Chapter 148: Round of 32 (2)

Chunbong’s expression hardened.

Her head turned with a sharp creak, icy eyes boring into Seojun.

“You… fucking bastard…”

“Huh?”

“How could you… shit… fucker…”

Chunbong trembled all over, moisture gathering at the corners of her eyes.

Seojun stared, bewildered. What the hell just happened?

Rage consumed her as she shrieked.

“…Bastard! Die! Just become a eunuch!”

Then she ran off.

“What…. Hey! Gim Chunboing…! Why you being such a meanie…!?”

Seojun called desperately out, but she had already vanished.

He turned to Namgung Suah, confusion written across his face.

“Big sis, what did I do?”

“Hmm…”

Namgung Suah looked back and forth between the courtesans and Seojun, then smiled softly.

“I wonder? In any case, are these ladies our guests?”

“I guess? I was thinking we could hire them as servants.”

“Fufu, that shouldn’t be difficult.”

Smiling, Namgung Suah approached Seojun and stopped right in front of him.

Close enough to feel each other’s breath.

When his eyes darted around, she slightly opened her eyes to reveal those blue irises and raised the corners of her mouth.

This wasn’t her usual gentle smile.

Those strangely pressuring eyes fixed on him as she asked.

“But… what’s this about so suddenly? They look like courtesans. You disappeared without a word and came back saying you want to hire them as servants.”

Picture this scenario:

The feelings of a wife when her husband comes home after staying out all night without notice, suddenly bringing women home and announcing he wishes to hire them as servants.

“Ah.”

The situation hit him like a lightning bolt. Seojun smacked his palm against his fist.

“Ooh, it’s a misunderstandinggg~”

It wasn’t difficult to clear up the misunderstanding.

With just a simple explanation, Namgung Suah smiled softly and guided the courtesans to a manager.

Definitely her usual warm expression this time.

Seojun, who’d been briefly sweating bullets, finally exhaled in relief.

“Phew. Oi Gim Chunboing. If you were listening, come back quickly.”

Seojun planted his hands on his hips. From her distant hiding spot, eavesdropping, Chunbong shuffled over.

She looked apologetic, having realized she’d misunderstood.

Hehe, just as planned.

Seojun grinned wickedly.

This was Chunbong’s excellent lie detection working against her.

While he truly hadn’t done anything inappropriate with the courtesans, the reality involved an even more terrifying backstory with Baek Seojun…!

But Chunbong believed only the surface truth and didn’t dig deeper.

So crisis averted!

When Seojun smiled brightly, Chunbong fidgeted.

“Well… it was understandable to misunderstand…”

“Even so, telling me to become a eunuch! This big brother never taught you such foul language!”

“I wasn’t serious either!”

“There, there, my Gim Chunboing is a good girl.”

“Stop making up new nicknames!”

“Sigh, even if it’s Chunbubbie’s request, that’s one I can’t grant.”

Chunbong pouted, glaring at him.

Seojun grinned back.

“I’ll give you a present to make up for it.”

“…What present.”

“Your match with big sis is tomorrow.”

“Huh?”

Chunbong tilted her head.

“How do you know that?”

“Monk Abbot, he just told me when I asked y’know?”

“Seriously? He didn’t seem like such a flexible person.”

“I helped him out with something.”

Paving the way so they could examine the martial artists’ inner qi.

That wasn’t all, there were past favors too.

Readily accepting the duel with Ju Cheoryuk to avoid complications. Giving Hyeun enlightenment and contributing to his growth.

So for the Abbot, sharing one match schedule was trivial.

To be fair, strictly speaking, all these incidents were his fault, but good deeds are good deeds, right?

Seojun grinned.

“So you can skip today’s Dragon Phoenix Tournament and play around with me.”

“Oh…”

Chunbong licked her lips.

“There’s this malatang tanghulu I haven’t tried yet.”

“…Do we really have to eat that?”

“You eat something else. I’m the only one eating it.”

“Hmm.”

Seojun shrugged.

“Whatever, we’ll see.”

Exploring Henan’s streets with Chunbong and Namgung Suah made time fly by in a blur.

“Ah…! Aren’t you that Great Expert? Heaven-reaching True Qi…”

“Photos. Troublesome.”

“Pardon?”

Surprisingly, many people recognized him.

Well, it was only natural, the duel with Ju Cheoryak had been just days ago.

Fortunately, not many actually approached to talk. It wasn’t easy for people to casually talk to a Transcendent Realm martial artist.

Seojun bit into a malatang tanghulu, his expression turning serious.

