Since I was a boy born in the countryside, I decided to take them to a guest house which had a similar name.
After making a simple statement, a bit of time passed, and I ended up watching the Murim members, Pervert Demon, and Ghost Demon talk and eat.
‘Just what is this situation?’
The Pervert Demon and Ghost Demon who fought fiercely against the Murim Alliance in the previous life. Sharing food and eating together. Is this the harmony of the sun and moon which Taiji speaks of?
At that time, why did we fight like dying lions? And why are we sitting and eating now?
People then and now are the same.
Well, the rice is delicious.
Everyone was able to get over the awkward vibe and filled their stomachs without much conversation. It wasn’t until we were done eating did we talk.
Dan Hyuk-san says to Pervert Demon,
“Doesn’t the young lord want to join the alliance?”
Pervert Demon answers,
“No.”
For some reason he asks Yukhap,
“Master Yukhap…”
Ghost Demon shakes his head.
“No.”
“Yes.”
Dan Hyuk-san looks at me.
“Actually, we are currently recruiting members by doing this and going around the areas we don’t usually walk around.”
“I heard the Alliance Leader only accepts people of a certain nature.”
To which he points at the two and says,
“Of course, the second son of the Mong family and Master Yukhap are members of Sect Leader’s party, so their identities are confirmed.”
But silence passes after both of them coldly refuse the invitation. And after a while, an alliance member known as Yoon Ji-hak says,
“Sect Leader, the story that the Sect Leader is strong is spreading all through the Murim Alliance. Actually, your age is very similar to the members of the sword troops. Of course, our young lord of Mong family is young too. And when we have nothing special to do, we train hard. But I don’t think we are stronger than Sect Leader.”
He rambles on, but I’m able to understand.
In the end, it seems that I was young and better than them. A question which any person with an honest nature would ask.
Looking at Yoon Ji-hak, I nod.
“I still have a long way to go, but it is true that I am strong for my age.”
Yoon Ji-hak asks,
“Did you eat a pill?”
Not just the members of the alliance, but even Pervert Demon and Ghost Demon turn to me. Come to think of it, they too seemed to be curious about this.
And I answer honestly.
“If I have to say it… I fell off a cliff. It was high.”
Pervert Demon naturally inserts himself into the conversation.
“Then you hurt your head.”
“Head… no, I was given a chance. My head wasn’t hurt.”
The members of the alliance exchange glances with each other and ask,
“Is that true?”
I answer with a serious expression.
“Why would I lie to you? Seriously, I am giving an honest answer. You asked me seriously and I answered the same. If this spreads, odds will be against me. Especially with people adding their own opinions into what I said.”
Master Yukhap asks like it was absurd,
“… so, the pill was at the bottom of the cliff?”
I turn to this guy and nod.
“There was. But that isn’t the end. One day, I went up high with young lord Mong here. We ate the Moon Pill Flower there. I felt lucky.”
At the mention of ‘Moon Pill Flower’, everyone seems surprised.
“Is that true?”
I look at Pervert Demon, with whom I ate it, and he nods.
“That part is real.”
Dan Hyuk-san says it like he is shocked.
“There must be a reason why you two are strong. Wherever we go, there is a chance waiting. I don’t know if you know it, but we call you the New South Six Dragons, including the four rising warriors of the south, Sect Leader of Low-Down, and young lord Mong.”
Pervert Demon and I spurt the tea we were drinking at what we heard.
“… Puah.”
“Usually, it is called Six Dragons in short.”
I wipe my mouth as I look at him.
“Six Dragons?”
This Crazy Demon?
Dan Hyuk-san nods.
“Yes.”
Pervert Demon asks,
“Is this similar to the New North Five Tigers?”
Dan Hyuk-san chuckles.
“You seem to know. Right. Kangho doesn’t like it if there is no comparison and competition. The tigers in the north and dragons in the south. These groups emerged for the strong. In a way, they are the warriors who have similar skills comparable to the top 10 strong people we have today in Murim.
Here, the divider for the north and south wasn’t the Yangtze River but the Murim Alliance.
That is because the Murim Alliance is at the center of it. Coincidentally, there are many orthodox troops in the south, and many Murim sects in the north. What came from this was a title for the members who often changed depending on the results of people’s actions.
In any case, there is no doubt that the title will attract the attention of the strong people, and it is a title which women envy, and it is a list to catch the unorthodox.
The title of the North Honam’s Dragon is a perfect name. And so, my situation changed from being Murim’s Crazy Demon to a warrior belonging to a dragon.
Therefore, if one belongs to this Honam Dragons, they will become popular and receive things like wealth, challenges, honor, and also live a tiring life.
One of the most absurd things about this is…
I am popular now? Hopefully, that cannot be. Why do I feel like I am going to be more popular with those who know me, than with women?
“…”
I mumble, unable to understand.
“Who the hell put me in the Six Dragons?”
Dan Hyuk-san coughs.
“The Alliance Leader…”
“He must have lost it.”
“Uh.”
“Why is he doing this suddenly though?”
Dan Hyuk-san opens his eyes wide.
“Sect Leader, the other warriors are special cases that we weren’t too sure about putting in.”
“That wasn’t me?”
“Yes. I am sorry, but because the Alliance Leader mentioned it, it will not be easy for you to be removed from the list.”
How can this be, does that mean I am forced to be the popular guy?
Somehow, I ended up being one of the Six Dragons.
Women’s attention goes to Pervert Demon, and I get people crazy for martial arts, so I have a feeling that the likelihood of people coming over and talking to me will increase.
