Chapter 57
Chapter 57
Ch. 57🔒 .｡.:✧ Aura ✧:.｡.
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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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This was the first I had ever heard of it.
‘What is this now…?’
It was absurd.
That was all there was to it.
The fact that Eun Ha-seong had a fiancée was not mentioned in the original novel.
Hearing Jang-sam’s urgent words, I wanted to deny the current reality.
‘I’m busy enough trying to solve the family’s immediate problems, and now I have to deal with an engagement I didn’t even know about while I was training at Mount Hua…?’
My head was still throbbing.
But denying the current reality was the same as abandoning the family’s problems.
The Sichuan Tang Clan.
A colossal power that could be called the hegemon of Sichuan, and a prestigious family.
The power of the Sichuan Tang Clan, which was listed among the Five Great Families, was in no way inferior to that of the Silver River Trading Company.
In fact, it could be said to be even greater.
No matter how much the Silver River Trading Company competed for the top spot in the Jianghu in terms of wealth, it was far lacking compared to the Sichuan Tang Clan in terms of not only wealth but also honor and martial power.
Facing that fact, the current situation felt even more unreal.
‘And… Tang Yehwa? That woman is treated as a legitimate wife, not even a concubine, of the protagonist in the original novel. She’s a character with a significant role…’
I let out a groan and a sigh.
Tang Yehwa was described as having a formidable personality in the original novel.
Considering that it was described that even the protagonist of the original novel had to put in a great deal of effort and trouble to tame her, there was no possibility that this situation would resolve itself.
‘Even from my perspective, with the family head bedridden and in seclusion, and the most likely heir having just returned after more than a year of training at Mount Hua… it’s unlikely she’s here to see me with good feelings.’
I slowly nodded.
The probability of persuading the daughter of a prestigious family with a silver tongue was close to zero.
And I had no confidence in dragging the Tang Clan into the Silver River Trading Company’s affairs.
But I couldn’t just shut her out because she was a difficult person.
If there was a misunderstanding, it had to be cleared up, and if an explanation was needed, I had to take the time to tell the story.
With that point already deeply engraved in my mind, I finally made a decision.
‘First, let’s meet her. The priority is to grasp the situation.’
Perhaps because my emotions had become quite hardened from only training at Mount Hua.
The existence of a fiancée I didn’t even know I had was, to me now, cruelly awkward.
But to ignore reality was even crueler.
I didn’t want to be a fool who abandoned the future simply because the present was comfortable.
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Tang Hyeon-cheol and Tang Yehwa were conversing as they walked slowly, led by a group of six or so guards dispatched from the Sichuan Tang Clan.
“…Uncle.”
“Yes, Yehwa.”
Tang Hyeon-cheol, an elder of the Sichuan Tang Clan, considered the hegemon of Sichuan, and the younger brother of the Tang Clan’s head, Tang Hyeon-cheon, found the current situation absurd and dumbfounding.
Although they had arrived without any prior notice, he had not expected to be treated so poorly.
‘How can the guards of the family head’s residence treat guests so rudely, as if telling us to get lost immediately?’
Tang Hyeon-cheol felt his anger quickly rising to the top of his head.
Perhaps because they had been openly turned away at the door.
Even with the prestige of the Silver River Trading Company, which was said to be able to compete for the top spot in the Jianghu in terms of wealth, to treat an elder of the Tang Clan who had come to discuss an engagement so poorly was an unprecedentedly rude act.
At least, that’s what Tang Hyeon-cheol thought.
As Tang Hyeon-cheol was barely controlling his surging anger, Tang Yehwa, who had been quietly brushing her shoulders with her delicate hands, spoke softly.
“It seems our decision was not wrong.”
“…Yes, it seems so.”
“I had a feeling when a collateral branch member, not the family head himself, replied to our carrier pigeon a while ago… but to witness the fall of the Silver River Trading Company, which was once worthy of being called the hegemon of Shaanxi, is just bitter.”
But unlike her words, Tang Yehwa’s clear voice contained no hint of regret or bitterness.
Noticing this, Tang Hyeon-cheol shook his head and thought.
‘The Silver River Trading Company is finished. I don’t know what illness the family head is suffering from, but with the first son also on his deathbed, and that Eun Ha-seong fellow not doing his job as heir properly…’
It was a situation that made one sigh deeply.
To be honest, Tang Hyeon-cheol had no particular regrets about this situation, but confirming that their journey from Sichuan to Shaanxi had been in vain, he felt an immense emptiness.
It was at that moment.
“…Huh?”
Tang Hyeon-cheol suddenly sensed someone approaching.
It was a presence from an unknown being who had deeply concealed their own aura.
The owner of the presence, which was as deep as an abyss, was slowly walking towards him and Tang Yehwa.
‘This… is a master who cannot be considered inferior to me. How can a martial artist of this level exist in the Silver River Trading Company…?!’
Deep in his heart, Tang Hyeon-cheol had considered the Silver River Trading Company to be insignificant compared to the Tang Clan.
It was not an exaggeration to say that this was a fact.
Even the head of the Silver River Trading Company, Eun Hacheol, was merely a First-Rate martial artist.
Seeing the family being overturned by mere retainers who were not even blood relatives, the limits of the Silver River Trading Company were clear.
But in this situation, Tang Hyeon-cheol had only noticed the owner of the presence when they were already close.
