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Chapter 142: Falling Sword, Jang Cheon (3)

It was truly a stormy encounter.

It left behind the unsettling sensation of having swallowed a fruit bristling with thorns.

[It seems your grandfather always hands you a bomb.]

“…Grandfather, you say?”

I shuddered slightly at Shin Noya’s words.

Why was he so intent on tying me to this elder by blood?

There wasn’t even a semblance of resemblance!

Of course, there must be some blood relation, but still.

[Moreover, you’re tangled up with treasures again. Your life must be quite chaotic.]

‘What a terrifying thing to say. This time, I’m not tangled up.’

To be precise, I was almost tangled.

At the moment, I had a lot of questions.

If Pejon really intended to give me a letter of recommendation, then what could be the contents?

If Pejon merely wrote my name in a letter he had prepared—

Was there a real need for that?

Such a phrase could be easily misunderstood.

It would make sense to write a completely new letter.

Of course, considering Pejon’s personality, that wouldn’t be out of the question….

‘Did Pejon even have a disciple in the first place?’

The term ‘disciple’ written in the note made me strain to recall, but—

At least in my memories, there was none.

Among the Three Eminent Beings, only the Sword Sovereign had a disciple.

As for the Heavenly Lord, since his surname was Nangong, it would be reasonable to consider Nangong Jin or Nangong Cheonjun as his disciples.

However, no one explicitly referred to them as such.

The same went for Pejon.

So, was this elder trying to mess with me?

‘…That is quite a possibility.’

Considering this old man’s usual antics, it certainly was possible.

However, did this elder really not know the contents of the recommendation letter?

Especially that last line strangely lingered in my heart.

– The treasure was well used. I hope you don’t mind too much since I’m sending it through a disciple.

Passing on the treasure.

That phrase felt oddly familiar.

It brought to mind the image of Elder Lee, who, when leaving for Hwasan, had passed the treasure on to me.

And along with that memory, another thought emerged.

“Don’t tell me…”

Alarmed by the ominous premonition, I frantically rummaged through my pockets.

I pulled out a pouch I had hidden deep.

It was the pocket money he had given me just before his departure to Hanam.

The familiar feel and sound of it were still there.

I’d sometimes opened it to buy snacks for Wi Seol-Ah, and it really contained pocket money.

[What is it?]

Shin Noya seemed to wonder what I was doing.

But I kept silently rummaging through the pouch.

Clang—!

The coins inside clattered to the ground, making an unpleasant sound.

I merely rolled my eyes in the gap as I watched.

Once all the coins were spilled, I could finally let out a sigh of relief.

[Kid.]

…Yes?

[Did you really think there would be a treasure in there?]

“Perhaps you never know.”

After all the trouble I went through, I was just hoping, that’s all.

I had thought perhaps, but luckily there was none.

Right, even Elder Lee would find that a bit much.

I could turn a blind eye to Hwasan’s treasure, but—

[What could be too much or not? They were betting drunk!]

“Why is Noya angry… Ah, I see why.”

I sometimes forgot that Shin Noya was the Sect Leader of Hwasan.

In any case.

‘I might have been too sensitive.’

Despite what I had suffered from Elder Lee, it wouldn’t make sense for him to have handed over the treasured items that Pejon owned.

Clang—

I paused my outstretched hand that was reaching for the coins.

I felt an unknown sensation from the pouch still in my other hand.

I wondered if there were any coins left, so I opened it to look inside.

“…Huh?”

Thud-thud.

As something caught my fingertips, I pulled it out with force.

With the threads sticking to the outside, what came up was—

“…Hahaha, what the heck.”

I had no idea how much time had passed, but it was a single ring, now heavily rusted.

“The Gu Prince is late. The event should start soon.”

Tang Soyeol calmly took a sip of tea and broke the silence.

At this, Wi Seol-Ah, who stood behind her, noticeably flinched.

She knew just how many toxins were in that tea.

“Maybe preparing is taking longer than expected.”

Moyong Hi-ah rested her chin on her hand, scanning the surroundings.

The glances darting towards us seemed to be everywhere.

The banquet hall for the Dragon Meeting always had this atmosphere.

The atmosphere of desires lurking in shadows felt grimy and uncomfortable.

Yet, since each of those gazes had its value, Moyong Hi-ah merely smiled nonchalantly.

She tilted the corners of her mouth, adjusting her expression delicately.

In the most charming face she could put on.

As Moyong Hi-ah smiled, the faces of those who had been watching softened slightly.

“You’re still impressive.”

Tang Soyeol genuinely admired as she watched that.

“It’s something that Tang Soyeol could do anytime.”

She added a touch of flattery, but it wasn’t entirely false.

Tang Soyeol was quite good at showcasing her adorable and kind charm.

It seemed impossible that Tang Soyeol wouldn’t know that.

“…Even if it doesn’t resonate with the right person, it’s meaningless.”

Upon hearing those words from Tang Soyeol, Moyong Hi-ah seemed to understand whom she referred to.

