Chapter 204
Chapter 204
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 204
Chapter Title: My Three Vows
There were three things I had sworn to accomplish no matter what after turning back time.
The most important first one.
Making my home clan the World's Supreme Clan.
The second thing I had to do for that.
Eliminating the schemes of the Three Great Demonic Cults, including the Four Demonic Grounds.
And the third was.
'Listen up, you Namgung bastards. You're all gonna die by my hand.'
What? You have to die because your talent is too dangerous?
You bastards, top righteous prestigious clans in the world, pulling that kind of shit.
I absolutely won't forgive you.
"Seol-ha. Anywhere else is fine, but the Great Namgung Clan is absolutely off-limits."
"So why is that?"
A mischievous curiosity played across Je-gal Seol-ha's face.
This girl was getting playful again.
"You know. That the Baek Clan and the Dang Clan have beef with the Great Namgung Clan."
Just look at how Namgung Sword hastily apologized for past events to take the initiative.
The Great Namgung Clan had no intention of letting the matter with Namgung Cheon-hu slide as mere history.
"It's obvious from the two Human-grade invitations that flew straight to the home clan. The Namgung must have pulled some strings."
The Yang Clan or whatever in An-hui got their stipend invitation too.
But the Baek Clan, showing the most remarkable growth lately, got two Human-grade ones.
They might think the proof is still lacking, but it was surely the Great Namgung Clan's influence that made them think that.
"Is that the only reason?"
"Of course not."
"Then what?"
"From what you did earlier, it seemed like you didn't want it either. As your senior brother, I can't just stand by and watch my junior sister get forced into a marriage she doesn't want."
"Tch. What a boring answer."
"What kind of answer were you hoping for?"
"The thrilling flow where the senior brother, smitten at first sight with his junior sister he hasn't seen in ages, gets jealous hearing about an engagement?"
Instead of answering right away, Yang-hwi crossed his arms and stared intently at Je-gal Seol-ha's face.
His blatant gaze made even her avert her eyes.
"What? Why are you staring like that all of a sudden?"
"Hmm..."
"...?"
"You've gotten prettier, sure. But not enough to fall for at first sight."
Je-gal Seol-ha's mouth fell open in a daze.
"Wow. First time anyone's ever said that to me."
"Guess I'll be remembered as your first from now on."
"If you're saying that now, we've had plenty of 'firsts' together, you know?"
"True enough."
We had been together even when Yin Hou tossed me off like trash and I fell off the cliff in the past.
"Anyway, no way. I'll block the Great Namgung Clan's growth by any means necessary."
A union between the Je-gal Clan and Great Namgung Clan among the Five Great Clans Under Heaven?
And not just any—the Young Clan Heir's daughter and the Young Clan Heir's engagement?
This was pretty lethal.
Especially considering the Je-gal Young Clan Heir was a notorious doting father.
'Moreover... considering the current situations of the Namgung and Je-gal. The moment they're bound by marriage, their alliance will solidify inevitably.'
The Je-gal Clan, troubled by the aggressively expanding Wudang.
The Great Namgung Clan, grinding their teeth at the Hubei Peng Clan, currently hailed as the World's Supreme Clan.
"Block it how? By any means necessary?"
"Yeah. Definitely."
"Then this makes things easier."
Je-gal Seol-ha clapped her knee as if she'd gotten the answer she wanted.
"Pretend to be my lover for a while."
"...Pardon?"
"Why?"
"Well... isn't there a better solution?"
"It's the simplest and most efficient. It's what you like, brother—efficiency."
"Well, sure, but."
He recalled Je-gal Seol-ha's actions at the Ta-ho Ferry.
Instead of kicking him like old times, she'd leaned in close without any distance.
Right in front of a crowd, flaunting it.
'So it was calculated.'
"The Je-gal elders seem to approve of the engagement. And even on the Great Namgung side, Namgung Cheon-yeong's in it for real, not just politics?"
Je-gal Seol-ha stuck out her tongue.
"Your instincts are as sharp as ever."
"I've got the world's best insight, after all."
"Your bragging's the same as ever too."
"It's not bragging—it's fact."
Je-gal Seol-ha balled her delicate hand into a fist and lightly punched Yang-hwi's shoulder.
"Can't deny it's true, but it still makes me want to hit you."
He took the hit meekly and continued.
"Sounds like a real headache. How bad is it with the Je-gal Clan?"
"Everyone's on board except Dad and brother?"
"Even the Clan Head?"
He recalled the Je-gal Clan Head from their private meeting in the past.
"Lord Je-gal the Great was quite the cold one."
"To be honest, Grandpa's a cold-blooded man."
Even sugarcoating it, her bluntness made him a bit awkward.
"But not enough to issue a direct order, it seems."
"Thanks to Master's fame. Even if it's his granddaughter, he can't force a marriage on Yin Hou's disciple."
"Aha. So they're pressuring indirectly?"
"The whole family wants my engagement. Or at least, that's the vibe they're giving off. Dad's blocking it, but."
This was it. They couldn't force Yin Hou's disciple into marriage, so they were dropping hints.
When the entire clan felt united in wanting it, Je-gal Seol-ha, born and raised as direct lineage of a prestigious house, couldn't help but feel the pressure.
"Bit of a sensitive question, but is the Je-gal Clan in that much trouble?"
"..."
Je-gal Seol-ha fell silent for a moment, glancing at the Dang siblings, Baek Heon-so, and Chudal.
"No need to answer if it's burdensome."
"No. If I can't tell the people here, I can't tell anyone in the world."
Dang Yeon and Baek Yeon-yeon made a fuss, moved.
Je-gal Seol-ha nodded along and continued.
"It's Wudang. They're acting like the conflict with our home clan doesn't matter at all. Just look at where the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly is being held."
