Chapter 8: Nine Dragons Day (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 8: Nine Dragons Day (2)
There wasn't much time left before the Nine Dragons Day ceremony began, and I found myself held hostage by a man built like a bear.
"So, you're not running away this time," the man said.
If anyone deserved the nickname 'Giant Mountain,' it was him. He stood at least eight feet tall, with shoulders so broad they seemed to block out the sun. His white hair and the wrinkles on his face hinted at his advanced age, but before anything else, he was a martial artist. This was the Gu Clan's Second Elder, Gu Ryoon.
"You always used to flee at the sight of me. What brings you here today?"
"You said you'd split me in half if I didn't come... And how could I miss the Nine Dragons Day?"
"Oh? Talking back now, are we?"
The Second Elder ruffled my hair with one of his huge hands. He'd always had an unusual obsession with me, likely because I was the clan's only son. Unfortunately, he never controlled his strength, and my head shook violently with every scrub.
I-I think I'm going to be sick...
Just as I was on the verge of passing out, my savior arrived: Gu Yeonseo. She winced slightly when she saw me but quickly schooled her expression into one of respect, greeting the Elder properly.
"Greetings, Second Elder."
"Oh! My Yeonseo is here!"
The Second Elder released me immediately upon seeing her and produced a piece of yakgwa. I felt like I'd seen this before...
"This troublemaker is never cute. You must be tired from your journey. Grandpa didn't have time to bring a proper gift... Would you like some yakgwa?"
Gu Yeonseo offered a slight smile as she declined. "My apologies, Second Elder, but I'm not feeling very well at the moment..."
"Oh no! I must call for a physician!"
"Please, there's no need. I'm simply nervous about the ceremony. I would be happy to accept your kind offer another time."
After bowing respectfully, Gu Yeonseo excused herself to change.
"So polite and respectful. Unlike a certain someone," the Elder remarked, glancing at me.
"May I visit the doctor? I feel faint after you shook my head."
"A little spit rubbed on it will fix that, so be quiet."
...The favoritism is real.
I felt a pang of unfairness, but I let it go. He was a man with a peculiar personality, after all.
"Second Elder, if you're not going to eat that yakgwa, may I have it?"
"I've told you before, you need to eat less. It's undignified for the son of the Gu Clan to be so greedy for sweets."
"But you were about to give it to the daughter of the Gu Clan. What does being a child of the clan have to do with yakgwa...?"
"Yeonseo deserves it because she trains diligently. You, on the other hand, just eat, sleep, and... well, you know."
"The yakgwa won't be for me, so it's fine."
With that, I managed to procure the yakgwa from the Elder. I intended to give it to Wi Seol-Ah, of course.
Now, whenever I see yakgwa, I think of Wi Seol-Ah. Is it because I saw how much she enjoyed it last time?
As I took the treat, I noticed Wi Seol-Ah and the other servants approaching. The servants bowed their heads respectfully, and Wi Seol-Ah hurriedly mimicked the gesture. The Second Elder waved a hand to indicate it was unnecessary.
Wi Seol-Ah then hopped over to me. "Young Master! There are so many people outside!"
"Of course, it's a festival."
"They're selling dumplings, beef skewers, and noodles!"
"...Weren't you just talking about the crowd? Why the sudden shift to food?"
"But the dumplings..."
She abruptly stopped talking and hid behind me in shock. I turned to see what had frightened her and found the Second Elder staring down at her. It was a terrifying sight, given that he was an eight-foot-tall man with mountainous shoulders. Compounding the effect, members of the Gu bloodline were known for their sharp, intense eyes, which rarely conveyed warmth.
"...Second Elder, it's frightening when you stare at people like that."
"Hmm..."
"Is something the matter, sir?"
"Is that child your concubine?"
"...What are you talking about? Look at her clothing; she's a servant."
The servants who attended the Gu family wore yellow garments, and Wi Seol-Ah was no exception.
