Chapter 115: Cangtian Sword King Nangong Jin. (2)
You will never know what I was like when you disappeared.
Perhaps you will never know, for I will not speak to you even in death.
Did you know? I do not like the moon.
For the moon being up means the night has come.
And I loathe the night.
When the moon rose, you would stand quietly and look up at the sky.
I am now a little curious as to what meaning it held that you ignored my shouts to come back quickly.
What did you dream of while looking at the mere moon? Our lives were both like gutters.
Even in this wretched life, you were looking at something.
Unlike me.
You, who simply closed your eyes at my words asking if you liked the moon that much.
Funnily enough, the fact that you are no longer here is just a bit uncomfortable.
A very little bit.
So little that it doesn't show.
Why did you do that?
I still have doubts; if you die, you can no longer see the moon, nor wield the sword you love.
It means you cannot even achieve that flimsy revenge you desired.
Knowing all that, why did you do it?
Even if we were to meet again, you wouldn't answer. That damned personality of yours is obvious without even looking.
At the very last moment, you asked me if the moon was up.
The moon is no longer up. It had already set at that very moment.
*Gurgle—*
I poured alcohol on the sword.
It is the very alcohol you used to drink occasionally. This should be enough.
[I will not say I will fulfill it in your stead.]
For I did not hear what you dreamed of while living, nor what you sought to achieve.
I will not do what you hoped to achieve.
Since it's a life you saved, I wouldn't even say the empty words that I won't die.
Because you would know well that I cannot do such a thing.
I swallowed the remaining few mouthfuls in the bottle at once and put the bottle away.
Useless sentiments were enough up to here.
The surroundings were filled with the corpses of the Alliance's martial artists. They were all charred by fire and had chunks torn out from somewhere, looking even more grotesque.
I raised my head and looked up at the sky.
[...The moon is still not up.]
Although the moonlight of a full moon was shining from the sky.
It was not the moon I wanted to see.
The very first thing I felt upon reaching the Pinnacle realm was a sense of dissonance.
Because it is the time when the changes according to the realm are most certain.
The Pinnacle is the realm where the body and internal qi gradually become one.
To put it somewhat easily, internal qi gradually permeates the body.
Even without internal qi, my grip strength becomes stronger, and the wide field of vision that could only be seen through qi sense is naturally captured by my two eyes.
Some call this a superhuman, and some say it is the beginning of transcending humanity.
Whatever it is doesn't matter. If I were to write down what I experienced and felt, this too is ultimately just a part of the path.
Hwaruuruk-!
The flames surrounding my body are not large. Because I drove them all into my body.
My field of vision, expanded as much as my qi sense, is accurate. I could instinctively tell that the man was a stronger martial artist than me.
‘So what?’
Let me think rationally. Whether it's right to charge in like this.
If he treats Nangong Bi-a, a direct bloodline of the family, like that, his position is definitely not low.
Do I have a justification to clash with him? Can the unseemly facade of being the fiancé fill that justification?
Kkuk.
Power fills the soles of my feet that trampled the ground. Even though my head sought such rational thoughts, my body was already moving.
‘If a justification is needed.’
Blood was shed. The sight of the red, swollen color on her white cheek caught my eye.
If I need a justification, that is enough.
Why am I so angry? Over something like that?
‘It's far too late to find a reason.’
Kung!
The heat soared in an instant, filling my middle dantian. The storm inside my body raged wildly as if representing my emotions, but I could endure it now.
If I were to find why I got angry, it's simply because.
Because she made a space that didn't exist in my heart, which I thought was packed without any gaps, and filled it tightly.
My body, applying martial arts, reaches the position faster than the wind.
Only after I arrived behind his back did the man seem to notice and show movement, but I was faster than that.
Spitting flames to block his vision, my fist containing internal qi extends to crush him.
There was no time to think about where to aim. Even if my posture broke from the rushed movement, I had enough strength to push through.
Kwaang-!
As my fist extended, internal qi burst out and a violent sound spread around. The spewing heat closed in fiercely, but I had no choice but to grit my teeth.
‘It didn't work.’
Only an inch.
The fist extended right in front of his nose was caught by the man's hand.
