Chapter: 119
Quickly leaving my quarters and moving at a brisk pace, I soon arrived at my destination.
It was the guesthouse where Namgung Bi-ah was staying.
As far as I knew, Namgung Jin was likely staying here as well.
Initially, after hearing what the Second Elder said, I contemplated heading to the Gu Sunmoon— it was likely the place where the two were engaged in conversation.
I thought that would draw a better response from Namgung Jin.
However, after a moment of consideration, I concluded that it would be better to check on Namgung Bi-ah’s condition first.
When we discussed the engagement earlier, the sun was still shining brightly, but by now, the moon had risen high in the sky.
While walking along the path strewn with fallen leaves, I soon found myself at the front gate of the guesthouse.
Just as I was about to enter, someone blocked my way.
“You can’t enter.”
When I turned to see who spoke in that cold voice, I found it was a martial artist from the Namgung Clan.
Looking at the man, I said, “Do you not know who I am?”
“I do.”
“Then what’s going on here?”
“This is the lord’s order.”
“I definitely sent word about my visit beforehand…”
As I mentioned before, I wasn’t planning to barge in unannounced, so I was sure a servant had been dispatched to relay my message.
“Did my servant not come?”
“She did.”
“And?”
The man fell silent.
Oh…? Is he ignoring me? I was a bit offended but didn’t think it was a huge problem.
It might belong to the Gu Clan, but it was currently occupied by guests from the Namgung Clan. I certainly wasn’t going to make a fuss if they didn’t welcome visitors, even if they were relatives of the Gu Clan.
If it had been another clan, I might’ve raised hell, but at least I had enough sense not to throw a tantrum over something so minor, especially since they were a noble family.
However, there was a problem.
“You should at least say something if you said a servant arrived, right?”
“…We rejected the servant due to the lord’s orders.”
“Right, that’s why you’re blocking me now. So then, how about this?”
As I tried to step through the open door, the martial artist suddenly grabbed my shoulder. He had no qualms about laying hands on me.
I looked at him and asked, “So, where is my servant?”
I could literally feel the man’s hand tremble at my question. If they had turned her away, she should have come back to inform me about it.
But the servant never returned, even after the sun had set.
Of course, it was possible that she simply forgot to inform me about the rejection.
In that case, I could just admonish her later and move on.
But why does it feel like it’s something else?
The Namgung family martial artist hesitated momentarily before replying.
“…We don’t know that ourselves…”
“Hey.”
“…!”
As I switched my tone to a more aggressive one, the startled man looked down at me, wide-eyed.
I dropped the smile I had painfully maintained.
“If you’re going to lie, at least don’t tremble while you’re at it. Do you think I’m an idiot?”
With a roar, my Qi surged forth like a storm. The man reached for his sword, but it was already too late at this distance.
– Crack-!
The hand that had been gripping my shoulder twisted at a grotesque angle, and I quickly sent a Qi-enhanced jab straight into his ribs.
He was about to scream at the pain, but I knocked him out cold with a swift uppercut before he could make a sound.
– Thud.
The Namgung martial artist dropped limply to the floor. I tossed his unconscious body inside the guesthouse.
That’s when other guards finally emerged, swords drawn.
I sharpened my senses, scanning my surroundings.
‘Doesn’t seem like anyone’s crossed over the wall yet.’
Among the dozen or so martial artists gathered here, not a single one seemed to have hit the pinnacle.
Isn’t it strange? I could’ve sworn the Lightning Dragon’s escort must have surpassed the wall, yet it seems the lord’s entourage hasn’t?
‘Is it arrogance? Or just negligence?’
Whatever it was, both seemed to fit him perfectly.
They might have been hiding their capacities, but I needed to focus on something else. Feeling a change outside, Namgung Bi-ah hurriedly ran out of the guesthouse.
However, she wasn’t the person I was looking for this time.
As my Qi spread throughout the guesthouse, I zeroed in on what I had been searching for— in a corner of a room.
