Chapter 85
Chapter 85
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Harmony Gathering Preparations
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Namgung Hyeok's eyes followed Geum Cheomsang, who was fidgeting in front of him.
Geum Cheomsang had been making a fuss for a while now.
"What are you doing?"
"Preparing for the Harmony Gathering."
"What's that?"
"It's an annual event."
"So?"
"We have to prepare."
"Why?"
"It's an annual... I've been repeating myself, haven't I? Or is it just me?"
Geum Cheomsang paused and looked at Namgung Hyeok.
Crunch crunch.
Namgung Hyeok shrugged as he vigorously chewed on a piece of fruit.
"Your head must be fuzzy."
"...It's not."
"So, what are we preparing?"
"Ah, come on! Take a look at this."
"Now it's chewing its words too."
Geum Cheomsang pretended not to hear and pulled a robe from a rack he'd set aside.
It was a luxurious robe with a blue base embroidered in silver thread.
"What do you think?"
"What."
"You have to wear it."
"That? You think I'm some scholar? It's exactly the color for one. I've never worn blue in my life."
"You used to wear it just fine..."
"Not anymore."
Geum Cheomsang grumbled as he pulled out another robe.
"How about this? Red and gold in perfect harmony, right?"
"Tacky."
"...It's from Heavenly Garment House."
"What's that?"
"The most famous tailor in Sichuan."
"Smells like a backwater town."
"No can do. It costs three hundred silver taels per robe."
"What?"
"No can do?"
"After that."
"Three hundred silver taels per robe."
Three hundred silver taels?
...For real?
"You're insane. Three hundred taels for that? Ha, unbelievable. Did they weave it from silkworm silk? Can it block a sword?"
"...It's not armor."
"Does it not burn?"
"What robe doesn't burn?"
"Then does it not get wet?"
"Of course it does."
"And it can't do any of that, but it's three hundred taels? Three hundred taels isn't some dog's name. You could buy a manor with that."
"What are you on about?"
Geum Cheomsang looked Namgung Hyeok up and down.
"The one you're wearing now is at least a hundred taels."
Namgung Hyeok blinked.
He glanced at his reflection in the polished mirror.
"...This black rag?"
"That silk is top-quality too. Hand-stitched by master craftsmen."
"..."
It left him speechless.
Just an ordinary-looking black silk robe with some fancy patterns— and that's a hundred taels?
'...Maybe it's not ordinary?'
Wow, and it's not even gold-plated.
Namgung Hyeok scratched his head.
'Just selling clothes would keep you fed.'
It was another reminder of the Namgung family's wealth.
A hundred taels, three hundred taels for a single robe—beyond his common sense.
And it wasn't even silkworm silk.
'...Hold on, the fabrics merchants gave me before felt even better than this.'
Why were those softer and higher quality?
'Then how much were those worth?'
Pretty sure I laid them in the doghouse...
Why didn't I care about possessions back then?
Aigoo, you fool.
You brought poverty on yourself!
Namgung Hyeok masked his expression and asked.
"So, is the Harmony Gathering important?"
"It's when all the family gathers."
"Family reunion."
"Not quite."
Geum Cheomsang held a robe up to Namgung Hyeok.
"It's not just direct and branch family—people come from all the family businesses scattered across Anhui Province."
In other words, the Harmony Gathering was settlement day.
A time to review everything the Namgung family managed, report on business finances and performance.
They also discussed budgets, investment lists, and external affairs.
Some called it the Hell Gathering instead of Harmony Gathering.
The atmosphere often turned disastrous.
"Ah, I see."
"Yes."
"Then why the fuss if it's just settlements?"
"Didn't I say? We review everything. With all the family elders there, we have to dress up."
"Oh?"
"Your reputation's soaring lately. All eyes will be on you, so we can't embarrass ourselves."
Namgung Hyeok clicked his tongue at Geum Cheomsang's firm tone.
So this is where the righteous faction's empty formalities come from.
'I think I heard the Sword King grumbling about it...'
He hadn't paid full attention, so details were fuzzy.
But it was definitely a hassle.
"Don't even think about skipping."
"...Hm."
"Anhui's Three Great Elders all attend the Harmony Gathering. You'd regret bolting."
Three Great Elders?
Pfft.
"I've got money. Tell them to wait till it's over."
"Ah... Of course you're the richest in the family, but skipping will bring more headaches. Imagine the elders chewing you out—whew."
"I'm skipping. I needed to kill time anyway."
"Yes, yes."
"Tsk tsk, what kind of servant is this guy."
Namgung Hyeok sighed and stood up.
"Just throw something on."
"No, you can't! The family elders..."
"Namgung Ryong says it's not."
"The eldest young master must be busy too—what... Huh?"
Geum Cheomsang froze at Namgung Ryong standing blankly at the door.
"Eldest young master?"
Namgung Ryong lifted the load in his hands.
A basket brimmed with finely sharpened swords.
Namgung Hyeok grinned.
"You brought something I like for once."
"Pick."
"Let's talk outside. But you're talking more these days?"
"..."
"Never mind. Do they wear stuff like that for the Harmony whatever?"
Namgung Hyeok shook his head with a smirk and turned to Geum Cheomsang.
Geum Cheomsang flinched, still clutching the robe.
"See? Get rid of it all."
"Young master, as your servant..."
"Yeah, not wearing it."
Namgung Hyeok flatly refused and dragged Namgung Ryong outside.