‘This has to be a fucking…’
Dan Hyuk-san says,
“Originally, the group was known as the Southern Four Dragon. However, because he questioned whether or not he would be able to defeat Sect Leader and the Mong family’s young lord… he decided to turn the Four Dragons to the Six Dragons. Because of Alliance Leader’s words, the reputation of you two is being spread around tremendously in Kangho.”
And I suddenly have this thought. It is said that Im So-baek is having a tough time lately.
He wasn’t the kind who would pass on a tough task to others, but it feels like this was enough to lighten the burden.
I suddenly made eye contact with Pervert Demon and mumble.
“… a shitting dragon. Amazing.”
When I tease him, he pushes back.
“A country dragon who fell off a cliff and injured his head. Shocking.”
The guy takes a hit at me.
“It is an honor. An honor.”
“It is nothing.”
I think it is a blessing for Kangho for this guy to move his hands. I was worried that they would move only to mess around with the lower body, but I am not a man who cares about that.
I am a man who can feed him knowledge at any time. I was going to bully the guy, but I stopped caring. In the long run it feels like it won’t matter if I lose a little.
After eating and talking with the members of the Murim Alliance…
Before I knew it, I was reborn as a promising and upcoming warrior from my first life’s Murim achievements.
Of course, it wasn’t what I expected, but, as usual, in this world you cannot get what you want. And since we fought with the Murim Alliance Leader before, it can be said that this level of fame was rather late to come.
Strangely, contrary to the expectant eyes of some members of the alliance…
Neither I nor Pervert Demon had shown signs of joy.
Curiously, Ghost Demon from the past life was listening to this without a sign of envy.
After all, the three of us are men with no interest in such things. In the meantime, it was always difficult to find similarities between us three, but I was able to find a couple trivial things.
If we think about…
It’s probably because our goal is to be much better than we are now. How can those who harassed many people be happy with a title which those who are even moderately strong can get?
I ask Pervert Demon,
“… how is it? The feeling of being a part of the Six Dragons?”
He answers back without a thought.
“It is an honor. Like one Phoenix and Two Immortal beings, the reputation aside….”
I recall the One Phoenix, Two Immortals as one rumored to be beautiful, so I remember it. Up until the end, the members of the alliance ask me in a serious tone,
“Sect Leader.”
“Yes.”
“What do we do to get stronger?”
I look up and down at the guy and ask,
“Is there any reason to ask me?”
“Yes, I actually ask this often. I also asked the seniors in Kangho that I’ve met, and I asked the colleagues and friends I know. Because each time the answer is different and the idea is different, it has turned into a habit to ask this question. That is why I was curious about the thoughts of Sect Leader.”
I nod and point my chopsticks ahead.
“The position of the chopsticks box and the number of chopsticks.”
“….”
Then, with my hand, I point to everything around- even toward the people around who are eating rice.
“The distance to the entrance, the thickness of the folding screen there, the number of steps and speed when someone runs from the front door to there. Number of steps to get here.”
I point to the ceiling.
“The height of the ceiling, the distinction between the house from the upper floor and the lower one, the consistency of the conversation or the noise outside. The material of the floor, how thick it is, your nature, the facial expressions, the habits, the health, wounds. The skills of young lord Mong and Master Yukhap who are with me. When we all join forces, what level would our strength be?”
I point my finger at my temple.
“… as I ate, I roughly estimated all of it. It wouldn’t happen, but there might be a warrior or someone who tries to attack the members of the alliance. For example, can I pierce the ceiling with chopsticks or throw them at the table beyond that fold screen? Also, it is the state of being aware of how the noise around you is changing.”
While I speak for a long time, the members of the alliance all look at me with their mouths wide open.
And I say in a serious tone,
“Eating food, while drinking tea, when talking with you all too, I was constantly thinking. The way to become strong. You might ask yourself why I answered like this but, this is just how I think.”
I look at the people of the Murim Alliance.
“To be strong means to be alive. And to be strong means to create chances to live. That way there is a chance to live even if you don’t come across the pills around you. But surviving… you have no choice but to train little by little every day to become stronger.”
I look at the member who asked the question.
“You got your answer?”
“Yes, Sect Leader.”
The other members respond to me too.
“We heard you.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
I nod and stand up as everyone seems to have emptied their tea.
“You must be busy, let us move.”
.
.
.
After calculating the cost, I say bye to the alliance members, standing side by side, with the Pervert Demon and Ghost Demon. We bid farewell with warm words and talk again. The three of us, who belonged to the enemies of the Murim Alliance, were speaking happily with them. As soon as the alliance members disappear, I sigh.
“Huhuh.”
Why is it so hard to meet and talk with strangers?
I can never understand.
Pervert Demon, who is next to me, sighs and asks,
“Country guy, did you really notice everything inside and out? What? Thickness of the folding screen? Wall thickness? Material of the ceiling? Was that for real? Fuck. At least answer right.”
Ghost Demon turns to me.
“I was aware of half of them.”
I click my tongue and put my hands behind my back.
“What are you that curious about?”
Pervert Demon says,
“I am asking if that was real. How can you know all that? You were eating with such focus.”
After confirming that the members of alliance had vanished I say,
“I just checked the box of chopsticks and ate. Is there anything more to do? I pointed my finger at what was close and told them whatever I could.”
Pervert Demon bursts into laughter like a crazy guy. And Ghost Demon frowns as he asks me,
“Why did you lie?”
I turn to him and say,
“I didn’t tell them anything bad. I just meant for them to be careful. It is the teachings of the Six Dragons; shouldn’t everyone register this into their hearts?”
Only then did Ghost Demon, who understood, smile.
“Well, yes.”
