Chapter: 128
Click—
Click—
The only sound breaking the silence of the room was an unknown, subtle noise.
The slightly irritating sound tickled the ears but didn’t cross the line enough to warrant being pointed out.
It was in that ambiguous territory.
Namgung Jin sat still with his eyes closed, listening to the tingling noise.
Under normal circumstances, he would have pointed it out with a feeling of discontent, but now he felt it was a waste of time.
In his mind, he had to quickly recall the movements he newly realized.
What to do with his wrist, how much strength to use in his waist, and where to direct his toes at the same time.
As he passed the age of youth, he was digging up the basics he had wiped from his mind long ago.
He had to erase everything and cover it anew with what he had just obtained. It would likely take a very long time.
While lost in thought, Namgung Jin suddenly opened his eyes with a jolt at the sound of a chair scraping.
He was so engrossed in his focus that he hadn’t noticed the presence that was right in front of him.
“I heard you’ve had some things going on lately.”
“I dealt with it well.”
In front of him sat a frail old man, Gu Changjun, the First Elder of the Gu Clan and known by the nickname Flame Sword of Death.
“It’s truly unexpected. I never imagined the lord would seek out an old man like me.”
“I came here because I was bothered by our unfinished conversation from last time.”
“Oh…. I can only welcome you with open arms.”
The First Elder said this while grinning widely.
‘This man is as slippery as a snake.’
Such a cold sensation resonated, sending a chill through Namgung Jin.
To him, this old man was the one who fit least within the Gu Clan.
The clan leader, Gu Cheolun, had a dirty personality but did not play foul.
If he had to smash something, he would just smash it, barreling through rather than looking for alternative routes.
Though it seemed things had changed a lot now, his filthy nature remained unchanged, so perhaps nothing had truly shifted.
‘He even has a son who’s just like him.’
Gu Cheolun’s son not only shared his looks but also possessed a very similar personality.
Though he couldn’t really call him a brat anymore.
In any case, both Gu Cheolun and Gu Yangcheon were people who meshed well with the Gu Clan.
They had fiery tempers and monstrous talents to boot.
The more Namgung Jin thought about it, the more his stomach churned.
Every single child of Gu Cheolun had some bizarre talent.
Ignoring the current top-tier prodigy, the Sword Phoenix, the second daughter was rumored to possess quality talent as well.
Almost no information was available about the fourth child, but as she was said to be associated with Mount Hua, she presumably wasn’t of lowly caliber.
And then there was Gu Yangcheon.
Namgung Jin couldn’t even categorize Gu Yangcheon’s level of talent.
Calling it talent felt too far-fetched.
In the entire history of the Central Plains, the martial artist who overcame such a barrier at Yangcheon’s age would have to be counted on one hand.
Even his grandfather, the foremost in the clan and known as the Lord of Heaven, was said to have reached his peak at a similar age to Namgung Cheonjun.
‘It seems he’s associated with them after all.’
A clandestine group formed under the Murim Alliance.
Namgung Jin’s grandfather referred to this group as “Meteor.”
‘Gu Cheolun, you feigned ignorance until the very end.’
Claiming he would never associate with that place again, he was now doing precisely that.
‘How did he manage? This was information I couldn’t uncover even with my influence.’
Had he already struck some secret deal with the Beggar’s Sect? Considering that all the rumors about Gu Yangcheon had turned out false, that possibility seemed substantial.
‘The same goes for this seal.’
Namgung Jin pondered about the seal binding him.
This technique resembled the one primarily used by the Murim Alliance.
He was undoubtedly utilizing the framework of the Murim Alliance’s seal.
He also sensed that it was strongly fortified, making escape from it difficult, even more so than the seals used by the Murim Alliance.
He figured he should delve more into Meteor when he got back to the clan to consult with his grandfather.
“I heard last time…” The First Elder initiated the conversation once more.
“That the engagement ceremony was set for a suitable date.”
“It went exceedingly well.”
