Chapter 196
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 196
Chapter Title: Reunion with Second Sister Mok Jieun
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My second sister Mok Jieun, whom I hadn't seen in ages.
Shockingly, she had already reached the mid-Peak realm.
I'd received a letter saying she'd broken through to Peak before, but that was just a few months ago.
And now she was already at mid-stage?
'Looks like sending her the Four Spirit Pills paid off.'
Even so, it was still astonishing.
Typically, the Five Dragons and Five Phoenixes—supposedly the greatest late-stage talents of the orthodox sects—were somewhere between early and mid-Peak.
The standout Sword Dragon, Namgung Chan, had barely scraped into late-Peak.
And considering all the spirit elixirs they'd been fed since childhood, a single batch of Four Spirit Pills wouldn't even register.
'Plus, Second Sister's on the younger side age-wise.'
Mok Jieun was just three years younger than me, twenty-four this year.
For reference, Moyong Hui was twenty-five, and Baek Iryeong, who'd come with me, was twenty-six.
'Nangong Sojeo is a year younger than Second Sister, but she was only at early-Peak before we got together.'
In other words, Mok Jieun was already at a level where she could rightfully claim a spot among the Five Dragons and Five Phoenixes.
And she'd achieved that with nothing but our Mok Family clan's inherited martial arts.
'If Second Sister learns the Sword Queen's Phoenix Bestowal Sword as well... even Cheon Woojin might have to start watching his back.'
Hiding my pleased feelings, I asked Mok Jieun,
"Made any progress while I was away?"
"Yeah. Want to check it out?"
Nodding here would mean she'd draw her sword on the spot.
I was curious about her achievements, but sparring right after reuniting felt off, so I shook my head.
"Later. We've got plenty of time anyway."
She nodded with a disappointed look.
As our exchange wrapped up, Mok Jicheon, standing nearby, burst into laughter.
"That's your greeting after all this time?"
Mok Jieun shot him a what’s-wrong-with-that glance.
That set Mok Jicheon chuckling again.
"The kid who waited every day for you after we sent that letter saying you were coming suddenly gets shy the moment you arrive? And you, Jimyeong—you sent her special elixirs and all, so why act so gruff about it?"
It only left me flustered.
'Isn't this how Second Sister and I have always been?'
We'd been like this for over twenty years now.
Even longer if you counted my pre-regression memories.
So suddenly acting different would be the weird part.
Mok Jieun and I met each other's eyes.
We both tilted our heads, as if to say, what's the issue?
Now Mok Jicheon started clicking his tongue.
"No idea who you two take after. Anyway, enough of that—let's all go out for a nice meal together since it's been so long. Bring the guests who came with you too, Jimyeong."
Eating out sounded good, but one thing rubbed me the wrong way.
'Invite Senior Baek along too?'
His sudden mention of Baek Iryeong felt suspicious.
Mok Jicheon was still in his prime, twenty-nine this year.
Not weird at all for him to take interest in a beauty like Baek Iryeong.
'No way he's actually into her... right?'
As if reading my mind, he let out a deep sigh.
"Sigh, Jimyeong. What do you take your big brother for?"
"...I didn't say anything?"
"You punk, it's written all over your face!"
Being called out like that just made it awkward.
But awkward was awkward, and a rival was a rival.
"Then be careful not to give me reason to suspect, brother."
"Ha... How did my one and only little brother turn into such a playboy?"
His words set us brothers laughing heartily together.
Meanwhile, Mok Jieun tilted her head, unable to follow the conversation.
"So, who's the guest who came with you?"
"Oh, you wouldn't know yet, Jieun. It's Sojeo, the one they call Crimson Phoenix in the martial world."
"Crimson Phoenix? One of the Five Dragons and Five Phoenixes?"
Interest sparked in Mok Jieun's eyes.
First time I'd seen her react like that to anything besides martial arts.
I pondered if we should all eat together but soon figured it'd be fine.
They were all around the same age and shared similar vibes, so they'd hit it off quick.
'The issue is if brother develops romantic feelings for Senior Baek...'
Guess I'd have to trust Mok Jicheon's upright character and Baek Iryeong's man-averse personality.
