Chapter 140
Chapter 140
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 140
Chapter Title: The Seven Swords of Qinghai
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Bu Eun-seol finished his meditation and looked out the window, a surprised expression on his face.
“Has it gotten this late already?”
In the distant sky, a bright moon was already pushing back the darkness.
‘This is the first time I’ve entered a state of selflessness while meditating.’
Bu Eun-seol could not only meditate in any position but could also perceive external stimuli while doing so.
But as he focused his mind against the outside noise, he had, for the first time, entered a state of selflessness during his meditation.
‘It’s dangerous… but it certainly has its advantages.’
Meditating in that state shortened the time it took to circulate his true energy, and his internal energy felt even deeper.
Feeling hungry, he got up and went outside.
He could have ordered food at the detached villa, but to soothe his earlier disappointment, he headed to the tavern once more.
“Welcome, Young Master!”
As he entered the tavern, a young waiter spotted Bu Eun-seol and scurried over.
“Are there any tables?”
“Of course. Please follow me.”
The waiter led him to a window seat on the third floor, which had the best view.
There were still many customers, but it wasn't as packed as before.
After ordering a few dishes and some wine, Bu Eun-seol gazed out the window, lost in thought.
‘It's already been two months since I came here.’
In preparation for his upcoming battle with the Dae-ui-go-su, he hadn't wasted a single day.
He had about two months left.
To obey the strict command of the Heavenly Demon Emperor, he had to fight the Dae-ui-go-su again within two months.
*Murmur, murmur.*
Just then, six men entered with a boisterous clamor.
“This Unrae Tavern is famous for its view. Hey! Give us a table by the window.”
“I'm sorry, but there are no tables left that can seat six people.”
At the waiter's words, a young man from the group spotted Bu Eun-seol sitting alone.
Startled for a moment by his sun-kissed features, the man soon nodded.
“There's an empty spot over there.”
He then strode over and spoke.
“The view from the third floor is the best, but there's no room for my entire party to sit.”
The young man smiled, revealing his white teeth.
“If you don't mind, would you move to another table? We'll treat you to your food and wine in return.”
“That won't be necessary.”
At Bu Eun-seol's cold reply, the young man's sharp eyebrows shot up.
“Then, will money suffice?”
The young man placed a large gold ingot, worth about forty nyang, on Bu Eun-seol's table.
“This should be more than enough to pay you to move.”
‘There seem to be a lot of rich people these days.’
Bu Eun-seol sighed, recalling Gu Cheong-jeong who had offered him a bank note.
Then, he took a thousand-nyang bank note from his robes and placed it on the table.
“I'll give you money. You and your friends can go eat somewhere else.”
For a moment, the young man's pride seemed wounded. He scowled and shouted.
“Aren't you being a little too disrespectful?”
Judging by his attitude and speech, he was definitely not from the Orthodox Faction.
“Or do you think you can look down on people just because you have money?”
“How audacious. Weren't you the one who brought out money first?”
Left speechless, the young man glared at Bu Eun-seol, his brow furrowed.
“What are you staring at? You want to have a go at it with me?”
Bu Eun-seol wasn't carrying a weapon, had handsome features, and a slender build.
To anyone, he looked like a pale scholar who knew nothing of martial arts. That was why martial artists, merchants, and thugs alike... always felt at ease picking a fight with him.
“Or does having money mean you can occupy this prime spot with its great view all by yourself? Huh?”
Just as the young man's provocations were about to cross the line,
“What's going on?”
a woman who had just come up to the third floor let out a small gasp and approached.
“Young Master Bu?”
It was Gu Cheong-jeong.
It turned out that these six men were the 'friends from the martial world with whom she had long shared a bond' that she was supposed to meet.
“Cheong-mae, you know him?”
As the young man frowned, Gu Cheong-jeong said with a surprised look.
“He's the one who lent us the Seogang Villa, Young Master Bu.”
The young man clicked his tongue.
After all, he had just picked a fight with someone who had shown them a kindness.
“But what happened?”
At Gu Cheong-jeong's question, the young man smoothed his frown and stammered.
