Chapter 155: What Is This Hobo-Like… (1)
The Medical Room within the Murim Alliance.
The room was filled with a lot of people due to the injuries incurred during the tournament.
Ugh…!
Among those wounded, Namgung Cheonjun gasped for breath as he opened his eyes.
Huff… huff!
His breathing was harsh, and Namgung Cheonjun’s body was drenched in cold sweat.
It was as if he had just woken from an extraordinarily terrifying dream.
After panting for a while, Namgung Cheonjun seemed to notice something and quickly threw off the blanket covering him to check his lower body.
…Was it a dream?
Everything he had experienced felt like a mere figment of his imagination.
Especially the chilling sensation in his lower body right before he lost consciousness—it was a genuine nightmare.
But thankfully, it appeared that it hadn’t been a dream after all.
Are you okay…?
At the sound of the voice, Namgung Cheonjun’s head snapped around.
Beside him sat Moyong Hi-ah, the Snow Phoenix.
…Lady Moyong?
In a moment of panic, Namgung Cheonjun hastily adjusted his mask, which had nearly cracked.
At that instant, he felt pain shooting through his entire body.
…Ugh…
His body throbbed as if someone had mercilessly beaten him like a drum.
Only then did Namgung Cheonjun realize the harsh truth.
The recent duel wasn’t a mere dream.
He, the next lord of the Namgung Clan…
Had lost.
…This is impossible…!
As anger welled up, he attempted to gather his Qi, but the searing pain coursing through his body caused him to flinch instead.
Ughh…!
Young Master…!?
The physical pain, along with the throbbing agony in his dantian, was the result of the explosive counterattacks that had followed after he failed to deflect all of his opponent’s strikes.
His once-condensed Qi had dissipated into nothing, leaving his dantian, the core of his energy flow, to endure the crushing pain.
Thanks to this, his body, which had been writhing on the floor, was in spasms, and his dantian was screaming in torment.
…How humiliating…!
His resentment for Gu Yangcheon grew even stronger.
What kind of trick had he employed this time?
Even if it were not a trick, the very fact that he had lost to such a lowly character was a cruel blow to Namgung Cheonjun’s pride.
Great… So you think you can only be satisfied by tormenting me for eternity.
He felt a deep resentment towards him, to the point that he wanted nothing less than to kill him.
What do I do… what can I possibly do to…
…!
Suddenly, Namgung Cheonjun’s shoulders began to tremble as he was consumed by overwhelming feelings.
The memory of those two eyes that gazed down upon him in that final moment surged back to him.
The fiery red eyes that seemed to threaten to set the world ablaze.
Instinctively, Namgung Cheonjun curled up, clutching his shoulders.
…Hoo… Haa!
It was fear.
This tightness gripping his chest and hindering his breath—indeed, it was fear.
Here was Namgung Cheonjun, a bloodline of the powerful Namgung Clan, trembling in fear of that young boy.
This… this is…!
Within those eyes that appeared to ignite the world…
Namgung Cheonjun saw an abyss of darkness without end.
Yes, just like Peng Woojin’s gaze, or perhaps something even darker.
Young Master Namgung… what is wrong?
Slap!
Just as Moyong Hi-ah’s hand was about to touch him, Namgung Cheonjun angrily swatted her hand away.
…D-Don’t touch me.
He was acutely aware that Moyong Hi-ah desired something from him.
Still, he had no clear idea what it was.
It was even harder for him to guess since she was openly revealing her intentions without trying to hide them.
Despite this, Namgung Cheonjun remained guarded behind his mask.
He knew that having Moyong Hi-ah beside him offered great potential advantages as she hailed from a noble family.
Moreover, it seemed she had similar interests, leading him to believe that it would be mutually beneficial.
However, given the current circumstances, maintaining this façade was becoming increasingly difficult.
He had been utterly humiliated in front of his beloved sister.
Moreover, the fact that his opponent was the very person who had taken his sister from him infuriated him.
And above all, he was plagued by a feeling of terror toward that same bastard.
How… I was even supposed to be…the chosen one.
Yes, it must be because I didn’t have a chance to fully utilize my new power.
That must be the reason I lost to him.
His body continued to tremble, yet Namgung Cheonjun managed to regain a semblance of calm.
