Chapter 41
Chapter 41
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Christmas Standoff
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Meracle...”
The name called out like a child trailing after him.
Even through her tear-blurred vision, Meracle's president, Kim Juseon, stood out crystal clear.
And not just that—his words felt like a single ray of warm light.
'We will find your miracle for you.'
Meracle's standard greeting, the kind of phrase you heard upon entering and easily overlooked.
But right now, it was a lifeline she wanted to cling to, even if it meant grabbing his pant leg.
“Is that... really true?”
She forced herself to push up from her knees.
As Nangong Yeon's desperate gaze reached him, Kim Juseon smiled and repeated his words with deliberate care.
“Luminous Plaza. She's waiting for you there.”
“How did you—”
“I said we'd find your miracle, didn't I?”
“...”
Nangong Yeon's eyes trembled faintly.
The forgotten origin of her smartphone suddenly resurfaced.
It had been handed to her by Kim Yang, the Meracle employee who came with her sister.
“Did Meracle... plan this from the start?”
“Nangong Yeon.”
A gentle warmth gathered at the corners of Juseon's smiling lips.
“Do you remember what I told you during your initial rating interview?”
“...”
“We only connect people—we don't force the bonds.”
Even if a channel opened through the phone, if hearts didn't align, no ties would form.
He was right.
The precious feelings she now held were undoubtedly her own choice.
“Let's go, Nangong Yeon. To meet your miracle.”
The moment Nangong Yeon stepped forward as if entranced by Kim Juseon's invitation...
“Don't move another inch.”
A low voice, like a divine revelation, pierced her ears.
Nangong Family Head, Nangong Pacheon.
The blue sword aura clinging to his blade still pulsed with razor-sharp killing intent.
“Young Master Nangong Yeon. You will return to the family with me at once.”
“Father... just give me a moment—”
Whoosh!
A ferocious blade wind shrieked past her ear. The blue sword aura that had just grazed by cleanly bisected the boulder behind her.
“Since when have you dared contradict my words?”
“...”
“Ignoring my letter and this incident's consequences are no light matters. Young Master Nangong Yeon, test your father's patience no further.”
Nangong Yeon's heart plummeted.
Her awe for her father could also be called fear.
She had always admired him, so defying him had never been an option before—but...
Her words flickered at the corners of her eyes.
Expressed so cautiously yet honestly.
“Father...”
She clenched her fists tight.
They stung from the pressure, but without this resolve, she couldn't voice what burned inside.
“Christmas is coming soon—it's her favorite day.”
“Young Master Nangong Yeon, hold your tongue on irrelevancies.”
“On a day like that! If you make the woman in your heart shed tears! How could you ever lead the Nangong Family?”
“...”
“I'll go where I belong.”
“Can you even make it?”
Nangong Yeon swallowed hard.
Answering here meant the conversation ended.
She felt the gazes of the other martial artists.
Please don't. Just obey the Family Head and say you'll head back to the Old Martial World now.
But.
“I will.”
The moment Nangong Yeon steeled herself and spoke, a wall of blue sword aura filled her vision.
No time to even breathe.
She had resolved herself, yet she felt the vast gap in skill after just one exchange.
Clangggg!
The blue sword aura halted just before striking Nangong Yeon.
Meracle's president, Kim Juseon, had drawn a short staff from his coat to block it.
“Whoa, damn...”
But it held only once.
The staff, which had blocked Nangong Pacheon's sword aura, promptly snapped in half.
“They said this was expensive Helalite stuff.”
The folding staff hadn't even extended before it broke uselessly.
Not only that, his arm went numb—the sheer force made him want to give up on the spot.
Yet Kim Juseon shielded Nangong Yeon and spoke.
“Do you see our employee on the bridge over there?”
Raising his head as instructed, he spotted Kim Yang on the opposite bridge.
Standing by the taxi, bag in hand, waving.
“She'll take you to Luminous Plaza.”
Even then, Nangong Yeon hesitated to step forward.
“What about you? Sorry to say it, but Father shows no mercy.”
Risking his life for one client?
Even if her Old Martial World upbringing left her ignorant of other floors, this seemed excessive.
But Kim Juseon was confident.
“Sorry, but this isn't just matchmaking. We've got big stakes in this too.”
“Pardon?”
“And you think I'd fight alone? Of course I called for backup.”
Nangong Pacheon's eyes, gripping his sword silently, finally shifted from Nangong Yeon for the first time.
