Chapter 31: Only Three Times (1)
Two hours before the incident.
I had just arrived at the dining room with the crazy Namgung duo, and a quick glance around told me that only the young prodigies were present—the only one who looked over the age of twenty was Tang Jooyeok.
Sichuan is known for its particularly strong flavors, especially its famously spicy dishes.
The table was laden with food, yet the pungent aroma hit my nose like a wall as soon as I sat down.
‘Just smelling it feels like it could flip my stomach upside down.’
Thankfully, there seemed to be milder food prepared for those who couldn’t handle the spice.
Eating dumplings in Sichuan again…
…Maybe it’s not so bad?
Tang Jooyeok looked over the gathered crowd with a subtle smile and quickly called his family members one by one to taste the food.
Given that they were known for their expertise with poison, this was merely a way to assure the guests about the safety of the meal.
Of course, how much this would actually help in winning their trust, who could say?
“It’s not the finest, but I hope you enjoy the meal,” Tang Jooyeok said.
Immediately after he spoke, everyone began to eat at a leisurely pace.
Now that I thought about it, I had come here without letting Wi Seol-ah know. I hoped she wasn’t upset about it…
‘Hmm…’
I couldn’t be sure, but I believed she would take care of herself well.
I slowly reached for the food with my chopsticks, but I kept hesitating.
The source of my hesitation sat right next to Tang Jooyeok, gazing at me with a fiery intensity—Tang Soyeol.
‘…At this rate, I really might get sick.’
What was her deal now?
I kept picking up dumplings only to drop them again, trapped under Tang Soyeol’s relentless stare.
What made it particularly annoying was that this exact scene had always happened whenever we encountered each other in my previous life.
She would just silently glare at me without saying a word.
I had been so frustrated with it once that I snapped at her.
What made it even more absurd was the fact that she burst into tears right after I did that.
I merely asked why she was staring at me, and then she started crying!
‘Sigh… I guess I’ll have to deal with her staring at me again in this life…’
Did she have some grudge against me? I didn’t think I had done anything to offend the Tang Clan.
Could it be that she didn’t like the sight of me eating dumplings?
…Or maybe I just look unpleasant?
I was accustomed to hearing that I had a bad expression, so such comments didn’t really bother me at this point.
I finally decided to ignore her, plucking up a dumpling and eating it.
Cough!
‘Dammit!’
I almost spit the dumpling out the instant I bit into it.
Why on earth is it so spicy?!
I had let my guard down, and if I spat out the food here, the eyes of everyone nearby would surely be upon me.
While I was tangled in my thoughts, someone next to me pushed a glass of water toward me.
It was Namgung Bi-ah.
I was startled at first, but I quickly accepted the glass and gulped the water down.
What on earth did they put in their dumplings to make them so spicy?
After finishing the water, I let out a sigh of relief and turned to Namgung Bi-ah.
“Thank you.”
Namgung Bi-ah nodded slightly at my words and carefully placed something onto my plate.
Curious, I looked down to see a piece of grilled fish ripped from its bones.
“What’s this?”
“This one isn’t spicy…”
“Huh?”
“I figured you might not handle the spice too well…”
Were the others looking at me?
“I appreciate it, but why suddenly speak to me informally…?”
“…Young Master.”
“…”
Is she trying to pick a fight?
I thought she might be trying to provoke me, but her expression seemed devoid of ill intent.
But why is she acting like this?
I felt as if I was being treated like a child, yet since she seemed harmless, I couldn’t find a solid objection.
Crack.
Suddenly, the sound of something breaking caught my attention. It turned out to be the chopsticks in Namgung Cheonjun’s hand.
Tang Jooyeok, surprised, spoke up.
“Ah, it seems like a poor pair of chopsticks was given to you.”
“No, it’s just that I generally use chopsticks a bit too forcefully.”
“I’m sorry, Cheonjun. I’ll get you a new pair right away.”
“No need, Brother Tang. I also apologize for breaking someone else’s belongings. I’ll be careful in the future.”
He offered his apologies and then stole a glance at me.
In clear view, I popped a piece of the food Namgung Bi-ah had given me into my mouth.
His eyes twitched—what was so significant about it that provoked such a reaction? I genuinely couldn’t comprehend.
Ignoring him, I chose a few less spicy dishes to eat, and the mealtime concluded in no time.
I wanted to dash out immediately, but Tang Jooyeok surely hadn’t gathered everyone here just for a meal.
This gathering included members of the Namgung Clan, the Gu Clan, and possibly other factions in Sichuan.
While it might not have been a grand event, I assumed the purpose was to foster some kind of minor alliance among those present.
After the meal, most of the conversations and questions were directed toward Namgung Cheonjun.
After all, he was from one of the Four Noble Clans, so attention was understandable.
Of course, many questions were also thrown at Namgung Bi-ah, but her trademark short replies and emotionless tone quickly halted the exchanges.
‘Yes…’
‘Ah…?’
‘Hmm…’
With such vague responses, there was little chance for others to continue conversing with her.
Given that the Gu Clan was also considered prominent, several approached me, eager to engage in conversation. I simply smiled and responded briefly.