He convinced himself that he had merely been momentarily rattled.
After all, they had instructed him not to use the newly acquired power until he had mastered it completely.
It wasn’t even something I could wield at will, to begin with.
Namgung Cheonjun made several attempts to use it but could sense that something different resided within him—it just wouldn’t move as he wished.
Just like now…
…Huh?
After what felt like an eternity of trembling, Namgung Cheonjun’s body finally stopped.
He felt something surging inside him that was decidedly strange.
W-Where did it go…?
He could no longer sense the energy that had been coiled up within him.
Where… where did it go…!
Moyong Hi-ah observed Namgung Cheonjun with growing concern but then lowered her hand.
…Sigh.
She wiped the worry from her face, returning to her usual blank demeanor.
He wasn’t always like this.
He had always carried a hint of arrogance, though he used to radiate confidence and self-respect.
At least last year, he had appeared quite well when he had come to the banquet.
But why has he changed so drastically this year…
I can’t believe this transformation happened just as I decided to approach him this year.
Should I describe this as him being ruined? There’s really no other way to phrase it.
Right now, there’s no way to treat this condition.
…Just pray for a miracle to happen.
Or perhaps burn away the cold energy trapped inside your body…
Moyong Hi-ah forced herself to forget unpleasant memories.
As she did, she gathered her remaining Qi, trying to create warmth as she wrapped it around herself.
Finally, the chill began to fade.
Burn it away? How?
It isn’t an ailment or a thing that can be burned away at will.
She momentarily recalled a boy who summoned flames but quickly dismissed that thought.
As if she didn’t already know that Fire Arts couldn’t cleanse her condition.
That had merely been a frustrated outburst.
Even so, Moyong Hi-ah couldn’t help but feel weary.
She was aware that she didn’t have much time left.
Thus, more than ever, she needed assistance from the Namgung Clan.
To be exact, she required help from the Lord of Heaven.
Her father aspired to acquire several things for the clan, even if it meant making sacrifices, but that wasn’t the path she desired.
To her, it felt like a last resort.
She did not wish to witness her clan suffer due to such emotional losses.
…I still should be fine.
She reassured herself, casting aside any doubts.
Moyong Hi-ah attempted to reach out to Namgung Cheonjun again but halted as someone arrived.
I’m glad to see you are in a better state than I expected.
…!
The figure in the black uniform was none other than Peng Woojin, the young lord of the Peng Clan.
He spoke to Namgung Cheonjun, who was now unexpectedly before him.
Young Master Namgung, if you’re feeling well, how about we have a conversation?
His smile suggested he was a well-mannered and congenial individual, but Moyong Hi-ah couldn’t shake off an unsettling feeling.
Rumors are like tempests.
They sweep through everything without ever halting, leaving one to wonder where they might land—this can be both frightening and awe-inspiring.
Certainly, for someone encountering it for the first time, it could be rather daunting.
In my case, however, I didn’t feel much.
—I heard that the Lightning Dragon got defeated?
—I heard he lost to a much younger warrior.
—Who? Are you referring to the blood relative of the Taeryung Clan that managed to defeat the Poison Phoenix?
—Fool! The rumors have been swirling around for ages; are you still unaware?
—If you don’t know, just say so instead of insulting me!
—If you’re so mad, feel free to go to the Beggar’s Sect and buy some information!
The Lightning Dragon, Namgung Cheonjun’s defeat, caused a much larger stir compared to the Poison Phoenix, Tang Soyeol, losing her first round battle.
This was easily understandable; given that it was a quarterfinals event, the arena was filled with numerous spectators.
As a result, there were quite a few pairs of eyes and mouths.
Thus, as soon as I descended to the duel arena, I became the center of attention.
—Wait, are you serious? The Lightning Dragon lost? The one from the Namgung Clan?
—Yet the Poison Phoenix losing in the first round makes sense to you?
—But that’s the Taeryung Clan. He’s the son of the Alliance Leader!
—…Do you even know who the Lightning Dragon’s opponent was?
—Huh? Who?
—It’s Gu Clan of Shanxi. The little brother of that renowned Sword Phoenix.
—Oh…
Wait, how did that convince you?
