Chapter 263: Anhui. (4)

Guided by a Nangong family attendant, I arrived at the banquet hall.

It was a large building located in the center. Compared to the banquet hall in the Gu family’s place, it honestly looked at least five times bigger.

‘Isn’t it too big for the number of people?’ Considering the actual number of people inside the building was small, the building seemed unnecessarily large.

By the time I arrived at the banquet hall, not only were the tables already fully set, but the two family heads and Madam Mi were already present. It seemed like they arrived at least an hour early… Why did they come so early? The food seemed to still be coming out.

I saw unfamiliar figures sitting on Nangong Jin’s side. ‘Are they elders?’ There were two old men who looked quite aged. Moreover, judging by the unusual aura each one exuded, they were highly skilled swordsmen. They seemed to be the elders of the Nangong family. Did they attend because it’s a banquet?

As I watched in bewilderment, the elders’ gazes turned towards me. Their blue eyes held a subtle radiance. Should I call it the unique aura of the Nangong family? Enduring those gazes, I walked forward first. My steps, taken slowly and as honestly as possible, soon stopped in front of Nangong Jin and my father.

“Thank you for inviting me to the banquet.” I bowed slightly, showing respect. It was just a polite remark. I was dying of annoyance, why would they even hold a banquet?

“You must have had a hard time traveling a long way. Make yourself comfortable.”

“Thank you for your words.” At Nangong Jin’s words, I lifted my bowed head. It felt utterly awkward, exchanging words we didn’t mean. Especially Nangong Jin, whose eyes betrayed a desire mixed with his words, made it even more so. ‘This guy seems to want the banquet to end even more than I do.’ Nangong Jin is probably more desperate than me. What kind of enlightenment did he gain from the old man’s words? That makes him keep showing those eyes? ‘I know that enlightenment is like quenching thirst for a martial artist, but…’ As a martial artist myself, I can’t say I don’t understand. Even just looking at myself. The parts where I don’t know what’s lacking. If someone could solve them, it’s possible I’d show such a reaction. ‘Still, annoyance is annoyance.’ Knowing his situation didn’t make the annoyance disappear. At the very least. ‘Since I can’t solve it right now…’ Even if I understand Nangong Jin’s desire, there’s nothing I can do to solve it. Because this damn old man didn’t seem inclined to get up. Without Shin Noyah, I couldn’t do anything about that teaching or whatever. The Nangong family’s swordsmanship that I saw was only what the Sword Master of the previous life displayed. ‘Although that was outstanding too.’ Ultimately, it would be different from the sword technique of the Heavenly Thunder Sword that Shin Noyah saw.

First, putting Nangong Jin’s gaze behind me, after finishing my greetings to my father and Madam Mi, I went and took a seat in an empty spot at the end. It looked like my seat, no matter who looked at it. Seeing the empty seat opposite me, it seemed like that was likely Nangong Bi-ah’s seat. ‘Hasn’t she arrived yet?’ Nangong Bi-ah didn’t seem to have arrived. She wouldn’t have fallen asleep, would she? Knowing her personality, it wasn’t impossible. ‘Meanwhile.’ I tried hard to pretend not to notice, but I could feel gazes from all around. Although I didn’t bother to turn my head and check, I could somewhat gauge the nature of the gazes. ‘Are they elders? Or if not, who else could it be?’ I don’t know what they’re trying to see, but as expected from another family, it’s full of discomfort. Do they not know I’d notice? That’s possible. If it were my level from last year, I might not have noticed. I felt like crap, but I didn’t want to use my energy reacting to it. Because I could already foresee all sorts of shitstorms erupting from it.

I slowly picked up the tea placed before me. I thought maybe I could calm down by taking a sip, but I sensed someone’s presence outside the banquet hall door. Then, an attendant waiting by the door spoke. “The First Young Master is entering.” At the attendant’s words, I glanced towards the door. ‘The First Young Master… If it’s the Nangong family’s First Young Master, it can only be him.’ When I was looking for the Nangong family, I thought he wasn’t in the family since he wasn’t visible, but it seems he was here after all. His own sister visited the main family, yet he didn’t show up. That wasn’t like him. ‘Has it been a year?’ Since I haven’t seen him since the martial arts tournament, it’s been over a year. It was the appearance of our Nyo-ryong. Someone entered through the banquet hall entrance. I immediately shifted my gaze. He was a handsome young man with white-blond hair and blue eyes, reminiscent of a young Nangong Jin. That guy’s handsome face was still the same. ‘I don’t like it.’ My temper, which gets annoyed just looking at handsome faces, was also still the same. I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye. There wasn’t any particular reason. I was just checking to see if anything had changed. As I looked, surprisingly, there were changes. ‘It’s stable.’ Back then, when he had just manifested his internal energy, he was quite unstable. Moreover, he had contained other energies within his body, making him a mess with energies he couldn’t control at will. Now, those volatile energies had become somewhat stable.

