Gale (2)
The lively conversation came to an abrupt halt.
Jegal A-yeon was taken aback but didn't show it. Smiling, she gestured to the seat opposite her.
"Please... have a seat."
At that moment, Jegal A-yeon glanced at Yeon Hojeong for no particular reason. She knew his social graces weren't exactly stellar. Unexpectedly, however, Yeon Hojeong nodded.
Regardless of who the newcomer was, a larger gathering naturally provided more opportunities to survey the surroundings.
"Sit."
Before the word had even finished leaving his mouth, Dang Yangseon was already plopping down. It was impossible to tell if he'd assumed the invitation meant acceptance or if he simply didn't care about the other party's consent.
Jegal A-yeon smiled and asked, "Are you from the Tang family?"
"That's right."
He dropped the formalities without hesitation. It was clear this was a habit ingrained from birth.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Jegal A-yeon of the Jegal family."
"Jegal A-yeon?"
"Yes."
"Pretty name."
It was a remarkably frank and bold remark.
Jegal A-yeon tilted her head. "Is it?"
"Yeah, your parents did well naming you."
"Thanks for the compliment."
Jegal A-yeon pointed at Yeon Hojeong with her hand. "Oh, let me introduce you. This person is..."
"No need."
"Pardon?"
"I know who he is. No introduction required."
Jegal A-yeon's eyes widened in surprise. "Oh? Have you met before?"
"He's the eldest young master of the Yeon family, isn't he?"
"That's right. In that case, shouldn't you at least greet..."
"It's fine."
"Fine? What do you mean by that?"
Dang Yangseon shrugged. "I'm not here to see him anyway."
Jegal A-yeon felt a flicker of unease. Quick on the uptake, she realized his target was her. But she hadn't expected him to be this upfront about it.
Dang Yangseon held out his empty cup. "Pour me one."
It was a brazen demand. Pouring a drink wasn't hard, but starting off by treating her like a subordinate was bound to rub anyone the wrong way. Even Jegal A-yeon, who had planned to respond with utmost courtesy given the occasion, felt her mood sour at his tone.
"It's right here."
Jegal A-yeon placed the bottle in front of him.
Dang Yangseon cocked his head. "I said pour it."
Jegal A-yeon flashed a bright smile. "I don't feel like pouring for you."
"You don't feel like it?"
"No."
"But you poured for this guy."
He said it outright: this guy.
Yeon Hojeong paid no mind to the label. The moment Dang Yangseon sat down, his senses had already swept over the late-generation talents gathered in the hall. He had no intention of reacting to every little thing.
But Jegal A-yeon was different.
"This guy is my friend. A bit prickly, sure."
Dang Yangseon grinned. "Can't I be your friend too?"
"Anyone can be a friend. As long as they have the qualities for it."
"Oh ho?"
"Is it a Sichuan custom, perhaps? Telling strangers to pour you a drink right off the bat as a greeting? If so, my apologies for the misunderstanding. Though that doesn't mean I want to befriend you."
Her voice carried a razor edge, even as she smiled.
Dang Yangseon, who had been eyeing her with intrigue, let out a scoffing laugh. "Pretty cute, aren't you?"
"I hear 'so-so' pretty often, but 'cute' is a first since I was nine. I'll take it as a compliment."
"In Sichuan, all I've ever seen are obedient little lambs. That girl was just like the rest—boring as hell. You're a nice change."
From that one sentence, Jegal A-yeon pieced together how Dang Yangseon must have lived his life.
In Sichuan, the Tang family's name held absolute sway. Even among the Nine Great Sects and Eight Great Families, the Qingcheng Sect and Ami Sect were based there, but those were martial sects that doubled as Taoist temples and Buddhist halls, rarely meddling in worldly affairs. In practical terms, the Tang family was Sichuan's premier sect.
Born as the eldest son of the family head in such a place, he would have wanted for nothing.
In fact, Dang Yangseon hadn't even attended previous late-generation summits. This might be his first time stepping out into the world.
Jegal A-yeon gave a wry smile. "Looks like the Tang family's specialties aren't just poison and hidden weapons."
"Hm?"
"Would you mind leaving? You're making me uncomfortable."
"Can't do that."
Dang Yangseon waggled his cup. "You haven't poured my drink yet. Gotta get what I'm owed before I go."
"......"
"Hurry up and pour. I won't even toss you a coin for it."
It was straight out of a brothel courtesan's playbook.
At this point, even Jegal A-yeon couldn't hold back her anger. And the same went for Jegal Jun, who had been watching from afar.
Jegal Jun strode over purposefully. "Hey..."
That was when it happened.
"You there."
A dark shadow fell over Dang Yangseon.
Without even turning, Dang Yangseon said, "Don't stand behind a Tang family member without permission. If you want to see me, come around front and show some manners."
Namgung Hyeon smiled. "I wouldn't think the Seven Great Families' summit is so lax that it'd let in trash without manners."
"What?"
"Don't cause needless trouble and get up."
"Trouble?"
"I doubt someone stupid enough not to know how rude they're being could cultivate the Tang family's intricate martial arts."
"Hah!"
"No need for long talk. Don't stir up pointless strife—just get lost quietly."
Dang Yangseon shook his head. "They say the world is full of people who don't know their place. Father's right after all."
The situation was escalating.
Thud!
Dang Yangseon slammed his cup down roughly and rose, turning around. His eyes fell on Namgung Hyeon.
"You look all flushed and pretty like a girl. What's your name?"
"Namgung Hyeon."
