Chapter 139: Harmonic Sword Jang Cheon (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 139: Harmonic Sword Jang Cheon (1)
A full week had passed since my arrival in Hanam.
And today, like every other day, it was snowing.
The world had been painted white, the ground blanketed by a thick layer of snow that served as proof of the relentless weather.
Crunch.
With every step I took, the snow emitted a soft, almost cute sound.
“Woah! Wow!”
Bundled tightly in furs, Wi Seol-Ah’s face was bright with excitement as she marveled at the snowfall. It was understandable; back in Shanxi, we rarely saw this much snow or rain.
“Phew…”
A sharp chill bit at my ears, a clear sign that today was particularly cold.
“Young Master! Where are we going right now?”
Wi Seol-Ah hopped toward me like an eager rabbit. When she drew near, I reached out and brushed back her black hair.
It seems like she’s grown a little.
Just like me, Wi Seol-Ah had shot up this year. Before, we were nearly the same height, but now I stood a little taller.
“The Murim Alliance,” I said, still playing with her hair.
“What kind of place is that?”
“Nothing special. Just a den of darkness pretending to be pure and bright.”
“Oh, I get it! It’s like Gomoku back home!”
Gomoku…? I tilted my head in confusion.
Hongwa, walking beside us, explained. “She’s talking about the cat that sometimes visits our residence.”
“There’s a cat at my place?”
Hongwa looked momentarily shocked by my question. Had I said something wrong? She hesitated before speaking again, her voice resolved. “…I’m sorry. We will get rid of the cat immediately when we retur-”
“What are you talking about? I was just curious, that’s all.” How could anyone just get rid of a cat?
“Achoo!”
A sneeze came from behind me. I turned to see Namgung Bi-ah wiping her nose. Despite being bundled in the fur clothing gifted by Tang Soyeol, she still seemed cold.
“You cold?”
“…A little.”
“Then circulate your qi.”
The Flame Arts I practiced kept me warm, but Namgung Bi-ah had no such advantage. Most martial artists would use their qi to ward off the chill.
“…Too lazy…”
“How can you be lazy about that?”
She couldn’t even be bothered with that? I observed her hands, red from the cold, and reached out. Namgung Bi-ah paused, seemingly puzzled, then cautiously extended her hand.
“You say you’re cold, but you don’t even wear gloves.”
“Too la-”
“Never mind.”
Trying to reason with her was a headache. I took her icy hand in mine and channeled a wave of warmth into it. She should have at least tucked her hands into her pockets or sleeves if she was this cold. It was worrying.
After a brief infusion of my qi, her hand quickly warmed. However, her face had now turned a bright red.
“Is your face cold now?” I let go of her hand and reached for her cheek, but Namgung Bi-ah flinched and backed away.
“…S…Stop.”
She tried to hide her reddening face, first with her clothing, and then by letting her long hair fall over it.
“…What are you doing?” She looked quite comical, successfully hidden but undeniably awkward.
My hand, left hanging in the air, was suddenly grabbed by Wi Seol-Ah.
“Woah! Young Master’s hand is so warm!” She rubbed her cheek against my palm, savoring the heat. I felt a twinge of disappointment every time I felt her face.
Noticing the subtle change, I spoke to her. “You’ve lost weight again, haven’t you?”
“Hmm…?”
“Do you want me to scold you? Seriously?”
“W…Why would you scold me for that?”
“Because it’s something you deserve to be scolded for!”
How was this happening? I’d specifically told Hongwa to make sure she ate more.
As if on cue, Hongwa quickly interjected. “I am feeding her well, three to four times a day.”
“What about midnight snacks?”
“She helps herself without any prompting.”
According to Hongwa, she was eating plenty. So why wasn’t she gaining weight? It was puzzling. I’d seen her healthy appetite myself.
Just how much was she eating back when I thought she had a little weight?
That was months ago. Had she been eating even more then? The thought was slightly alarming.
Lately, Wi Seol-Ah had been spending more time alone, as if hiding something. It was an age for secrets, but I couldn’t help feeling bothered by it.
As I absently fiddled with Wi Seol-Ah’s cheek, I sensed a new presence approaching.
“Hmm?”
I looked back to see Tang Soyeol wearing an embarrassed expression.
“Lady Tang?”
