Chapter 129
Translator: penny
Chapter: 129
Chapter Title: Challenge Over Drinks
"Then how about we prove it with a spar right here?"
The first to react to my words was Moyong Hui.
She let out a small sigh and lightly tugged at the hem of my robe with her fingertips.
"Gaga, please stop. A spar at a nice gathering like this?"
Her words were gentle, but her glare was no joke.
It was like she was scolding me with eyes that said, 'Do you really want to bully the weak kid?'
Only then did I remember something I'd forgotten.
'Come to think of it, Hyea said she was friends with this Namgung Chan guy.'
Of course, if it came to an actual fight, she'd take my side, but right now, it just looked like I was bullying him unilaterally.
And honestly, that had been my intention.
'Tch, this Namgung Chan punk really rubs me the wrong way.'
He never knew his place, then or now.
Thanks to the Namgung Family's backing, he'd earned the overly grand title of Sword King and even dared to challenge me, claiming to be one of the Ten Strongest Under Heaven.
'Guys like this need to learn their place early...'
But what could I do?
My Hyea was telling me to stop.
'Consider yourself lucky.'
Today, I'd resolved from the start to lift Moyong Hui's spirits, so I'd let him off the hook this time.
But Namgung Chan had no intention of letting it end there.
"Can you really back up those words you just said?"
His face screamed he was ready to lunge at me any second.
Stepping in to block him was his younger sister, Namgung Sua.
"Oppa, it's been so long since you've seen Hyea-unnie. Just hold back this once."
"Ahem, I agree with Sua. And Namgung-hyung, these things slip out when you're drinking—what's the point of taking it so seriously?"
Pang Deokjo was chiming in right after Namgung Sua, but with everyone trying to intervene, even Namgung Chan couldn't step forward easily.
In the end, his face flushed red as he downed the glass in front of him in one gulp.
He slammed it down with a clack and let out a sigh.
"Hoo, you're right. Sorry, I must've had too much to drink. I wouldn't even be talking to you if it weren't for Hyea—got a bit worked up for no reason."
Pretending to save face while taking a dig at me.
That line about not talking to me if it weren't for Hyea was the righteous faction's polite way of saying, 'If you weren't with Moyong Hui, I wouldn't give you the time of day.'
And truthfully, I somewhat agreed with him.
'Tch, if his sister weren't Namgung Sua, I wouldn't even bother with him.'
What right did he have to share a table with me?
Not even Cheon Woojin, who'd been kicked out first from this place, would get that treatment.
With those thoughts in mind, his remark didn't bother me one bit.
But Moyong Hui beside me didn't seem to feel the same.
"Chan-oppa. Don't you think that's a bit much?"
She reignited the spark in what had seemed like a settled atmosphere.
Namgung Chan failed to keep his composure, his face twisting.
"Hyea-ya, are you saying I'm in the wrong here?"
"Of course I don't think Gaga was entirely right either. But saying that to his face seems rude, don't you think?"
The first punch had come from me, but on the surface, I'd kept it polite.
I hadn't outright said 'let's fight,' but suggested proving it honorably through a spar.
It might sting to hear, but to a third party, I'd toed the line just barely.
Warriors suggesting a spar to settle things wasn't that unusual.
Yet Namgung Chan's words were clearly an insult no one could deny.
He probably realized it himself...
'But admitting it outright would bruise his pride too much.'
Who was Namgung Chan?
The eldest son of the Namgung Family and one of the Five Dragons and Five Phoenixes, said to be the finest of the righteous faction's younger generation.
And me?
'No notable clan, no fancy title.'
To him, I probably just looked like a lucky guy who'd scored a great woman.
So Namgung Chan sat there, face red, lips pressed tight.
Moyong Hui glared at him with a resolute expression, determined to get an apology.
In the end, Namgung Sua stepped in again.
"Aigoo, why are you two at it again? It's been ages since we've all met... And Hyea-unnie, can I ask you something I've been wondering?"
Moyong Hui still looked displeased, but she couldn't ignore innocent Namgung Sua and nodded.
"What is it?"
"Unnie, are you finally coming back to the Murim Alliance?"
Her effort to change the mood was obvious.
"Yeah. Starting seven days from now, I'll be heading to the Murim Alliance."
