Chapter 134: I Shouldn't Mess with That Guy. (2)
By the time we arrived in Henan and entered our lodgings, evening had already fallen.
'Baekcheon Pavilion.'
It was clearly a considerably large building at a glance.
It was likely the largest lodge in this vicinity.
'The Alliance must have pushed themselves a bit.'
The Dragon Phoenix Gathering I participated in my past life also provided lodgings.
However, since rooms were given on a first-come-first-served basis or according to the rank of one's family or sect, there were cases where people had to pay out of pocket when no rooms were available.
Of course, once you reached the Guga rank, the discrimination wasn't so bad that you'd fall behind, so I did get a good room.
In front of the lodge, members who appeared to be Alliance personnel were checking the late-stage candidates.
"You may enter."
However, when the man saw Dang Soryeol and Nangong Bi-a, he let them through immediately as if verification procedures were unnecessary.
This was likely due not only to the characteristics that appeared from the Four Great Families, but also the characters boldly written on their clothes.
The Four Great Families weren't the Four Great Families for nothing, after all.
"Gu Yang-cheon of the Shanxi Gu Family... Confirmed. Please enter."
Even while granting entry, I could feel his gaze looking at me with curiosity.
It wasn't the grinning look he had when watching Dang Soryeol and Nangong Bi-a earlier, but literally the face of someone seeing something novel.
[Is it because I look strange?]
'...It's probably just curious that a man from the Gu Family exists.'
Being the son of the Tiger Hero and the younger brother of Sword Phoenix would account for a large part of it.
The recommendation letter from Elder Yi that I received was also handed over, but they didn't seem to check it.
That could be the case since I already had an invitation.
'That's going to be annoying later.'
Actually, it would be better if they didn't check at all.
But no matter how poorly the Murim Alliance handled things, they would verify the recommendation letter later.
Among those with power, there were many madmen, and if their name's worth wasn't acknowledged, there were plenty who would explode with anger.
"You may use the fourth room on the Tae-eun Layer (太銀層)."
Following the attendant's guidance, I went up the floors of the lodge.
The further up I went, the more I could feel the different ranks per floor.
If it were the two who went ahead, they would be on the highest floor.
'Eun (Silver) isn't bad.'
For me, as long as I could sleep well, it was fine. Actually, a lower floor closer to the dining hall would have been better.
In Gu Jeol-yeop's case, who came with us, it seemed he was verified with a recommendation letter since he didn't have an invitation.
Seeing him look back and forth between me and Gu Jeol-yeop after reading his father's recommendation was quite amusing.
"I'll unpack your belongings."
"Please do."
Hongwa and Wiseol-a began unpacking as soon as they entered the room.
I took that opportunity to go out and survey the lower floor.
There were still about seven weeks left before the Dragon Phoenix Gathering began, but quite a few people had arrived early besides me.
"...Hm?"
Among them, noticeable attire caught my eye.
Young men in deep yellow clothes with rough-looking impressions.
They appeared to be members of the Hwangbo Family.
It was my first time seeing members of another family aside from the Four Great Families.
'Come to think of it, it's quite a subtle thing.'
The highest-ranking ones among the prestigious families were scattered all around, yet I hadn't seen others.
"Who are they?"
Who were the Hwangbo members among the late-stage candidates?
I racked my brain slightly.
There definitely would be some. The Hwangbo Family might not be at the level of the Four Great Families, but it was still a high-ranking family.
Before long, I recalled someone.
"Was Muk-gwon from that side?"
Muk-gwon, who would later be called a rising master—the man who began making a name for himself as a master by massacring demonic practitioners with his fists at a young age.
Compared to how he expressed his hatred and anger toward demonic practitioners, his fists were measured and quiet, which was why he was called Muk-gwon (Silent Fist).
'Though he ultimately became a demonic practitioner himself.'
I remembered him because he was none other than someone who served under my command.
His name was Hwangbo-seon, I think.