“Well, there wasn't a good table available, so...”
“I see. I guess it can't be helped.”
Gu Cheong-jeong looked at Bu Eun-seol sitting alone and blinked.
“Then let's go somewhere else.”
“Somewhere else?”
The young man blinked, then shook his head.
“This Unrae Tavern is said to have the best view. Where on earth would we go?”
“We have no choice, do we? There are no tables...”
As Gu Cheong-jeong smiled with a troubled expression, the young man's eyes suddenly lit up.
He abruptly approached Bu Eun-seol with a polite demeanor and clasped his hands.
“I am Ma Han, the young master of the Haeru Sword Sect.”
The young man, Ma Han, gestured toward Gu Cheong-jeong and his companions and said.
“And my companions are all successors of the Seven Sword Gates of Qinghai.”
The Seven Sword Gates of Qinghai.
In Qinghai, there were seven sword families that carried on the legacy of the Demonic Path.
They originally had little interaction, but recently, the young masters had been gathering together and actively building friendships.
Thus, the martial world referred to them collectively as the Seven Sword Gates of Qinghai.
“So you are the heroes of the Seven Sword Gates of Qinghai. I had no idea.”
Bu Eun-seol feigned a look of surprise.
He was currently lying low here, honing his martial arts and avoiding pursuit from the Zhongnan Sect.
There was no need to create any troublesome situations in the meantime.
“Then, was Lady Gu a martial artist as well?”
“Yes. Actually, my name isn't Gu Cheong-jeong, it's Guyang Cheong-jeong.”
Gu Cheong-jeong said with an apologetic look.
“I'm sorry for deceiving you. I thought you weren't from the martial world...”
Gu Cheong-jeong bowed her head apologetically.
In truth, she was Guyang Cheong-jeong, the only daughter of Guyang Mugung, the master of the Pungsa Sword Sect.
‘Come to think of it, this is the first time I've seen young people from the Demonic Path.’
There were no young disciples at Nang-ya-gak, and the only peers he had met in the martial world were the Sip-ma-jeon-in and Sim Wol of the Demonic Palace.
But seeing these young people of the Demonic Path gathered in the martial world stirred a strange feeling in Bu Eun-seol.
“It's alright. It's quite common for martial artists to hide their names.”
He was hiding his identity anyway. He decided he might as well play along with them.
“I failed to recognize the heroes of the Demonic Path.”
Bu Eun-seol said, feigning surprise.
“I'll give up my seat, so please, eat here.”
“No, there's no need...”
As Gu Cheong-jeong—no, Guyang Cheong-jeong—reached out in surprise, Bu Eun-seol waved his hand lightly.
“It's fine. I was about to leave anyway.”
“Hahaha. I see you're a man who knows how things work. My thanks.”
Ma Han laughed heartily and looked at Guyang Cheong-jeong.
Having taken the seat with just a few words, he looked triumphant, expecting her to praise him.
“Now the seating is settled, Cheong-mae.”
But contrary to his expectations, she frowned.
The food and wine on the table where Bu Eun-seol had been sitting were almost untouched.
“Young Master Ma. I don't think this is right.”
Then she hurriedly followed after Bu Eun-seol.
“Young Master Bu.”
Guyang Cheong-jeong, who had rushed down the stairs after Bu Eun-seol, blocked his path.
“I'm sorry. We'll leave, so please go back up and finish your meal.”
“It's alright. I'm finished.”
“No, you can't be. You already lent us the Seogang Villa for free. We can't impose on you any further.”
Then she bowed her head politely.
“I'm truly sorry.”
Bu Eun-seol looked slightly surprised.
She was acting quite different from when she had stubbornly demanded to borrow the Seogang Villa.
‘So she wasn't completely unreasonable.’
When Bu Eun-seol showed a hint of surprise, Guyang Cheong-jeong's eyes widened as if to say, "What?"
“What's with that expression? Did you really think I was the kind of person who would brazenly take someone's seat and laugh about it?”
“You weren't?”
As Bu Eun-seol let out a small laugh, Guyang Cheong-jeong looked aggrieved.