"Wow! You're really returning? To which unit? Can't you join the Azure Dragon Unit?"
Namgung Sua prodded Moyong Hui with a touch of aegyo that didn't suit her cool looks.
Moyong Hui finally burst into a light laugh.
"Sorry, it's already decided. Back to my old unit, the Vermilion Bird."
"Ah... It's already set..."
As their conversation paused, Pang Deokjo jumped in like he'd been waiting.
"Still, the Vermilion Bird is where Namgung-hyung is, right? Namgung-hyung, don't you have a word for the Sword Phoenix you'll be with from now on?"
The situation was naturally steering toward reconciliation.
The mood had softened considerably thanks to Namgung Sua's efforts.
But Namgung Chan, still sulking, suddenly stood up.
"I'll take my leave now. Hyea-ya, see you at the Murim Alliance."
He headed out of the tavern without so much as glancing my way.
No one made a move to stop him, just letting out small sighs.
'Tsk tsk, what a small-minded guy.'
Pretending to be the bigger man with polite speech—what good did that do?
Deep down, he was just a petty little shrimp.
If he couldn't even challenge me to a proper fight, treating me like I didn't exist was his choice.
With Namgung Chan having ruined the vibe and stormed off, silence fell over the table.
Even Namgung Sua, who'd been trying to liven things up, just shook her head at her brother, clearly fed up.
Finally, unable to stand it, Pang Deokjo cleared his throat softly.
"Ahem, that guy's probably really upset. He's been admiring the Sword Phoenix for quite a while..."
He glanced at me as if asking for understanding.
Namgung Sua chimed in belatedly, looking embarrassed.
"Sorry. Please understand, Mok-hyungnim. My brother really liked Hyea-unnie a lot."
There was nothing to understand or not.
If anything, I was grateful he'd left without being asked.
But I hid all that and smiled with the most affable expression I could muster.
"No, if anything, I'm sorry for crashing your gathering like an unwelcome guest."
"No way. How could you ruin the mood, Mok-hyungnim? It's just my brother who..."
She trailed off and shut her mouth.
Even without him here, she probably didn't want to badmouth family.
She gave an awkward smile and changed the subject.
"Anyway, are you joining the Murim Alliance too, Mok-hyungnim?"
"Ah, yes. Same as Hyea, starting seven days from now."
"I see. Have you decided on a unit? If possible, our Azure Dragon..."
She caught herself mid-sentence, startled, and glanced nervously at me and Moyong Hui.
I had no idea what that was about.
'What's with her?'
Moyong Hui, who'd been quiet since Namgung Chan left, answered for me.
"Gaga's joining the White Tiger Unit."
"Eung? White Tiger? Isn't the Imperial Dragon Selection just a month away?"
I realized why she'd been wary.
With the big selection still a ways off, joining the Murim Alliance in just a few days must've made her think I'd passed the regular warrior recruitment for Azure Dragon.
Before Moyong Hui could respond, Pang Deokjo butted in knowingly.
"Must be by recommendation."
"Ah!"
Her face visibly relaxed in relief.
Then, curiously, she asked Moyong Hui.
"Unnie, with recommendation, you can pick any of the Four Divine Beasts units, right?"
"That's right."
"Then why's Mok-hyungnim going to White Tiger? Wouldn't it be better to be in Vermilion Bird with you, Hyea-unnie?"
The main reason was Red Peak Baek Iryeong in White Tiger, and the other was to investigate the Blood Cult firsthand.
But I couldn't exactly spill those truths, so I gave a plausible excuse.
"I applied because White Tiger sees the most real combat."
Pang Deokjo reacted first.
"Ho, you chose White Tiger for combat experience? Looks like what you said to Namgung-hyung earlier wasn't just talk."
"Wow, that's impressive."
I'd unintentionally scored points.
As I smiled quietly instead of replying, Namgung Sua continued apologetically.
"I must've misjudged you, Mok-hyungnim. Honestly, when you stood up to my brother earlier, I thought you were just relying on Hyea-unnie."
Pang Deokjo nodded along quietly from the side.
I flashed a bright smile and picked up the bottle.
"That makes sense. Come on, we're all connected by fate here—let's have a round."
With the mood-killer gone, our drinking party quickly turned lively and warm.