Nangong Cheonjun, who had entered the banquet hall, also directed his gaze this way. His expression stiffening upon spotting me was quite striking. Even though his energy had changed, his personality seemed to remain the same. However, the stiffened expression instantly changed into a smug smile, as if nothing had happened. He even stopped to speak to me as he passed. “It’s been a while. Young Hero Gu.”

“Indeed. It’s been a while, brother-in-law.” I said it with a slight intention to provoke. Nangong Cheonjun’s expression didn’t change. ‘Oh…?’ He endured this. Has he trained that aspect over the past year? Nangong Cheonjun, with a smirk, walked past me towards the head seats. He too was heading to show courtesy to the family head first. I quietly watched his back. More precisely, I closely examined his body. ‘The blood energy… Is it gone?’ The demonic blood energy I felt from Nangong Cheonjun during the last martial arts tournament. At that time, I had semi-forcibly absorbed and taken that energy. Perhaps because of that incident, the blood energy was no longer felt from Nangong Cheonjun’s body. ‘Did it properly disappear… Hmm?’ Just as I was about to turn my head, thinking it had all been absorbed and gone, a subtle difference became apparent. If Nangong Cheonjun possessed blood energy, it should be felt in his dantian. ‘What is it.’ Something is different.

Ggggrrr. As soon as I felt the difference, it was actually my body that showed a change. I felt heat in my dantian. […Grrr…rrr….] Furthermore, the freeloader, who had been sleeping soundly and showing no intention of waking up, also reacted. I looked at Nangong Cheonjun’s back and realized why my body was reacting like this. ‘That bastard…?’ The moment I widened my eyes looking at him, another announcement came from the entrance. “The First Young Lady is entering.” It was the news that Nangong Bi-ah had arrived. I turned my head to look at the entrance. Someone entered with a gentle breeze. Truly light footsteps. Her neatly clasped hands and slightly lowered gaze created an atmosphere. Her braided and beautifully tied hair shimmered. Her appearance, which I already thought was excessively beautiful, seemed to have sprouted wings with a little adornment, flying even higher. ‘Crazy.’ How could it be otherwise, when my familiarity, built from seeing her face all day long in the past, was completely shattered? The heat that had started rising slightly while looking at Nangong Cheonjun became so insignificant I could barely remember it after seeing Nangong Bi-ah’s face once. It seemed I wasn’t the only one thinking this. All eyes in the banquet hall were directed towards Nangong Bi-ah. Madam Mi, in particular, seemed quite surprised. Her eyes were about twice their usual size. Nangong Bi-ah, approaching the head seats with calm steps, slowly bowed her head. “I apologize for being late.” She wasn’t late. After all, not much time had passed yet. Nevertheless, Nangong Bi-ah paid her respects. Nangong Jin, watching her quietly, signaled his acceptance with a hand gesture. As expected, Nangong Bi-ah then took the seat opposite me. Normally, she would have sprawled out immediately. But Nangong Bi-ah, sitting in the most composed posture possible, always felt refreshingly different. ‘Isn’t she holding back a lot of discomfort inside?’ Judging by the slight tremor in her pupils, she seemed quite uncomfortable without anyone to lean on. Separately from that. ‘It’s intense.’ Yes, that word would be fitting. She’s intensely beautiful. Adding light makeup to her already radiant face, the result was somewhat excessive. If she went out carelessly looking like that, it’s at a level where anything could happen. Nangong Bi-ah’s surname was Nangong, after all. It’s fortunate her beauty surpassed the peak. In normal circumstances, it would have been an unavoidable disaster. The saying that the existence of a beautiful woman can ruin a nation isn’t just a saying for nothing. Nangong Bi-ah was truly at that level right now. Comparing her to the Sword Master of my previous life, her appearance wasn’t much different from now, but her eyes, which gazed emptily at the world as if broken, and the way she stood expressionlessly, as if malfunctioning, it would be right to consider her a completely different person now. ‘It’s fortunate I taught her this and that.’ Whether it was hiding her presence using energy, or wearing a veil, since I’ve instructed her to do various things, it should be somewhat better.

