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Chapter 143: Dragon Meeting (1)

“This is just ridiculous.”

I brushed the thread off the ring and thought, what should I do with this?

Was it a careless remark?

I was genuinely paying the price for underestimating Elder Lee.

Using me in a much sneakier way than I imagined with that massive body of his—it was a complete plot twist.

“No, think about it. This might not be a treasure after all.”

What kind of treasure would be rusted and lying around like this?

The last Hwasan treasure I touched had a crappy treatment too, but at least it looked the part of a treasure.

The faint aura of plum blossom energy was the proof of that.

“But this is just an antique.”

The ring, covered in rust, was unrecognizable in its original color.

As for the part that seemed like it might have had a jewel originally? It’s completely gone now, far from its original form.

Could it simply be Elder Lee’s blunder?

Did he accidentally throw this in when putting in the coins? It must be that.

[You really want to believe that, don’t you?]

“Objectively speaking, does this look like a treasure to you, Noya?”

An assorted junk ring with no scent or energy whatsoever.

It looked so fragile that a slight push would make it crumble. No way this could be a treasure.

It shouldn’t be.

[Shouldn’t you show it to the leader first?]

“I’ve been thinking that too.”

Going straight to the clan leader and asking, “Is this a treasure?” might be one way to go about it.

‘But first, I have to get to the banquet.’

With time running short to yell about feeling wronged at the fact that I was cheated, I decided to just move forward.

It had already been quite a while since the banquet was supposed to start.

First, I tucked the ring back into my pocket, hiding it deep within, and hurried my steps.

Fortunately, I was informed by the guide outside that I wasn’t late and was led through the doors of the banquet hall.

Inside the banquet hall was filled with a buzzing sound.

It was already packed with martial artists of a similar age group.

I spotted some who seemed barely past their adulthood, but mostly it was filled with individuals just over the age of twenty.

Putting it bluntly, they belonged to the final generation of late-stage talents.

Recalling how this bunch had made their names known during the Blood Calamity, it felt quite peculiar.

Among the crowd were individuals that I could guess which house they came from, alongside others I didn’t recognize.

As I walked further ahead, I started spotting the familiar faces of notable families.

It was a deliberately intended seating arrangement.

Starting from the Heavenly Demon Pavilion’s lodging to the waiting room, then finally to the banquet hall.

A clear and definite line of preferential treatment.

If one didn’t want to suffer discrimination, the underlying message was clear: “Climb up on your own.”

“Either be born into a high bloodline or elevate yourself.”

Isn’t it all just a cruel irony?

They surely knew better than anyone that surpassing those born into famous families was nearly impossible.

‘Now then.’

My designated seat was in the front row.

This was also probably because of the recommendation letter’s influence.

As I walked while glancing around, I spotted Gu Jeolyub’s seat.

Did Gu Jeolyub notice me as well? Our eyes met.

‘Didn’t get the same seat after all.’

I placed myself slightly higher, but it wasn’t the front row.

A spot from where I could see the gaze of the Gu Clan on the entire gathering.

‘Honestly, they could have at least arranged us together.’

It seemed they made an effort to separate Gu Jeolyub and me.

One issue that arose:

“Hey, you’re a child of the Gu Clan, huh?”

Sitting beside Gu Jeolyub was none other than Huangbo Cheolwi, the guy I had a quarrel with last time.

Looking at Huangbo Cheolwi’s menacing face and Gu Jeolyub’s slightly troubled expression, the atmosphere didn’t seem good at all.

“Just hang in there until the speech ends.”

Despite Huangbo Cheolwi being as thick-headed and foolish as I expected, I believed the clan leader would show up and start the speech soon.

Once that’s over, everyone would start moving to enjoy the banquet, which would make it somewhat okay.

As I turned my gaze away and continued walking, I felt the atmosphere subtly change.

Esteemed bloodlines, members of prestigious families, and the heirs of upper houses who provide large yearly donations to the Martial Alliance.

The front row was filled with bloodlines akin to the very pillars that uphold the current Martial Alliance.

What I aimed for was the seat at the very front among them.

I spotted Wi Seol-Ah and Nangong Bi-ah from a distance.

Had they already seen me? They were subtly gesturing towards me.

Suppressing the urge to smile, I rushed my steps.

The closer I got, the more I saw Moyong Hi-ah and Tang Soyeol.

