Chapter 142: Tournament of Dragons and Phoenixes (1)
“Seriously, what the hell?”
I thought to myself as I brushed off the loose threads stuck to the ring.
What should I do with this?
Had I let my guard down?
I was clearly paying for underestimating the Second Elder.
To think he would use me in such a sneaky way with that giant physique of his!
It was an unexpected twist.
“No, no, let’s think positively. This might not actually be a treasure, right?”
What kind of treasure would be rusting and look so shabby?
The previous treasure from the volcano may have been treated poorly, but it still had the appearance of a true treasure.
The rich scent of plum blossoms that wafted from it was evidence of its authenticity.
“But this is just junk.”
The ring was so rusted that I couldn’t even tell what color it once was.
As for the center, which probably held a gem, it was completely hollow, far from its original form.
Maybe it was just a mistake by the Second Elder.
He probably accidentally tossed this in while grabbing some silver coins. That must be it.
[You really want to believe that, don’t you?]
“Objectively speaking, does this even look like a treasure to you, Elder Shin?”
It was a ring that had no scent or aura.
It looked like it would crumble if I applied even a little pressure, so it couldn’t be a treasure.
It simply had to be something else.
[Wouldn’t it be better to show this to the Alliance Leader first?]
“I have thought about that.”
While asking him directly if this was a treasure would be one option, I had to go to the gathering first.
‘First things first, I have to attend the banquet.’
I didn’t have the luxury of time to lament the situation.
The banquet had already started a while ago, after all.
So, I carefully tucked the ring back into my pouch, burying it deep in my pocket, and hurried along.
Fortunately, when I opened the door, the guide outside assured me that I wasn’t late.
Inside, the room was filled with a commotion of voices.
The place was already packed with martial artists around my age.
While a few individuals looked like they might be in their thirties, most were barely past their teenage years.
I found myself among the last generation of young prodigies.
It felt strange to think that it was us—the last generation—who made names for ourselves during the recent war, not the current one.
I recognized some familiar faces from clans I knew, while others remained entirely unknown.
As I walked deeper into the hall, more familiar figures from various clans appeared.
This had clearly been an intentional seating arrangement.
Beginning from Bacheonmaru’s quarters, to the waiting area, and now the banquet hall.
The noticeable disparity in treatment among clan members was blatant.
If you wanted to avoid discrimination, you had to climb up the social ladder.
‘Either by being born into a prestigious clan or by proving yourself.’
Wasn’t that just cruel?
They knew all too well that surpassing those born into advanced families was nearly impossible.
‘Where am I supposed to sit?’
The spot assigned to me was right in the front row.
This was likely due to the recommendation letter’s influence.
As I walked while scouting the surroundings, I spotted Gu Jeolyub seated.
Gu Jeolyub had also noticed me; our eyes met.
‘Guess we weren’t assigned the same seats.’
He was positioned a bit closer to the front, but not right at the front.
It would give a clear indication of how the Gu Clan stacked up against others.
‘Though he could have likely sat with us, given we’re in the same crew.’
It felt deliberate that Gu Jeolyub and I had been separated.
But a problem lurked nearby.
“You bastard, so you’re a child of the Gu Clan.”
Gu Jeolyub had the misfortune of sitting near Hwangbo Cheolwi, with whom he had a conflict last time.
Hwangbo Cheolwi sported a scowling face, while Gu Jeolyub seemed to be silently cursing his luck, clearly in a tight spot.
‘Just endure until the gathering wraps up.’
Regardless of how hot-headed Hwangbo Cheolwi was, the Alliance Leader would soon make an appearance and start the event.
Once that was over, everyone would start moving about, hopefully making the situation better.
I redirected my gaze and continued my path.
As I passed a certain area, I could feel a change in the atmosphere.
Noble clans, blood relatives of prestigious families, or children of factions that donated substantial sums to the Murim Alliance every year.
Those who fundamentally acted as the pillars of the Murim Alliance were gathered in the front row, and the atmosphere was different from the rest.
My destination lay right at the very front.
I spotted Wi Seol-ah and Namgung Bi-ah in the distance.
Those two must have noticed me long ago, as they were already gesturing in my direction.
Suppressing the smile threatening to surface, I hurried toward them.
As I got closer, I also spotted Moyong Hi-ah and Tang Soyeol.