Huk-!
The flames were pushed back and scattered by the internal qi erupting from the man's body. My cheek tingled.
The wind created by the internal qi carried a faint lightning energy.
"Who are you."
It was a heavy voice. The movement of him grabbing my hand was incredibly fast. If judged by actual combat, it would probably be even faster.
He's strong. The man was a martial artist so strong that I couldn't even gauge his level.
But there was one thing I was certain of. I could land one hit.
That was the feeling I got.
"Heo!"
As I pulled up my internal qi again, the man let out an empty breath as if dumbfounded.
"Your momentum is soaring, that is something worth praising. However."
A tingling energy from the man's body took form and began to press down on me. It was a familiar energy.
It was the Nangong Family's ultimate technique that I had felt countless times from Nangong Bi-a in my past life, an energy on a different level from the current Nangong Bi-a.
"You need to cultivate your eye for recognizing your opponent a bit more."
The man reaches his hand out. The deeply contained lightning energy showed just how much intense internal qi the man had loaded.
Just as his fingertips reached right in front of my eyes, the man suddenly stopped his movement.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Anger was carried in the man's voice. It wasn't directed at me. It was because Nangong Bi-a, who had been sitting down, was hugging the man's back.
"Stop... please."
"As if running away wasn't enough, now you're even rebelling?"
"..."
Despite the man's fierce words, Nangong Bi-a's arms wrapping around his waist only grew tighter.
At that sight, the man clicked his tongue with a "Tsk!"
The gaze that was looking at Nangong Bi-a shifted to me.
"What is your name?"
The man's internal qi was still pressing down on my body, but it wasn't unbearable.
Because I had felt a much denser and more evolved energy to the point of exhaustion in my past life.
I answered the question while looking straight into the man's eyes.
"I am Gu Yangcheon. Nangong Family Head."
Upon hearing my name, a hint of interest appeared in the man's eyes.
"...I see. I heard the realm you achieved is remarkably high for your age, so you are the Gu Family Head's son."
"Yes."
"You seem to recognize me, yet you did this knowing who I am?"
With that family's signature cold appearance, his eyes were full of arrogance.
The current Nangong Family Head who inherited the name of the Sword King.
Cangtian Sword King, Nangong Jin.
He was the man who was Nangong Bi-a's father.
I couldn't not know. There couldn't be anyone else whose eyes and actions suited such an aura so perfectly.
I didn't know why Nangong Jin, who should have been in Anhui Province, had personally come all the way here, but I didn't want to bow my head to that arrogant gaze.
"You just attempted to harm the Head of the Nangong Family. Do you not know how serious of a crime this is?"
"I saw someone coming from the morning to strike my fiancée, how could I just stand by?"
"What?"
"I recognized you, Nangong Family Head, only after facing your face; before that, from my perspective, it only looked like an intruder was harming a guest of our family."
I retrieved the flames surrounding my body and drew out the heat I had fully loaded. Instantly, a hot wind spread from my body.
Nangong Jin's bangs swayed in the wind.
Nangong Jin was looking at me with a fully furrowed gaze.
"You are making up sophistries."
"I merely acted as a bloodline of the Gu Family."
As Nangong Jin said, this was just sophistry. But it wasn't words I spat out thinking they would particularly work.
Even if it was me, I couldn't swear at the Head of the Nangong Family.
So I had to irritate his temper even like this.
Soon after, Nangong Jin withdrew the internal qi he was emitting. At the sudden situation, the Nangong Family's martial artists who had drawn their swords and taken combat stances also sheathed their swords again at Nangong Jin's hand gesture.
As the energy disappeared, my suffocating breath seemed to ease a little.
Nangong Jin says to me.
"I have no intention of humoring your sophistries any longer. I will report this matter separately to the Gu Family Head."
For someone who suffered a surprise attack, Nangong Jin didn't say much else. His displeased expression was clear in his eyes, but he wasn't bringing up any more words.
Why?
I thought he'd definitely throw a bigger fit.
‘Is there something holding him back?’
Otherwise, he wouldn't just let it slide so roughly.
Nangong Jin quickly hid his uncomfortable expression and brought up another topic. It was about Nangong Cheon-jun, whom I had met before.
