Crunch—
Fragments of stone rolled around me.
Tiny specks of dust swirled unsettlingly in the wind.
The subtle warmth lingering in the air was swiftly swept away by the winter breeze.
"What... what just happened?"
At the murmured words of an unknown heir from a noble family,
The once-quiet surroundings suddenly filled with chatter.
"They said it's mixed with Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Iron; how did it end up like that?"
"There's a hole punched right through!"
Those who had taken the test earlier
Had barely managed to make a scratch the size of a fingernail and passed.
But someone had shattered it to pieces all at once.
Such reactions were inevitable.
But the one who caused this scene wasn't in a position to enjoy the admiration.
'Should I have controlled myself more?'
No, I shouldn't have mixed in the heat in the first place.
Even if I didn't make a tiny scratch like the others,
Destroying it like this was a bit over the top.
'I told you to take it easy, you idiot.'
No matter how much I needed to vent,
This was too much.
And then,
Tsk tsk...
Why is that person here again?
Since moving to the plains to take the exam,
Among the instructors checking the schedule,
I spotted a familiar face.
'So that's what she meant when she said I'd find out.'
The woman trying to suppress her laughter at my mess was none other than the Plum Blossom Sword Sovereign.
"They said Kunlun is overseeing the Shinryong Pavilion this time."
Why is she here in such circumstances?
Never mind that the Sword Sovereign is working as an instructor here.
'Did the head of Kunlun approve this?'
Rather than having a grandmaster-level warrior from another sect help out,
The presence of the Sword Sovereign was unexpected.
It's more attention-grabbing than hearing that the Blue Sea One Sword, the head of the Kunlun Sect, is acting as the pavilion master.
In an era where fame and attention are important,
It's unusual that the Blue Sea One Sword readily accepted this.
'There must have been some discussions back and forth.'
I couldn't know that much.
Anyway.
'...Do they have another one?'
I looked at the shattered stone pillar I had destroyed with my own hands.
Surely they have a spare.
It's the Kunlun Sect; they wouldn't be unprepared.
What if they don't have one?
'What am I supposed to do then?'
Well, it'll work out somehow...
As I swept my face with my hand and surveyed the situation,
The Sword Sovereign, who had been chuckling for a while,
Finally managed to suppress her laughter and spoke.
"Group 2, Gu Yangcheon. Pass."
Hearing my name mixed with her suppressed laughter,
"Gu Yangcheon...?"
Only then did those around me begin to recognize me.
"Is that the True Dragon, Gu Yangcheon?"
Oh... But I still can't get used to that darn nickname.
In that moment,
Crunch.
I glimpsed someone else subtly scratching another stone pillar and moving on.
With a light swipe, a very slight crack appeared.
Amid the murmuring voices,
An instructor observing this said,
"Group 2, Bi Eujin... Pass."
Upon hearing that, Bi Eujin glanced my way and gave a slight smile.
'That guy?'
It seems Bi Eujin planned to sneak through during the commotion caused by my actions.
Clever bastard.
...I was thinking of doing the same.
'He got me.'
I didn't expect we were thinking the same thing.
'Well, someone with the title of Overlord wouldn't want to stand out here.'
...
In a place where kids whose beards are just starting to grow are playing,
What good is there in standing out?
'He knows that, yet he's doing this.'
In that sense, I'm no different.
This is why one should control their anger.
Because failing to control one's emotions creates unnecessary problems.
I turned away after looking at the scattered fragments on the ground.
I walked through the noisy murmurs.
There was still a long time before the exam ended.
As I slipped into the crowd, I thought,
'...Now that it's come to this.'
Since I've already stood out,
Maybe it's better to make it certain.
—I heard from Plum Blossom Immortal.
When the Sword Sovereign faced the Blue Sea One Sword,
The gaze of the Blue Sea One Sword wasn't entirely friendly.
Given the circumstances, it was understandable.
This meeting with such a purpose wouldn't have been possible without the head of Mount Hua.
—You wish to come as an instructor to the Shinryong Pavilion scheduled next month?
—Yes.
—May I ask why?
The cold gaze of the Blue Sea One Sword turned to the Sword Sovereign.
It was the sharp intuition of someone who had trained with the sword all their life.
But the Sword Sovereign didn't waver.
Such a situation was entirely foreseeable.
—I won't listen to some lofty excuse about educating young warriors.
—Do you think that's not the case, Master?
—It's hard to believe such a noble cause is everything; you know better than anyone that the world isn't like that.
Indeed.
Such kind stories have vanished since the Demon Realm opened.
The Sword Sovereign knew this better than anyone.
—It seems you have something you desire.
—Yes.
So the Sword Sovereign answered honestly. She had something she needed to do at the Shinryong Pavilion.
Hearing her answer, the Blue Sea One Sword stared intently at her.
He began to speak.
—It was Plum Blossom Immortal's request. He told me to handle it at my discretion. For now, I won't refuse.
—Thank you...
—If you grant me a favor.
Whoosh.
In an instant, a cool breeze filled the room.
Feeling the wind, the Sword Sovereign had to tense up.
