The Heavenly Festival
The Ju Ga Cheon Ha Je. It was a grand festival launched with the intent of spreading the Ju Family's prestige far and wide across the Central Plains.
Given its long history, renowned figures from every corner of the empire began to gather.
"I am Seom Mun-yeong of the Seom Family from Jinhae. It is an honor to attend the Ju Ga Cheon Ha Je."
"I am from the Ho Po Gwan Chang of Shaanxi. It has been a while."
Countless visitors streamed through the Ju Family's main gate.
Receiving the guests was Ju Yu-gyeong, the Ju Family's chief steward.
From the rear garden, Ju Tae-sung, the family head, looked down upon the scene.
The Ju Family's rear garden sat on slightly higher ground than the inner and outer halls, offering a clear view of everything below.
Thus, every arriving and departing visitor could be observed.
"Unlike last time, the festival hasn't even begun, yet there are so many visitors. Isn't that right?"
"Hmm. So it seems to you as well, my lady?"
At his side stood Yu Ha-rin.
Unlike before, her once-pale complexion now held a healthy flush, and she had regained enough strength to enjoy light walks with ease.
Ju Tae-sung gently wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"I heard Woo-jin caused another incident this time?"
"Ahem. Incident? He merely suffered a few injuries, or so I was told."
Indeed, no secrets existed within the family. The moment Ju Tae-sung informed the elders, the matter ceased to be secret.
They were enjoying a quiet moment together when a cold voice rang out.
"As expected. Here you are."
The speaker possessed an elegant posture, tightly pressed lips, and sharply upturned eyes. She was undeniably beautiful, yet carried an unmistakably chilly air as she entered the garden.
"You have returned?"
"……."
Ju Tae-sung's tone toward her was frigid.
In contrast, Yu Ha-rin greeted her warmly.
"Welcome, Lady Namgung."
"……Is it wise for someone in poor health to be out like this?"
The question was icy.
She was Ju Tae-sung's third wife. There had once been a second wife, but she had passed away long ago.
"My condition has improved considerably. Did you rest well at your family home?"
Though Yu Ha-rin spoke gently, Namgung I-hwa offered no reply, only a frosty glare filled with displeasure.
"……I must be going."
Namgung I-hwa's farewell was curt and venomous. As the esteemed daughter of the Namgung Family head, her pride in her lineage was immense.
"Hah. You won't even ask after Sang-jin and Sang-ah?"
Namgung I-hwa snapped at Ju Tae-sung's retreating back as he ignored her and left the garden without a word. It was a familiar scene.
Now alone with Yu Ha-rin, Namgung I-hwa slowly spoke.
"Why not visit your own family instead? Your health is frail, and you won't be able to enjoy the festival anyway."
Yu Ha-rin smiled brightly at the suggestion.
"I've truly recovered a great deal. I'm perfectly fine now. In fact, after stopping all my medicine, my body feels so much lighter."
Yu Ha-rin spun gracefully on the spot to demonstrate.
The sight only fueled Namgung I-hwa's irritation.
"You stopped taking your medicine?"
"Yes. It turns out it was poisoned, after all."
"……."
Namgung I-hwa fell silent. She alone had been unaware of such a major incident, and the realization stung.
Yu Ha-rin spoke softly to her.
"It wasn't such a grave matter, so don't worry too much."
"Who said I was worried? Hah, really."
Namgung I-hwa whirled around sharply, her expression visibly tense.
Yu Ha-rin smiled and delivered one final barb.
"By the way, instead of complaining that the family head should ask after Sang-jin and Sang-ah first, wouldn't it be more proper for those two children to greet the family head and his wife first? That is etiquette, and the family's way."
"……."
Yu Ha-rin had struck a nerve to the very end. Namgung I-hwa glared at her in silence before storming out of the garden.
"Sigh."
Yu Ha-rin exhaled quietly as she watched the other woman's retreating figure. With that perpetually discontented woman back, the family was certain to grow noisy. Her head already throbbed.
The Ju Ga Cheon Ha Je lasted roughly ten days.
For the first two days of the festival, light banquets were held where guests enjoyed refreshments and tea, while evenings featured lively drinking to lift spirits. It was a gesture allowing those who had traveled long distances to rest and acclimate without pressure.
Moreover, Jiangxi's entertainment was famed as the finest in the Central Plains.
The Ju Family had invited renowned dancers and musicians to host a lavish banquet, which proved quite the spectacle.
"Kyah! As expected of the Ju Family. I attend this festival every year, and each time my jaw drops. Truly."
"You're telling me. If I'd known, I would have come every time. Hah."
The guests drank and grew familiar with one another.
"By the way, I'm curious. Why hasn't the Sword Sovereign chosen a successor yet?"
"He must be being cautious. There are plenty of talents, after all."
"True. The eldest young master earned the title Sword Dragon at a young age, and the second young master is the grandson of the Namgung Family head. Both are extraordinary."
Ju Woo-jin's name was conspicuously absent from the discussion.
"Most likely, the eldest young master is the frontrunner for the next successor……"
"That may be, but there's the matter of bloodline, isn't there?"
"Bloodline?"
"You don't know?"
"I don't. Tell me. What's wrong with the bloodline?"