"I heard you taught my son a lesson. He is an ugly son who acts believing only in his talent, so I thought this was just him letting his guard down, but facing it directly, it is different from that."
"A lesson? I don't have the level to teach the great Thunder Dragon Young Lord. Family Head. To be precise, he picked a fight, and I unilaterally beat him up."
Speaking with a hint of sarcasm, I could see Nangong Jin's forehead crumple sharply. Thunder Dragon... At that time, my realm was trivial and I didn't have much internal qi, but it would be different now.
It's a different story if the current Nangong Cheon-jun has gotten stronger, but would he really?
Nangong Jin also couldn't not know the thorns embedded in my words.
"...It is visible that your talent is outstanding, but you lack humility compared to your status. In that regard, you are exactly like your father."
"Right, your son did kind of have that feel to him."
"You...!"
Perhaps he finally couldn't contain his anger, Nangong Jin's face turned somewhat red. He didn't draw his sword, but the internal qi from earlier swelled up again.
But the internal qi was not released. Because both Nangong Jin and I, and everyone present, sensed the presence felt from behind.
"Gu Family Head..."
Nangong Jin said, fixing his expression. The person approaching with calm steps from behind was the Gu Family Head, Gu Cheol-un, my father.
My father didn't look at Nangong Jin, glanced at Nangong Bi-a once, and then fixed his gaze on me. Within his sharp gaze, I shuddered without realizing it.
With a small sigh, he speaks to me.
"I clearly told you to rest and come to my room by tonight, yet you caused an incident from the morning."
"..."
At my father's firm tone, I averted my eyes. Because it was true that I caused an incident.
My father approached the Nangong Family Head and calmly paid his respects.
"It seems our son has caused you trouble."
"...Gu Family Head."
"He is a child who still lacks sense. I will give him a severe scolding later, so please put away your anger."
"No matter how senseless he is, this goes against the laws of the Central Plains..."
"You, apologize right now too."
I'm sorry.
At my father's words, I immediately bowed my head and apologized. Perhaps because I interrupted him and apologized, Nangong Jin's face crumpled deeply.
"...How nothing has changed, Gu Family Head."
"It is a relief that the Nangong Family Head also seems healthy."
"Father and son as a pair... Hah."
He seemed angry to the back of his throat, but as expected, he didn't continue his words.
No matter how I look at him, he doesn't seem like the personality to hold back his anger, so why is he acting like that? Does he really have a weakness caught?
"...I trust appropriate measures will be taken regarding this matter."
"Understood."
My father's gaze turned to Nangong Bi-a. He saw her swollen cheek and the blood stains around her mouth, but there was no particular change in his expression.
Rather, Nangong Jin saw that and asked.
"Are you going to say something about my discipline of my own child as well?"
"I have no such intention. I just think it would be good to treat her quickly. Because we have an important schedule, you see."
"...I will handle it myself."
"Understood."
My father's gaze headed toward me again. Is he going to scold me? But it was a somewhat subtle look to say so.
"Follow me."
Contrary to his expression, his voice felt dark and angry. Without moving my steps, I looked at Nangong Bi-a.
My father also seemed to notice my gaze and continued speaking.
"That child will be fine, so don't worry about her. I've already made contact. So hurry up and follow me."
"...Understood."
When on earth? He looked like he came right away, so when did he make contact?
Did he already know this would happen?
As if my father's words were true, the Gu Family's personnel and a physician were coming from outside. From behind, I heard Nangong Jin clicking his tongue.
Only after seeing that did I follow my father.
‘He's exactly like his father.’
The master of Nangong, Cangtian Sword King Nangong Jin thought. Not only the appearance, but even the tone of voice that scrapes irritably at people's insides was exactly the same.
Even the talent, no less.
‘The sword talent too, it seems his luck with children is uselessly overflowing.’
Nangong Jin immediately recalled Gu Yangcheon. Even if it was a surprise attack, he came right up behind his back, and he didn't notice until the attack.
Was it because Gu Yangcheon was fast? He was fast, but it wasn't at a level that could dare to compete with the Nangong Family in speed.