“Young Master Gu…”
She held out her hand.
That’s strange. I could have sworn she was wearing gloves earlier—very expensive-looking fur gloves. Now, her hands were bare.
“My hands are also col-”
Before she could finish, Namgung Bi-ah swiftly grabbed Tang Soyeol’s hands.
“…My hands are still warm.” Namgung Bi-ah rubbed them with her own, which retained some warmth from my touch. Tang Soyeol’s hands seemed to warm up, but her expression was one of clear disappointment.
[What a dog-like mess… Or should I say cat-like mess?]
Elder Shin sighed as he spoke. I immediately knew which ‘cat’ he was referring to.
“…Still as harmonious as ever, even after a few days, huh?”
It was Moyong Hi-ah, whom I hadn’t seen since our encounter with Namgung Cheonjun. She had vanished afterward, only reappearing as we left Bacheonmaru to join our journey to the Murim Alliance. Since we were all headed the same way, and Tang Soyeol seemed to want her company, I hadn’t objected.
Unlike at Bacheonmaru, she wasn’t wearing a mask, but her face was the same as ever: a cat-like visage with a strange, captivating aura. Even standing still, her sky-blue eyes seemed to emanate a seductive charm. Our eyes met, and Moyong Hi-ah responded with a smile that reached her eyes.
Huh?
It was a look that could effortlessly charm any man.
What’s wrong with her?
For me, it was more uncomfortable than anything. That expression usually signaled trouble. Moyong Hi-ah was fully aware of her beauty and its power over men, and she wasn’t shy about using it to her advantage. Knowing her true intentions only made me dislike her more, though I already held her in low regard.
Then again, I’ve gotten used to it because of the girls around me.
After being around Wi Seol-Ah and Namgung Bi-ah, other women often seemed like mere clay statues in comparison. I gave a slight nod to Moyong Hi-ah’s smile and looked away.
[Brat.]
Yeah?
[…I… For some reason, feel cold recently.]
Pardon…?
Do spirits feel cold? Elder Shin had seemed vulnerable to the cold before. Was this a real issue?
[Why do all those girls always flock to you? It’s so strange it’s giving me a chill. Is it my time to die or something?]
Ugh… I thought you had an actual problem.
I’d worried for nothing. Why was a man who’d been dead for centuries talking like this?
[Do you know my pain!? Do you know how I felt, unable to pursue romance because I was buried in clan affairs!?]
Why are you blaming me for that?
He was becoming increasingly bizarre… Should I try to find him a female ghost or something?
…But how would I even do that? Perhaps a visit to the Wudang Sect? Then again, they’d probably try to exorcise him.
[What are you talking about? Why would they exorcise me?]
No matter how you look at it, Elder Shin, your personality makes you seem more like an evil spiri-
[You, come here. If it’s the last thing I do, I’ll drag you up to heaven with me.]
Just as Elder Shin was about to yell in frustration, Muyeon approached.
“Young Master.”
“Hmm?”
“We have arrived.”
Before he even finished speaking, my eyes were already fixed on the colossal structure ahead. The wall before me dwarfed even the Gu Clan estate and the Tang Clan fortress I’d seen in Sichuan. Beyond it lay even larger buildings.
This was the heart and center of the Orthodox Faction.
The Murim Alliance.
For me, it had been years—spanning a past life and this one—since I last laid eyes on this place.
* * *
Gaining entry to the Murim Alliance wasn’t difficult. My time at Bacheonmaru and the proof I carried were more than sufficient.
I now waited in a room, preparing for the Dragons and Phoenixes tournament.
A gold room, huh? The upgrade from the silver room at Bacheonmaru raised questions, but the answer was obvious.
No need to think too deeply… It’s clearly because of the Dishonored Venerable.
The recommendation and invitation letters I’d presented had evidently preceded me. I was already seeing the benefits of having a Heavenly Venerable’s backing, though it undoubtedly came with downsides. Oh well, it was too late to change things now.
“The gathering will begin in about fifteen minutes. If you require a change of clothing—”
“It’s fine. I brought my own.”
“Understood.”
While the Dragons and Phoenixes tournament was ostensibly a stage for young prodigies to showcase their talent…
The Murim Alliance’s true goal was to foster connections. It was a platform for scions of noble bloodlines to network, introduce themselves, and forge future alliances. Without that, the great clans would have little reason to send their heirs.