Suppressing my rising emotions, I made my way toward that spot. It seemed like the Namgung martial artists were yelling something at me, but I was too preoccupied to hear them now.
They reached out, trying to block me, but when I swiftly broke the jaw of one who approached, a fitting silence settled upon the area.
With no further interruptions, I found myself in front of the room and opened the door.
“Oough.. ogh…”
Inside, a servant was huddled in pain.
Her face was so swollen that I struggled to recognize her. Furthermore, her body was so battered she couldn’t even move properly. She could hardly form a coherent sound with her lips.
But the tears streaming from her eyes due to the agony she was in were enough to convey what had happened.
It was the same servant I had sent earlier to the Namgung Clan.
I didn’t even know her name. I just knew she was one of my staff. Occasionally, she would stop by to notify me about meals.
Each time I said thank you, she would flinch and awkwardly smile at me in response.
I hadn’t developed any close relationship with her, and I was sure she felt the same way.
Nevertheless, seeing one of my people in this state left me feeling very conflicted.
“What should I do now?”
I cupped my face with my hands, unsure of what expression I wore at that moment.
Then I noticed the servant trying to speak with her trembling lips, barely able to move.
“Auyaahh…”
I couldn’t comprehend what she was trying to say. It wasn’t as if a servant could convey messages telepathically. Yet I felt terrible seeing her emotions so clearly.
“Seriously, what should I do?”
“Young Master Gu… This is—“
I struck the man’s mouth as he tried to awkwardly explain the situation. With the sound of a Pow!, his teeth scattered across the floor. He attempted to stanch the bleeding from his mouth with his hand, so I twisted that limb.
With a chilling crack, bone protruded from the arm I had bent. Realizing the gravity of the shift in situation, the Namgung martial artists quickly drew their swords, taking combat stances.
– Hwa…
Flames began to simmer within me.
I needed to calm down. I didn’t even know this servant’s name, and I shouldn’t let her condition affect me so much.
At least that’s what I tried to convince myself.
Otherwise, I might just level the entire place.
“Wai—”
“Don’t come near me.”
Namgung Bi-ah tried to approach, but I halted her with a barely contained breath that mirrored my boiling rage.
“If you come any closer, I might end up hating you very much.”
Upon hearing my words, Namgung Bi-ah froze like a statue. Her eyes quivered, and it was as if she wanted to say something, but ultimately, she remained mute.
She likely had no idea what had transpired here. If she had known, this situation would have never occurred in the first place.
This was, in the end, my negligence. I never thought anything like this could happen.
It wasn’t that I couldn’t foresee it— it was simply that I chose to ignore it.
Damn it.
The air around the guesthouse filled with an oppressive heat. The destructive flames of the Gu Yeomhwa Ryun Gong began to whirl uncontrollably within me. The speed of the fiery surges increased, and it felt as if they might erupt at any moment. The flames churned wildly inside my body, roaring at the absences at the entryway.
Martial arts are forever tied to the emotions of the practitioner.
This holds true for anyone, no matter their level.
Thus, remaining composed and steady is crucial. The more walls a martial artist shatters, the wider their mindset expands, allowing for greater depth and tranquility.
This is precisely why martial artists aspire to overcome barriers and walls in their cultivation journey.
However, I had yet to reach such a level.
That’s likely why I was feeling so enraged right now.
“Hey.”
“…Huh?”
“Could you take her to the medical room?”
I reluctantly turned to Namgung Bi-ah for this favor. I could not leave the servant in such a state. Without hesitation, Namgung Bi-ah dashed to the bloodied servant and hoisted her onto her back.
Almost immediately, she activated her Qi and dashed toward the medical room.
“Stop her! The Young Miss can’t go outside—”
The guard who attempted to shout immediately froze. The entire area was engulfed in flames, creating an overpowering heat that made it hard to breathe.
Amidst the chaos, I addressed them.
