The training at Jinryong Pavilion consists of various disciplines, but most do not engage in more than four training sessions per day.

Everyone here is a martial artist, after all. They need time not just for sword training but also to hone their individual martial skills.

It’s not the most intensive teaching style.

Didn’t I always say it? People come to Jinryong Pavilion because of its reputation.

That’s what I meant back then.

The education here is solid, but there are many things you could learn just as well from your family or martial clan, so coming here isn’t strictly necessary.

No point in saying it a hundred times over; it’s not like it would make a difference. I don’t go around spreading this opinion, but…

Even if I told them what they already know, what would change?

Four days had passed since Jinryong Pavilion opened.

Some said it went by quickly.

Others were surprised at how fast the time had flown.

To me, it felt short. But even within those few days, several events took place at Jinryong Pavilion.

One of them was the rumor that a new trainee had defeated an instructor.

Yes, that’s about me.

"Rumors sure spread fast, don’t they?"

The gossip stemmed from the bet I won against Instructor Chul Hwan-oh.

The truth is, I won the bet, not an actual fight with the instructor.

However, the rumor spread as if I had bested him in a duel.

People sure do love to exaggerate.

"If it had been a real fight, it wouldn’t have been easy."

I knew a bit about Chul Hwan-oh.

The situation was one I had carefully orchestrated by subtly goading him into the bet.

If he had actually fallen for my provocation and we had engaged in a one-on-one duel, it would have been a difficult match.

"Even if I was fully recovered, he’d still be a tough opponent."

The Uicheoncheong Fist.

He’s just like me, on the verge of reaching Hwakyung, the state just before one becomes a true master.

I remember that, in my previous life, he was a martial artist who had reached Hwakyung before becoming a demon.

In this life, he’ll probably achieve it again at some point.

Even if not now, the fact that he had reached Hwakyung meant he had the potential to do so again.

Facing him in perfect condition would already be uncertain, let alone while injured.

"Ugh, it stings…"

I gently rubbed the area near my dantian.

The pain still lingered.

It was worse because I had tried to use Yeomok once more the other day.

Though I managed to withdraw it without causing an explosion, it still took a toll on me.

"It was still a close call."

As expected, Chul Hwan-oh took the bet.

Using Yeomok as leverage, I managed to secure a win.

Had the plan gone awry and we ended up dueling, I would have had to exhaust every bit of my energy, blood force, and more.

"If that had happened, I’d have spent at least a month recovering from internal injuries."

Just thinking about it made me shudder, but it was a success, so no use worrying about it.

Thanks to that, I now had some extra time in the morning.

"Everyone’s probably running or rolling around right now, so I should be fine, right?"

Keeping my energy sensitivity heightened, I wandered around looking for areas where no one was present.

My goal was to find the hidden entrance to the underground chamber somewhere beneath Jinryong Pavilion.

"The limit is about one sijin a day."

While the training session lasted longer, I needed to get back and prepare, so an hour was the safest limit.

The problem, however, was…

"I know nothing about formations."

If the entrance to the chamber was hidden, it was likely concealed by some kind of formation.

Moreover, it was likely that even the Martial Alliance wasn’t aware of its existence beneath Jinryong Pavilion.

In such matters, I had very little knowledge.

"In the past, if I thought something was a formation, I’d just tear through it."

The backlash from breaking through a formation? I could always endure it with my body.

But I couldn’t do that anymore.

"The fact that I can’t sense it means it’s hidden pretty well."

How did the Heavenly Demon find it?

From what I recall, he probably just crushed everything and stumbled upon it by chance.

Formations don’t work on the Heavenly Demon, after all.

He likely found it and destroyed it.

"That seems more likely."

What mattered now was that there was definitely a hidden chamber beneath this place.

I needed to find it within the next six months.

It was crucial to the plan.

"Finding it is the key to everything."

It had already been several days.

I’d been waking up early every morning, scouring the area.

"Tch."

Time was running short.

It seemed like today was another miss.

I pulled out a piece of paper from my robe.

I pricked my finger, drawing a small drop of blood, and marked the paper.

I was marking the areas I had searched.

Though Jinryong Pavilion was vast, after days of exploration, I had covered most of the ground.

Still, I hadn’t found anything.

"It either slipped past my senses, or the entrance is outside Jinryong Pavilion."

That’s tricky.

I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but this was getting difficult.

