Chapter 297

Chapter 297
## 297. The Black Flame Dragon Showing Itself (1)

—

Cheon-gi Jegal.
A prodigy whose brilliance surpassed the era itself.
Yet, in the end, he was a soul crushed by the depths of human avarice.
During his youth, his potential was clipped by the selfishness of his kin, preventing him from ever crossing the threshold of the Martial Academy.
As a direct scion of one of the Five Great Families who lacked the credentials of a Martial Academy graduate, he was ultimately reduced to a mere “chicken rib”—unprofitable to use, yet too valuable to throw away—by both his own bloodline and the Martial Alliance.
Left with no alternative after being abandoned by his family and the Alliance alike, Cheon-gi Jegal had no choice but to plunge into the lowest tiers of common sellswords.
Is this what they mean by a “needle hidden inside a purse” (Nang-jung-ji-chu)?
Like a luminous gemstone buried in a swamp, Cheon-gi Jegal’s innate mastery flashed brightly at every turn. However, a brilliant mind restricted to a lowly rank only served to breed resentment among envious and mediocre superiors.
His inventive, sharp intellect and miraculous tactical prowess were akin to a “cintamani” jewel—far too precious to be squandered within the ranks of the lowly So-jeong-dae unit.
Thus, the celestial dragon that ought to have soared uninhibited across the heavens met a tragic end, crawling in the dirt with broken horns and severed talons.
‘Was his talent truly of this magnitude?’
It seemed I had failed to properly gauge the true depth of that genius, which had burned out so miserably in my previous lifetime.
“So…… you witnessed the Small Heaven Sword Technique and used it to reconstruct the Great Heaven Sword Technique?”
Long ago, when San Nam-gung paid a visit to the Tae-eul Sect.
The youths had shown an immense fascination with the “Ascending” variation of the Small Heaven Sword Technique I demonstrated.
Aware that the remaining martial paths of the Tae-eul Sect were utterly worthless apart from the Small Heaven Sword Technique, I had instructed them in the Ascending variation so they would have a solid foundation to practice until I could unearth the lost techniques of the Tae-eul Sword Emperor.
That knowledge had spread from disciple to disciple, eventually finding its way to Cheon-gi Jegal.
‘And this absolute maniac of a genius…….’
He had grasped the core principles of the Ascending Small Heaven Sword Technique and applied them to forge an Ascending variation of the Great Heaven Sword Technique.
Given that the transitional phase prior to the Ascending style naturally corresponds to the Pasa-sik (Destroying the Evil Style), it made perfect sense why my own blade had been deflected so utterly whenever I attempted the Great Heaven Sword Technique moments ago.
As realization dawned upon me, a dry, incredulous chuckle escaped my lips.
‘Just how blind was the Martial Alliance in my past life?’
Even the ruffians of the So-jeong-dae unit, dense as they were back then, universally acknowledged Cheon-gi Jegal’s brilliance.
There was simply no way his talent could have remained hidden from the sharp eyes of the elite chosen from the various sects, or the graduates of the prestigious Martial Academy leadership school.
‘No…… they simply loathed it. His sheer brilliance…….’
Had he been permitted to pass the examinations of the Bureau of Universal Knowledge, his insights would have been revered as an Alliance strategist, and his intellect would have fortified the foundations of the Martial Alliance.
At the very least, he could have advanced the development of the One Hundred and Eight Peaks governed by the Alliance.
Regrettably, by that period, So-myeong Jegal had already perished by an assassin’s hand, and control of the Bureau of Universal Knowledge had fallen into different hands.
Once again, Cheon-gi Jegal was robbed of the destiny he rightfully deserved.
Contemplating this reality sent a sudden chill down my spine.
Ultimately, the petty jealousy of mediocre men had snuffed out a mind blessed by the heavens.
Wretched creatures, none of whom could hold a candle to Cheon-gi Jegal, had exhausted every effort to break his spirit.
All to satisfy their own selfish egos.
I shifted my gaze downward to look at the boy.
“D-did I…… perhaps commit an error?”
Cheon-gi Jegal was anxiously twirling his thumbs, desperately trying to read my expression.
My face must have hardened while I was cursing those past fools in my mind.
I swiftly smoothed my expression into a gentle smile.
“No.”
I reached out and softly patted the boy’s head.
“Not in the slightest.”