She couldn’t not understand.

She had seen Tang Soyeol being that obvious.

| | …

“…Your tastes continue to be unique.”

I wondered why that frightening boy had chased after Tang Soyeol.

He was indeed a peculiar person.

The boy from the Gu Clan wasn’t one to casually speak.

Without having to say a word, he had effectively raised a huge wall, conveying the message to stay away.

‘Maybe because of that woman next to him?’

Moyong Hi-ah shifted her gaze elsewhere.

To the woman who seemed to be handling most of the intense gazes pouring in.

‘Nangong Bi-ah… that’s her name.’

She was a member of the Nangong Clan and the sister of the Thunder Dragon.

Moyong Hi-ah had never seen her before.

Though she had been deeply engaged with the Nangong Clan, she had only heard about the existence of a sister.

‘Beautiful.’

It was evident that the Thunder Dragon’s striking appearance was inherited; his sister was no exception.

There was no dissatisfaction with being captivated by her beauty.

Though a hint of jealousy existed, there wasn’t enough room for such petty thoughts.

Moyong Hi-ah approached Nangong Bi-ah cautiously.

“I don’t see your younger brother around.”

At Moyong Hi-ah’s words, Nangong Bi-ah shifted her blank gaze.

“…He should be here soon.”

“Excuse me?”

Well, she seemed much more fatigued than earlier.

‘He should be coming soon?’

Since they were siblings, I wondered if they had some pre-arranged communication.

‘It’s really not easy.’

Moyong Hi-ah let out a sigh she didn’t mean to.

Though she had been trying to get closer to Nangong Bi-ah lately, she was still an enigma.

Her expressions barely changed, and other than her training, she always spent time with her fiancé, or with the servants and Tang Soyeol, living a monotonous life.

‘Such a wasted beauty.’

It seemed she looked busy, yet to put it plainly, her life was quite leisurely.

For Moyong Hi-ah, it was something to envy.

‘I have no time.’

There wasn’t enough time to work toward elevating my realm as a martial artist, let alone express emotions or love someone.

‘Where could the Thunder Dragon be?’

That’s why it was imperative to gain the Thunder Dragon’s cooperation as quickly as possible.

Along with the support of the Nangong Clan.

Nangong Bi-ah quietly observed Moyong Hi-ah as she pondered.

Then, she quietly asked Wi Seol-Ah, who stood behind her.

“…Your legs, are they hurting…?”

“Hmm?”

“Do you want to sit…?”

It seemed Wi Seol-Ah, standing behind the empty seat, was on her mind.

“Elder Sister, I mentioned it earlier, but that’s not allowed.”

With a sigh, Tang Soyeol responded to Nangong Bi-ah’s words.

“But….”

“I understand your feelings, but having a servant sit down in this situation is not appropriate for the Gu Prince.”

Usually, Gu Yangcheong wouldn’t care whether it was Wi Seol-Ah or his guards, sharing a meal or sitting together.

But not in this particular situation.

“…Okay.”

Nangong Bi-ah seemed unable to refute when Gu Yangcheong’s name was mentioned.

Whenever Gu Yangcheong was brought up, she nodded in agreement.

‘People can change so much.’

In just a few months, Nangong Bi-ah had become much more cheerful and talkative.

Realizing that it was all because of Gu Yangcheong, I felt a mix of relief and bitterness.

Tang Soyeol was staring at the entrance of the banquet hall, pouting her lips.

“When is he really coming…?”

It seemed Gu Yangcheong was going to be late.

He was taking longer than expected.

“Fortunately, it seems the Clan Leader is also late…”

It appeared that there would be some delay.

Thanks to that, Gu Yangcheong seemed to avoid causing any unfortunate situations by entering once the banquet started.

“It’s strange that the Clan Leader is late.”

When Moyong Hi-ah suddenly mentioned it, Tang Soyeol nodded in agreement.

The Clan Leader had always started the conversation as the banquet was about to commence.

He had never been late.

In fact, he usually arrived a bit earlier.

Given that this was a gathering of the clans and sects of the Righteous Faction, it made sense that the Clan Leader would not want to be late.

“Could it be work or something…?”

“He should be here soon.”

Tang Soyeol’s interjection caused a subtle frown.

It was an approach from someone other than those seated.

Tang Soyeol’s sharp eyes shifted toward the culprit who interrupted.

At the end of her gaze stood a boy with an awkward smile.

With his slanted eyes, his well-defined features and kind expression, he was a handsome noble boy.

“I apologize. I didn’t mean to intrude… just overheard a familiar topic.”

“Before you speak, I’d prefer if you introduced yourself first.”

Despite Tang Soyeol’s somewhat prickly tone, the boy’s smile didn’t fade.

He slightly bowed, introducing himself with a polite tone.

“I’m sorry for my somewhat inappropriate behavior. My name is—”

With his words, it seemed a cold wind began to blow from somewhere.

“I am Jang Seonyeon.”

It was a very chilly breeze indeed.

 

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