Chapter 3 – I Told You, I’m Not Interested (1)
After finishing his conversation with Sohajeong, Seok Jin-ho stepped out of his quarters for the first time in a while.
Of course, when he left, Sohajeong just smiled as if even his bravado was cute, but Seok Jin-ho hadn’t been joking.
He was once the absolute ruler of the martial world.
Even the famed Nine Great Sects and Five Noble Clans had knelt beneath his feet.
“Now that I think about it, most people from the central plains got a second chance at life, but I didn’t end up in any of the big sects or noble clans. If they were going to revive me, they could’ve at least put me somewhere with a decent background.”
Seok Jin-ho frowned in dissatisfaction.
Had that been the case, he would’ve reached his goals far more quickly.
The martial arts passed down by the major sects and noble families were no joke.
They were called “secret techniques” for a reason.
“Hey, isn’t that the Fourth Young Master?”
“What’s he doing out here? He usually never leaves his quarters.”
“I heard from Choon-seok his personality’s changed a bit.”
“Even if it did, people don’t change that easily.”
As Seok Jin-ho walked through the outer courtyard, the servants of the Seok family whispered among themselves.
They thought they were being discreet, but unfortunately for them, Seok Jin-ho’s heightened senses picked up every word clearly.
His sharpened perception allowed him to hear even casual conversations from a distance.
“Pathetic life… Well, my original self was like that. It’s part of my past now.”
The servants and maids passing by looked at him with the same familiar expression.
Though he was of illegitimate birth, he was still of the family bloodline, so they were careful with their actions—but their eyes betrayed their contempt.
Still, Seok Jin-ho didn’t bat an eye.
Instead, he walked even more confidently.
“Huh?”
“Hmm?”
As he was walking toward the textile hall within the estate, Seok Jin-ho came to a stop.
He had no choice but to halt as two elderly men suddenly blocked his path.
“Oh ho!”
“Well, look at that. Who would’ve thought such a solid frame could come from the Seok family?”
“Why not? Top-quality crops don’t only grow in the best soil, you know. Haven’t you learned that after nearly eighty years?”
Seok Jin-ho frowned.
Being examined like an object by these two elders irritated him.
“What do you want?”
“Ah, dear me. We were so caught up in our thoughts.”
“Apologies. We were just taken aback by your exceptional physique.”
Startled by his sharp tone, the elders quickly apologized.
They had been too distracted by his outstanding martial frame to consider their rudeness.
“Are you the Seok family head’s son?”
“From your movements, looks like you’ve learned the basics.”
“Did someone else teach you?”
“How long have you been practicing martial arts?”
No sooner had they apologized than they began to bombard him with questions.
Whatever it was, their curiosity seemed endless.
But to Seok Jin-ho, it was just plain annoying.
“I don’t see any reason to answer. Excuse me.”
“W-Wait a moment!”
“You must not know who we are…”
As he tried to pass, clearly irritated, the two elders reached out to stop him.
But Seok Jin-ho easily slipped past them with a frown, as if dodging a bug.
“I know. You’re elders from the Mount Hua and Zhongnan sects, aren’t you?”
“Huh? How’d he know?”
“Are we that famous?”
The two men stared at Seok Jin-ho in surprise as he spoke with certainty.
Despite their wrinkled faces, their reactions were childishly pure.
“People might know our names, but not our faces.”
“Exactly. It’s not like we go around flaunting ourselves.”
“Hey, watch your words. We’re elders. Try using some dignity.”
“What’s your problem?”
They immediately began bickering.
It was hard to believe they had been in sync just moments ago.
But that worked to Seok Jin-ho’s advantage.
He slipped past them without effort.
“Hold on!”
“Now, now. What’s the rush?”
“Even if you’re busy, there’s no harm in talking to us.”
“We won’t take too much of your time.”
Though they were arguing, they still kept their eyes on Seok Jin-ho and blocked his path again.
Then, with eager, almost sparkling eyes, they looked at him.
“You’d gain more than you’d lose from this.”
“You’re a bit older, sure, but your foundation’s solid. It’s not too late.”
“It’s never too late. Just means a bit more hardship.”
“Looks like you’re lost. I’ll assign a servant to guide you.”
Seok Jin-ho scrunched his face again, openly expressing his dislike.
But the elders didn’t back down.
“Tsk. Never had someone treat us like this before.”
“Then leave. The one who needs something is the one who digs the well.”
“I won’t let Zhongnan have him!”
“Mount Hua has enough bright disciples! And I found him first!”
The second round of bickering broke out—right in front of Seok Jin-ho.
They weren’t even listening to what he said.
“Ahem! We’re getting off track again.”
“You’re the one who picked a fight.”
“Tch.”
Elder Song Il-gang from Mount Hua groaned and glared at Go Cheok from Zhongnan.
But neither of them escalated further.
They didn’t want to look worse in front of the boy.
Apparently, Go Cheok felt the same, as he stopped snapping too.
