Chapter 54: Super Peak Realm (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 54: Super Peak Realm (1)
Namgung Su-ah shot him a look of lingering regret.
“If not today, there might never be another chance, you know?”
“Ah, right. Please, just stop.”
“I’m telling you this in case you misunderstand, but my body is pure. I’ve never known a man. I’m not the kind of woman who throws herself at just anyone.”
“…Then why are you doing this to me? I really am just ‘anyone.’”
As Seo-jun slunk backward, Chun-bong stepped forward.
Brimming with newfound confidence, the young girl no longer felt any hesitation.
“Hey. Why do you keep hitting on him, Ajumma?”
“Excuse me…?”
Namgung Su-ah’s eyes twitched. That clearly struck a nerve.
“Anyway, this guy is a total deviant who only likes little girls, so he’s not going to be interested in someone lugging around two lumps of fat like that, okay?”
Chun-bong wiggled her eyebrows, shooting a sidelong glare at Namgung Su-ah’s ample chest.
“Hey, right?”
“No, that’s not it! I told you, I don't have a thing for kids! That’s a total misunderstanding!”
“Ugh, seriously! Just play along!”
“Ah, so that’s how it is?”
Seo-jun smacked his fist into his palm and gave a bright smile.
“That’s what she says.”
“Aha.”
Quickly masking her irritation with a faint smile, Namgung Su-ah lightly tapped the sword hanging at her waist.
It wasn’t her usual greatsword, but the longsword she had received as a prize for the martial arts tournament. The greatsword was nowhere to be seen.
“Mmm… Anyway, let’s not stand around in this room. Perhaps we could share a cup of tea and have a proper conversation?”
“Hmm…”
“I’d like to talk about our last duel. It left quite an impression on me. Especially that sword strike of yours—the one that contained the heavens.”
“Oh, really?”
His mood instantly lifting, Seo-jun nodded eagerly.
“Shall we, then?”
Pinch! A small hand nipped hard at his side, though it didn’t hurt much.
* * *
The tea house Namgung Su-ah led them to was far grander than expected.
The building was a lavish multi-story structure. As soon as the waiter spotted Namgung Su-ah, he immediately escorted the group to the VIP section on the top floor.
“The Longjing tea here is exquisite.”
“Longjing tea? Isn’t that expensive?”
“No, it’s not much.”
At Namgung Su-ah’s words, Seo-jun looked around, but he couldn’t spot anything resembling a menu.
Suddenly overcome with curiosity, he couldn’t help but stop a passing waiter.
“Excuse me.”
“Yes, how can I help you, sir?”
“How much is the Longjing tea here?”
The waiter silently held up three fingers.
Three copper coins?
As Seo-jun tilted his head in confusion, the waiter leaned in and whispered.
“Silver taels.”
“Oh…”
That’s damn expensive.
When he looked back at Namgung Su-ah with a dubious expression, she only offered a soft, elegant smile.
“It’s not much, right?”
“Ah, yes.”
Come to think of it, this woman wasn’t just born with a silver spoon in her mouth; it was a diamond one.
As a direct descendant of the Namgung Clan, her status rivaled that of a kingdom's princess. Even though Seo-jun had acquired some decent money from raiding the Black Tiger Sect, his wealth couldn’t even begin to compare to hers.
As Seo-jun scratched his head awkwardly, Chun-bong furrowed her brows.
“Hey, I’ll buy it for you. Why are you acting so pathetic?”
“Oh my.”
But Chun-bong... your money is my money.
Since they pooled their funds and spent them together anyway, there was no real distinction. Still, he stayed quiet to avoid embarrassing the girl, which only made Namgung Su-ah chuckle in amusement.
“I was the one who invited you, so I should be the one to pay. You may order whatever you like; it doesn’t matter.”
“Wow, Big Sis!”
Pinch! His side was nipped again. This one actually stung.
Watching the scene play out, Namgung Su-ah spoke up.
“By the way, your younger sister has grown quite a bit in just a few days.”
“Well, kids grow up fast, you know.”
“I’m not a kid!”
While Seo-jun calmed the fuming Chun-bong, Namgung Su-ah narrowed her eyes slightly, studying the girl.
“The Plum Blossom Pill… your sister took it, didn’t she?”
“Why do you ask?”
