Chapter 144: Dragons and Phoenixes Tournament (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 144: Dragons and Phoenixes Tournament (3)
The moment Alliance Leader Jang Cheon stepped into the lively banquet hall, a sudden silence descended.
It was a mark of respect, yes, but it was also a direct reaction to the shift in the very air itself. The Alliance Leader was intentionally releasing his Qi to command the atmosphere.
His footsteps echoed, each one crisp and resonant, impossibly clear in the hushed room.
The benevolent middle-aged man I had seen earlier was gone, replaced by the formidable head of his clan. Here stood a master of the Orthodox Faction in his prime, a man around forty years old.
The Harmonic Sword, Jang Cheon.
He was here to speak.
“I thank you all for making the journey to be here.” His voice, amplified by his Qi, resonated through the entire building. The sheer clarity of its echo was a testament to the profound depth of his internal energy. “My heart grows warm, seeing so many of this generation’s brightest stars gathered here in winter.”
Everyone held their breath, focusing entirely on him. It takes a truly talented individual to command such focus with mere presence and voice.
How lame.
But it didn’t affect me.
Sure, the Murim Alliance Leader’s charisma could captivate most. But for someone like me, who had experienced a future timeline, his grandeur felt somewhat… overstated.
I couldn’t deny his martial prowess. However, in my eyes, he was just a man who was decent in a fight. And that was without even considering his innate talent.
…Anyway.
I’m going to die of boredom.
His speech essentially boiled down to:
-Thank you for coming.
-It’s good to see everyone’s progress.
-Get ready for the tournament tomorrow.
What I found peculiar was that he made no mention of Jang Seonyeon. I’d expected at least a passing reference.
Is he doing it on purpose, to avoid drawing attention?
Everyone already knew the Alliance Leader’s son was participating. Was he trying to temper expectations? Or was he striving to treat his son as just another peer? I didn’t know his reasons, and frankly, even if I did, it wouldn’t change anything.
With the Alliance Leader’s arrival, more glances drifted toward Jang Seonyeon. I got a few looks, too, thanks to the cluster of young women around me. But since this was the Dragons and Phoenixes tournament, a gathering of martial artists, their attention inevitably settled on Jang Seonyeon, the rising star.
Furthermore, this year’s tournament was missing three of the famed Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes.
The Gu Clan’s Sword Phoenix.
Mount Hua’s Sword Dragon.
Wudang’s Sleeping Dragon.
All three were absent.
How unfortunate.
The Sleeping Dragon’s absence made sense, though. Given his personality, such events were unlikely to interest him. Gu Huibi was probably busy with clan affairs. But Yung Pung’s absence was unexpected. I’d thought he would surely come, especially since he’d entrusted me with an item.
Is something happening at Mount Hua?
Sure, Shaanxi and Hanam were quite far apart, but I still felt a twinge of disappointment. Had I actually grown closer to him in such a short time? I needed to remember my place.
To quell these unwarranted hopes, I took a sip of my now-cold tea.
I’m disappointed not to see the Sleeping Dragon.
He was the one person I’d genuinely hoped to meet here. There was a slim chance he might show, but as expected, that lazy bastard didn’t bother. And he was one of the few I could actually consider a friend.
-Even if you’re angry, hold it in at least three times.
-Hey, you crazy fucker!
-I told you not to take the lead. Didn’t I tell you you’d die?
-Hey, I’m cold, go make the fire since you look like kindling woo-… Why are you clenching your fist…? Hey, stop there. Stop right there!
I recalled his incessantly loud voice. Being next to him used to give me a headache, but now, I often found myself missing those moments. Now was one of those times.
“…I, Jang Cheon, hope that the future of all you stars will shine brightly.”
While I was lost in thought, the speech concluded. Judging by the applause, it had been well-received. I only then realized Wi Seol-Ah’s hand was still resting on my shoulder. I tried to turn to look at her, but found it strangely difficult. I wondered what expression she was wearing. Bored? Amused?
The Alliance Leader departed swiftly, suggesting he’d come solely for the speech. It would have been nice if he’d at least glanced at his son.
“He really seems like a good person,” Tang Soyeol said, her eyes sparkling as if touched by the speech. This was despite the fact she had been chewing on something the entire time. It looked like some kind of grass.
Noticing my gaze, she blushed and averted her eyes. “…Um, I was just feeling a little hungry.”
