Chapter 137: Long Time No See, Brother-in-Law. (2)

Long Time No See, Brother-in-Law. (2)

Namgung Cheonjun, who had been scattering his internal energy around the inn, quickly gathered his aura and approached.

If he could hide his aura that easily, did that mean scattering it as he entered was intentional?

‘He seems to enjoy being the center of attention.’

I had no intention of thinking badly of that.

It wasn’t like there were only one or two guys like that. Especially since it was that Namgung family.

[That guy is exactly the same as when I first saw him.]

‘Are you talking about the Heavenly Thunder Sword?’

[Yeah, that guy used to do crap like that when he was young, so I folded him in half….]

‘…In half?’

What is this old man talking about such brutal things as if they were fond memories?

And if that Heavenly Thunder Sword was like that too, I suspected that maybe having an unlucky personality was the Namgung family’s characteristic.

In the meantime, I glanced over at Moyong Hi-ah, and she too had her gaze fixed on Namgung Cheonjun.

It wasn’t strange.

Because in my previous life, the two of them were engaged.

[What the heck, are you saying you slept with a woman who was already taken? That’s totally trash…!]

‘Such a sordid situation…. No, why does the conversation keep going in that direction?’

It feels like you’ve only been interested in the sleeping together part since earlier, or am I mistaken?

To be precise, Moyong Hi-ah wasn’t engaged at that time.

Because their engagement only proceeded after they escaped the Demonic Realm.

Even if Moyong Hi-ah had memories of the Demonic Realm, would she have gotten engaged?

‘She would have.’

She’s that kind of woman.

Someone for whom creating emotions that aren’t there out of necessity is not even a task.

-What are you talking about? Creating emotions, not acting?

-…An idiot like you would never understand, even if you died. Don’t you really have rocks instead of a brain in your head?

-You crazy bitch…. You started talking to me first, so why are you picking a fight? Wanna die?

-Even after crawling on the floor last time after defying me, how come the fire in your mouth hasn’t died down? It went out like a candle flame during the martial arts contest.

-Hey, you son of a bitch…!

-Wow, they’re fighting again, crazy! Hey! Break them up!

-Are you not letting go of this!? I’m really going to burn that crazy bitch this time!

-Where’s Little Sword Marquis! Stop them quickly!

‘…’

Thinking about the past makes my head throb.

Why did I really do that?

It’s a funny memory. It was also an embarrassing memory.

Still, for now, it was a memory only I possessed.

For a very long time.

No one among the survivors remembers the events in the Demonic Realm.

Except for me.

What happened.

What I went through for several years, and what I had to endure.

Even to what extent our relationship progressed, and for whom I shed tears.

No one remembers.

It was such a contract.

“Noonim.”

“…Hi.”

As soon as Namgung Cheonjun arrived, he spoke to Namgung Bi-ah.

Namgung Bi-ah simply greeted him with a slight wave of her hand, as usual.

But because of that, the surrounding murmurs grew louder.

“Noonim? Didn’t that Thunder Dragon just call her Noonim?”

“So that woman is also of the Namgung family’s blood… Oh, ah….”

“What’s wrong, young man?”

Thanks to that, gazes began to gather towards us. Ah, this isn’t a very good situation.

‘…All that effort I put into creating a diversion has gone down the drain.’

A sigh escaped me naturally.

It wasn’t like I had pulled off some grand diversion.

If I tried something like that at my level, it would only draw attention.

What I had set up around me was part of a stealth technique to reduce my presence using internal energy.

I just wanted to draw less attention.

Since our group already attracted a lot of attention from various places, I had to do this.

‘This is meaningless now.’

Once attention was drawn, it was useless.

As if to prove it, I could feel eyes on me from everywhere.

Most of them brushed past me rather than focusing directly on me.

The base desires contained within those gloomy gazes were so distinct.

It was natural, as most of them were rookies who didn’t know how to hide their gazes.

I can’t blame them for this either.

Because if it were me, it probably wouldn’t have been any different.

Namgung Bi-ah moved a little closer to my side.

Tang Soyeol and Moyong Hi-ah seemed accustomed to it, but Wi Seol-ah and Namgung Bi-ah probably weren’t.

I drew up my internal energy from my dantian.

I didn’t want to draw attention yet, but I couldn’t just stand by and watch this.

Whoosh-!

The pressure formed by the internal energy scattered around the inn.

Those who had been murmuring coughed dryly and averted their gazes.

They realized it was a clear warning.

A slight heat mixed in added strength to that energy, but.

The problem was, this wasn’t something I did.

I stared at Gu Jeolyub, who sat opposite me, my eyes slightly widened.

Gu Jeolyub seemed to notice my gaze, pursed his lips, and then spoke.

“…Is this also something that will cause problems?”

The internal energy just now was directed at Gu Jeolyub.

Judging by the intensity of the pressure, he must have used a considerable amount of internal energy.

I answered Gu Jeolyub, who seemed to be gauging my reaction.

“No, you did well.”

If it hadn’t been Gu Jeolyub, it would have been me.

