Chapter 143: Dragons and Phoenixes Tournament (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 143: Dragons and Phoenixes Tournament (2)
Squeeze.
My grip tightened incrementally.
Jang Seonyeon was doing the same. He maintained his smile, but a faint undercurrent of jealousy ran beneath it.
…!
The strength in his hand took me by surprise. Had he already broken through his limits at this point?
I considered increasing my own pressure in response, but Jang Seonyeon loosened his grip first.
"Your way of greeting is rougher than I expected," he said, shaking his hand in the air.
"My apologies. I'm not very skilled at controlling my strength."
I mirrored his smile. From beside me, Tang Soyeol whispered a frantic, 'Oh no…!' which I did my best to ignore.
"Think nothing of it. It happens." Jang Seonyeon's eyes glinted. "The Gu Clan, huh? I'm honored to meet a blood relative of such a prestigious lineage."
Sure you are. Even with three of the Four Noble Clans present, his words subtly positioned the Gu Clan above them all. It was a compliment, but coming from him, it felt impossible to take positively. I had no idea what he was truly hiding behind that smile.
"I'd love to talk more, but unfortunately, I'm short on time."
I offered no reply, especially not a 'Let's meet again.' After that brief exchange, I turned and went to my seat.
There was nothing I could do to him there. I also left because I couldn't bear to look into Jang Seonyeon's eyes any longer. The urge to lash out was becoming dangerously potent. I wanted to twist his neck right then and there.
I sat down and took a sip of the tea that had been set before me. It did little to quell the anger boiling inside me. The buzz of conversation filling the banquet hall, the mixed Qi saturating the air from so many martial artists gathered in one place… none of it registered.
I feel sick.
The fact that I couldn't lay a finger on him, even with him standing right before me, grated on my nerves.
"Young Master Gu…?" Tang Soyeol, seated next to me, spoke up, her voice laced with concern after reading my expression.
I forced a smile. "I'm fine. I just don't feel too well right now."
"No, usually when you make that… handsome face, it means there's a problem…"
"…?"
Nearby, Moyong Hi-ah started coughing, apparently choked by Tang Soyeol's utterly serious tone. Handsome face? Never mind. I was beginning to realize Tang Soyeol had rather peculiar tastes, especially after witnessing her enthusiastic greeting of Namgung Cheonjun. No, it was actually borderline crazy.
As Namgung Bi-ah silently refilled my emptied teacup, I glanced over at Wi Seol-Ah. She seemed tired, just as before. Was it from having to stand throughout the event? Even so, I can't let her sit down in a setting like this. I hoped she could endure just a little longer. Wi Seol-Ah didn't seem to mind too much, offering me a small wave whenever our eyes met.
Still, I found myself repeatedly checking on her. Mostly because something might have happened with Jang Seonyeon before I arrived. But why am I even worried? So much had already changed, and I was the only one who knew. Why worry when Wi Seol-Ah herself was still blissfully unaware?
Despite this logical reasoning, a nagging concern for her persisted. Even if she was clueless…
"The son of the Alliance Leader…"
"This is the first time an Alliance Leader's child has participated in the Dragons and Phoenixes Tournament."
"Indeed, he's a complete unknown."
"What do you think? From the outside, he looks a bit like a wimp."
"You still judge people by their appearance? You should know better than to judge a book by its cover. Just look at the Poison Phoenix, tsk tsk…"
"It's the Alliance Leader's son, after all. I think we can have high hopes."
"A new dragon might be born into the world."
"Oh, did you hear? This time, the Gu Clan…"
The chatter around me inevitably circled back to Jang Seonyeon, highlighting the significance of his background. He was the previously unknown son of the Alliance Leader and a blood relative of the Taeryung Clan. In other words, he was the future leader of his clan, second only to the Harmonic Sword.
Amidst the noise, I kept subtly wiping my hand on my clothes, trying to rid myself of the disgusting sensation that lingered from the handshake. That filthy feeling clung to my skin stubbornly.
What should I do?
It wasn't that I never expected to meet him. But I certainly hadn't anticipated it happening this year.
…Did this happen this year?
I knew from my past life that Jang Seonyeon appeared at the Dragons and Phoenixes Tournament to cement his status as a young prodigy. But was it supposed to be this year? From what I could recall, I thought it occurred further in the future.
If that's the case, does it mean the future has changed again?
My actions had already altered the timeline, so perhaps this was another ripple effect.
I stared at Jang Seonyeon, seated far across the hall. That bastard still wore the same face. I clenched my fist, reining in the impulse. I couldn't afford to do anything here. God dammit.
"Young Master Gu."
Tang Soyeol's voice pulled me from my inner turmoil. I turned to her, and she pointed towards the banquet entrance. I focused my gaze and saw someone entering.