What on Earth could that madwoman have been up to for everyone to be so convinced…
I had heard that this was not merely her performing here—not only did she set the duel stage ablaze, but she also had half of the banquet hall ignited as well.
There were rumors of her burning the hair of anyone who annoyed her, along with equally dreadful tales floating around.
The unsettling aspect was how convincingly those rumors sounded as if they could genuinely have originated from Gu Huibi herself.
…Naturally, her personality makes it quite believable.
My head throbbed painfully.
It was utterly ridiculous that merely being tied to ‘Gu Huibi’s younger brother’ was sufficient to gloss over my actions.
You were so cool, Young Master Gu!
When I returned to the barracks after the duel, Tang Soyeol welcomed me as if she had been waiting for my return.
Did you see all that?
Of course! I didn’t miss a single moment!
Her enthusiasm radiated, and she enthusiastically gestured around, as if she were exploiting it as an opportunity to brag about her keen watching of the fight.
Despite having a first-round knockout, Tang Soyeol remained in high spirits; however, her hands were reddened due to the chilly weather.
I was contemplating using my Qi to warm up the atmosphere inside the barracks.
Hmm…
Yet I suddenly hesitated.
I was more concerned about the new energy that was stirring within my dantian.
…That pig of a bastard…
The energy I absorbed from Namgung Cheonjun.
To be precise, it was the energy that had chosen to be absorbed that bothered me.
At least ask for permission before you go devouring that… Why do you have to consume it the instant you touch it?
Especially since it wasn’t Demonic Qi this time around.
…That’s the problem.
The Lightning Dragon… no, the Pissing Dragon picking up such energy was troubling.
However, the bigger issue was how I had been able to absorb that particular energy.
How was I able to do that?
Tang Soyeol continued to chatter beside me, but I responded vaguely, preoccupied with analyzing my body.
It feels remarkably similar…
The energy I drew from Namgung Cheonjun bore a resemblance to the energy I felt from Wi Seol-Ah in my past life.
It was more akin to Taoist energy than conventional Qi, yet it did not qualify as typical Taoist Qi either.
Although I couldn’t definitively claim they were identical…
One concrete conclusion was that it wasn’t Demonic Qi.
It felt more akin to its opposite.
…The problem is that my body is feasting upon this energy as if it were a delicacy.
Just like Demonic Qi was purified within me, my flame energy was quickly claiming the new energy that had entered my dantian.
It seemed to be undergoing a treatment akin to how Demonic Qi was handled.
Tap.
Hmm?
While lost in thought, I felt a hand land on my shoulder.
It was Namgung Bi-ah.
What’s wrong?
…
When I inquired about her troubles, she wrinkled her expression slightly as though she was perturbed by something.
What was her issue?
Did I inadvertently ignore her?
But that also didn’t quite add up. Namgung Bi-ah was usually one to space out and would require multiple calls to draw her attention.
Since I was lost in confusion, Tang Soyeol approached and whispered in my ear.
Young Master Gu…
Hmm?
…Um, soon, my sister will be dueling… Urgh!
Tang Soyeol got shoved aside mid-sentence—a sudden push from Namgung Bi-ah sent her away.
Slightly offended, Tang Soyeol grimaced and confronted Namgung Bi-ah.
Sis! Do you even comprehend how unfair this is!?
…No.
I’m attempting to assist you! You should let this go…!
Even so…no…
Ugh…!!
What was wrong with these two?
I gazed at the strange scene unfolding before me, baffled.
Tang Soyeol coughed awkwardly before straightening her posture.
…Now that your match is done, it’s time for Sis to step up.
Oh.
Perhaps she wants you to cheer for her?
Following Tang Soyeol’s suggestion, I glanced in Namgung Bi-ah’s direction.
Namgung Bi-ah was averted; to be more precise, she seemed to be intentionally avoiding looking at me.
I noticed her ears turning slightly red and couldn’t help but chuckle.
So that was her intention?
…No…
Right, of course.
I had thought she was above such concerns, but maybe she secretly hoped for it.
In reality, I just beat up her little brother right before this…
Did all older sisters have such tendencies?
The complex feelings that Namgung Cheonjun harbored for his sister seemed to mark him as the truly odd one here.
