Chapter 118: Dragon and Phoenix Gathering-2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 118: Dragon and Phoenix Gathering-2
"Give me everything you have to eat!"
Stepping into Pungcheonru, Yorang shouted at the top of her lungs while waving a silver coin in her hand.
She didn't know the exact value of silver, but she understood that a piece this size was enough to order every dish in the inn. To her, that was all the value silver needed to have.
"........."
"........."
Despite her shout, however, no one answered. Everyone in the inn simply stared at her face.
"What's wrong? Is there no waiter here!?"
Unable to bear the silence, Yorang shouted again. She had ordered at inns with Sun-woo several times before, so she knew that a waiter was the person who took orders.
It was then that a young boy, looking barely adolescent, came scurrying toward her.
"Female Martial Artist, Pungcheonru has been booked entirely by those gentlemen today. We are not open to general customers."
The boy approached Yorang and spoke in a low voice, casting wary glances around the room. The people who had rented out Pungcheonru today were all martial artists. He feared that if their tempers were provoked, this beautiful woman might come to harm.
"Was it not posted in front of Pungcheonru?"
Furthermore, a large-character poster had been clearly displayed in front of the building, stating that they would not be accepting general customers today. It seemed this woman had failed to see it.
"I didn't see anything like that."
Of course, Yorang, who was illiterate, had no way of knowing. She was currently in a foul mood. To think that after clutching her starving stomach and finally reaching an inn, they wouldn't sell her food—what kind of nonsense was this?
"There are plenty of seats there, and there, too! I'll eat quietly, so just give me one spot!"
Yorang continued, pointing her finger at various empty seats.
"I am sorry, but it is impossible. Those gentlemen have reserved the entire venue, so it cannot be used."
At those words, Yorang puffed out her cheeks. Her expression clearly showed her displeasure. With so many empty seats, why wouldn't they give her even one? Anger began to crawl up within her.
"Then I can just ask those people directly, right?"
Having said her piece, Yorang began to stride confidently toward the second floor where they were gathered.
"What!? Wait... wait a moment!"
The waiter tried to stop her in a panic, but she had already reached the second floor before he knew it.
Thump. Thump.
Yorang walked majestically toward the largest man among those sitting in the seats of honor on the second floor. By Yorang's standards, among similar creatures, the largest one was always the leader.
"Can I eat here?"
Hearing this, Hwangbo Ak could only nod with a dazed expression.
*
"Give me everything you have to eat!"
When Pungcheonru first opened and the woman's voice rang out, the Rising Stars of the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering were incredibly displeased. Had they not spent a fortune to book Pungcheonru for themselves today?
Pungcheonru was a tavern famous for its fine cuisine even within Gyunhyeon, so the cost of a day's reservation was no small sum.
Nevertheless, the Rising Stars had not hesitated to book it. For them—disciples of prestigious sects and children of prestigious clans—the idea of sharing the same air and enjoying wine with those of a lower class was unimaginable.
It wasn't as if they lacked money, and the annual fees they collected were substantial, so the amount wasn't a burden. However, just because it wasn't a burden didn't mean it was money to be spent carelessly.
A gathering meant for their own private celebration had been turned unpleasant by that woman's single shout. Those sitting in the seats of honor on the second floor stood up to inspect the woman who had entered. They intended to give whoever it was a harsh scolding.
But the moment they saw her...
Not a single person could open their mouth.
Hair as lustrous and black as ebony, eyes deeper than a deer's, a nose that was perfectly straight, pink lips glowing redder than cherries, and skin fairer than white jade.
A Peerless Beauty.
Indeed. A woman possessed of such overwhelming beauty that one dared to utter the word "peerless" had appeared.
Regardless of gender, everyone fell under the spell of her mysterious and exquisite appearance. Could such a beautiful woman truly exist under heaven?
All the "Dragons" swallowed hard at the sight of her, and the "Phoenixes" couldn't help but concede. They felt that even if they were men, they would have reacted the same way.
Thump. Thump.