"Is that so? I suppose if you say it, then it must be true."
Having lost interest, the Second Elder took his leave. I needed to get ready soon, as the sun was beginning to set. I handed the yakgwa to Wi Seol-Ah.
"Eat this and behave yourself."
"Huh? But I already had some earlier..."
"Why? You said you liked it. Have you grown tired of it already?"
"No... My grandfather told me not to eat more than five a day."
"...When did you manage to eat five?"
I was sure I'd only given her one in the carriage. When I glanced at the other servants, they seemed to be avoiding my gaze.
So it was them...
They probably hadn't given her my share of snacks and had instead used their own money to buy her some. I decided to let it go and simply handed her the yakgwa, leaving it to her whether to eat it now or save it for tomorrow. After that, I hurried off to change.
There wasn't much for me to do—I just had to put on the red robes symbolizing the clan.
As the sun set, lights began to glow throughout the great conference hall. The Second Elder stood at the center, with Gu Yeonseo and me flanking him. All blood relatives were supposed to participate in the Nine Dragons Day ceremony, but the youngest family member was currently away from the clan, and the eldest daughter was occupied with her duties as a swordsman. Thus, only Gu Yeonseo and I were present.
The Clan Lord was also supposed to attend, but his responsibilities in dealing with the True Gate of Demons made it difficult for him to leave. The same was true for the Gu Clan's First Swordsmen Squad.
Therefore, only the Second, Third, and Fourth Swordsmen Squads were participating in the ceremony, as the Fifth Squad was away on a mission. This year's first ceremony was a relatively small affair.
Though the hall is massive, thanks to Heaven Market.
The conference hall was indeed vast, especially compared to the number of people currently inside. Its size allowed many spectators to attend, but it also increased the risk of incidents. Of course, only a fool would cause trouble with so many Gu Clan swordsmen gathered.
Even excluding me, the Second Elder, and Gu Yeonseo, hundreds of people filled the hall—all of them swordsmen of the Gu Clan. Each was a skilled martial artist, and their combined warrior aura was palpable.
"The captain of each swordsmen squad, step forward!"
The Second Elder's earlier playfulness had vanished, replaced by the dignified bearing of a clan elder. His voice, amplified by his Qi, echoed powerfully through the hall.
In response, the leaders of each squad stepped forward.
"Deputy of the Second Team, Woo Ahn-Seon! I pay my respects to the Elder of the Gu Clan."
"Captain of the Third Squad, Ma Cheol-Hyun. Greetings, Second Elder."
"Deputy of the Fourth Squad, Hyuk Jooyum. My greetings to the Second Elder."
One captain and two deputies had stepped forward. The leaders had planned this in advance, sending only one representative per group in case of an emergency.
The Second Elder nodded at the assembled swordsmen and continued speaking. "For the civilians and the Gu Clan..."
I stopped paying close attention after that. His speech essentially boiled down to thanking them for their past efforts, encouraging their future service, and promising due rewards. The rewards themselves consisted of elixirs and money, amounting to at least twice their monthly earnings. Yet, from what I could see, the swordsmen seemed more affected by the Elder's words than by the material gifts—a reaction I couldn't quite understand.
Throughout the speech, Gu Yeonseo and I stood silently beside the Elder. Our presence was meant to symbolize the Gu bloodline's acknowledgment of their hard work, a simple but effective way to boost morale.
"...I thank you for your hard work."
As the Second Elder's speech concluded, I pulled my wandering thoughts back to the present. After he expressed his gratitude, the swordsmen and spectators alike broke into applause. Looking up, I saw that the sun had fully set. The first day of the Nine Dragons Day was coming to an end.
Thankfully, nothing annoying happened.
Even though the presence of the Gu Clan swordsmen made an incident highly unlikely, I'd remained cautious. My memories of this past life were incomplete. I could recall major events, but not every detail from this specific point in time. Perhaps it was because I'd been young and inattentive back then, or maybe I'd subconsciously suppressed all but the happiest memories.