Good luck.
Despite my curt response, Namgung Bi-ah nodded affirmatively as if satisfied with my words.
Her face was mostly concealed by her hair, but her glowing red ears betrayed her true feelings.
I held off on telling her to go win her duel.
After all, I knew she would triumph even without any additional pep talk.
…I felt pity for Gu Jeolyub, her opponent, but there was little I could do about it.
They were in completely different leagues.
I remembered the dejected expression Gu Jeolyub had as he reviewed the brackets.
During our excursions, I had seen them duel on a few occasions.
Back then, Gu Jeolyub couldn’t even graze Namgung Bi-ah’s sleeves.
Understanding this, it was clear why Gu Jeolyub was disheartened upon examining the brackets.
Maybe he’ll walk away with some experience.
It seemed that this trip wouldn’t only benefit me.
Perhaps Namgung Bi-ah would gain something as well.
Whether it be a name or some recognition.
She might appear indifferent to such things, though.
As I recalled, in my past life, after she had claimed the title of Demonic Sword…
She once asked me, confused, what that title even meant when I addressed her as such.
Namgung Bi-ah was significantly less concerned about worldly matters than I was.
With all the changes occurring in this life, it felt inevitable that Namgung Bi-ah’s name would spread far and wide sooner rather than later.
I had even heard whispers of some wannabe followers after her.
…Is that even a real thing?
That thought was rather daunting.
What even constituted a follower? If they truly existed, what was their purpose?
The thought alone sent chills down my spine.
Younger Masterrr!
Suddenly, someone barged through the barrack’s entrance.
It was Wi Seol-Ah, who had largely been absent over the past day.
Hongwa followed behind her, bowing respectfully toward me.
I’m back.
You’ve returned late.
I’m terribly sorry… It was my fault.
Hongwa offered no explanation for their tardiness.
In essence, she had accepted full responsibility, implying she would willingly bear any punishment.
Not that I wanted to punish anyone anyways…
I assumed they must have had legitimate reasons for being late, as it was known that Muyeon had accompanied them.
If that were the case, one could argue that Wi Seol-Ah had caused the trouble.
S-Sis didn’t do anything wrong. Young Master, I lost my way… and…
True to my suspicions, I promptly tapped Wi Seol-Ah on her head as her confession flowed like a river.
Ouch…!
I sent you to run an errand, only for you to get lost?
…I’m sorryyy…
Her look indicated she understood she had genuinely made a mistake this time.
Alternatively, this could simply be due to the weight of guilt that came from feeling her actions had placed Hongwa in trouble.
I sighed and retracted my hand before offering a gentle pat to Wi Seol-Ah’s head.
But that means nothing truly awful happened.
…Yes…
I found myself questioning whether I could overlook this incident.
But as I observed Wi Seol-Ah’s face, I felt immense difficulty in reproaching her any further.
That sentiment grew even stronger when I considered whether I could bring myself to scold this child.
Sis!
Once I released her, Wi Seol-Ah dashed toward Namgung Bi-ah, leaping into her embrace.
Namgung Bi-ah, now accustomed to these reactions, wrapped her arms around Wi Seol-Ah, affectionately stroking her hair.
They emanated an aura reminiscent of a sisterly bond.
After a moment of snuggling in Namgung Bi-ah’s embrace, Wi Seol-Ah suddenly recalled something and turned her head toward me.
Oh…! Young Master!
Hmm?
Someone was looking for you outside!
Who?
Someone is seeking me out? Who could that possibly be? Is it Gu Jeolyub? Or Peng Ah-hee?
Not that anyone would drop by at this hour.
Before I could delve further into my thoughts, Wi Seol-Ah delivered the answer.
But her reply was wholly unexpected.
An old hobo man!
…What?
I grimaced upon hearing Wi Seol-Ah’s words.
It was simply too ludicrous!
I retorted, admonishing her for joking around,
“Oh! Hello! I’m Chuwong from the Beggar’s Sect! Wow! I never thought I’d meet the blood relative of a famous noble clan… What an honor this is for someone like me in such a humble position!”
And just as Wi Seol-Ah had described, there indeed stood a hobo waiting for me outside.
This was undeniably an absurd situation.
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