“Why is this actually pretty good?”

“I told you it’d be tasty.”

“The heck, it makes no sense.”

The group entered a decent inn, each clutching tanghulu (Chunbong wielding two per hand), and ordered food.

“Are preparations going well?”

Namgung Suah’s smile turned mysterious at his words.

“Hmm… perhaps?”

“Oh? Starting to get the hang of it then?”

There was one assignment he’d given Namgung Suah.

Find the direction of your mental imagery.

Simply put, discover your own path.

Having reached Peak Realm, her mental imagery should already be formed. But to advance further, she needed a goal.

A lighthouse to guide her through the maze of cultivation paths.

“After seeing her use the Chubong Divine Art last time, it seems like she found her path.”

“Mmhm. Transcendent Realm will be soon too.”

“My Chunbubbie is amazing!”

As he gave various advice to the two women aiming for Transcendent Realm, the food came out quickly.

They’d claimed seats on the third floor, the inn’s highest level. There were few other patrons, most appearing to be martial artists.

No bothersome crowds, and even potential troublemakers would retreat after one sharp glance.

Thanks to this, they could eat and chat comfortably.

After wiping oil from Chunbong’s mouth, taking away the bone-in meat she was gnawing because she found deboning too much work and doing it for her, then feeding her a few more pieces when she grumbled about being full, he felt someone’s gaze.

“What?”

Turning his head, Seojun spotted a familiar face and waved.

“Here for food?”

Hwangbo Jun looked at Seojun with a peculiar expression. Beside him, Hwangbo Hyeji stared wide-eyed at Seojun and his companions.

Hwangbo Jun waved back reluctantly, then cautiously transmitted to Hwangbo Hyeji.

[Don’t act rashly. Nothing good comes from drawing that monster’s attention.]

[Y-yes…?]

[Just greet them, then leave the inn naturally.]

Hwangbo Jun patted her back.

Despite her confusion, Hwangbo Hyeji offered tactful greetings to Seojun’s group.

“Pleased to meet you, Senior. Young Lady Namgung and Young Lady Geum too. I am Hyeji of the Hwangbo Clan.”

Seojun acknowledged her.

“Yeah, nice meeting you, friend. Myeong mentioned you.”

“Y-Young Expert Namgung mentioned me…?”

Hwangbo Hyeji’s cheeks flushed red.

Future sister-in-law?

Seojun looked at her warmly, then turned to Hwangbo Jun.

“And you, bastard. What’s this? Calling someone a monster? Wanna die?”

“…What are you talking about?”

“Think I can’t hear transmitted sounds?”

Unfortunately, he’d caught every word.

Transmitted sound vibrates inner qi instead of air, delivering messages directly to the target’s ear.

There was no reason Seojun couldn’t eavesdrop.

At Unrestrained Realm, intercepting ordinary transmitted conversations wasn’t even challenging.

To gossip behind someone’s back, you’d need special methods, distance yourself considerably, or boldly badmouth anyways and get your head cut off.

“Eavesdropping… on others’ conversations is not honorable.”

“What did you say?”

“…Sorry.”

“How about I just…”

When Seojun raised his fist, Hwangbo Jun slowly backed away.

“Ugh, whatever. So what brings you two here?”

“Taking my grand-niece out isn’t unusual.”

“Grand-niece?”

Seojun looked back and forth between Hwangbo Jun and Hwangbo Hyeji. Hwangbo Jun nodded.

“My sister’s granddaughter.”

“What.”

If his sister’s granddaughter was that age, just how old was Hwangbo Jun?

After pondering briefly, Seojun gave up.

He had no intention of speaking more politely and whatnot just because someone was ancient anyway.

“Sure… whatever. Have a good time.”

“We will, whether you say so or not.”

When Seojun stared at him, Hwangbo Jun quickly nodded.

“…T-Thank you, you as well.”

“That’s better.”

Cheeky bastard.

When Seojun grinned and waved, Hwangbo Jun and Hwangbo Hyeji found seats and left.

I wonder if something bad happened to their clan?

From his glimpse of her before the greeting, his future sister-in-law’s expression hadn’t been too good.

Of course, she wasn’t confirmed as sister-in-law yet, but just in case, keeping an eye on things wouldn’t hurt.

The final day of the Round of 32.

For something as major as the Dragon Phoenix Tournament, not some minor martial arts competition, it was shocking that the Round of 32 still wasn’t finished.

“When’s my Chunbubbie coming out…”

Seojun sat grumbling.