Geum Cheomsang, face fallen, stared at the piled robes and accessories before sighing.
'...Damn, shoulda asked first.'
Regret always comes too late.
* * *
Shing! Clang!
The clear clash of sword on sword rang out.
The crisp sound spread wide, lingering before fading.
Swish swish swish!
Namgung Hyeok swung the sword around, then ran his hand along the blade.
"Where'd you get it?"
"Hubei... Wuhu."
"Still artisans left in Wuhu? Quality's night and day from Iron Cloud House."
"Iron Divine Gate... acquired."
Ah, the sentence wasn't done?
Namgung Hyeok flicked the blade with his finger.
Ting!
It bent sharply at the tip before snapping back.
"Good resilience."
Kaang!
Swords clashed again, sparks flying.
"Good durability."
Namgung Hyeok slid the blade lightly along a tree.
Slice!
"Excellent cutting power."
It cut through without effort.
A bit of force and it'd slice steel like nothing.
'Impressive.'
Most of the swords Namgung Ryong brought were this caliber.
Iron Cloud House's weren't bad, but incomparable to Iron Divine Gate's.
Even at a realm beyond needing swords, good weapons caught his eye.
"Thought you needed them. Brought them."
Namgung Ryong spat out full sentences.
"A gift."
Stoic and toneless, barely human speech—but Namgung Hyeok nodded.
'If only he spoke well, he could've been my errand boy.'
Oops, friend, friend.
Endlessly giving like this, with such supply power? Qualifies as a poison-defeating friend, sure.
He couldn't help nodding.
"All of them?"
"If needed."
"Really?"
"Take them."
"Ah."
If only he spoke faster.
'Still, steadily getting these isn't bad. Heh heh.'
Keeps looking after this body steadily.
And he's family, after all.
Namgung Ryong smiled faintly watching Namgung Hyeok play with the swords.
His lip twitched like a sneer, but he was clearly pleased.
His brother was satisfied with his gift for once.
Pride swelled.
Like when he'd completed the upper half of the Sovereign Sword Form, Namgung Ryong thought.
'...Good weapons supplement martial prowess.'
At the same realm, the one with the better weapon had the edge.
Same technique yielded more power with a famed sword.
Weapons mattered more than thought.
Vmmm-!
At the clear sword cry, Namgung Ryong turned.
Namgung Hyeok infused qi into the sword he held.
The qi transmitted cleanly; the blade quivered and hummed.
Namgung Ryong watched silently.
Vrrrm!
The cry intensified; the quivering stopped.
Brief silence.
Fwoosh!
Like a candle igniting, azure sword aura bloomed from the blade.
Intense enough to startle Namgung Ryong.
Blue haze enveloped the blade, growing larger.
Namgung Ryong's pupils widened.
"...!"
He'd assumed a high realm, but manifesting sword aura? Astonishing.
Any late indices in Anhui under thirty handling aura like that?
Watching Namgung Hyeok casually bloom it brought a smile.
Innocent brother achieved something huge without knowing its weight.
And that talent blooming so late—such a pity.
'...No reason for family disdain then.'
If his body were healthier, or the Nine Yin Severed Meridians improved sooner—fewer wounds.
He'd have soared far higher by now.
But soon, it would.
Namgung Ryong believed his brother's wings rivaled anyone's.
Not for nothing called a hidden dragon.
'Grow fast.'
He gazed warmly at Namgung Hyeok.
Imagining roaming Jianghu with his grown brother lifted his spirits.
Brothers wandering—great experience, great times.
"Hm, transmission's solid too."
Muttering, Namgung Hyeok grabbed another sword; Namgung Ryong smiled.
'Sword aura's too much.'
No metal withstands it, artisan-made or not.
Aura slices steel like tofu.
'He really likes my gift.'
Sword too good; had to test it.
Didn't know Hyeok loved swords this much.
Namgung Ryong vowed to fetch famed swords next.
Then.
Fwoooosh!
Azure flames erupted from the sword in Namgung Hyeok's left hand.
Namgung Ryong blurted unwittingly.
"Two...?"
Five-chi sword aura blazed from both swords in his hands.
Namgung Ryong blinked.
Five chi each, held steady in both hands.
Casually breathing it out, Namgung Ryong's jaw dropped.
But Namgung Hyeok scowled at the aura, dissatisfied.
"Still far from familiar."
Then he clashed the swords.
Boom boom!
Flash flash! Rumble!
Thunder and lightning roared, flames spreading to Namgung Ryong's spot.
"...Hyeok."
Boom boom!
"...Hyeok?"
Boom! Booooom!
"..."
Booooom!
A massive boom; aura shards swept the ground.
Fwoomp!
The backlash blasted dirt everywhere; dust-covered Namgung Ryong just blinked.
Namgung Hyeok sheathed the sword in the basket.
"Nice sword."
Namgung Ryong spat out dust.
Silent for a moment, his lips crept upward.
"Ha, haha. Haha!"
"Why splitting wood?"
"Hahaha!"
Beyond imagination—Namgung Ryong's laughter poured out at Namgung Hyeok's prowess.
No need to wait.
They could set out right now.
Namgung Hyeok gave a hollow laugh, eyeing Namgung Ryong.
'He can laugh too?'
But even laughing's stiff.
A rock laughing would look more natural.
Namgung Hyeok shouldered the basket and trudged off.
Namgung Ryong followed, laughing ha ha ha.
"Ha, haha. Hahaha."
'...Cut it out, you punk.'