Dang Yangseon's eyes gleamed. "Oh? I thought you had some spine—turns out you're a Namgung."
He'd heard it from his father. Among the Seven Great Families, most weren't worth conversing with, but at least the Namgung and Moyong were the real deal.
Dang Yangseon didn't fully buy his father's words. He respected him, but he believed his own experiences were just as valid.
The world's view of the Tang family was one of fear. And it wasn't limited to Sichuan. The Tang family was in Sichuan, but also everywhere under heaven. No one in the martial world who crossed them slept soundly.
Power was fear. The most terrifying force in the martial world was the Tang family. Thus, they were the true foremost family under heaven.
Just look at his grandfather—one of the Thirteen Holy Heaven Seats, renowned as the most dreaded master in the world.
"If you're a descendant of the Namgung family, the foremost in swords, you've got some right to be cocky."
"This just keeps getting better."
"But even the foremost in swords won't amount to much against the foremost under heaven."
Namgung Hyeon couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Foremost under heaven? Who said that?"
"Our family, obviously."
"What a fool who knows nothing of the world."
The smile vanished from Dang Yangseon's face. His relaxed expression turned blank, sending a chill through the air.
"Kneel."
"What?"
"I'll give you a chance. Kneel and apologize. Do that, and I'll overlook your arrogance."
Namgung Hyeon's gaze grew icy. "I thought you were just ignorant, but you're stark raving mad."
That was when it happened.
"Foremost under heaven?"
A clear, resonant voice echoed through the entire banquet hall.
Surprise flickered across Dang Yangseon's face. Namgung Hyeon, meanwhile, furrowed his brow.
Incredible inner power!
The voice carried profound inner energy that reverberated just from hearing it, making their torsos hum.
Flash!
Yeon Hojeong's eyes blazed.
"Daring to claim foremost under heaven in front of your betters? The Tang family, no less?"
A young man was slowly descending the stairs. He appeared at least five or six years older than Namgung Hyeon. His refined demeanor screamed nobility, but he wasn't as handsome as Yeon Hojeong or Namgung Hyeon. His build was average, and his clothes nothing special.
Yet the presence he exuded was extraordinary.
Hummm!
Huuummm!
The air itself seemed to tremble.
No weaklings were present, but most felt a ringing in their ears, like tinnitus.
"Sure, Namgung or Moyong might have grounds to say it. But the Tang family? I can't wrap my head around that."
Dang Yangseon's face twisted. The voice, growing louder, burrowed into his ears unpleasantly.
"Come to think of it, I've heard the Tang family has its share of eccentrics. Guess you're one of them."
Dang Yangseon shouted before he knew it. "And who the hell are you?"
His voice boomed thunderously. It was far louder than he'd intended, startling even himself. It came off as an overreaction.
Dang Yangseon's neck flushed slightly. "Still young and green? Everything about you screams amateur."
"You!"
"Listen up, you naive little Tang pup. In this martial world, you don't throw around 'foremost under heaven' lightly."
"I asked who you are!"
"One more thing. Cut the pissy attitude."
The young man smiled. Plain in appearance, but his smile was disarmingly charming.
"You look weak."
Dang Yangseon could take no more.
Huuuummm!
Namgung Hyeon instinctively stepped back. A venomous aura poured from Dang Yangseon.
Poison?!
It was poison qi. Not released poison, but inner energy inherently toxic.
Jegal A-yeon cried out. "Young Master Dang!"
Flutter!
A group rushed over from afar. Guards from various families, alarmed by the sudden poison qi spreading.
The young man glanced at Namgung Hyeon. "Little brother Namgung."
"......"
"No big deal, right?"
Namgung Hyeon nodded reluctantly.
"Then shouldn't you explain to the poor guards slaving away day and night because of immature kids like these? Set up a separate drinking party for them. Isn't the Namgung side hosting this summit?"
"......"
"I humbly request it."
"Understood, Brother Myeong."
Even in his fury, he'd caught the "brother" honorific.
Dang Yangseon growled low. "You... from the Myeong family?"
"Indeed."
The young man, Myeong Horim, said, "I am Myeong Horim, third young master of the Nine Provinces Myeong family—the foremost under heaven in this generation."
Dang Yangseon snorted. He'd shown great poise before Jegal A-yeon, but not now. His innate volatility was goaded by Myeong Horim's formidable presence.
"Myeong Horim? Never heard of you."
"That's what makes you so clueless. At least memorize the names of your generation's powerhouses to avoid blunders."
"Blunders? Sorry, but I don't make mistakes. Not someone of my station."
Myeong Horim looked at Dang Yangseon with pity. Dang Yangseon's face contorted viciously. A outburst or insult he could handle, but that arrogant gaze was intolerable.
"......Don't think you'll leave here alive."
"Y-Young master!"
Han Homyeong's shout came from afar, but Dang Yangseon held nothing back.
Tssst...
A faint purple aura rippled from Dang Yangseon's body. He was unleashing his poison arts in earnest.
Startled, Jegal A-yeon backed away, then glanced at Yeon Hojeong. He was still seated, cup in hand unmoved.
Jegal A-yeon shouted urgently. "Young Master Dang! There are people beside you...!!"
That was when it happened.
Piiiing!
Splatter!
A sharp whoosh cleaved through the tense banquet hall atmosphere.
Myeong Horim stared at his own hand, now raised to shoulder height. In it was a shattered cup.
He looked at Yeon Hojeong.
Yeon Hojeong raised his impassive hand.
"A mistake."