Seo-jun instantly dropped his playful demeanor, his eyes turning cold as he looked at Namgung Su-ah.
“You seem a bit too interested in Chun-bong.”
“Ah, please don’t misunderstand. I only ask because I have a proposal for you.”
“A proposal…?”
“From what my humble eyes can see, it seems you are in need of spirit herbs. I was wondering if you might have any use for the spirit herbs of the Namgung Clan.”
“……”
Seo-jun narrowed his eyes, staring at her intently.
Seeing his guarded reaction, Namgung Su-ah gave a bitter smile and waved her hand dismissively.
“I’m sorry. I suppose I was too hasty.”
She then unfastened the longsword from her waist and placed it gently on the table.
“Regardless, please accept this. It’s an item I have no use for anyway.”
“It feels a bit wrong to take it for nothing.”
“No. I have already been sufficiently compensated.”
Namgung Su-ah reached out and slowly swept her hand downward over the table.
It was an ordinary gesture, completely devoid of qi.
Yet, in that simple movement, Seo-jun saw the heavens.
“How is it?”
“It’s changed a little.”
“Hasn’t it? After seeing the Young Hero’s heavens, a thought occurred to me. Perhaps my own heavens lacked intensity.”
That wasn’t necessarily true.
The heavens she had shown Seo-jun during their duel were vast and endless, making him feel as if he were being crushed under their sheer weight just by looking at them.
However, it seemed Namgung Su-ah had managed to glean some small enlightenment after witnessing Seo-jun’s sword.
“Since I’ve gained a clue on how to advance my martial path, giving away a single sword is a small price to pay. Besides, if a child of the Namgung Clan were seen wielding a sword from the Mount Hua Sect, people would stare. I couldn’t use it even if I wanted to.”
“If you say so…”
“And more than anything…”
Haaa… Exhaling a hot, heavy breath, Namgung Su-ah rubbed her lower stomach.
“I just can’t forget it. That intense impact. That day, my eyes were truly opened to a whole new world.”
“Whoops…”
Seo-jun hastily withdrew the hand he had been reaching toward the sword.
She really is a total pervert.
* * *
After conversing with Namgung Su-ah for a considerable amount of time, Seo-jun returned to the inn with the new sword strapped securely to his waist.
He realized during their talk that while she was undoubtedly a strange woman, she didn’t seem like a bad person. Even Chun-bong, who had been fiercely hostile at first, eventually opened up. By the end of the tea session, they seemed to have become somewhat friendly.
“What are you talking about? We didn’t get friendly at all!”
“Is that so, my little one?”
“Gyaaaak…!”
Evening had already fallen over the county.
As he was wrapping up the day and debating when they should finally leave Hwaeum County, a new guest arrived.
“Oh? Hello.”
“It has been a while, Fellow Daoist.”
It was Un-jak.
He was the first martial artist from the Mount Hua Sect that Seo-jun had met, and the man who had demonstrated the 24-Move Plum Blossom Sword Technique at the tournament.
Seo-jun, who had been harboring the useless worry that he was becoming too much of a social butterfly lately, also acknowledged the man standing next to Un-jak.
“We saw each other during the preliminaries, right?”
“Indeed. In fact, that is why I have come to find you.”
“Un-baek, how can you just jump straight to the point? You should at least introduce yourself first.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
The man offered a formal fist and palm salute.
“I am called Un-baek.”
“I am Un-jak.”
Seo-jun and Chun-bong returned the salute.
“I’m Lee Seo-jun.”
“I’m Chun-bong.”
As soon as the introductions were out of the way, Un-baek went straight back to his point.
“Anyway, there is one thing I wish to ask, Young Hero Lee. Is your primary weapon not the blade? I clearly saw you wield one, yet this friend of mine keeps insisting your true weapon is the sword.”
“Did you not see the finals as well?” Un-jak interjected.
“I did. Seeing you overwhelmingly defeat a child of the Namgung Clan was certainly impressive. But even then, didn’t you start by using a blade technique?”
As he watched the two bicker, Seo-jun somehow found himself ushered into a corner of the inn. Before he knew it, a drinking session had naturally begun, leaving him staring blankly in a daze.
Then it hit him.
This was what a real social butterfly looked like. He was merely a pretender.