The man lowered his voice and spoke carefully.
"Ah, well. The family head's first wife is the legitimate wife, but she couldn't bear children. So the family hastily arranged a political marriage with Lady Jin Seo-hwa, the eldest daughter of the Jin Family head."
"Oh, I've heard of that. Yes, Lady Jin Seo-hwa!"
The listeners nodded.
"The issue is her origins. The Jin Family isn't particularly renowned…… Yet Lady Jin Seo-hwa bore a son and daughter, who are……"
"Aha, so those are the eldest young master and eldest young miss?"
"Correct. Their skills and temperaments are excellent, but their origins remain the problem……"
"Hmm. It is difficult. By lineage alone, the second young master and second young miss would be ideal."
After all, they carried the blood of the Namgung Family. No one present would dare claim the Namgung bloodline was insignificant. Indeed, none existed in all the world who would.
"Wait, didn't the family head's first wife also bear a son?"
"Ahem. There is one……"
At once, the men's expressions twisted as if they had bitten into something foul.
"That one is such a scoundrel…… You know how it is. Tsk."
No kind words followed.
"Still, by bloodline, isn't he the most fitting?"
"Well, that is true. With the Shanxi Yu Family as his maternal relatives and being the legitimate son of the family head……"
"He's young, but he is the most direct heir. Hmm."
"Enough. Why discuss such things here? It's not for us to decide."
"You're right. Hahaha, let's just drink."
The men quickly forgot their conversation and moved on to other topics.
Someone had been watching it all.
Grind.
With the sound of grinding teeth, a woman quietly set down her teacup.
"……How dare they."
Ignorant fools were comparing her son to that lowly wretch.
Namgung I-hwa found it utterly distasteful. Only her children, born of the noble blood of both the Namgung and Ju Families, were worthy.
"It doesn't matter what they say."
Namgung I-hwa barely suppressed her anger. She had only just returned home, yet everything was infuriating.
"The elders will all support Sang-jin anyway."
Thinking of the elders, Namgung I-hwa finally relaxed and lifted her teacup. She was an ambitious woman. Only by making her son the master of the Ju Family would she be satisfied. Otherwise, she would never have married Ju Tae-sung in the first place.
To accept the daughter of the Namgung Family as anything less than the primary wife, as a mere third wife? It wounded her pride, but she had endured for the sake of the future.
'If he becomes the successor……'
Everything would be over. Numerous elders supported her son Sang-jin, and he had trained at the Namgung Family in preparation for this festival.
'If he makes a strong impression here, the successor position is secured.'
The Sword Dragon was a problem, but this time she was confident. Sang-jin possessed talent no less than the Sword Dragon's.
Dreaming of a bright future, Namgung I-hwa finally smiled.
* * *
Jiangxi Province, Nanchang.
A carriage raced down the main road at breakneck speed. Its destination was the Ju Family.
After leaving the Tang Family, it had taken a full seven days to return home.
'The festival must have already begun.'
At the end of the festival, a small martial competition was held among the direct bloodline members. Though small in scale, the true highlight of the Ju Ga Cheon Ha Je lay in this very competition. It was a rare opportunity to witness the direct descendants' martial arts.
Every martial artist harbored a desire for supreme techniques. The Ju Family's warriors were no exception. If anything, their desire ran deeper.
Still, I had managed to arrive before the competition, just as Father had ordered.
I had little interest in the festival itself, but Father seemed intent on showing me the supreme techniques.
The Ju Family's main gate came into view.
The carriage stopped.
After paying the coachman double the promised amount for his efforts, we walked straight toward the gate.
That was when it happened.
"Hey, you insect."
A grating voice that instantly soured my mood rang in my ears.
Someone stood before the main gate.
Ju Sang-jin.
My second brother…… No, that bastard.
I had no fond memories of him. Every time he saw me, he looked ready to devour me alive. A complete bastard.
He had supposedly been staying at his maternal family for months, yet the moment the festival began, he had come running.
As expected, he approached with the expression of a predator that had found its prey.
"I heard you got beaten up somewhere and caused trouble for the Tang Family? Quite the spectacle."
"……."
"Oh? No greeting for your brother after so long? Have you forgotten your manners because no one has beaten you lately?"
Ju Sang-jin gathered his qi as he spoke. Normally, I would have fled in fear or been thoroughly beaten, but now there was no need.
Ju Sang-jin was someone I could break in a single move.
"Stop it, Young Master."
At that moment, Yu-ran stepped forward to intervene.
"Huh? Why are you here, Lady Yu-ran?"
"It was the family head's order. To guard the youngest young master."
"What? Hahaha, now he's even getting protection from the Red Dragon Unit leader…… Wow, you're truly a disgrace to the Ju Family. A disgrace."
Ah, my head was already spinning. With that bastard back, things were about to become very troublesome.
"Aren't you going to greet me?"
"……."
Staring at Ju Sang-jin, who was picking a fight without provocation, I gave him a cold smile.
"It's been a while."
"Hah, now you're openly mocking me."
"Shall I make you cry instead?"
From now on, I had decided not to tolerate his tyranny any longer. I intended to crush him so thoroughly that he would never dare to defy me again.