smile. It seemed she was questioning why I couldn't do even this much when she had been continuously bringing victories from the Dragon Phoenix Gathering.
"...Do you know the term 'betraying one's master'?"
I recited the principle to her. There were three main reasons why I couldn't accept Bi Wol's feelings at present.
"Isn't that insulting or deceiving the master or founder of one's sect?"
"Yes, that includes when a disciple and master form an improper relationship. How can one who doesn't know human relationships and propriety be called human?"
First, there was this kind of public perception.
Originally, in this martial world, a disciple and master of a sect marrying or forming an inappropriate relationship was considered a greater crime than betraying the sect or colluding with another sect.
If caught doing such a thing, they would immediately receive punishment to destroy their dantian and cripple them.
"...What if I were no longer your disciple?"
After hearing my words, Bi Wol pondered for a moment before throwing out a sharp remark that didn't seem to have come from her own mind.
"Then, are you saying you'll leave the sect?"
"Yes, if that's the only way I can fully dedicate my love to you, Master."
Bi Wol smiled seductively, as if flaunting that I was in the palm of her hand. I felt a slight chill seeing her smile.
"We belong to an evil sect under the Four Great Swordsmen. We don't need to be bound by what the world calls propriety."
She loosened her front robe slightly, and when I directed my gaze to the ground, she even had the composure to smile faintly.
"Besides, no matter how much the righteous faction's small fry cry about human relationships and propriety, how can it compare to your benevolence, Master?"
Confidence exuded from Bi Wol's face. As she said, I was probably the only one in her sect who gathered and treated the sick and pitiful.
There were places like the Beggar Sect where most were beggars, but there was no sect so obsessed with saving people.
Even that god would call me crazy when he saw me.
"But I'm a dying man. I might not even last this year, let alone next year."
Second, I was living a life on borrowed time where my entire meridian system would twist if I used even a little internal energy. Due to the Nine Yin Severed Pulse, cold energy accumulated in my body, making it a constitution that couldn't live long.
It could be considered a miracle that I had reached 20 years of age.
"That's why you're entering this martial arts tournament, to obtain the Ten Thousand Year Extreme Yang Pill, isn't it?"
"It's related to an Outer God, so it might not be easily cured. Even if it's an elixir containing extreme yang energy."
I shook my head, slightly tempering Bi Wol's expectations. It was my last hope, but what if my body wasn't cured even after using this?
Bi Wol might resort to taking lives, searching the entire martial world to save me. Even now, her eyes were sharper than anyone else's in her pursuit of victory.
"Surely we'll find a way someday. Unlike in the past, I now have sworn sisters who share my cause."
As she said this, Bi Wol looked around and exchanged glances with Azazel and Verdandi, who nodded in response.
"That's right! If we join forces, such a thing will be no problem at all!"
"It's annoying, but if Brother dies, that bastard might start wagging his tail at me."
Azazel's attitude had become strangely gentle from the start. I swallowed hard as I wondered what had caused such a change in her.
Seeing these final bosses from the original novel burning with determination made me feel uneasy.
"I raised you like a daughter. I've never once looked at you with sexual eyes..."
Third, Bi Wol and my disciples were like daughters that Seolhwa and I had created together. As long as she was alive in this world, there should never be an improper relationship between parent and child.
"I know. That's why I admire you even more, Master."
Bi Wol chuckled and gently tickled my chin with her hand. She had once said that she liked how my gaze was different from the lewd looks other men gave her.
"Even when you taught me martial arts, you never once glanced at these large breasts."
"That's only natural."
After all, the beginning and end of martial arts lie in proper posture. Even a slight difference in angle, applied force, or internal energy could cause one to lose that sharpness.
"In life-and-death battles, even a moment's distraction can determine victory or defeat, making it dangerous."
"Hmm, I thought you might be impotent, Master, but it seems that's not the case? You certainly know how to talk."
"......"
After resolving her heart demon, Bi Wol began to approach me aggressively, as if she had forgotten how to measure distance with others. Whether this was good or bad, at least the future where she would be consumed by the energy of the Heavenly Killing Star had disappeared.
"...Where on earth did you learn to talk like that?"
"I learned it from Sister Azazel."
Bi Wol stuck out her tongue slightly, smiling as if trying to tease me. As she said, this annoying behavior of trying to make others understand her feelings was something Azazel was good at.
Baa─.
When I immediately looked to the side, Azazel was sticking out her tongue with the same expression.
After getting past this little farce, I gathered my disciples to discuss the remaining main tournament.
"The Namgung Family is famous for their Absolute Sword Technique, thanks to their swift and heavy swords. Heavy and fast sword strikes, but think of deflecting them using your wrists, and it'll be easy."
Unlike the Infinite Sword Emperor who had reached the realm of the Formless Sword, where swords couldn't even clash, or actions that aimed for blind spots, this should be easy to deal with.
"However, if you use this method once, it'll catch up to you later, so you should only use the deflection technique once."
The problem was that unlike the preliminaries where the outcome was decided in just a few exchanges, the main tournament had a rule where three people would come out, and the side that secured two wins first would advance to the finals.
If not for this, any sect could bring in a strong person disguised as a late bloomer and ruin this tournament.
"Then, how should we deal with it next?"
"Good question, Verdandi. You'll understand if you look at this."
In response to Verdandi's question, I picked up a brush and started writing on a bamboo slip. I wrote down all the martial arts and techniques of the Namgung Family from the original "The King of the Vajra Fist."
"Master, what exactly is your identity? Seeing that you know all of this, the Namgung Family might send assassins after you."
Seeing this, Bi Wol muttered softly as if she couldn't believe her own eyes. After all, I had written down even the secret family techniques that were passed down.
Her reaction was rather normal.
"It's a secret. If you spend a long time in this martial world, you can come to know quite a lot."
There was also a tendency for the Infinite Sword Emperor of the Namgung Family to view me favorably after the Great War between righteousness and evil, so this was like a final version that included martial arts created by him as well.
There were also martial arts that had been improved beyond the settings I had originally created as an author, so relying too much on existing knowledge wouldn't be enough to win.
"Anyway, from the second round, push with speed. If that doesn't work, block the sword as much as possible and look for openings..."
"The swords of the Namgung Family are swift and heavy. This means they are so powerful that the sword might break or the outcome might be decided in just a few exchanges."
"I understand! You're saying that if it becomes a long battle, it'll be more advantageous for me!"
Verdandi was a disciple who understood three things when taught one. Whether it was cleverness born from purity or a resemblance to Seolhwa's love for riddles and puzzles, she was quick to grasp concepts.
"Are you not giving me any advice?"
"...Azazel?"
The saint with pink hair who had approached me at some point was showing interest in the upcoming martial arts tournament.
Originally, she wouldn't need to use the tentacles on her back; if she used Morgidian's true words, she could achieve victory without any harm.
"Is there any need for that?"
"Yes, isn't this a place where many people gather? If I reveal the divinity of an Outer God in such a place, all the spectators would be driven mad with insanity."
"That's certainly a sharp observation."
Given Azazel's consistently cold attitude, I thought she wouldn't listen no matter what advice I gave.
"Even you let your guard down at times like this, Brother."
I had been feeling a sensation constantly brushing against my shoulder for a while, and I was trying to suppress my bewildered feelings.
"...A new love rival?"
Hearing Bi Wol's soft murmur, I trembled in fear of what the future might hold.