Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: The Namgoong Lady's Anticipation
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Every March.
The official roads leading to Jungkyung from Yicheon Academy were especially bustling.
Not just the Beggars' Sect, but all the major and minor intelligence sects of the martial world, including the Haomun, and even the imperial palace's gaze, converged here.
All to observe the "changes" in the new students enrolling this year and those returning after a few months.
Not everyone, but among the students who left the academy after completing a year of classes, a few always showed growth incomparable to before they departed.
This year in particular promised many such cases, drawing extra attention.
The Taiji Sword Lord of the Ten Heroes had taken Sword Peak Woo Hayeon, the winner of Yicheon Festival's martial tournament, as his direct disciple, along with Sword Dragon Tae Heemyung and Jeomchang Sect's Sharpest Sword Yeongjin, and set off to subdue demonic beasts.
How much those young prodigies had grown under the Taiji Sword Lord's guidance over two months was a point of great interest.
And they weren't the only ones.
The Eccentric Hero of the Ten Heroes had taken Mok Geol Bang Jun as his direct disciple.
Though he suffered a humiliating defeat to Four Beauties' Dang Seona in the tournament finals, Bang Jun was the first Beggars' Sect student ever admitted to Yicheon Academy, earning recognition for his talent.
Then there was Heaven Killer of the Ten Heroes, who made the unusual move of taking Poison Needle Dang Heeran from the Tang Clan—a member of an unorthodox sect—as his direct disciple.
And.
'Dormant Dragon Wi Seongcheon.'
'He went to the Zhuge Clan in Guangxi with Golden Name Escort Agency's Yeom Hwa.'
'He made contact with North Sea Ice Palace's Seol Hwa.'
'After hosting a lavish banquet with Lightning Lord and Seol Hwa, he stayed at the North Sea Ice Palace for a full fortnight, right?'
Oblivious to the attention on him, Wi Seongcheon rummaged through his pockets.
He'd encountered no major issues on the journey from Guangxi to Jungkyung.
He hadn't mingled with others, just traveled alone, lost in his thoughts.
Sleep and meals came from camping and hunting, baths from river streams.
But now that he'd entered the city, that was no longer feasible.
'I'm short.'
Wi Seongcheon's face twisted.
Before heading back to Yicheon Academy, he'd planned to stop at an inn for a solid day of rest.
From what he'd heard, the other students he knew had already returned to the academy.
No real need to wait, then.
'Just wanted to clean up first.'
He'd bathed in streams a few times, but scrubbing off the grime was impossible.
A sniff confirmed the fishy stench from his North Sea Ice Palace soak still lingered.
Thinking back, it all traced to Ha Ji-eun.
He'd emptied his scant funds on her, forcing him to camp the long distance to Jungkyung.
At the time, handing over the money hadn't hurt, thanks to the fortuitous encounter at sea—but that encounter hadn't really come from her.
'No use crying over it now.'
Grumbling wouldn't conjure cash.
Wi Seongcheon gave up on his pockets.
'You smell like a mangy stray dog.'
If Woo Hayeon hadn't said that, he might not have cared about bathing.
Or was it excitement at seeing friends after months?
"So."
Wi Seongcheon turned to look behind him.
"What did you want to say that brought you here?"
The blatant stares directed at him.
They hadn't bothered him enough to acknowledge before, but now that they'd approached so openly, ignoring them wasn't an option.
"Dormant Dragon of Heavenly Flower Sect."
The face wasn't entirely unfamiliar, yet not familiar enough to recall the name instantly.
But even without the face, he knew who it was.
'Namgoong Clan.'
The crane emblem on the left breast of the pristine white robe.
The Namgoong Clan, sword house and one of the Three Great Families.
Wi Seongcheon stepped back, cupping his fists in salute.
"I'm grateful you've recognized me, but my knowledge is limited—I don't know who you are, sir."
"......Captain of the Heavenly Righteous Sword Brigade, Gale Wind Slash Namgoong Il."