Just then. “-Hey…” Telepathic communication reached me. It was from Nangong Bi-ah, seated opposite me. What could it be that she’s resorting to telepathy? Wondering why, I examined her face. Nangong Bi-ah was looking my way with strangely anxious eyes. “-…How am I…?” “-How is what?” “-…H-how do I look…?” I mean. What exactly is she asking about? Not understanding well, I furrowed my brows slightly and observed Nangong Bi-ah. Nangong Bi-ah asked, her face slightly flushed. “-Do… do I look pretty?” As if unable to meet my eyes, she asked me, turning her head slightly. Taken aback by the sudden question, I observed her. This was a question she had asked me once before. However, back then, she didn’t hesitate and ask like this, nor did she avoid my gaze. It was the same question, but her attitude was different. Filled with bashfulness and asked with anxiety, it felt like she was brimming with emotion. “-…Uh… um.” Compared to that, I was still the same useless idiot. Perhaps because I didn’t expect her to ask something like this, I couldn’t give any answer to Nangong Bi-ah, who still couldn’t meet my eyes. Should I spout some grand compliment? I moved my flustered lips, trying to think, but only one phrase came to mind. “-…You’re pretty.” As someone lacking in eloquence, this was the only option I could offer. However, fortunately, it wasn’t wrong. Nangong Bi-ah smiled brightly upon hearing it. Showing relief, as if it were a great relief. Along with that joy, I felt a warmth spreading inside me. Seeing that smile, I found myself smiling back without realizing it. I don’t know why, but it just happened naturally. And Nangong Bi-ah, like that, Nangong Cheonjun was quietly watching.

The banquet ended without any particular incident. The family heads don’t particularly enjoy drinking, and moreover, martial artists who have reached that level aren’t really affected by alcohol anyway. It was merely a gathering to celebrate the arrival of the Gu family, so it didn’t last long. It wasn’t particularly enjoyable either. ‘Maybe it’s because of the gazes, they still sting.’ I shrugged my shoulders with my hand. Was it because of the gazes felt from all directions? I felt a bit tired. ‘Look moderately. They started staring openly.’ Perhaps it was because I pretended not to care. Not only the elders present, but also several people who looked like martial artists seemed to be openly staring at me. I don’t know what they hope to find out by looking like that, but it wasn’t a pleasant feeling.

“…Hoo.” As soon as it ended, I slipped out discreetly and walked down the path. As I walked, getting some fresh air, someone beside me spoke to me. “Are you tired…?”

“I’m fine.” Nangong Bi-ah was also with me. I was about to head straight back to my quarters, but Nangong Bi-ah followed me out and asked to walk together. Thanks to that, I could block Nangong Jin from approaching. Originally, I had planned to quickly say I was tired and escape, but this is better. My eyes naturally drifted to Nangong Bi-ah’s head as she carefully spoke to me. Between her neatly braided hair, I saw the hairpin I had given her as a gift. Perhaps because I happened to see it, I asked Nangong Bi-ah. “Are you going to keep using that?”

“…? Yeah?” “You know, you could throw it away and use something else if needed.” It was significantly cheaper than the other ornaments she possessed, so I asked if it wouldn’t be better to use something else of comparable value.

“…” Nangong Bi-ah’s expression instantly became deeply hurt. Huh? “…Sorry.” Seeing that, I apologized without realizing it. I hadn’t seen that kind of expression from her before. “…Yeah.” Fortunately, my quick apology seemed to work, and her expression returned to normal, but I felt an awkward atmosphere settling in. Did I do something wrong? The path, illuminated by moonlight and lanterns, was exceptionally beautiful, but due to the awkward atmosphere, it didn’t easily catch my eye. “I think I might have said something wrong…” I tried to quickly add an excuse. Because Nangong Bi-ah’s expression wouldn’t easily leave my mind. Just as I was about to continue speaking, “It is a truly bright moonlit night.” A voice chimed in my ear, forcing me to stop talking. Across the street. At a point where faint light barely held back the darkness. The voice came from there. “I felt I couldn’t greet you properly earlier, so I came here.” The uninvited guest spoke thus. Although the tone was full of courtesy, I felt a distinctly thick mask, making me feel queasy. “Have you been well since then?” I turned my body, looking at him. As our eyes met, he looked at me with clear blue eyes from within the darkness. Then, looking at me, he moved his lips. “Brother-in-law.” Even though uttering it must have felt as cold as biting a blade, the uninvited guest, Nangong Cheonjun, was still smiling. Seeing that, words involuntarily burst out of my mouth. “What’s that bedwetter saying?” Oops. That was a mistake.