Chapter 263: Anhui (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 263: Anhui (4)
A servant from the Namgung Clan guided me to the banquet hall.
The building was massive, situated at the very heart of the estate, and easily five times larger than the one belonging to the Gu Clan.
Isn't this excessively large for so few guests?
The sparse attendance made the grand hall feel unnecessarily vast.
By the time I arrived, not only were all the tables set, but both Clan Lords and Lady Mi were already present, seemingly having arrived several minutes prior.
Why had they come so early? The food wasn't even fully served yet.
My attention was drawn to a few unfamiliar faces seated near Namgung Jin.
Are they the Elders?
Two ancient men sat there, their presence sharp and penetrating—a clear sign of master swordsmen. They had to be Namgung Clan Elders. Were they here just for the banquet?
As I glanced at them curiously, their gazes swung toward me. Their blue eyes held an indistinct, peculiar aura, something uniquely characteristic of the Namgung Clan.
I met their stare without flinching and continued forward. Walking with measured dignity, I stopped before Namgung Jin and my father.
“Thank you for the invitation to this banquet,” I said, bowing my head in a show of respect. The words were merely courtesy. This entire affair was already a hassle; the banquet did nothing to improve matters.
“You’ve traveled a long way to be here. Please, relax and enjoy your stay,” Namgung Jin replied.
“Thank you for your kindness.” I raised my head after he spoke. The exchange was stiff, neither of us being entirely honest, and the discomfort was palpable. I could feel Namgung Jin’s desperation radiating from his eyes.
The person who wants this banquet to end more than I do is probably him.
His desperation seemed even greater than mine. What kind of enlightenment had Elder Shin given him to evoke such a fervent gaze?
As a martial artist myself, I understood that enlightenment could quench a profound thirst. Had I found someone who could correct my flaws, I might have reacted similarly.
But a hassle is still a hassle. Understanding his feelings didn’t make this any less tedious.
More importantly, I can’t solve his problem right now…
Despite recognizing his desire, I was powerless to help. The damned old man, Elder Shin, showed no signs of waking up. Without him, I couldn’t give Namgung Jin what he wanted.
The only sword art I knew from the Namgung Clan was the one the Demonic Sword had demonstrated in my past life.
Though that was certainly extraordinary.
But it was fundamentally different from the Thunder Sword’s art that Elder Shin had witnessed.
Setting aside Namgung Jin’s intense gaze, I exchanged greetings with my father and Lady Mi before moving to an empty seat. It was clearly reserved for me, and judging by the vacant spot opposite, it was meant for Namgung Bi-ah.
Has she not arrived yet?
She was nowhere to be seen. Given her personality, it was entirely possible she had fallen asleep.
Meanwhile…
I did my best to ignore it, but I could feel multiple gazes fixed on me. Without turning my head, I knew I was being scrutinized.
Is it the Elders? Or others?
I didn’t know what they hoped to see, but being watched so openly in another clan’s territory was deeply uncomfortable. Did they think I wouldn’t notice? A year ago, I probably wouldn’t have.
It was irritating, but I resisted the urge to flare my qi in response. That would only create a mess. Instead, I slowly sipped the tea placed before me, trying to calm my nerves.
Just then, I sensed a presence approaching the banquet hall. A moment later, the servant stationed by the door announced, “The Young Master is entering.”
I glanced toward the entrance. Young Master… that could only mean that bastard. I’d assumed he wasn’t in the clan since he hadn’t shown up when we arrived, but he was here after all. His own sister had returned, yet he couldn’t be bothered to greet her. That was unlike him.
Has it been a year?
We hadn’t seen each other since the Dragons and Phoenixes Tournament, so it had been over a year. The Pissing Dragon was making his appearance.
A figure stepped through the entrance. I looked over.
It was a handsome young man with bluish-white hair and blue eyes, bearing a strong resemblance to a younger Namgung Jin. His face was as infuriatingly handsome as ever.