Watching Namgung Cheonjun engaging with numerous people sparked a vague sense of admiration within me.
Were I in his shoes, I’d tire out immediately; yet he appeared to revel in it.
‘It really is his forte.’
While I sat there aimlessly waiting for it to finish, I sensed someone take a seat beside me.
Curious, I turned to see Tang Soyeol again.
“…?”
She cleared her throat and began sipping tea, pretending nothing was amiss, but her ears were definitely slightly red.
She was acting strangely, much like during the meal.
“Tang Soyeol.”
“Eh? Yes?”
“Do you have something to say to me?”
“No…!? I-I don’t have anything!”
‘Hmm, it seems you really do have something, huh…’
As I narrowed my eyes and stared at her, her ears turned even redder.
Then, as if she could no longer withstand it, she averted her gaze.
Do I look that frightening? She doesn’t need to sit next to me if I’m really that bad…
What’s she acting this way for?
“Cough… Cough…”
Tang Soyeol seemed to choke on her tea.
After a moment of hesitation, she leaned closer and whispered softly to me.
“Do you, Young Master Gu, perhaps have someone you like—”
“Brother Tang, is that the training area down there?”
She’d intended to ask me something while fidgeting, but her voice was quickly drowned out by Namgung Cheonjun’s deeper voice.
I looked out the window to see he was inquiring about a large building outside.
Tang Soyeol had wanted to ask me something, so returning to her, I pressed on.
“Tang Soyeol, what were you saying?”
“…Nothing.”
She says nothing, but she’s glaring daggers at Namgung Cheonjun…
‘Well, if it’s truly important, she’ll ask again.’
Tang Jooyeok responded to Namgung Cheonjun’s question.
“Ah, that’s just a training area exclusive to our Tang Clan. Did I not show it to you last time you visited?”
“It’s quite large for just your clan, isn’t it?”
“Well, cleanliness is regularly maintained… but to be honest, no one really uses it since we each prefer our own training spots.”
Namgung Cheonjun looked at the training area with curiosity.
“Would it be permissible for me to visit? I’d like to see it once.”
“Hmm… It looks like everyone has finished talking, so would anyone like to join me in a visit?”
Finally, the time had come.
Had I known I’d have to engage in all this fuss, sneaking out from home entirely would have probably been the smarter choice.
I could’ve never imagined I’d relate the word “wise” with that second elder of mine in my life.
I never thought such a day would come…
The inside of the training area was cleaner than I expected.
They mentioned it wasn’t used frequently, but it was evidently well-maintained.
It looked at least four times larger than the training area I’d utilized when I took on Gu Jeolyub.
Was it truly necessary to build it this big?
…Oh, that explains why it’s not used!
Making it excessively large would, after all, decrease efficiency.
Aside from its size, there was not much else to see in the training area, but everyone, being martial artists, seemed genuinely intrigued.
The floor was made from a sturdy material.
It didn’t appear to be made from regular stone; it seemed smooth enough that marks from sword strikes could easily be wiped away.
Was its vastness due to the need for ranged poison weapon practice? But shouldn’t the walls have been made of a more penetrable material then?
“It’s impressively spacious.”
“It was constructed this large with the idea that bigger is better, according to our ancestors… but personally, I just can’t fathom it.”
Namgung Cheonjun inspected the area curiously, noting his observations.
“It’s such a fine training area… It’s a pity it’s not being utilized.”
“Each prefers to train independently; usually, this place serves as a venue for competitions rather than actual training.”
“Competitions, huh.”
“Back then, Soyeol wanted to beat me so badly that we used this space quite a bit… but now that she’s grown, she’s not as keen.”
“Brother!”
Tang Soyeol shot back at her brother while standing beside me, her cheeks turning crimson.
She then covertly glanced at me.
Namgung Cheonjun picked up a wooden sword hung on the wall and swung it a few times.
Despite his demeanor, it was clear why he was called the Lightning Sword; even with little effort, his motions appeared flawless.
“Now that we’ve finished our meal, why don’t we have a brief spar to aid digestion?”
All at once, everyone’s excitement surged at the mention of sparring with the Lightning Sword, a rare opportunity.
But just like that, out of nowhere…
“How about it? Young Master Gu.”
…Huh?
Did I mishear that?
Namgung Cheonjun confirmed that I hadn’t, as his gaze fixed on me, holding the wooden sword firmly.
“Would you like to spar with me, Young Master Gu?”
“Me?”
It seemed I really heard him right, and he specifically chose me as his partner for the spar.
His intentions were painfully clear.
‘This bastard.’
He was looking for an outlet for his bottled-up anger.
Of course, I had no intention of accepting such a pointless challenge.
“I’m not going to—”
Just as I was about to decline him,
“No!”
“!?”
All eyes turned toward the voice that interrupted me.
It was none other than Tang Soyeol.
Her face flushed as if she didn’t grasp why she had spoken up.
But she pressed on, nonetheless.
“Br- Brother Cheonjun and Young Master Gu have an age difference, and naturally, a level difference would surface. How can it possibly be fair for them to duel? What if his—his face gets hurt…?”
