Chapter 116
Chapter 116
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: Hebei Peng Clan
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A tributary of the Yellow River flowed at the edge of Hebei Province.
A sailboat approached the dock where the muddy yellow waters surged fiercely.
Fishermen nearby, retrieving their nets, jerked their heads up in alarm as the current suddenly churned.
Amid the gray water mist, a massive shadow loomed, followed by a fearsome dragon head bursting forth.
The fishermen's faces turned pale as they shouted.
"......It's a dragon boat!"
"Wa-water bandits!"
"Eeeek!"
The dragon boat was the symbol of the water fortress. Its appearance at the dock meant they had come to plunder!
The fishermen scattered in panic, abandoning their nets.
Rumble rumble rumble!
Cleaving through the Yellow River's turbid waters and sediment, the sailboat forced its way in and settled at the dock.
Boom!
A large gangplank dropped onto the pier.
Wobble wobble!
Namgung Hyeok, still fully dressed, stepped down and stretched languidly.
"Kuh! Feels good. People really need to keep their feet on solid ground!"
"That's why I said we should've taken a carriage......"
"Let's hurry. Coming to Hebei fills me with energy."
The thought of finding Geom Mok's secret manual already had him brimming with enthusiasm.
But more than that......
'She'll finally go her own way now!'
So Hye-yeon stood awkwardly on the dock, holding her sword sheath.
Throughout the entire voyage on the dragon boat, she had only two things to say.
- I challenge you to a duel.
- Please teach me.
Was she kidding?
She seemed as quiet as Namgung Yong at first, but in some ways, she was incredibly chatty.
Every time their eyes met, out came that line.
Namgung Hyeok was completely fed up.
The Sword Pavilion's mindset, past or present.
'It's not right in the head.'
Namgung Hyeok shook his head and ignored So Hye-yeon.
'Especially her. She's even more off.'
How could she keep asking for a duel at every opportunity?
Even the Sword Empress from a century ago wasn't this persistent.
'That's why I can't get more involved. Time to shake her off properly.'
But how?
The old rule was to ignore Sword Pavilion members, but this time, ignoring might not be the answer.
Namgung Hyeok paused as he boarded the eight-horse carriage driven by Geon Cheon-hwi.
Namgung Yong was staring at So Hye-yeon and giving her a silent greeting with his eyes.
"Hey, you! Greeting someone from the Sword Pavilion?"
"Comrade......"
"Comrade my ass."
"Justice......"
"Shove it."
"You value justice......"
"Shove it, I said."
"......Must practice it."
"Hold on."
Namgung Hyeok stared at Namgung Yong.
'Come to think of it, they were about to duel, right?'
Unbelievable.
What a gem of a person.
Namgung Hyeok grinned and approached So Hye-yeon.
Her eyes grew serious. She raised her sword sheath and cupped her fists in salute.
"Young master, I challenge you to a......"
"Shh shh!"
Namgung Hyeok waved his hand lightly, cutting off her challenge.
He pulled Namgung Yong closer and said to the wide-eyed So Hye-yeon.
"You two were going to duel anyway. You didn't forget, right?"
Namgung Yong nodded, and So Hye-yeon's eyes widened.
"You two handle it. If you want to duel me, beat him first. Follow the order."
So Hye-yeon furrowed her delicate brows thoughtfully, then asked softly.
"......If I beat the eldest young master, will you duel me?"
"Beat him first."
"Yes!"
She answered readily.
A wicked smile crept onto Namgung Hyeok's lips as he whispered to Namgung Yong.
"Brother, you absolutely cannot lose. This is about the Namgung clan's honor. Got it?"
"......"
"Whether it's a hundred bouts or a thousand, you must win."
Namgung Yong nodded.
Geum Cheomsang, watching from behind, shook his head.
"You're devious."
"What?"
"Truly......"
"Shut your mouth."
"Sigh."
Shake shake.
Geum Cheomsang sighed, looking at Namgung Yong with pity.
So Hye-yeon cupped her fists toward Namgung Yong.
"So Hye-yeon of the Sword Pavilion challenges the eldest young master to a duel."
Namgung Yong cupped his fists in return.
She took it as permission and reached for her sword hilt.
Shing.
"Ah, wait a moment!"