The wind filling this place could turn sharp at any moment with the Blue Sea One Sword's mere will.
—You have two choices.
—...I'm listening.
—First, tell me your reason and grant me a small favor.
Explain why you want to come as an instructor to the Shinryong Pavilion.
Tell me the reason.
And a small favor in return.
Quietly listening to the Blue Sea One Sword, the Sword Sovereign said,
—I'd like to hear the second option.
She sought another choice.
Even though the Blue Sea One Sword said he'd only accept if she told him the reason,
There must be a reason he offered two choices.
And as expected,
—The second is to not tell me the reason...
The Blue Sea One Sword provided the answer the Sword Sovereign desired.
—...and grant me a significant favor.
—I choose the second option.
Without much hesitation, the Sword Sovereign made her choice.
At this, the Blue Sea One Sword looked somewhat surprised.
—It seems you're quite reluctant to share your reason.
—...If there's an option where I don't have to say it, I'd prefer to choose that.
—Hmm... Do you know what my favor is?
—I'll listen to that as well.
At the Sword Sovereign's unwavering words,
The Blue Sea One Sword leaned his chin on his hand, contemplating.
Was he hesitant to voice his request?
The Sword Sovereign waited silently for him to speak.
After pondering for a while, the Blue Sea One Sword finally voiced his request.
—...A Red Demon Gate has appeared in Blue Sea.
Hearing this, the Sword Sovereign's eyes widened.
"A Red Demon Gate?"
Time passed, and on the day of the entry examination,
The Sword Sovereign had accepted the Blue Sea One Sword's request.
Now, she could come to the Shinryong Pavilion as an instructor.
Then and now,
The words the Blue Sea One Sword had spoken still echoed in her ears.
'...A Red Demon Gate has appeared and will open soon.'
He had said it would likely be around next autumn.
In truth, what the Sword Sovereign considered important about his words was something else.
If what the Blue Sea One Sword said was true,
Setting aside the fact that a Demon Gate had appeared,
And even overlooking the traces of an already opened Demon Realm,
Even the story that it would open in autumn,
The biggest issue when his words were true was something else.
The problem was the emergence of the Red Demon Gate, which hadn't appeared in a very long time.
That was the biggest issue.
'If that's true.'
Why hadn't the Blue Sea One Sword informed the Alliance about this?
And yet he's asking me for a favor?
Moreover,
'In such a situation, he's taking on the role of pavilion master?'
If an incident occurred in the region where Kunlun is located,
No matter how prestigious the position of pavilion master of the Shinryong Pavilion is,
It couldn't be more important than the appearance of a Red Demon Gate.
While Green and Blue Demons can be easily handled by warriors of a certain level,
The Red Demons recorded in history were not so.
The Sword Sovereign wondered why the Blue Sea One Sword left his land and came to the Shinryong Pavilion.
She didn't think he was someone who would choose honor and fame after seeing the dangers in Blue Sea.
'What could be the reason?'
Not just for herself,
There must have been stories surrounding the Blue Sea One Sword as well.
If not,
He wouldn't have come, knowing full well the dissatisfaction of the elders.
But,
Despite many thoughts,
The Sword Sovereign first accepted his proposal.
If the Red Demon Gate truly opened in the future,
He was asking for help.
From the Sword Sovereign's perspective,
Even if it was an incident in another region,
If a Red Demon Realm opened,
She would have gone even without this deal.
'So it's better to focus on this for now.'
The Sword Sovereign thought about why she had come here.
'I need to find it quickly.'
The Plum Blossom Stone expected to be somewhere in the Shinryong Pavilion.
Something even the Plum Blossom Immortal didn't know about.
If 'he' hadn't told her, the Sword Sovereign would never have known.
Now that she knew, she had to find it.
For the things that would come in the future.
"...Group 2, Sun Uisuk. Pass."
After announcing the last successful candidate of Group 8,
The sun had already set.
They had to finish the second test today.
It would probably continue until dawn.
Afterwards, the instructors gathered in one place to summarize the day's events.
From members of the Martial Alliance to warriors of the Kunlun Sect.
Most had their own nicknames, or even without, they were of notable levels.
But their gazes were mostly directed at the Sword Sovereign.
Given the status that the nickname "Sword Sovereign" bestowed, it wasn't a place she was typically found.
Even with all eyes on her, the Sword Sovereign simply wrapped up her work as if she didn't care.
"Only half have been eliminated."
"It's surprising that so many remain."
"Yes, this batch certainly seems different."
"With over a hundred in this situation..."
Since the number of entrants was fixed, it was quite a hassle for the instructors.
As they were organizing various things,
An instructor spoke up.
"Based on what we've seen so far, aren't there about ten who stand out?"
It seemed a reasonable statement.
Most who heard it nodded.
They could immediately think of the ten people he mentioned.
"...It seems the top spot is also decided."
At the instructor's words, many gazes turned to one place.
The debris that hadn't been properly cleared was clearly fragments of the pillar brought from Kunlun.
Those who witnessed it still remembered it vividly.
Someone not yet twenty,
Collapsing the pillar with a single strike.
