Chapter: 680
Clearly, all sorts of small talk had been bouncing around just a moment ago.
Suddenly, everything went silent.
No, the noise died down, but the gazes multiplied.
It felt like an avalanche of eyes was piling up in my direction.
‘What the hell.’
I was facing the most hellish situation I could ever imagine.
I came on the first day to avoid this kind of mess. It meant I had completely screwed up.
‘That kid is real.’
I had to glare at the damn guy who created this situation.
A handsome young man with black hair and black eyes appeared.
Considering his family is full of bulky figures, his decent physique and striking features were impressive.
Someone once said that guy was a mutant.
That’s right.
It’s evident that such an appearance could only be born from a mutation in ‘Panga,’ a place overflowing with rough and eccentric warriors.
‘Peng Woo-jin.’
The young man was the head of the Peng Clan.
He was the former Divine Dragon, Peng Woo-jin.
‘No, should I now call him Bishengdo (丕聖刀)?’
What did they say? It seemed Peng Woo-jin changed his nickname after solving some incident.
I don’t know the details.
It wasn’t something I was particularly interested in.
The problem is that the Bishengdo is now approaching me with a bright grin.
“Long time no see!”
“…”
“I can’t even remember how long it’s been since we last met. It feels like three or four years. Isn’t that right, Young Master Gu?”
Yikes.
His voice was loud enough to drown out the surrounding noise.
Thanks to that, the chatter vanished, but a subtle murmur began to rise.
“Bishengdo… Isn’t he the current head of the Peng Clan?”
“I didn’t expect to see the heir of a prestigious family on the first day. What luck!”
“By the way, who did Bishengdo just greet? Does anyone know?”
“From what Bishengdo just said, he definitely mentioned Sanseo-gu…”
The questioning voices didn’t last long before they shifted.
“If it’s Sanseo-gu, then it’s not a place of great chivalry. There… Ah!”
One of the men seemed to have realized something and shouted while looking at me.
“Little Yanluo!”
Shit.
“If we’re talking about the young man from the Gu family, it must be Soyeomra!”
“Soyeomra? If it’s Soyeomra…!”
“Are you referring to the young swordsman who prevented the Shinryongwan massacre?”
“That young man is Soyeomra?”
All the gazes that had been directed at Peng Woo-jin suddenly shifted to me, recalling the conversation that had barely calmed down.
Not just ordinary folks, but even the martial artists handling non-combatant applications turned to look.
Was my alias that famous?
I thought it had dulled down since I hadn’t heard any recent gossip.
Maybe it’s because folks like Flash and Wind Forest are also famous, huh.
If even unheard-of nicknames are recognized, it’s no surprise.
“That guy… is he a sage?”
“He doesn’t look that strong… No, wait. His face looks strong.”
“It’s not about strength. He’s scary! And that’s saying something!”
“Why do his eyes look like that?”
“Hey! Who’s that guy?”
When I growled and shouted, the onlookers flinched and scattered.
Why the hell are you scrutinizing my face? Just try to catch me!
I remembered your face.
Grinding my teeth, I exhaled a sigh.
Then I glared at the one who created this mess.
“Hahaha.”
He seemed so thrilled about something, emitting that unique laugh.
That kid never charmed me since the first meeting, but I certainly didn’t expect him to shove me into such a big mess.
I forced a smile, barely managing to lift the corners of my lips.
“Ugh!”
“What a scary smile!”
Damn it.
Trying to grin backfire in the worst way. So, I decided to just stick to my usual routine.
“Peng Gongzi.”
“It’s such a pleasure to meet you. I never expected to see you here!”
“Are you participating in the non-combat ceremony as well…?”
“Sure! I heard this big festival was happening again, and I couldn’t resist.”
Who could’ve guessed Peng Woo-jin would join the non-combat ceremony?
‘I thought he wouldn’t be interested in these kinds of things.’
So it turned out he couldn’t resist a festival?
‘But hey, considering our first meeting, it’s not too strange for him to act out.’
A kid who, despite being from a prestigious family, openly declared that he wanted to join the Guryonghoe and become a swordsman.
Seeing that made it clear that guy wasn’t normal.
Moreover, since Peng Woo-jin is also a martial artist, participating in the non-combat ceremony was only natural.
But—
‘The issue is that he’s the heir.’
Peng Clan’s heir literally means the person who will become the head of the family in the next generation.
‘So, if the heir appears weak, it’s a blow to the entire clan.’
The head of the family goes without saying, but heirs aren’t much different.
Being the future face of the clan, whether the heir is strong or incompetent would significantly influence their status.
‘Does that mean he’s confident enough to come out like that?’
Or perhaps, like my past self, he’s thrown away that kind of face-saving nonsense.
That guy seems quite capable of doing that.
“I was excited, hoping to see you again after so long, and now I’m filled with joy!”
“What look of excitement?”