“Hoo.”
The brief sigh carried a father's inner turmoil.
“Haryeong.”
Nangong Haryeong approached across the snowfield, a sly smile on her lips at her father's call.
“You've always said it: Challenge me anytime. Don't take being the Family Head's daughter for granted—prove yourself.”
“Choose your moment to draw, Haryeong. Bare your fangs now, and they'll break.”
Despite Nangong Pacheon's warning, Nangong Haryeong smiled and placed her hand on her sword.
“Fighting the Family Head, staking my life—it's one of my life's ambitions.”
“Protecting your fool brother's wedding path makes a fine excuse.”
As her sword cleared its sheath, Nangong Pacheon closed his eyes slowly.
His brow furrowed like he had a headache.
Haryeong chin-nodded to her brother in that gap.
“Hurry and go. I won't last long.”
“Sister...!”
Overcome with emotion, Nangong Yeon bowed deeply to Juseon and Haryeong before sprinting toward Kim Yang.
His lightness skill made for impressive speed, befitting the Young Master title.
But.
“Let me warn you beforehand.”
That speed was still far too lacking against the one ahead—hence why he was merely Young Master.
“Keep your eyes open, tense your body but stay fluid. Don't drop your sword in fear—”
For the first time.
Nangong Pacheon, who had only unleashed sword aura from his stance, took a single step forward.
“Let killing intent guide your struggle.”
Before they knew it, Nangong Pacheon stood before Juseon and Haryeong, coiling for a massive swing.
“Left horizontal.”
With curt warning, a lateral slash bisected toward them from the left.
Clangggg!
Snow and chill blasted away, replaced by the searing heat of iron and blade.
Nangong Haryeong barely blocked with her sword, veins bulging, lips pressed tight.
“Ngh!?”
The weight was beyond expectation.
Even as Haryeong staggered from one blow, Pacheon's sword didn't pause.
“Right diagonal downward.”
A slash plummeting from the right diagonal.
This time it passed Haryeong; Kim Juseon maxed his acceleration and lunged forward.
Clashing head-on is a guaranteed loss!
So Juseon chose offense over defense.
Dodging the swing toward Haryeong, he drove a fist into Pacheon's abdomen.
Boom!
Pain throbbed at his knuckles.
Pacheon's sword had intercepted Juseon's fist mid-swing.
As Pacheon shoved with his blade, Juseon's body, outmatched in power, flew backward.
“Ugh, aren't you a monster?”
“More like you used me as bait to strike your father?”
Haryeong frowned beside him, but Juseon steadied himself and replied.
“You're his daughter—he won't try to kill you for real.”
“You underestimate Father.”
“No way.”
If anything, Juseon assessed the situation more coldly than anyone.
“If he were serious, he'd have diced us up and grabbed his son by the scruff already.”
“...”
“He's holding back from killing.”
Even voicing "daughter" was a cue to counter.
“Is that so? Father?”
Haryeong, having known her father for so long, couldn't imagine such mercy.
“Let's just buy time for now. I have more—”
“What are you hiding?”
This time, no deadly sword aura—just a question.
As both turned to Nangong Pacheon, he asked again.
“What are you concealing?”
“Pardon? Oh, reinforcements are coming—”
He'd caught her slip despite her caution.
“No.”
Pacheon cut her off firmly.
“Petty acceleration tricks aren't your all.”
“...”
“Refuse to answer, and my sword will pry it open. Remember that.”
Crazy old man.
Reading him after one clash proved he was no ordinary foe.
“Uh, sir.”
“Answer.”
“It's tied to the Tower Administration—I can't just say if I want to.”
“...”
After a silent pause, Nangong Pacheon nodded calmly.
“Very well. I won't defy heaven's will. I'll overlook it.”
“Thank you.”
“Resume stance. Left horizontal to start.”
As Pacheon readjusted...
“Petty tricks, eh.”
He looked up.
The instant Juseon saw it, he yelled skyward desperately.
“Busted! Seram!”
“Ah, crap!”
Above in the sky.
Ryu Seram, plummeting from the bridge, clenched her fist and shouted.
“Can't you even avert your gaze properly?!”
“You got spotted!”
“Shut it! Calling me out on Christmas outta nowhere—”
Pacheon assumed a defensive stance. Spotted already, Ryu Seram compressed her full power and dove like a meteor.
“Dragging me into your weird crap—!”
Kaboommm!