While walking over, my breath hitched as I caught sight of a certain individual chatting with Tang Soyeol.
A boy was conversing with her, wearing a bright smile.
In an instant, the surroundings fell into an eerie silence.
Starting from my feet that locked in place, I felt a hot energy coursing up my body.
When I exhaled the breath I had been holding, it released a wave of heated fury.
Despite my rational mind trying to calm my boiling blood, staring at that boy made my reason waver under the heat of anger.
‘The Meteor Sword.’
In my past life, he was Wi Seol-ah’s fiancé.
The man who betrayed the Murim Alliance.
And…
The man I had wanted to kill above all else stood there before me in his youthful form.
How could I possibly hold back?
When that detestable gaze and those hands were right before my eyes?
“– Don’t forget your role. Remember where you belong.”
His sunny smile brought back memories of his earlier words.
“– You crawl on the floor while handing over the shining world to her? What a hero you are. But so what? You’re still a demonic human in the end.”
“– Don’t be mistaken. Neither she, nor the world, nor even time belongs to you.”
“– Not even the Heavenly Demon’s.”
Flames flickered at my back. This life was different from the last.
I had tried hard to realize that more than anyone else.
But still, I found myself awakening to the painful reminder. It was impossible to forget the events of that life.
“– Everything is mine. I have vowed it shall be.”
Those were his last words to me, just before the Heavenly Demon and Celestial Sword clashed.
The memories remain vivid.
His gaze back then.
The fervor in his eyes.
The frustration of my impotence while recognizing it all.
It all remained clear in my memory.
One step.
I took just a single step toward that wretched boy.
Even I didn’t know what I intended to do by moving closer.
And then—
“What are you doing?”
Tap-!
The moment someone gripped my wrist, the boiling rage began to subside.
I turned to see who had held me back.
The first thing that caught my eye was her short hair, barely reaching her shoulders.
And then I met her identical black eyes.
The girl flinched at our shared gaze.
Then the girl, Peng Ah-hee, asked.
“You. What were you trying to do just now?”
“…I didn’t do anything.”
“Make sure to fix your eyes before saying that. Do you even realize how you looked just now?”
I wondered what kind of look I had been giving. Noticing a hint of fear in Peng Ah-hee’s eyes, it was clear I hadn’t looked very friendly.
I didn’t exude any killing intent, though.
Fortunately, I managed to restrain myself just enough to hide that aspect.
“Do you know him?”
Peng Ah-hee asked, presumably referring to Jang Seonyeon, who I had been staring at.
After calming the heat in my body, I shook my head.
“No, I don’t know him.”
“You approach someone you don’t know with those kinds of eyes?”
“I unconsciously reacted because he looks like someone I hate.”
“Just because of that…? You really don’t have a stellar personality, do you?”
Seeing Peng Ah-hee’s clear disgust towards me, I felt my mind gradually clearing.
Peng Ah-hee continued to scrutinize me as she spoke.
“It’s been a while since we last met, and instead of a greeting, you instinctively want to start a fight. Is that really you?”
“It has been a while. How have you been?”
“Dragging that out was quite a challenge for you. Just stop it.”
The last time I spoke to Peng Woojin, he mentioned that Peng Ah-hee would also be attending, so here we were, unexpectedly meeting again.
“I saw Young Lord Peng earlier.”
“I had a feeling he would come running to you, considering he talks nothing but about you in the clan… So please, don’t mention that damned bastard. I’m already fuming hearing about him.”
Peng Ah-hee seemed to be overwhelmed by trying to manage Peng Woojin.
As I sensed the cold sweat soaking my back, I rested my mind.
‘That was close.’
Whatever I had tried to do, I had come dangerously close to acting recklessly.
‘Elder Shin.’
I tried calling for Elder Shin, but there was no answer from him.
I bit my lip lightly, expecting this would happen.
Back at Mount Hua, I lost my connection with him every time I couldn’t control my anger.
Since consuming that flower from Mount Hua, I hadn’t experienced any outbursts like this.
‘Did I genuinely run low on demonic Qi?’
I knew I needed to consume more demonic Qi to handle the energy within me.
But did it also have to impact my emotions?
I thought it would last for a few months, yet something felt off as it seemed to have a shorter cycle this time.
“Where is your seat?”
As Peng Ah-hee asked, I motioned towards my assigned spot.
She also glanced in the direction of where my group was seated, looking slightly surprised.
