Chapter 114: Azure Heavenly Sword, Namgung Jin (2)
You wouldn’t know what I went through when you disappeared.
You probably will never know, for I won’t speak to you even in death.
Did you know? I don’t like the moon.
The moon being up there means the night has come…
And I despise the night.
You would stand still and look up at the sky whenever the moon rose.
What meaning did the moon hold for you that you wouldn’t even pretend to hear me when I called for you? Now, I’m a bit curious.
What did you dream about while gazing at the moon? Our lives were pretty trashy, after all.
But even in this pitiful life, you found something to look at.
Unlike me.
Just the other day, when I asked you why you loved the moon so much, you would quietly close your eyes in reply.
It makes me a bit uncomfortable to realize you’re no longer here.
Just a little bit.
Just enough to not be noticeable on the outside, that little.
Why on earth did you do that?
I still wonder, after death, you won’t see your beloved moon nor swing the sword you cherished.
You wouldn’t even be able to achieve that thin revenge you wished for.
Why did you do that, knowing everything?
If we meet again, you won’t answer me anyway. I can already tell from your damned personality.
You asked me at your last moment if the moon was up in the sky.
It’s not. It had already set and disappeared.
Drip-drip.
I poured some wine on my sword.
It’s the wine you occasionally drank. This should be enough.
But I’m not going to say that I’ll achieve it for you.
I never got to hear what you dreamed of or what you lived for.
So I won’t be able to accomplish the things you wanted.
You wouldn’t have mentioned them even if you hadn’t died.
Because I know you well enough to know it’s simply not possible.
I gulped down the remaining swigs from the bottle and set it aside.
This pointless mulling was sufficient for me.
All around me were the corpses of the Murim Alliance’s martial artists, scorched and shredded by flames.
I lifted my head to look at the sky.
The moon still isn’t up.
A full moon was shining brightly in the sky…
But that wasn’t the moon I was looking for.
*
The first thing one feels after reaching the peak realm is none other than awkwardness.
It’s the point where the most significant change in one’s body occurs.
The peak realm is where the body gradually becomes one with its Qi.
To put it simply, Qi seeps into the body.
One’s grip becomes powerful even without actively using Qi, and the broad vision that once required Qi enhances is now naturally seen by the naked eye.
Some would call this superhuman, while others would say it’s the beginning of transcending humanity.
What the case is doesn’t matter. If I were to speak from experience, this is just a part of the path I have to walk.
Whir-r-!
The flames wrapping around my body weren’t large. I had channeled them all inside.
With my expanded vision, I could see everything clearly. I instinctively sensed that the man before me was stronger than I was.
So what?
Let’s think rationally. Is charging in like this the logical thing to do?
If he treated Namgung Bi-ah that way, despite her being a direct descendant of the clan, he couldn’t be in a low position himself.
Did I have a justified reason to confront him? Does being her fiancé truly justify my actions?
Press.
I focused my strength into my feet. Even as I tried to think rationally, my body kept moving.
If an excuse is needed…
Blood was shed. I saw the swelling redness on her cheek.
That was enough of an excuse.
What was she to me to evoke this kind of anger?
Not the time for that kind of thinking.
Thump!
Heat surged in my abdomen. A tempest that mirrored my raging emotions unleashed within me, but somehow, I was still able to endure.
If I were to analyze why I was so angry, it’s simple.
I thought there was no room for emotions inside me. After my resurrection, though, I experienced many feelings that only filled my heart further. If there was no room before, now those emotions swirled, threatening to erupt.
My body, enhanced with Qi, reached the target before the wind could.
The moment I arrived behind him, the man noticed and began to move, but I was quicker.
I unleashed flames to obstruct his view, and my Qi-laden fist shot out toward him.
I didn’t have time to think about where to aim. Despite his posture being disrupted from his sudden movement, he still had plenty of strength to withstand my attack.
Boom!
As my fist extended, Qi detonated, creating a cacophonous sound throughout the vicinity. The heat surged around me, but I could only grit my teeth.
