The Tyrant's Gaze
Unlike Namgung Woo, who was startled by the black-lensed glasses the woman was wearing, she simply turned her face forward again, as if her interest had already faded. At that action, Namgung Woo thought she must not care much for others, but the opposite was true. In fact, her mind had grown complicated by his very presence.
'What was that just now? Something… felt like I was being read… but that can't be possible….'
Though she appeared perfectly composed on the outside, her spirit was trembling. However, Namgung Woo, who had been momentarily shaken by the unexpected object's appearance, quickly regained his calm. It was thanks to the Gongryeong Singi of the Gongryeong Taeheo Singong, which he operated whenever he had a spare moment, sweeping away the cluttered thoughts in his head.
With his mind now clear, Namgung Woo calmly retraced the sensation he had felt. The woman was indeed a Transcendent Realm expert. Yet there was something ambiguous about her. If Paeng Ja-ryeong had given the clear impression of being a Transcendent Realm expert despite still having a long way to go, the feeling that this woman had entered the Transcendent Realm was quite faint.
'Similar to that Xuanwu Lion fellow. She's only just stepped into the Transcendent Realm.'
Even so, it was an astonishing level. It might sound ridiculous coming from Namgung Woo, but it was undeniably a remarkable achievement. However, something else drew his attention even more strongly.
'But what are those glasses? Did spectacles like that exist in this era?'
The round glasses with black lenses that the woman wore. To anyone looking, they were clearly sunglasses. And though Namgung Woo had no way of knowing it, such black-lensed glasses had already been used in the Central Plains for several hundred years—ever since the Song Dynasty, in fact. The only difference was that during the Song era they had been made by scorching crystal lenses to hide the wearer's gaze, whereas now they were crafted by processing black crystal.
Unaware of this, Namgung Woo could only assume they were some kind of special artifact created in a world where martial arts and mystical techniques truly existed.
His thoughts did not continue for long. It was because Hwa Yeok-pil, who had been watching the two of them standing side by side and observing each other, finally began to speak.
"I am Hwa Yeok-pil, the master of Guya Manor. At first I was torn between the three of you, but the content of the request from these two proved the most interesting."
At Hwa Yeok-pil's words, Wi Seong-ha muttered in a small voice, "If there were three, couldn't we have been included too?"
"Hmm? Young lady in the back, where did you come from?"
"Ah, um, I'm sorry. I… I came from Cheongsumun…."
"Oh-ho. That's right. Cheongsumun was one of the three. You've brought quite fine material. Unfortunately, these two gentlemen's offerings were more special. Are the two of you companions?"
When Hwa Yeok-pil asked why they had submitted overlapping requests, Wi Ji-ryang answered with an awkward expression.
"We are companions, but not particularly close. We simply hired the Changcheon Squad that Nam So-hyeop belongs to. So if our request was accepted, we planned to entrust the task to Nam So-hyeop instead."
"Hmm?"
This was news even to Namgung Woo. But it seemed the other two from Cheongsumun had already discussed it, as they silently supported Wi Ji-ryang's statement.
"I'm not entirely sure, but from what I just heard, it sounds like an incredibly precious object. Why would you bring something like that to me…?"
"It's embarrassing, but through this matter I've come to understand my own limits. I've also realized that even if one possesses a treasure, without the strength to protect it, that treasure will only become the seed of disaster. Therefore, rather than that, I decided it would be better to use it to purchase a valuable connection that could last for generations."
Namgung Woo let out a small sigh of admiration at Wi Ji-ryang's hesitant explanation. It was human nature to covet what one sees. When a precious object—one even Guya Manor would acknowledge—fell into one's hands, it was only natural for a desire to possess it to arise. As a martial artist, the fact that it could be turned into a weapon made it even more tempting. Yet Wi Ji-ryang had objectively analyzed himself and chosen to invest in forming a connection with Namgung Woo.
The young master of Cheongsumun was a completed successor, ready to let go of small things in order to obtain something greater.
"Will you accept it?"
The question of why Wi Ji-ryang had brought the Dragon Eye Wood was now resolved. The earlier assumption that he couldn't leave such a precious item unattended in an empty lodging had been wrong. He had brought it from the beginning with the intention of giving it to Namgung Woo.
"Gladly."
The moment Namgung Woo accepted Wi Ji-ryang's words, Hwa Yeok-pil suddenly clapped his hands.
Clap, clap, clap.
"Excellent. I've seen something good. Dragon Eye Wood imbued with spiritual energy… it would be perfect for making a scabbard."