It was the Lightning Dragon, Namgung Cheonjun.
I thought I'd be the last to arrive.
As all attention shifted to the Lightning Dragon's entrance, I noted that Namgung Cheonjun's expression seemed much more relaxed than the last time I'd seen him. Had something good happened?
That wasn't the only strange thing. I was sure he would do everything in his power to sit near us. However, Namgung Cheonjun only cast a single glance towards Namgung Bi-ah before choosing a different seat. Whether by coincidence or design, he moved to sit near where Jang Seonyeon was.
Stand-
I wasn't the only one who reacted to Jang Seonyeon's presence. Moyong Hi-ah, seated near us, also rose to her feet immediately, as if she had been waiting for him.
"…I think I need to move my seat. Is that permissible?" she asked, her striking sky-blue eyes fixed on me.
I was momentarily confused. Why is she asking me? But it was difficult to refuse under her direct gaze.
"Yes, go ahead."
While seats were assigned for the tournament, switching seats within the same ranking wasn't forbidden. The story would be different if someone of lower rank tried to switch with a higher rank.
Whew.
I heard a sigh—deep and cold, unmistakably belonging to Moyong Hi-ah. I could never read her. Why was she reacting this way? She seemed almost hesitant towards him. But what reason would Moyong Hi-ah have to hesitate about Jang Seonyeon? I could think of several possibilities, but considering how stubbornly she had clung to him in my past life, her current behavior seemed peculiar.
But I shouldn't care about that right now.
I maintained a neutral expression while working to calm the storm of rage inside me. Ironically, the training methods Elder Shin had drilled into me were helping me control the threatening aura that threatened to erupt at any moment. Were emotions also a form of Qi? I couldn't completely suppress them, but I felt I could keep them in check and channel them.
Does this count as a form of enlightenment?
Of course not. It was just a capability I'd always possessed but never properly learned to harness. Elder Shin would probably be nagging at me if he were here.
He'll probably return soon.
I had to believe that. I couldn't exactly go out searching for him. Just greeting Jang Seonyeon had shaken me to my core.
What do I do…?
This feeling was similar to when I met Zhuge Hyuk, but the circumstances were fundamentally different. I would kill him. That was non-negotiable. The only question was how. Right now, I had no viable means. Taking any action under the watchful eyes of everyone here was impossible.
This feeling is always so annoying.
I understood this wasn't the right time. I knew acting recklessly would be detrimental. But the desire to kill him clouded my judgment like a thick fog. I kept calming the murderous intent that threatened to break free.
Let's not forget my main goal for coming here.
I had to remember that he wasn't the primary objective of this trip.
Touch.
I felt a hand gently rest on my shoulder, and another, colder hand grip mine. Wi Seol-Ah had sneakily come up behind me. When I looked at her, startled, she wore a bright, reassuring smile. The cold sensation on my hand came from Namgung Bi-ah, who was holding my hand tightly. She wasn't smiling like Wi Seol-Ah, but her eyes were locked on mine, filled with silent concern.
They noticed.
It was amusing how something so simple could calm me down, and I was also impressed by their perceptiveness.
"I'm fine," I said to Namgung Bi-ah.
"You don't look fine…"
"What reason would I have not to be okay?"
"Exactly… so why aren't you okay then…?"
Even as I claimed to be fine, Namgung Bi-ah showed no intention of believing me. Instead, her grip on my hand tightened. I gently warmed her cold hand with mine before calmly pulling away.
"I'm fine now. I really am."
"Young Master, is it because you're hungry?"
"…Yeah, that must be it."
I took a deep breath. Finally, my thoughts began to settle into proper order.
Let's calm down.
This wasn't my only chance; it wasn't even a real opportunity. Instead of risking everything with an impulsive act, it was far wiser to wait for the right moment or to create an opportunity myself.
Tap tap… tap… tap.
My fingers, which had been drumming restlessly on the table, slowed their rhythm. I quietly closed my eyes. With my eyes shut, I could feel the gentle pressure of Wi Seol-Ah's hand on my shoulder more clearly. It helped me realize, once again.
For her sake…
And for my own…
Those reasons were enough.
I opened my eyes and let my gaze drift back to Jang Seonyeon, seated farther away. Whether by chance or intent, that bastard met my eyes. His smile as he nodded in greeting was just as disgusting as ever.
But this time, I was able to smile back.
Even if he had committed no sins in this life…
I was not a particularly forgiving person, and I had no intention of letting him off easily.
Even if it wasn't today, I wouldn't make him wait too long.
And more than anything,
-The Alliance Leader is entering.
Even if I couldn't do anything to that bastard right now…
I had no intention of sitting idly by, either.
Everything that bastard stood to gain from this gathering…
I planned to claim it for myself.