Chapter 391: Your Way of Speaking is…
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 391: Your Way of Speaking is…
By the time I emerged from the cave, the sun had long since set.
I was drenched in sweat, so thoroughly that even I, who normally didn’t mind a bit of grime, found it irritating.
…I’m completely spent.
I dragged my weary body forward. The cool night air offered a small measure of relief.
Just how long had I been in there, endlessly punching holes into the cave walls? I’d lost all track of time, but the fact that I’d skipped meals was proof enough that it had been a considerable while.
Oh, right. I never told them I wouldn’t be eating today.
The realization struck me only now. I was a creature of habit; I never missed a meal, and if I ever had to, I’d always give notice beforehand. But today, I’d been so absorbed in my training that it completely slipped my mind.
It shouldn’t be a big deal, right?
Surely they wouldn’t skip their own meals just because I wasn’t there…
Hmm.
I wanted to believe that, but I couldn’t be sure. They’d done exactly that a few times in the past. Perhaps I should quicken my pace.
Before long, as I descended the mountain, the lights of the city came into view. Even at night, Henan’s streets were brilliantly lit.
Of course, the journey didn’t take me long. Using my qi to enhance my movement, I reached my destination swiftly.
I’ve changed in this regard, too.
The thought summoned a memory from the past—back when I was gasping for breath while searching for the secret vault in Sichuan. Wi Seol-Ah had secretly followed me that day. I only realized she was there when I finally reached the vault. The embarrassing part was that I was completely exhausted from the run, while Wi Seol-Ah had trailed me effortlessly, as if it were nothing.
It was strange, even then.
I knew it was odd at the time, but looking back, it seemed even more peculiar. I’m not sure if Wi Seol-Ah is aware of it now, but back then, there was something about her that made it difficult to think of her as human. Her imperceptible presence and superhuman strength were just a couple of examples.
Now, of course, I understand the reasons behind it. The truth was actually quite simple.
She simply wasn’t human back then.
Wi Seol-Ah wasn’t human. It made sense; there had always been something otherworldly about her. I just hadn’t wanted to accept that truth.
Wi Seol-Ah is human.
I had to believe that. It wasn’t the most convincing argument, but it was what I chose to believe. These days, when I think of her, I don’t recall her strangeness. Instead, I remember carrying her on my back. That memory alone meant that Wi Seol-Ah’s true identity didn’t matter to me.
Covering that distance had been quite a struggle for me back then.
That was around the time I had barely reached the Second-rate stage, thanks to a stroke of luck. Why did I end up running with her on my back again?
Oh.
Right. Wi Seol-Ah had asked me to carry her. She said she was tired. The memory brought a smile to my face. It wasn’t a bad memory at all.
Lost in thought, I found myself already in Henan. As soon as I arrived, I pulled up my face cover.
…Tsk.
I had to wear it to avoid being recognized. What a pathetic reason. Being too famous was a problem in itself. It was even worse now, with people from all over the region crowding the streets.
These damn bastards from the Murim Alliance.
You guys could have gone easier on spreading those rumors.
They were utterly useless at their real jobs, yet somehow experts at circulating ridiculous gossip. They were so effective that there was hardly a soul in Henan who didn’t know my face. In a way, reputation was a martial artist’s strength, so this situation wasn’t entirely bad…
…No, it’s definitely bad.
I let out a deep sigh. Honestly, I did not welcome this kind of attention. It was certainly different from the fame I’d experienced in my past life, but I still found people’s stares more uncomfortable than flattering. Was this kind of scrutiny inevitable?
I don’t get how other guys can stand this.
I thought of the Four Noble Clans. They embroidered their clan symbols prominently on their attire, making their identities obvious at a glance. It was easy to tell if someone was a direct blood relative. When I was younger, I thought it was embarrassing, but after I learned more about the world, I understood. It was a form of privilege. It allowed them to avoid unnecessary trouble and receive preferential treatment, so long as they didn’t cause any. They were treated differently, placed above others. That was the privilege that honor granted. The reality was probably more complicated, but that’s how I saw it. Sure, there were benefits, but…
Let’s not do anything rash until I get used to this.
No matter how I looked at it, I wasn’t cut out for this life. I adjusted my face cover tighter and suppressed my presence with my qi before continuing on my way. I needed to get to the inn as quickly as possible.
I kept walking.
Pause—
But then, I came to an abrupt halt. It looked like a simple tavern, but I recognized it immediately. This was the place where Moyong Hi-ah sometimes bought dumplings. She always bought them from here because I’d once mentioned I liked them.
“…Hmm.”
I hesitated for only a moment before stepping inside and placing an order. When I left, one of my hands was full. I might have ordered too much, but it was fine. There was someone who could easily finish it all. Should I buy some yakgwa as well? I’d get some if I saw any on the way.
With that thought, I resumed my walk to the inn. The streets were still crowded and bright. The delicious aroma of food rose from the package in my hand. As I walked through the lively atmosphere, I felt an odd sense of anticipation, despite normally disliking crowded places. Seeing so many people out and about reassured me that no great calamity had yet befallen the world.
With that comforting thought, I maintained a steady pace. Before long, the crowd began to thin. As I neared the inn, a thought struck me.
Even so, isn’t this way too few people?
Just as I wondered where everyone had gone,
“Hmm?”
I spotted something in the distance. It looked like a large crowd had gathered in one place. Were they up to something?
No wonder the street feels so empty.
That had to be it. Just as I considered turning away,
“…I’m sorry.”