Nangong Jin examined the hand that had caught Gu Yangcheon's fist earlier.
His slightly reddened palm was trembling ever so slightly, but it was definitely trembling. His son and next Family Head, Nangong Cheon-jun, couldn't even touch the hem of Nangong Jin's clothes.
It was impossible unless he played around with poison at the dining table.
But, that guy?
Even while caught and receiving Nangong Jin's internal qi with his whole body, he raised his fighting spirit.
Is it because he's at an age ignorant of the world, or because he has a fiery temperament like his father, unable to see what's ahead or behind?
To Nangong Jin, it was neither.
Gu Yangcheon's eyes were saying so. That this much was worth trying.
‘How dare a late bloomer younger than my son. And the son of that Gu family bastard at that.’
Pudeudeuk.
He did not harbor much resentment over his son being beaten to a pulp.
It was a loss due to weakness. Nangong Jin understands the laws of the Central Plains better than anyone.
However, a case like right now is different.
Originally, it wasn't something he would have tried to pass over while gritting his teeth like this.
If he wanted to, he could have made it a bigger deal.
‘...If only it wasn't the Gu Family.’
If only it wasn't this ominous land, he would have done so. Nangong Jin recalled Gu Cheol-un, whom he had just faced.
He seemed to be polite to him, but his eyes weren't. That guy had been like that since the old days. When Nangong Jin rose to the position of Family Head and heard about the Gu Family from his grandfather, it was a part he could understand to some extent.
Still, he didn't like it.
The gaze that looked down on him, I mean. Leaving the forward-looking gaze as it was, Nangong Jin opened his mouth.
"I will conclude the matter regarding what you have done."
"..."
At Nangong Jin's sharp words, Nangong Bi-a bowed her head.
"Originally, I was thinking of taking you to the main family to punish you, but the timing is not good."
"...Yes."
"As soon as the child's treatment is finished, take her away and dress her up. As beautifully as possible."
At Nangong Jin's words, the attendants waiting nearby answered in loud voices.
‘It's not satisfactory.’
Nangong Jin's furrowed eyebrows showed no signs of flattening.
It was that unsatisfactory.
Today was the day to set the engagement schedule with the Gu Family. That's why it was even more unsatisfactory.
The fact that he, the Head of the great Nangong Family, had to personally come to the Gu Family.
The fact that his only somewhat useful daughter ran away from home following the Gu Family's son.
Even the engagement of that child decided by the Elder Council and his grandfather.
And the Gu Family's son who seemed certain to become the dragon of the era, as well.
‘I want to get rid of it all.’
Especially at the last thought, murderous intent flickered, but Nangong Jin swallowed it inside.
He couldn't do that.
Not yet, that is.
The Family Head's office I visited after just one day. It was a room I visited every time I caused an incident, so the atmosphere was quite tense.
[No matter what, trying to beat the Family Head, have you lost your mind?]
‘You were quietly watching and enjoying it when I was committing the act, so why are you scolding me now?’
[...I was going to say something, but you had already run out.]
That's a lie.
There was time even when I was donning my internal qi, and plenty of time when I first discovered him, but Shin Noya said nothing.
I even clearly felt that he was inwardly enjoying it.
[...Ahem.]
As evidence of that, isn't he clearing his throat as if feeling awkward?
[Even so, you should consider who your opponent is.]
I only realized he was the Nangong Family Head after seeing his face, but I could tell he was stronger than me the moment I saw him.
If I were to be questioned on that, it was definitely my mistake.
My father was sitting at the desk with his eyes closed quietly. Thanks to that, I was coming up with hundreds of thoughts about what kind of punishment I would receive.
In my past life, there was a similar incident where I was chased out to Gu Huibi's sword squad and had to roll under Gu Huibi's hands for over half a year; just recalling it made me feel like I'd still break out in a cold sweat.
Compared to that, I'd rather do closed-door cultivation for half a year.
My father soon opened his eyes and looked at me. Not knowing what first words my father would spit out, I swallowed my saliva.
As if he had been waiting, my father says.
"You did well."
[Huh?]
"...Yes?"
At my father's words, I furrowed my eyebrows without realizing it.
It was a completely unexpected remark.