“So, Young Hero! Which is it?”
“Uh… if I had to choose, it’s the sword.”
“See! Even the Fellow Daoist says it’s the sword!”
“No! This can’t be right!”
With a proud, victorious smile, Un-jak offered Seo-jun a drink.
“Fellow Daoist, have a cup as well.”
“Ah, well…”
Seo-jun glanced at Chun-bong, who was sitting blankly beside him. She was a natural homebody, completely out of her element and unable to say a single word in a setting like this.
“She’s still young, so alcohol is a bit much…”
“What?”
Chun-bong, who had been zoning out, suddenly jumped up from her seat.
“I’m all grown up now!”
She aggressively poured herself a cup and downed the harsh liquor in one go.
“Gyaaaaaak…!”
Screaming that her throat was on fire, she stomped her feet wildly before collapsing onto Seo-jun’s lap, instantly falling fast asleep.
“Uh… well. She is a spirited young lady.”
“Haha… our Chun-bong is a bit like that.”
Smiling awkwardly, Seo-jun held out his cup.
“Then, shall I have just a little?”
“That is a wonderful idea!”
The alcohol, which he hadn’t tasted in a long time, went down sweet.
* * *
“And so, you see. Mmm. My Taoist name was given to me by my Master himself. Though I am currently but a mere Un-jak, a Sparrow, one day I shall become a Great Peng and spread my wings wide…”
It was the seventh time he had heard this exact story.
Seo-jun chuckled and turned to Un-baek.
“Hey, Brother Baek. There’s something I’ve always been curious about.”
“Ask anything! If my younger brother is curious about something, I must naturally provide the answer!”
“I heard that the semen of a Mount Hua Sect master smells like plum blossoms. Is that true?”
“Mmm! Of course. Once you reach the realm where the scent of plum blossoms naturally emanates from your martial arts without even trying, even your bodily fluids—like saliva or semen—will carry that fragrance.”
“Oh…”
So it was true?
He had always wondered about that rumor, and today he finally had his answer.
“But why are you curious about that?”
“Ah, a member of the Namgung Clan mentioned something like that.”
“Namgung? …Don’t tell me you mean Lady Namgung Su-ah?”
“Are you crazy?”
“Haha! I suppose so.”
Thoroughly intoxicated, Un-jak and Un-baek finally took their leave as the night deepened.
“Then, let us meet again!”
“Yeees, Brother Seo-jun… So, my Taoist name was given to me by my Master himself…”
“This guy can’t even hold his liquor, yet he always…”
Seo-jun waved them off with Chun-bong snoring softly on his back.
“See you next time!”
Watching them stagger away down the moonlit street, Seo-jun headed up to his room, groaning slightly from the pleasant buzz of the alcohol.
The Mount Hua Sect…
As always, one couldn't judge an entire organization by looking at just one person. That old man Jong-in was a strange one, but Un-baek and Un-jak were definitely good people.
Even the way they had insisted on paying the innkeeper—who had tried to refuse their money out of respect for Mount Hua—showed their true character.
If he ever came back to Hwaeum County, wouldn’t he seek those two out again? Even if their friendship was forged over a single night of drinking, there was no need to doubt its sincerity.
“Yeah. That’s right.”
Looking up at the bright moon through his open window, Seo-jun wrapped Yin energy and Yang energy around the index fingers of each hand.
“A celebratory shot for new connections.”
Phew—
The fired Yin energy and Yang energy met high in the night sky and violently exploded.
Kaaaa-boom!
Enjoying his solo fireworks display, Seo-jun flopped down onto the bed next to Chun-bong.
“Oh, our Chun-bong.”
As he pulled her into a tight hug, Chun-bong wiggled and instinctively crawled deeper into his arms. Her gentle warmth made him feel incredibly drowsy.
“Yawn…”
It had been a highly satisfying day.
* * *
A few days later, Seo-jun and Chun-bong finally left Hwaeum County.
Flutter—
A bird fluttered down, landing lightly on the shoulder of Jong-in, who sat quietly with his eyes closed.
“So, they have finally left.”
Jong-in stood up.
A faint, chilling smile played on his lips.
“What a pity.”
Stroking the sword at his waist, the old man began to walk.
To greet the surviving lineage of the Divine Sword Geum Family.