Chapter 31: Are You Worried I'll Fall for Him?
Yeop Hyeon!?
How many people in the Imperial City could An Ranxiu call out to so familiarly? If there were any, they certainly wouldn't be ordinary folk!
A young martial artist of her age whom the youngest-ever National Scholar approached without hesitation was sure to surpass anyone's imagination!
The people in the hall gazed at Yeop Hyeon with eyes full of curiosity and astonishment.
Even Mo Sui Qing's eyes held a trace of bewilderment.
As far as she knew, the number of people An Ranxiu acknowledged could be counted on one hand, even in the Imperial City.
Yet this boy was one of them? It didn't make sense!
The expression of the eldest prince beside her twisted in shock as well.
He had realized his "choice" was wrong.
Yeop Hyeon gave a faint smile at An Ranxiu's proposal.
"Very well!"
Just then, a young martial artist approached An Ranxiu, bowed, and spoke.
"National Scholar An, this man publicly humiliated my mount and injured people in front of everyone. He deserves punishment. I beseech you to demonstrate your fairness!"
An Ranxiu snapped at the young martial artist before her.
"Who are you?"
The martial artist inwardly rejoiced and clasped his hands in salute.
"Li Feng of the Li family, at your service, National Scholar An!"
An Ranxiu's gaze shifted to Yeop Hyeon. He kept his lips tightly shut, saying nothing. Yeop Ryeong hurriedly tried to explain what had happened.
"Sister, that man came at us first..."
Yeop Ryeong quickly recounted the events to An Ranxiu.
A moment later, An Ranxiu turned to Mo Sui Qing. Mo Sui Qing's face paled under her gaze. The Mo family's power was immense, it was true. But the woman before her was National Scholar An Ranxiu, whom even giants like Changmok Academy and Chwiseonru feared!
"Miss Mo, the Mo family is one of Jiang Kingdom's great clans, and you represent its younger generation. If you understand that every word and action of yours speaks for the Mo family, I suggest you refrain from such childish behavior in the future. What do you think?"
Mo Sui Qing's face twisted, but she said nothing.
An Ranxiu stared straight at her and continued.
"Your silence means resentment lingers in your heart, and you refuse to accept this."
At that moment, a tremendous intent realm surged from An Ranxiu like a whirlwind. In an instant, Mo Sui Qing felt crushed by a massive mountain. Her body bent further and further, her legs twisting unnaturally.
The onlookers' eyes widened in shock.
The National Scholar was furious!
No one dared step forward for Mo Sui Qing as her body buckled under the pressure.
Finally, her knees hit the ground. Her fists clenched tight, her eyes still venomous.
Mo Sui Qing, who had always lorded over others, faced such humiliation for the first time.
Then, an old man appeared, bowing deeply to An Ranxiu.
"National Scholar An, our young miss is still immature and has dared to offend you. For the sake of our family head's face, please forgive her this once!"
At the old man's earnest plea, An Ranxiu withdrew her intent realm. Mo Sui Qing collapsed to the floor as if her legs had given out.
An Ranxiu spoke calmly to the fallen Mo Sui Qing.
"Go back and tell your family head this: Yeop Hyeon is my friend. If there's any dissatisfaction with today's events, come find me. Out of concern, I'll warn you—if anyone lays a hand on those siblings, I'll visit the Mo family myself and show you what true justice means!"
The old man nodded hastily, hoisted Mo Sui Qing onto his back, and hurried out of the hall.
An Ranxiu now turned her gaze to the eldest prince. His face darkened instantly.
"You know how precious it is for a talent to emerge in our Jiang Kingdom, Your Highness. Yet today, you tried to crush one of your country's promising youths out of personal grudge. Such narrow-minded folly is undeniable!"
Gang Nian Sheng's face contorted, but he dared not retort.
The woman before him was someone even his royal father treated with utmost respect!
As a member of the imperial family, the eldest prince understood An Ranxiu's significance to Jiang Kingdom. The imperial house and great clans lacked the courage to offend her. Her mere presence shielded the kingdom from pressure and invasion by neighboring powers!
An Ranxiu slowly closed her eyes and said to him.
"For the next five years, you will step down from inviting new students."
The eldest prince bowed and slipped into the crowd. But even at the last moment, he glared at Yeop Hyeon.
"Yeop Hyeon, let's go."
At An Ranxiu's words, Yeop Hyeon took Yeop Ryeong's hand.
"Can my sister come along too?"
"Of course!"
And so An Ranxiu and the Yeop siblings left the hall.
The banquet hall fell silent for a long while, as if doused with cold water.
* * *
An Ranxiu and the Yeop siblings walked side by side down a quiet avenue.
"It feels like no time has passed since that day, yet you've awakened sword intent and reached Sword Heart Manifestation. You're practically a quasi-sword master now, Yeop Hyeon."
"How do you see through me so easily?"
Yeop Hyeon had wondered this since Qingcheng.
An Ranxiu smiled lightly.
"I have the ability to pierce through to one's essence."
As An Ranxiu said no more, Yeop Hyeon didn't press.