Suddenly, Geum Cheomsang reached out from the side to stop her, and So Hye-yeon tilted her head.
"The young master says next time. We have urgent business now."
"......Pardon??"
So Hye-yeon stared blankly at Geum Cheomsang and Namgung Yong.
Namgung Yong nodded.
"We're heading to the Peng clan, and the schedule is tight—no time for a duel right now."
"......Did the young master really say that?"
"Yes."
"Telepathically?"
"No, he spoke it."
"......When?"
Was the river wind too strong, and she hadn't heard?
No, anyone not deaf would have heard.
So Hye-yeon looked blankly toward Namgung Hyeok.
He too had wide eyes, staring at Geum Cheomsang and Namgung Yong.
Huh?
His eyes looked just as dazed as hers.
"......"
"......"
"He says he wants to experience the Sword Pavilion's swordsmanship after finishing his business."
Whoosh.
With only the strong river wind blowing, Geum Cheomsang was the sole interpreter.
Once the conversation ended.
Namgung Hyeok shrugged.
"There, happy?"
"......Pardon?"
"That's what I wanted you to think."
She understood what he meant, but since Namgung Yong hadn't said a word, should she believe it?
Then, as if confirming, Namgung Yong spoke.
"Indeed."
"......"
So Hye-yeon's eyes wavered as Namgung Hyeok, Namgung Yong, and Geum Cheomsang turned and boarded the eight-horse carriage.
Still dazed, So Hye-yeon quickly fetched a horse from the boat and pursued the Namgung clan procession.
Inside the eight-horse carriage, Namgung Hyeok slumped into his seat.
"Whew, so tiring. Why is it getting colder? Feel that draft."
Had using his body after so long done it?
'I need to take it easy for a while.'
He was still recovering his innate qi, so better to lay low.
How many more times would he even need to move like this?
'The duel will be handled by our eldest anyway, so I can focus on my own tasks!'
As Namgung Hyeok nodded to himself, Geum Cheomsang handed him a hot cup of tea from the side.
"What about the dragon boat? And the water bandits on it?"
"The bandits are tied up, and the boat...... someone will handle it."
"......Huh?"
He couldn't keep rowing with captured bandits forever, and that ridiculously huge dragon boat was too conspicuous.
It was easiest to just leave it for others to deal with.
He'd sell it if he could, but who would buy a dragon boat?
The moment you took it out on the river, the water fortress lunatics would chase you to the death.
Regrettable, but it had to be abandoned.
"How long will it take?"
"By carriage, about three days."
"Yeah?"
"But did you see that building just now? Even in the outskirts, they have such grand halls. Amazing."
"Whatever."
"Ooh! Their clothes look different too? So stylish. Haha, can already smell Peking!"
Namgung Hyeok clicked his tongue at Geum Cheomsang bouncing with excitement.
"Cold. Close the door."
"......I'm just peeking through the crack."
"That's what I mean—block the crack. You're not a kid."
"......You seem pretty happy for someone saying that."
"For various reasons."
"Like what?"
"Just stuff."
Namgung Hyeok tuned out Geum Cheomsang's mumbling.
Three days later, the Namgung clan procession entered Peking.
And So Hye-yeon followed them all the way to Peking.
* * *
At the grand gate, a plaque boldly proclaimed "Hebei Peng Clan" in powerful script.
True to their reputation as the foremost in saber arts in the Central Plains, the strokes were bold and fierce.
Before the Hebei Peng Clan stood two giant warriors like heavenly guardians, overlooking the halted procession.
Towering at six feet, the hulks glared down with bulging eyes.
To ordinary folk, their presence was intimidating enough to make knees buckle.
Namgung Hyeok, admiring the Peng clan's might from afar, pulled his collar tight.
"Ugh, freezing. Why is it even colder here?"
Even layered in sheepskin coats, the knife-like wind pierced through.
'She really followed to the end. How far does she plan to go? Persistent.'
He shook his head at So Hye-yeon waiting off to the side.
But So Hye-yeon was equally troubled.
She stared blankly at the Hebei Peng Clan.
'......What do I do?'
She fidgeted anxiously.
'They'll leave once business is done.'
Namgung Yong aside, Namgung Hyeok definitely would.
This was a first.
