Chapter 134: Let’s Bow Down. (1)

Let’s Bow Down. (1)

Before leaving for Hanam following Gu Yangcheon, Gu Jeolyeop recalled the conversation he had with Iljangro.

-What should I do…?

The sudden trip to Hanam.

Moreover, the purpose is participation in the Dragon Phoenix Assembly.

Given my standing, it was a place I thought I’d go someday, but…

From Gu Jeolyeop’s perspective, it was a place he hadn’t expected to go together with Gu Yangcheon.

-You who are attending the Dragon Phoenix Assembly, just show off your talent and come back.

Iljangro answered Gu Jeolyeop’s question thus, but…

Gu Jeolyeop knew those words weren’t the whole story.

As expected, Iljangro brought up other words to Gu Jeolyeop.

-Can you shine brighter than that child?

That child.

Gu Jeolyeop knew who Iljangro was talking about.

Gu Yangcheon, the Family Head’s only son.

It was a name he had heard countless times since his own talent began to bloom, and…

…the person Iljangro incessantly emphasized as his rival.

-You must become the Family Head.

These were words he had heard countless times.

-You cannot let a mere child like that lead the clan.

When he was younger than now.

The sparring match with Gu Yangcheon was disastrous. Gu Yangcheon was so weak.

He lived spewing foul language.

Gu Jeolyeop broke his arm at the end of the sparring match with Gu Yangcheon. It wasn’t intentional, but emotions were involved.

Why he had been so angry was a story he had now forgotten.

Although he broke the arm of a blood relative, the Family Head imposed no punishment on Gu Jeolyeop.

Iljangro said it was because he was a child already given up on.

He had accepted it like that back then, but thinking about it now, he wondered if that was really the case.

Gu Jeolyeop at that time also shared the same thought as Iljangro.

Was it right for such a person to become the Family Head?

I’m better.

I felt like I could do much better. Before he knew it, he was starting to agree with Iljangro’s way of thinking.

About a year passed like that.

Gu Jeolyeop was disastrously defeated by Gu Yangcheon.

Utterly defeated by the boy he had ignored and despised.

‘What the heck… Why? How?’

What could have happened in such a short time for Gu Yangcheon to change so drastically?

Even the way he spoke, his gaze, his entire aura had completely changed.

The beautiful attendant who had been sticking close to Gu Yangcheon back then.

For a moment, he was mesmerized by her unbelievable beauty, but…

…half of his true intention was also to keep that attendant away from Gu Yangcheon.

Because he didn’t know what kind of fate she might suffer next to that scoundrel.

Of course, looking back now, he realized how wrong his immature judgment had been.

-You can shine much brighter than that child.

That you can. That it’s not difficult.

Can it really be?

-You can do it, right?

The sinister ambition reflected in Iljangro’s eyes gripped Gu Jeolyeop.

Gu Jeolyeop hesitated, looking at those eyes, and finally answered.

-Yes. I will try my best.

It was an answer different from his true feelings.

‘…Hmph.’

How many days had passed until they came to Hanam? During that time, Gu Jeolyeop had made efforts in his own way.

He endured Gu Yangcheon, who picked fault and provoked him at every word.

He tried to blend in with the companions who kept their distance, consciously or unconsciously.

Of course, he had suffered for a while after trying to approach Tang Xiaoyeol and receiving a contemptuous gaze.

‘Why do they hate me?’

Gu Jeolyeop knew he was good-looking himself.

At least, compared to Gu Yangcheon.

But Gu Yangcheon was surrounded by beautiful women.

What could be the reason?

‘…Have men’s beauty standards changed without my knowledge?’

To what extent had he gone to have such thoughts?

Gu Jeolyeop looked at Hwangbo Cheolwi, who was glaring this way with burning eyes.

To be honest, he hadn’t moved to save the woman being harassed by that group.

While that feeling certainly existed, the core reason was different.

-You can shine, right?

Gu Jeolyeop didn’t know how to shine.

So he just does whatever he can.

“Did you just yell at me?”

“Yes.”

“Hmph.”

KUUUNG-! His heavy body broke through the surrounding group and walked this way.

“How dare you? At me?”

Along with his growling voice, pressure was felt.

It was a heavy aura fitting his physique, but it didn’t feel particularly scary.

After being defeated by Gu Yangcheon, he had developed the habit of carefully observing his opponents.

It was to avoid repeating the mistake of that day.