At my touch, Cheon-gi looked up, his large eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
“I…… I was terrified that you would be furious with me for altering the sacred martial arts of the Tae-eul Sect without permission……”
A lump formed in my throat at the sight of him.
I detested seeing him act so submissive.
Ordinarily, prodigies recognize their own superiority early on and develop arrogant personalities that look down on ordinary folk.
‘Just like that arrogant brat So-a Yong.’
Yet Cheon-gi Jegal constantly walks on eggshells, agonizing over every syllable he utters out of fear that someone might take offense.
He must have been thoroughly conditioned to believe that his unique gifts were a shameful flaw.
Is it not my duty to correct this right now?
“Cheon-gi.”
“Yes, Hyung-nim.”
To ensure this radiant mind can truly blossom.
“Did you not reconstruct the sword technique precisely because you envisioned a superior path?”
“……The truth is, within my clan, I was barred from practicing martial arts because of this very trait.”
I swung wide the doors of the cage that held his spirit captive.
“This place is not the Jegal Clan.”
Cheon-gi Jegal’s eyes widened in utter bewilderment, as though gazing upon the vast sky—his true domain—for the first time.
“And you are now a recognized disciple of the Tae-eul Sect.”
“A disciple of the Tae-eul Sect……”
“The concept of Su (Preserve) means to safeguard the foundational teachings. It requires mastering the core arts until they become second nature. Do you know the step that follows?”
Cheon-gi Jegal nodded quickly, the answer already clear in his mind.
“Pa (Break). It represents the phase where one develops unique variations tailored to their individual strengths.”
How can a child be so astonishingly sharp?
“Correct. And then comes the ultimate peak, Ri (Depart/Transcend). Stepping into a realm of profound, unbridled miracles, completely unfettered by convention. Regardless of the road you choose, you will eventually arrive at this destination. Therefore, if you dedicate yourself to these phases.”
You will be free to spread your wings to their fullest extent and soar toward whatever horizon you choose.
“No matter where your journey leads or what path you carve out, you never need to seek validation from anyone else. Do you understand?”
Cheon-gi Jegal’s eyes gleamed with a brilliant light.
It was a gaze brimming with genuine vitality.
In any case, he truly is a magnificent and endearing la……
“Hyung-nim! I have made my decision!”
“Eh? What decision?”
Where was this sudden outburst coming from……
“I have resolved never to leave your side for as long as I live! Will you permit me to stay?”
I unlatched his cage so he could fly into the open sky, and his response is to pledge his loyalty to me.
Will I permit it?
Naturally.
I cannot say if the Jegal Clan will remain passive, but if the boy wishes to stay, who am I to refuse? He was a child they had discarded in the first place.
“Have it your way.”
“Hurrah!”
Cheon-gi Jegal cheered with the sheer ecstasy of someone who had attained his lifelong dream.
What exactly makes him this ecstatic?
“Be that as it may, lift your blade once more.”
“Pardon?”
“I still have further insights to pass down to you.”
The final technique of the Jegal Three Styles.
The Jema-sik (Subduing the Demon Style).
I had spent considerable time agonizing over how to integrate the Jegal Three Styles into the reclaimed martial arts of the Tae-eul Sect. In this situation, it felt as effortless as wading through shallow water.
After all, our brilliant Cheon-gi will handle the heavy lifting for me.

Leaving Cheon-gi Jegal—who had collapsed from sheer exhaustion while absorbing the Jema-sik—in the capable hands of Yeong-yeong, I made my way directly to the guest quarters of the Tae-eul Sect.
Residing there was a man who once stood as an absolute titan of the Unorthodox Path, the Sword Demon—though currently, he was merely a wandering loafer occupying a gray area.
“You’ve arrived.”
Hae-gwang Baek was sitting in anticipation.
“You seem quite at ease these days.”
“……Tsk. Being treated as an honored guest is far more tedious than I anticipated.”
“Why do you say that? Are your daily meals lacking in some way?”
“It is tedious precisely because the hospitality is far too lavish.”
Clearly, he is a man entirely unaccustomed to receiving kindness.
“What could possibly be tedious about high-quality hospitality?”
“The Dae-cheon Merchant Group funded a home for me, and the Tae-eul Sect provides my lodging. How could I possibly feel comfortable?”
“Is that not simply because you do nothing but eat and idle away your time, Master?”
