Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: A Junior's Admiration
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To put it bluntly, Wi Seong-cheon wasn't exceptionally handsome.
That said, he wasn't ugly either. Just a decent enough face.
As Haomen's Gwangseo branch leader Cheong-u had noted, "A face befitting his age, with looks that aren't bad at all."
That was judging by his face alone.
Wi Seong-cheon was fairly tall, and from a young age, he'd trained his body, giving him broad shoulders.
The Heavenly Flower Sect's martial arts didn't pursue brute strength, so Wi Seong-cheon's build wasn't bulky with muscle.
Smooth and flexible. Hence, resilient.
That well-honed physique looked sharp even under his clothes.
It was an advantage Wi Seong-cheon had never even considered.
On top of that, after shedding his mortal frame, his skin had become flawless and transparent, smooth without a hint of roughness.
"Pleased to meet you, Lady Namgoong."
Tilting his head at Namgoong Jiu's entranced gaze, Wi Seong-cheon first offered a cupped-fist salute and greeting.
Namgoong Jiu, who had been staring blankly, jumped in surprise and scraped her chair back as she stood.
"Y-Yes. Young Hero Wi. I'm Namgoong Jiu..."
Namgoong Jiu, standing awkwardly, returned the cupped-fist salute.
* * *
"Ahaha!"
Wi Seong-cheon had always thought Woo Ha-yeon was the person he'd met who laughed the most.
But starting today, Woo Ha-yeon would drop to second place.
For whatever reason, Namgoong Jiu clutched her stomach and laughed at every single thing Wi Seong-cheon said.
"You really thought I requested this meeting over marriage matters?"
Wiping away the tears that had welled up from laughing so hard, Namgoong Jiu asked.
Wi Seong-cheon, who had been sitting across from her picking at his food, swallowed his bite and nodded.
"Sister Jeong Mi-ju told me as much."
"Ahaha! It's a pretty believable story. Several clans are indeed eyeing my brother."
He had thought to draw a line from the start and bluntly declared he had no intention of becoming a live-in son-in-law, but now it felt like he'd spoken out of turn, making his face itch.
"It's the same for our clan—we're watching your brother too—but, um, Father probably hasn't given any thought to my marriage yet. If he were to bring your brother into the Namgoong Clan as a live-in son-in-law, he'd choose one of the collateral branch daughters, not me."
Wi Seong-cheon didn't like the word "choose."
It sounded like treating marriage between man and woman as a transaction.
In reality, it was.
Prestigious clans had endured that way.
Marriage was a simple, reliable link binding different clans or groups.
"I'm glad you didn't request this meeting with that in mind. Honestly, I was worried about how you'd react after I refused."
"We're both too young to be discussing marriage already. And a political marriage when we know nothing about each other? I hate that. No romance in it."
Namgoong Jiu said with a beaming smile.
Romance.
Wi Seong-cheon chuckled softly.
"What do you consider romance, Lady Namgoong?"
"Heart-pounding moments. When it comes to man and woman, regardless of clan or background, getting to know each other, understanding one another, and naturally feeling that thrill..."
Namgoong Jiu chattered excitedly.
It was the stuff of romance novels sold at bookstores.
To Wi Seong-cheon, who had glimpsed the reality of political marriages in Gwangseo's Jeon clan, it lacked realism.
'Glad I wasn't born into a prestigious clan.'
A trivial thought, but that's what crossed his mind.
Namgoong Jiu paused her dreamy talk of romance, her eyes sparkling.
"So when I got permission to enroll in the Heavenly Academy, I was thrilled. I've hardly ever left Anhui Province."
"Anhui's a big city, though."
"True. As the capital, it's always bustling with people."
It was also the Namgoong Clan's sphere of influence.
"But brother, are you going to keep speaking formally to me?"
"I haven't enrolled in the Heavenly Academy yet. After the entrance ceremony, I'll call you junior."
"Can't you call me little sister?"
Namgoong Jiu asked with a bright smile.
Feeling the Radiant Heaven Sword Corps' gazes sharpen on him, Wi Seong-cheon shook his head.
"Such a title would be too embarrassing."
"Because we don't know each other well yet?"