Suddenly, An Ranxiu stopped and looked at Yeop Hyeon.
"Was it you who killed the enemy's Black Armored Cavalry at Yangjie City and single-handedly held off thousands?"
"How did you know?"
Yeop Hyeon asked in surprise, and An Ranxiu laughed.
"My dear friend, Princess Gu, told me. A boy in a green robe with his sister—who else but you?"
Yeop Ryeong giggled at her words and hugged Yeop Hyeon's arm tightly.
An Ranxiu resumed walking slowly.
"Yeop Hyeon, the people of the Imperial City are stingy with their affections and only chase personal gain. What patriotism could they have? If those at today's banquet had been at Yangjie City that day, not one would have stepped forward like you. I'm certain of it."
"Then do you care about Jiang Kingdom's safety, Miss An?"
An Ranxiu smiled and replied.
"Nations give rise to families, families to individuals. How could I not care? But what concerns me isn't the imperial house—it's our country, Jiang Kingdom. Do you understand?"
"I do."
In truth, the two shared this sentiment.
Yeop Hyeon might seem selfish on the surface, but he was ready to step up if the nation faced crisis. An Ranxiu, too, labored for Jiang Kingdom, not the throne.
The Yeop siblings followed the slowly walking An Ranxiu.
Moonlight bathed her figure in radiant glow, like a true heavenly maiden descended from the skies.
Truly, what a beautiful woman!
Yeop Hyeon sensed a beauty in An Ranxiu different from Mo Sui Qing's.
An Ranxiu spoke again.
"Yeop Hyeon, many in the Imperial City hide their true intentions. You, with your upright nature, must be cautious in all things."
"Thank you. I'll keep it in mind!"
Suddenly, Yeop Hyeon asked An Ranxiu.
"Shall we spar once?"
What Yeop Hyeon craved most now was to test himself against a strong opponent. His shadow sparring partner was no longer a match, leaving him unsure of his true strength. He yearned to gauge how far he'd come.
An Ranxiu turned to him with a bright smile.
It was a smile that put the moonlight to shame.
Yeop Hyeon nearly lost himself for a moment but shook his head to refocus.
Yeop Ryeong shyly chimed in from the side.
"Sister, you're really pretty."
An Ranxiu laughed and stroked Yeop Ryeong's hair.
"Looks are just the shell. True beauty lies in the heart."
She turned to Yeop Hyeon.
"Our duel can wait until you reach the Control Qi Realm. What do you say?"
"Mm, agreed."
Then An Ranxiu halted and said.
"Yeop Hyeon, we should part here."
Yeop Hyeon looked at her and clasped his hands.
"Miss An, thank you for today. Until next time!"
With that, Yeop Hyeon turned toward their lodgings with Yeop Ryeong.
Yeop Ryeong kept looking back, waving to An Ranxiu. She seemed quite taken with her. Once the siblings vanished from sight, An Ranxiu withdrew her gaze and walked ahead.
Then, an old man appeared silently at her side.
"Miss, the closer you grow to that one, the more trouble they'll stir."
"Yeongro. Anyone who touches those siblings will not be forgiven."
Yeongro gave a wry smile and asked.
"Then why not simply keep your distance from him?"
"Do you think him unworthy of associating with me?"
"At such a young age, he's awakened full intent and reached Sword Heart Manifestation—a prodigy. If you merely want him as a friend, he qualifies. But if..."
As Yeongro trailed off, An Ranxiu smiled lightly.
"Yeongro, are you worried I'll develop feelings for him?"
Yeongro smiled wryly. The miss he served never minced words. If only she'd soften it a bit!
An Ranxiu glanced back at the alley where the siblings had disappeared.
"The first time I met him in Qingcheng, I liked how deeply he cherished his sister. And after the Yangjie City incident, my feelings have grown beyond that—it's true."
She turned away with a faint smile.
"He's a good man."
At her words, Yeongro felt his heart sink.
She had gone further than he'd thought!
Yeongro let out a soft sigh and muttered to himself.
"That punk had better not try any funny business with the miss. Or his life will become miserable..."
No one in the world knew An Ranxiu as well as Yeongro. Any man worthy of her side needed flawless status, strength, talent, and background!
Yet Yeop Hyeon was little more than a discarded outcast in this small world!
The gap between her and Yeop Hyeon was as vast as heaven and earth.
A moment later, Yeongro sighed softly and vanished in the direction An Ranxiu had gone.
* * *
Yeop Hyeon carried Yeop Ryeong on his back as they walked slowly.
"Brother, that sister... she's really pretty, isn't sh—"
"Yeah!"
Yeop Hyeon answered emphatically before she finished.
"Brother, do you like her?"
"..."
"Brother, don't you want to marry her? You two look perfect together..."
"Ryeong, a broke guy like me—any woman who married him would spend her life sucking her thumb."
"Just answer one thing. Do you like her?"
"The only one I'm interested in is you, Ryeong!"
"Brother... I want to live with you forever too..."
"Silly girl, won't you get married?"
"Nope!"
"Why?"
"Because no one in this world is as good as you, brother!"