'True. Hubei Province's Wu-han is Je-gal Clan territory.'
Having Wudang fully host this Dragon-Phoenix Assembly in the Je-gal Clan's own Wu-han?
"I figured there must've been some deal."
"It was basically a notification. We got compensation, but not satisfying."
If Wudang and Je-gal weren't both righteous factions, war would've broken out ages ago.
"They need allies right now. Solid ones they can truly trust."
A loose alliance wouldn't ease their worries.
They could always get backstabbed and switch to Wudang.
Hence the political marriage.
"And the Great Namgung Clan wants the political marriage badly too. Zero downsides for them."
A marriage alliance with one of the Five Great Clans Under Heaven.
A connection to Pa-cheon Yin Hou, one of the top ten strongest in the world.
And casually, a bride who's the world's greatest beauty.
'The marriage itself puts the Je-gal Clan in debt, and they get a check on the Peng Clan too.'
Dang Gun's expression turned grave.
"Hwi, brother. We should definitely block Namgung Cheon-yeong and Seol-ha's marriage."
"Agreed."
-Does Seol-ha know about the One-Wing Alliance?
Yang-hwi pondered Dang Gun's transmitted message for a moment.
It was a suggestion to bring the Je-gal Clan into One-Wing Alliance.
-No. The Je-gal Clan shouldn't know yet.
The reason was simple.
Even the entire One-Wing Alliance couldn't match the Great Namgung Clan.
The Dang and Baek Clans had certainly grown to another level from before...
But still couldn't handle even one of the Five Great Clans Under Heaven.
'Things will change a lot after the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly, though.'
-Well, I'll give them a heads-up soon anyway. Keeping it from Seol-ha feels off.
Plus, keeping secrets between master-brother disciples could get him scolded by Master.
-I see. So what will you do?
Arms crossed, he tapped his forearm with his fingers.
'A huge variable popped up out of nowhere.'
Because, unlike his previous life, Seol-ha hadn't met the unfortunate fate of becoming the Soul-Possessing Demon Queen.
Thinking that way, it was a variable he naturally had to accept.
"Definitely complicated, Seol-ha."
"Yeah..."
"Your best idea is pretending to be lovers?"
"Yes. Nothing breaks an engagement like having a lover."
"But pretending to be lovers feels a bit much?"
"Ha! Not even honored by it?!"
Yang-hwi shook his head at Je-gal Seol-ha's exasperated look.
There was one flaw she hadn't considered.
"The moment the lover rumor spreads, your Je-gal uncle's coming to crack skulls."
"...Yeah. High chance of that."
"See?"
Plus, starting the pretense fixes their destination to Je-gal Clan.
Showing up as exchanged hearts without paying respects?
His pottery head might actually shatter.
"We need a plan. Anyone got ideas?"
Surprisingly, Baek Heon-so raised his hand immediately.
"So. Speak."
"Can't we just ask Master Yin Hou?"
"No."
"Oh..."
Baek Heon-so deflated instantly, so Yang-hwi explained quickly.
"The moment Master interferes in Je-gal Clan affairs, they can demand something from Master in return."
"Right. Making Master owe our home clan over a mere engagement is bad in every way."
The reason was simple.
No telling how Taiji Sword Elder and Wudang would react.
If it led to Taiji Sword Elder's Wudang versus Sky-Shattering Yin Hou's Je-gal Clan...
Blood would really flow.
"Seol-ha. Sorry to say it, but can't you just boldly refuse the engagement yourself?"
Je-gal Seol-ha hesitated at Dang Gun's question.
It wasn't wrong, but Dang Gun didn't know her past.
She owed her family—a massive emotional debt.
"Dang hyung. As Yin Hou's disciple, refusing outright isn't an issue, true. But."
"But?"
After a moment staring at Je-gal Seol-ha, Yang-hwi made his decision.
"Seol-ha. Your judgment's right. Pretending to be lovers is most efficient."
Je-gal Seol-ha's face brightened slightly.
Yeah. For his junior sister, he could risk a shattered skull anytime.
"Let's pretend for a while. But don't blame me later if it blocks your marriage path."
Regardless of feelings, Yang-hwi couldn't actually end up with Je-gal Seol-ha.
That would create one fatal problem.
"Come on. That won't happen. Don't you go falling for real, Hwi oppa."
"Deal."
Suddenly, Chudal grinned mischievously, lips curling.
"Then you two should change how you address each other first, right?"
True, titles were the easiest way to show they were lovers.
Yang-hwi and Je-gal Seol-ha stared at each other for a moment.
"...Hwi lang?"
"...Ha-mae?"
"... "
"... "
"Ugh!"
"Kyaa!"
Their bodies suddenly itched unbearably, scratching furiously.
Je-gal Seol-ha twisted similarly.
"I'll just call you by name."
"Me too, oppa."
Agreement reached, time for the next issue.
"Since it's come to this, might as well be good. Seol-ha, I need your cooperation."
"Pardon? With what?"
"Simple."
Yang-hwi grinned and continued.
"You know anyone with a Heavenly-grade invitation?"
Je-gal Seol-ha blinked in confusion briefly, then smirked.
Exactly like Yang-hwi's expression.
"Wudang's fine too, right?"
"Of course. Even better."
"For real? What about fallout?"
"Master."
"Aha!"
Watching them, the Dang siblings, Baek siblings, and Chudal felt a chill.
'Wudang? Why mention Wudang? It's practically the current top sect in the world, so why...?'
'Causing a massive incident so big even one of the Heavenly Martial Ten has to clean up?'
'No way, Hwi bro! Hunting invitations from late disciples of sects worthy of Heavenly-grades?!'
It felt like the troublemakers had doubled.