And thinking it over, it might not even be worth worrying about.
'Honestly, I'm way more appealing than my shy brother. Looks, martial arts—everything. Unnecessary worry.'
My mind felt lighter.
***
Baek Iryeong gladly accepted our siblings' invitation to dine out.
Once we left the clan grounds, we headed straight to a famous restaurant in Taewon.
Conversation only picked up after the food arrived.
I'd expected some initial awkward silence, but surprisingly, the talk never stopped.
Especially unexpected was how well Baek Iryeong and Mok Jieun clicked.
"This black sword tassel that Jimyeong carries everywhere—you gave it to him?"
"Yeah."
"No wonder he never takes it off! Last time I asked to see it up close, he dodged me."
Baek Iryeong giggled and playfully tapped Mok Jieun's arm.
Mok Jieun didn't seem bothered, showing a faint smile.
Mok Jicheon watched the two with a pleased expression.
And I...
'Was Senior Baek always this bubbly?'
I was pretty thrown by these unfamiliar sides of her.
The Baek Iryeong I knew was basically indifferent to everyone around her.
Second Sister was similar, but there were subtle differences between them.
Baek Iryeong's indifference stemmed from 'boredom' at its core.
She found no meaning in mingling with others and figured that time was better spent training.
'Probably her thirst for revenge against the unorthodox sects.'
With such a clear goal, she dismissed meeting people as a waste of time.
Hence the boredom.
That was the Baek Iryeong I'd analyzed.
Meanwhile, Mok Jieun's indifference was just... genuine disinterest.
Why did she train so diligently?
No real reason.
Why didn't she hang out with others?
No reason there either.
She had this vibe of being locked in her own little world.
Basically, Mok Jieun was indifferent to everything by default.
'That's why I was so shocked when she gave me this black tassel.'
Anyway, their personalities meshed well enough, but I'd never imagined them chatting so amiably.
Yet here they were, getting along like old friends.
"Weird. He doesn't even seem to train much..."
"Jimyeong's hated training since he was little."
"For real? Then how'd he reach Fusion Realm so fast?"
Mostly talking about me, too.
Nothing bad, so I just listened.
Wouldn't hurt my chances with Baek Iryeong.
Then Mok Jicheon, who'd been quiet, chimed in.
"Because Jimyeong's a genius."
"...Pardon?"
Baek Iryeong blinked in surprise at the sudden interjection.
I was pretty thrown too.
'The praise is nice and all... but isn't this too obvious family favoritism?'
But Mok Jieun nodded like it was the most natural thing.
And Mok Jicheon continued.
"It's a bit embarrassing, but my martial talent lags behind my siblings. No need to compare with Jimyeong, who's already in Fusion Realm—I'm way behind even Jieun, who just hit Peak, or our youngest sister Yeoni, who joined Mount Hua Sect."
For reference, Mok Jicheon's level was currently early first-rate.
Not bad for late twenties, but everyone here was on another level.
'These folks need to be judged against the entire Central Plains martial world.'
Truth be told, Mok Jicheon was top-tier in Shanxi Province.
This province made a huge fuss and threw a feast just because one of their clan's kids joined Mount Hua Sect.
"Our Mok Family only has two sons, and I'm eight years older than Jimyeong. Normally, the heir would be the eldest son—me."
Baek Iryeong nodded slightly at the obvious point.
Confirming her reaction, Mok Jicheon smiled warmly and went on.
"But our Mok Family is a martial clan above all—we have to value martial prowess. If the talent gap is small, no issue. But what if it's like heaven and earth?"
"...The heir changes?"
"Exactly. But kind-hearted Jimyeong didn't want that. So he refused to learn martial arts until he turned twenty."
Hold on—what was this now?
Me refusing to learn martial arts until twenty?
'How hard I worked back then...!'
All my childhood efforts—down the drain?
It was so absurd I couldn't even speak.
Worse, Mok Jieun nodding solemnly beside me like she agreed pushed it from absurd to ridiculous.
'What the hell do these people think I am?'
I'd half-expected this to some extent, but I never thought my own family saw me this way.