Indeed, compared to the tension during his last encounter with Gu Cheolun, the atmosphere was notably more harmonious this time.
“This is quite surprising. I never even dared imagine that the Namgung Clan would proceed with an engagement with our Yangcheon…”
‘Our Yangcheon,’ he claimed.
To Namgung Jin, the elder’s friendly address felt strangely detached against his cold tone.
Namgung Jin replied, “I’ve heard that the Second Elder of the Gu Clan put in considerable effort. I too witnessed such positive feedback from our elders for the first time.”
“…”
As Namgung Jin mentioned the Second Elder, the First Elder’s expression shifted slightly.
It quickly reverted, but the slight lapse was evident enough for Namgung Jin to catch.
It appeared that the First Elder was not particularly enthused about the engagement between the clans.
Also, he didn’t seem to have a good relationship with the Second Elder either.
Namgung Jin took a sip of his tea, organizing his thoughts.
“As you mentioned earlier, there was a minor incident.”
“I heard you unfortunately bore the brunt of it.”
“Indeed. What a regrettable circumstance it was.”
Originally, when Namgung Jin first conversed with the First Elder, he had entertained thoughts to win him over, thinking that if their thoughts aligned, he could sway him to his side.
However, given the incident that tainted the Namgung Clan’s reputation, such a prospect seemed unlikely now.
If it truly was the First Elder who attempted to ensnare him, the ties had essentially been severed.
A mere suspicion would be enough to rupture the bond. There was no need to link himself to danger.
Despite these musings, Namgung Jin’s expression remained unchanged.
“Is there anything you desire?”
“Lord?”
The First Elder responded in surprise, as he hadn’t anticipated such a question from him.
The First Elder may have been adept at concealing his thoughts, but the ambition was insatiable.
It was not something he could hide, leaving Namgung Jin baffled as to why the Gu Clan still retained such a figure.
If it were the Gu Cheolun of yore, he would’ve incinerated this snake in a heartbeat.
‘Not that it concerns me anyway.’
Whatever his thoughts were, they were now irrelevant to Namgung Jin.
—Just pretend to comply.
He recalled Gu Yangcheon’s instruction.
What was his intention? To lower the First Elder’s guard, or perhaps to confirm something about Namgung Jin’s seal?
All that was irrelevant to him now.
With a smile, he told the First Elder, “It may be that our objectives align.”
At those words, Namgung Jin noticed a glimmer in the First Elder’s eyes.
It had been a day since I had instructed Namgung Jin in the sword arts.
“I heard the two exchanged words again.”
“Where do you keep acquiring such information?”
As I was chatting away with Wi Seol-Ah after finishing my training, the Second Elder appeared.
Wi Seol-Ah was diligently wiping the sweat from my forehead, but the Second Elder came with a gloomy expression and continued, “It seems they’ve established a connection.”
“Is that so?”
“Young Master, you are drenched in sweat!”
“Could you please wipe it a bit more gently?”
I felt the towel’s roughness as I stopped Wi Seol-Ah.
She was rubbing so hard I almost thought my skin might peel off.
To be fair, I had sweated a lot to warrant such treatment.
I hadn’t expected to be sweating even after reaching the fifth stage of my training.
—That just shows you are still not accustomed to it. Keep working at it.
‘Yes… I really should.’
Even now, compressing my energy and moving with precision remained quite challenging for me.
Getting used to being unfamiliar is one of the hardest parts of training as a martial artist, yet it was also the most thrilling.
It’s all about feeling growth while experiencing new things.
‘Is Namgung Jin seeking a higher realm because of this excitement too?’
For a moment, it felt like I grasped his mentality. Just then, the Second Elder roared, pulling me from my musings.
“What do you mean, ‘is that so,’ you rascal?!”
“What can I do about their meetings? I’ll just let it be.”
I thought briefly about telling the Second Elder regarding my dealings with Namgung Jin, but I thought it best to keep it under wraps.
Noticing my nonchalant reaction, the Second Elder attempted to bop my head but I dodged.