"That might be part of it. If we grow closer, I might be able to call you that comfortably. I've never had a younger sister, you see."
Wi Seong-cheon shrugged as he replied.
"So you've been waiting for me here for four whole days?"
"Yes!"
"We'd have met anyway once you enrolled in the Heavenly Academy."
"True, but if possible, I wanted to meet you first, brother."
Namgoong Jiu's large eyes sparkled like they held the stars.
Wi Seong-cheon felt a bit burdened by that gaze and rubbed his chin.
"I'm not that impressive a person."
"That's too modest."
"Aren't you disappointed now that you've seen me?"
"Not at all!"
Namgoong Jiu shook her head vigorously.
She too could sense that Wi Seong-cheon's skills were astonishingly high.
The Latent Dragon who startled the Venom Blood Ghost Demon and felled three Young Phoenixes.
Impressive on its own, but seeing him in person... there was an inexplicable mystique.
'Perhaps... even more than brother...'
She dismissed the thought as impossible, yet Namgoong Jiu felt that way.
Her clan's young master, Sky-Cleaving Single Sword Namgoong Ji-seok.
Her brother, called Sword Dragon in the previous generation, yet compared to the Latent Dragon before her... he somehow seemed smaller.
"...You're even better than the rumors."
Namgoong Jiu murmured with a smile.
"Will you head straight to the Heavenly Academy, brother?"
"Yes."
He'd bathed, changed clothes, and eaten.
Staying here overnight and returning to the academy wouldn't be an issue, but honestly, he didn't want to.
The Radiant Heaven Sword Corps' glares every time Namgoong Jiu smiled were annoying.
"Then come with me."
Deep down, she wanted to stay longer in this annex with Wi Seong-cheon.
The scenery was nothing compared to the Namgoong Clan's gardens, but walking together and chatting would be fun.
But Namgoong Jiu didn't push it recklessly.
She could tell Wi Seong-cheon felt considerable burden from this sudden meeting.
'I don't want to come off as hated.'
She didn't want to leave that impression from their first encounter.
Namgoong Jiu beamed as she rose from her seat.
The Radiant Heaven Sword Corps tried to escort her, but she firmly refused.
The Heavenly Academy was a short walk from Huayang Pavilion—no need for a carriage.
"Miss, but..."
"If we go to the academy gates with an escort, the other students will mock the Namgoong Clan."
We've come this far—what now?
Wi Seong-cheon and Namgoong Il thought that, but Namgoong Jiu wouldn't budge.
In the end, Namgoong Il and the Radiant Heaven Sword Corps had no choice but to part from her in front of Huayang Pavilion.
"They sure dote on you."
"It's grateful, but sometimes it's too much."
"Better to be adored than hated, no?"
What to do with this girl.
Walking the main road together, Wi Seong-cheon pondered for a moment.
Namgoong Jiu's eyes still sparkled brightly.
Wi Seong-cheon knew she harbored considerable fondness for him.
And that fondness was the admiration of a naive girl, raised like a flower under protection and love, ignorant of the world.
Such admiration was utterly foreign to Wi Seong-cheon.
Until now, he'd been the target of contempt or jealousy, never admiration.
'She's got hearts in her eyes for me.'
Never having experienced this, it was bound to feel burdensome.
Especially since she was the Namgoong Clan's pampered jewel.
'Straight-up draw the line and push her away?'
Was that necessary?
Namgoong Jiu had done nothing wrong to him.
She'd simply developed admiration and fondness for Wi Seong-cheon, who was 'different' from her.
In the end, Wi Seong-cheon decided.
To do nothing.
He had no intention of playing the ideal object of her dreams as she wished, nor did he want to firmly push her away.
The burden he felt was ultimately just awkward and embarrassing.
'I see.'
Having earned the Latent Dragon title and advanced to second year, this was bound to happen.
Perhaps not just Namgoong Jiu—there might be other freshmen who admired him too.
The thought sent chills down his spine.
"Next time, I suppose you'll be my senior."
She and the other freshmen would use the Azure Dragon Hall, formerly the fourth-years' dormitory.
Two days later, entrance evaluations would begin, sorting them into classes by performance.
"Since we'll be in different years, we might not see each other often..."