“……Who gave you permission to call me Master?”
“Regardless, an honored guest isn’t meant to simply idle away their days.”
Hae-gwang Baek narrowed his eyes, subtly monitoring my expressions.
“Then…… what exactly is required of a guest?”
Ha, as expected, he possesses the dignity and morality of a man who wishes to earn his keep.
I gave a casual shrug.
“You need only contribute what you are capable of. Normally, a guest’s role is to crush any fools who dare provoke the Tae-eul Sect or act as an enforcer…… but since our gates are currently shut to the world, there is no immediate need for that. I simply ask that you oversee the training.”
“You expect me to meddle in the instructions of the youth?”
……How did a man with such an incredibly cautious demeanor ever become a legendary figure of the Unorthodox Path?
“Not merely the youths, but the seniors as well. It hasn’t been long since they reclaimed their lost martial paths, so everyone is desperately trying to ascend further.”
“Is such an arrangement truly permissible?”
“Why would it not be? Did you not simply forge ahead according to your own whims, Master, to ultimately become the Sword Demon?”
“That insufferable whelp keeps throwing that Sword Demon title around……”
“In any case, please assist them. No one will voice any objections.”
This was a man who climbed to the apex of the Unorthodox Path by surviving lethal duels against the Leaders of massive sects.
No sane person would dare reject guidance from Hae-gwang Baek.
Hae-gwang Baek remained silent for a long moment, pondering my words before finally nodding.
“On another note, to what level have you mastered the White Moon Ascending Heaven Three Styles?”
“I have completely achieved the Geuk-kwae (Extreme Speed).”
“This quickly?”
“Circumstances demanded that I hurry.”
“No…… even so, a mere half-year has passed. You lack the monstrous talent of So-a Yong, so how on earth did you achieve mastery?”
“…….”
Good grief, why must he suddenly invoke So-a Yong’s name to humble me.
I provided a brief overview of the unorthodox methodology I employed to grasp Geuk-kwae.
“You absolute madman……”
“Calling your own pupil a madman is a bit harsh, don’t you think……”
A vehement outburst cut me off.
“Who in their right mind ever agreed to take a lunatic like you as a pupil!”
“My, such words deeply wound your dedicated disciple’s feelings……”
“Sigh…… forcing the physical vessel to conform to a memory. Do you possess a spare soul or something? What madness possessed you to attempt that without knowing the consequences!”
“Do I not possess an exceptional memory, at the very least?”
Fortunately, I had gained invaluable insights during my subsequent clash with Geum-hak Je. For the moment, there were no adverse side effects.
Yet the Master merely let out a heavy sigh, staring intensely at my face.
“……The one in desperate need of guidance right now isn’t the Tae-eul Sect, it’s you.”
“Pardon?”
“How many days did you say your reprieve lasted?”
“Roughly……”
“It matters not how many days remain. Rather than watching you destroy yourself trying to unravel my swordsmanship, I shall personally subject you to intensive training.”
“What do you mean by……”
“Have no fear. This process will be infinitely safer than the reckless stunt you pulled.”
Wait, why is he suddenly adopting such an ominous tone? It’s genuinely terrifying…….

“……Sahyung?”
What was happening?
“Oppa! Why are you resting on the ground like this?”
Ah, did I lose consciousness once more?
And did that old gentleman abandon me out here yet again?
“Ugh…… I honestly believed I had grown stronger over this past half-year……”
So-so Wang tilted her head in confusion.
“Stronger? In what regard?”
“Never mind. It’s a personal matter. But what are you carrying?”
So-so Wang was cradling a stack of ledgers tightly against her chest.
“Ah, these? Financial records. The account books belonging to the Dae-cheon Merchant Group.”
“Are you managing those yourself?”
“Yes. Because the Wang Family Manor and the Dae-cheon Merchant Group share many collaborative ventures, I am the sole individual capable of cross-referencing the accounts for both factions.”
The arduous task of scrutinizing the financial books of two massive entities and reconciling them into a single coherent record was a mind-numbing labor that would make even the most seasoned scholars recoil.
Yet she was managing it entirely on her own.
……Just what kind of prodigy had I rescued back then?
“I am heading over to the Dae-cheon Merchant Group this instant. Would you care to accompany me?”
Old Master Do-won Jang had requested my presence at the forge…… but a delay until tomorrow wouldn’t hurt.