Chunbong’s turn was second. The first match had just started, so it would wrap up before her bout.

— The winner is…!

Fifteen minutes later, the first match concluded.

The victor was Peng Dojin of the Hebei Peng Clan.

Since the Peng Clan’s territory bordered Black Serpent territory, he’d thought they wouldn’t participate in the Dragon Phoenix Tournament, but surprisingly they had sent a disciple too.

Did they deliberately keep him in reserve?

Who knew. That reminded him, there’d been someone named Peng Something at the meetings too.

Since it wasn’t his business anyway, he shrugged it off.

Now it was finally Chunbong’s turn.

“Chun… Geum Hee, fighting!”

She stepped onto the arena at his cheer, her expression somewhat displeased.

What’s with Geum Hee?

She pouted.

Though she was attached to the name Geum Hee too, she wanted only big brother calling her Chunbong.

Chunbong observed her opponent and calmed her mind.

Nothing was more embarrassing than losing due to carelessness.

Composing herself, she waited for the start signal.

— Begin…!

The match ended before even half of a quarter-hour passed.

“What.”

The anticlimactic speed left Seojun unable to hide his disappointment.

Even if her opponent wasn’t from the Sixteen Great Sects, he hadn’t expected it to end this fast.

— …Geum Hee! Geum Hee!

— So cool…!

The crowd loved the overwhelming display of power, but what an unsatisfying conclusion.

“Sheesh.”

Seojun grumbled and settled back down.

He’d even stood up to cheer.

Clicking his tongue, Seojun crossed his arms and fell into thought. With Chunbong’s match over, he needed to organize his thoughts until big sis Suah’s turn.

There’ll probably be quite a bit of discussion at today’s meeting…

Baek Seojun, and the Black Serpent too.

Since the territory of Shaolin, known as the Pillar of the Martial World had been so easily breached, discussion was inevitable.

And one more thing.

Maybe they’ll bring up that bastard Jongin this time?

That Mount Hua elder suspected of collaborating with Black Serpent.

Seojun had been the one to sever his head, but strangely there’d been no mention until now.

They’d probably bring it up this time in connection with Ju Cheoryak…

Should I just pin it all on Black Serpent?

Since Namgung Suah had also used the Sword of the Boundless Azure Sky there, if they’d found traces, word would naturally have reached the Namgung Clan.

The fact that nothing had been said meant Mount Hua hadn’t found traces of Seojun, Chunbong, or Namgung Suah.

His efforts to carefully erase evidence seemed to have paid off…

In that case, pinning the blame on Black Serpent might prove more effective than revealing the truth.

The Black Serpent assassinated not only the Great General but also Mount Hua’s elder.

These guys really are bastards, aren’t they?

Seojun clicked his tongue at Black Serpent’s evil deeds.

— Winner…! Eun Wiryong of the Diancang Sect…!

The third match just concluded.

Finally, the last match of the Round of 32 and Namgung Suah’s turn.

Seojun shot up from his seat again.

“Big sis, fighting!”

Namgung Suah giggled and waved at his cheer.

— Namgung Suah of the Namgung Clan!

Namgung Suah stepped onto the arena, wielding a sword longer than her height.

— Cheongsong of the Qingcheng Sect!

Her opponent was Cheongsong, Namgung Myeong’s friend.

Standing across from Namgung Suah, Cheongsong smiled brightly.

“We meet again, Young Lady Namgung.”

“Good to see you.”

Cheongsong bowed formally. Namgung Suah returned the gesture.

Watching this, Seojun clicked his tongue.

“Seriously, what’s the age difference? How presumptuous.”

The Red Face Beggar, who’d been seriously pondering something beside him, looked puzzled.

“Those two should be about the same age though?”

“What are you talking about? He’s friends with Myeong.”

“What does friendship have to do with age?”

“Uh… I guess so?”

Come to think of it, that made sense.

Seojun awkwardly scratched his head.

“More importantly, I’ve been thinking. No matter how I look at it, the only person who could overwhelm the Great General that thoroughly and slip out of Henan without a trace has to be the Ice Palace Lord, right?”

Feeling guilty, Seojun waved his hands.

“…Let’s discuss that at the meeting later. How about we focus on the match for now?”

“Well, sure. It’s not just any match but Namgung’s turn.”

— Begin…!

The match started with the referee’s signal.

Since focusing on the match wasn’t entirely an excuse, Seojun watched the arena intently.

She said she was getting the hang of it, right?

I wonder what form big sis’s mental imagery will take…

The curiosity made his hands and feet tingle.