Chapter 12: Nine Dragons Day (6)
As the Nine Dragons Competition was about to commence, Peng Ah-Hee was scratching her head in frustration.
It was good that she had managed to suppress Peng Woojin with the help of the Second Elder, but the moment he woke up, he declared that he wasn’t going back to the clan yet.
With his cheeks puffed up like steamed buns, Peng Woojin stood up and sported a blank expression for a moment before saying, “I didn’t see that coming.”
However, Peng Woojin agreed to return as he had sworn to do, but he insisted on seeing the Nine Dragons Competition first, feeling it was unfair to come all this way and leave without witnessing anything.
Peng Woojin was, after all, a Young Master.
He held the next highest position in the Peng Clan, right after the Lord and the elders, and it was certain he would inherit that position in the future.
He was someone whom even Peng Ah-Hee and the clan’s search parties couldn’t just boss around.
“I’ll go, but I want to see this first.”
“What’s so interesting about it?”
“It’s not fair… I’ve come this far and can’t leave without seeing anything.”
“What’s unfair about it! It’s just selecting new swordsmen, something the Peng family does all the time! Let’s just head back to the clan already—”
“If you keep this up, I’ll just complain to the Elder Flaming Fist. I’ll say things like ‘Isn’t this too unreasonable?’ and start a whole debate!”
Peng Ah-Hee was left speechless by Peng Woojin’s stubbornness. She knew he was serious.
This madman would really go through with it.
Considering that Peng Woojin had sworn he’d go back after the Nine Dragons Competition, she reluctantly agreed.
‘…Alright, just for one day. One day won’t hurt.’
So, she cooled her temper and took Peng Woojin to the venue where the Nine Dragons Competition was about to unfold. Though the Heaven Market offered them good seats due to their noble status in the Peng Clan, Peng Woojin turned it down.
He remarked that it was an unexpected visit and didn’t want to receive any special treatment.
In the end, they ended up sitting in the regular section. Peng Ah-Hee could feel the eyes of the crowd glancing at them, some in disbelief that the siblings were sitting right there in the esteemed robes of the Peng Clan. The stares were split between disbelief and the hesitation of martial artists unable to approach them to say a word.
Peng Ah-Hee felt uneasy under such uncomfortable scrutiny, but Peng Woojin couldn’t care less about it.
In fact, he was even holding dumplings in his hands, seemingly without any care in the world.
“Brother… When did you buy those?”
“Hmm? I bought them a little while ago.”
“A little while ago? Just when was that…”
‘Wasn’t he right next to me the whole time? How did he buy them?’
Peng Woojin was an utterly unpredictable person. While the elders argued whether he possessed the greatest martial talent in the history of the Peng Clan, one thing was undeniable—he was a truly bizarre person.
‘He even ran away just to have some fun.’
As those memories crossed her mind, wrinkles formed on Peng Ah-Hee’s forehead.
“It’s starting, Ah-Hee!”
Whether he was aware of her frustrations or not, Peng Woojin cheered enthusiastically with dumplings in hand.
For Peng Ah-Hee, the Nine Dragons Competition was nothing unusual.
Coming from one of the Four Noble Clans, she had been raised among great martial artists. Watching lesser clans compete wasn’t particularly exciting for her.
Certainly, a few individuals standing out in the dozens of matches caught her eye, but none were impressive enough to hold her attention.
While all this was happening, she couldn’t help but keep an eye on Peng Woojin.
He seemed to be watching with amusement, yet there was also something empty in his gaze.
Peng Woojin had always been like that since he was a child.
She often wondered what went on in his mind and why he seemed only to pursue fun despite his remarkable talents.
He looked as if he could leave the clan at any moment but accepted the position of Young Master without any complaints. Yet, he still had the audacity to run off to the Gu Clan in Shanxi.
He was like someone who might just vanish at any time—that thought scared her about Peng Woojin.
The reason she agreed to accompany him with the search party was not solely due to her guilt from that day.
Before she knew it, night fell, and the Nine Dragons Competition was entirely over.
“Let’s head back now, brother.”
Yet, Peng Woojin remained as motionless as a rock upon hearing her suggestion.
“Brother?”
Wondering what he was staring at, she followed Peng Woojin’s gaze to see someone standing in the empty arena.
“That girl is…”
She was a tall girl with her hair tied neatly, wearing a red robe representing the Gu Clan.
‘Gu… Yeonseo, right?’
They had crossed paths a few times at gatherings of the Orthodox Faction. Unsurprisingly, she had heard that Gu Yeonseo’s older sister, Gu Huibi, was an exceptional talent and that Gu Yeonseo herself wasn’t any less gifted.
Shortly after, Gu Yangcheon stepped onto the arena as well.
He wore an expression that clearly said, ‘I don’t want to be here’—his face reflecting the unpleasantness of chewing on a bug.
“Why is that guy getting on stage?”
“I hear they’re holding a match between blood relatives.”
Curiously glancing at her brother, Peng Ah-Hee noticed he was holding a strange piece of paper.