As I moved closer, I froze upon seeing someone conversing with Tang Soyeol.

In the distance, a boy was chatting with a smiling face.

For a moment, I thought the surroundings had grown silent.

From the tips of my toes to the lower Dantian, a hot breath surged up.

As I exhaled, the heat mixed in with my breath.

This hall was attempting to suppress the boiling energy I wanted to unleash. But seeing that guy right in front of me slowly drowned my rationality in heat.

‘Yuseong-gun.’

The past, the fiancé of Wi Seol-Ah.

The betrayer of the clan.

And.

The very man I’ve wanted to kill the most was standing there in his youthful form.

How could I possibly keep my calm?

Seeing that repulsive gaze and touch right in front of me.

– Don’t forget your role. Don’t forget where you belong.

I recalled words spoken with a smile similar to the one in front of me now.

– The ground is yours. You’re handing the dazzling world over to her? What a grand hero you are. But deep down, you’re just a demon.

– Don’t deceive yourself. Neither her nor the world, and certainly not even time belong to you.

– Let alone the Heavenly Demon’s.

Flames started flickering on my back. This was a different life from then.

Though I tried harder than anyone to recognize this.

Yet, I still realized it once more. No matter what I did, I wouldn’t forget anything.

– Everything is mine. I made up my mind to make it so.

Just before the clash between the Heavenly Demon and Divine Sword, those were the last words that guy threw at me.

It was still vivid.

That gaze from back then.

His burning desire.

My inability to do anything while feeling it deeply.

All of this was still so clear.

With just one step.

I took a single step toward him.

I didn’t even know what I was trying to do.

At that moment.

“What are you doing?”

Thud-!

The heat that surged up was instantly quenched as someone grabbed my wrist.

I turned my head to see who had grasped me.

First, I noticed the bobbed hair reaching her shoulders.

Then, I met those same black eyes.

Seeing me, the girl flinched.

Then she, Peng Ah-Hee, asked me.

“What are you trying to do right now?”

“…I wasn’t going to do anything.”

“Then fix that gaze and say it. Do you have any idea what kind of look you were giving right now?”

What did my eyes look like? Seeing the slight fear in Peng Ah-Hee’s expression, I knew it wasn’t good.

I hadn’t revealed any killing intent.

Luckily, it seemed I had managed to control myself a bit.

“Do you know her?”

Peng Ah-Hee asked, referring to Jang Seonyeon who was at the end of my gaze.

I took a deep breath to calm the leftover heat, shaking my head.

“No, I don’t know her.”

“You’re making a look like that at someone you don’t know?”

“It’s because she resembles someone I dislike.”

“Is that all…? Your personality hasn’t improved at all, has it?”

Seeing Peng Ah-Hee’s disgusted expression jolted me back to my senses a bit.

Peng Ah-Hee looked at me and said.

“We meet after so long and instead of exchanging greetings, you’re trying to start a fight. Is this what you do?”

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“I wasn’t laying on my back to receive greetings. Enough already.”

I remembered Peng Woojin had told me that Peng Ah-Hee was coming, and here we were meeting face to face.

“I ran into Peng Gongja last time.”

“I figured I would hear about you, given how I’ve been bombarded with news about you from the Clan. Just don’t mention that jerk. It’s already irking me.”

Peng Ah-Hee, shuddering as if disgusted, must still be mentally exhausted from dealing with Peng Woojin.

I recognized the cold sweat trickling down my back and calmed my insides.

‘That was close.’

Whatever I was just about to do could have been a mindless blunder.

‘Noya.’

I steadied my breath and called out to Shin Noya, but there was no response.

I bit my lip. I had expected something like this to happen.

Like before at Hwasan when my emotions would get out of control, my interaction with Noya had ceased.

Since eating the flower I brought from Hwasan, I hadn’t had such a rampage.

‘Is it the drop in demon energy?’

I understood that I needed to consume demon energy to help settle my internal commotion, but could it be affecting my emotions too?

Even though I felt I could last for a few months, the intervals seemed to be getting shorter over time.

“Where’s your seat?”

In response to Peng Ah-Hee’s question, I gestured with my eyes.

Peng Ah-Hee noticed it and looked over to where my group was gathered, showing a slightly surprised expression.

“Ah, everyone around you is girls, huh?”

“It’s just a coincidence…”

“I suppose so. You don’t have a face that could charm girls all over like that.”

