Chapter 144: Dragon Phoenix Gathering. (3)

Dragon Phoenix Gathering. (3)

Immediately after the Alliance Leader, Jang Cheon, appeared in the hall, the noisy banquet hall fell silent in an instant.

While it was partly to maintain decorum, it was also because the atmosphere instantly became heavy.

This was because the Alliance Leader was intentionally releasing his internal energy to create an atmosphere.

The sound of footsteps echoed so loudly in the banquet hall.

The friendly-looking middle-aged man I briefly encountered earlier was gone, and the leader of a group stood there.

A master of the Orthodox faction who had passed forty and entered his prime.

Jang Cheon, the Falling Sword.

He had appeared here to give a speech.

“You’ve all worked hard to come all this way.”

His deep voice brushed past my ears, mingling with the internal energy.

The resonating hum let me know just how profound his internal energy was.

“Facing this year’s stars on a cold winter’s night warms my heart.”

Everyone held their breath carefully, as they were all focused on his words.

His voice and the atmosphere he commanded could be considered another talent.

‘Boring.’

It didn’t seem to resonate much with me.

If I were like everyone else, perhaps I would have felt something from the words of the capable and outstanding leader of the alliance.

However, having already experienced the future, I couldn’t help but question if he was truly a great figure.

Even if I couldn’t fault the martial prowess he had achieved.

In my eyes, he was just an ordinary person with outstanding martial skills.

Separate from his talent in martial arts, that is.

“…Anyway.”

‘And his words are damn boring too.’

Good thing I came.

It’s good to see everyone has grown.

Please prepare healthily for the friendly martial arts tournament starting tomorrow.

That’s what it boiled down to.

What was strange, though, was the lack of any mention of Jang Seonyeon in his speech; that was a bit of a question.

You’d think he’d say at least a word or two.

‘Is it an attempt to incite more interest?’

Everyone knew the Alliance Leader’s son was attending the banquet.

Is it to manage expectations?

Or is he purely trying to maintain neutrality, even concerning his own bloodline, as the Alliance Leader?

Honestly, I don’t know.

Of course, even if I knew, nothing would change.

As soon as the Alliance Leader appeared, the number of people subtly casting glances at Jang Seonyeon increased.

I also had quite a few eyes on me thanks to the women gathered around, but…

Those attending the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering are martial artists, after all, so it makes sense they’d be interested in Jang Seonyeon, who could almost be considered divine.

Especially since three of the Five Dragons and Three Peaks were absent from this banquet.

Gu’s Sword Peak.

Hwasan’s Sword Dragon.

Wudang’s Sleeping Dragon.

It seems these three are absent.

‘What a shame.’

I could understand why that Sleeping Dragon fellow would be absent.

Given his personality, he’s not the type to show up to things like this often.

Gu Huibiya is likely busy with family matters.

Yeongpung was a bit unexpected.

I thought he’d come to pick up the item I was holding for him.

‘Is something going on at Hwasan?’

The distance between Shaanxi and Henan is considerable, so he might avoid it, but it still felt a little disappointing.

Did I perhaps grow fond of him in that short time?

Me, of all people.

The thought that it didn’t suit me crossed my mind, so I took a sip of my now-cold tea.

It was to kill off my foolish expectations.

‘It’s a shame I won’t see Sleeping Dragon, though.’

He was someone I really wanted to see at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.

I had hoped he might come, but it seems that lazy fellow didn’t show up after all.

He’s someone I could at least call a friend.

-Please, even if you get angry, just hold back three times and live.

-Hey, you crazy bastard!

-I told you not to rush out ahead, didn’t I? You’ll die if you do!

-Hey, it’s cold, light a fire for me, you’re perfect as kindling… Why are you clenching your fist…? Stop right there. Don’t come!

I remembered the voices chattering noisily.

When they were beside me, I felt like I couldn’t stand it.

Now, there are times when I miss them quite often.

It felt like now was one of those times.

“…May the future of the stars shine endlessly; I, Jang Cheon, wish it so.”

While I was lost in thought, the speech ended.

Judging by the applause filling my ears, the speech must have been well-received.

It dawned on me now that Wi Seol-ah’s hand was still resting on my shoulder.

I tried to turn my head to see Wi Seol-ah’s face, but for some reason, it wasn’t easy.

What expression must Wi Seol-ah be wearing right now?

She’s probably looking bored, or perhaps amused.

Perhaps the Alliance Leader really only planned to give his speech and leave, as he exited the hall without hesitation.

You’d think he’d at least glance at his own son once.

“Your words were truly wonderful.”

Tang Soyeol’s eyes were sparkling as if she was deeply moved.

Meanwhile, her mouth was chewing furiously.

She was chewing something that looked like grass.

Sensing my gaze, Tang Soyeol averted her face, blushing.

“…Well, I was a little hungry.”

“…”

The way she chewed resembled a rabbit, but I didn’t ask what she was eating.

