Chapter 135
Chapter 135
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 135
Chapter Title: What’s Ten Moves?
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The thousand celebrants seated in the Mixed Origin Hall furtively watched Peng Tianwei's expression.
From the moment the banquet began, his quiet presence at the head seat had emanated an overwhelming aura, putting everyone on edge.
Though the event was nominally Peng Yuanhua's birthday celebration, the one whose mood they truly had to gauge was Peng Tianwei, seated at the head.
These guests, prominent figures from influential sects in their regions, hadn't traveled a thousand li just to celebrate a junior's birthday.
Their goal was to build ties with the Hebei Peng Clan, self-proclaimed leaders among the Five Great Families.
And the one making that possible was none other than Family Head Peng Tianwei, so they couldn't help but hang on his every breath.
Ding! Diring! Ding ding ding!
At that moment, the sounds of plucking strings and strumming filled the banquet hall.
The notes intertwined in harmony, weaving a beautiful melody that swept away the heavy atmosphere.
Soon, dancers in vibrant red attire flooded the center of the Mixed Origin Hall, moving gracefully to the rhythm.
The crowd lost themselves in the splendid, captivating display.
"Haha! Excellent."
"Ooh, as expected of the Hebei Peng Clan. Aren't those performers from the imperial palace?"
"The musicians are the best in the world!"
With the tension eased, the guests watched the performance with joyful faces.
The flavorful Beijing delicacies and fragrant liquors further lifted their spirits.
As the mood ripened, Lian Ha-gun of the Jinju Lian Clan ascended to the head seat.
His gaze fixed on Peng Yuanhua, seated beside Peng Tianwei.
Peng Yuanhua, dressed in a garment embroidered with golden threads on a red base and fully made up, was as radiant as a blooming plum blossom.
Lian Ha-gun, momentarily entranced, snapped to attention under Peng Tianwei's gaze.
"I am Lian Ha-gun of the Jinju Lian Clan. To celebrate Miss Peng's birthday, I have prepared a modest gift."
At his gesture, a servant hurried over.
"It is ink iron. Hearing that Miss Peng has an interest in swords, I went to great lengths to obtain it. I hope it pleases you."
Ink iron was three times more valuable than gold of equal weight.
Peng Yuanhua's eyes sparkled, and Peng Tianwei let out a hearty laugh beside her.
"Hahaha! What a special gift. Ink iron is rare—you must have put in quite the effort."
"It is merely a small token of my sincerity."
"The Lian Clan's iron mines are renowned for their quality ore. This ink iron is top-grade, perfect for forging a famed blade. Yuanhua, what are you waiting for?"
Peng Yuanhua lightly bowed her head.
"Young Master Lian's gift is most pleasing. I'll craft a fine sword and show it to you later."
"Hahaha! It will surely become a divine blade! With ink iron of this caliber, that is. Ahem!"
Lian Ha-gun boasted endlessly before returning to the VIP seats, his cheeks flushed with pride.
Starting with him, gifts for Peng Yuanhua poured forth from the VIP seats.
Each one was as impressive as the ink iron, matching the prestige of the Hebei Peng Clan.
It was only natural for the birthday of the daughter of the world's foremost clan.
"I thank you all for caring so much for my daughter's birthday. All I can offer is fine liquor and food, so eat and drink your fill, and enjoy yourselves!"
"Yes, Family Head!"
"Hahaha!"
The atmosphere turned warm and lively in an instant.
Peng Tianwei rose from his seat and raised his cup high.
All eyes naturally turned to him.
Peng Tianwei swept his gaze around, a smile curving his lips.
"For the next ten days, eat, drink, and revel to your heart's content before you go! Hahaha!"
Peng Tianwei drained his cup three times in succession, then turned it upside down and shook it.
"Waaah!"
"Hahaha!"
Applause and cheers erupted, pushing the mood to a fever pitch.
Peng Tianwei laughed heartily as he scanned the room once more.
His gaze halted at one spot in the VIP seats.
The area reserved for honored guests from across the land.
