Chapter 97: The Sword Felt Strange
When Jin Seong-un introduced himself as the Guest Dragon, the young Taoist disciples guarding the mountain gate were startled.
In recent days, there was no one in the Central Plains Murim who did not know the name Guest Dragon.
One of the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes, the Rising Dragon Sima Hwi.
The man who defeated him and newly claimed the alias of Dragon.
That alone was truly astonishing.
This was because Sima Hwi, being a Formation Master, was considered nearly irreplaceable.
Yet what was even more shocking was the fact that the Guest Dragon was none other than the inn’s waiter.
At first, everyone dismissed it as nonsense.
But since more than one or two Later-generation Prodigies were in Yichang at the time, testimonies confirming the truth came from everywhere.
Soon, within Murim—and especially among the young Later-generation Prodigies of the orthodox Murim—the admiration for Guest Dragon grew at a considerable pace.
The reason was simple.
Despite not being born into one of the Five Great Clans or Nine Sects One Gang, he seized such a position on his own through sheer talent.
He was like a figure straight out of ancient legends. Naturally, the younger and more inexperienced martial artists were, the more they admired and idolized such an unreal existence.
One Taoist, who looked to be only about fifteen or sixteen, hurriedly clasped his hands toward Jin Seong-un.
“I am Taewon, third-generation disciple of the Kunlun Sect. It is a great honor to meet the famed Guest Dragon Master.”
“I am Taemyeong, also third-generation disciple of the Kunlun Sect. I had once hoped to meet you, but in truth, I had long given up on that thought…”
Taemyeong’s eyes even held traces of emotion.
The disciples of the Kunlun Sect always carried a faint dissatisfaction. It was that they were too far removed from the center of the Central Plains.
The younger Taoists especially felt this more strongly.
The glamorous Anhui, the beautiful Shaanxi, the heart of the orthodox Murim in Hubei, the thrilling Sichuan…
All the fascinating and exciting events of the world, the major happenings of the orthodox Murim, all occurred far from Qinghai.
And so it was with the rumors of Guest Dragon Jin Seong-un.
They admired him, but thought they would never see him in person. Yet now, Guest Dragon had come directly to them.
‘For a duel, no less!’
The eyes of the two young Taoists sparkled so brightly that Jin Seong-un could only give them an awkward smile.
“Just with a light heart…”
“Yes, yes, of course! We mustn’t burden you, Guest Dragon Master!”
That only felt more burdensome.
Soon, Taewon took the role of guiding them, while Taemyeong used light footwork to rush ahead and inform the Kunlun Sect.
Both of them were visibly excited. It was only natural—for a chance to witness firsthand the figure they had only ever heard about in rumors.
“But… is it true?”
Taewon cautiously broached the subject.
Jin Seong-un glanced at him.
It was simply his usual calm expression, but Taewon flinched and closed his mouth without meaning to.
“…Speak.”
“A-ah, well…”
After a brief pause, Taewon finally said,
“I heard that Rising Dragon’s life as a martial artist is over.”
To Jin Seong-un, he addressed as Master. To Sima Hwi, he called Hero. A Taoist with quite the political sense, this Taewon.
Jin Seong-un replied,
“I do not know. If he has the will, perhaps he can recover. But that is only speculation. I myself have never been injured to such an extent.”
“Oh…”
Taewon nodded.
In truth, he had asked with hopeful anticipation.
Rumors were always prone to exaggeration.
Especially when rumors traveled as far as Qinghai, they often grew heavily embellished.
To the Taoists of Kunlun, Sima Hwi was seen as a public enemy of Murim, one who ought to be executed on sight.
And the Guest Dragon, who crippled such a figure, was regarded as an unprecedented hero and champion.
Jin Seong-un deliberately turned away from Taewon’s sparkling gaze as they walked.
Then Taewon asked,
“And the one beside you is…”
His face flushed slightly. Never before had he seen such a beautiful woman.