‘The battle among blood relatives will take place shortly after the Nine Dragons Competition concludes.’
‘Your support is much appreciated.’
“…When did you get that?”
“They handed it out when we came in.”
‘Just when did that happen?’
Peng Ah-Hee shifted her gaze back to the arena.
It looked like Gu Yeonseo and Gu Yangcheon were having some sort of conversation, but the distance made it impossible to hear what they were saying.
Even trying to enhance her hearing with her Qi didn’t help either.
Peng Woojin chimed in, “You won’t hear anything; the arena is surrounded by a Qi barrier.”
“A barrier?”
“A barrier of that scale… It’s probably the work of the Elder Flaming Fist.”
Peng Ah-Hee began to understand Gu Yangcheon’s unenthusiastic expression. He had no chance of winning this fight.
She knew better than anyone about Gu Yangcheon’s martial arts skills.
Compared to his blood relatives, he had nothing worthwhile to showcase. If he faced Gu Yeonseo, he’d surely end up rolling on the ground in defeat.
If she were in his position, the humiliation of having to face this crowd would have left her feeling ready to hang herself.
For the first time, she felt pity for Gu Yangcheon.
Even as the siblings continued their talk, the Second Elder shouted with Qi-infused instructions signaling the start of their battle.
Without hesitation, Gu Yeonseo charged at Gu Yangcheon.
Peng Ah-Hee was left in awe of Gu Yeonseo’s speed.
‘So fast…!’
Each of her footwork and swordplay was executed flawlessly, devoid of unnecessary movements, her balance truly commendable.
One attack flowed into the next, seamlessly and relentlessly.
Her constant barrage of strikes, made without an ounce of hesitation, revealed just how much dedication she had put into her training.
‘…Would I stand a chance against her in a fight?’
Honestly, she wasn’t sure.
She did not have the confidence to face Gu Yeonseo, who gracefully wielded her sword in the arena.
Her pride as a direct descendant of the Peng Clan felt as though it was dwindling.
“So, Sword Phoenix’s younger sister, huh?”
Peng Ah-Hee noticed Peng Woojin’s eyes shimmering as he observed the fight.
His previously dull gaze now sparkled with evident excitement.
Seeing this, she had to suppress a feeling that bubbled up inside her.
“…Yes, given her background, she must be the younger sister of the Sword Phoenix.”
Despite her words, she couldn’t disguise the sourness in her voice.
Even to her, Gu Yeonseo was astonishingly talented—so much that it stirred jealousy within her.
“Those smooth sword techniques are amazing, aren’t they?”
“Very hard to achieve at her age.”
“Indeed. The way she controls her Qi at every moment is impressive too.”
“Exactly, she’s managing to evade every single attack.”
‘Huh?’
Peng Ah-Hee found something odd about Peng Woojin’s comments. Had Gu Yeonseo actually dodged something?
Gu Yangcheon hadn’t even been able to retaliate, struggling just to keep up.
She followed her brother’s line of sight again.
To her surprise, Peng Woojin was actually watching Gu Yangcheon, not Gu Yeonseo.
‘Wasn’t he watching Gu Yeonseo?’
What was he seeing that stirred his excitement? Peng Ah-Hee couldn’t grasp it.
“He’s half a beat quicker.”
“What?”
“Look closely; he moves to dodge half a beat before her sword reaches him. He knows where she’s going to strike.”
Upon hearing her brother’s words, she scrutinized Gu Yangcheon more closely.
There was indeed something peculiar. Gu Yangcheon’s movements seemed considerably slower compared to Gu Yeonseo’s.
While Peng Ah-Hee doubted her chances against Gu Yeonseo, she was confident she could easily take out Gu Yangcheon in no time.
“You’re right… But how come…”
Gu Yangcheon moved more slowly than she did, and Gu Yeonseo was faster than her.
The match should have had a clear victor instantly based on that speed difference, yet they continued to exchange blows, having engaged each other for more than ten attacks already.
“What is going on?”
Peng Ah-Hee was utterly perplexed.
When the stalemate prolonged, Gu Yeonseo took a step back, adopting a battle stance as if to throw the final blow.
Red energy began to gather around her sword.
This aura was different from the sword energy used by first-class swordsmen.
And it was not the same as the sword force employed by those who reach the peak of martial arts.
Even with her relatively inexperienced eyes, Peng Ah-Hee could tell that a high concentration of Qi was being channeled into the sword.
“She won’t be able to use that.”
Peng Woojin made a decisive declaration.
“Why not? It looks incredible.”
“It is impressive. To be able to imbue so much Qi at her level means that even I would find it tough to withstand that blow.”
Even Peng Woojin? Now that amazed Peng Ah-Hee.
“But regardless, if you can’t land the hit, it’s meaningless. Trying to use something she isn’t familiar with has led her to lose her posture and disrupt her breathing. Any move rushed out of impatience is no better than trash.”
Peng Ah-Hee shuddered at his cold and unyielding critique, which didn’t get any softer even for her, just a mere spectator. However, when it came to discussing martial arts, Peng Woojin’s words couldn’t be argued against.
