Here is the complete English translation of:
Chapter 3 – I Told You I’m Not Interested (1)
After finishing his conversation with So Hajung, Seok Jin-ho stepped out of his quarters for the first time in a while.
Though So Hajung had laughed at his words as if even his bluffing was endearing, Seok Jin-ho hadn’t been joking.
He had once reigned as the supreme master of the martial world.
Even the great Nine Sects and Five Great Clans, praised so highly, had been beneath his feet.
“Come to think of it, most people who were revived ended up somewhere in the Central Plains, but I haven’t had any connection to the Nine Sects or the Five Great Clans. If I was going to be brought back anyway, they could’ve at least given me a nice background to start from.”
Seok Jin-ho frowned, clearly dissatisfied.
Had he been given that kind of advantage, it would’ve definitely shortened the time it took to fulfill his goals.
After all, the martial arts accumulated by the major sects and noble families were no joke.
They were called “secrets” for a reason.
“Huh? Isn’t that the Fourth Young Master?”
“Wow, what a surprise. He’s always holed up in his room.”
“I heard from Choon-seok that his personality’s changed.”
“Even if it has, it’s probably nothing special. People don’t change that easily.”
As Seok Jin-ho walked through the outer court, the servants of the Seok family gossiped about him.
They thought they were speaking quietly, but unfortunately for them, Jin-ho could hear every word clearly.
His heightened senses picked up all conversations within a fair distance.
“What a pathetic life. Well, that’s what the original owner was like. It’s my past too, I suppose.”
Passing servants cast him the same kind of look.
Though he was born from a concubine, he still carried the blood of the family head, so they didn’t openly disrespect him—but their eyes said it all.
Yet Seok Jin-ho didn’t bat an eye at those looks.
In fact, he walked even more confidently.
“Oh?”
“Hmm?”
He came to a stop while walking toward the fabric workshop in the manor.
Two elderly men suddenly stood in his path, giving him no choice but to stop.
“Ho.”
“Well, would you look at that? Who knew someone with such a physique could come from the Seok family?”
“Why not? It’s not just good seeds and soil that make the best crops. Are you almost 80 and still don’t get that?”
Seok Jin-ho frowned.
Their assessing gaze, as if appraising an item, annoyed him.
“What is this?”
“Ah, how rude of us. We got carried away.”
“Sorry, lad. We saw such fine physique that our instincts kicked in.”
The two old men hurriedly apologized, realizing they’d gotten lost in admiration of his exceptional build.
“You’re the son of the Seok family head, right?”
“Judging by your movements, looks like you’ve learned some basic techniques.”
“Did you study under someone else?”
“How long has it been since you started martial arts?”
No sooner had they apologized than the questions started pouring in.
They seemed overly curious about everything.
But Seok Jin-ho found it all terribly annoying.
“I don’t see any reason to answer. Excuse me.”
“W-wait a moment!”
“You must not know who we are since you’re still young…”
As Seok Jin-ho tried to walk past with a clearly annoyed expression, the two elders tried to stop him.
But he dodged them with ease, scrunching his face as if swatting away insects.
“I know. You’re elders of the Mount Hua Sect and the Zhongnan Sect, right?”
“Huh? How did you know?”
“Are we that famous?”
The two looked at each other with wide eyes, surprised at his confident identification.
Despite their age-lined faces, they looked like curious boys.
“Even if our names are known, people don’t usually know our faces.”
“Exactly. It’s not like we travel around the world showing ourselves off.”
“Hey, watch your mouth. Use some classier language. We’re elders, not wandering vagabonds.”
“What did you say?”
The two old men started bickering the moment their eyes met.
A second ago, they were perfectly in sync—now they were growling at each other.
But for Seok Jin-ho, this was a perfect distraction.
He casually slipped past them while they were at it.
“Wait a second!”
“Oh ho! What’s the rush?”
“Even if you’re in a hurry, you won’t be punished for talking to us.”
“It won’t even take long!”
Despite their arguing, the two elders were still keeping an eye on Seok Jin-ho and quickly blocked his path again.
They looked at him with sparkling eyes—intensely curious.