Jin Seong-un stole a glance at Chae Seo-ryeong’s face before answering.
“A companion…”
“A friend! A friend!”
Chae Seo-ryeong hurriedly cut in.
There was no need to spread around talk of training together as companions. Especially not in front of someone so vulnerable to the stimulation of the opposite sex.
When Jin Seong-un nodded, Taewon looked at the two of them with a doubtful expression before grinning.
“Oh, I see…”
Just as the air grew awkward,
Fortunately, the three of them crossed the threshold into the Kunlun Sect.
The atmosphere of the Kunlun Sect was very unique.
Jin Seong-un and Chae Seo-ryeong looked around with curious eyes.
It was clearly a Taoist sect, yet it carried a strong sense of practicality. The layout of the buildings showed as much.
Normally, Taoist sects arranged their halls with strict adherence to geomancy.
But the Kunlun Sect was different.
At first glance, the placement seemed haphazard and irregular, yet from every rooftop, the front gate was visible.
The halls also seemed arranged in such a way that they subtly encircled the front gate.
To Jin Seong-un, the Kunlun Sect felt less like a Taoist sect and more like a fortress.
‘If I were an intruder…’
He could not help but imagine.
If he stormed Kunlun Sect with sword in hand, martial artists would pour out from those halls all at once.
Since the buildings formed a semicircle around the gate, it would feel like enemies were swarming from every direction without respite.
Moreover, the fact that every rooftop was visible meant that from every rooftop, arrows or spears could rain down toward the gate.
‘But conversely, to a thief, the layout of those rooftops would be advantageous…’
Jin Seong-un let out a quiet sigh.
Looking beside him, he saw Chae Seo-ryeong also examining the rooftops and walls intently, which only deepened his self-reproach.
It seemed the two of them had thought the same thing.
As they walked with such thoughts, a vast training ground came into view.
Dozens of Taoists had gathered there, each holding swords or sabers.
“Does the Kunlun Sect use both the sword and the saber?”
When Jin Seong-un asked, Taewon proudly answered,
“We handle the sword, saber, bow, spear, staff, and cudgel with equal skill. For us, it is not just cultivation, but training.”
It was an impressive answer.
Historically, whenever the Demonic Cult ran rampant, the Kunlun Sect was always the first to be burned down.
Moreover, given their location in Qinghai, frequent small clashes with the Demonic Cult were inevitable.
Usually, martial artists of the Nine Sects One Gang and the Five Great Clans did not experience much real combat.
Most matters were resolved through reputation, and even when significant incidents occurred, the sheer number of masters already present meant only a few actually went into real combat.
The Kunlun Sect, however, was different. Too many incidents happened there, and they were too dangerous and intense, so most of its martial artists had plenty of real battle experience.
Before long, a group from the training grounds approached. They all seemed around the same age as Jin Seong-un, or at most a few years older.
“Guest Dragon Hero!”
A familiar face burst out in delight. It was Seok Gang, whom he had met at the marketplace.
Laughing heartily, he continued,
“Why didn’t you tell us earlier that you were the Guest Dragon Hero? Had we known, we would have personally welcomed you and introduced you to the Kunlun Sect!”
“There was something urgent earlier.”
When Jin Seong-un said this, Seok Gang and several Taoists sneaked glances at Chae Seo-ryeong.
Their expressions were rather peculiar, so Chae Seo-ryeong hastily explained,
“His sword broke on the way! We stopped by the Qinghai Iron Workshop to buy one, but they wouldn’t sell a single blade.”
This was information she already knew. The Qinghai Iron Workshop, being the greatest smithy under heaven, only traded with large Murim factions or individuals with reputations to match their scale.
“Hah! With the Guest Dragon Hero’s fame, surely they would have given you at least one sword!”
“I didn’t wish to purchase it by flaunting my name.”
Jin Seong-un gave a vague reply. Ever since he had accepted Master Divine Thief’s request, he felt like all he did was lie and steal.
His excuse deeply impressed Seok Gang and the Taoists.
