Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: The Sword Bearing the Sovereign's Majesty
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A hint of awkwardness crept into Namgung Hyun's smile at my words, making him flinch.
“Looks like I can't fool Young Master Goon after all.”
I fired off more questions while watching him scratch the back of his head.
“What did you think when you saw that sword?”
“…A sword reminiscent of a storm. That was my first thought.”
“Was that all?”
“Well...”
Namgung Hyun trailed off, unable to finish.
It felt like he clearly recognized it but couldn't bring himself to say it aloud.
I shrugged, roughly guessing the reason.
He must have some resistance to putting into words that it's the Sovereign's Sword or whatever.
Well, that wasn't the important thing right now anyway.
“I'll tell you in advance: I'm not going to teach you anything.”
“…Pardon?”
Namgung Hyun's face filled with confusion at my words.
He had gladly passed on the Soaring Bow Formless Sword, so why refuse to teach the Sovereign Sword Form? His expression said he couldn't understand.
Hmm, the reason? Call it my greed?
“I want you, Young Master of the House, to create that sword yourself.”
“…Me, create it myself?”
“Yes.”
To be precise, I wanted to see not 'my' Sovereign Sword Form, but the 'Namgung's' Sovereign Sword Form.
It was the same reason I had only taught the Soaring Bow Formless Sword up to the four forms ending with Mystical Sky Gale.
I had created the first half, but I hoped he would fill the remaining latter half with his own power—purely with the Namgung's sword.
Namgung Hyun looked troubled upon hearing my story.
“…I'm not sure if I can do it.”
“I think you can manage it just fine.”
He stared at me for a moment after my confident reply, then nodded with a resolute expression.
“…Understood. I'll definitely complete it. A new martial art of the Namgung Clan.”
Satisfied with his answer, I nodded.
“I'd love to see it the next time we meet.”
“Ah…! Come to think of it, you're about to leave soon.”
Namgung Hyun made a regretful face, then smiled faintly and held out a wooden sword to me.
“Then, before you go, could I ask for one spar?”
“…You Namgung Clan folks really love spars, don't you?”
I grumbled lightly about the buildup always leading to a fight and took the wooden sword, then spent time sparring with him until dusk.
*
While Ja-seong and Namgung Hyun were deep into their spar, Yakbing visited the guest quarters where Hwaryeon's group was staying.
“Excuse me. Do you have a moment?”
“Of course. Come in, Miss Seol.”
Seol welcomed her warmly.
In the less than a month they'd spent together, she had grown quite close to Yakbing.
Hwaryeon was technically her senior and had a naturally cool demeanor, making her hard to approach in many ways.
By contrast, Yakbing's gentle and warm nature made her someone Seol could open up to more easily.
Yakbing returned Seol's bright welcome with a soft smile, then glanced sideways at Hwaryeon behind her.
She couldn't read Hwaryeon's face as clearly as Ja-seong could, but somehow, she sensed a hint of jealousy in that icy expression.
*Seol's getting close to me, and she's feeling left out, huh.*
If that was the case, it wouldn't hurt to be a bit more honest and warm toward her.
Feeling a twinge of pity for Hwaryeon, who was never straightforward about anything, Yakbing took a seat as guided by Seol.
No sooner had she sat than Hwaryeon asked the reason for her visit.
“What brings you here?”
“I heard you're leaving the Namgung Clan soon. I thought we ladies could have a heart-to-heart before then.”
“A heart-to-heart…?”
“Yes. Like, talking about romance, for example?”
Hwaryeon flinched briefly at Yakbing's playful yet meaningful words, while Seol looked indifferent.
“What romance talk? It's all just about Miss Seol and Young Master Goon anyway. We've heard that plenty already.”
“Oh my?”
Did she seriously not notice at all?
Yakbing's eyes widened in surprise at Seol's obliviousness, then she let out a small laugh.
*I should avoid talking about it in front of Seol.*
“You're right. Shall we talk about something else then? I've been curious about something myself.”
“What's that?”
“Your stories from the old days? How was life when you were young?”
“Ah...”
At Yakbing's question, Seol glanced at Hwaryeon.
Her eyes asked if it was okay to share.
Hwaryeon spoke up on her behalf.
“Given the circumstances, it might be hard to tell you.”
Even with the polite refusal, Yakbing kept her smile and spoke again.
“I understand your position. I'm not asking for detailed personal info or anything. I'm just curious about how you spent your childhood.”
“…If it's just that much.”
Limited agreement.
Yakbing's eyes sparkled as she asked the question she'd been most curious about.
“How did you meet Young Master Goon?”
Just like that?
Hwaryeon tried to hide her fluster.
She'd been annoyed from the start with the romance talk, but it seemed Yakbing had come prepared today.
“Ah, well, that...”
As she pondered how to respond, Seol jumped in and started talking.
Before Hwaryeon could stop her, the story poured out, and Yakbing nodded along with rapt interest.