“It’s alright. We won’t use our Qi, and it can essentially serve as a guided spar for learning,” Namgung Cheonjun stated, grinning like a nice guy.
This sparked a smirk on my face at his words.
“Learning experience?”
“Not using Qi?”
He merely desired an excuse to hit me.
Why was he so obsessed with me?
I inquired of Namgung Cheonjun.
“Is that truly feasible?”
I probed, a subtle hint of emotion lacing my tone.
“What are you implying?”
“If you’re offering a learning experience, it suggests you plan to teach me something. Are you capable of doing that without using your Qi?”
At my query, gasps echoed from the crowd.
Here I was—just a rookie—questioning the ability of Namgung Cheonjun, son of the leader of the Namgung Clan, who was among the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes.
At that moment, Tang Jooyeok seemed to sense the discourse veering off-course and intervened hastily.
“Young Master Gu, despite that, Cheonjun is still your senior; your words seem a bit too harsh—”
“Of course, I’m able. If you prefer, I can merely use one foot to duel you.”
Namgung Cheonjun smiled, but I could see the strained muscles in his neck, caught between civility and seething rage.
“Well then, let’s proceed.”
Long ago, someone told me I should always hold my anger three times.
In a world where survival depended on knowing one’s place, I was often criticized for having a fiery temperament.
My typical response was always the same.
‘That guy is being a real jerk.’
‘But if you retaliate, you and he are just two jerks.’
‘Fine, I’ll just act like one! Why does a person have to endlessly suck it up?’
‘What kind of nonsense 😡 is this? Why does our talks keep turning into this!?
If it’s a compliment to call me fiery because I practice fire techniques…
‘If it’s nothing major, simply hold your anger three times. That will likely ensure your survival.’
I didn’t particularly heed that advice…
Yet shortly after those words turned into that person’s dying wishes, I made an effort to uphold that principle.
In that world, leaning to know one’s place was essential.
“I think I’ve been patient for three rounds now.”
In the middle of the training ground, I faced Namgung Cheonjun.
Pretty sure he had crossed the line roughly three times now, perhaps even more.
If it were indeed more, then maybe I had shown a bit of restraint, so that was fortunate.
He was still happily grinning.
Filled with an absolute confidence he wouldn’t lose either way.
Or perhaps he was just excited at the prospect of beating me up.
“I’ll allow you the first strike.”
“Understood, Young Master.”
I held no intention of declining.
It’d been quite a while since I had fought without tapping into my Qi.
He slowly lifted his sword, deliberately rising at a sluggish pace, making me let my guard down.
I approached and threw a punch—a plain and unremarkable straight shot.
—Just as expected.
The slight nod of his head confirmed he had easily avoided it.
I mindlessly unleashed fists, devoid of any nifty techniques in my throws.
‘Not that I’m capable of executing those right now.’
Only the sound of air swishing and fists swinging filled the space.
After dodging my first few sloppy swings, Namgung Cheonjun remarked,
“It seems I’ve seen enough; it’s time for my turn, Young Master Gu.”
I refrained from replying.
Namgung Cheonjun unleashed a flurry of strikes, and as anticipated, his movements were whip-fast and precise.
“Wow…”
“Even without Qi, he’s this quick…!”
Exclamations accompanied the awe from the audience of budding warriors.
Undoubtedly, Namgung Cheonjun’s swordsmanship nailed the praise it received.
His arcs cut through the air with unwavering steadiness, combining speed with the sharpness of the Namgung style.
With every slash, I barely managed to evade his attacks, yet he wasn’t fazed by my evasion.
He had anticipated this outcome based on how he timed his strikes.
Suddenly, Namgung Cheonjun drew strength from his legs.
I started to note the subtle movements in his shoulders.
He unleashed his third attack, providing me no moments to evaluate or think.
Naturally, the earlier motions had all been deceptive, with this being the genuine strike.
Instead of towards my head, it was targeted at my shoulder.
I extended my hands proactively.
—Pow!
—Thump-tok!
“…Huh?”
The sound escaped Namgung Cheonjun’s lips.
He gazed down at his hands in disbelief, the wooden sword now rolling away from his fingers.
“…What the?”
I looked back at him, expressing nothing but languor.
There was nothing impressive about his movements now.
“What are you doing?”
Namgung Cheonjun’s eyes twitched at my sardonic inquiry.
I dared assert that I grasped more about Namgung’s swordsmanship at this moment than he did himself.
I had repeatedly intervened in battles against the crazed Demon Sword who’d lost her mind.
And countless occasions, I’d seen Namgung Bi-ah hone her skills late into the night.
At that time, her techniques had long surpassed the visible deficiencies of what Namgung once had to offer.
Of course, the Namgung Bi-ah of this era only stood aside, sporting a blank stare.
The ultimate master of the Namgung Clan who ravaged the entire clan and surpassed even the current head was none other than her.
In contrast to her skills…
Namgung Cheonjun only exposed to me the glaring weaknesses within the Namgung Clan’s skillset through his presentation.
Thus, there was little possibility of me losing when we refrained from using Qi.
While watching the bewildered Namgung Cheonjun, I spoke.
“Are you not picking that up?”
Then I’ll just take my turn.
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