“As I said, the reason I insisted on using the Seogang Villa was to keep a promise. It wasn't for my own gain.”
“In any case, it's fine. I can just eat at the detached villa.”
Bu Eun-seol gave a faint smile and turned away.
“Enjoy your time with your friends.”
“Young Master Bu.”
“Wait!”
Just then, Ma Han came down the stairs and approached Bu Eun-seol.
“What is it?”
“Well... I feel I acted very rudely. To take a seat from a guest who arrived first, no matter the circumstances.”
Ma Han had come to apologize, but his eyes lingered on Guyang Cheong-jeong longer than on Bu Eun-seol.
Bu Eun-seol understood Ma Han's actions at once.
‘He likes her.’
He saw through it—Ma Han's behavior was solely to make a good impression on Guyang Cheong-jeong.
“It's fine. Please, enjoy your meal.”
As Bu Eun-seol smiled gently, Guyang Cheong-jeong's eyes sparkled as if a brilliant idea had struck her.
“Then, why don't we all move to the Seogang Villa and have a meal together?”
“Huh?”
As Ma Han gaped, Guyang Cheong-jeong nodded emphatically.
“This is fate, too. Besides, we're all around the same age.”
In that instant, Ma Han's face went pale.
In truth, he was very wary of Bu Eun-seol's handsome face. But his attempt to look good had resulted in inviting him back.
He truly felt like crying.
“It's alright. How could I dare to sit with the heroes of the Seven Sword Gates?”
He said it half-jokingly, but Guyang Cheong-jeong genuinely thought Bu Eun-seol was intimidated after hearing of the Seven Sword Gates' fame.
“You seem to be a descendant of a prestigious family too, Young Master Bu... Why not take this chance to build a connection with us? There's definitely no harm in becoming friends with us. Right, Young Master Ma?”
Guyang Cheong-jeong turned to Ma Han with an innocent expression.
The situation being what it was, Ma Han had no choice but to reluctantly play along.
“Countless prestigious families in the martial world ask to form ties with our houses. It's not often that we are the ones to extend a hand first.”
In truth, compared to Bu Eun-seol's status as a successor of the Ten Demonic Sects, they were merely successors of small sword families on the outskirts of Qinghai.
It was truly a case of a countryside tycoon boasting to an imperial prince living in a grand palace.
“I...”
Bu Eun-seol originally intended to refuse.
But seeing Guyang Cheong-jeong's persistent gaze, a sigh escaped him automatically.
‘She was the type who never gives up.’
Even if he refused, she would likely keep pestering him until she got her way. Just like with the Seogang Villa.
“Very well.”
Bu Eun-seol sighed deeply and nodded.
“Let's do that.”
Bu Eun-seol moved with Guyang Cheong-jeong's party to the banquet hall of the Seogang Villa.
Guyang Cheong-jeong had a servant bring out enough dishes and wine to fill the large banquet table.
“Can we possibly eat all this?”
At Bu Eun-seol's words, Guyang Cheong-jeong's eyes curved into crescents.
“It's fine if there are leftovers. This is my treat, so please eat a lot.”
As the guest of honor, Bu Eun-seol naturally ended up sitting in the seat of honor, next to Guyang Cheong-jeong.
As a result, he had no choice but to make small talk with her while they ate.
At this, the eyes of the six young men, who were sitting in their respective seats drinking, turned bloodshot.
The same emotion surfaced in all of their eyes.
That emotion was jealousy.
‘So that's how it was.’
Six men. The only woman was Guyang Cheong-jeong.
Moreover, she was a beautiful, witty, and lively young woman; it was impossible for young men in the prime of their lives not to fall for her.
‘Now I see why the successors of the Seven Sword Gates kept meeting.’
The reason the successors of the Seven Sword Gates, who had long had no ties, held regular meetings. It was all because of Guyang Cheong-jeong.
And this gathering was a silent battle among the successors to win her beautiful heart.
‘Getting involved with this woman leads to all sorts of trouble.’
Feeling the heat of six pairs of eyes on him, Bu Eun-seol gave a bitter smile.
And as expected, that ominous feeling became reality.