Not necessarily.
Soon after the semester starts, seven students from each year are sent to the Black Forest.
With Namgoong Jiu's skills, upper class was guaranteed, so high chance she'd go to the Black Forest too.
"...Next time we meet, I'll call you junior."
"Okay."
Namgoong Jiu nodded with a radiant smile.
Wi Seong-cheon escorted her to Azure Dragon Hall before heading to White Tiger Hall.
But before reaching White Tiger Hall.
"What an impressive junior."
A voice full of teasing playfulness halted Wi Seong-cheon's steps.
Wi Seong-cheon turned, chuckling despite himself.
Vermilion Bird Hall, used by the third-years—no, fourth-years starting this year.
Woo Ha-yeon was perched atop its wall.
"What do you mean, barging in with words like that?"
"That girl just now. Heavenly Wind Lang Lang Namgoong Jiu. You think I wouldn't know?"
"True, but so what?"
"Oh come on~ It's not 'so what.' Sneaking off with a freshman like that—impressive."
"Don't talk nonsense, senior. If weird rumors spread, it'll be your fault."
"What did I do?"
"We just ran into each other on the way and came together."
"For that, Lady Namgoong's eyes on you were sparkling way too much."
"You've gotten plenty of those looks from juniors too, senior."
"True. Even this junior here looks at me that way."
Woo Ha-yeon giggled as she hopped down from the wall.
Woo Ha-yeon approached with light steps.
Then, at a certain distance, she stopped and scanned Wi Seong-cheon from head to toe.
"...Hmm, whoa..."
She let out an exaggerated sigh of admiration in a mismatched tone.
"Junior. What on earth happened in Gwangseo?"
"I saw the sea."
"That's it?"
"I came to know the sea."
At his calm reply, Woo Ha-yeon burst into laughter.
"I see. Your state of mind has changed. You've gained an incredible boon, junior."
"You seem the same, Senior Woo Ha-yeon."
Just as Wi Seong-cheon had changed beyond compare to a few months ago, so had Woo Ha-yeon.
Deep in his heart, Wi Seong-cheon felt a ticklish impulse.
Right now, he could probably break through Woo Ha-yeon's Plum Blossom Tempest.
No—more than that.
Perhaps... at the Heavenly Tournament, the full power of Woo Ha-yeon that he couldn't handle or draw out—he might match it now.
"Next time."
Woo Ha-yeon smiled slyly.
She felt a similar impulse.
The battle-hungry desire she'd lost was reawakened through her promise with Wi Seong-cheon, and winning the tournament let her savor the joy of martial arts after so long.
That 'change' propelled her sword further.
If Wi Seong-cheon had left the Heavenly Academy, seen the sea in Gwangseo, and come to know it.
Woo Ha-yeon had roamed the front lines with the Supreme Ultimate Sword Lord, awakening to combat.
It didn't alter the essence of her sword, but it freed it.
"Then we can have even more fun, junior."
Now, Woo Ha-yeon no longer hesitated to swing her sword.
Have fun...
Wi Seong-cheon smirked and nodded.
"If losing is fun for you."
"Winning's more fun."
Woo Ha-yeon giggled.
Resuming her halted steps, Woo Ha-yeon approached Wi Seong-cheon.
She reached out and ruffled his hair.
"Feels like you've shot up in just a few months."
"I've always been taller than you, senior."
"Don't say silly things, junior. It's not about height."
Mid-ruffle, Woo Ha-yeon sniffed.
"...Junior. What did you put on yourself?"
"Don't know."
"Finally noticing from shock at your growth. And what's with the clothes? Hair tied up weirdly. Doesn't suit you at all."
Wi Seong-cheon's eyebrow twitched at that.
"...Doesn't it suit me?"
"Not one bit."
Woo Ha-yeon shook her head seriously.
"I liked your detached look, not caring a whit about appearances."
Is this a compliment?
Wi Seong-cheon felt awkward as he undid his topknot.
As if waiting, Woo Ha-yeon grabbed his head with both hands and messed it up wildly.
"Yeah, like this! That messy hair like you haven't washed it in days!"
"......"
No matter how he thought about it, it didn't sound like a compliment.