“How could I not be excited? Seeing you makes the world feel brighter!”
As Peng Woo-jin spat words that were almost like flattery, the surroundings buzzed with chatter.
“…Excitement? It feels strange saying that between men.”
“I heard Bishengdo is not engaged. Could it be…?”
“These crazy bastards! No way!”
I shouted, fearing a wild misunderstanding would unfold.
What a creepy connection are you trying to make!
As I raised my voice, Peng Woo-jin tilted his head, confused.
“Why are you like this?”
“Nothing. I just heard some nonsense.”
While conversing with Peng Woo-jin, I waved my hand behind my back.
It was my way of signaling the receptionist to hurry it up.
Then, noticing my gesture, the receptionist quickly placed something in my hand.
It was a wooden plaque adorned with a small gem.
It was a sign that my registration had been completed.
“That… what about the explanation for this plaque…?”
“I know, so it’s all good.”
“Excuse me?”
I tucked the plaque into my clothes without waiting for an explanation.
“The plaque was made by the association not long ago, so you should listen to the details…!”
“I know. It’s for identification purposes.”
I blew on the gem embedded in the plaque, demonstrating it.
Suddenly, a soft glow awakened within the gem.
Simultaneously, the gem on the desk lit up as well.
“Is that enough?”
“Oh, yes… yes.”
I linked the gems on the wooden plaque to the one on the table.
This was an item designed so that the blind association could verify the identities of individuals better.
‘If it’s out earlier than expected, that must mean—’
A change has likely arisen since the Mudang Sword Master became the leader.
Most of these items are made by the shamans, after all.
‘Better hurry and get out of here. Tsk.’
With that thought, I resolved to finish up and escape before any more conversations dragged on.
“Well then, Prince Peng. It was nice meeting you. Until next time!”
After giving a hasty farewell to Peng Woo-jin, I tried to slip away at a quick pace.
Thunk!
As I hurried past, Peng Woo-jin grabbed my arm.
“Old Duke! Where are you going? It’s destiny that we meet again like this!”
“No… I have some business to take care of—”
Just as I tried to shake off the annoying grip and move away.
Hmm?
The hand holding my sleeve wouldn’t let go properly.
The grip was surprisingly strong.
If I wanted to, I could wriggle free, but the way he exerted minimal effort made me think twice.
‘Oh really.’
A strange aura surrounded him.
‘Just like Goo Hee-bi, this guy too…’
It seemed Peng Woo-jin has leveled up a bit.
While he was already formidable, the feeling now was something different.
Has he touched the edge of the next stage?
Thinking about this made an involuntary chuckle escape me.
‘Seems like every Tom, Dick, and Harry is leveling up these days.’
If that’s the case, it’s a ridiculous situation.
It’s not an easily accessed realm for any martial artist, and even the talented would only graze the surface after a lifetime of strenuous training.
Why was it that everyone I encountered was at this level?
I felt as if the quicker I got stronger in this life, the more others’ standards were rising too.
‘Pretty unfair.’
Some were grinding hard, taking every opportunity available to move ahead, while these genius types simply coasted.
“Ha…”
I sighed and applied a tad of force.
Pfft!
It felt a bit odd, but I managed to loosen the grip easily.
“Oh…?”
Then Peng Woo-jin let out a short gasp.
Seems he didn’t expect it to turn out this way.
“It’s been a while, and it’s nice to see you, but I have things to handle.”
“But it’s lunchtime now! How about we grab a meal together?”
I had to choke back my disgust upon hearing that.
‘Lunch, you fool.’
Eating alone with someone who wasn’t that close to me?
‘If I’m going to throw up, I’d rather skip it.’
It was too ludicrous of a suggestion for me to let it slide.
“No, I think that’s—”
“There’s a famous dumpling restaurant nearby. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could eat together?”
“…Dumplings?”
I halted my rebuttal and glanced at Peng Woo-jin.
…Dumplings?
‘No… Get a grip.’
I shook my head, suppressing the craving swelling up inside me.
No matter how fond I was of dumplings, this wasn’t the time.
“Sorry, but let’s save dinner for another time…”
“The dumplings just arrived!”
“…Huh?”
I attempted to refuse with all my might.
But when I regained my senses, I found myself already inside some sort of tavern.
“…”
Could it be that my body decided to ignore me and follow along?
Surrendering to the allure of dumplings?
What kind of nonsense was this?
Even more incredulous—
“I can see you’re enjoying it. That’s fortunate.”
“Damn it.”
My hands were already shoving dumplings into my mouth.
They were delicious. Exquisitely heavenly.
‘Of all places, why here?’
As I indulged in the dumplings, realization hit me. I recognized this establishment.
How could I forget? This was my favorite restaurant from Hanam.
Whenever I lacked appetite, this was a place where Mo Yong-hee would frequently bring food for me.
I’d come here alone whenever I had some free time; it was Peng Woo-jin who brought me here.