One seat in the corner of what should have been a full house stood empty.
Peng Tianwei's brows subtly furrowed.
He hadn't shown it, but it had been nagging at him all along.
Recalling the owner of that empty seat filled him with disbelief and irritation.
He had planned to make an example in front of everyone, yet the man hadn't even shown his face.
"By the way."
His low voice spread through the Mixed Origin Hall.
Eyes turned to Peng Tianwei, who rested his chin on his hand.
"Has the Nangong Family not arrived yet?"
The boisterous hall fell deathly silent in an instant.
Peng Junghyuk glanced at the VIP seats and smiled faintly.
"They must have some circumstances."
"Circumstances?"
"Didn't they send a gift to show their sincerity? Surely they didn't deliberately skip the main family's event."
Peng Junghyuk spoke in a smooth, oily tone.
Lian Ha-gun, seated in the VIP section, chimed in snidely.
"Brother, isn't this rather rude?"
"Who are you referring to?"
"The Nangong Family. Even as guests, they should observe decorum—instead, they just vanish without a word. Tsk."
Peng Junghyuk grinned slyly and played along.
"It seemed more like an issue with Young Master Nangong Hyeok, their representative."
"It's all the same! Sending someone like that as their representative—isn't that the Nangong Family's failing?"
"Hmm."
"Even small martial halls pay attention to each other's events, yet to skip such a grand banquet without a word..."
No need to say more—everyone shared the sentiment.
The juniors shook their heads and added their own barbs.
"Young Master Nangong Hyeok was rude even at the gathering."
"He seemed like trouble from the start."
"But skipping Miss Peng's birthday banquet without a word?"
"He knows nothing of etiquette."
Each word from the VIP seats made Peng Tianwei's eyebrow twitch.
The more he mulled it over, the more irritation bubbled up.
His gaze shifted to the empty seat in the VIP section.
Then, looking at Geum Cheomsang, who stood awkwardly behind it, he spoke quietly.
"Did he leave no word for me?"
The quiet voice carried a heavy pressure, making Geum Cheomsang gasp.
Geum Cheomsang fidgeted as he opened his mouth.
"W-Well, that is..."
"The reason for his absence from the banquet."
"W-Well, you see..."
Geum Cheomsang stammered, swallowing his words.
With all eyes on him, his insides burned.
Peng Tianwei's lip curled slightly up, then down.
"No proper reason, and no idea where he went? They send a mere gift and skip an invited seat without a word—is that the Nangong Family's etiquette?"
The voice laced with subtle fury made Geum Cheomsang feel his soul fleeing.
As mere Nangong Hyeok's servant, Peng Tianwei's presence was too overwhelming.
Even the fleeting glimpses of emotion made his heart plummet.
"I-I'm sorry. The two young masters had sudden business..."
Geum Cheomsang bowed deeply, face twisted in distress.
*Where the hell did they go!*
This was maddening.
Nangong Hyeok's disappearance was one thing, but Nangong Ryong vanishing too was beyond imagination.
On top of that, not a single Thunder Dragon Squad member in sight—his gut was on fire.
Why was "black-hearted rascal" popping into his head now?
Skipping the banquet?
Ditching it entirely!
It was deviance he couldn't comprehend without being tainted by Nangong Hyeok.
*Why are you doing this to me, seriously?*
Geum Cheomsang's inner wail didn't last long.
Peng Tianwei snorted, chin still propped.
"Is that the Nangong Family's will?"
"I-I'm just a servant..."
"I never thought the Nangong Family would disdain the main house like this. Otherwise, they wouldn't act this way."
Geum Cheomsang frantically excused himself.
"No, th-that can't be. You see, this is..."
Mid-sentence, spotting Peng Tianwei's fierce eyes, Geum Cheomsang clamped his mouth shut.
Peng Tianwei's glare was so intense it made even Tak Hyukdong—second to none in foul moods—seem like a cute potato.
*Haa... we're done for.*
As Geum Cheomsang hung his head, swallowing dryly.
