Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Between Confidence and Recklessness (3)
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It wasn't far from the Wuhuan ferry crossing, but given its location, hardly anyone passed by.
"What is this, some backwoods shack?"
Hong In clicked his tongue as he lifted the brim of his bamboo hat slightly.
Even so, these guys calling themselves a martial house hadn't even bothered to hang up a name plaque.
'What kind of secrets could a dump like this hold?'
Before leaving, a conversation with the one person in the family he least wanted to see came to mind.
'The Murong family has secrets we don't know about.'
'What are you talking about?'
'You've seen that guy Murong Bi at the ferry crossing too. Others say he was hiding himself, but I don't think so. At least until the last time I saw him, he hadn't learned any martial arts.'
'So what?'
'The last time I saw him was less than half a year ago. And in that time, he mastered arts surpassing the Ten Sword Sect Leader.'
'You sure you can judge people right, bro?'
'That's what makes it worse. If he fooled even my eyes, his power must be something else.'
'......'
'Don't let your guard down, no matter what.'
Recalling that stern face and the low, metallic voice made him feel unpleasant all over again.
'A talentless punk.'
Of course, separate from his dislike for his brother, he had no intention of getting careless.
'Still, it's a fact that he crushed Hwang Gyu.'
He grudgingly admitted it, but that only soured his mood further.
'Even if you're stronger than me, it can't be by much.'
It wasn't just simple jealousy.
Wasn't Murong Bi only nineteen? No matter how strong a kid not even twenty could be, there was no way he matched up to Hong In in any significant way.
Setting aside all the tangled interests, that was just common sense.
'He's not someone trained in the Nine Great Clans or Six Great Houses.'
As his thoughts continued, Gu Wol spoke up.
"They're not inviting us in."
"That figures."
Hong In brushed it off casually.
"Who would dare let in the Crimson Sword Third Squad?"
Nineteen members of the Crimson Sword Third Squad stood lined up behind them, excluding Gu Wol.
The Crimson Sword Corps consisted of three squads in total, with the First and Second each numbering forty men.
Yet even twenty from the Third Squad were said to outmatch the combined eighty from the other two. In the Hong Sword Clan, the Crimson Sword Third Squad was treated like an elite special forces unit.
Naturally, anyone in the Wuhuan area would fear them.
"I heard that when Lady Hwang Jihwa came by, they threw a fit about not being welcomed in."
It was a rumor started by one of the Flower Sword Squad members who'd gone to the ferry to scout Ten Sword Sect movements.
Hong In chuckled derisively.
"That's their problem, being so uptight."
Mediocre types were always like that.
Expecting proper reception was fine, but making a fuss over every little thing was not. At least, that's how Hong In saw it.
Gu Wol gave a wry smile inwardly as he watched Hong In.
'Squad leader, you're just as uptight as anyone.'
Still, Hong In had a few advantages over Hwang Gyu's sons.
One was that, unlike most hot-blooded young men, he actually knew how to think.
It might lack depth, but considering his environment, talent, and experience, it wasn't bad at all.
"By the way, it's Murong Sujing, right?"
"The Acting Patriarch?"
"Yeah."
Interest flickered across Hong In's face.
"I hear she's quite the beauty."
"......"
"Heard anything about her?"
Gu Wol said cautiously,
"Squad leader, she's still the head of the enemy house. Maybe hold off on that kind of talk..."
This was right in front of their home, after all.
Hong In snorted.
"Head? Isn't she younger than me?"
"Well, yes."
"I heard your brother showed quite a bit of interest in her... If even that lecher is openly into her, she must be no ordinary beauty."
That was when it happened.
"Your subordinate's got better manners than you, squad leader."
Startled, Hong In and Gu Wol whipped their heads around.
A young man was perched atop the wall.
He was quite lean, but seemed tall enough. A wooden staff rested casually on his right shoulder, giving off a wildly free-spirited vibe.
The surprised swordsmen instinctively reached for their swords.
Clang!
The young man—Murong Bi—tilted his head.
"What? Here to fight?"
"You...?"
"If you're gonna fight, why bother sending word first? Just barge in. 'Get ready,' or whatever?"
Gu Wol turned and waved at the men behind.
The swordsmen released their grips on their swords and straightened up.
Hong In spoke.
"Murong Bi?"
"And who're you?"
"......"
"Who're you, man?"
Hong In flared up for a split second but quickly reined it in.
"Hong In, squad leader of the Hong Sword Clan's Crimson Sword Third Squad."
"So?"
"......What?"
"What's the deal? You drew your swords and sheathed 'em again, so you wanna warm up your lips first?"
Hong In blinked in confusion.
What was with this weird way of talking?
He wasn't deaf or some Westerner, so of course he could understand. But somehow, it always hit him a beat late.
'Sheathed... what? The sword? Oh... back in the scabbard... But lip exercises? Ah, talking...'
It was a hazy, disorienting feeling.
Like getting slashed all over with a dagger before he even realized it—too fast to react until after the fact.
"Nah?"
Smoothly, Murong Bi hopped down from the wall and lowered his staff.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
"Here to throw down for real?"
Hong In snapped back to attention.