“Hey! I can finally dodge—Ugh!”
Just as I barely managed to avoid the first punch, the second one landed squarely, sending me crashing to the ground with a resounding thud.
…It truly felt like my head might explode.
“While Grandfather is buried in worry to the point of anxiety, here’s my grandson doing nothing!”
“Why am I suddenly your grandson?!”
We had the same blood, but there was no closeness there.
“I nurtured you and cleaned your mess when you were young, so how could you act this way?”
As he prepared to swing at me again, I threw Wi Seol-Ah in front of me.
“Huh?”
The Second Elder halted. Despite his attempts, he would never harm the granddaughter of the Sword Emperor.
“Stop trying to hit me and tell me what happened during your visit to the Namgung Clan.”
I referred to his sudden disappearance to discuss matters with their elders.
It had not even been a week, and he returned far sooner than I expected.
As soon as I noted this, the Second Elder’s demeanor quickly soured.
“Don’t bring it up. I already received a scolding from the lord while coming back.”
“Oh really? Did my father catch you?”
“Shut it…. How could I be caught? I was sneaky enough! You didn’t squeal on me, did you, Gu Yangcheon?”
Suspicious eyes turned my way.
How ridiculous of him. Did he really think he could be discreet with his bulky frame?
“Second Elder… Take a good look at yourself… Can you possibly hide with that build?”
“Watch it, kid! Back in my day, I could make wagers with the Shadow Monarch to see who was better in stealth.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever.”
“Grandpa Ryoon, are you going to grow big once again?” Wi Seol-Ah innocently inquired, making the Second Elder smile awkwardly.
“No… This old man can no longer grow.”
“No way! It looks like you have.”
“Is that a compliment?”
“Yes! Bigger is more impressive!”
“…Well, then, thank you.”
The Second Elder finally smiled awkwardly upon receiving Wi Seol-Ah’s innocent praise.
Regardless, bragging about wagering with the king of assassins over stealth? There does not exist a bluster that exceeds that.
“Anyway, observing how the elders of the Namgung Clan didn’t seem thrilled with the incident, it appears there’s a problem.”
Naturally, I didn’t expect there wouldn’t be issues. However, the Second Elder found it odd that this had come to pass.
Despite his muscle-bound appearance, he was more perceptive than anyone thought.
When he arrived at that conclusion, it implied that something more stirred below the surface.
“I also heard you had troubles with the Sword King. Was that resolved?”
“You knew about that too?”
“I told you, this old man’s eyes and ears are always open within the clan.”
“Everything went well.”
The central concern was undoubtedly the fate of the attendant.
While her scar would remain, it seemed her life would be unaffected.
Given that I received this information from none other than the Immortal Healer, I had no reason to question it’s veracity.
Though she remained unconscious, I fully planned to visit as soon as she awakened.
Even as this thought lingered, the Second Elder’s annoyed voice resonated, “Yangcheon, if you persist in that carefree manner, I’ll handle things myself.”
“Could you please just stay—Understood.”
Why does this old coot always think of using his fists first…?
I needed to get stronger to dodge those punches, it seemed.
Half in jest, I hunched my neck, prompting the Second Elder to exhale deeply before shifting the topic.
“Also, I hear you’re participating in the Tournament of Dragons and Phoenixes. Is that true?”
“Did you hear that from the Lord?”
“Yup.”
“Yeah, I’m planning to participate.”
“When do you plan on leaving?”
“I’m thinking of leaving early, perhaps in a week.”
The Tournament of Dragons and Phoenixes occurred at year-end, so if I departed a bit early, I could reasonably arrive on time.
“You’re aiming to leave much sooner than I had envisaged.”
“Better too early than too late.”
Initially, I felt as though I were reluctantly joining due to Tang Soyeol’s request and my father’s consent. However, considering Elder Shin’s involvement as well as the significance of the tournament, it became a needed mission.
Additionally, I had personal reasons for wanting to see someone there.