If things had ended there, it would have been like a fine old fairy tale ending with "and they all lived happily ever after." But there was still a third party present.
"Master of Guya Manor."
Her voice was extremely flat and emotionless.
"Hmm?"
"I thought you told me to come alone. Are you showing me this so I'll give up?"
Though the words sounded cold and devoid of emotion, anyone with Hwa Yeok-pil's years of experience could sense the faint irritation and anger mixed within. The displeasure of a beauty of noble status was enough to instill fear in most listeners, yet Hwa Yeok-pil replied in his usual relaxed tone.
"Not at all. The request has not yet been decided. You still have your chance, young lady."
As the master of Guya Manor, Hwa Yeok-pil had faced far more bizarre and ferocious individuals than this. There was no way he would be shaken by such a mild warning. He openly reminded her that he held the superior position, yet the woman showed no particular reaction.
Having lost interest, Hwa Yeok-pil gave a brief explanation before moving on to the main topic.
"I gave the same instruction to that young master over there—to come alone. Yet they arrived together. Such differences also serve as useful information for understanding a person. I simply tested which of the two would better stimulate my creative desire."
"…I understand."
She didn't seem entirely convinced, Hwa Yeok-pil thought to himself. But there was nothing to gain by provoking someone who claimed to understand.
"Now we come to the main point… What the two young masters showed me earlier was impressive, but ending things here would diminish the meaning of this gathering. Therefore, I would like to make a proposal to both requesters."
Show me your form as swordsmen.
The meaning behind Hwa Yeok-pil's following words was clear enough for anyone to understand. Have a spar.
"Ah, I forgot one thing. Do not use sword gang."
Namgung Woo's eyes widened like lanterns. Had his true strength been seen through? It had never happened once since he finished adjusting his aura. How could Hwa Yeok-pil, whose internal energy cultivation was lower than Paeng Ha-ryeong's, have noticed?
It was an even greater shock than when he heard Wi Ji-ryang say he would present the Dragon Eye Wood. And Namgung Woo was not the only one surprised.
"Both of you have the same 'how did he know?' expression, I see? Hehe. If an outstanding swordsman can recognize an outstanding swordsmith, then naturally a swordsmith can recognize an outstanding swordsman, can he not?"
Compared to the shock the two felt, it was a rather vague answer, but both Namgung Woo and the woman accepted it as correct. It was a fragment of enlightenment shared by those who had reached a certain realm—the principle of division and unity within the great flow commonly called "all things return to one."
"Shall we begin right here?" Namgung Woo asked, looking around at their surroundings. The front courtyard was perfectly flat, without any decorations or flowering plants, as if it had been prepared in advance for a spar.
"Is it inconvenient?"
"Not at all."
Namgung Woo's body was no longer bound by the passage of a single day. Fighting for days on end would be another matter, but this was fine.
"The same for me."
The woman felt the same. Even after hearing that her opponent had entered the Transcendent Realm like herself, she did not retreat in the slightest.
"Members of the young master's party, please come this way."
In place of Hwa Yeok-pil, who was focused solely on the upcoming spar, Ju Yang-hong guided the others. Without anyone directing them, Namgung Woo and the woman took positions they each deemed appropriate and naturally faced one another.
"Changcheon Squad, Nam Woo."
"…Dokgo Bin."
At the woman's name, Namgung Woo's sword-like eyebrows twitched.
"Dokgo… Bin."
It was a surname he remembered. A surname he could never forget. Because it belonged to the family that had destroyed the Namgung Clan of this world.
"Of the Dokgo Clan?"
"What if I am?"
Dokgo Bin's retort was strangely curt. It was the attitude of someone who disliked being judged by the organization they belonged to. Yet Namgung Woo did not stop.
"There is one thing I wish to ask."
"……."
Dokgo Bin did not answer. However, her sword remained sheathed. Namgung Woo asked.
"Do you remember the Namgung Clan?"
This time, Dokgo Bin's willow-leaf eyebrows flinched. Because Namgung Woo's question was something she had not anticipated at all.
"…I will not answer."
The Namgung Clan. How could she not remember? For someone from the Dokgo Clan, it was a name they could never forget. Even if she had been born after the bloody feud with the Namgung Clan had effectively ended.
Sring—
With a clear ring, Dokgo Bin's sword was drawn from her waist.
"If you want an answer, defeat me first."
Namgung Woo also gripped his sword.
"In that case, it would be wise to prepare your answer in advance."