Chapter 76
Chapter 76
The Calm Before the Storm
Two hours before the ritual began.
Clatter, clatter.
Two carriages rolled side by side along the road, having just left Kaifeng.
Neither carriage carried ordinary passengers—their lavish decorations rivaled those of nobility.
Whoosh.
Just then, the curtain covering one carriage's window was drawn aside.
A face peeked out, gazing at the scenery beyond.
The woman wore a simple green martial robe, her hair tied back tightly, her face free of makeup.
Yet, this only accentuated her natural beauty.
It was Tang Se-rin, who had departed the inn early that morning.
As she watched the distant silhouette of Kaifeng through the window, a shadow of worry crossed her face.
'...Se-woon will be alright, won't he?'
Se-rin had exaggerated a little—she worried about her younger brother day and night.
One might ask why she was so concerned when he had recently recovered his health and achieved success in everything he did.
But as the one closest to him, she knew the truth.
'Sigh, just how much more does he plan to shoulder alone?'
Though he always wore a bright smile in front of her, she could see the unshakable sorrow hidden beneath.
Even though her brother had risen as a rising star in the martial world, to her, he was still the fragile child she needed to protect.
Just as she tried to let her restless heart drift away with the wind—
Sniff. "Unnie, I'm sorry..."
"Hm?"
A tearful voice suddenly reached her ears.
Se-rin turned to see Peng So-hye's large, doe-like eyes shimmering with tears.
So-hye continued in a voice thick with guilt.
"...You never attend banquets like this, Unnie. It's all because of me..."
Her remorse was understandable.
The gathering of the former Nine Dragons Society had begun in Kaifeng's red-light district.
Ten years ago, at the tender age of fifteen, Peng So-hye had been selected as the youngest member of the Nine Dragons Society. Since then, she had clung to Tang Se-rin like an older sister.
Naturally, Se-rin had treated her like a younger sister in return.
But in recent years, Se-rin had rarely left Sichuan due to family matters. Overjoyed to finally reunite with her, So-hye had recklessly downed cup after cup of wine—
And before long, she was thoroughly drunk.
Amidst this, the gathering's host had stubbornly insisted on relocating to continue the banquet elsewhere.
Under normal circumstances, Se-rin would have excused herself, but she stayed solely out of concern for the intoxicated So-hye.
Now, sobering up in the carriage, So-hye couldn't help but fret.
Se-rin gently stroked So-hye's head.
"It's alright, Hye-ah. I was just worried about you."
"R-Really?"
"Mm. I was happy to see you after so long."
Phew. "What a relief. I thought you were only here because of me..."
So-hye finally let out a sigh of relief.
Se-rin chuckled softly in response.
Ten years ago, she had been known as the Little Fist Phoenix.
Now, she bore the fearsome title of Armor-Breaking Beauty, but in front of Tang Se-rin, she reverted to a docile lamb.
"But Unnie, you've always taken such good care of your younger siblings. I'm honestly jealous."
So-hye's expression suddenly darkened.
Without realizing it, she was glaring at the carriage opposite theirs.
Today's gathering included ten of the former Thirteen Dragons, excluding three.
And in the other carriage, divided among five people, sat her nemesis.
Sigh. "If only my stupid brother were even half—no, a quarter of a quarter as good as you, Unnie..."
"Oh? Isn't Young Master Peng a fine man?"
"Young Master? That muscle-brained idiot is nothing but a brute, Unnie. His head's probably stuffed with muscles too! Ugh, thanks to that fool, the Peng Family's Brainless Theory is trending again in the martial world. Listen to this, Unnie—this time, he got obsessed with some martial tournament and—"
Heh heh. "My, my. Even after so long, you two still seem as close as ever."
"...!"
Suddenly, someone interrupted their conversation.
A man with caterpillar-like eyebrows twitched them grotesquely.
It was Yun Jung, the chief disciple of Kunlun.
His sleazy demeanor made both women's brows furrow involuntarily.
But Yun Jung, oblivious as ever, continued wiggling his eyebrows.
"Yes, Unnie and I have always been close. Did you need something?"
Heh heh. "Oh, nothing in particular. Just thought I'd relieve some boredom by chatting with you lovely ladies."
"...Ah. I see."
So-hye's tone turned icy, a stark contrast to her earlier warmth with Se-rin.
But as mentioned, Yun Jung was utterly clueless.
Hoho. "Well, in that case, I brought a little gift."
Whoosh.
With a smug grin, he pulled a gourd bottle from his robes.
The rich aroma of wine wafted out.
Hahaha. "What a shame to cut the revelry short. The way of wine is meant to flow endlessly! Come, ladies, have a drink!"
"I'll pass."
"Same."
"...Eh?"
Yun Jung froze, clearly not expecting such blunt rejections.
But Se-rin and So-hye had their reasons.
Kunlun was a Taoist sect like Wudang.
Yet in Qinghai, where Kunlun was based, rumors swirled about Yun Jung's debauchery.