It clearly didn’t look like grass an ordinary person could eat.

The saving grace was that I wasn’t the only one who found the speech boring.

I pinched the back of the hand of the person next to me.

“Mmmph….”

Using my blank expression, I woke up Namgung Bi-ah, who had been dozing off unnoticed.

I wasn’t sleeping, so how could she doze off right in front of the Orthodox faction leader’s speech?

‘And she’s in the very front row.’

Jang Cheon probably noticed Namgung Bi-ah dozing off.

I could only hope she wasn’t marked.

As soon as the Alliance Leader left, the banquet hall immediately filled with murmuring voices.

The banquet was officially starting now.

Some people stood up to approach and converse with those sitting far away.

Others quietly ate their meals.

Distinct groups started catching my eye.

One thing was certain: no one encroached upon the front rows?

In any case, this world certainly knows how to divide people by rank.

“Young Master!”

“Hm?”

Wi Seol-ah approached, bouncing excitedly.

Almost out of habit, I stroked Wi Seol-ah’s hair.

Feeling my touch, Wi Seol-ah spoke.

“There are so many people.”

“Of course, it’s a banquet.”

The noisy clamor was still unpleasant to listen to, but it was bearable enough.

I got up from my seat and stood by the window in a corner.

Just in case, I had placed a veil over Wi Seol-ah.

It was done to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances.

Worried it might cause issues, I had placed them not only on Wi Seol-ah but on all the attendants as well.

As a result, we seemed to be drawing strange looks from others, but…

‘That’s nothing new. Whatever.’

It wasn’t the first time I’d been perceived as the weird guy.

This much didn’t faze me.

However, there was one slightly odd thing.

“I heard, Young Master Jang, that this is your first banquet, is that correct?”

“That’s right. I was feeling quite excited about it.”

“Oh my, then is this your first banquet too?”

“It’s embarrassing, but…”

“Oh my, oh my… Well, our family holds banquets occasionally, perhaps…”

Perhaps due to his uniquely gentle demeanor and kind smile, people were flocking around Jang Seonyeon.

He is the Alliance Leader’s son and a new face, so it’s understandable, but…

“…What about me?”

“…?”

It was actually more comfortable having no one approach me.

But isn’t it a bit too much when there’s no one?

Even if being the son of a renowned hero and the brother of Sword Peak puts me below the Alliance Leader’s son.

I wondered if that was enough reason for absolutely no one to approach me.

Wouldn’t they at least come out of curiosity?

While I was pondering this, Tang Soyeol, who had been escaping the harassment of other junior disciples from afar, approached me.

People were talking to her so much that Tang Soyeol’s face was already etched with fatigue.

“…Young Master Gu. Is something wrong?”

“It seems you have more going on, Young Lady.”

“It’s fine…! This much is nothing.”

She showed me her forearm as if trying to prove her resilience.

But only a frail, pale arm was visible.

I managed to ignore it and continued speaking.

“No, I just felt like people weren’t approaching me much.”

“Ah…”

Tang Soyeol’s eyes flickered as if she understood what I meant.

I didn’t miss that.

“Why is that?”

“Well… um, the reason might be… last time, Sword Peak…”

BANG-!

Just as Tang Soyeol was about to add something, a loud noise erupted from the center of the banquet hall.

The wind blowing from the source of the sound carried internal energy.

“You insignificant fool… What nonsense are you spouting!”

The shout that followed was a voice I’d heard somewhere before.

“Tsk.”

A tongue-clicking sound came from beside me, expressing displeasure.

It was Tang Soyeol’s.

“How dare the bloodline of some rural hick try to push this onto me, Hwangbo!”

It was none other than Hwangbo Cheol-wi, roaring so loudly the banquet hall seemed to shake.

That guy was like that in the dormitory too; how could he be acting like this even at the banquet?

While finding him slightly pathetic, I couldn’t maintain that view when I saw who Hwangbo Cheol-wi was glaring at.

“Oh dear.”

I had prayed it wasn’t him…

The one keeping a distance from Hwangbo Cheol-wi, and his opponent as before, was Gu Jeolyub.

What is that guy doing now?

“They say the Hwangbo clan is the Tiger of the Central Plains, yet your actions are worse than a mere cat, not a beast.”

Gu Jeolyub seemed unwilling to back down, resting his hand on his sword hilt and growling.

The internal energy he was calmly raising was refined, but the way it leaked out sporadically suggested it was intertwined with his emotions.

Hwangbo Cheol-wi sneered at his words.

“How dare you, who are called a prestigious family, dare to insult the Hwangbo clan with mere sparks that aren’t even worthy of being called embers?”

‘Hoho, this bastard.’

Listening quietly, I felt quite annoyed at being treated like a torch.

Honestly, I had no intention of stepping in.

I was often insulted anyway.

I didn’t want to care about every little thing now.

So, I intended to stay put.

Grrr-

That is, if I hadn’t seen Jang Seonyeon move slightly.