Chapter 42

## Chapter 42. Do you have something to say?

"Did you know how nervous I was just now? Because of you, I really... Uh!"

"My ears are going to burst. Stop nagging and eat this."

I stuffed a large dumpling into Aekyeonho's mouth, which was incessantly nagging.

Beside us, Myeongiloh sipped his drink and chuckled.

"If it weren't for Aekyeonho asking to delay your turn, we would have been drinking consolation drinks by now."

"Uh... Right! You should be grateful to me!"

After swallowing the dumpling, Aekyeonho frowned and said.

But it just looked funny, like a scowling brother, rather than scary.

I smiled and refilled Aekyeonho's cup.

"Right. I'm buying drinks today, so drink as much as you want."

"Hehe. I won't refuse any more drinks. You should have a drink too, brother."

As we were passing drinks back and forth, Myeongiloh said with a slightly worried look.

"But you two, don't forget about the sparring match tomorrow."

The practical exam for the new instructor position at the Blue Dragon Academy had two parts.

The first was the demonstration lecture we finished today.

The second was the sparring match tomorrow.

The 'sparring match' was a way for the new instructor candidates to prove their martial arts skills by competing against one of the existing instructors. It wasn't necessary to win, but winning would certainly be advantageous for passing.

However, the candidates wouldn't know who they would be facing until the day of the match, as the match-ups were traditionally set by the academy's headmaster.

'Lord Thousand-Armed Guanyin.'

A martial artist who, decades ago when the Blood Sect was active, was known as one of the Hundred Great Martial Artists and had killed countless experts from the evil factions.

He was once an enemy, but now he was inexplicably friendly towards me.

'Does he want something from me?'

But if that were the case, I didn't have much to offer.

"Hmm... At best, I'm just good-looking and capable..."

"Wow. Look at this brother, boasting to himself so seriously."

I poured more wine into Myeongiloh's cup, making the surface ripple, and said.

"What's the big deal about a sparring match?"

"You're right. It's just a matter of beating whoever shows up!"

Having reached the third level of the Reversing Heaven Technique, I wasn't worried about the sparring match, and Aekyeonho, who seemed a bit dim, was also a peak expert in his own right.

"You two seem so relaxed..."

"Shouldn't you have practiced your martial arts more?"

While Myeongiloh, whose skills were uncertain, sighed and drank alone, Aekyeonho and I teased him and laughed.

"Hehe... Brother, you were really cool earlier, right?"

"Earlier... When I split the wind. Did you see the girls' faces? They were all so excited. You must have liked it too, right? Haha!"

"...Get away from me before I pinch your pressure points."

I pushed Aekyeonho's face away with my hand. He stumbled and fell backward, clearly drunk.

When I stood up, Aekyeonho looked at me with a pouting face.

"Brother... Where are you going?"

"To the restroom. Want to come?"

"Wh-what are you saying, that's embarrassing... But don't be late! Come back quickly!"

"Do you even know what you're saying?"

It seemed he was getting more and more drunk.

I sighed and instructed Myeongiloh.

"Myeongiloh, make sure this guy doesn't follow me."

"...I'll try, but my martial arts are weak, so it might be difficult."

That guy is secretly quite petty.

After taking care of my business in the restroom and returning, I sensed a familiar presence and slowly turned around.

'This presence...'

I swallowed hard and said with a tense face, something I hadn't shown during the demonstration lecture.

"...Grandfather?"

"You've really been lucky. Do you think you've already passed the final round?"

An old man who brought a cold chill like the north wind and snow.

When Maegyeokyeom glared at me with a cold gaze, the buzz from the alcohol disappeared instantly.

"Arrogant brat. Your love for alcohol is just like your father's..."

Maegyeokyeom's eyebrows twitched, and the veins on his arm bulged. I immediately adopted a humble and respectful posture.

"Hehe. I just had a light drink to relax after a long day... But why are you here, Grandfather?"

"Why? Can't I come here?"

"..."

"Your grandfather is here, and you don't even offer him a seat?"

"Hey, waiter! Bring a cup of tea! Grandfather, please sit here. The view is nice."

I polished the table with my sleeve even before the waiter arrived.

Maegyeokyeom sat down with a displeased look, stared at me, and then asked bluntly.

"Are you hurt anywhere?"

"..."

"That move you used to split the wind earlier. It seemed too much for your body."

"..."

Indeed, as a great swordsman, Maegyeokyeom knew that the move I used earlier was quite strenuous for my body.

In fact, my muscles were quite sore.

But thanks to my diligent practice of the Eighteen Green Forest Techniques, it wasn't too much of a strain.

That's why I was drinking.

"I'm fine."

"Don't be overconfident just because you're young."

Maegyeokyeom glared at me and then sighed softly.

"...Your mother was frail. We searched high and low for skilled doctors, but we couldn't find a way to improve her health. When I first saw you, you didn't look very healthy either."