In that moment, Gu Yangcheon’s expression shifted.
Once Gu Yeonseo completed her preparation, she lunged at him fiercely.
Gu Yangcheon didn’t display any spectacular maneuver to avoid it.
He merely stepped back one foot and tilted his head slightly.
That was all. Yet, with that tiny adjustment, he completely negated Gu Yeonseo’s assault.
And then.
_Boom!_
‘Huh?’
Peng Ah-Hee hadn’t turned her gaze away from the fight. Yet, an inexplicably loud crack resonated in her ears, and soon she saw Gu Yeonseo crash to the ground.
“What the heck… What just happened?”
“Remarkable…!”
At the enthusiastic voice, Peng Ah-Hee turned to see Peng Woojin wearing a face she hadn’t seen in years.
“Turns out the Gu Clan isn’t merely home to the Sword Phoenix.”
He sported an expression akin to a child who had just opened a present filled with cool toys.
My sister should have been born a man.
Such was Gu Yeonseo’s thought when she turned ten.
Her older sister not only had tremendous talent in martial arts but also the poise of someone from a prestigious family.
At just fifteen, her sister had acquired the esteemed title of “Sword Phoenix.”
Now at the same age, Gu Yeonseo found herself without a title.
The legendary title, once believed to belong only to the elite among the Four Noble Clans and the Ten Sect Alliance, had been passed down solely to her sister.
That thought made her incredibly proud and envious.
When her elder sister graduated from the Heavenly Dragon Academy with top honors, she was appointed captain of the fifth Gu swordsmanship squadron at a mere age just surpassing twenty.
Such an achievement was typically challenging, but everyone recognized her abilities.
Indeed, she had the talent required to earn such recognition.
She was a remarkable individual, destined to achieve even greater accomplishments over time.
However, she could never become the Gu Clan’s Lord.
At that moment, Gu Yeonseo thought of her younger brother, Gu Yangcheon.
Her sister and she were the legitimate children of the clan, while Gu Yangcheon was born from a concubine.
Yet, Gu Yeonseo had genuinely liked Gu Yangcheon’s mother. She had been a kind soul.
That affection naturally extended to Gu Yangcheon. At that age, she paid no mind to the fact that he was the son of a concubine.
But then one day, she vanished. It happened in an instant. Gu Yeonseo searched for her in vain while her father ordered them not to.
Not a single person from the clan sought for her.
That was when Gu Yangcheon began to change.
He displayed violence toward his servants and turned combative with everyone he interacted with.
He grew lethargic and arrogant, and rumors started to fly about him harassing the attractive servants.
His behavior worsened day by day.
Historically, the position of Lord was inherited by men.
After that event, Gu Yeonseo’s father didn’t take in any further concubines, meaning that the only son left, Gu Yangcheon, would inevitably become the Lord.
Not her brilliant sister.
Not herself, who worked tirelessly.
My sister should have been born a man.
Or I should have been born a man.
She loathed Gu Yangcheon, who had enjoyed every privilege while doing nothing in return.
She despised Gu Yangcheon for sinking deeper into depravity, oblivious to the luxury of his life.
‘What’s this?’
Her wavering consciousness began to clarify.
Her memory had blurred by the time she infused the sword with flame Qi.
In front of her stood Gu Yangcheon. At this moment, the Gu Yangcheon, who should have appeared far smaller than her, looked monumental.
Am I dreaming?
Drip.
As a droplet trickled down her nose, she wiped it with her hand.
Blood stained her fingers.
Why am I bleeding? This can’t be a dream, right?
Then why does Gu Yangcheon look so enormous?
As her vision sharpened, Gu Yeonseo realized the contradiction.
It wasn’t that Gu Yangcheon had grown—
It was that her perspective had lowered.
Gu Yeonseo was collapsed on the arena floor, defeated.
“What… How…”
“I understand how you feel, sister.”
Gu Yeonseo turned to the voice that called her.
“I get it if you don’t like me. Feel free to hate me. It won’t change anything.”
The bright light obscured Gu Yangcheon’s face, casting a shadow where she couldn’t get a good look at his expression.
But she distinctly saw his eyes.
There was nothing in Gu Yangcheon’s eyes.
He felt no emotion.
No rage stirred within him.
He simply looked down upon Gu Yeonseo.
She wanted to escape from those chilling eyes, but she found her trembling body immobilized.
“The words you threw at me were utterly abhorrent, but I can understand that too.”
What did I say? Suddenly, Gu Yeonseo recalled the words she had hurled at her brother.
“You might as well just disappear, like your mother.”
Her heart turned cold as ice.
Even amidst her frayed sanity, she understood that it was something she should have never said.
What do I do? Should I apologize?
Even in her panic, the very thought of apologizing to Gu Yangcheon made her stomach churn.
As if reading her mind, Gu Yangcheon continued speaking.
“I will understand you, so please, sister, understand me as well.”
What could she possibly ask him about that?
The final image that lingered in Gu Yeonseo’s mind was Gu Yangcheon’s palm.
Smack!
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