"If it’s outside Jinryong Pavilion, that would be a problem."

A barrier had been set up around the pavilion.

They said it was set up using a mystical creature, acting as a protective formation to prevent any attacks on the elite gathered here.

As a result, I couldn’t just leave freely.

"Tch."

What should I do?

If the entrance really is outside Jinryong Pavilion, I’d have to wait for the summer break when we’re allowed to return to our clans for training.

But that would waste too much time and effort.

"…I should head back for now…."

It was about time. Even if I wanted to think more, I needed to return.

Just as I was about to turn and head back to the dorms.

Rustle.

I felt a presence in the nearby bushes.

Instantly, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up.

"Why?"

With my senses fully heightened, the fact that someone managed to get this close meant they were hiding their presence.

The fact that I hadn’t noticed them meant…

"Who the hell are they?"

Without hesitation, I gathered my energy.

Surrounding myself in heat, I quickly turned toward the source of the presence.

"First, let’s assess… huh?"

I froze.

Just as I was about to raise my energy further, I saw the figure behind me and immediately went rigid.

"Huh…?"

The other person flinched as well upon seeing me.

She, yes, she, was also in a stance, ready to draw her sword.

The woman, who seemed just past her twenties, had a radiant presence.

She was a beautiful woman, dressed in pure white martial robes with a light blue outer robe symbolizing her status as a Jinryong Pavilion instructor.

A plum blossom emblem stood out between the folds of her robe.

"Why…."

The woman was none other than the Plum Blossom Sword Queen, the successor to the legendary swordswoman of Mount Hua.

She opened her mouth, looking at me in disbelief.

"Why are you here?"

Her bewildered words were exactly what I wanted to ask.

   
   ******************
   

Behind the Jinryong Pavilion lies a small forest within the grounds.

I had heard it was made into a walking path, but few people ever used it.

And why would they? With the intense training sessions and time needed to refine their martial skills, who had the luxury to enjoy a casual stroll?

"Why are you here?"

In this context, running into someone here was entirely unexpected.

The Plum Blossom Sword Queen gazed at the person she encountered. This trainee should be deep in morning training by now.

This particular figure, who had already started gaining notoriety among the instructors, was standing there.

"...Hello."

He greeted her with a somewhat nervous expression. An all too familiar face.

"Aren’t you supposed to be training right now? Why are you here…?"

"...Instructor Chul Hwan-oh allowed me to skip morning training."

At first, the Plum Blossom Sword Queen was puzzled by the statement, but then it dawned on her.

"Oh, so that’s what it was."

She had heard the rumor that Chul Hwan-oh had lost a bet to a trainee. The Plum Blossom Sword Queen had heard this herself.

Apparently, Chul Hwan-oh had even been reprimanded by the pavilion master because of it.

"Regardless, shouldn’t you be at your dorm? What are you doing here?"

"I came for a walk. I heard this path was nice."

A lie.

The Plum Blossom Sword Queen could tell instantly. Gu Yangcheon was lying.

"And you, Instructor, why are you here?"

"…"

"Isn’t this the time when the trainees are supposed to be in training?"

At that moment, the Plum Blossom Sword Queen quickly collected her thoughts.

"...I’m in charge of afternoon training."

"I see. Then why are you here…?"

"...I’m on a… walk."

"Ah, I see."

The conversation abruptly stopped.

There was a strange tension in the air, both of them quietly observing one another.

Gu Yangcheon knew.

He knew the Plum Blossom Sword Queen had figured out he was lying the moment he spoke.

And in turn, the Plum Blossom Sword Queen realized that Gu Yangcheon didn’t believe a word she had just said either.

Both remained silent for a moment.

‘What is this?’

Gu Yangcheon had to wonder.

‘What is she hiding?’

Her behavior made it clear that something was up. In fact, the very fact that she was here at Jinryong Pavilion as an instructor suggested there was an ulterior motive.

Seeing her like this now only confirmed his suspicions. The Plum Blossom Sword Queen was searching for something.

‘Could she be looking for the hidden chamber?’

It occurred to Gu Yangcheon that she might also be searching for the hidden chamber beneath Jinryong Pavilion.

But how could she know about it? The existence of the chamber was a secret, one that had only been discovered after the Heavenly Demon’s appearance.

‘And if she knows, what should I do about it?’

Should he team up with her?