“Shall we?”
“Wonderful! I am so thrilled! Let us depart immediately, Oppa!”
In an instant, a peculiar lightness graced So-so Wang’s movements as she closely aligned herself with me.
Before I could even register the motion, my arm was firmly locked within hers, and I was being energetically pulled along by So-so Wang.
“Let’s go! Oppa!”
……Wow, seriously, what is the meaning of this?
Just what kind of transformations are taking place within the Tae-eul Sect?

The path leading toward the Dae-cheon Merchant Group.
The sun that had lingered over the western peaks eventually dipped below the horizon, casting the surrounding landscape into deep twilight.
A sudden realization washed over me that the streets were entirely deserted save for myself and So-so Wang, evoking a peculiar sensation.
“Do you make your way to the merchant group at this hour every single day?”
“Not every day, but it is typically the norm. Between my martial training and daily duties before heading over to the merchant group, my schedule is tightly packed.”
“……Completely unescorted?”
“I am walking alongside you today, am I not, Oppa?”
“No, I meant under normal circumstances.”
To be sure, even following the abduction crisis, Merchant Leader Wang had invariably attached a guard detail to shield her whenever she traveled to the Tae-eul Sect.
“Ah, regarding that, I explicitly requested to travel unescorted.”
“For what reason?”
“Because whenever I am within the confines of the Tae-eul Sect, I feel as though I am an isolated entity drifting apart from the rest.”
The domestic realities of the vast majority of disciples within the Tae-eul Sect were quite impoverished.
Amidst such underprivileged youths, So-so Wang, the treasured lone daughter of the wealthy Wang Family, was destined to be perceived as an outsider.
Much like Cheol-yeong Gye had been in bygone days.
Even so, I felt immensely grateful that she refrained from acting imperiously by leveraging her family’s financial backing, unlike the toxic behavior Cheol-yeong Gye had displayed.
So-so Wang had admirably stripped away her privileged external trappings to genuinely integrate into the fabric of the Tae-eul Sect.
“Even so, I highly doubt the Merchant Leader would have readily acquiesced to such a request.”
“He didn’t! Which is why I bested the vanguard escort.”
“What?”
Had my hearing failed me?
As I stared at her in utter bewilderment, the maiden offered a sheepish, dimpled smile.
“He declared that if I could successfully elude the vanguard escort, I would no longer be forced to travel with guards.”
……Was such a feat even feasible? If it were a guardian personally assigned to So-so Wang, their martial caliber must be top-tier.
“Ah, naturally, I excel specifically in the art of evasion. It appears I possess a natural gift for fleeing!”
To successfully evade a high-level guardian utilizing the Tae-eul Eighty Thousand Divine Steps, an art that she hadn’t even fully developed into a complete lightfoot movement technique.
……What sort of monster is she turning into as well?
Engaged in casual banter, the grand compound of the Dae-cheon Merchant Group soon materialized before us.
“Father! We have arriv……”
So-so Wang, who had bounded into the main courtyard to loudly declare her arrival, froze dead in her tracks.
An icy aura instantly radiated from her entire frame.
“……What brings you to this place?”
The warm, girlish demeanor she displayed a mere moment ago vanished without a trace, replaced by a countenance dripping with raw animosity.
Just who could provoke such a reaction?
At the terminus of So-so Wang’s hostile glare stood a woman draped in a crimson palace robe adorned with exquisite gold embroidery, flashing a captivating, enigmatic smile.
“I am certain I conveyed my refusal. Furthermore, your seal has not even touched the parchment of the agreement.”
Though So-so Wang delivered her words with venomous hostility, the enigmatic woman’s eyes were not anchored on her.
At the focal point of the woman’s gaze.
“I was uncertain if the individual in question shared your sentiments. Have you bothered to consult him?”
I stood there.
Upon hearing the woman’s inquiry, So-so Wang bit her lower lip fiercely.
The woman’s lips curled upward slightly, as if she had entirely anticipated this reaction.
“Just as I suspected, you kept him in the dark.”
An attendant standing beside the noblewoman raised a lantern to illuminate the path before her mistress.
She glided a few elegant steps in our direction.
A cloying, fragrant aroma billowed outward in her wake.
“You are Young Master So-un Jin of the Tae-eul Sect, are you not?”
A woman I had never encountered in my life was addressing me with familiar certainty.