“What profound depth!”
“Truly worthy of the Guest Dragon’s alias!”
Jin Seong-un nodded.
The alias Guest Dragon was starting to grow on him. After all, the character “Guest (客)” symbolized the inn he worked at.
“So, you wish for a duel.”
Seok Gang’s eyes sparkled.
A duel against one of the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes.
Taoists of similar age to Jin Seong-un began showing a strong competitive spirit.
“But may I borrow a sword?”
“Of course. Our Kunlun Sect’s Cloud Dragon Swords are also crafted by the Qinghai Iron Workshop. In the end, the sword has simply found its rightful owner!”
Seok Gang laughed heartily and ordered an attendant to fetch a blade.
Soon, Jin Seong-un received the Cloud Dragon Sword and swung it lightly a few times in the air.
It was heavy, yet well-balanced.
‘What is this.’
But he felt an inexplicable sense of strangeness.
Though he had not wielded many swords in his life, this sensation was truly peculiar.
The problem was that it was difficult to discern the nature of that feeling.
“Shall we begin immediately?”
Thinking he ought to handle the sword more roughly to test it, he proposed starting the duel right away.
The Kunlun Taoists marveled, “As expected of such a bold hero!”
Jin Seong-un stepped onto the dueling platform.
His opponent was Seok Jin, second-generation disciple of the Kunlun Sect. With a solemn face, Seok Jin gripped his sword firmly and assumed his stance.
‘Sharp indeed.’
He wasn’t as strong as Mount Wudang’s Baek Seol or Baek Sang. Yet the sharpness common to the Kunlun Taoists left a deep impression.
Jin Seong-un also assumed a stance.
Unlike Seok Jin, no aura or change in momentum radiated from him.
But the stillness itself carried weight. Perhaps the reputation of Guest Dragon lent strength to that weight.
The Kunlun Taoists stared intently, unwilling to miss even the slightest detail.
The two men faced each other with swords drawn for a moment.
Jin Seong-un looked puzzled.
Why wasn’t it starting?
Then he realized—the Taoists were staring at him in confusion.
At last, Seok Gang scratched his head awkwardly and said,
“The one before you, Seok Jin, is the youngest among our second-generation disciples.”
“Oh…”
What was he supposed to do?
As Jin Seong-un blinked, Seok Gang gave a pompous cough. Soon, other Taoists followed suit, coughing deliberately.
Unable to endure it any longer, Chae Seo-ryeong sent him a voice transmission.
You’re the Guest Dragon! You have to yield the first move.
Such was the name of the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes in Murim at the time.
Though Sima Hwi was still considered a Later-generation Prodigy, his martial prowess was acknowledged at the level of a leader from any great sect or clan.
“Ah.”
Jin Seong-un nodded, looking embarrassed, and thought for a moment.
How many moves should he yield?
Yielding one move seemed petty, yielding ten moves seemed arrogant.
But he simply couldn’t figure out the right balance.
So he just said,
“I shall yield three moves.”
At that, the Kunlun Taoists sighed in admiration and nodded with satisfaction.
“Guest Dragon acknowledges our Kunlun.”
“So the rumors were true! At such a young age, and humble as well!”
“….”
It seemed he had given the right answer.
But Jin Seong-un resolved never to use the name Guest Dragon again. Truly, his fate was better suited for a waiter, not a martial artist.
Then Seok Jin, with a renewed solemn expression, rushed forward…
Chae-chaecheng—!
Three unremarkable exchanges passed.
Suddenly, Jin Seong-un lightly infused the still-unfamiliar Cloud Dragon Sword with a trace of Women’s Moon Qi and swung.
‘Gently…’
He repeated to himself.
The instant the two swords clashed.
Kwaaaaang—!
A fierce explosion rang out.
Seok Jin was blasted away.
He remained suspended in midair for quite a while.
Jin Seong-un stared in bewilderment.
“This sword feels strange.”
It wasn’t an excuse—it really did.