“…”
She looked like a bunny while she chewed, but I didn’t ask what it was. Just by looking, I knew it wasn’t something a normal human would consume. At least I wasn’t the only one bored by the speech.
I pinched the hand of the person seated next to me.
“Oomph…”
I woke up Namgung Bi-ah, who had managed to doze off with a perfectly straight face. Even I hadn’t fallen asleep. How could this girl sleep through the Alliance Leader’s speech, especially from the front row? Jang Cheon had most likely noticed. I could only hope he didn’t think less of her for it.
With the Alliance Leader gone, the hall quickly grew rowdy again. The main event of the gathering had begun—mingling. People started conversations with those farther away, or quietly enjoyed their meals. I began to spot more familiar faces.
Notably, however, no one had ventured to the front row yet. I had to give credit to the world for its strict adherence to social hierarchy.
“Young Master!”
“Hmm?”
Wi Seol-Ah hopped over to me excitedly. Out of habit, I reached out and ruffled her hair. As she leaned into the touch, she said, “There are so many people here.”
“Yeah, well, it is the meetup.”
The clamor was a bit overwhelming, but manageable. I got up and moved to a window in the corner of the hall. I discreetly adjusted the protective cover I’d put on Wi Seol-Ah—a precaution I’d prepared for all my servants, just in case of an emergency. Despite my efforts to make it look normal, it still drew some strange looks.
But oh well.
It wasn’t the first or second time I’d been treated like an eccentric. I could handle it. But if I had to point out something strange…
“I heard this is your first time in the tournament, is that right, Young Master Jang?”
“Yes, indeed. That’s why I’m so excited.”
“Oh, then this gathering is also your first?”
“Embarrassingly, yes…”
“Ahhh… Well, our clan is having a small get-together. Would you like to…”
Thanks to Jang Seonyeon’s smile and the unique aura around him, a crowd had gathered. It made sense; he was the Alliance Leader’s son and a new face.
…But what about me?
…?
It was comfortable, having no one approach me. But was there seriously not a single person who wanted to talk to me? Being the son of the Tiger Warrior and the younger brother of the Sword Phoenix might be less impressive than being the Alliance Leader’s son, but still… shouldn’t someone be at least a little curious?
As I pondered this, Tang Soyeol, having extricated herself from the crowd of young prodigies surrounding her, came over. She looked exhausted, as if she’d already dealt with her share of people.
“…Young Master Gu. Is something wrong?”
“You look like you’re the one with the problem.”
“I’m fine…! This is nothing.” She flexed her bicep to show her energy, but all I saw was a slender, pale arm. I let it slide.
“It’s just… I find it strange that no one is coming to talk to me.”
“Oh…”
Tang Soyeol’s eyes shifted, as if she knew the reason. I didn’t let it go.
“What is it?”
“Um… It might be because… the Sword Phoenix last time…”
Slam-!
Before she could finish, a resounding slam echoed from the center of the hall. A gust of wind carrying a sharp, aggressive Qi washed past me.
“You piece of… What the hell are you saying!”
It was a voice I’d heard before.
“Tsk.”
A disapproving click of the tongue came from right beside me. It was from Tang Soyeol.
“How dare a lower-class nobody like you bare your fangs at me, a scion of the Hwangbo family!”
The one roaring was none other than Hwangbo Cheolwi. He’d acted the same way back on the Bacheonmaru, and now he was at it again here. I initially thought he looked pathetic, but when I saw who he was shouting at, my words died in my throat.
“Fuck.”
I’d hoped it wouldn’t come to this…
Hwangbo Cheolwi’s opponent was, just like last time, Gu Jeolyub.
Why did that guy keep doing this?
“I’ve heard ‘Hwangbo’ means ‘Tiger of the World,’ but your behavior seems more like a housecat’s than a beast’s,” Gu Jeolyub retorted, his hand resting on his sword. He was slowly circulating his Qi, but its jagged, spiky flow betrayed his frayed emotions.
Hwangbo Cheolwi responded with a mocking smile. “You dare mock me? You, from the Gu clan, whose name means ‘fire,’ when in reality, that fire is smaller than a torch flame?”
Haha, this piece of shit.
His jab at my clan being a mere torch flame annoyed me slightly. But I had no intention of stepping in. I’d been looked down on plenty of times before. I wasn’t about to start caring now.
So, I planned to stay put.
Slide-
That was, until I noticed a subtle movement from Jang Seonyeon.