This could only be seen as the opponent’s martial prowess being superior, not his own mistake.
‘Who is the owner of this presence…?’
Silently, Tang Hyeon-cheol focused his energy and at the same time reached for the sword at his waist.
At that, Tang Yehwa, who was standing next to Tang Hyeon-cheol, flinched, as if sensing something was wrong.
“…Uncle?”
“……”
“Uncle, is something wrong?”
Tang Hyeon-cheol did not speak.
He felt that carelessness was a luxury he could not afford.
It was then.
The owner of the presence, who had exuded a somber atmosphere, finally revealed themselves.”
Thud—
As if they had jumped down from the eaves of the roof, the ground vibrated once.
Dust flew up.
From within the rising brown smoke, the unknown being spoke.
“Are you the guests from the Sichuan Tang Clan?”
“…Reveal your identity.”
“I simply asked a question.”
“Is it proper to appear before guests in such a crude manner? It’s not easy to take lightly the appearance of a top master of the Jianghu whom I’ve never seen before, especially when we were just turned away at the door of the family head’s residence.”
“……”
As Tang Hyeon-cheol calmly continued, the opponent speaking from within the dust cloud sighed.
Noticing this, Tang Hyeon-cheol tilted his head.
‘…A sigh?’
The act of sighing in this situation was incomprehensible.
As Tang Hyeon-cheol stared blankly at the opponent, the dust finally settled, and he could confirm the opponent’s identity.
“You, you are…?!”
“…It’s been a long time, Elder. Has it been two years?”
“……”
Tang Hyeon-cheol stared blankly at the opponent, his mouth agape without realizing it.
Then he muttered.
“You… are you Eun Ha-seong?”
“If I am not Eun Ha-seong, then who else in this family would be? As far as I know, there is no one with the same name in the family.”
“What… what on earth happened to you for such an unbelievable thing to have occurred?”
“I will explain that in due course.”
The person who had jumped down from the eaves was Eun Ha-seong.
Tang Hyeon-cheol couldn’t easily believe that fact.
Just two years ago, he had been an immature and unimpressive boy, a typical petty person and the delinquent of the Silver River Trading Company.
The reality that such a person as Eun Ha-seong had changed in this way was even more unbelievable than being turned away at the door of the family head’s residence.
As Eun Ha-seong looked at them with an expression that made one wonder if it even contained any emotion, Tang Yehwa, who was standing next to Tang Hyeon-cheol, asked in a questioning voice, as if her composure had been shaken.
“Are you really Eun Ha-seong?”
“…How many times do I have to confirm my identity for you? If you’re not sure, why don’t you go and ask the servants or the family members?”
“……!”
“Or do you want to deny the existence of Eun Ha-seong standing proudly before you, Tang Yehwa? You’ve always looked down on the Silver River Trading Company as a family of merchants, so it’s understandable.”
“You…!”
At Eun Ha-seong’s slightly sarcastic words, Tang Yehwa immediately exuded anger.
And the guards of the Tang Clan, though not to the point of anger at Eun Ha-seong’s appearance, were frowning deeply.
Perhaps because Eun Ha-seong’s delinquent acts were widely known in the Tang Clan, who were particularly familiar with his conduct, even Tang Yehwa’s guards, who resided in the Sichuan Tang Clan, were easily influenced by the attitude and emotions of their mistress.
In a situation that felt like walking on thin ice, the first one to step forward was a man belonging to the Tang Clan’s guards.
Step, step—
With disciplined steps, the guard approached Eun Ha-seong and spoke in a growl.
“Do not insult the Tang Clan, Young Master.”
“……”
“To look down on our lady is a very rude attitude, even for you, her fiancé.”
“…Hah.”
Hearing those words, Eun Ha-seong, simply let out a hollow laugh.
The corner of the guard’s eye twitched as he watched.
‘He’s laughing in this situation…?’
Just as a feeling of anger was about to well up in the guard’s mind.
Woong—
An indescribable pressure began to emanate from where Eun Ha-seong stood, pressing down on the Tang Clan’s party.
And, Eun Ha-seong’s gaze.
“G-Gah…!”
“I’d appreciate it if you knew your place… A series of unfortunate events has befallen the family, and I’m starting to get tired of this ridiculous situation.”
“W-What…?!”
“So, it’s simple. I can understand being angry because the reception for a long-awaited guest was poor, but a mere guard shouldn’t step forward without knowing their place.”
Eun Ha-seong’s cold gaze transformed into a pressure that pressed down on the entire body, dominating the atmosphere.
Not only Tang Hyeon-cheol, but also Tang Yehwa standing next to him, and finally the formation of the well-ordered guards broke.
Tang Hyeon-cheol’s eyes widened, and he gritted his teeth.
‘To create such pressure just by raising his internal energy…!’
Tang Hyeon-cheol also raised his internal energy, but he was barely holding on against Eun Ha-seong’s terrifying aura.
In that situation, Eun Ha-seong, who stood there without a single tremor, spoke as if making a declaration.
“Only the Elder and Lady Tang may enter the pavilion.”
“……”
“Huu… The current situation of the family is what it is, and I lost my temper in a sensitive state. I apologize for threatening you with my aura.”
After saying that, Eun Ha-seong turned his back and slowly entered the pavilion next to them.
But no one could stop him, or rashly step forward.
“……”
Only a heavy silence flowed through the party.
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