'It seems he's not among them.'
I don't know his exact background, but I do remember he was from a collateral branch.
That was fortunate, in a way.
Meeting people I had encountered in my past life again wasn't exactly a pleasant thing.
"Young Master! I've finished unpacking everything!"
I turned my gaze toward Wiseol-a's shout from the room.
"Thanks."
"Mm!"
"How long would it take to unpack your things too?"
I asked Hongwa.
"Probably... there isn't that much luggage, so it shouldn't take even one ke (quarter of an hour)."
"Then come down when you're done, let's eat together."
"Ah... that."
Hongwa smiled somewhat unnaturally, so I looked at him wondering if something was wrong.
"If we end up joining you at the meal table, you might receive unfavorable glances, Young Master. We could just—"
"Now of all times?"
"Pardon?"
"Why are you worrying about that now, when I'm saying let's eat together."
It was true that this was a place where famous families gathered, and since they weren't accepting regular guests due to the Dragon Phoenix Gathering, the attention would be different.
Being seen dining with servants wouldn't look very good in the first place.
"I'll handle it, it's fine."
At my words, Hongwa finally nodded.
From a servant's perspective, it could be an uncomfortable thing.
Honestly, it was close to me forcing my will since my regression.
[There's a somewhat selfish motive mixed in, isn't there?]
'Yes, there is.'
[This selfishness you're aware of is not a virtue.]
'I'm aware of that as well.'
"...Hmm."
Shin Noyah didn't continue after hearing my answer.
The silence implied that while he didn't like it, it was an answer telling me to do as I pleased.
After Hongwa went down, I opened all the windows in the room.
Partly to air it out, and partly to appreciate the falling snow outside.
Despite the heavy snowfall, the streets of this province were bright.
Since it was called the safest place in the Central Plains, this kind of street must be maintained.
"Safety, my foot."
Knowing that hollow name would crumble within a few years, I could only laugh.
"I could go for some alcohol."
It suddenly occurred to me.
I hadn't drunk much in my past life either, but I did enjoy it somewhat.
[Why aren't you drinking this time?]
"I need to hold back."
Since I knew my body wasn't in perfect condition, I was trying to avoid creating any dissonance within it if possible.
So I would abstain from alcohol for the time being.
"...Should I ask Dang Soryeol for a stimulating tea or something?"
It would be roughly similar, wouldn't it?
With such idle thoughts, I went down to the lower floor.
As I said at first, there were still seven weeks left until the Dragon Phoenix Gathering began.
Because of that, it wasn't a time when there were too many people.
The prodigies of prestigious families wouldn't enjoy waiting, so those who were here now were probably from families quite far from Henan or had business in Henan.
Thanks to that, it was still relatively quiet compared to the number of people visible.
Amidst that, I was frowning and moving my mouth.
"How is it?"
Wiseol-a put a handful of food on a plate and handed it to me, asking.
"...Not bad, but the dumplings I ate in the carriage were tastier."
She set the plate in front of me before getting her own food.
And after taking a bite, she smiled brightly.
"It's delish..."
"It's good, I'm just saying comparatively."
"Tea... want some?"
"Hm? Thanks."
Nangong Bi-a was only sipping tea—was it because she was so reserved, or did she have no appetite?
"What about Lady Dang?"
"Soryeol unni said she'd be a little late! She has to redo her makeup."
"Uh... you're not supposed to say that..."
"Ah...!"
Wiseol-a gasped in surprise at Nangong Bi-a's words and covered her mouth, but I had already heard it.
Makeup, huh... Did she really have to go through that trouble just to eat?
When such a question arose, Noyah spoke up as if finding it amusing.
[That is simply the nature of women.]
'These ones don't do it though.'
[...Those girls don't need to, so they can get away with it. Which is exactly why I hate you.]
'Last time you said you disliked me, now it's progressed to hatred...'
Isn't the level of dislike rising too fast?
I picked up another dumpling and shifted my gaze.