It didn’t work.
It was just an inch away.
The fist I sent flying right in front of his face was caught by the man’s hand.
Whoosh!
With a wave of Qi that rushed forth from the man, my heat was dispersed. My cheek buzzed painfully.
His Qi held a trace of lightning.
“Who are you?”
His voice was somber. The hand that caught my fist had been unnervingly fast. He would have been even swifter in a proper duel.
He was strong. A martial artist so powerful that I couldn’t even fathom his level.
But one thing I felt certain of: I could land one hit.
I don’t know where that certainty came from, but I just knew I could do it.
“Ha!”
Once again, I circulated my Qi and the man chuckled as if he found my reaction amusing.
“You seem quite spirited; admirable, but…”
The tingling energy emanating from his body shaped into something solid, pressing me down. It was a sensation familiar to me.
It was the type I had felt countless times from Namgung Bi-ah in my past life, yet this was a whole different level compared to the current Namgung Bi-ah.
“You should train your eyes better and read your opponent.”
His hand started reaching for me. His dense lightning Qi illustrated his immense power.
When his hand reached my line of sight, he suddenly halted mid-movement.
“What are you doing?”
His voice carried an edge of irritation. He wasn’t addressing me.
Namgung Bi-ah, who had been seated on the ground, was now embracing the man from behind.
“Please… stop.”
“First, you run away, and now you defy me?”
“…”
Despite his fierce tone, Namgung Bi-ah’s arms tightened around him.
He clicked his tongue in frustration.
His attention shifted from Namgung Bi-ah back to me.
“What is your name?”
His Qi continued to press down on me, but it was still bearable.
I had faced an even denser, evolved pressure than this countless times before in my past life.
I met his gaze and replied, “I am Gu Yangcheon, Lord Namgung.”
His eyes sparkled upon hearing my name.
“I see, the rumors spoke of your strengths compared to others your age. You are the son of the Gu Clan’s lord.”
“Yes.”
“It seems you recognized me, so why did you act as you did?”
His demeanor remained icy, typical of his clan, with an air of arrogance in his gaze.
The King of Swords of this generation, the lord of the Namgung Clan…
Azure Heavenly Sword, Namgung Jin.
Namgung Bi-ah’s father.
There was no one who wouldn’t know who he was. No one else shared this Qi or carried these eyes.
I wondered why Namgung Jin had come here when he should be in Anhui’s palace, but I had no intention of bowing my head to his arrogant gaze.
“You just tried to harm the Lord of the Namgung Clan. Do you know how serious of an offense that is?”
“How could I remain idle when I saw you strike my fiancée?”
“What did you say?”
I only recognized who he was after attacking. Before that, I had merely seen an intruder assaulting a guest of ours.
I pulled back the flames wrapping around me, releasing the heat I had held inside me. A wave of warmth spread through the air instantly.
Namgung Jin’s hair swayed with it.
He stared at me, brows furrowing.
“You’re speaking in riddles.”
“I acted only as a member of the Gu Clan.”
As Namgung Jin put it, it was mere sophistry. Nonetheless, I didn’t utter it expecting to convince him.
Even I wouldn’t dare hurl insults at the Lord of the Namgung Clan.
Thus, this was how I chose to irritate him.
Namgung Jin retracted his Qi. The guards who had their swords drawn during the sudden confrontation sheathed them again at his signal.
With his energy dissipated, I felt a sense of relief wash over me.
Namgung Jin said to me, “I have no intention of entertaining your sophistry any further. I will inform Lord Gu about this matter.”
He didn’t elaborate much even after being attacked. The displeasure he felt was evident, yet he held back on his words.
Why?
I had assumed he would unleash a torrent of rage.
Is there something he’s holding back?
If there wasn’t, this wouldn’t have been dismissed so lightly.
Eventually, Namgung Jin masked his annoyance and turned the topic to Namgung Cheonjun, whom I had encountered previously.
“I’ve heard that you schooled my son. I originally thought he let his guard down, trusting too much in his talent, but seeing you now, it seems I was mistaken.”