“If anything, it’ll benefit you.”
“Sure, we’re a bit old, but if your foundation is that solid, it’s not too late.”
“It’s never too late. Just means a bit more effort.”
“Seems you’re lost. I’ll have a servant guide you.”
Seok Jin-ho grimaced openly at their persistent chatter.
But the elders were undeterred.
“Huh. I’ve never been treated like this before.”
“If you don’t want it, fine. It’s always the one in need who digs the well.”
“No way I’m letting Zhongnan have him.”
“Mount Hua has plenty of bright disciples! And I found him first! You just followed me!”
Round two of their bickering began.
Right in front of Seok Jin-ho, no less.
They didn’t even pretend to be listening to him.
“Ahem! We’re rambling again, huh.”
“Let’s be clear—you started it.”
“Tch.”
Mount Hua’s Elder Song Il-gang glared at Go Cheok.
But he held back from fighting.
He didn’t want to appear petty.
Go Cheok seemed to feel the same and dropped the matter.
“If you just answer our questions, we’ll stop bothering you.”
“Why not come to Mount Hua?”
As Go Cheok made a gentle offer, his face contorted with annoyance—Song Il-gang had jumped in first.
“I decline.”
“Then what about Zhongnan? You’ve heard of the ‘Thirty-Six Sword Techniques of the World,’ haven’t you?”
“I’ve already inherited a martial lineage. Sorry.”
“Hmph!”
Go Cheok sighed deeply.
Among the talents he’d seen in the past ten years, none had matched this level.
What’s more, Seok Jin-ho’s unshaken attitude before two great elders impressed him.
“You seem to have just started martial arts. Why not begin anew? I’ll speak to the master on your behalf. You know how important martial arts level is. People talk about how the ‘Three Essence Qi Art’ can make you the best, but history tells otherwise—no one became the best with just that.”
Unlike Go Cheok, Song Il-gang hadn’t given up.
Even if Jin-ho claimed to have inherited another lineage, relationships could change.
This boy didn’t just have a great physique—his mental fortitude was exceptional too.
“This is how true talent grows.”
Talent wasn’t just about the body—it included temperament.
A good temperament could be nurtured by a master and a sect to an extent, but someone like this boy had the makings of greatness already.
“If he accepts, he could carry the future of Mount Hua.”
They say eyes are the windows to the soul.
And in those brief moments, Song Il-gang had seen enough to be convinced—this boy belonged in Mount Hua.
“I’m sorry.”
“Haaa…”
“That’s enough. What are you doing, trying to poach a disciple who already has a sect?”
Go Cheok frowned.
He understood the temptation, but this was too much.
Realizing this, Song Il-gang sighed and stepped back.
“Then we’ll take our leave.”
Seok Jin-ho walked past them without the slightest hint of regret.
The two elders sighed softly.
“Haven’t seen talent like that in ages.”
“Who’d have thought a kid like that would be in the Seok family?”
“Well, it’s not like we visit this place often. And most outer disciples wouldn’t recognize such a gifted martial body.”
“Still strange we’ve never crossed paths with him before.”
As if their argument had never happened, they sighed in perfect unison.
The more they saw of him, the more regret they felt.
“Fate rarely goes the way we want.”
“He’ll make a name for himself within five years.”
“Maybe even sooner. I’ll have to warn our kids not to slack off.”
“You just need to stay sharp. We should be more worried about him surpassing us.”
“Such pessimism.”
Song Il-gang scoffed.
The Zhongnan Sect, like Mount Hua, was one of the Nine Great Sects—no way they’d be shaken by one boy.
“But was that a coincidence?”
“What?”
“He dodged our grab.”
“Must’ve been luck. He looked like he only just started martial arts. Even a genius can’t manage that.”
Song Il-gang said it firmly.
Even if they weren’t top-ten experts in the world, they were close.
Dodging their move would be hard for most masters.
“So just luck, huh?”
“If he did it intentionally, he’s the future number one under heaven.”
“Sigh… what a waste. He could’ve been a giant.”
“It wasn’t meant to be.”
The two men shook their heads and walked away.
