Chapter 285: Lotus (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 285: Lotus (4)
The stir caused by the Grand Lady's missing tutor quickly died down, and tranquility soon returned to the Gongya Clan.
"Is he really that handsome?"
"They say he's exceptionally striking. As handsome as the Second Young Master, if not more so."
"More than that. I heard even the features hidden by his hair are as sharp as blades!"
"It's a pity about his status, though. A sole successor sounds grand, but in this day and age, isn't he just a rogue martial artist?"
Sunlight shimmered on the edges of the blue-tiled roofs. It was a peace that spoke of the clan's singular might within the vast Shanxi Province.
Geom Un-bi, the Hanging Jade Sect Leader.
The friend of Teacher Go, the Grand Lady’s instructor, was nothing special. Among the servants, he was just an occasional topic of gossip.
For a family as prominent as a noble clan in Shanxi, it was only natural to host esteemed figures as honored guests. They served as both distinguished visitors and a source of the clan's martial power. Given the vastness of the estate, eccentric experts and hidden masters were far from rare.
This was why Geom Un-bi's name was never mentioned in the presence of the clan's leaders.
There were far more important guests to entertain and much weightier matters to attend to. They were a prestigious family, a noble clan.
*
"The tea's aroma is weak. The steam is faint, too."
"That is because a Heart Demon has taken root in your mind. How can you say the aroma of Longjing tea is weak?"
"You act as if you're any different, Brother, but I know you're just as anxious. This is about the safety of your eldest daughter, isn't it? Jeong-a, it seems our Clan Leader doubts your martial prowess."
Four people sat in a circle inside a clean, spacious room: two men with deep wrinkles around their eyes, and the Gongya siblings, whose jawlines were strikingly elegant.
The aura exuded by the two middle-aged men filled the room.
Shanxi was the land closest to Beijing, where the imperial court resided. While it had long been a hub for the exchange of goods and culture, the local aristocrats who coexisted with government officials possessed a noble refinement.
Even when practicing the same martial arts, their class was different. The very atmosphere they carried was a testament to their extraordinary presence.
The middle-aged man in the reddest robe spoke.
"Stop your nonsense. What do you stand to gain by planting a Heart Demon in the mind of our clan's successor? We face a situation that will be difficult even if she forges her mind to be as sharp as a blade."
"I am fine, Clan Leader."
The voice of the Grand Lady, Gongya Jeong, was calm. Her expression was just as serene.
She was every bit the noble lady poised to inherit a prestigious martial family.
Her black hair fell softly over shoulders sculpted by years of training, a stark contrast to the dense, almost tangible aura of internal energy that enveloped her.
There was dignity in her presence. For her age, her mastery of internal energy was outstanding.
"Recently, two of the Blood Master Swords died at the hands of the Slaying Hero. How can we not worry? This must be difficult for you as well."
The Gongya Clan Leader's brother spoke, his eyes narrowing sharply. As the Grand Lady's uncle, he was enveloped in an aura only slightly weaker than the Clan Leader's. His elegantly sharp eyes were a characteristic trait of the Gongya aristocracy.
"The achievements of the Slaying Hero you mention, Uncle, are of little consequence. He is not the only strong one out there. To uphold our clan's prestige among the rising martial artists of this famine, I need only focus on demonstrating my own martial arts."
"You speak just like your late mother."
The Grand Lady's uncle laughed.
"While your spirit holds the immense charm of a young martial artist, the successor of a prestigious family must think differently. Unless you achieve absolute victory in every duel, it will be difficult to protect the clan's prestige. That is why we repeat the same words day after day. We cannot allow the Killing Gate to run rampant any longer. You must win. Without fail!"
"I know."
Gongya Jeong replied in a low, smooth, beautiful voice. Perhaps because the matter had been stated so plainly, this time even the Clan Leader did not stop his brother.
Only the Second Young Master, Gongya Su, who sat between them, watched their reactions with his large, round eyes.
"Is that all? Even those who established their families as Green Forest mountain bandits are mocking the Gongya name. Since we cannot afford the losses of attacking them directly, we must establish our honor at the martial arts tournament. That is the only way to avoid losing our influence during this famine."
The Clan Leader's voice was refined—calm and deeply dignified.
His daughter bowed her head.
"I know that as well."
"Devote yourself to refining your sword qi. Your father believes in you."
"...I will meet your expectations."
"Ah, by the way, I heard Teacher Go brought a young swordsman with him," the Gongya Clan Leader continued. "If he is someone introduced by Teacher Go, his character can't be bad. It would be wise to teach him a move or two and make him your subordinate. Vagrants are always thirsting for the teachings of a prestigious family. Was he worthy of exchanging blows with you?"
"I was too preoccupied to observe him closely. His appearance seemed extraordinary, but..."
As Gongya Jeong shook her head slightly, the corners of the Clan Leader's mouth curled upward.
