Chapter 77
Chapter 77
Tang Se-rin (1)
The exterior of the pleasure ship was already dazzling, but the interior of the floating pavilion was incomparably more luxurious.
The three-tiered pavilion grew increasingly extravagant with each ascending floor, and Namgung Jun insisted on leading the entire group all the way to the top.
"Whoa!"
"......!!"
Gasps of astonishment erupted from all around.
A magnificent banquet hall unfolded before them, filled with rare delicacies and fine silk.
Yun Jung of Kunlun dashed toward the wine table like the wind.
"Incredible! They say the Namgung family's wealth and influence are unmatched in the world, but I never imagined Young Master Namgung would prepare such an extravagant floating ship!"
"Hahaha, come now. It's nothing special. Why must you gild my face so, Brother Yun Jung?"
"Nothing special? Namgung, I mean this sincerely—I've never seen anything so breathtaking in my life!"
"Now, now, even Wei Zhibo is making me blush."
"Hoho, at this rate, I'll have to join in too. It's truly magnificent, Brother Namgung!"
"Haha, I can hardly lift my head from embarrassment. Enough, enough—let's just enjoy the wine."
Yun Jung, Wei Zhibo, and Hwang Baek-yeong were openly showering Namgung Jun with flattery.
Of course, Namgung Jun pretended to be humble while basking in their praise.
All the while, he kept glancing at Tang Se-rin, shrugging smugly.
He was brimming with confidence.
This banquet ship, the Azure Sky Ship, was the ultimate symbol of his family's current standing in the martial world.
A vessel large enough to support a three-tiered pavilion was something only the imperial navy possessed.
And the Azure Sky Ship was indeed a refitted warship.
But it wasn't illegal. Through connections with the imperial palace, the Namgung family had obtained and launched it with full permission.
Of course, this was all part of a calculated political move.
It was meant to subtly demonstrate their ties to the imperial court while also showcasing their overwhelming financial power—enough to repurpose a warship solely for banquets.
No one present could ignore the staggering influence of the Namgung family's Azure Sky Trading Group, one of the Four Great Merchant Guilds of the Central Plains.
'Well, Tang Se-rin? Do you finally understand what kind of existence I am?'
Namgung Jun smiled inwardly in satisfaction.
'Tch.'
But Se-rin's reaction was the complete opposite of what he expected.
She was barely holding back her disgust.
'...If they had saved even a fraction of the gold wasted on decorating this place, they could have built a hundred clinics for the suffering patients in Anhui.'
Most young masters of martial families were accustomed to extravagance and waste, but Se-rin was different.
Having grown up in a family that had to tighten its belt as their influence waned, she despised such pointless luxury.
Moreover, she saw herself more as a healer than a martial artist.
To her, who spent her monthly stipend treating the sick and poor, this place—designed solely for revelry and amusement—felt alien and unsettling.
Yet, oblivious to her thoughts, the nauseating conversation around Namgung Jun continued without end.
"Please, drink as much as you like, Brother Yun Jung. There's more than enough wine to go around."
"Ah, many thanks."
"Ah! Brother Namgung, then pour me a glass too—"
"...Hwang Baek-yeong, you seem a little drunk already. For your health, perhaps you should stop now."
"Ah, ah. Yes, Sister Namgung. Th-thank you for your concern."
At Namgung Ho-yeon's words, Hwang Baek-yeong hastily withdrew her cup.
On the surface, it looked like an elder sister caring for her younger sibling, but the truth was far from it.
Shiver.
Trembling, Hwang Baek-yeong hid her shaking hands beneath the table.
'Hmph. How dare a mere servant girl of our family—'
Namgung Ho-yeon had cut off Hwang Baek-yeong's blatant attempts to cling to her brother under the guise of drunkenness.
To Hwang Baek-yeong, who had lived her entire life as little more than a servant, Namgung Ho-yeon was an object of terror.
Though she acted like a caring elder sister in public, behind closed doors, she subjected Hwang Baek-yeong to blatant disdain and relentless abuse.
As the drinking continued—
"Lady Tang."
"Huh?"
Suddenly, Peng Dae-ho addressed Se-rin.
She couldn't hide her surprise.
She and Peng Dae-ho had only ever exchanged greetings, never holding a real conversation.
The only people she was close to at this gathering were Peng So-hye and, if she included the persistent advances of the Beggar Sect's Hou Gai Jang So-pyeong, then maybe two.
In any case, Peng Dae-ho spoke with his usual stoic expression.
"May I ask a favor of you?"
"...A favor?"
What could the heir of the Peng family possibly want from her?
As Se-rin tilted her head in confusion, Peng Dae-ho's eyes gleamed.
"The rumors say your younger brother is quite the fighter."
"Huh??"
"I'll repay you handsomely. Arrange a match between us soon—"
Thwack!
In an instant, Peng Dae-ho's head jerked forward as if bowing from a dull impact.
"You muscle-brained idiot! What kind of request is that?!"
"Wait a second. I heard he wields a unique martial—"
"Ugh! Shut up before I die of embarrassment!!"
As Peng So-hye had said, Peng Dae-ho truly was a single-minded martial fanatic.
After the commotion died down—
"Young Master Peng, I'm sorry, but I must decline your request."
Se-rin politely refused.
Peng Dae-ho nodded as if he had expected as much.
"Hmm, I figured."
"Yes. Someone might get hurt, and I couldn't possibly allow such disrespect to the Peng family."