Thanks to that, he succeeded in gaining a slightly broader perspective.

That brute is weaker than me. The Hwangbo family is a prestigious clan one would have heard of at least once. Because of that, Gu Jeolyeop felt somewhat excited.

This was certainty, not intuition.

“How dare an unknown punk like you raise your voice to this Hwangbo? Do you want to get punished?”

Ttudeudeuk.

Hwangbo Cheolwi’s muscles made a menacing sound as if angered. Gu Jeolyeop naturally grabbed the sword hanging at his waist.

So he could draw it anytime.

‘It’s enough.’

‘Isn’t it a good look, in its own way? The sight of defeating a scoundrel harassing a woman.’

It feels good.

Hwangbo Cheolwi approached, puffing, and Gu Jeolyeop slowly raised his stance.

An imminent situation.

However, contrary to Gu Jeolyeop’s expectation that it would explode right away.

Hwangbo Cheolwi froze with a surprised expression.

What is it?

Gu Jeolyeop moved his head, following Hwangbo Cheolwi’s gaze.

Then, at the end of his gaze, someone on the stairs coming down to the first floor was looking this way.

“What is this?”

A girl with deep green hair, one eye tinged green.

It was Tang Xiaoyeol, Gu Yangcheon’s companion and the esteemed daughter, the Poisonous Blossom, of the Sichuan Tang Clan.

“Tang… Xiaoyeol.”

Hwangbo Cheolwi called her with a slightly trembling voice, perhaps recognizing her.

Tang Xiaoyeol looked at Hwangbo Cheolwi with a contemptuous gaze and scoffed.

“I was wondering who it was, but it was you.”

“You…”

“You seem tall, but haven’t you fixed that stupid temper yet?”

Despite Tang Xiaoyeol’s cold words, Hwangbo Cheolwi shut his mouth tightly.

“I heard the Hwangbo family was sending you this time. So I thought ‘no way, no way’…”

Tang Xiaoyeol stopped mid-sentence and let out a deep sigh.

Then, Hwangbo Cheolwi staggered and knelt down.

What’s going on? Kneeling down so suddenly. As Gu Jeolyeop wondered intensely, Hwangbo Cheolwi shouted.

“This bitch dares…!”

It seemed it wasn’t voluntary. Could Tang Xiaoyeol be the culprit?

‘…What did she do?’

Was this the famous Tang Clan’s poison technique? If so, it was chilling.

Gu Jeolyeop hadn’t seen Tang Xiaoyeol do anything at all.

‘Is this… O-ryong Sam-bong?’

The geniuses of this era, the so-called ‘stars of stars’.

Gu Jeolyeop could truly feel how high their level was, anew.

He had just thought she was a pretty girl chasing Gu Yangcheon.

She was clearly a prodigy called the Poisonous Blossom.

“How dare you?”

At Hwangbo Cheolwi’s words, Tang Xiaoyeol’s brow instantly furrowed.

Hwangbo Cheolwi flinched at that gaze.

“Hwangbo Cheolwi, do you even know who you’re facing right now?”

“…Grrr.”

At Tang Xiaoyeol’s words, Hwangbo Cheolwi gritted his teeth.

Because although the Hwangbo family was a prestigious clan in its own right, it was incomparable to the Tang Clan, known as one of the Four Great Clans.

“Words like that aren’t for a mere Hwangbo like you. Please, if you lack skill and background, at least know your place and live. You’ll die otherwise.”

To call the prestigious Hwangbo family ‘mere’.

That sharp retort contained a fearsome aura.

Gu Jeolyeop’s heart was pounding so hard, even though the words weren’t directed at him.

“And.”

Tang Xiaoyeol’s gaze turned towards Gu Jeolyeop.

“You too.”

“Pardon?”

“Until the Dragon Phoenix Assembly begins, it’s polite to maintain a proper distance from each other. That idiot there has muscles for brains, so he can’t help it, but what’s your excuse?”

“…No, that’s…”

It felt unfair. He had only tried to save the woman from Hwangbo Cheolwi.

As if not even interested in such things, Tang Xiaoyeol spat out bitter words.

“If you’re ugly, at least be smart.”

“Ppooop…. Khulruk-khulruk!”

The one who reacted the most to Tang Xiaoyeol’s words was Gu Yangcheon.

Gu Jeolyeop wore a dumbfounded expression as if he heard something strange, and Gu Yangcheon spat out the tea he was drinking.

“Young Master, are you okay?”