I believed there was a good chance that person would also attend the tournament.
The Second Elder scrutinized my expression and remarked with a smirk, “Looks like you’re not intending to sit idly, huh?”
“I have no clue what you’re on about.”
“True, at this stage, it’s about time you stirred things up a bit.”
The Second Elder brushed off my disclaimer, confident in his assumptions.
…That old man has the cunning of a fox.
As the Second Elder articulated, I hoped to do something during the tournament, though I had no intention of going overboard.
Thinking ahead, I recognized I’d need to make my name known to a degree.
Though it would be easier to bolster my name by revealing my past deeds, now simply didn’t feel like the right time, as associating myself with the Black Palace would create problems.
By far, the Tournament of Dragons and Phoenixes was the simplest and most comfortable avenue for this. Any small action made there could have outsized consequences.
For instance, there were rumors of a lightning bolt striking the clear sky upon Namgung Cheonjun’s debut at the tournament, heralding the rise of a new star.
A lightning bolt on a clear day…? Such talk felt like it belonged in a fairy tale.
There was no way I would end up with nothing to show for it. That was not arrogance.
Honestly, just participating in a kids’ tournament felt somewhat guilt-ridden.
In a way, it would seem like I was pretending to be the strongest among children, even though technically, I was no longer a child.
—If others found out, I’d turn beet red with embarrassment.
‘…Good thing nobody knows.’
—You must be relieved that no one else is aware.
‘Ugh…’
I couldn’t even counter Elder Shin’s teasing.
It was best to just embrace the shamelessness.
The Second Elder, grinning, said, “If the lord sanctioned it, feel free to go and have your fun.”
“Am I some wild beast? What do you mean by ‘devour’?”
“Granted, you do somewhat resemble one.”
“…”
Having stated that, the Second Elder pulled something from his sleeve.
Once I laid eyes on it, I recognized it instantly.
It was the invitation letter that Tang Soyeol had previously shown me.
“Did you receive this from the elder?”
“Um… if that’s how it is, yes.”
“What’s with that vague response? You’re making me anxious…”
I pondered whether he hadn’t received it from my father. My invitation should already have reached the Gu Clan, so I assumed he merely brought that with him.
However, it seemed he had something more profound in mind as he continued, “It’s not an invitation but rather a recommendation.”
“A recommendation? For me?”
“I thought it prudent to bring it along, but I should’ve chosen something that seemed more illustrious if I had realized this was going to happen.”
Typically, recommendations were extended to talented individuals as a form of support.
For Tang Soyeol, her elder must have naturally provided the recommendation.
As for Namgung Bi-ah, I guessed Namgung Jin had submitted the letter to their envoy.
In my case, I intended to receive one from my father.
Although if Gu Yeonseo decided to enter after being freed from confinement, that could change things.
‘But who could have drafted this recommendation letter on my behalf?’
A martial artist of the Second Elder’s caliber would certainly qualify to give such a letter, but why wouldn’t they do it formally through my father?
The recommendation for the Tournament of Dragons and Phoenixes would usually come from a master to their pupil or a parent to their child.
As such, it reflected a guardian’s endorsement and responsibility for their child’s safety.
Who appeared capable of doing such a thing for me?
Considering, my limited reputation wasn’t ideal, so whoever penned the letter risked their own fame.
“Take it. I got it two years ago and now it’s finally coming to fruition, so I’m quite pleased.”
Upon hearing the Second Elder’s words, my brow furrowed slightly.
“Two years…?”
That meant this letter predated my regression.
And yet, I had no memory of receiving any such letter in my previous life.
I cautiously accepted the letter and froze the moment my eyes fell upon its contents.
How could I not?
Only a single word appeared within the letter.
Loss.
“Second Elder… this is…”
I stammered, somewhat taken aback, yet the Second Elder’s face radiated with pride.
The only reason a letter with just one word could feel so immense was simply this.
This letter…
Came from one of the three Heavenly Venerables—the Dishonored Venerable, Bijuu.
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