"That's not it."
"Then why's your tongue wagging like that?"
"What, what did you say?"
"Spouting crap like 'that girl' and 'beauty' to the head of the house? Don't you think that's rude?"
"......!"
"Want me to go to your front gate and curse out your mom and dad?"
Blood vessels bulged in Hong In's eyes.
'This crazy bastard!'
Then Gu Wol grabbed his sleeve and tugged.
Regaining his composure, Hong In cleared his throat and said,
"I'll apologize for that."
"Apologize to me too."
What the hell now?
"I was just about to head to your place and mess with your patriarch. I even warned you first, so you gotta forgive me. Got it?"
"You...!"
Just as he was about to shout that it was nonsense,
"If you won't forgive me, at least kneel and bash your head to show some sincerity, you punk."
Whoosh!
A fierce wind blew from behind Murong Bi, brushing past the squad members' collars.
A powerful aura carried on the breeze.
Anger veiled in coldness, killing intent lurking in indifference.
'......!'
For a moment, his body felt frozen solid.
Hong In's fingers twitched repeatedly.
By instinct, he should've drawn his sword already. This aura carried clear hostility, and the Crimson Sword Third Squad never backed down from enmity.
But he held back.
'He's strong!'
Just a brief release of internal energy made his whole body tingle.
Hong In's eyelids trembled.
'This guy's the real deal!'
He didn't know if it was full power. But even this much made victory seem far from easy.
Of course, you had to fight to know for sure, but he was no ordinary foe.
'Damn it......'
He'd expected the guy might be stronger, but confirming it face-to-face made anger surge.
At the same time, he remembered what he had to do.
Handling official business on a whim was for rookies.
"I'll apologize properly."
"......"
"I didn't realize my careless words would come off as rude. Thinking about it, I can see how they might."
Hong In pinched the brim of his hat with thumb and forefinger, tipping it slightly.
"No intent to insult."
This should suffice as an apology.
But not for Murong Bi.
"Can't feel the sincerity."
"......"
"If your neck or knees are busted, slice off a finger or something."
Hong In's eyes turned icy.
"Look, Murong family eldest son."
"Yeah, Hong family second son."
"I admit my mistake. And I've apologized clearly. Isn't demanding more than that excessive?"
"That's what I'm curious about—how it'd feel if I did the same. What do you think?"
"......"
"I can just nod and walk away too?"
Hong In nearly yelled without thinking. You think you're on my level?!
If not for his father's orders, he'd have drawn steel right then.
"I'm the squad leader of the Crimson Sword Third Squad. I'll apologize once more, so please understand."
Did he really have to go this far?
In front of his squad, he was basically begging to save face—something he'd never done anywhere.
Murong Bi's expression grew peculiar.
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
"Fine. We'll shelve that for now. If you're not here to fight, what's the business?"
"The patriarch sent an invitation for you."
"I already turned it down."
"......Yes. So he sent me instead."
Murong Bi smirked.
'Things are getting interesting.'
He knew better than anyone how the pride of these flower-brained patriarchs made their dealings brutal and inefficient.
Early on with the alliance leader, it'd been non-stop: fight a war here, snap some necks there.
'Not just curiosity or pride. They want a look at the guy who crushed the Ten Sword Sect Leader head-on.'
Murong Bi's wrist began to move subtly.
The staff on his shoulder bobbed along, instilling a strange tension in the onlookers.
"Sending his daughter personally to invite me?"
"......"
"Amusing. Wonder what pricey liquor he's offering."
Five taels of silver...
Hong In flinched, mouth half-open.
'Stay sharp, Hong In!'
For some reason, talking to this guy kept derailing his thoughts.
It made him tense, angry. He couldn't figure out why.
Murong Bi, lost in thought for a moment, broke into a grin.
"You've shown this much sincerity. Can't rudely turn it down twice."
Hong In's eyes lit up.
"You'll accept the invitation?"
"I'll think about it on the way. Might change my mind midway."
Hong In scoffed inwardly.
'Acting all high and mighty.'
He wasn't showing it, but he was clearly feeling the pressure.
Still insisting on thinking en route was pure pride. He had to go eventually, but agreeing outright would make him look weak.
'Just a guy with a quirky mouth. Nothing special.'
If anything, it put his mind at ease.
Types like this were easy to handle with a little flattery.
His stomach already churned at the thought of pandering in front of his squad, but for the big picture, he could stomach this much humiliation.
"Shall we head out now then?"
"No point dragging feet. Lead on."
The corner of Hong In's mouth curved up.
"Good. Follow us."
"We getting good food if I go? I've been eating more lately."
Hong In ignored the remark. He was willing to play nice, but not respond to every idiotic comment.
Murong Bi set off with the Crimson Sword Third Squad.
How long had they walked?
"Where we headed?"
"To the market street."
Hong In frowned.
"Why bother going there?"
"Might as well sightsee at the ferry since we're out. We can turn back midway anyway."
"......Wouldn't it be better to hurry?"
"Then go wait. I'll catch up after looking around."
His figure sauntered off, waving dismissively, exuding boundless freedom.
Hong In ground his teeth.
"......We'll follow."