[…It’s all gone wrong. It wasn’t like this in my day.]
If a young martial artist truly wanted to test their training, prowess, and conviction…
There are better places for that.
The Heavenly Dragon Academy, established by the Murim Alliance, or the separately held Heavenly Dragon Festival would be more appropriate. Heavenly Dragon this, Heavenly Dragon that… the Alliance certainly seemed fond of the name.
Heavenly Dragon, huh…
For some reason, my mind drifted to the giant serpent I’d seen in the secret vault—the demonic creature that bore an uncanny resemblance to a dragon. The memory of its golden eyes staring into me was still vivid.
Isn’t this a random thought? Even I recognized the leap. Was I nervous?
Me, nervous in a children’s playground? More likely, my body was reacting independently of my mind. Or so I told myself.
“Young Master, your clothes—”
“Oh, right. I’ll leave it to you.”
Hongwa approached and carefully helped me into my uniform. Changing was always a hassle, but necessary. The first day of the tournament was a social gathering, a chance for everyone to meet and mingle. It was important enough that even Father, who usually didn’t bother with such things, had provided these clothes.
As I changed, I said to Hongwa, “Skip the accessories, please.”
“Don’t worry, Young Master. I anticipated you’d say that, so I didn’t bring any.”
“…”
Well, that was… a little disappointing. Shouldn’t she have acted surprised? ‘Our Young Master used to love shiny things, but now he doesn’t?’ Something like that?
They get used to me way too quickly… It seemed traveling together had acclimated Hongwa, just like Wi Seol-Ah.
“Isn’t this too simplistic?”
“This is simplistic?”
The red uniform with gold accents might seem plain compared to others…
“This probably cost more than your annual salary.”
But it was far from ordinary. Hongwa’s eyes widened at my words. Despite the Gu Clan’s modest buildings and my own frugal habits since my resurrection, the clan never spared expense on clothing.
“He doesn’t cut corners when it comes to this.” I could never quite figure out what Father was thinking.
As I looked for a string to tie my hair, Wi Seol-Ah appeared as if she’d been lying in wait, holding one out.
“Young Master!”
“Hmm?”
“Can I tie it?”
“What? My hair?”
“Yes!”
Hongwa immediately moved to scold her, but I raised a hand to stop her.
“Go ahead.”
“Yayy!”
It wasn’t a difficult request. With my permission, Wi Seol-Ah quickly moved behind me and began running her fingers through my hair. Her technique was clumsy, but it wouldn’t be a problem—Hongwa could fix it later.
Was Wi Seol-Ah ever good with her hands? Not that I recalled. Even in my past life, she struggled with simple knots.
Unsurprisingly, the more Wi Seol-Ah fiddled, the more despair filled Hongwa’s expression.
“…S-Seol-Ah.”
“Hmm?”
“Let Big Sister… take over.”
“Why?”
I was curious, too. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, Young Master, there’s no problem…”
How could I believe that with such obvious despair on her face?
“There’s nothing wrong with the Young Master’s hair.”
“If you’re lying, you have to wear your hair the same way.”
“…There is a tiny bit of a problem.”
In the end, Wi Seol-Ah retreated, disappointed, and Hongwa began fixing my hair.
Knock knock.
A presence outside the door interrupted us.
—Young Master Gu, are you in here?
“J-Just a moment!”
Hongwa’s hands became frantic at the voice. Things were clearly not going smoothly.
—We need to see him righ—Ah! Alliance Leader, wai—
Slide.
The door slid open before I could grant permission. Who would intrude when there was still time before the gathering?
“I apologize for the sudden interrup—”
The man who entered stopped mid-sentence as our eyes locked. He was a middle-aged man with a kind expression, wearing a uniform emblazoned with the word ‘Alliance.’ I knew him.
“Alliance Leader…?”
Jang Cheon, the Harmonic Sword. The man who currently held the reins of the Murim Alliance, commanding immense respect within the Orthodox Faction.
Why would such a man come to see me?
“So…”
Just as Jang Cheon began to speak, he brought a hand up to cover his mouth slightly.
Didn’t it look like he was about to laugh?
He wasn’t laughing at my hair, was he…?