"I hear his looks could rival those of Ban-ak. If you don't let yourself be blinded by his appearance, he could be of great use. I am grateful for Teacher Go's thoughtfulness, so I should pay him a visit with some wine sometime. You may leave now and focus on your training."
"Yes, Clan Leader."
* * *
The scarlet hem of Gongya Jeong's trousers brushed against the long threshold.
With every step she took, her expression grew stiffer. The imposing presence of the Clan Leader's pavilion receded behind her.
Step, step.
The Second Young Master, Gongya Su, caught up to her with a rhythmic, light-footed stride.
"Didn't you tell Father? About Brother Geom, the Hanging Jade Sect Leader. From the way Teacher Go acted, it didn't seem like he brought him here to learn a few things. It was more like he expected him to teach you."
"I would have been severely scolded. Father is someone who judges the world by class. Unless someone is a renowned master, he looks down on those who wander alone. Especially if they're young."
Gongya Jeong replied softly. Fatigue clung to her elegantly slanted eyes.
It was enough to make Gongya Su, whose lips were a vivid red with noble grace, hesitate.
"...Get some rest, Sister."
"I will."
The Grand Lady gave a brief reply.
With a slight nod, Gongya Su trudged away. Gongya Jeong did not look back at him.
Her younger brother was second in the line of succession. While he was affectionate toward his older sister, he could not share the heavy responsibility of being the successor.
He was in a position where he shouldn't have to. Gongya Jeong had to bear the burden placed on her shoulders as the Grand Lady all by herself.
Even if one might lose once in ten duels against an inferior opponent...
Such a thing was not permitted for the successor of a prestigious noble family.
The breath escaping her lips scattered into the glow of the setting sun.
She had learned to sigh in silence. Lately, it felt as if only the clear winter sunset would listen to the Grand Lady's worries.
The Shanxi Martial Arts Tournament.
The moment she would have to face the swords of the young, powerful martial artists of prestigious families was fast approaching.
It was then.
"Ah."
Gongya Jeong let out a soft exclamation.
Step.
As dusk settled, a faint, pale haze of light began to spread. A swordsman was walking toward her, his back to the sunset.
Even with faint shadows cast over his face, his high-bridged nose and elegant jawline were distinct.
He looked like a member of the Brightfolk descended from the heavens. The scabbard swaying from his waist gave off a solitary, desolate air.
His aura made him seem completely different from someone of her brother's age. It felt as though he lived in an entirely different world.
A man standing aloof from the chaos of the world. In a world with so little worth seeing, it was as if some divine art had opened his eyes.
Seeing him like this, he truly is extraordinary. A man of wonder.
He was called Geom Un-bi, the Hanging Jade Sect Leader. He was an outsider to the clan. She felt that she might be able to share her worries with this person Teacher Go had brought.
The successor of the Gongya Clan unconsciously parted her lips.
"Would you care to share a drink with me?"
"……?"
* * *
It was a modest drinking session in Jeong Yeon-shin's quarters. The two sat side by side on the wooden veranda, gazing at the horizon as dusk fell.
Each held a jade bottle filled with Zhuyeqing. Jeong Yeon-shin, gripping his bottle, occasionally twitched his fingertips. He was observing her, trying to appear accustomed to proper drinking etiquette. By using his qi sense to measure her presence, he avoided looking awkward.
Perhaps because he was mimicking the behavior of the Lazy Flame Dragon, he felt closer to an adult who knew how to enjoy refined tastes.
I feel like I could share a drink with the Fortress Lord now.
Just as Jeong Yeon-shin was thinking this, Gongya Jeong suddenly spoke, her eyes fixed on the distant mountains.
"The land of Shanxi was once a wasteland for the martial world."
"We had to expand our influence while constantly walking on eggshells around a powerful government. However, when the Tomb of the Heavenly Demon Incident broke out over a decade ago, much of that was ruined. A nameless Heavenly Demon—the legacy of the dead brought ruin to the living by manipulating the greed of the Great Sects."
"The Tomb of the Heavenly Demon Incident..."
Jeong Yeon-shin quietly repeated the words. He recalled Heonwon Chang mentioning it. He had said Shanxi was his hometown.
"In any case, it means the families that made a name for themselves have established a solid foundation. Whether their history is long or short."
"It sounds to me like those with short histories are the problem."
"Indeed. Their sects' histories are shallow, but their martial power is formidable, and they are constantly eyeing our clan's reputation."
Gulp.
Gongya Jeong, gulping down the Zhuyeqing, wiped her mouth with her red sleeve.
She was already quite drunk. The bold, free-spirited nature of a martial artist was showing more than the refinement of a prestigious family.
"I must not show any weakness in this upcoming tournament. All this time, the Gongya Clan has protected the Shanxi martial world from all kinds of rabble from the Heterodox Sects. If I were to lose to the eldest son of some upstart Shanxi Noble Family—one that started as Green Forest bandits—or if I fell to the Slaying Hero, who makes his living as an assassin... the Shanxi martial world, already fractured by the famine, will inevitably fall into even greater chaos. This is the burden I carry."