'They say he's obsessed with wine and women, and the sect leader has to constantly rein him in.'
Fortunately, the rumors hadn't spread beyond the region, but Se-rin, being from neighboring Sichuan, knew the truth—and had warned So-hye in advance.
"We were in the middle of a private conversation."
"Apologies."
"Ah... I see. Ahem. Well, I suppose I'll just have to enjoy this with the gentlemen instead..."
Flustered, Yun Jung turned around, bottle in hand.
At the far ends of the carriage sat a monk and a swordsman, both leaning against the walls with their eyes closed.
Still undeterred, Yun Jung's eyes gleamed as he approached them.
"Amitabha. This humble monk shall partake in spirit only."
Bow.
The chief disciple of Shaolin, Illyun, declined with a nod.
"......."
Nam Mu-jin, the chief disciple of Hainan Sect, didn't even bother opening his eyes or mouth.
Defeated, Yun Jung slumped into a corner and began drinking alone.
Se-rin shook her head and turned back to the window.
"...!"
Suddenly, her eyes widened.
The opposite carriage's window was now wide open.
And a man was staring directly at her.
Shiver.
His gaze was as unsettling as a snake's, eerily reminiscent of the detestable I Hoseong from Qingcheng.
'Disgusting.'
Swish.
Se-rin yanked the curtain shut.
Hmph. Still acting high and mighty.
Namgung Jun, the heir of the Namgung family, smirked as he watched from the opposite window.
"Hm? Namgung-hyung, did you say something?"
Qingcheng's chief disciple, Wi Ji-bo, tilted his head in confusion.
"Oh, nothing. Just enjoying the breeze."
Namgung Jun's expression shifted seamlessly from venomous to amiable.
Gulp. "Ah, Namgung-hyung truly understands the art of leisure!"
"Is that so? Hahaha."
"Come, let's have another drink! This younger brother will join you."
"Oh, gladly."
"Aigoo, are you two going to keep drinking without me?"
Hahaha. "My apologies, Lady Hwangbo. I nearly forgot about you."
The atmosphere in this carriage was the polar opposite—boisterous and lively.
Three flushed faces clinked their cups together.
To an outsider, it might have looked like a cheerful reunion, but a clear hierarchy existed beneath the surface.
Wi Ji-bo, having reclaimed his position as Qingcheng's chief disciple after I Hoseong's death, was desperately currying favor with Namgung Jun.
Hwangbo Yeong, seeking to escape her family's subservience to the Namgung, was subtly seducing him.
And Namgung Jun, the undisputed victor of this little game, reveled in their attention.
'Disgusting.'
Peng Dae-ho, watching the scene with a scowl, couldn't hide his contempt.
Peng Dae-ho was the son of the Peng family's patriarch, Peng Tae-san, and So-hye's older brother.
Just then—
Huu. "I'm feeling a bit tipsy..."
A beautiful woman swayed over and plopped down beside him.
Namgung Ho-yeon, known as Anhui's Flower or Moon-Veiling Sword Maiden, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
Her flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes could tempt any man.
"Brother Peng, wouldn't it be better to relax and enjoy yourself today?"
"I'm only here for my sister. I've no interest in enjoyment."
Peng Dae-ho's voice was unwavering.
Despite his name (Dae-ho meaning "Great Tiger"), he resembled a massive bear—tall, broad-shouldered, and rippling with muscle, the very image of a born warrior.
Tch. "Still as dull as ever."
Though blatantly dismissed, Namgung Ho-yeon giggled and shrugged.
Peng Dae-ho exhaled deeply, then crossed his legs and closed his eyes.
At that moment, a sinister glint flashed in Ho-yeon's eyes.
'Still not biting, huh?'
Her true goal was to reel in Peng Dae-ho.
Among today's gathering, he held the highest reputation in the martial world.
He was the only one among the former Nine Dragons to have reached the Pinnacle of Martial Arts.
Of course, Shaolin's Demon-Subduing Thousand Legs Illyun was close behind—
But a monk was off-limits.
Ho-yeon's lips curled.
'Well, the Peng family's eldest isn't a bad catch either.'
His reputation as a martial fanatic who shunned women in favor of training only made him more appealing.
The more obsessed he was, the easier it would be to manipulate the family from the shadows.
Giggle.
Screech!
Just then, the carriage lurched to a halt.
They had arrived.
As everyone disembarked—
"...!"
"—!!"
All except the Namgung siblings gasped at the sight before them.
Docked at the pier was a massive, opulent pleasure barge.
Unlike ordinary vessels, this one boasted a four-story pavilion at its center.
As if to show off, Namgung Jun strode forward confidently.
Hahaha. "True leisure lies in drinking aboard a boat, don't you agree?"
"This is madness!!"
"Namgung-hyung, this is—!"
But Tang Se-rin's expression remained unchanged. Only Yun Jung and Wi Ji-bo were excited.
Unaware of the storm brewing ahead, the ten martial artists boarded the barge.