Peng Junghyuk, watching, smirked venomously.
"Young Master Nangong Hyeok must be out of practice with etiquette after his long illness."
Lian Ha-gun shook his head.
"It's not lack of practice—it's rudeness, brother. Didn't you see it at the gathering?"
"People can act up when sick, can't they?"
"Does a sick person challenge others to spar? He disrupted the gathering, and I knew it would come to this."
Lian Ha-gun grimaced, his injuries from Nangong Hyeok still smarting.
"And such a cowardly sneak attack. No matter how fallen the Nangong Family is, do they really need despicable tricks just to win?"
"Ha-gun, calm down."
"But it's the truth, isn't it? When was the Nangong Family ever like this?"
The words insulted the Nangong Family, but Peng Junghyuk didn't stop him.
Instead, he stepped back with an intrigued expression.
It was then.
Little Sword Princess So Hye-yeon, who had sat silently in the VIP seats, spoke softly.
"The Nangong Family's swordsmanship I faced was anything but light."
Her voice was quiet yet strong and clear, drawing all attention.
Eyes converged on So Hye-yeon.
Peng Junghyuk narrowed his brows at her.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Just as I said. The Nangong Family's sword is never light."
"Well, the stories I've heard differ somewhat."
Peng Junghyuk sneered openly.
He deeply disliked that the Sword Pavilion's Little Sword Princess was defending the Nangong Family.
Her acknowledgment of their sword irked him.
Peng Junghyuk glanced sideways; Peng Tianwei also looked displeased.
Those who attended the juniors' gathering showed their discomfort toward So Hye-yeon openly.
After gauging the mood, Peng Junghyuk spoke.
"You must think poorly of it since it uses the same swordsmanship."
"..."
"Our house's saber arts have always been underrated. Martial enthusiasts always rate swordsmen a notch higher."
The words carried layers of meaning.
But most were mockery and scorn.
So Hye-yeon offered no retort.
Peng Junghyuk twisted his lips.
"If the chance arises, I'd like to show our house's saber arts. Or perhaps pit them against the Nangong Family's swordsmanship, endorsed by the Sword Pavilion—that wouldn't be bad."
"It would be a valuable experience."
So Hye-yeon replied flatly.
"Yes, of course. If our house's saber arts defeat the Nangong Family's swordsmanship, wouldn't that be new proof?"
Peng Junghyuk lifted one corner of his mouth, baring a canine.
"But it won't happen against our saber arts. Be it Nangong Family's Sword Dragon or Young Master Yi—I'll subdue any of them in ten exchanges. That's the level of Nangong swordsmanship in my eyes."
His voice dripped with scorn, disdain, and confidence.
"Haha! Brother, then may our Jinju Lian fists prove it first? That our fists are no light matter!"
Peng Junghyuk, watching Lian Ha-gun mimic So Hye-yeon and chuckle, spoke with utmost leisure.
"Haha! Yes, if you can, go ahead. But there's no way to prove it, is there? The Nangong Family's VIPs vanished without a word, didn't they?"
"You notice quickly. Ha, what a shame. I wanted a proper match."
"Hahaha! Seeing the Nangong Family's sword isn't easy. They never step out of Anhui Province."
As Peng Junghyuk and Lian Ha-gun bantered and laughed.
A commotion began filtering into the now-silent Mixed Origin Hall.
The noise from outside grew louder, soon reaching the doors.
Bewildered faces turned toward the entrance.
As all gazes focused on the doors.
Kwa-aang!
The massive doors of the Mixed Origin Hall burst open to either side with a thunderous boom, as if about to shatter.
Eyes widened as they stared at the open portal.
"W-What?"
"Huh?"
At the grand entrance.
Nangong Hyeok, looking as if he'd been buried in dirt, glared at the head seat of the Mixed Origin Hall.
Through his disheveled, dirt-caked hair, his flushed face appeared, and his fierce eyes flashed.
"What's ten moves? You bastard?"
Nangong Hyeok's enraged voice echoed through the Mixed Origin Hall.