"Why aren't you eating?"
"...I am eating."
It was directed at Gu Jeol-yeop, who was eating in tiny bites.
"I went out of my way to invite you to eat, why are you picking at it like that? Do you find the blood, sweat, and tears of farmers amusing?"
"N-no. I just didn't expect you to call me to the table, so I was flustered."
"It's not some grand seat to be calling or not calling."
Why does everyone keep attaching meaning to a meal table?
Gu Jeol-yeop hesitated before continuing.
"Do you... not like me?"
"No."
"..."
"But what does that have to do with this? Just eat."
If asked whether I disliked him or not, I would lean toward dislike.
If he had only come picking fights, I wouldn't have thought much about it at all.
The problem was that the one he messed with was Wiseol-a.
Honestly, perhaps because of that, I wanted to grind Gu Jeol-yeop down a bit more, set him up, and grind him again.
But Elder Yi's words to me weighed slightly on my mind.
—A pitiful child.
A single unremarkable line had annoyingly taken root in one corner of my chest.
Having experienced the position of being squeezed in the middle and getting beaten up myself, I did feel somewhat sympathetic toward Gu Jeol-yeop aside from his character and ideology.
'That doesn't mean I won't grind him down though.'
A meal is a meal, and what isn't isn't. I asked Gu Jeol-yeop, who was carefully putting food in his mouth.
"What did he tell you to do? Your grandfather."
"Pardon?"
"What 'pardon?' The basics would be to observe me, but I really can't figure out what you're supposed to do."
"He didn't particularly order me to do anything."
Of course he'd say that.
It would have been better if he could at least hide his trembling eyes.
Why is it that everyone around me can't lie?
If asked whether Gu Jeol-yeop bothered me.
It wasn't exactly that feeling.
Because he wasn't someone who had anything significant enough to be bothersome.
To put it plainly, he was just a bit pitiful.
He had his own talents, a fine face, and a decent background.
It was just that his circumstances weren't very good.
'It's not that those who harbor ambition are scary.'
It's that the rot spreading around them is terrifying.
That's how Gu Jeol-yeop appeared in my eyes.
"Handle it yourself. Make it noticeable if possible. If you get caught pulling some trick this time, I'll really break your arm."
"T-trick...?"
He was still a child.
He might be treated as an adult, but he wasn't yet of age. At best, he was just a boy trying his hardest.
Everyone could see that except Elder Yi, perhaps.
While I was watching him, something touched my lips, and I startled, pulling my head back.
When I checked, Wiseol-a had picked something up and was offering it to my lips.
"Young Master. You need to eat vegetables too."
"..."
"Look, you ate everything except the vegetables... Is Young Master a baby? Grandfather said only babies are picky eaters."
"...I was going to eat it later."
"Liar! I've almost never seen you eat vegetables!"
Being treated like a child by Wiseol-a was incredibly unfamiliar and excruciatingly embarrassing.
In the end, I pretended I couldn't win and shoved it all into my mouth.
[Hehe, and you called that girl a child.]
'...Life is truly bitter and painful.'
Even as I steadily filled my stomach, I never stopped surveying my surroundings.
If there was one experience I gained throughout my past life, it was that something always happened in establishments like this inn.
When those with some power gathered, there were always those who couldn't help but show it off.
Especially if they were hot-blooded youths in the age range of late-stage candidates, even more so.
'So I need to be careful not to catch any sparks.'
I couldn't afford to cause trouble already. If I was going to cause trouble, I'd do it seven weeks later.
So I had to hope nothing would happen, but—
"Young Master, Young Master."
"Mm?"
"Over there..."
As always, things don't go the way I hope.
Following Wiseol-a's words, I looked in that direction. A group of people had gathered around a large man in yellow clothing.
He was considerably huge. Not as much as Elder Yi, but—
'The Hwangbo Family?'
He seemed to be a late-stage candidate of the Hwangbo Family I saw earlier.