Namgoong Il's expression soured slightly at not being recognized.
The Heavenly Righteous Sword Brigade consisted of the Namgoong Clan's elite swordsmen.
As its captain, Namgoong Il had personally attended last year's Yicheon Festival.
But Wi Seongcheon didn't remember him.
There had been countless noble spectators at the festival—why would he recall Namgoong Il, neither clan head nor heir?
"Ah, I see. Gale Wind Slash Namgoong Il."
He didn't pretend otherwise or ignore him.
Wi Seongcheon kept his salute and bowed his head slightly.
"What business does a senior like you have with this junior?"
"......If you have no other engagements, would you come with me?"
Namgoong Il glanced around as he spoke.
Even for a prestigious house like the Namgoong Clan, harassing a young junior in the middle of the main street was impossible.
Moreover, the target wasn't just any young junior.
Dormant Dragon Wi Seongcheon.
A rising star drawing the martial world's eyes.
Namgoong Il had witnessed his skills firsthand at the festival tournament.
Even as a junior, his talent and martial prowess demanded proper respect.
Even if he didn't remember a senior's title and name.
'Back in my youth, I had to memorize the list of martial seniors' titles and names by rote.'
Who knew he'd feel such generational disconnect.
Namgoong Il cleared his throat briefly and continued.
"......The young lady insisted on meeting you."
"Ah."
Wi Seongcheon recalled Jeong Mi-ju's words from last year at Namgoong Il's reluctant explanation.
The Namgoong Clan's cherished daughter.
Heavenly Wind Lang Lang Namgoong Jiu.
She was enrolling as a new student at Yicheon Academy this year.
'She didn't say it outright, but she's probably got her eye on you. Unlike the other Dragon-Phoenixes, you're prime son-in-law material.'
Jeong Mi-ju had said it half-jokingly—could it be true?
Wi Seongcheon eyed Namgoong Il with unease.
The Heavenly Righteous Sword Brigade captain had come personally to fetch him. And more eyes were watching.
His mind raced.
Refusing with a simple 'no thanks' would be easy.
But it might earn the face-conscious Namgoong Clan's enmity.
Plus, refusing here wouldn't help—he'd still run into new student Namgoong Jiu at the academy.
So.
"I'm fine meeting Lady Namgoong, but look at me right now. Could I bathe first before we meet?"
"I was going to suggest that anyway. We've prepared fresh clothes too."
Namgoong Il twitched his nose in response.
He hadn't mentioned it for fear of offense, but Wi Seongcheon's stench rivaled a Beggars' Sect beggar's.
Huayang Tower.
The Heavenly Righteous Sword Brigade had reserved an entire annex there four days prior.
They'd come all the way from Anhui, the Namgoong Clan's home base, to Jungkyung for one reason.
To escort their clan's pampered jewel, Blue Wind Lang Lang Namgoong Jiu.
It was overkill for guarding one young lady, but Namgoong Il and the brigade's elites thought nothing of it.
The clan's love for Namgoong Jiu wasn't limited to the clan head.
* * *
"So, what was he like?"
Namgoong Jiu's large eyes sparkled as she asked.
She could've entered Yicheon Academy four days ago but insisted on waiting upon hearing Dormant Dragon hadn't reached Jungkyung yet.
"Pardon?"
"Dormant Dragon, I mean."
Her expectant gaze made answering tricky.
Namgoong Il averted his eyes, pondering his words.
No way could he say the guy reeked of grime and fish.
"......Handsome and upstanding. Far more frugal than the rumors of his extravagance at Golden Name's Goldthread Lake in Guangxi."
"And?"
"His energy......was perfectly restrained. Even without hostility from me, he didn't flinch when I closed the distance—responded with bold composure. And he'd grown far beyond what I saw at the tournament."
That was sincere. It had shocked him anew.
Wi Seongcheon's skills at the tournament had been impressive.