Hwangbo Ak's heart, in particular, began to beat more wildly than anyone else's. In all his twenty-six years, he had never seen such a lovely woman.
Though Cheonbong Lee Ye-seol and Zhifeng Zhuge Jia were famous for their beauty in the Murim, Hwangbo Ak could say with certainty: even those exquisite women would be nothing more than fireflies beneath the moonlight in front of this woman.
He trembled. Though he usually held manliness as his greatest virtue, his shivering heart began to stir a sensitivity akin to that of a young girl.
Who was this woman? Why had she visited Pungcheonru with such a sorrowful face? Countless thoughts began to swirl through his head.
Then, suddenly, the woman began to walk toward the second floor.
Thump. Thump.
Thump. Thump.
With every step she took, the sound of his heart seemed to echo in sync.
"Ugh."
Hwangbo Ak unconsciously clutched his chest. He felt as if he might lose his mind.
It was then. She stopped right in front of Hwangbo Ak.
"Can I eat here?"
A voice like rolling jade beads flowed from her lovely mouth. Hearing that voice, Hwangbo Ak had no choice but to nod blankly.
What man could possibly refuse this woman's request? If such an insolent person existed, he vowed he would crush them with his iron mace.
Seeing Hwangbo Ak's reaction, the woman gave a clear, bright smile, and at that smile, every man in the room was forced to clutch his heart.
*
Having received Hwangbo Ak's permission, Yorang scurried back down and sat in an empty seat.
"Give me everything you have to eat!"
She shouted loudly at the waiter once more.
"Ye... Yes!"
Startled out of his daze by her words, the waiter dashed toward the kitchen.
"Hehehehe."
Yorang was in a very good mood right now. Although the waiter had tried his best to stop her, she had eventually gained permission and was going to eat. Sun-woo would surely praise her greatly if he knew.
She felt a bit resentful toward the waiter for being so stubborn when permission was granted so easily, but deciding to forgive him with her vast magnanimity, she quietly waited for the food to arrive.
Meanwhile, Hwangbo Ak, whom she had left behind, suffered from a pain as if his heart were bursting.
Didn't "eating here" mean eating by his side? As soon as she got his permission, she had scurried down to take a seat on the lower floor. Even her retreating back was exquisitely beautiful, but seeing her leave like that left him with a sense of emptiness, as if he had lost his other half.
He couldn't just stay still. Hwangbo Ak stood up. He intended to go to her and invite her to join their table.
It was then.
"Young lady, have you come here alone?"
Hwangbo Ak was taken aback. Someone had reached her one step ahead of him.
"I am Hwa Un-san of the Mount Hua Sect. The world calls me the Plum Sword Dragon."
The identity of the first guest was Hwa Un-san, a pretty boy who had seduced countless women with his clean-cut face.
"Ooh, I see."
Yorang replied indifferently to his question. It was a perfectly natural reaction, as she wasn't particularly interested in what he was saying.
"If it wouldn't be an intrusion, I would like to invite you to join us. Actually, Pungcheonru has been booked entirely by our Dragon and Phoenix Gathering today, so normally you would have to leave. However, as a chivalrous warrior of the Orthodox Faction, how could I turn away someone who is hungry? As the leader of the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering, I will 'specially' help you join us and enjoy the banquet."
Hwa Un-san began to introduce himself with silver-tongued eloquence. The Dragon and Phoenix Gathering was the finest organization in the Murim, where only the best of the best among the Rising Stars gathered. It was a name that no one stepping foot in the Murim could fail to know.
Furthermore, by naturally mentioning his status as the leader of the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering, Hwa Un-san intended to win Yorang's favor. He believed there weren't many women who could refuse a man like him—someone with a handsome face, impressive skills, and a high status.
"I prefer being alone!"
Yorang replied loudly to his words. There wasn't even enough food to share between her and Sun-woo; why on earth would she want to share it with those people?
"Hahaha, it seems you've misunderstood something. Young lady, this place has been booked entirely by our Dragon and Phoenix Gathering. Normally, entry for outsiders is strictly forbidden."