"That must be difficult."
"Soon, a skirmish disguised as a banquet will take place. It is a gathering where sects and families claiming to have storied histories will swarm—a banquet marking the start of the tournament. The battle of wills is bound to be intense. I must not be pushed back."
"Isn't defeat just a part of life?" Jeong Yeon-shin asked casually.
There was no sincerity in his words. After all, he had never lost. Even against the Jegal Clan Leader, the strongest opponent he would face in the future, he did not entertain the possibility of defeat. He truly intended to win.
However, his words seemed to strike Gongya Jeong differently. Her slender eyelashes trembled slightly.
"I cannot pass this burden to my brother. He is a free spirit. He is perfectly content with his position as the Second Young Master of our clan. On a large scale, I must protect the Shanxi martial world, and on a small scale, I must protect him. As the successor."
"The Gongya successor is a good person," Jeong Yeon-shin thought.
He saw the Azure Qilin in her.
The image of the affectionate siblings he had once imagined for himself also drifted back to him. The Second Young Master, Gongya Su, seemed to be a very blessed person.
Gongya Jeong let out a soft chuckle.
"If you wish, why not attend the banquet with me? Most of the influential figures in the Shanxi martial world have connections to the government. Just making acquaintances will be of great help to you, Sect Leader Geom. I have at least that much power."
Offering such a massive benefit over a single drink.
It was a promise only a noble Grand Lady could make. It was an offer that even the proudest rogue martial artist would desperately yearn for.
Slump.
Jeong Yeon-shin did not reply. Gongya Jeong had suddenly fallen asleep, her head dropping forward. Her black hair cascaded downward.
Even if I win the tournament, I won't be able to learn from the Jegal Clan Leader.
He slowly stood up, gripping his sword hilt.
Step.
Taking a few steps off the veranda, he stood in the open clearing. He had already been contemplating a few sword moves in preparation for his fight with the Jegal Clan Leader.
An opponent who had mastered both orthodox martial arts and sorcery martial arts to their absolute limits. A quick, decisive battle, the hallmark of the Flash Art Lineage, might not be possible.
Then I must train.
The Commander of the Demonlight Wing, who had even grown fond of secluded training, drew his sword. The pure white blade of the Divine Sword: Northern Light sliced down, carving a long path through the sunset glow.
The coiling, expanding radiance was divine. His Halo Qi had infused it before he even knew it.
If only his life at the Jeong Family Manor had been harmonious.
The Gongya Clan reminded him of that impossible dream.
The quiet, detached villa felt like the Jeong Family Manor of old. And Gongya Jeong, speaking of her brother, reminded him of a sibling from another life—the kind who would have practiced the heirloom Jeong Family Divine Sword alongside him.
Was it like this?
The tip of his sword rose, tracing a smooth curve. In a single stroke, he refined the cluttered trajectory of a third-rate sword style.
Descending, rising again, and then connecting into a diagonal line. A trajectory resembling the crescent moon that had begun to illuminate his face was carved into the air.
Swish—
They say the spirit of a prestigious family lies in restraint. And that powerful strength stems from it.
He was no longer the fifteen-year-old nuisance.
Now, there was depth to his swordplay, and his experience was incomparably vast. He looked deep into the world beyond the tip of his sword.
His mind felt as though it were slipping into a warm, cozy dream. Along with a faint, sweeping wave of emotion, he entered a State of Selflessness.
Within the realm of his innate mind, the form of the sword grew larger.
Much of his surroundings vanished from his sight, and his vision was filled with the brilliance of his Upper Dantian.
* * *
"The successor headed this way? At this time of night?"
"It was before sunset, sir."
Gongya Jeong suddenly opened her blurry eyes. Familiar voices echoed in her ears.
In her childhood, whenever she dozed off during Qi Meditation, her father's stern voice would wake her. Even now, as an adult, it was a voice that instantly made her tense.
The greatest martial aristocrat of Ping'an Prefecture.
It was the arrival of the Gongya Clan Leader, accompanied by his servants. Gongya Jeong lifted her head to straighten her slumped posture.
She could not possibly greet her father, the most dignified figure in the clan, in such a state.
It was then.
The approaching presences suddenly came to a halt.
Only then did Gongya Jeong sense a subtle wave of internal power. It was right in front of her. The fluttering hem of a robe entered her blurry vision.
The sound of footsteps quietly sweeping across the empty ground drifted to her ears.
Hummm.
The sword hummed. It was an exceptionally clear sound.
Under the softly pouring moonlight, a sword was moving. Despite its large, uninhibited trajectory, the sound of the air splitting was only a faint whisper.
Gongya Jeong's eyebrows shot up. Was she in a daze, unable to distinguish between dream and reality?
She had to see it more clearly. She forced her eyes wide open.
"……!"
It was beautiful.
And it was terrifying.