“I’m not asking why you did this, as I suspect it was for the dumbest reasons.”
If I were to ask them why all this transpired, I could imagine their excuses would be painfully predictable: ‘The servant was disrespectful,’ or ‘How dare she speak like that?’ or perhaps they simply didn’t like her.
Possibly they’d bring up something like ‘It was the lord’s orders,’ but none of their replies mattered.
“P… Please calm down, Young Master Gu.”
“It’s true… This is all…”
“So you should also refrain from questioning why I’m doing this.”
A fierce smile crept across my face despite my intent not to smile. I was unable to fully suppress the upward turn of my lips, perhaps an ingrained habit of mine. My mouth twitched upward whenever I reached an extreme level of fury.
“I’m just matching the stupidity of your own reasoning.”
At the culmination of my words, flames engulfed everything around me, consuming the men before me.
The putrid stench of burning flesh filled the air. Namgung Jin could hardly bring himself to speak when he saw Gu Yangcheon enter the guesthouse.
There were at least a dozen martial artists stationed at all times, ranging from second-rate to first-rate warriors. A few were on the brink of surpassing their barriers among the guards as well.
He hadn’t been able to deploy a formidable escort due to his hasty arrival, but the Namgung Clan warriors weren’t ignorant fools who would end up in such a miserable state because of a child.
“…What have you done?”
The bodies of those knocked out were in terrible shape. Each of them had broken or contorted limbs and some bore injuries that wouldn’t easily heal.
“How dare you treat the people of the Namgung Clan like this and then claim it was a bet? I applaud your talent, but you’re rampaging without realizing the fear the world can instill. Do you seek death?!”
Despite Namgung Jin’s furious outburst, Gu Yangcheon didn’t flinch.
Instead, a smile crept onto his face, only serving to further incite Namgung Jin’s wrath.
Namgung Jin wondered what was wrong with this kid. Although Gu Yangcheon was small and childlike in disposition, Namgung Jin knew that he was a martial artist who had already surpassed the wall and reached the Peak realm.
It was obviously hard for him to thoroughly analyze him since the boy was keeping his Qi in check, but at this moment, it was nearly impossible not to take note of it.
How unfair. Why must such a talented child be the son of Gu Cheolun? What twisted fate has made my son the same age as that brat?
‘Why is the world so unkind to me?’
Namgung Jin felt more anger directed at this reality than at the sight of Namgung’s warriors struggling on the ground, coughing up blood.
“I agree. I didn’t intend to react this fiercely, but the world just doesn’t give me a break.”
– Tap tap.
With the tip of his toe, Gu Yangcheon nudged the body of a martial artist who lay unconscious.
Seeing that, Namgung Jin frowned further.
‘Something has definitely happened here.’
This situation wasn’t without cause. As Namgung Jin clicked his tongue, he wished that this had been the product of the boy’s whims.
Keeping his thoughts hidden, Namgung Jin resumed his furious tirade.
“Are you behaving this way just because you’re in the territory of the Gu Clan?”
“Not quite. I’m actually more polite than you may believe.”
He didn’t back down from Namgung Jin’s assertions.
‘Does he not realize who he’s up against?’ With that thought, Namgung Jin summoned his Qi with a spiteful sneer.
Instantly, his Qi morphed into an all-encompassing pressure that weighed heavily on Gu Yangcheon’s shoulders.
The Namgung Clan’s Qi— the King of Swords.
This was the only technique that had bestowed the title of King upon the Namgung Clan.
Unlike the pretentious abilities shown by Namgung Cheonjun or Namgung Bi-ah, this was true pressure only emanating from a martial artist who had reached the pinnacle.
He unleashed all this energy upon the boy in front of him. The boy might have reached the Peak realm, but he would have no choice but to kneel and succumb to the pressure shortly. Namgung Jin believed it was necessary to showcase their vast differences before attempting dialogue.
That was his belief…
“…Oh no!”