“I’ve been here several times. The food here is genuinely good.”
That kid… even though I wasn’t fond of him, it looked like he had decent taste in dumplings. It gained him a few points.
“Yes, they’re indeed tasty.”
“If you like them, I’ll arrange for you to get some to go when it’s time to leave. I can splurge on that much for my old friend.”
“Well then, please pack ten for me.”
“…That’s a bit more than I expected.”
Hearing the count, Peng Woo-jin made a bitter face.
“Is that too much?” I thought a rich gentleman like him wouldn’t care.
‘I cut that number in half because you said you’d treat!’
If I were alone, what’s ten? I would’ve easily asked for twenty!
The ten I mentioned was purely out of politeness.
“How about some drinks?”
“No, alcohol doesn’t sit well with me.”
“Oh, that’s a bit surprising.”
Is that so?
“Do I look like a drinker?”
“It’s not like that, but it’s rare to meet someone who outright refuses.”
“I don’t want to spoil my appetite with anything tasteless.”
That’s how I’ve always been.
There might be days I feel like drinking, but I’ve never done so purely for enjoyment.
I’d only indulge when being pressured by Cheonma or faced situations I couldn’t duck, and even then I didn’t drink alone often.
“Let’s just enjoy our meal then.”
“Prince Peng can drink if you want.”
“I don’t have a taste for alcohol either.”
Huh?
“But why…?”
“I wouldn’t drink, but if Prince Gu did, I’d at least match your glass. Honestly, I appreciate that you don’t drink. Perhaps we share similar tastes?”
“Honestly, that’s just the strangest thing I’ve heard.”
Not even close!
That was a statement more confusing than tasting alcohol itself.
As I took another bite of a dumpling, frowning, Peng Woo-jin directed a question towards me.
“Isn’t there a hidden dragon around? I heard he’s been seen with you.”
“Is there such a rumor?”
“It’s not exactly a rumor, more of a general word on the street.”
What kind of nonsense are you spouting?
“I was hoping to see both your faces together after such a long time. What a letdown.”
Real regret was evident in Peng Woo-jin’s expression.
This made me ponder.
‘Come to think of it, they do know each other.’
I vaguely remembered hearing this before.
I wasn’t sure how close they were, but I had indeed gathered that Peng Woo-jin and Woo-hyuk were somewhat familiar.
“Then again, he’s a Taoist and probably wouldn’t even touch dumplings. Even calling him would only lead to disappointment.”
“…”
Hearing his implication, he didn’t seem that close with Woo-hyuk.
‘He doesn’t even know that guy eats meat.’
Even if Woo-hyuk was a Taoist, he wouldn’t shy away from any delicacies out there.
Judging by Goeseon’s habits, he likely learned that from his master.
‘…No matter how you think about it, my companions aren’t exactly normal.’
Thinking of the folks I call friends gave me a headache.
Truly, it’s a world where someone normal like me can’t survive without losing my sanity.
I need to focus. I feel like I’ll end up becoming a weirdo myself.
Nodding my head while munching on dumplings, I remarked, “Isn’t there a significant issue if I call the Taoist? Honestly, he might enjoy some dumplings as well.”
“…Hmm?”
Peng Woo-jin’s expression subtly shifted, as if he found my comment odd.
Even he thinks it’s strange that a Taoist eats meat, while those actually doing it, like Woo-hyuk and Goeseon, surely fit the description of being bizarre.
Additionally—
“Even monks eat meat nowadays… so what’s the big deal if a Taoist does as well?”
It’s a valid point considering the fellow dining not far away.
Ding!
At that moment, someone who had been quietly eating in the corner flinched at my words.
That reaction turned Peng Woo-jin’s gaze in that direction as well.
He wore a perplexed expression.
“…This is remarkable… I was trying to ignore it.”
It seemed Peng Woo-jin attempted not to see it.
I had no intention of remaining ignorant.
How could I ignore that after witnessing it?
“Actually, it’s more considerate to acknowledge it. Making notice helps the other party feel at ease.”
“…Is that so?”
Peng Woo-jin blinked, as if what I said was a revelation.
“From now on, I should try that. Thank you for your wise advice.”
“Anytime.”
I waved my hand dismissively like it wasn’t a big deal, then looked back and said, “Don’t pretend you didn’t hear. Just come over here?”
“…Ugh… cough!”
At that, it sounded like someone choked overly hard.
Following that, a young man wanting food finally turned his head this way.
Judging by how diligently he ate, the corners of his mouth glistened with oil, and bright golden eyes shone through the cloak he tried to cover himself with.
Seeing that made an involuntary smirk appear on my face.
“Ah, we meet again?”
“…”
The strongest rising star of the Shaolin Temple, currently holding the title as the youngest Hwa-gyeong.
The Divine Dragon, Yuyeon, grimaced at my words.
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