“What do you mean by schooled, senior? I’m not at a level to teach that esteemed Sir Lightning Dragon, Lord Namgung. More accurately, he provoked me, and I ended up storming him back.”
Crack.
The formidable man visibly scowled at my words, his irritation surfacing again.
The Lightning Dragon, huh… Back then, I was pathetic and had almost no Qi, but things are different now.
Of course, Namgung Cheonjun might have become stronger too, but could that be true?
Namgung Jin understood the implications of my words steeped in sarcasm.
“I can see you possess talent, yet you lack humility. That part strongly resembles your father.”
“Indeed. Your son also seems to share some of your traits!”
“You…!”
Namgung Jin, finally unable to contain himself, felt his face redden. He didn’t draw his sword but charged his Qi once more.
Despite that, he didn’t unleash it. Both he and I—and everyone present—felt a presence approaching from behind us.
“The Lord of Gu…” Namgung Jin stated, reestablishing his composure.
The figure approaching with serene steps was Gu Cheolun, my father.
Father didn’t bother with Namgung Jin, barely glancing at Namgung Bi-ah before his gaze fixed on me.
Once our eyes met, I instinctively flinched.
With a slight sigh, he remarked, “I clearly told you to rest and report to my room tonight, yet here you are, causing trouble at dawn.”
“…”
I averted my gaze under his firm tone. The trouble I caused was undeniable.
Father stepped closer to the other lord and bowed respectfully.
“It seems my son has been a nuisance to you.”
“Lord Gu.”
“He’s still an immature child. I will give him a proper scolding later; please forgive his indiscretion.”
“No matter how immature he is, this is against the Middle Kingdom’s laws—”
“Apologize to him. Right now.”
“I’m sorry.”
I instantly bowed my head and apologized as my father instructed. Being interrupted during my apology seemed to agitate Namgung Jin even more, his face growing furrowed.
“It appears you have not changed one bit, Lord Gu.”
“I’m also relieved to see you in good health, Lord Namgung.”
“Father and son both… Sigh.”
His anger appeared to reach its peak, yet he refrained from any further remarks.
No matter how I looked at it, he didn’t seem to strike me as the type to suppress his anger; then why act this way? Did he truly have some leverage against him?
“I trust proper measures will be implemented regarding this situation.”
“Yes.”
Father’s gaze moved toward Namgung Bi-ah. He noted the swelling on her cheek and the blood at the corner of her mouth, yet his expression remained unchanged.
Noticing my father, Namgung Jin asked, “Will you reprimand me for disciplining my child?”
“I’m not inclined to do so. I merely thought it best for her treatment to proceed swiftly. Significant matters are at hand.”
“I’ll handle it myself.”
“Very well.”
Father then once again focused on me. Would he issue a scolding? His look felt somewhat unusual, creating an unsettling atmosphere.
“Follow me.”
In stark contrast to his countenance, his voice bore a deep and brooding quality. I hesitated, still glancing at Namgung Bi-ah.
Sensing my gaze, Father continued, “She’ll be alright, don’t worry about that child. I’ve already called for help. Now follow me.”
“…Understood.”
When did he make that call? It seemed as though he arrived instantly, yet he had time to summon others?
Did he foresee this would happen?
As a testament to my father’s assurance, members of the Gu Clan and medics were already arriving. I could hear Namgung Jin clicking his tongue in the background.
Having observed the situation resolving, I followed my father.
*
‘He’s unmistakably just like his father.’
That was the thought crossing the mind of the Lord of the Namgung Clan, Azure Heavenly Sword Namgung Jin. Their appearances were similar, and their manner of speaking was equally irritating.
Let alone their talents.
‘Just like the Sword Phoenix, he appears to be overly blessed with the luck of having children.’
Namgung Jin mused about Gu Yangcheon. No matter how blindsided, he hadn’t noticed him until he was right behind him, ready to strike.
Was it because Gu Yangcheon was fast? He may have been swift, but he clearly didn’t match the speed deemed respectable or comparable to the Namgung Clan.