Unexpectedly, Gu Yangcheon absorbed the full weight of his Qi as if it were nothing at all— a complete divergence from his expectations. Normally, the boy would be bowing down, unable to properly catch his breath due to the pressure, yet—
He confidently approached Namgung Jin, unfazed.
When Gu Yangcheon arrived right in front of him, maintaining his steady gait and calm demeanor, he looked up at the lord of the Namgung Clan.
“I mentioned this previously,”
He continued speaking, displaying no signs of feeling overwhelmed.
“Why don’t we wager?”
“That’s amusing, kid. Just because you’re engaged to my daughter, do you think a brat like you can make demands of me—”
“If I lose the wager, I will offer up my left arm.”
Namgung Jin froze instantly, unable to complete his thought upon hearing Gu Yangcheon’s calm proclamation. He had to wonder if what he heard was accurate.
“What did you just say?”
“Do you not desire it? One of my arms.”
Namgung Jin felt a laugh escape him, mocking the boy’s tone. Sure, he had talent, and his rank was impressive, but all it took was a fleeting moment for him to realize this was merely an immature child.
“What would I do with your arm?”
In a mockingly casual tone, Gu Yangcheon locked eyes with Namgung Jin.
“You’d probably find it useful for your son’s future… Isn’t this the reason you came to our clan?”
In an instant, the mocking smile vanished from Namgung Jin’s face. He could no longer afford to underestimate Gu Yangcheon.
Gu Yangcheon wasn’t just some childish whelp— far from it.
How much could he deduce to say those words? Namgung Jin couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed with questions.
The meaning behind those words was profound and yet eerily empty.
“…You.”
“If you can’t handle that situation, feel free to request something else.”
Namgung Jin instinctively nodded, unaware that he had even done so, after hearing Gu Yangcheon’s words.
Ripping the arm off a child who was certain to become the Young Lord of the clan would be excessive; especially since they stood on the territory of the Gu Clan.
Even if Gu Yangcheon had claimed it would be fine, this would undoubtedly lead to inevitable conflict between the clans.
– Crack.
As the reality of the matter dawned on him, Namgung Jin skillfully engaged Gu Yangcheon.
“I’ll listen to you this time even though I think it’ll be futile. What exactly do you seek with this audacity?”
“I simply want one thing.”
Gu Yangcheon picked up a sword lying nearby.
— A sword out of nowhere? Before he could ponder further, Namgung Jin had no choice but to pull out his own sword after hearing the boy’s next words.
“If I defeat you in a duel, please grant me your daughter.”
– Pss-! Pssh-!
Before Gu Yangcheon could even finish articulating his request, a violent sound heralded the blood splattering from his cheek as Namgung Jin’s sword sliced through the air.
“I must appear as quite the joke for letting you off so easily.”
With emotions spilling over, his voice dulled, revealing a darker tone that hinted at the limits of his patience.
“The only reason your head remains on your shoulders despite all your mockery is that you share the bloodline of the Gu Clan. I warn you yet again; do not push your luck any further.”
With a flick of his wrist, Gu Yangcheon wiped away the blood dripping from his wound. He hadn’t even seen the moment Namgung Jin had drawn and swung his sword to injure him.
This demonstrated just how adept he was at manipulating Qi.
I suppose there’s no winning in a real duel after all, Gu Yangcheon thought despite his current predicament.
“What’s driving your anger right now?”
“You little…”
“Is it about your daughter? Or is it because I challenged you to a duel? Perhaps, are you simply afraid?”
The sword in Gu Yangcheon’s grasp was now aimed directly at Namgung Jin. This marked the first time he stood face-to-face with the egotistical expression of the clan’s lord.
In his previous life, only a singular image replayed through his mind— Namgung Bi-ah holding the head of the arrogant lord, her eyes glinting with triumph.
– Rumble.
