There have been significant changes in the Central Plains over the past year.

The first was the downfall of the Black Palace.

Although the specifics weren't disclosed, news of the Murim Alliance and the Gu Clan joining forces to eliminate the Black Palace had spread throughout the Central Plains. The fact that one of the major forces of the Unorthodox Sect had been eradicated brought joy to many.

However, the reasons behind the Murim Alliance's conflict with the Black Palace, and the specific involvement of the Gu Clan remained shrouded in mystery.

Yet, despite the uncertainty surrounding the fate of the Black Palace's ruler and its martial artists, people readily accepted the news because it was spread around by the Beggar's Sect and the Alliance.

Ultimately, the destruction of evil was seen as a positive outcome, and the full story didn't matter much to most.

The second major change was the reappearance of the Plum Blossom Sword.

After years of being missing, the Plum Blossom Sword finally showed herself in the Central Plains in all her beautiful and formidable glory.

Mount Hua provided an explanation for the Sword Queen's absence:

-It was her choice, and we respected it.

Though perplexing, the Sword Queen herself seemed to be agreeing with this statement.

In the end, people were accustomed to Mount Hua's eccentric ways, and they were simply glad that the Sword Queen had returned.

The third change was the Dragon and Phoenix tournament.

However, the problem was that most of the young prodigies known as the Six Dragons and Three Phoenixes, who led the current generation, didn't participate in the tournament.

This tournament, which attracted tens to hundreds of talented individuals every year, was expected to have the Dragons and Phoenixes competing.

However, last year's tournament seemed to be in a worse state than the year before that.

Each of the Dragons and the Phoenixes provided their own reasons for not attending. The Water Dragon claimed that the long journey would be exhausting, while the Snow Phoenix sent a letter stating that she was occupied with her clan's affairs.

As for the Sword Dragon, Mount Hua declared his absence in his stead, by stating that he was in seclusion after a moment of enlightenment.

As for the others, the Dragon Warrior and the True Dragon didn't even bother sending a letter.

As a result, the only ones who participated in the tournament were the Lightning Dragon and the Poison Phoenix.

Although the Meteor Sword, who had achieved great success in the previous year's tournament, also participated, most people considered the tournament without most of its prominent figures to be meaningless.

Thanks to that, everyone is being forced to participate in this year's Tournament of Dragons and Phoenixes.

Well, only two of the dragons and phoenixes attending is rather sad.

I had no right to speak in the first place, as I hadn't even sent a letter, but I never expected that only two would go.

…I should've considered it more when Moyong Hi-ah told me she wouldn't be attending either.

The Snow Phoenix's absence was likely because of me, but I didn't anticipate that the others wouldn't go as well.

Because of that, force was used for this year's Tournament of Dragons and Phoenixes to save the Murim Alliance's reputation.

Though I'm probably still not gonna go.

Whether by force or not, the Gu Clan never concerned themselves with such matters.

Slide.

As I stepped out of the tent, I caught a whiff of the peculiar scent of midnight.

It didn't seem like much had passed since sunrise.

“Ugh…”

Amidst the stillness, a noise tickled my ear, coming from inside my tent.

When I turned my head to see who the culprit was…

“…When did she sneak in there?”

Curled up in the corner, fast asleep, was none other than Namgung Bi-ah.

I had sent her to her own tent after feeding her last night, so why was Namgung Bi-ah here?

…

While feeling absurdity wash over me, I had half given up by this point.

It's not like this was the first or second time she had done this.

“…Wake her up later.”

The one thing I managed to do was stop Hongwa as she passed by, and ask her to wake Namgung Bi-ah up.

“Oh…!”

Hearing my request, Hongwa looked inside the tent. She then looked at me as if she was expecting her to be in there again, but just because she looked at me like that didn't change the fact that I didn't have an answer for her.

“I saw Lady Moyong leave a little while ago… but I didn't expect Lady Namgung to be here as well…”

“What?”

“Huh?”

“Moyong… She left from this tent?”

“Yes…”

“But why wasn't I aware of that?”

Moyong Hi-ah left from my tent?

Just when did she come and go?

Are they cats? Coming and going as they please.

Someone might think that they had nowhere else to sleep.

How absurd.

The best tent in this place was Moyong Hi-ah's without a doubt.

The one I slept in was large, but still just an ordinary tent. It was only because of my lineage that I was allowed to sleep by myself and avoid night watch duties.

Other than that, the state of the tent or the bed was nothing special.

Not that I cared though as I didn't even mind sleeping on the floor.

I'll let Namgung Bi-ah off the hook, but what's the deal with Moyong Hi-ah?

It had already been some time ever since Namgung Bi-ah started claiming my bed, pretending that she didn't know. So, I could understand her actions, but why did Moyong Hi-ah come?

Is she not bothered?

The Moyong Hi-ah I knew was pickier than anyone else, so I couldn't understand why she would willingly come to a tent like this.

“Did I not give her enough heat?”

That's not it.

I regularly gave her heat at least once a week.

Furthermore, judging by the fact that she was taking in more heat than before, I almost believed that her condition was nearly cured.

It certainly seems that way, especially given the recent luster of her skin.

She appeared remarkably well.

If her complexion had previously resembled that of a sickly pale, it now glowed with a vibrant whiteness. Her skin must have improved significantly.

It seems like heat has started coursing through her body.

Could it be that she has been fully cured?

No, that probably wasn't it.

If she was cured, why would she come to me for heat?

Anyway…

After leaving Hongwa, I moved my steps to go visit Moyong Hi-ah.