His eyes seemed calm, but I could sense deep regret in them.

"Keep this in mind. It might come in handy someday."

Maegyeikyeom took something out of his sleeve and handed it to me.

It was a neatly wrapped medicinal pill, and the faint fragrance suggested it was a valuable item.

I felt a bit guilty and tried to refuse.

"I'm really fine... I don't need it..."

"Just take it when an elder offers it."

"...Thank you, I will."

Well, it's impolite to keep refusing when someone offers it.

After finishing his business, Maegyeikyeom immediately stood up. He didn't even touch the tea the waiter brought.

"I'll be going now."

"Already? Won't you have something to eat...?"

"I'm busy. Don't drink too much."

"I won't drink anymore today."

"..."

Maegyeikyeom stared at me for a moment and then spoke.

"Don't hate the student who attacked you with the wind technique too much. I already disciplined him before coming here. He did it out of youthful anger..."

I smiled and said.

"Don't worry. I'm not that petty to take it out on a student."

Instead, I plan to take it out on the person who made the student do it.

Maegyeikyeom, unaware of my thoughts, nodded approvingly.

"Is that so? I see."

"I'll see you off to the academy. Together..."

"That's not necessary. Don't do something pointless."

Maegyeikyeom stopped me with a stern look and turned to walk away.

I bowed deeply towards his back.

"Grandfather, take care."

"..."

Maegyeikyeom left the inn without a word or a backward glance.

I watched him go and then looked at the medicinal pill he left me.

"I don't need to take it right away..."

Just then,

"Wow. I didn't know you two were grandfather and grandson."

Startled by the sudden voice, I turned around.

'I didn't sense his presence until he was this close?'

But when I saw who it was, it made sense.

The headmaster of the Blue Dragon Academy, Lord Thousand-Armed Guanyin, stood behind me, smiling like an immortal.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to eavesdrop. I was just waiting for the right moment to join in because the atmosphere seemed serious. Hehe."

The martial artist who was once called a demon by the evil factions was now laughing awkwardly.

* * *

Sitting across from Lord Thousand-Armed Guanyin with a steaming cup of tea between us, I watched as he slowly savored the aroma and then frowned after taking a sip.

"Hmm. I'm not sure if tea really tastes good, even at my age."

"Should I ask the waiter to bring some drinks?"

"Hehe. No need. Drinking with an old man like me might be a chore."

"That's not true..."

"Who taught you martial arts?"

Caught off guard by the sudden question, I narrowed my eyes.

'Did he notice something?'

But even if Lord Thousand-Armed Guanyin had noticed something, I had nothing to hide.

I had never used the Blood Sect's martial arts, and I hadn't done anything suspicious.

So I answered confidently.

"My father."

"Did your father also study at the Blue Dragon Academy in the past?"

"Yes. I heard he was very famous as a troublemaker about thirty years ago."

"Ahem."

My answer seemed too honest, and Lord Thousand-Armed Guanyin was momentarily speechless.

But he soon smiled and asked the next question.

"Why haven't you entered the martial world until now?"

This question could be interpreted in many ways, but I interpreted it as:

'Why haven't you made a name for yourself in the martial world with your skills?'

Since it was a compliment from a Hundred Great Martial Artist, I bowed in gratitude and answered.

"When I was young, I was too frail to enter the martial world. Later, I realized that risking my life to see who is stronger is pointless."

"Hehe..."

Lord Thousand-Armed Guanyin laughed, seemingly genuinely surprised.

"You know, I'm also someone who has been caught up in that pointlessness."

"Everyone has different thoughts. I prefer teaching and learning over fighting. I want to live a good life doing that."

"In short... You don't want to get involved in the complicated grudges of the martial world, right?"

"Something like that."

Lord Thousand-Armed Guanyin seemed to ponder my words and then said.

"Occasionally, people like you come to the academy. Some want to become instructors because they fear taking lives or fear losing their own lives. I don't criticize or look down on them."

"Thank you for understanding..."

"But you are different."

Suddenly, Lord Thousand-Armed Guanyin's eyes turned sharp, piercing through me.

"You don't seem like someone who fears spilling blood. On the contrary..."

"..."

"You seem like someone who has seen a lot of blood and is tired of it. Hehe."

Lord Thousand-Armed Guanyin smiled and looked straight at me, and I didn't avoid his gaze.

No matter how much he looked, he wouldn't find anything.

"..."

"..."

Our gazes clashed in the air, and a moment of silence followed.

After gauging me for a while, Lord Thousand-Armed Guanyin finally broke the silence with a strange smile and looked away.

He took another sip of the tasteless tea and asked me.

"...One last question. Is there anything you want to say to me?"

There was.

I answered without hesitation.

"In the sparring match tomorrow, please let me fight Namgung Su."

Lord Thousand-Armed Guanyin smiled, as if he had expected this.