I don’t like it. My instinctive annoyance at seeing a handsome face hadn’t changed either.
I observed him from the corner of my eye. No particular reason—just curiosity to see if he had changed. Surprisingly, he had.
He’s stabilized.
Back during the tournament, his Lightning Qi had been wildly unstable. His energy was a chaotic mess, corrupted by a foreign qi he couldn’t control. Now, that rampant energy had settled into a calm stability.
When his eyes met mine, his expression stiffened—an amusing sight. His qi might have changed, but his personality seemed the same. However, the stiffness quickly melted back into a handsome, practiced smile, as if nothing had happened. As he passed by, he even addressed me.
“It’s been a while, Brother Gu.”
“Right. It has indeed, brother-in-law,” I replied, deliberately aiming to provoke him.
But Namgung Cheonjun’s expression didn’t flicker.
Oh…? He endured it. Had he been training his emotional control this past year as well?
He walked past me with a smile and continued toward the seats of honor to pay his respects. I watched his back, studying his physical condition more closely.
Is the Blood Qi… gone?
The Blood Demon Qi I had sensed from him at the tournament—the same qi I was forced to absorb—was now completely absent from his body.
It seems I absorbed it all… Hmm?
Just as I was about to turn away, I noticed something strange. If he had possessed Blood Qi, I should have sensed it emanating from his dantian.
What is that?
Something felt different. A pressure.
A change occurred within me. A heat began to stir in my own dantian.
[…Grr…rrr…]
The beast that had been slumbering inside me began to stir as well.
Staring at Namgung Cheonjun’s retreating back, I suddenly understood why my body was reacting this way.
That fucker…?
My eyes widened in realization, but another announcement from the entrance cut short my thoughts.
“The Young Lady is entering.”
It was Namgung Bi-ah.
I turned to look. A breeze seemed to enter with her, so light were her steps. Her hands were gathered gracefully, her gaze demurely lowered. Her hair, beautifully styled, swayed with an elegant motion. Her already stunning beauty had been elevated to an entirely new level by her makeover.
Holy shit.
The impact was so profound that any sense of familiarity I had with her face was utterly shattered. The heat that had begun to rise upon seeing Namgung Cheonjun vanished the instant I saw her.
I wasn’t the only one affected. Every eye in the banquet hall was drawn to her. Lady Mi looked particularly shocked, her eyes wide with astonishment.
Namgung Bi-ah walked forward calmly and bowed her head. “I apologize for my lateness.”
She wasn’t actually late; it hadn’t been long at all. Nevertheless, she offered her respects, and Namgung Jin waved a hand to indicate it was fine.
As expected, she took the seat opposite me. Normally, she would have been half-asleep by now, but today she sat with perfect, refined posture. It was a refreshing sight.
Is she enduring the discomfort?
Her pupils trembled slightly, betraying how uneasy she felt without someone familiar to lean against.
But putting that aside…
It’s too much.
That was the only way to describe it. She was simply too beautiful. Her already flawless features, enhanced by careful preparation, created an effect that was almost overwhelming. If she were to appear in public like this, it could cause a commotion. It was only her status as a daughter of the Namgung Clan and a Peak Realm martial artist that offered protection. An ordinary woman of such beauty would inevitably attract calamity. The old saying that a beautiful woman could topple a nation existed for a reason.
Namgung Bi-ah had reached that level.
Comparing her to the Demonic Sword of my past life, their appearances were similar, but the empty, emotionless eyes she had worn while gazing upon a ruined world were gone. She was a completely different person now.
I’m glad I taught her a few things. The techniques I’d shared—using qi to conceal her presence and wearing a mask—would prove useful.
Then…
-Hey…
A telepathic voice reached me. It was Namgung Bi-ah, sitting across from me. Why was she contacting me this way?
I looked at her questioningly and found her watching me with worried eyes.
-…How is it?