“Is it just me, or are all the people around you women?”
“It’s just a coincidence…”
“Yeah, that has to be the case. You definitely don’t have a face that’s capable of charming girls.”
“Why must you go for the insult when we’ve just met again after so long?”
“How lucky for you to be surrounded by a garden full of flowers. There are so many eyes on them already.”
I looked around and realized she had a point. It wasn’t just one; there were several outstanding beauties that would attract glances.
“And where is your seat?”
Peng Ah-hee gestured in response.
As expected, she too was seated at the front.
“You’re late, so just go sit down for now. We can talk later.”
I couldn’t suppress a peculiar expression at her side comment about ‘talking later.’
She must have caught on to my reaction, as Peng Ah-hee chuckled.
“I heard about your engagement, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a normal conversation, right?”
The engagement was something from our youth, and we had amicably settled the matter months prior.
There was no lingering affection between us.
The resentments had faded, making it easier to interact.
It was hard to articulate in simple words.
“And just so you know, I’m your senior. So drop the casual talk.”
Peng Ah-hee threw in a playful jab before walking toward her seat.
With the Alliance Leader soon to arrive, I too needed to settle in.
‘Thanks to her, I feel a bit calmer.’
As I turned my gaze from Peng Ah-hee’s back, it instinctively landed back on that wretched boy.
The emotions that had boiled a moment ago had cooled almost instantly from such a small interaction.
My fury, resentment, disdain, and murderous intent still resided, but they were loosely tethered now, no longer consuming my entire being.
I retained my composure. Did Peng Ah-hee’s presence contribute? Perhaps, but I didn’t think it was the only reason behind my calmness.
I carefully approached the gathering, managing my expression to avoid drawing unwanted attention.
‘I’m worried about Elder Shin.’
There was always a possibility he might be missing for quite some time again.
It would be entirely normal for him to vanish at any moment.
As I approached the group, Tang Soyeol spotted me as well.
Tang Soyeol’s expression, which had been cold moments before, quickly melted back to her usual cheerful demeanor.
“Young Master Gu…!”
“I’m sorry for being late.”
“I-I was worried.”
As I approached, Jang Seonyeon also shifted his gaze to me.
I addressed Jang Seonyeon first.
“And you are?”
I had barely calmed my aggressive voice, so I couldn’t even attempt a smile.
On the other hand, Jang Seonyeon responded with a smile.
“I’m Jang Seonyeon from the Taeryung Clan.”
“The Taeryung Clan, you say…”
After his introduction, I noted Tang Soyeol and Moyong Hi-ah’s changed demeanor toward him.
It made sense; that clan was associated with the current Murim Alliance leader.
‘Of course, it had to be at a time like this.’
I bit my lips lightly, realizing the significance of the accommodations extended to the advanced young prodigies in the Murim Alliance.
This marked Jang Seonyeon’s debut as a rising star.
The moment that would launch him into the spotlight showcasing his immense talent.
“Yes, I happened to overhear conversation about my father… So, I couldn’t help but interrupt this lady’s talk.”
Tang Soyeol seemed to cut herself off mid-sentence, distracted by Jang Seonyeon’s smile.
It likely had to do with the Alliance Leader.
Drifting my gaze back toward Wi Seol-ah, I was grateful to see her simply yawning in the back, not paying any attention to Jang Seonyeon.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. It’s quite embarrassing for me to be in a place like this for the first time.”
As Jang Seonyeon stretched out his hand towards me, I stared at it momentarily before slowly taking it.
“…!”
The surprise on Jang Seonyeon’s face as he felt the pressure of my grip was unmistakable.
“Yes, I look forward to working together.”
Keeping my potentially explosive killing intent contained within my body,
I subdued my underlying hatred for him from surfacing.
“Gu Yangcheon of the Shanxi Gu Clan.”
When I crossed paths with Nachal at Mount Hua, he had once said to me.
“You should at least be aware of the name of the person who’s going to kill you.”
I couldn’t help but wonder why those words flashed through my mind.
As I stared at Jang Seonyeon, I forced a smile on my lips.
“Oh, uh…oh.”
I deliberately overlooked Tang Soyeon’s strange reaction, focusing solely on Jang Seonyeon while brimming with conflicting emotions.
I was unaware of—
Wi Seol-ah, standing at the back, staring at Jang Seonyeon with a cold glare.
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