Having received unexpected praise, Gu Jeolyub awkwardly averted his gaze.

[Even after taking so much criticism, he doesn’t bend his convictions.]

Just as Elder Shin said, I started thinking a little differently about Gu Jeolyub.

‘So he’s not someone I should just dismiss as bad.’

I felt the need to uncover a bit more of what was hidden in the shadow of the First Elder.

“Miss Tang, you are here as well.”

“Hello….”

“You seem to have become even prettier, it’s nice to see.”

Namgung Cheonjun said with a gentle smile.

Anyone would find it pleasant, coming from such a handsome face, but.

Tang Soyeol’s lips were trembling slightly.

She was trying her best to maintain her expression.

“Th…ank you.”

Her trembling voice couldn’t be hidden, it seemed, but.

To others, she probably looked mesmerized by Namgung Cheonjun’s face.

“And this person is….”

“My name is Gu Jeolyub.”

Gu Jeolyub jumped up and greeted Namgung Cheonjun.

Upon hearing Gu Jeolyub’s surname, Namgung Cheonjun seemed to hesitate for a moment, but quickly composed his expression.

“Nice to meet you.”

Perhaps finding it novel to meet the Thunder Dragon, Gu Jeolyub looked somewhat excited.

‘Look at him?’

From the perspective of an ordinary late-stage disciple, the fame bestowed by the Five Dragons and Three Peaks was immense, but.

I wondered if Gu Jeolyub could really maintain such a reaction even knowing Namgung Cheonjun’s personality.

Finally, Namgung Cheonjun’s gaze met mine.

He was still smiling.

“It’s been a while.”

While Namgung Cheonjun was speaking to me, my eyes were fixed on Moyong Hi-ah.

He asked about Gu Jeolyub, but skipped Moyong Hi-ah.

It felt like more than just a difference in order; there was a clear intention to seek me out last.

‘Is he deliberately ignoring Moyong Hi-ah?’

Moyong Hi-ah also didn’t seem particularly displeased; rather, she looked accustomed to it.

It should be a time before they were engaged now. Did they have some connection?

Then again, it’s unlikely that the four great families didn’t interact often.

Because Namgung Bi-ah, who lived almost in hiding, was the stranger one.

“…I heard you were engaged. Congratulations.”

Putting those doubts aside, Namgung Cheonjun said to me.

It was a congratulation without sincerity.

As proof, I could see the corner of Namgung Cheonjun’s lips trembling ever so slightly.

It was fortunate. It seemed his nature remained the same.

So, is he trying to get along now?

‘No way, that can’t be.’

It was a story I couldn’t believe at all.

I, too, smiled back and said to Namgung Cheonjun.

“Yeah.”

Perhaps because my response was short, Namgung Cheonjun’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.

But what can I do? I have no intention of stopping here.

“Long time no see, brother-in-law.”

At my words, tinged with laughter, Namgung Cheonjun’s mask slipped for a moment.

“Ah, no, I should say sister-in-law.”

With the follow-up words delivered with a smile, Namgung Cheonjun’s face finally contorted.

It was a reminder of the nasty thing he did to my crotch before.

But he quickly restored his expression back to normal.

This was quite unexpected.

If it were like before, he would have probably done something.

Instead, Namgung Cheonjun merely contained his laughter.

“That’s right. We are soon to be family.”

‘What is this guy?’

He seemed to be holding back stubbornly, but I couldn’t understand why.

For me, it was fortunate because it meant no unnecessary trouble, but…

Did Namgung Jin say something? That doesn’t fit the timeline.

Because Namgung Jin wouldn’t have been around when Namgung Cheonjun returned to the clan.

“Let’s get along well, forgetting the past.”

Those are very nice words, but realistically, will it be that easy?

When I can’t even do that properly myself.

I’m not ignoring Namgung Cheonjun… actually, I am ignoring him.

The gaze felt between his smiling eyes showed that Namgung Cheonjun hadn’t changed.

I hoped Namgung Cheonjun would endure, managing to suppress those sinister feelings well.

‘I don’t think I can stand watching you twice, Cheonjun.’

So please, try to hold it together here.

******************

The meal ended quickly after that.

In the first place, by the time Moyong Hi-ah requested to join, we were almost finished eating.

I wondered if perhaps Namgung Cheonjun might join us, but.

Unexpectedly, he just glanced briefly at Namgung Bi-ah once and went up to his room.

After that, Moyong Hi-ah also paid her respects and followed Namgung Cheonjun out.

‘So, the objective was indeed Namgung Cheonjun.’

I was curious about Moyong Hi-ah’s intentions.

Considering I thought Namgung Cheonjun was her objective, the fact that she didn’t show much reaction was somewhat ambiguous.

To be more precise, should I say she looked unwilling?

It could be my mistake.

She is also much younger than when I first met Moyong Hi-ah.

Moyong Hi-ah back then was a woman who seemed like she wouldn’t bleed a drop, but now she might be a naive person.

The reason I can’t be sure even about this is.

Because I suffered so much from that terrifying bitch.

Making her shed tears with just a tap was nothing.

