Chapter 137
Chapter 137
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: Descendants of the Crouching Dragon
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To cut straight to the result, amazingly, Hyuk Ri-gwang succeeded in quite proficiently using the emission of true qi within just one day that day.
No, to be precise, he succeeded in a mere two shichen.
No one had ever achieved such astonishing results before.
I couldn't help but marvel, thinking it must be thanks to his beast-like instincts.
"Impressive. At this rate, you'll master the Suction Technique in no time."
"For me, you're the more astonishing one for figuring out a method like this. How on earth did you come up with it?"
It wasn't something I thought up; it was thanks to the collective wisdom of countless murim novel authors.
I gave a sly smile and shrugged my shoulders. Hyuk Ri-gwang let out a low exclamation before immediately asking about the Suction Technique.
"So? Now that you've gotten proficient at emitting true qi, you can learn the Suction Technique, right?"
"It's the Suction Technique. Yes, you're ready to start now."
Of course, it wouldn't be easy.
I explained the principles of the Suction Technique in a way that Hyuk Ri-gwang could understand as easily as possible.
"You emit true qi through the acupoints on the top of your foot—the Hamgok, Taechung, and Naejeong—to anchor your foot to the ground. Whereas you emit true qi from the Yongcheon point on the sole of your foot to accelerate, this time you're pushing in the opposite direction to fix your foot in place."
"Hmm..."
Hyuk Ri-gwang groaned for a moment, and suddenly his foot sank deep into the ground.
"Whoa!?"
"You emitted your true qi too quickly and forcefully. Do it more slowly, with a heavy pressing sensation."
I kept emphasizing the reasons for failure and instructing him, but this time, he couldn't pull it off easily.
Of course, there was no reason for disappointment.
Hyuk Ri-gwang had only just learned to emit internal energy, so naturally, his control over his internal energy flow wasn't smooth enough to master the Suction Technique on the first try.
"Ugh, this is harder than I thought."
"This one will take time. Even after we arrive at the Zhuge Clan in a couple of days, I'll keep an eye on you, so don't be too impatient."
Hyuk Ri-gwang nodded at my words.
That day's training in the Suction Technique ended just like that.
And the next day, after a rather chilly night had passed.
Just like the past few days, I was driving the carriage and following along with the procession when, for some reason, Zhuge Kun-yeong came to find me.
"Branch Leader? What's the matter?"
"Uh, well..."
From his hesitant demeanor, I immediately guessed what he wanted to say and preempted him with a chuckle.
"If it's about Senior Hyuk, don't worry about it. You've been through a lot mentally in all sorts of ways."
"...Thank you."
His grateful gaze toward me was heartbreakingly earnest.
Like the expression of someone who had found a ray of light amid a life of constant hardship?
Honestly, it was burdensome as hell, and I wished he'd just leave.
"So, you can head back now. You need to lead the procession ahead, right?"
"Ah, yes. You're right..."
But even after I said that, Zhuge Kun-yeong hesitated for a moment, glanced sideways to check that the seat next to me was empty, and then asked in a small voice.
"If it's all right with you, may I ask one question?"
"Sure, go ahead."
Even after I gave permission, Zhuge Kun-yeong hesitated before finally asking awkwardly.
"Have you perhaps already promised a future together with Lady Hwa-ryun?"
"...Pardon?"
His question was so out of left field that I shot him a baffled look. Zhuge Kun-yeong floundered about, muttering "My apologies!" before quickly vanishing from sight.
What the hell?
...Could that guy be into Hwa-ryun?
*
That evening.
I conducted Hyuk Ri-gwang's Suction Technique training just like the day before.
But Zhuge Kun-yeong's bizarre behavior from earlier kept nagging at me, making it impossible to focus.
"Oh, doesn't this feel pretty good?"
"Yes, it does."
"Alright, now I'm starting to get the hang of it."
"Yes, it does."
"When the training's complete, let's have a rematch. Martial arts are best learned in real combat, aren't they?"
"Yes, it does."
"......"
"Yes, it does."
"I didn't say anything!"
Hyuk Ri-gwang suddenly shouted, snapping me back to my senses.
And I met his displeased gaze.
"Ah, sorry."
"What's with you? You can't concentrate at all."
"Well..."
It was awkward to explain, so I tried to brush it off vaguely when I felt a massive hand grip my shoulder.
...For a moment, I thought it was a tiger's paw.
"If there's something bothering you, feel free to confide in me. After all, I'm a senior who's lived twice as long as you, with plenty of life experience, right?"
"Senior in life..."
Certainly, having lived twice as long as me, he must have far more experience in these matters.
He's a father with kids, after all.
Better than me, who has virtually zero experience in past or present lives.
Nothing to lose, I thought, and told Hyuk Ri-gwang about what happened earlier.
"Pfft... Puhahaha-!"
But as soon as I finished the story, he burst into laughter?
"Ah, no. Why are you laughing?"
"Heh, heh... Yeah, that's plenty understandable to misunderstand. Kun-yeong fled at such a perfectly awkward moment."
He kept chuckling for a good while before finally calming down, letting out a sigh with lingering amusement.
"First off, to get to the point: Kun-yeong wasn't particularly interested in that young lady. And even if he was, how could he compete with you?"
"...It's not about winning or losing, is it?"
Hyuk Ri-gwang gave me an incredulous look as I oddly lacked confidence, then chuckled again.
"You're amazingly skilled in martial arts, but you're still a greenhorn, huh."
"...Will you stop teasing me?"
