Chapter 19: Things One Shouldn't Dare to Touch (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 19: Things One Shouldn't Dare to Touch (1)
…This bastard.
His annoyingly flushed face, those irritatingly trembling eyes, that vexing gaze too embarrassed to even meet hers—it all screamed that he’d fallen for her at first sight.
And honestly, it was understandable. With her hair slightly damp and her restless eyes, she was undeniably alluring. Unless you had decades of training and attained peak mental fortitude, her appearance was enough to captivate anyone. Even I had been a little stunned, so it was no surprise he was completely hooked.
“Tsk.”
Wi Seol-Ah looked at me, confused by the situation. Annoyed, I pulled her a little closer to me.
Gu Jeolyub quickly schooled his expression, but the blush on his face was beyond his control. The Second Elder beside us watched him, unable to hide an amused smile.
Trying to tease him, but look at him holding back. What a mean old man.
“Ahem! Ahem!”
Gu Jeolyub fake-coughed to break the awkward silence, not that it helped.
“I-I’ll say it again. I, Gu Jeolyub, wish to have a duel with the direct descendant of the Gu Clan.”
At least have the decency to look me in the eyes when you talk, you fucker…
I noticed his eyes constantly flicking toward Wi Seol-Ah. I waved a hand dismissively. “Duel my ass. Go back. I’m not interested.”
I knew it would be a hassle. Challenging me out of the blue was disrespectful to begin with, especially with his condescending attitude. I had every right to refuse. Clearly unhappy with my answer, Gu Jeolyub retorted, “Are you scared?”
“Yes, I’m terrified.”
“You’re still weak. You run away from even something like this…”
“Right, right. I’m incredibly weak. Obviously.”
I let his ramblings go in one ear and out the other, which made his eye twitch. His rough grunts signaled his rising anger. But what could he do? The choice was mine. Challenging me to a duel first thing in the morning gave me every reason to refuse.
As Gu Jeolyub neared his limit, the Second Elder interjected, “Jeolyub, is this duel because of the First Elder?”
The First Elder?
Gu Jeolyub paused at the question but didn’t answer. That brief hesitation told me everything I needed to know.
Clan rank sorting.
No wonder this nonsense was happening. I knew I shouldn’t have caused trouble by dueling Gu Yeonseo.
Everyone in the Gu Clan knew about the First Elder’s thirst for power. But his ambitions had been stalled because of me—a direct descendant lacking in every way, a future clan lord only by virtue of being the sole male heir, yet weak and born from a concubine.
His aspirations were put on hold, but he was determined to see them through. However, my victory over Gu Yeonseo had shaken his plans. Most called it luck, but to the First Elder, it was bad news.
Is that why he’s resorting to such childish tactics?
Annoyed, I planned to just head to the training grounds and ignore them, but the Second Elder spoke to me. “He’s come a long way. Why not just accept?”
Looking at his face, I saw ‘fun’ written all over it. He was having weird thoughts again.
“Second Elder, do you really want to see me beaten flat on the ground? Why do you do this to me?”
The Second Elder smiled, glancing between me and Gu Jeolyub. “This old man doesn’t believe our Yangcheon will go down so easily.”
This old man…
I looked at Gu Jeolyub with a grimace. One glance was enough to tell.
This one’s going to be a bit tough.
It was certain. This annoying guy was stronger than Gu Yeonseo. I couldn’t gauge his exact qi level or martial realm, but my senses warned me that even if his understanding of martial arts was inferior to Gu Yeonseo’s, that didn’t make her stronger. It was part of why I’d beaten her.
“Whatever you say, I’m not dueling you. I want no part in this rank-sorting bullshit.”
The Second Elder frowned in disappointment. A man of his stature making such a face gave me slight—no, quite significant—goosebumps.
Gu Jeolyub also looked annoyed that things weren’t going his way, an expression that oddly suited his annoyingly handsome face. Then, he suddenly addressed Wi Seol-Ah.
“You, are you a servant of the clan?”
He didn’t stutter, but his voice quivered. Wi Seol-Ah, wrapped in a blanket, tilted her head in confusion. Gu Jeolyub flinched under her gaze.
Why is this bastard dueling with himself now?
“Yes! I’m a servant,” she answered.
Gu Jeolyub straightened his posture and spoke to her while looking at me. “Young Lady, instead of serving a weakling like him, why not come to me? I can offer you a better environment and treatment.”
What kind of shitty deal is that? How do you plan to treat her better, huh? His flushed face only annoyed me further. Something felt wrong, so I moved to intervene.
“What kind of shitty—”
“I like the Young Master.”
It was the first time since my regression that I’d heard Wi Seol-Ah speak in such a serious tone. Not just me, but the Second Elder and Gu Jeolyub also widened their eyes in shock.
“I will not serve anyone but the Young Master.”
Her words struck my heart.
…Not good.
This wasn’t good. I rubbed my chest. This was definitely not good. It was a curse worse than anything the Heavenly Demon had cast on me. I thought I’d be free after death, but now this was happening.
Wi Seol-Ah was looking at me. What emotion lay in her eyes? All I knew was that I couldn’t bear to look any longer.