Despite having a cynical voice and manner of speaking, she was better than anyone at creating the wistful aura of a heartbroken woman.

If there was one problem, it would be because of that constitution of hers.

Vascular Deficiency.

It was also a major cause of Moyong Hi-ah’s eventual death.

I don’t know exactly what illness she had.

‘She did say herself it wasn’t the Nine Yin Vascular Deficiency.’

The Nine Yin Vascular Deficiency is the most representative form of vascular deficiency.

It was an incurable disease of the past caused by excessive Yin energy preventing the proper circulation of internal energy.

By now, it’s something that can be resolved with medicinal ingredients possessing Yang energy, such as the beak of the Flame-Radiant Bird (炎熙鳥) among the high-grade demonic beasts.

Of course, it’s quite valuable, but the Moyong family isn’t some small neighborhood clan; they wouldn’t lack that much money.

So it must be a different problem.

[How unexpected.]

As I was recalling this and that, the elder spoke to me.

“What do you mean?”

[Judging just by your words, it seems your relationship was terrible, yet you’re showing this much concern. Perhaps, knowingly or unknowingly, some affection had formed between you??]

“…That’s impossible.”

It was true that our relationship was terrible, just as the elder said.

So bad, I wondered if it could get any worse.

Perhaps the reason was simply that a small debt remained.

-I needed your flame. Looking back now, it was meaningless, though.

Moyong Hi-ah, who spoke bitterly that night, wasn’t lying.

-This isn’t called sacrifice. If… even if it were sacrifice. It means you don’t have to bear it alone!

Her appearance, shouting at me in the final moment, wouldn’t have been a lie either.

However, whether I lived my life cherishing this in my heart, that’s another story.

It’s probably also because there was so much going on after surviving the Demonic Realm that I lived forgetting about it.

“There’s nothing to help or not help.”

As for me, just protecting those beside me is overwhelming.

It would be good if Moyong Hi-ah became an ally, but fundamentally, that wasn’t the purpose of this trip.

It also feels strange to distinguish between enemy and ally at this point.

‘Just seeing her face has made me overthink things.’

I shook it off and stood up.

There was no way I could figure it out by worrying about it now.

First, I will do what I need to do.

“Shall I go practice?”

These were the words I said to Mu-yeon, who was waiting outside the door.

Mu-yeon looked surprised, as if he didn’t expect me to appear.

Seeing that, I continued speaking, dumbfounded.

“Hey, I told you you don’t need to stand guard outside the door.”

“…Young Master, guarding is originally….”

“If you’re going to give a long speech, forget it. Look around, who on earth keeps a guard at their door?”

As if to prove my point, there were no rooms around with guards stationed at the door.

This is the unique pride of late-stage disciples.

It’s a way to show they aren’t weak enough to need guards.

In my opinion, it was a truly pointless power struggle.

For me, it was convenient because it gave me an excuse to shake off Mu-yeon, but.

“If you’re going to nag, let’s go train together instead.”

“…Understood.”

In the end, Mu-yeon said no more and followed me.

Since Bacheonmaru is the lodging for late-stage disciples, there is a training ground prepared behind it.

Since there were many eyes watching, I couldn’t use martial arts, but practicing basic conditioning should be fine.

When things get a bit complicated, moving my body is always the quickest method.

As I was heading to the training ground with Mu-yeon, I also brought Gu Jeolyub, who was likely lounging around in his room.

“Why me…?”

Gu Jeolyub asked me, looking flustered.

“It’ll be good to train together, won’t it? Or not?”

Actually, I just didn’t like the look in his eyes when he was excited seeing Namgung Cheonjun earlier and wanted to mess with him.

Gu Jeolyub also seemed quite serious about training, as I’d never seen him rest, so he followed without complaint.

As we were nearing the training ground.

“Ah, Young Master.”

“Hm?”

“I heard some news earlier….”

“Young Master Guuuuuu!”

Mu-yeon was about to say something when a loud voice echoed, shaking the surroundings.

Could that possibly be calling me?

Just in case, I asked Gu Jeolyub too.

Since there were two people with the surname Gu, I asked just in case, but Gu Jeolyub also had a look of not understanding.

“Then who….”

Wondering what was going on, I turned around, and someone was already standing before my eyes.

Without even giving Mu-yeon time to draw his sword.

And without giving me time to react, quickly.

“Whoa! I missed you so much, it’s really been a while!”

The young man put on a bright smile, grabbed my shoulders, and shook me violently.

It was too rough, even for a greeting.

“Ah, wait a sec….”

It’s a familiar feeling.

This maddening atmosphere. It wasn’t hard to recognize who it was.

Why is this person here? He should have already been beyond the classification of a late-stage disciple.

The young man I met after months still had a rather slender build, unbefitting his surname,

and the black martial attire with the ring on his hand represented his origin.

The previous generation’s Divine Dragon. And the future Sword Emperor (刀帝).

And the current Young Master of the Peng family.

“Young Master Peng…. First, let go… Ah, stop shaking me!”

It was Peng Yu-jin.