But then how would he explain his own knowledge of the chamber?

‘That wouldn’t be good.’

The chamber itself wasn’t the immediate issue. The problem was that the Plum Blossom Sword Queen clearly had some sort of hidden agenda.

This encounter definitely had something to do with that.

As Gu Yangcheon was lost in thought, trying to decide how to handle the situation, the Plum Blossom Sword Queen spoke again.

"I’ve heard a rumor."

"Please, go ahead."

Her words caught Gu Yangcheon’s attention, making him focus.

Whatever she had to say, it was important.

"The technique you used in the arena…"

"Yes? Excuse me?"

Gu Yangcheon was caught off guard.

‘Why bring that up now?’

It was so sudden and unexpected.

‘Is there a reason for this?’

Just as Gu Yangcheon started wondering, the Plum Blossom Sword Queen continued.

"I heard you didn’t need to actually detonate the technique back then."

"..."

Her words left Gu Yangcheon’s mind momentarily blank.

Oh… shit.

‘How does she… know that?’

Gu Yangcheon immediately recalled his duel with Chul Hwan-oh.

It must have been Chul Hwan-oh who reported that he had withdrawn his technique mid-battle.

Sweat began to form on Gu Yangcheon’s back.

‘…I’m screwed, aren’t I?’

It was something he had completely forgotten about during his duel with Chul Hwan-oh.

When he had sparred with the Plum Blossom Sword Queen, he had released the technique in a way that put her at a disadvantage.

‘Damn it, I should’ve thought of something else, you idiot….’

If he had known this was coming, he would have used a different method entirely.

"I was actually planning to track you down because of it…"

"Me? Why?"

"Why, indeed?"

Not explaining the reason only made it more terrifying.

"...Uh."

"Let’s just move past that."

"Excuse me?"

The Plum Blossom Sword Queen smiled at him, but it only made things worse.

"You and I both have our secrets now. So let’s leave it at that."

"…"

It was blunt.

Her message was clear: I’ll let this slide if you keep quiet about what you know.

It was a deal of sorts, but the way she was looking at him was incredibly unsettling.

Her eyes didn’t suggest that she intended to just let things go.

"Um, Instructor."

"Yes?"

"Are you sure this is okay…? Never mind."

Gu Yangcheon bit back the rest of his question.

It was obvious from her gaze that she wasn’t okay.

She seemed slightly angry, yet was forcing herself to smile.

At times like this, the best course of action was to make a swift exit.

"Then, I’ll take my leave. Enjoy your walk, Instructor."

"Sure."

Gu Yangcheon quickly walked away from the Plum Blossom Sword Queen, heading back toward the dorms.

And as he disappeared from sight, the Plum Blossom Sword Queen watched him with a strange look in her eyes.

   
   ******************
   

During the three days since Jinryong Pavilion opened, both minor and major incidents occurred.

One such incident involved Jinryong, who provoked an instructor and ended up winning.

There were so many witnesses that exaggerated rumors about Jinryong began to spread.

Some said he crushed the instructor's limbs, stomped on the unconscious instructor's head while cursing his parents, and even grabbed a bystander to make them suffer the same fate.

Jinryong’s already notorious reputation worsened, but now there was also talk that Jinryong might be the strongest among the Six Dragons, known as the Yukryong Sambong.

After all, defeating an instructor was no small feat, especially for someone at his level—it was hard to believe he was merely a post-rebirth martial artist.

Another rumor circulating among the trainees at Jinryong Pavilion was that several factions had begun to form. Some said they were organized by group, while others speculated the factions were even larger.

Regardless, it was certain that factions were emerging.

It may seem strange for factions to form so quickly, but to Cheol Ji-seon, the rumor seemed plausible.

"Hahaha, even the Holy Star knows about it?"

"Of course. I believe it was first forged in Hanam, correct?"

"Oh, that’s right. Speaking of which, I’ve met the master blacksmith who forged that very sword…"

‘What nonsense.’

Several post-rebirth martial artists had gathered, chatting and laughing together. Each of them was boasting about their family or sect, proudly listing their accomplishments.

Whether or not their claims were true was anyone's guess, but their arrogance and egotism were all too clear.

Among the crowd of boastful figures, one man stood at the center, commanding attention.

Shinseong Jang Seon-yeon.

He was in the same group as Cheol Ji-seon and, while not one of the Six Dragons, he had gained a reputation for possessing extraordinary talent.