Not just among late-stage learners—he was undeniably an expert.
Yet in mere months, he'd advanced beyond comparison.
Namgoong Il reconsidered Wi Seongcheon's lack of surprise at his approach.
It wasn't mere boldness.
He hadn't needed to be on guard.
Insulting?
The sudden thought drew a hollow chuckle from Namgoong Il.
If it were bravado, yes.
But......it wasn't.
From afar.
Up close.
Namgoong Il had found no openings in Wi Seongcheon.
Even his casual stride held no flaws.
He hadn't been like that at the tournament.
What on earth had happened in those months?
'Oh no.'
Namgoong Il startled, lifting his head.
Namgoong Jiu beamed, propping her chin on hands formed like lotus buds.
She was vividly imagining Dormant Dragon from his report.
Namgoong Il sighed inwardly at the sight.
Heavenly Wind Lang Lang Namgoong Jiu.
Born the Namgoong Clan's golden child, she'd grown up adored by all.
No direct daughters in generations, and born far after the young master, she'd monopolized the family's excessive protection and love.
But they couldn't shelter her forever.
The Namgoong Clan was a famed house among the Three Great Families.
Thus, Namgoong Jiu had wielded a sword since childhood.
Fortunately gifted with direct-line talent, she took to martial arts without struggle.
However.
She'd never left Anhui, the Namgoong Clan seat.
When Yicheon Academy's admission letter arrived, her father, Clan Head Namgoong Myeongwon, had agonized deeply.
In the end, steeling himself, he approved her enrollment—then he and the young master saw her off with heavy hearts, staying behind.
They feared accompanying her all the way might weaken their resolve and prompt taking her back.
"......Milady, Dormant Dragon isn't that remarkable."
Namgoong Il hurriedly added.
Pampered and sheltered, Namgoong Jiu took keen interest in martial world rumors.
Lately, none excited her more than those about Dormant Dragon Wi Seongcheon.
From lowly Heavenly Flower Sect, admitted on Enlightened Buddha's recommendation.
Then shaking the world with bold moves.
Now, 'Heavenly Flower Sect' evoked no bat associations.
It had produced that Dormant Dragon.
'What kind of man is he?'
Namgoong Jiu's heart raced as she straightened her attire.
Contrary to Wi Seongcheon and Jeong Mi-ju's thoughts, the Namgoong Clan had no designs on him as a son-in-law for her.
They hadn't considered marriage for their pampered jewel at all.
The issue was Namgoong Jiu's own fascination with him.
Since her enrollment decision and hearing of him at the tournament, she'd fantasized endlessly.
Dormant Dragon, who felled Dragon-Phoenix Kwon Gol Hwangbo Seong-u and Little Buddha Jin U—overwhelming Bi Yeon Sang I-rin in year-end evaluations too.
Such audacious feats captivated an innocent famed-house lady.
She wanted to meet him.
Father and brother warned against getting close to other men at the academy, but she'd let such lectures go in one ear and out the other.
"This way?"
And.
A voice called.
He'd scrubbed off every bit of grime.
Not just water—they'd lathered scented foam, scoured him, then dabbed on some musky perfume after.
Overkill, he'd thought, but Huayang Tower maids eradicated the stench thoroughly.
Then dressed him in fine robes.
Not as luxurious as Zhuge Clan garb, but unfamiliar and awkward to him.
Even combed his unkempt hair.
'Need a trim.'
His unevenly grown locks were slicked back.
Wi Seongcheon resolved to hack off the nape with his dagger before academy return.
Dressed in this unfamiliar guise.
Guided by Huayang Tower maids, Wi Seongcheon headed to the pavilion in the rear garden where Namgoong Jiu waited.
En route, Heavenly Righteous Sword Brigade experts glared daggers at him.
'They summoned me—why the glares?'
Wi Seongcheon glanced at the pavilion.
Namgoong Jiu stared at him, her large eyes shining.