Chapter 126
Translator: penny
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: Declaring Our Bond
"Come on, Nangong Xiaoxie, was it? Why don't you take a seat here and chat with us?"
The moment I grabbed Nangong Chan, he gave me a puzzled look.
"You weren't saying a word just a moment ago..."
Was I being too friendly?
He didn't seem to know it was because of his sister, but even so, his eyes were full of suspicion.
I quickly came up with a suitable excuse.
"I'm the shy type by nature."
"...".
Suspicion mixed with bewilderment now crossed his face.
But Nangong Chan wasn't the priority right now.
[Gaga!!]
A transmission so loud it made my head ring slammed into my ears.
I glanced over to see her glaring at me with furrowed brows.
She seemed seriously upset.
'Well, can you blame her? She even issued an eviction order, and here I am holding people back...'
Thinking back, my judgment had definitely been shortsighted.
With Moyong Hui right by my side, seducing Nangong Sua was next to impossible anyway—I'd let instinct override reason.
And unlike with Sa Hye-rin before, Moyong Hui couldn't just step away...
'Cheon Bong came to see Hui-ah, so it wouldn't make sense for her to leave.'
As I mulled this over without considering her feelings, another transmission hit my ear.
[Seriously, Gaga? Isn't that going too far?]
Her tone was even higher than usual.
She might actually get angry for real.
I hurriedly sent a transmission to soothe Moyong Hui.
[Misunderstanding, Hui-ah. I just wanted to chat since you two are close.]
She didn't buy it at all.
But she didn't press further, letting out a small sigh instead.
[Just you wait, Gaga.]
I hadn't really planned to seduce Cheon Bong today anyway, and her reaction made it clear that was off the table entirely.
'Well, today's not the only day.'
Getting acquainted lightly would have to suffice for now.
And I'd focus on cheering up Moyong Hui.
As I exchanged transmissions with Moyong Hui, Nangong Chan, who'd been observing, spoke up.
"Hui-ah, is it alright if I join as this gentleman suggested?"
He already seemed inclined to sit.
He'd probably come here intending to do just that from the start.
At his question, Moyong Hui let out a small sigh.
"Yes, that's fine with me."
Not stopping at her permission, he turned his gaze to Cheon Woojin as well.
Since Cheon Woojin had shown the most hostility, it made sense for Nangong Chan to seek his approval too, but...
"Woojin-ah. Take Hyun-i and secure lodging ahead of time."
It was utterly unnecessary.
He had no intention of letting Cheon Woojin stay where Nangong Sua would be.
'Who the hell for?'
There were four men at this table, including me.
Among them, the only real rival was Cheon Woojin.
Nangong Chan was Cheon Bong's own brother, and Baek Rihyeon was just a kid not even ten yet.
But Cheon Woojin?
'Handsome face, and for his age, his martial arts are top-notch.'
His only shortcoming was fame, but I was in the same boat there.
Even if I'd met the Murim Alliance Leader today, I was still a nobody without a proper title.
On top of that, I had the disadvantage of being Moyong Hui's lover.
In this situation, if Nangong Sua fell for Cheon Woojin, what then?
'I don't want to kill my own subordinate.'
So, chasing Cheon Woojin out of here was entirely for his own good.
He seemed to grasp my intent, nodding obediently.
"Then I'll head out first."
He sent me a transmission at the same time.
[My lord, take it easy today. Moyong young lady doesn't look happy.]
If he felt the need to say that, Moyong Hui must really be upset.
But it was no issue.
'I've already decided to cheer her up today.'
Cheon Woojin left the tavern without so much as a glance at Nangong Chan, taking Baek Rihyeon with him.
Baek Rihyeon looked a bit disappointed but quietly followed without protest, respecting my decision.
With the two gone so smoothly, Nangong Chan cleared his throat lightly.
"Ahem. Allow me to introduce myself properly once more. I'm Nangong Chan of the Murim Alliance's Vermilion Bird Unit. Hui-ah and I were comrades in the past."
He stared at me pointedly, as if demanding I reveal who I was.
He must be dying to know.
'Can't blame him.'
Unless he was blind, he'd know I was the center of this group.
Not knowing who I was must be eating at him.