Thunderous Qi crackled around Namgung Jin as though completing a storm. The Qi belonging to a Fusion realm martial artist was so thick that it suffocated lesser practitioners the moment it was invoked. It was an oppressive weight Gu Yangcheon had never before felt in his current life.
Namgung Jin looked down at him as he spoke, “Are you truly challenging me to a sword duel?”
“Yes, as you can clearly see. I’m quite skilled with a sword.”
Namgung Jin couldn’t contain a hollow laugh upon hearing those words. Any joy or happiness that would normally accompany laughter was absent from it.
“This is the first time in decades that I feel this insulted. To think I’ve been mocked by a child who has barely lived a fourth of my life.”
“But I did give you an out just now.”
“Shut your mouth… I’m stopping myself from ripping that vile tongue from your mouth.”
How is he holding back?
Why? At this point, he should have unsheathed his sword and beheaded Gu Yangcheon where he stood. Yet, Namgung Jin still restrained himself.
Was his temperament truly like this?
Not a chance.
He was assessing the situation. Perhaps it was because of Gu Yangcheon’s father, Gu Cheolun, or maybe because he stood on Gu Clan’s territory.
Regardless, Gu Yangcheon didn’t care about the reason. The fact that he could maneuver this performance was quite handy.
With apathy in his gaze and a ferocious grin plastered on his face, Namgung Jin finally spoke.
“Fine, I’ll grant your wish. Just know that tearing off your arm and delivering it to your father would likely suffice to quench my thirst for brutality right now.”
Namgung Jin didn’t mention Namgung Bi-ah even once. He seemed uninterested in discovering the meaning behind Gu Yangcheon’s wager.
It could have been that he simply believed he wouldn’t lose, or perhaps he didn’t care about his own daughter.
Gu Yangcheon figured it likely stemmed from both possibilities.
“The men collapsed on the ground look like they could perish any moment— shouldn’t we treat them before the duel?”
It was rather odd that Gu Yangcheon appeared the most concerned about the injured warriors, even though their current predicament was due to his own rampage. Yet, Namgung Jin disregarded the condition of his martial artists.
“No matter. This won’t take long.”
His words carried both arrogance and a sense of coldness.
Despite that, being the Azure Heavenly Sword, his confidence was founded on a solid basis.
Gu Yangcheon had intended to provoke him, yet he couldn’t help but wonder after managing this feat so effortlessly that—
‘Is he more short-tempered than I imagined?’
‘If I reflect on your irritating speech, Namgung must have the demeanor of a Buddhist,’
‘…How could it be that bad…’
‘Not that bad? I’m honestly more shocked you still have your neck than anything else! What were you planning to accomplish by pushing this far?’
A duel against the lord of the Namgung clan.
In Elder Shin’s eyes, this scenario was deemed impossible to triumph in, even if they established rules banning both from employing Qi.
To make matters worse, Gu Yangcheon had just drawn a sword. This was essentially tantamount to throwing away even the slightest chance of winning, no matter how minuscule that may be.
‘What are you planning to do…’
Elder Shin was on the verge of demanding an explanation for why Gu Yangcheon was in such a dire situation when he abruptly halted, struck by the thought coursing through his mind.
It was a mere possibility. Gu Yangcheon wasn’t a swordsman.
Moreover, he had never witnessed Gu Yangcheon training with a sword. Therefore, it meant he stood zero chance of winning this duel.
Unless someone else stepped in to fight for him.
‘…You little…’
‘Yes.’
‘You put this situation together so that someone else would fight for you… right?’
In disbelief, Gu Yangcheon affirmed Elder Shin’s assertions, as though the latter’s question was the utmost absurdity he had heard all day.
‘What nonsense are you talking about?’
‘Surprisingly, I had the same thought…’
‘Of course, Elder Shin must step in to assist me. I don’t know how to wield a sword.’
‘You really are just a little brat.’
With that, Elder Shin ultimately found himself cursing, unable to hide his incredulity at Gu Yangcheon’s blatant admission.
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