“Answer a few of our questions, and we won’t bother you again.”
“How about joining Mount Hua?”
Go Cheok frowned.
He was clearly annoyed that Song Il-gang had spoken first.
“I’ll pass.”
“Then what about Zhongnan? Surely you’ve heard of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Sword Techniques?”
“I already have a master. Apologies.”
“Sigh…”
Go Cheok sighed in disappointment.
In the past decade, he hadn’t seen such exceptional talent.
Even more appealing was Seok Jin-ho’s composure—he stood his ground before two great elders without wavering.
“You don’t seem to have been training long. Are you sure you don’t want to start over? I can speak to my master. As you know, the level of martial arts matters. Some say even the basic Three Element Technique can make you the strongest in the world, but history says otherwise.”
Unlike Go Cheok, Song Il-gang wasn’t ready to give up.
He knew that relationships were key, and they could change.
And this boy—his body, his spirit—was the real deal.
‘This is the kind of kid who becomes truly great.’
Talent wasn’t just about physique. Heart mattered too.
And though heart could be guided, the best kind of disciples were like this one.
‘If we could bring him in, he could be the future of Mount Hua.’
They say eyes are windows to the soul.
And Song Il-gang was sure.
This boy was a perfect match for Mount Hua.
“Sorry.”
“Sigh…”
“That’s enough. As a proper sect elder, what do you think you’re doing? He already has a master.”
Go Cheok frowned.
He understood the desire, but this was too much.
Song Il-gang seemed to realize that too and stepped back with a click of his tongue.
“Farewell, then.”
Without a shred of regret, Seok Jin-ho walked past the two men.
They let out quiet sighs.
“Haven’t seen such talent in ages.”
“Who would’ve thought someone like that would be in the Seok family?”
“Well, our sects never had reason to visit the Seok clan. And not many outer sect disciples could spot such talent either.”
“Still odd that no connection was ever made.”
They clicked their tongues, almost in unison, now back to being completely in sync.
“Fate doesn’t follow human will.”
“He’ll probably rise in less than five years.”
“Maybe even sooner. We should warn our disciples to stay alert.”
“Mount Hua just needs to stay alert. We should be worried about being overtaken.”
“What nonsense.”
Song Il-gang scoffed.
The Zhongnan Sect, like Mount Hua, was one of the Nine Great Sects. It wouldn’t be shaken by one boy.
“But was it really coincidence?”
“What?”
“When we tried to grab him—he dodged us.”
“Must’ve been luck. He’s clearly new to martial arts. Even a genius couldn’t pull that off.”
Song Il-gang said it with certainty.
Though not quite among the top ten masters in the world, they were close.
Even seasoned fighters couldn’t easily dodge their reach.
“Still, if it wasn’t luck…”
“Then he’s a future martial world champion.”
“Sigh. Such a shame. He could’ve grown into a towering tree.”
“It just wasn’t meant to be.”
The two elders shook their heads and walked away.
Carrying the long robes that Sohajeong had carefully prepared, Seok Jin-ho left his quarters.
Tak Yoon followed him like a proper attendant.
“You’re coming too?”
As they crossed the now-busier outer courtyard, a familiar voice called out to him.
A face from his memory stepped into view.
“Seok Man-ho?”
“So the rumors were true—you really have changed.”
Seok Man-ho appeared, with a bodyguard in tow, looking at Seok Jin-ho curiously.
Gone was the timid and weak Seok Jin-ho of the past.
Even if he had experienced a life-threatening event, the transformation was drastic, and Seok Man-ho was having a hard time adjusting.
“Watch your tone.”
“Over a one-month age gap?”
“Still, I’m Fourth Young Master, you’re Fifth.”
“Don’t forget, our family believes in meritocracy.”
Seok Man-ho tapped the sword at his waist.
Unlike Seok Jin-ho, who had idled away his youth, Man-ho had trained diligently.
He knew he wasn’t a prodigy, so he had taken another path.
“Still just a second-rate martial artist.”
“…Being second-rate at my age isn’t bad, you know? And compared to you, I’ve at least earned my place.”
“You sure did find the right backers.”
Crack!
Seok Man-ho gritted his teeth.
He’d come to taunt Seok Jin-ho, but ended up the one getting needled.
Despite being the stronger of the two physically, his face twisted.
But the current Seok Jin-ho was not the same as before.
“Relax. You’ll get wrinkles.”
“You little—!”
“You really want to brawl on a festive day? In front of everyone?”
“Tch…”
Seok Man-ho had reflexively raised a fist but quickly lowered it and looked around.
The estate was full of guests and servants due to the celebration.
“If you want a fight, I’ll make time soon. Tomorrow’s fine, too.”
Seok Jin-ho’s eyes gleamed.
He had a score to settle with Seok Man-ho anyway.
It wasn’t something he had been planning—but the moment felt right.
“Just don’t run away.”
“Don’t worry.”
Seok Jin-ho grinned.
If anything, he was the one waiting for that moment.