The words that came to mind simultaneously were:
—Could I do that?
The same thought.
Wondering if they could do it themselves.
Moreover,
'True Dragon.'
It was at this point that the young man's nickname was engraved in the instructors' minds.
The Sword Sovereign looked at them with a peculiar gaze.
'I might have overdone it.'
Of course, she was rather pleased with that display.
While it was true that the Sword Sovereign had a purpose in coming to the Shinryong Pavilion,
Gu Yangcheon was certainly part of that reason.
Her disciple had often talked about how her younger brother was entering the Shinryong Pavilion this time.
Additionally, she was curious about how much the boy had grown.
The Sword Sovereign thought of the young man with a fierce face.
'If there's a future world's strongest, it would be that child.'
In a way, it was a bold statement that one might not even dare to think.
Overlooking the current Three Masters and the rising new generation,
To say that about a newcomer who was just beginning to grow.
But even so,
The Sword Sovereign was certain.
If Gu Yangcheon continued to grow as he was,
When he reached his prime,
He would undoubtedly become the world's best.
Gu Yangcheon had that kind of presence and talent.
At least in her eyes.
As the Sword Sovereign folded a letter and put it in her bosom,
"Were there any unusual happenings in Group 1?"
An instructor from Group 8 asked the one from Group 1.
"Well... there were many..."
He held back his words.
Group 1 was where most of the prominent figures had gathered.
The Poisonous Bee of the Tang Clan.
Seolbong of the Moyong family.
The daughter of the Peng family.
Even the Sword Dancer of the Namgung family.
All daughters of the Four Great Families were gathered.
Additionally, members of the Hwangbo family.
Even the son of the Alliance Leader.
The unusual thing was that the Thunder Dragon had given up entering due to family matters.
Looking at this,
Most of the main figures who would lead the martial world in the future were gathered in Group 1.
Amusingly,
No incident could surpass what Gu Yangcheon had done.
If there was anything notable,
It was that the Sword Dancer, famous for her beauty,
Appeared wearing a veil,
And perhaps due to fatigue, lightly carved a shallow cross on the pillar before leaving.
Shin Seong had left a long sword mark.
Moreover,
"Is it true? That there's a descendant of the Sword Saint among them."
The first successor of the current Three Masters had appeared.
"...Indeed."
A descendant of the Sword Saint.
It was a story that had been circulating since the moment that woman appeared and wielded her sword.
Such beautiful energy and movements.
They were unmistakably characteristic of the Moonlight Sword Technique created by the Sword Saint.
If the True Dragon hadn't shattered the pillar,
The story would have been filled with talks about the Sword Saint's descendant.
Among them, Jo Wi-seok, the instructor of Group 1, remained silent.
"Shin Seong as the top? That was a foolish thought."
He felt embarrassed for trying to make a judgment based on a single aspect.
He had to catch his breath as he recalled the performances of the advanced disciples in Group 1.
The Sword Dancer who left after lightly engraving a sword mark.
It was by no means a trivial level.
Despite her leisurely and seemingly casual movements, the sword lines were clear.
It was impossible to predict how much more she could have done if she had been serious.
Seolbong was somewhat disappointing.
Contrary to what he had heard, the Poisonous Bee was quite skilled.
Others too.
Compared to the advanced disciples of his generation,
They were on a different level.
The descendant of the Sword Saint they spoke of was
'One Sword.'
Around the last turn,
They sliced the pillar in half, firmly establishing their presence.
The clean cross-section seen as the pillar was removed
Showed how perfectly the sword had been wielded.
The moonlight energy displayed by the woman at that time
Was unmistakably the Sword Saint's martial art that captivated everyone.
Truly, monsters were swarming.
Jo Wi-seok had to realize.
This is the generation of meteors.
If so,
This Shinryong Pavilion would certainly not be peaceful.
'It's strangely...'
Strangely indeed.
It was a situation where many burning stars had gathered.
And so, the second test began.
Gu Yangcheon had to frown deeply.
He was already annoyed due to the long waiting time.
But after hearing the content of the test, he was even more dumbfounded.
The content was one thing.
But what was even more absurd was...
"Nice to meet you."
"May I ask something first?"
At the pleasant voice whispering in his ear, Gu Yangcheon responded bluntly.
And rightly so.
Others were facing opponents like random dogs,
But the opponent he was facing was anything but ordinary.
"...Is this really a random assignment?"
"Of course. Naturally."
The woman responded to Gu Yangcheon's words with a bright smile.
He didn't believe her at all.
Swish.
With the sound of petals falling from somewhere,
A fragrant scent of plum blossoms wafted in.
Of course.
Contrary to the lovely atmosphere,
The murderous intent emanating from her sword was anything but gentle.
Whether she knew what he was thinking or not,
The woman whispered while looking at Gu Yangcheon.
"Let's have some fun."
Seeing that smile, Gu Yangcheon said hopelessly,
"This can't be... Seriously."
Standing before Gu Yangcheon, holding a sword and taking a stance,
'...Why do they always mess with me?'
Was the Plum Blossom Sword Sovereign.