“I’m… Khulruk!”

“Towel! Towel!”

While Wi Seol-ah managed the situation, Tang Xiaoyeol clicked her tongue once, looking at Gu Jeolyeop and Hwangbo Cheolwi.

Tsk-!

“How vulgar, what is this behavior?… Quickly, take your group and get lost.”

“You bitch…”

“Should I burn your tongue off so your mouth becomes polite? I’m very good at that.”

Contrary to her innocent face, a fierce aura poured out.

Hwangbo Cheolwi trembled violently, perhaps furious to the point of madness.

But soon, perhaps lacking the strength to oppose the Tang Clan, he jumped up and went past Tang Xiaoyeol.

Hwangbo Cheolwi’s companions, who had been murmuring, hurriedly followed him.

In the now quiet inn, only Gu Jeolyeop wore a dumbfounded expression.

“…This is why I didn’t want to come, they’re just so low-class.”

As she said that, Tang Xiaoyeol, who had looked like a fierce beast, instantly changed her expression upon seeing Gu Yangcheon.

“Young Master Gu-nim!”

She approached the table, smiling brightly.

Gu Jeolyeop could clearly see.

Gu Yangcheon backing away with a slightly frightened expression.

Seeing that, Gu Jeolyeop awkwardly got up too.

‘…In a way, it turned out okay, didn’t it?’

Although he was put in an embarrassing situation, he did save the woman, so maybe it was fine.

Actually, nothing had gone well at all, but his mind wasn’t working properly due to embarrassment.

Gu Jeolyeop cautiously approached the woman who had been harassed by Hwangbo Cheolwi earlier.

“Whoa? That bastard…!”

He heard Gu Yangcheon saying something from behind, but Gu Jeolyeop had already arrived.

“Are you alright? Young Lady?”

The woman wearing a veil said nothing. Was it because she was too shocked?

“The incident just now is all…”

“Haaah…”

The woman let out a deep sigh. Gu Jeolyeop initially thought it was a sigh of relief.

“Young…”

“This is really annoying.”

If not for the words that followed.

“Yes…?”

“I appreciate your kind intentions, but ah, maybe they aren’t kind intentions?”

The voice heard from beyond the veil was completely different from before.

Much colder than the appearance Tang Xiaoyeol had just shown.

Much harsher.

It felt like talking to a block of ice.

“My plans are all ruined… Annoyingly.”

“Young Lady… What is this…”

Sky-blue eyes shimmering from beyond the veil were glimpsed slightly.

Along with a fierce gaze.

“Do you remember what the Poisonous Blossom said earlier?”

The woman slowly rose from her chair.

Upon standing up, she was quite tall.

About the same height as Namgung Bi-ah, who always seemed to be sleeping.

“They say you die if you step forward without knowing your place. That’s really true.”

“What are you suddenly talking about…?”

“From now on, it would be good to look at the situation a bit more. If not for that Young Master behind you, you would have been in some danger.”

Behind…? At the woman’s words, Gu Jeolyeop looked back, and Gu Yangcheon was visible in a straight line.

The woman looked around briefly and whispered quietly.

“…My plan got ruined, but fortunately, it seems it’s not today. It’ll be tomorrow then.”

Leaving Gu Jeolyeop behind, unable to understand what she meant, the woman walked away.

The woman paused slightly upon seeing Namgung Bi-ah watching next to Gu Yangcheon as if interested.

“…”

However, she just looked and flinched, without speaking separately, and went up.

Gu Jeolyeop stood still for a while, trying to grasp the situation, and thought while covering his burning ears.

‘I don’t know anymore.’

He decided to give up thinking.

As he returned to his seat, clutching his throbbing head, a gentle voice was heard.

“Jeolyeop-ah.”

Gu Yangcheon was smiling gently, looking at Gu Jeolyeop.

That Gu Yangcheon, of all people.

“Shall we talk a bit later, brother?”

“…First Young Master-nim?”

For reference, Gu Yangcheon was younger than Gu Jeolyeop, both in height and appearance.

However, no one around mentioned it.

“Oh, right.”

Gu Yangcheon finished eating the remaining dumplings and asked, looking at Gu Jeolyeop.

“Do you know how to bash your head?”

“What?”

“If you don’t know, I’ll teach you. Because it seems you need to know.”

Seeing Gu Yangcheon smiling brightly, Gu Jeolyeop realized.

That no matter what it was, he was fucked.