A familiar voice reached my ears. I looked toward the sound and saw the back of a woman. It reminded me of my earlier thoughts about the Four Noble Clans—how their symbols granted them privilege. The same applied to the Gu Clan. My clan had its own unique symbol, but I never wore it. Frankly, it was embarrassing. I had no intention of wearing it anytime soon.
It’s not like anyone else wears it anyway.
Whether it was my father or Gu Huibi, I rarely saw them wearing the clan symbol. They only brought it out for special occasions, like the previous Orthodox Faction meeting.
You might wonder why I was suddenly thinking about clan symbols. It was because of the symbol on that woman’s outfit. It was unmistakably the Gu Clan insignia. A light-yellow symbol was embroidered onto her dark red clothes. That outfit signified a direct blood relative of the Gu Clan, and there was only one person I could think of who would wear it here.
Gu Yeonseo?
Yes. The voice belonged to her.
Having confirmed it, I moved toward the crowd. Gu Yeonseo was in the middle of apologizing to someone. I frowned slightly and shifted my gaze to the person she was addressing.
It was a middle-aged man of immense physique. His size was comparable to the First Elder. The weapon at his waist looked comically small against his towering frame. He wore black attire and had a black ring on his finger. Recognizing these details, I knew instantly who he was. There was no way I wouldn’t know him; we’d met a few times.
That man was—
The Lord of the Peng Clan?
It was none other than the Lord of the Peng Clan, also known as the Dao King.
But why?
I couldn’t help but wonder. Why was Gu Yeonseo with the Lord of the Peng Clan? And in the middle of the street, no less.
Gu Yeonseo’s shoulders were slumped in deference, while the Lord of the Peng wore an expression of mild annoyance.
“…Hmph. Young Prodigies these days can’t even walk properly without watching where they’re going.”
“…”
“…And to think they would dare bump into me, someone far above their station. Is this the kind of upbringing your household provides?”
“Not at all… It was entirely my fault.”
My eyebrow twitched when Gu Yeonseo apologized without offering any defense.
This girl?
Did she really bump into the Lord of the Peng Clan while walking? That seemed to be the case, judging by the context.
“You should have been the one to approach me first and show the proper respect. Tsk, tsk.”
The Lord of the Peng’s expression twisted slightly as he spoke. He didn’t look angry; instead, he wore a smile, as if he’d found an easy target to bully.
She hit his shoulder?
That shouldn’t have happened. Sure, the streets weren’t empty, but this particular area wasn’t that crowded. It made no sense for someone of the Lord of the Peng’s status to be walking so close to others. This whole situation was likely his doing.
“This may be due to your youth, but I believe the Gu Clan should reconsider their methods of education.”
Gu Yeonseo flinched at the mention of her clan. Her ears turned red, and her body seemed to shrink instantly. Seeing her reaction, the Lord of the Peng’s smile widened.
“Your children may have talent… but they clearly lack basic etiquette…”
“N-No, that’s not true…! This was simply my failure to—”
“You—!”
The Lord of the Peng’s angry shout caused Gu Yeonseo to stumble back in fright.
“You dare interrupt me before I have finished speaking!”
“…I’m sorry. Please forgive my rudeness…”
With every flaw he pointed out, the Lord of the Peng’s smug smile grew.
“A blood relative from the currently most famous clan, acting this way…! I am deeply disappointed.”
“…That’s—”
Gu Yeonseo stopped herself mid-sentence. The Lord of the Peng’s words struck a chord. Noticing her reaction, he continued with a triumphant expression.
“Ugh. I tried my best to view the Gu Clan favorably despite our… troubled history. But perhaps I should be grateful that our ties were severed back then.”
“…!”
Gu Yeonseo shut her eyes tightly at the mention of the broken engagement between their clans.
By this point, my body was already moving on its own.
“Seeing how the blood relatives of the Gu Clan behave, I don’t even need to meet the others in your cla—”
The Lord of the Peng abruptly stopped speaking.
Because I had stepped between them.
If I had kept watching, I felt like I would’ve died from rising blood pressure. I couldn’t afford to die like that, after all. I reached out, grabbed Gu Yeonseo’s shoulder, and pulled her behind me. Her eyes widened in shock at the sudden intervention. I positioned myself squarely in front of the Lord of the Peng Clan, shielding her.
“What…?”
The Lord of the Peng looked visibly flustered by my sudden appearance. It was understandable. Even I felt a bit flustered.
I mean, how could I not be, after listening to his drivel?
“Old man.”
The Lord of the Peng’s face contorted the moment I spoke. Was it because I addressed him so casually? Fair enough. I doubted the mighty Lord of the Peng Clan had ever been called ‘old man’ to his face before.
I met his scowling gaze and continued.
“The way you speak is—”
“Fucking disgusting.”
“Fucking disgus- …Huh?”
I lost all my momentum mid-sentence.
Because someone else had said the words first.
“What a disgusting way to speak. Do you think a human mouth is a trash can? Because you keep spewing garbage from it.”
“What…?”
The Lord of the Peng turned to see who had spoken. It wasn’t me.
The words came from a woman who had appeared with her arms crossed. Like the Lord of the Peng, I was also staring in shock at the woman who had so brazenly insulted him. I didn’t think there was anyone else in the world crazy enough to insult a Lord of the Four Noble Clans besides me.
When I got a good look at her,
“Huh?”
I blurted out in surprise without thinking.
It was because of her outfit. She wore a light-blue attire with a symbol on her chest, adorned with several distinctive decorations. They all looked familiar.
Is this…?
It was. The decorations were similar to those worn by Moyong Hi-ah. More than similar, in fact. The outfit was identical to the one Moyong Hi-ah wore, complete with the uniquely shaped ornaments.
In other words, this woman was a blood relative of the Moyong Clan.