-How’s what?
-…H-How does it look…?
Right. I was asking what she meant.
Frowning slightly, I studied her face, trying to understand. Her cheeks flushed a light pink as she clarified, avoiding direct eye contact.
-Do I… look pretty?
The question took me by surprise. She had asked me this once before, but back then, she hadn’t hesitated or averted her gaze. It was the same question, but her attitude was entirely different now—filled with embarrassment and nervousness, brimming with genuine emotion.
-…Uh… Hm.
Unlike her, I was still the same socially inept person, unchanged. Unprepared for the question, I struggled to respond as she nervously tried to meet my eyes. I wondered if I needed some grand reaction and wracked my brain for what to say, but only one simple phrase came to mind.
-…You look pretty.
I’ve never been good with words. That was all I could manage.
Thankfully, it seemed to be enough. A smile blossomed on Namgung Bi-ah’s face upon hearing my reply. She looked immensely relieved. I could feel her happiness, and it warmed me from the inside. Seeing her smile made me smile too, almost without realizing why.
Throughout all of this, I noticed Namgung Cheonjun watching his sister quietly from his seat.
The banquet concluded without any notable incidents. The Lords weren't particularly fond of drinking, and martial artists of their caliber were barely affected by alcohol anyway. It was merely a ceremonial welcome for the Gu Clan's arrival, so it didn't last long. It wasn't particularly enjoyable, either.
I still feel a bit sore from all those stares.
I rubbed my shoulders with a hand. Was it because of the countless eyes watching my every move? I felt mentally drained.
They should have eased up, but they only became more blatant.
Because I pretended not to notice, it seemed like more and more martial artists—not just the Elders—had decided to scrutinize me. I didn't know what they hoped to glean from their observation, but it was decidedly unpleasant.
“…Sigh.”
As soon as the banquet ended, I left to take a walk. The cool night air was a relief. As I strolled, a voice spoke beside me.
“Are you tired…?”
“I’m fine.”
Namgung Bi-ah had accompanied me. I had originally planned to return to my quarters, but she had asked me to walk with her. This conveniently allowed me to avoid Namgung Jin, who had been poised to approach me. My plan to feign exhaustion and escape was rendered unnecessary; this was a better outcome.
My gaze naturally fell upon Namgung Bi-ah’s head as she spoke in her careful tone. Nestled within her beautifully arranged hair, I spotted the accessory I had bought for her.
Noticing it, I asked, “Are you going to keep using that?”
“…Hmm?”
“You could throw it away and use a different one if you want.” It was far cheaper than her other accessories, so I wondered if she might prefer something more expensive.
“…”
But Namgung Bi-ah suddenly looked hurt by my words. Huh?
“…Sorry.” Seeing her expression, I apologized instinctively. It was the first time I had seen such a look on her face.
“…Okay.” My quick apology seemed to soothe her, and her expression returned to normal, but an awkward tension lingered in the air. Had I said something wrong?
The street, bathed in the soft glow of lanterns and moonlight, was exceptionally beautiful, but the awkward atmosphere prevented me from appreciating it.
“I think I said something wrong…” I began, searching for a way to explain myself. I couldn't forget the pained expression she had shown.
I was about to speak when a voice interrupted us.
“It’s a night with very bright moonlight.”
The voice came from across the street, from a spot where faint light barely held the darkness at bay.
“I couldn’t greet you properly earlier, so I came looking for you.” The uninvited guest’s words were polite, but the transparent mask he wore made me feel sick.
“How have you been?”
I turned to face the bastard. From the shadows, a pair of clear blue eyes watched me. Then, he spoke, his gaze fixed on me.
“Brother-in-law.”
The words sounded like they had been chewed on blades before being spat out, yet Namgung Cheonjun maintained his smile.
Seeing him like that, I accidentally let slip my true thoughts.
“What the fuck is that bedwetter saying?”
Oh.
That was a mistake.