Instead of indulging him, I picked up the liquor bottle.
"Come on, have a drink first."
He extended his cup with a reluctant expression.
I poured and continued.
"By the way, when are the rest of your group arriving? If we're doing introductions, might as well do them all at once."
The "rest" naturally meant Nangong Sua.
Nangong Chan furrowed his brow, clearly displeased, but nodded soon enough.
"They should be here soon. They were supposed to arrive already, but it seems something delayed them."
He glanced toward the door for no reason.
And right then.
The person we'd been waiting for pushed open the tavern door and entered.
'Finally!'
A proud face that suited the Nangong name perfectly.
Even smiling, she had a faintly cool air about her.
'Like a princess.'
As the lady of the Nangong family, she'd probably been raised like true royalty—not unusual at all.
Nangong Chan's daughter from my past drunken escapade, Nangong Cheong, had the same vibe.
But Nangong Sua wasn't alone entering the tavern.
'Huh? That guy?'
Following her was a rough-looking man.
His towering height over seven feet, bursting muscles, and unkempt beard made him look like a bandit...
'Isn't that guy's disciple?'
The Hebei Peng Clan guy who'd earned the title Blade Emperor in my past life.
'Peng Deokjo, right?'
Like the Nangong Chan before me, he'd chased me down and met his end at my hands.
His skill for his age had stuck in my memory.
Actually, Blade Emperor was a title right below the Ten Strongest Under Heaven.
That positioned him as one of the future contenders for World's Greatest Martial Artist, but...
'Tough luck.'
There were just too many prodigies back then.
No need to mention myself, Mok Jimyeong, but there was Nangong Chan, who'd claimed a spot as Sword King among the Ten Strongest before even hitting sixty; Cheon Woojin, son of the Martial Emperor and an absolute master; and Baek Rihyeon, who'd earned the title Sword Emperor before even turning forty.
Especially since Baek Rihyeon was nearly twenty years younger than Peng Deokjo, the latter's skills seemed lesser by comparison.
'Baek Rihyeon, that punk—turns out it was all thanks to his Heavenly Martial Body.'
Anyway, Peng Deokjo was no slouch himself; I had no idea why he was here.
As if to answer my question, Nangong Chan stood and waved.
"Brother Peng, over here."
Seemed he was part of Nangong Sua's group.
Come to think of it, Nangong Chan had never said he'd only called her.
'Tch, a new rival...?'
I tilted my head even as I thought it—the reason was simple.
'That ugly bastard?'
Peng Deokjo was downright hideous.
No kind way to put it—he was pure bandit material.
And it wasn't just him.
'The whole Hebei Peng Clan is ugly.'
That was why I'd never bothered with them during my time in Beijing.
Men and women alike, ugly as sin.
Whatever was in their blood, they were all hulking brutes with flat, cart-crash faces.
Nangong, Moyong, Sichuan Tang—even Baek families were full of beauties, yet among the Five Great Families, only Hebei Peng stood out like that.
'No wonder I never hung with Peng Clan kids.'
As I silently judged, the two approached our table.
"Sister Hui-ah, long time no see. How have you been?"
"Yeah, Sua-ya. It's been a while."
Nangong Sua greeted Moyong Hui first.
Peng Deokjo chimed in late, acting friendly.
"Sword Phoenix, long time. Grown much stronger?"
"Blade Dragon brother, it's been ages. Doing well?"
'That guy's Blade Dragon? Earth Dragon fits better.'
Peng Deokjo being one of the Five Dragons and Five Phoenixes wasn't surprising, but it was amusing anyway.
The terms even sounded similar.
Then Nangong Sua's gaze turned to me.
"Who's this gentleman? I don't think we've met..."
Only then did Peng Deokjo take interest in me.
Nangong Chan shot me another burning look, urging me to introduce myself.
Truth be told, I had little to boast about.
No title, just third son of the Mok Family Clan.
But here, I had one more impressive status...
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Mok Jimyeong, third son of the Mok Family Clan. No title yet, but..."
I flashed the brightest smile I could muster.
Then wrapped an arm around Moyong Hui's waist.
"...I'm in a relationship with Hui-ah—honored beyond my station."
The first time since we got together.
I'd publicly declared our bond.