He was also the only son of Jang Cheon, the current leader of the Martial Alliance.

Jang Seon-yeon was someone Cheol Ji-seon had considered approaching, but surrounded as he was, it would be difficult to get close to him.

"Hey, are you ignoring me?"

It wasn’t the right time for Cheol Ji-seon to approach anyway.

Smack!

"Oof!"

Someone struck him on the back of the head, forcing him to bow slightly.

"I’ve been calling you, but you didn’t answer."

Rubbing the aching spot, Cheol Ji-seon turned to see a fellow post-rebirth martial artist standing behind him.

He hadn’t called him. That was a lie.

"...What do you want?"

Cheol Ji-seon knew this but held back his frustration.

"I just felt like calling you. Why? Does it bother you?"

The man chuckled, and the others around him snickered along.

‘Ha…’

Cheol Ji-seon sighed inwardly.

Ever since he had started struggling with the training, these people had been harassing him.

To think this was happening at the prestigious Jinryong Pavilion.

And the fact that he couldn’t even stand up for himself made him feel all the more pathetic.

‘This isn’t why I came here.’

He clenched his fists tightly in his lap.

This wasn’t what he had come here for.

He had expected it to be tough, but to be humiliated like this from the start…

"What’s with that look? Are you pissed off? Hey, looks like Cheol Ji-seon here is upset."

"Is he upset? Oh no, I bet he was real mad earlier when he was stuttering like that."

"..."

Earlier, when the instructor had asked Cheol Ji-seon to explain a theory, his nerves had gotten the better of him, and he had stammered through his answer.

Now, they were mocking him for it.

"If you don’t like it, why don’t we have a duel?"

The man flexed his muscles, glaring at Cheol Ji-seon.

Rumor had it he was already beyond first-rate.

Cheol Ji-seon was no match for him.

So, he bit his lip and stayed silent.

"Look at him, backing down right away. I’m starting to wonder if he even has any balls."

"Maybe he doesn’t. Or maybe they’re just really small."

"Still, with that face, I bet he could make a living as a gigolo."

Grit.

Cheol Ji-seon’s fists tightened.

"Hey, by the way, do you have a sister?"

Freeze.

At that, Cheol Ji-seon’s trembling body suddenly went still.

"Does she look like you? That would be nice. I’m into having lots of concubines, you know. Maybe you could introduce me."

-Jinseon-ah, you must never use that power.

His sister’s voice echoed in his ears, but his fingers were already twitching.

One time wouldn’t hurt, right?

"For someone like me, I’d be doing you a favor. This is a great opportunity."

Cheol Ji-seon could endure everything else, but he couldn’t stand someone insulting his sister.

Just as he stood up, preparing to act—

"You little—"

Boom!

"Argh!"

With a thunderous noise, the man taunting Cheol Ji-seon was suddenly flung through the air, crashing into a wall.

Cheol Ji-seon’s eyes widened in shock.

The man hit the wall, shaking uncontrollably as blood dripped from his mouth.

"What… What the…?"

As he raised his head in bewilderment, a figure he didn’t recognize stood before him.

At least, not someone from the same group.

"Who… who the hell are you?"

In a panic, the man yelled, but the new arrival simply picked up a chair and hurled it at him.

Crash!

"Aargh!"

"What am I? I’m just a passerby, you idiot."

The man screamed as the chair hit him squarely, but the one who had thrown it remained nonchalant.

He spoke casually, his fierce eyes slightly narrowing as he smiled.

The smile, under these circumstances, only made him appear more terrifying.

Cheol Ji-seon couldn’t help but be startled by the sight.

It was an unexpected person.

"I just wanted to grab a bite to eat with my friend, but I find some idiot bothering him instead."

The man scratched his head in annoyance, his rough face and crude tone unmistakable.

Cheol Ji-seon recognized him immediately.

How could he not?

This was the man who had half-forced, no—completely forced—Cheol Ji-seon to be his friend.

They hadn’t seen each other for a while since their groups had been divided.

Cheol Ji-seon had thought it was a relief.

He had expected the man to bully him, but it seemed he had forgotten about him after they were placed in different groups.

That was why Cheol Ji-seon was so taken aback.

Because the person who had just shown up to save him was none other than…

‘...Jinryong?’

It was Gu Yangcheon.