Namgung Jin scrutinized the hand that had caught Gu Yangcheon’s punch.
The skin on his palm was slightly reddened and trembling, although subtly. Namgung Cheonjun, his own son, couldn’t even graze his clothing.
That would only be plausible if the kid had toyed with poison during a meal.
But how about that one?
Despite being held under the man’s power and pressure of Qi, Gu Yangcheon still dared to resist.
Was it due to his naivety, thinking he was common and youthful, or was it because he resembled his father, acting impulsively without thinking ahead?
Neither feeling, in Namgung Jin’s eyes, seemed true.
Gu Yangcheon’s gaze conveyed a message: He could fight back.
‘How does a young prodigy younger than my son even entertain such a notion—especially being a child of the Gu Clan, no less?’
Crack.
He wasn’t too concerned about Gu Yangcheon having beaten his son.
Simply put, his son was weak. Namgung Jin grasped that principle better than anyone.
However, the circumstances had altered.
Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t have gritted his teeth this way. He could have escalated it drastically if he chose to.
If it weren’t for the Gu Clan.
He would’ve had no compunction about doing so if not for the ominous environment.
Namgung Jin ruminated upon Gu Cheolun, whom he had encountered earlier.
While he’d acted respectfully towards him, his eyes had a distinct undertone.
Namgung Jin had been aware of such at least since ascending to the position of clan leader and learning about the Gu Clan from his grandfather, but experiencing it firsthand was a separate ordeal.
Those eyes; they coldly looked down on others.
Namgung Jin opened his mouth, determined not to let this go.
“I will close this matter as it stands.”
“…”
Namgung Bi-ah lowered her head, bearing the brunt of his sharp words.
“Normally, I would have returned you to the clan and punished you in accordance, but this timing is unfortunate.”
“Understood.”
“After treatment, make her as beautiful as possible.”
The servants around him vocally agreed to their master’s orders.
I dislike this.
Namgung Jin’s stony expression remained unyielding.
That level of feeling was certainly reflective of his attitude.
Today was the day arranged for the engagement with the Gu Clan.
This fact intensified his distaste even further.
The lord of the Namgung Clan himself had to travel all the way to the Gu Clan…
The fact that his reportedly talented daughter had left to accompany someone from the Gu Clan…
The elders and his grandfather decided on his daughter’s marriage…
And… the notion of the guaranteed successor being a dragon of this generation, belonging to the Gu Clan.
I want to get rid of this all.
That final thought stirred a flicker of rage within him, yet Namgung Jin swallowed it down.
He couldn’t allow himself to entertain these thoughts.
At least not yet.
*
I returned to the Lord’s chamber after merely a day. It was a place I often visited after making trouble, so a sense of tension loomed.
You tried to strike a Clan Lord? Are you out of your mind?
You stood by and watched with barely a whisper when it was entertaining, so why scold me now?
By the time I decided to speak up, you were already charging ahead.
It was a piece of fiction.
There’d been ample time when I merely dawdled, flowing Qi and making decisions.
During all that time, Elder Shin had remained silent.
I could even sense he found it amusing.
Hrm.
I knew it! You’re fake-coughing!
Still, why did you act even after realizing who you faced?
I only recognized him as the Namgung Clan’s Lord after seeing his face, but I had innately grasped beforehand that he was stronger than me.
It was undeniably reckless of me to have acted so.
Father sat silently, his eyes closed. Given that, I didn’t know what punishment awaited me, leading me to ponder numerous potential penalties.
An incident similar to this one appeared in my past life when I was banished to Gu Huibi’s sword-army. I spent over half a year serving under her; even the thought sent shivers down my spine.
Comparatively, I’d prefer to undergo half a year of closed training instead of that.
At last, Father opened his eyes and fixed his stare on me. I gulped, unsure of what he’d say.
“Good work.”
Huh?
“Pardon?”
I couldn’t help but frown, utterly confused by my father’s words.
I expected a myriad of responses… but that certainly wasn’t one of them.
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