It was to find out why she came to my tent. However, after walking for a bit, I noticed someone approaching from the distance.

Upon closer inspection, I recognized the figure as Gu Jeolyub.

Gu Jeolyub flinched upon seeing me and tried to change his course.

This fucker?

“Where do you think you're going?”

“…!”

“We made eye contact, so don't even think about pretending that you didn't see me.”

Startled, Gu Jeolyub reluctantly made his way toward me.

He no longer bothered to conceal his disdainful expression.

This bastard changed a lot too, huh?

How delightful.

“…I greet the Young Master.”

“Yes, and I also greet the Sword of Heroic Flame. I trust that you have been faring well.”

“Ugh…”

Gu Jeolyub muttered under his breath in response to my playful remark.

Sigh, he used to be so content with his title when he first got it.

“Are you returning from somewhere?”

“I was on my way to go rest after my shift.”

It seemed he had just finished his shift of the night watch.

Nodding in acknowledgment, I suggested.

“Then we can train together.”

“Huh?”

“I assume you have some free time now?”

Though I was on my way to visit Moyong Hi-ah, I could just go see her later.

Gu Jeolyub appeared flustered by my proposition.

“Uh, Young Master…?”

“Yes?”

“I said that I was returning from my night watch…”

“I heard you quite clearly.”

“…Then what did you mean by what you just said…?”

“Since you have completed your night watch, it means that you have a lot of time now.”

“How does that make sense?”

“What are you gonna do after you return?”

“…Sleep.”

Indeed, sleep was necessary after a night watch.

But I had something else in mind.

“Will you only sleep for the rest of your life?”

“Pardon?”

“Well, sleep is something you can do even after death.”

Gu Jeolyub's expression distorted, as if asking me what kind of bullshit I was saying. Yet, I had already made up my mind.

“Or should I just make you sleep forever? I'm quite good at doing that.”

As I said that with a bright smile, Gu Jeolyub's expression distorted to the point that it couldn't distort any further.

****************

The midnight hour had passed, and the sun reached its zenith, putting an end to our light training session.

Thud!

A resounding thud echoed through the forest.

Flutter!

The birds hiding in the trees flew up in a fluttering frenzy.

The sound originated from a boulder being put down on the ground.

“Huff… Huuuff…”

Gu Jeolyub collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath.

His clothes were drenched in sweat, and his trembling hands and feet indicated the intensity of his effort.

Seeing his exhausted state, I also threw the boulder I had been holding.

Slam!

The sound echoed much louder than Gu Jeolyub's.

It was because the boulder I was holding was twice the size of his.

Unlike Gu Jeolyub who looked like a rat drenched in the rain, I only had a few droplets of sweat on my forehead.

Staring at the half dead Gu Jeolyub, I asked.

“You managed to endure until the end today, huh?”

“Huff… Huff huff…”

Though he seemed to want to respond, he lacked the strength to do so.

I examined Gu Jeolyub's body and nodded.

Seems like his body is almost ready.

Gu Jeolyub's foundation to ascend to the Peak Realm of martial arts was just about ready.

To be fair, after subjecting him to that much shit, it would be weirder for this to not happen.

At this rate, he'll ascend before the summer's end.

To break through their wall, martial artists needed enough Qi to break into the Middle Dantian. However, possessing a body capable of enduring the process was even more important.

Of course, it was also possible to overcome a wall without destroying one's body, if one could control their Qi at the extreme level.

For example, people like Namgung Bi-ah or Gu Huibi lacked the physical foundation, but they managed to break through their walls with sheer talent.

He might be capable of that as well.

Gu Jeolyub too was talented enough to be called a genius, so such a method might work for him. Nevertheless, it was important and safer for him in the long run to have a durable body.

The shortcut I took isn't ideal for the long term.

Which is why I made him go through hell every time I ran into him.

However, this bastard always tried to avoid me, oblivious to my well-intentioned actions. So I couldn't help but get pissed.

“Now that I think about it, it's rather annoying… maybe I need to increase the intensity of our training sessions?”

“Whaaa…?”

“I'm doing all this because I want you to succeed, Little Brother.”

Although Gu Jeolyub was older than me, he didn't seem to mind that I called myself the big bro.

However, it seemed like he only stayed quiet out of fear of being beaten up if he dared to comment.

Anyway...

He would die for real if I continued, right?

If I made him roll around any longer, Gu Jeolyub might truly lose his mind. So I decided to give him a pass.

“Unfortunately, we'll have to stop here for today.”

Gu Jeolyub let out a long sigh, visibly relieved by my response.

Was he really that happy to be excused from martial arts training?

I, too, despised training in the past.

I was in no position to judge Gu Jeolyub for his feelings.

As I gazed at his relieved expression, I added another comment.

“Oh, it seems like Sis plans to train with you later.”

“…Pardon? What do you…!”

“That's all. I'll be leaving first.”

“Y-Young Master!”

Gu Jeolyub desperately called, but I had no intention of stopping.

His pitiful expression was probably because Gu Huibi's training was way harsher than mine.

Gu Huibi was known for making people roll around until they were on the brink of death.

Gu Jeolyub was well aware of that fact, which was why he begged me to save him. However, I had matters to attend to, as it was already past noon.

If he's going to do this later anyway, perhaps I should've gone a bit easier on him.

While I felt a tinge of guilt…

Eh, he'll probably manage somehow.

I swiftly dismissed such thoughts, placing unwavering faith in Gu Jeolyub.

Good luck, Gu Jeolyub.