Regardless, I don't think anything happens during this Nine Dragons Day.
I clearly remembered the 'incident' that would occur in the winter, but I had no memory of anything significant happening during the spring festival. As the applause died down, I took my leave alongside the guides from Heaven Market.
* * *
After nightfall, a festival was held for the Gu Clan swordsmen. Heaven Market had prepared a lavish spread of food and drink. The leaders and deputies of each squad initially refused the alcohol, citing their positions, but the Second Elder gave them permission to indulge for the night.
With that, the celebration grew even louder than when they had received their elixirs and monetary rewards.
"What a mess."
They were only human, after all, and naturally craved drink and hearty food—desires usually kept in check. Now, with the Elder's sanction, the atmosphere exploded into cheerful chaos.
I stood up, planning to slip away from the market for some fresh air. Muyeon followed me, as if he'd been waiting.
"Hmm? Why are you following me? Shouldn't you be drinking with the others?"
"How can an escort drink? This festival is for the swordsmen, not for me. I'm fine as I am."
"Really? But aren't you technically part of the swordsmen?"
Muyeon stopped short at my words. Martial artists who served as escorts for the Gu Clan were indeed considered part of the swordsmen, which meant Muyeon was included in that group.
"Uh... I..."
"Well, never mind. Do you want to take a walk around the streets?"
I changed the subject, seeing him struggle for an answer. I wasn't curious enough to press the matter, and it wasn't really my business anyway.
"Shin Weol-hyun is obviously a major city, but seeing its scale in person is still awe-inspiring."
The streets here were far more vibrant than those within the Gu Clan compound, illuminated by countless lights after dark. Could this place rival the famous streets of Anhui or Shanxi? I felt a little sorry for Muyeon, who followed behind me, ever vigilant, but I couldn't help enjoying the experience.
As I wandered aimlessly, watching people go about their lives in peace, a sense of tranquility washed over me. It felt as if the disaster that had destroyed my previous life hadn't yet occurred.
"Should I buy some dumplings?"
Wi Seol-Ah's constant chatter about dumplings came to mind.
"For that servant girl, right?" Muyeon immediately associated my murmur with Wi Seol-Ah.
"Not just for her. The others will be happy if I bring some back, too."
I might as well buy some for all the servants. Muyeon looked at me with a satisfied and almost proud expression.
"Young Master, you're truly different from the rumors. They say you shouldn't judge a person by gossip. I still have much to learn."
"What are you talking about? I'm just buying dumplings. Wait, how long have you been my escort?"
"A little under fifteen days."
...So he'd become my escort shortly before I regressed. That explained his comment. I wasn't sure if he was lucky or if I was. It seemed my escorts had changed frequently, along with Muyeon, which was why I had few specific memories of him.
"Young Master, I believe they're selling dumplings over there."
I turned to where Muyeon was pointing, and the scent of freshly steamed dumplings wafted toward us. My mouth watered instantly, even though I hadn't been hungry moments before.
"That place looks good. Let's go."
I didn't hesitate. But as I walked toward the dumpling stall, I overheard a familiar voice.
"Madam, it's dangerous for you to wander around like this."
"You worry too much. It's the Nine Dragons Day. What could possibly happen with so many Gu Clan swordsmen here?"
"That's precisely why I'm worried... What if you run into the Young Master of the Gu—"
"There's no chance of that. There are far too many people here."
Damn it. She shouldn't have said that...
The moment the words left her mouth, our eyes met. When she saw me, she froze solid. The female escort behind her was equally stunned.
The girl had shoulder-length hair and eyes as dark as obsidian. A black ring adorned her finger. The symbol on it was hard to make out, but I knew what it represented because I already knew who she was.
The Peng Clan of Hebei. A young lady who wielded a katana, hailing from one of the Four Noble Clans.
She was the Young Lady of the Peng Clan.
And my ex-fiancée.