“Why are you picking a fight right after we meet?”

“Lucky you, hanging out in a flower garden all alone. That’s why everyone’s gaze is all upon you from other bloodlines too.”

As I followed Peng Ah-Hee’s words and looked around, it was indeed the case. There were multiple figures who would catch the eye regardless of where they went.

“Your seat.”

Peng Ah-Hee responded with hand gestures.

Indeed, we were both seated in the front row.

“Let’s hurry and sit since we’re late. We can talk later.”

At Peng Ah-Hee’s words, I had to make a strange expression. “Later, huh?”

Noticing my reaction, Peng Ah-Hee chuckled.

“I heard you’re engaged, but we’re not at a point where we should be blushing over that, are we?”

The engagement happened when I was younger, and we wrapped things up well just a few months ago.

We weren’t even on equal grounds for having any lingering feelings.

Does that mean I feel more comfortable without any negative emotions?

Such a sentiment was complicated to express simply.

“And as I said before, I’m your senior. Don’t speak informally to me.”

As she cracked a joke, Peng Ah-Hee began walking toward her seat.

With the leader sure to arrive soon, I also had to take a seat for now.

‘Thanks to that, I’ve calmed down a bit.’

While watching Peng Ah-Hee’s back, my gaze naturally shifted back to him.

The boiling emotions were quickly cooling over such trivial matters.

Anger, despair, contempt, and murderous intent remained, but they were no longer enough to shake my mind like before.

I could maintain my composure. While my encounter with Peng Ah-Hee wouldn’t have no effect, it probably wouldn’t be too drastic either.

Trying to keep my expression in check as I walked, I thought.

‘I’m worried about Noya.’

I might end up being absent for an extended period like last time.

It wouldn’t matter if I disappeared anytime.

As I approached the area where my group was gathered, I noticed Tang Soyeol spotting me.

Tang Soyeol’s cold, stiff expression quickly melted into her usual cheerful demeanor.

“Gu Gongja!”

“I’m sorry for being late.”

“Don’t worry, we were concerned about you.”

As I got closer, Jang Seonyeon’s gaze naturally shifted toward me.

I approached Jang Seonyeon first.

“Who are you?”

I barely managed to suppress my voice as I felt the urge to burst out laughing.

But in return, Jang Seonyeon beamed at me.

“I’m Jang Seonyeon from the Tae Ryeong Clan.”

“The Tae Ryeong Clan….”

At Jang Seonyeon’s introduction, both Tang Soyeol and Moyong Hi-ah’s expressions changed.

Of course, as that was the clan of the current Martial Alliance leader, Jang Cheon.

‘Of all times.’

I bit my lip slightly.

Now I understood why they were providing more attention than usual to late-stage talents in the clan at both the lodging and during these events.

Today was when Jang Seonyeon would make her first appearance as a late-stage talent.

A starting point where she would showcase her extraordinary ability and quickly make a name for herself.

“Ah, it seems the name of my father is being mentioned. I couldn’t help but interrupt the discussion about the Young Lady.”

Jang Seonyeon laughed sheepishly, and Tang Soyeol pressed her lips tightly together.

It seemed they were discussing the clan leader.

Glancing over, I took a peek at Wi Seol-Ah.

Fortunately, Wi Seol-Ah merely yawned discreetly and didn’t look to be interacting with Jang Seonyeon.

“I appreciate it. This being my first time here makes me a bit shy.”

Saying that, Jang Seonyeon extended her hand to me.

I stared at her hand for a moment before slowly shaking it.

Squeeze.

“…!”

The pressure in our handshake surprised Jang Seonyeon, and she looked at me in shock.

“Yes, nice to meet you.”

The killing intent ready to burst into the corner.

Hatred resided below my lower Dantian.

I modulated my voice and focused my gaze into her eyes.

“I’m Gu Yangcheong of the Mount Shan Clan.”

There was something a Nachal had said when I encountered him at Hwasan.

– You should at least tell me the name of the person you want to kill.

I wondered why those words suddenly came to mind.

As I forced a smile while meeting Jang Seonyeon’s gaze, I forcibly stretched the corners of my mouth.

“Ah, hello.”

I chose to ignore Tang Soyeol’s strange reaction to it.

And as I was gripping down all sorts of emotions while facing her, I remained unaware.

Behind me, Wi Seol-Ah was casting a cold gaze at Jang Seonyeon.

 

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