I shot him a sideways glare, and he raised both hands in surrender, patted my shoulder, and stated firmly.
"You have absolutely no need to worry about that. That young lady is already head over heels for you. You can tell just from her eyes."
"...Her eyes?"
I tilted my head.
Even I could proudly claim to be the one who read Hwa-ryun's emotions best in the world.
And eyes play a huge role in reading emotions.
There's no way I wouldn't have picked up on such signs in Hwa-ryun's eyes.
Hyuk Ri-gwang's immediate response came flying.
"Then the answer's simple. She already had you in her heart before you even noticed her feelings. Looks like it's clear who fell first, huh?"
So, Hwa-ryun liked me first?
...No way.
It was relatively recent that I became aware of it, but I realized my feelings for Hwa-ryun had taken root long ago.
Precisely, on that day under the moonlight at the Nangong Clan, I recognized those clumsy emotions from my childhood.
Had Hwa-ryun... before me?
Nah, no way.
...But what if?
A fuzzy feeling stirred oddly in my heart, and I got a bit scared wondering how far my thoughts might wander if I let it go.
Stop, stop. Enough thinking.
I shook my head to forcibly change gears.
"But why did the Branch Leader say something like that?"
"Well... He was probably trying to give you some kind of hint."
"A hint?"
"Yeah. Seeing as Kun-yeong tried to drop a hint in his own way, it seems you've made quite a good impression on him. He's pickier about people than he looks."
Hyuk Ri-gwang muttered in a tone like he knew something.
"Do you know something?"
"Well, yeah. It's something I went through myself back in the day."
Something he went through?
Unable to grasp what it was, I noticed Hyuk Ri-gwang scrutinizing me anew from head to toe.
"...What's with that look?"
"Oh, nothing much."
He brushed it off vaguely but kept eyeing me, finally nodding.
"You'll have a tough time ahead."
"What? Why would I?"
Bewildered and a touch anxious, I asked back. He stroked his thick beard and started grinning.
Damn, what kind of expression is that?
My unease grew, narrowing my eyes, so Hyuk Ri-gwang cleared his throat and wiped the smile off his face.
"Ahem. You might not know this, but that family has all sorts of hang-ups about martial arts. That's why they pair up with outsiders like me for blood ties, and as I mentioned before, they gather and study martial arts."
"...I know that roughly. And Zhuge Cheon-sang is the result of those efforts."
"Oh, then this'll be quick."
I immediately caught on to what Hyuk Ri-gwang was getting at.
"You're saying the Zhuge Clan will try to tie me to one of their blood relatives?"
"Absolutely. A messenger pigeon flew to the main family yesterday. Word that you toyed with Cheon-sang and even me has probably spread throughout the clan by now."
Already?
I clicked my tongue at their swift actions.
"Fast, huh."
"That's how massive clans are everywhere. Anyway, now that they know your power and abilities, the Zhuge Clan will be even more desperate to bind you. They'll use any means to pair you with one of their clan's women.
I frowned at his words, delivered with the certainty of an immutable truth.
"I'm not even a guest retainer, and they think they'll do that?"
"Yeah. If they can't pin you down in the clan, they'll at least try to get you to sire some heirs. More than one or two have come and gone leaving seed behind over the years."
"Huh."
As I was dumbfounded, Hyuk Ri-gwang continued with a now serious face.
"Now that I think about it, having me bring you might have been their goal from the start. They've probably already decided who to assign to you by now."
My head started aching on its own.
We're coming to discuss something that could sway the fate of the murim, and over there, they're scheming to hook me up.
Pondering how to handle this, Hyuk Ri-gwang looked at me like I was worrying over nothing.
"Why the long face? Check her out, take her as a concubine if you like her, or just leave if not."
"......"
I stared at him with utter disbelief, only for him to look back like he couldn't comprehend.
"What's the big deal about a hero having multiple wives and concubines? Why turn down a perfectly served platter?"
"I'm the type who'd kill any bastard who tried to take my sister as a concubine without a second thought."
Even if my sister was on the verge of becoming an old maid.
Hearing my response, Hyuk Ri-gwang muttered, "Hm, surprisingly strait-laced," and smacked his lips regretfully.
"Too bad. I was thinking of pushing our Euna into a concubine spot for you."
"...Pardon?"
Dumbfounded, I asked back, and Hyuk Ri-gwang leaned in close with a somewhat lecherous look, whispering lowly.
"Not that I should say this, but our Euna is quite the beauty. She takes after her mother—big breasts and a firm rear."
I see.
So this guy's daughter has big breasts and a firm butt.
But why do I need to know that irrelevant info?
I gave him a half-contemptuous look, and he smacked his lips like it was hopeless.
Then he shrugged nonchalantly and got back to the main topic.
"Well, anyway, best to be on guard from the start. It'll kick off the moment you enter the clan."
"Yes, I'll be careful."
*
...In the end, I took Hyuk Ri-gwang's words far too lightly.
"Come now, Young Master. Please, come here. Tonight, I shall attend to you."
The first night at the Zhuge Clan.
In the guest quarters assigned to me, some woman was lying there, reaching out to me.
Not just any woman.
She was a stunning beauty dressed provocatively in the thinnest silk gauze, her pure white skin fully exposed.
Her smooth face, about my age, bore a seductive smile, and moreover, a strange incense was wafting in the room.
Whoa, going this far on the first day?
It far exceeded my expectations.
It was so blatant and full-on that I could only let out a hollow laugh.