"Understood. My apologies for the presumptuous reques—"
Huh?
Just then, Peng Dae-ho, who had been bowing politely, suddenly froze in realization.
Something about her words didn't sit right.
When she said "disrespect to the Peng family," did she mean... his defeat at her brother's hands?
"Wait, Lady Tang—"
Hic! "Brother Namgung! I'm just disappointed, that's all!!"
Peng Dae-ho's words were cut off by the loud voice of Wei Zhibo from Qingcheng.
Wei Zhibo's face was flushed beyond drunkenness, his eyes completely unfocused.
"Such a joyous occasion! Hic! If only all the former Nine Dragons Society members were here together!"
"Ahem, Young Master Wei. You've had too much—"
"But nooo! Why is everyone so busy these days?! Isn't it just too arrogant?!"
Despite Namgung Jun's warning glare, the thoroughly drunk Wei Zhibo was acting like a madman.
Finally noticing the tension, Yun Jung tried to calm him down.
"Wei Zhibo, what's gotten into you? Xiao Ping of Kaifeng is genuinely busy with his duties, and Yun Ji of Dianchang is in seclusion under Sword Venerable Si Yi's orders. As for Mount Hua..."
"Hehe, right!! Exactly! So the only one missing is that bastard Luo Long from Mount Hua!"
"......!!"
The mocking mention of Dao Yi-chun ignited fury in Peng Dae-ho's eyes.
He and Dao Yi-chun had been close friends since childhood.
"Keh! Who would've thought the once-glorious Sword Dragon would fall so low!"
"Wei Zhibo, shut your mouth!"
"No, let him speak."
Even Nan Wujin of the Hainan Sect raised his voice, but Peng Dae-ho shot up from his seat.
"I'll smash your jaw to pieces right now."
"O-oppa!"
"Young Master Peng."
Peng So-hye and Se-rin, sensing the danger, stepped in to stop him, but Wei Zhibo kept sneering.
"Kukuku, taking your friend's side? Don't worry—hic—shouldn't former Nine Dragons Society members stick together?!"
Peng Dae-ho twisted his lips at the taunt.
"Worry? Worry about your own pathetic skills—three years and you haven't improved a bit."
"What?! You bastard, what did you just say?!"
"Enough!!"
Namgung Jun roared.
His gaze toward Wei Zhibo was filled with contempt.
"Sigh. Brother Wei is too drunk. Allow me to apologize on his behalf."
"No, no! What did I do wrong?!"
"Wei Zhibo!!"
"Fuck!! Who the hell are you to order me around?!"
"!!"
The crude, unrestrained curse stunned the entire room.
Namgung Jun's eyes turned icy.
But Wei Zhibo didn't stop.
"Namgung Jun! Who the hell do you think you are?! A soon-to-be-disgraced bastard who'll lose his family to a mere concubine's son?!"
"—!!"
He had crossed the line—bringing up Namgung Jun's greatest shame.
Whoosh.
The atmosphere instantly froze.
Though Namgung Jun was the legitimate heir, his position was shockingly precarious.
His half-brother, Namgung Baek—born of a concubine and the current Sword Dragon—possessed martial talent reminiscent of the family's founder.
He was the darling of the Namgung family, and rumors had long spread that he would replace Namgung Jun as heir within the year.
Slowly rising to his feet, Namgung Jun—
Shing!
"You know those words can never be taken back."
"...H-hyuk!"
—drew his sword and pressed it against Wei Zhibo's throat.
The previously raving Wei Zhibo paled in terror.
"Young Master Namgung!!"
"Th-this is too much! Please, restrain yourself!"
"With everyone here as witnesses, the grudge between Qingcheng and us will be settled easily."
"W-wait! B-Brother Namgung! I-I must've been drunk! P-please! Aaah!"
The fury of both the Peng and Namgung families converged on one man.
In that explosive moment—
Whoosh!
An inexplicable Buddhist power suddenly filled the air.
"......!"
"!!"
Namgung Jun, about to swing his sword without hesitation, stopped mid-step, stunned by the purity of the energy.
The serene aura of Prajna's Tranquility instantly calmed his raging heart.
All eyes turned to the source.
With closed eyes, Illyun of Shaolin had formed the sect's signature half-palm gesture.
'Incredible.'
'This is Shaolin?'
'...His mastery has deepened.'
Everyone was astonished.
The energy radiating from him wasn't just at the Pinnacle of Martial Arts—it was nearing the realm of the Extreme.
Namgung Jun gritted his teeth.
His own skills had barely reached the threshold of the Pinnacle. Against Illyun's defense, he stood no chance of killing Wei Zhibo.
Illyun slowly opened his eyes and spoke.
"Amitabha. Patrons, the atmosphere has grown too heated. Perhaps it is time to end the gathering and return—"
Buzz.
Suddenly, a faint insect-like hum filled the air.
Then, no matter how long they waited, Illyun's words didn't continue.
'...Huh?'
For a moment, everyone's minds went blank.
A sight beyond comprehension unfolded before them.
Something was wrong.
Why was there... a gaping hole where Illyun's right eye should be?
The next instant—
Gurgle!
Splurt!
Brain matter and a fountain of blood sprayed onto the banquet table.
Thud!
Crash!
Illyun's lifeless body collapsed.
"KYAAAA!"
"ENEMY ATTACK!!"
Screams of horror erupted as hell descended upon them.
The Sichuan Tyrant had arrived.