“Wow, I can't even imagine. You two were really on bad terms?”
“Totally. We fought every other day. Then one day, Young Master Goon started teasing me with this weird way of talking...”
After that, Yakbing asked questions and Seol answered, repeating back and forth.
Hwaryeon watched anxiously from the side, worried about slip-ups, but fortunately, nothing happened.
In the end, Hwaryeon just sat there quietly, listening to their conversation.
She finally spoke when Seol stepped out, saying she'd fetch some tea.
“…Did you come because you have something to say to me?”
“Why do you think that?”
“…….”
Hwaryeon clamped her mouth shut, unable to say it was about romance or whatever.
Seeing this, Yakbing gave a wry smile.
*She said she hasn't come of age yet, right?*
On top of that, she'd vaguely heard about how she'd lost her parents young due to someone else's malice.
Hwaryeon's cold attitude—hiding and suppressing her own emotions—probably stemmed from those circumstances.
Yakbing found that truly regrettable.
This was the time when a woman bloomed most beautifully.
Wasting the moments of heart-fluttering excitement and overwhelming love, trapped by past pain—it was such a shame.
Fortunately, she occasionally showed honesty in front of Ja-seong, but even that was relative; she always fell one step short.
“To be honest, yes. I came because I have something to say.”
“…What is it?”
“How about being a little more honest with your own feelings?”
“I don't know what you mean.”
Hwaryeon's curt response.
The reaction was quite intense.
*This won't be easy.*
Thinking she might need to be a bit tougher, Yakbing continued.
“You know, being honest with your feelings isn't a bad thing. Hiding them can lead to misunderstandings that create deep rifts with others.”
“That won't...”
“Can you be absolutely sure?”
“…….”
Hwaryeon shut her mouth again.
Yakbing subtly shifted her gaze and lightly provoked her.
“What if it drives a wedge between you and Young Master Goon?”
“…!”
Hwaryeon's eyes sharpened, her aura growing even chillier.
Yakbing felt as if the room temperature had dropped and pressed on.
“Besides, Young Master Goon is skilled in martial arts and quite the rare handsome man, isn't he? Plenty of women will throw themselves at him during your travels ahead. What if he grows close to one whose heart matches his…?”
As the words continued, Hwaryeon's expression turned not just icy but outright menacing.
Yakbing smiled faintly at her and handed her a bronze mirror from the corner of the room.
“Eek...”
Hwaryeon flinched upon seeing her own menacing face, blatantly showing jealousy.
“Still don't get it, making a face like this? How you feel about Young Master Goon?”
“...….”
Unable to respond to Yakbing's gentle words, Hwaryeon said nothing.
- *Slide*
Right then, Seol entered with tea.
“…Did something happen?”
Seol sensed the odd atmosphere upon entering and asked. Yakbing shook her head.
“No. Nothing at all.”
Yakbing greeted Seol nonchalantly.
Once Seol sat, their chat resumed, just the two of them.
“…….”
Hwaryeon clamped her mouth shut again.
But her face had lost its usual composure, looking quite complicated.
*Hehe.*
Yakbing chuckled inwardly, glancing at her expression.
People usually become aware of their feelings starting from physical reactions.
Having seen her own jealousy-filled face, all that was left was for her to realize it herself.
*I don't need to meddle with Young Master Goon's side… Looking forward to next time.*
What would they be like the next time they met?
Yakbing immersed herself in pleasant imaginings as she dove into chatter with Seol.
*
The next morning.
The Namgung Clan came out to see off our group as we prepared to board the carriage and depart.
“Here, take this.”
The Namgung Clan Head stepped forward and offered something to Hwaryeon.
A quick glance showed a finely crafted gold plaque engraved with a sword and a letter.
“This is the Namgung Clan's token and a letter stating that the Namgung stands with your cause. It will help when dealing with the other Great Clans and Nine Sects.”
“Thank you for your thoughtful consideration.”
“We're the ones who should be grateful. We won't forget the grace you've shown the Namgung.”
Hwaryeon tucked the gold plaque and letter away.
Then Namgung Hyun and Miss Seol stepped forward.
“Next time we meet, I'll definitely show you the results.”
“But don't push yourself too hard.”
Namgung Hyun and I exchanged grins,
“I'll be looking forward to it next time?”
“…I have no idea what you're talking about.”
while Hwaryeon ignored the beaming Miss Seol.
After our parting (?), we boarded the carriage and left the Namgung Clan.
I glanced back at the clan members waving from afar, then asked Hwaryeon our next destination.
“So, where's our next target? Up north? Or down south?”
Going north would take us through Jiangsu to Shandong and Hebei, aiming for the Peng Clan of Hebei and the Murong Clan of Liaoning.
But the distance was too far, so probably not.
As expected, Hwaryeon chose south—more precisely, southwest.
“Our next goal is the Zhuge Clan of Yungzhong Mountain in Hubei.”