I turned my gaze to Gu Jeolyub. The shock had made him lose control of his expression, a sour look plastered on his face.
I heaved a deep sigh and stood up. Walking past him, I said, “Fine. I’ll accept your duel or whatever.”
I heard an excited “Ohhh!” from behind—undoubtedly the Second Elder.
Gu Jeolyub gritted his teeth and followed me. Was he happy to have someone to vent his anger on?
Why am I always dragged into these annoying situations?
Of course, it was all my own fault. Right. Exactly.
…Fuck me.
* * *
“Maybe I shouldn’t have accepted.”
That was my first thought upon entering the training grounds. Why do I always regret things only after blowing them out of proportion? I really don’t like myself sometimes.
Crack, crack—
I stretched, joints popping throughout my body. The Second Elder gave me a weird look, so I asked, “Why did you tell me to accept this duel?”
“This old man didn’t. You accepted the proposal yourself, Yangcheon.”
“You suggested it first, and it’s partly your fault for not stopping me and instead getting happy about the whole thing.”
I threw his own words back at him, mimicking what he’d said during Nine Dragons Day after he beat up Peng Woojin. The Second Elder laughed, recognizing the jab.
“Right! I suppose this old man is partly at fault.”
“So why did you offer the duel?”
[Because of the First Elder.]
He used a telepathic voice, since the topic was sensitive. My head ached slightly; it had been a while since I’d heard a voice in my mind.
“What does that mean?” I replied aloud, unable to respond telepathically.
The Second Elder looked dumbfounded. [Uh, could you at least be a little discreet when I’m talking to you telepathically?]
“Does it really matter?”
…Sigh.
He let out a brief sigh. [The First Elder’s ambition is vast. You already know this. A little ambition isn’t bad, but using his own bloodline to achieve it doesn’t bode well for the clan.]
As he said, this duel would affect the clan’s internal rankings. If I lost, Gu Jeolyub’s reputation would rise. But if he lost and I won…
The backlash would be far worse.
Gu Jeolyub probably never imagined losing to me. The First Elder sent him here believing victory was assured.
It seems a bit desperate.
I couldn’t fathom why the First Elder was acting so hastily. What was driving him?
After a moment, I said to the Second Elder, “…Hmm, how about you do me a favor, since I’m dealing with this hassle?”
[Huh…?]
“If I win against that kid, grant me a request.”
[Why should I owe you a favor if you win?]
“Then I’ll just lose and roll on the floor.”
[How foolish! If you lose here, your chances of becoming clan lord in the future—]
“Second Elder, you keep assuming I have any desire to become clan lord.”
I finished stretching and walked toward Gu Jeolyub.
“But I have no intention of becoming lord.”
[…!]
The Second Elder gasped at my shocking words. Did everyone really think I wanted that?
I left all that greed behind in my previous life.
Was it greed? Was it undeserving? No, it was simply useless to me.
What becoming lord entails, what you must live with as lord…
I knew it all to the point of disgust.
“Done stretching?” Gu Jeolyub asked, brandishing his wooden sword.
“Almost.”
Now that I stood before him, I was certain: he was much stronger than Gu Yeonseo.
As I prepared for the duel, Gu Jeolyub suddenly apologized. “I feel sorry for you, Young Master.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Last year, during our duel, I went too far.”
“We dueled before?”
“Yes. You were bedridden for a month because of it.”
That’s a long time… Why don’t I remember any of this?
“The Young Master is too weak.”
“Now you’re just insulting me.”
“I heard you defeated the Second Young Lady, but that was likely a coincidence.”
“Yes, I can agree with that.”
“But my grandfather doesn’t see it that way.”
“Right, right. I agree.”
Gu Jeolyub stared at me, perhaps realizing I wasn’t really listening. He shook his head and continued, “I don’t like bullying the weak, but the thought of someone so feeble becoming clan lord is even worse.”
“You do realize you’re saying this to the clan’s direct descendant, right?” That was a dangerously bold statement.
Swoosh!
Heat grazed my cheek. It came from Gu Jeolyub, but it was different from the explosive Gu Flame Wheel Art of the main lineage. His was a swift flame technique—same heat generation, but prioritizing speed over destructive power.
Is he… in the Third Star?
The same realm as Gu Yeonseo. The blazing heat confirmed it. Maybe it’s not too late to forfeit.
[Remember our talk earlier.]
The Second Elder’s telepathic voice cut in, as if he’d been waiting.
[If you win this duel, I swear on my name to grant your request.]*
Now I can’t even forfeit easily.
…Always in shitty situations, huh.
I began circulating my Fire Qi through my body. The energy radiating from me slowly pushed back against Gu Jeolyub’s qi. He seemed to notice.
“Second Elder,” Gu Jeolyub called out.
“What is it?”
“I would also like to request something if I win this duel.”
This bastard had been eavesdropping.
What a rat…
The Second Elder looked at me as he responded. “Right, a deal should be fair. What do you want, Jeolyub?”
Gu Jeolyub pointed to where Wi Seol-Ah was eating a yakgwa.
“I want that servant.”
Desire burned in his eyes—not just desire, but outright lust.
And that…
“Haha.”
Really pissed me off.
“You piece of shit.”
I had reached my boiling point.