Who could it be? A blood relative of the Family Head?
I didn't know who the others were besides him.
Since they came to the Dragon Phoenix Gathering, they must be from renowned houses.
And among that group, I saw a woman who seemed to be enduring humiliation alone.
My mouth, about to bite into a dumpling, paused briefly upon seeing her.
She wore a veil, so her face wasn't visible, and there was nothing to indicate which family she belonged to.
Her martial robes looked somewhat flashy, but didn't appear expensive.
Perhaps because of the cold weather, she wore multiple layers of clothing, so her figure wasn't visible either.
However, the earrings jingling at her ears couldn't be hidden.
My gaze was fixed there.
They weren't ornaments representing her family or displaying something specific.
They were just earrings of a somewhat unusual shape, but they were identical to the earrings a certain woman wore until the very end.
'...Is that Kwang-yeon here too?'
I removed my momentarily paused movement and bit into the dumpling.
Even this moment's hesitation, that terrifying woman might notice.
I forcefully averted my gaze. There was no question of whether it might be someone else.
I was already certain.
I didn't know why a blood relative of the Four Great Families was here so early.
But at the very least, I didn't want to get entangled with that woman here.
'I thought we'd meet since it's the Dragon Phoenix Gathering.'
But actually facing her, various thoughts overlapped.
Most of them were not good thoughts.
"Which family's lady are you? I am Hwangbo Cheol-wi. Would you care to share a drink with me?"
At the invitation of the muscle lump who introduced himself as Hwangbo Cheol-wi, the woman slightly showed the wine glass placed in front of her.
"I'm already drinking, so I apologize, but perhaps next time."
"If you're already drinking, even better. Wouldn't it be warmer if we drank together on this cold night?"
"I apologize once more, but I already have a prior engagement."
She politely declined in a beautiful voice.
But Hwangbo Cheol-wi had no intention of backing down, and instead pulled out a chair and sat down.
"I am Hwangbo Cheol-wi."
"...Yes, I heard earlier."
"Do you not know the Hwangbo Family?"
"I know of them. They're quite impressive, aren't they?"
Impressive my foot. No matter what, could they surpass the Four Great Families?
Moreover, the veiled woman sitting across from Hwangbo Cheol-wi was of the Four Great Families.
'Does that boar of a man have no brain?'
He seemed to have already drunk once, but if he came to the Dragon Phoenix Gathering, he should have at least some caution.
'What does he hope to achieve by acting so thoughtlessly?'
It felt like looking at my past self, which was a truly awful feeling.
"Knowing that, wouldn't it be a bit much to act like this?"
"...What do you mean?"
"Oh... your cold voice is quite charming too. If it wouldn't be an offense, could I remove your veil?"
"It would be an offense."
I kept my ears there and continued my meal.
At a glance, that Hwangbo fellow seemed to be attending the Dragon Phoenix Gathering for the first time.
Otherwise, he wouldn't behave in a way that recklessly picks a fight with someone of unknown identity.
That was why I was worried.
It wasn't that woman pretending not to know, pretending to be weak, and just wanting to drink—it was that Hwangbo tub of lard.
He had messed with someone he shouldn't have messed with.
A truly regrettable thing.
'Still, at least it's not directed this way.'
Pitiful was pitiful, and as long as no sparks flew in this direction, it wasn't a problem.
"What do you think you're doing!"
Fortunately, someone intervened as if trying to mediate.
Nothing good would come of getting involved in that.
He must be someone with a strong sense of justice.
"...What are you doing right now?"
But why did it have to be someone from our group...?
Hwangbo Cheol-wi also turned his head toward the shout at the outcry.
From his instantly fierce expression, I realized we had passed a point where the situation wasn't good.
I looked up at someone with a dumbfounded expression.
He already seemed to consider my gaze unimportant.
The youth whose eyes burned with a sense of justice.
Gu Jeol-yeop was shouting at the Hwangbo tub of lard.