Over a year traveling the jianghu, challenging duels in the Sword Pavilion's name, no one had ignored her this thoroughly.
Usually, they'd be startled by the Sword Pavilion name, chat a bit, and naturally duel.
But Namgung Hyeok, Namgung Yong, even the Thunder Dragon Squad showed no reaction to "Sword Pavilion."
Their complete indifference was unnerving.
'Hmm!'
She agonized deeply.
'But I must learn.'
Namgung Yong's swordsmanship was impressive, but Namgung Hyeok had something else.
That prowess against the Yangtze Water Fortress chief.
Strength beyond his years.
Thus, the dilemma.
Follow into the Hebei Peng Clan or not.
She had little interest in the Peng clan without a duel, heightening her anxiety.
Such apathy might even cancel the promised duel.
'I'll follow.'
As So Hye-yeon resolved herself, unaware of her gaze, Namgung Hyeok chuckled.
Another gust made him shiver, but a bright smile lit his face.
'Finally here!'
Time to work. Once done......
Heh heh.
Namgung Hyeok smiled at Namgung Yong.
"You know who I trust, right?"
"......?"
"See you later then. I have business—I'm off!"
Namgung Hyeok waved lightly and turned.
Grab.
"......?"
A hand seized his collar, and he turned.
Namgung Yong shook his head calmly.
"No."
"......Huh?"
"Together."
"I need to travel a bit! You can handle the formalities alone. Let go!"
Namgung Hyeok flailed his limbs, grabbed by Namgung Yong.
Thickened by layers of sheepskin, his arms and legs swung like clubs.
But it was futile.
"You'll catch a cold."
Namgung Yong bluntly wrapped him in cloth with a whirl.
"......What?"
Namgung Yong's swift bundling left Namgung Hyeok stunned.
Wrapped so tight only his eyes and nostrils showed.
Whoosh.
Casually, Namgung Yong hoisted him over his shoulder.
Geum Cheomsang quietly gave two thumbs up, and the Thunder Dragon Squad gasped in admiration.
"Mmph! Mmmph!"
'No, why are you doing this? Side with me, side with me......'
What was this betrayal?
He thought Namgung Yong would always agree with him, but no.
'The world truly has no one reliable.'
Feeling life's impermanence, Namgung Hyeok was forcibly dragged to the Hebei Peng Clan gates.
The giant gate guards eyed Namgung Yong and the cloth bundle(?) on his shoulder.
"What is it?"
"......"
"Mmph mmph!"
The wriggling bundle startled the Peng clan warrior.
'What the hell is that? A person?'
Amid the absurdity.
Geum Cheomsang pulled out the Namgung clan's token from his bosom.
A plaque engraved with an eagle soaring skyward.
"From the Namgung clan. This is our eldest young master, and this one...... ahem, the second young master. We sent word ahead, right?"
The Peng clan warrior eyed the token blankly, then looked at Geum Cheomsang indifferently.
"Hmm, haven't received any report yet. Wait a moment. I'll check."
"No way. We notified when leaving headquarters and again three days ago."
"Wait. That's the policy."
"How long?"
"The main house is swamped right now. Probably half a day."
"What?!"
As Geum Cheomsang gaped at the Peng warrior.
So Hye-yeon stepped forward.
"Who might you be?"
The Peng clan warrior asked her.
Beneath her face veil, So Hye-yeon bit her lip.
She drew out her token.
The Lotus Plaque, symbol of the Little Sword Empress, given by the Sword Pavilion master.
"From the Sword Pavilion."
"Pardon?"
"......Sword Pavilion."
"Th-the Sword Pavilion?!"
The stoic Peng warrior recoiled in shock.
Then bowed deeply.
"Oh, such a noble guest! Please, enter at once!"
So Hye-yeon didn't move, glancing aside.
The Peng warrior flinched and smiled awkwardly.
"......Wait inside for now. Can't leave a guest standing. Ahem! Escort her in!"
Namgung Yong's brow furrowed deeply, Geum Cheomsang's eyes narrowed slightly.
The Thunder Dragon Squad ground their teeth, while Namgung Hyeok, muffled in cloth, gleamed with interest.
'Oh ho?'
The Peng clan was a big deal?
Interesting.
Namgung Hyeok's lips curled up.