"That guy gave me permission."
Yorang pointed her finger at Hwangbo Ak, who was watching them from the second floor.
"Hahahaha. Young lady, while Brother Hwangbo is an excellent member of the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering, he does not have the authority to decide such important matters. All authority is decided only through me, the leader of the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering."
It was then.
"Brother Hwa! What do you mean by that? Even if I am not the leader, are you saying I cannot even let one woman into the tavern?"
Hearing those words, Hwangbo Ak stood up in a fit of rage. He couldn't stand the thought of being belittled in front of such an exquisite woman.
"Brother Hwangbo, calm yourself. I was merely speaking the truth. This Pungcheonru was booked using the annual fees we all collected together; how can you let an outsider in as you please?"
"Is that not the same for you, Brother Hwa? Since when did the leader of the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering become a dictator who rules over the Dragons? I, Hwangbo Ak, have never placed myself under you."
It was true. Although he was the leader of the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering, his actual role was merely to lead the meetings, arrange venues, and collect annual fees. He had absolutely no right to openly tell the other Dragons what to do.
"Ugh... Hwang... bo Ak!"
Hwa Un-san's face turned red at Hwangbo Ak's words, and his voice rose. What Hwangbo Ak had said was an incredibly insolent act that undermined his authority as the leader of the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering in front of everyone. It was a total humiliation.
Moreover, wasn't the Peerless Beauty watching him? It was a disgrace.
Hwa Un-san began to circulate his internal energy, activating the Great Void One-Qi Art. He was a Rising Star representing Mount Hua. For him to be disgraced was the same as smearing the honor of Mount Hua. If he had been disgraced, he had to pay it back. That was the way of the Murim.
"Hwangbo Ak! You have stained not only my honor, Hwa Un-san, but the honor of the great Mount Hua Sect. It's a duel! Come down here this instant!"
Schwing!
Hwa Un-san drew his sword from the scabbard at his waist and pointed it at him. He shouted so loudly that the entire Pungcheonru shook.
"Fine! I never liked your frivolous nature anyway. How dare a man who looks like a rat claim to be the master of the Dragons!"
Hwangbo Ak also jumped up from his seat and began to crack his knuckles. He had never liked Hwa Un-san's habit of hitting on every woman he saw, nor his incredibly light and careless personality.
But to think he would not only eye the Peerless Beauty he had fallen for at first sight but also claim to be the master of the Dragons—this was something even the Buddha, let alone the Primordial Heavenly Lord, would understand him for beating the man to death.
Hwangbo Ak leaped down from the second floor.
Thump. Thump.
He walked slowly and stood before Hwa Un-san.
"If we fight here, this lovely young lady might get hurt, so let's take it outside."
Hwangbo Ak spoke to him as calmly as possible. In his heart, he wanted to plant a fist in that annoying face right now, but he feared that this woman, as fragile as a sparrow, might be harmed.
"Heh, I see. With your pathetic martial arts, you wouldn't have the confidence to fight while protecting her."
Hwa Un-san let out a smirk and replied to Hwangbo Ak's words.
"What!?"
"As for me, I am confident I can face you without letting a single hair on her head be harmed."
Hwa Un-san provoked Hwangbo Ak with an even deeper smirk. Although they were both called Dragons, Hwa Un-san had always considered himself superior to an ignorant brute like Hwangbo Ak.
"I am also confident I can fight while protecting her from the likes of you!"
At that provocation, Hwangbo Ak charged forward with a roar. His rage boiled over at being belittled until the very end in front of the woman he liked.
"Then what's the problem? Come at me!"
"I'll make you regret those words!"
The two "Dragons" began to radiate their momentum as they drew upon their internal energy.
Woooooooong.
Crackle. Crackle.
The sound of their clashing auras echoed like crackling lightning.
Boom!
And soon, Hwa Un-san's sword and Hwangbo Ak's fist collided, erupting in a massive sonic boom.
The fight had begun.
Yorang simply tilted her head and watched the scene blankly.