Dragon and Phoenix Assembly. ⑵
*Crack!*
The grip in my hand gradually grows stronger.
Because Jang Seon-yeon also began to exert strength to match mine.
His expression was still smiling, but I could subtly feel his fighting spirit rising.
'Tsk...!'
The strength felt from Jang Seon-yeon is stronger than expected. Has he been facing the wall in meditation since around this time?
Just as I felt that and was thinking about exerting more force, Jang Seon-yeon released his strength first.
"The greeting is more intense than I expected."
He said, lightly shaking off his hand.
"I apologize. I'm a bit poor at controlling my strength."
Matching Jang Seon-yeon who spoke with a smile, I also smiled.
I heard Dang So-yeol quietly whispering "How...!" but I tried hard to ignore it.
"It's quite alright. There are times like that. Gu Family, huh—it's an honor to meet the bloodline of such a great noble house."
What a joke. Three of the Four Great Families are gathered around, yet he's praising the Gu Family because he has nothing else to raise up.
I knew it was his way of praising me, but perhaps because it was coming from this bastard's mouth, it didn't sound pleasant. Who knows what's hidden behind that smile.
"I'd like to talk a bit more, but unfortunately, I don't have the time."
I didn't answer Jang Seon-yeon's words.
Because I couldn't bring myself to say, "See you later."
I finished the greeting and moved to my seat.
There was nothing more I could do there.
It was also because I couldn't bear Jang Seon-yeon's gaze any longer.
One wrong move and I felt like I would strike out.
I wanted to snap his neck right then and there.
After barely taking my seat, I swallowed a sip of the tea placed in front of me, but...
There was no way my burning stomach would calm down.
Neither the bustling noise of the banquet hall, nor the heated air mixed with fighting spirit due to the gathering of countless martial artists.
Right now, none of it concerned me.
'What a sickening feeling.'
The feeling of being unable to do anything with that bastard right in front of my eyes is truly utterly disgusting.
"Young Master Gu...?"
Dang So-yeol, who was next to me, seemed to read my expression and spoke with concern.
I had no choice but to force a smile.
"I'm fine. It seems my stomach is just a bit upset."
"No, when you make such a handsome expression, there's definitely a problem..."
"...?"
At Dang So-yeol's firm words, Moyong Hee-ah, who was beside her, let out consecutive fake coughs.
Handsome... No, never mind.
I was certain that Dang So-yeol had strange eyes from my previous meeting with Namgung Cheon-jun.
Her eyes are weird, and very much so.
While Namgung Bi-ah subtly refilled my empty teacup, I observed Wi Seol-ah standing in the back. Wi Seol-ah had the same tired face as before.
Is it hard for her to stand?
'Even so, I can't have her sit down here.'
It can't be helped, so I just hoped she would endure it a little longer.
Wi Seol-ah didn't seem particularly bothered, waving her hand every time our eyes met.
Other than that, I had to keep monitoring Wi Seol-ah's condition.
To be precise, I was worried there might be some problem from my encounter with Jang Seon-yeon.
'What am I even worrying about?'
Many things have changed, and I am the only one who knows that.
Would I be having such worries thinking that the current Wi Seol-ah knows anything?
Even with such thoughts, it seemed I couldn't help but keep looking her way.
Wi Seol-ah herself probably doesn't have any thoughts about it...
"To think he's the Alliance Leader's son..."
"This is the first time the Jang Family's bloodline has attended the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly, right?"
"Seems like it. He was someone I've never seen before."
"What do you think? He looks pretty scrawny."
"Do you still judge only by appearances? You should know well that what you see isn't everything. Tsk tsk, just looking at the Poison Phoenix, you should know that..."
"If it's none other than the bloodline of the Jang Family, it's worth having some expectations."
"Perhaps a new dragon will be born."
"Ah, did you know? This time, from the Gu Family as well..."
Conversations about Jang Seon-yeon were also going around nearby.
That was also a testament to how unconventional Jang Seon-yeon's background was.
The Alliance Leader's son whose details were unknown, and the bloodline of the Jang Family.
Put differently, it meant he was the descendant of Nakgeom (Falling Sword).
In the meantime, I kept wiping the filthy sensation left on my hand against my clothes.
The hand that had shaken Jang Seon-yeon's.
That fleeting sensation lingered in my body for so long.
'What should I do?'
I didn't think I wouldn't meet him.
I just thought it wouldn't be this year.
'...Was it now?'
I already knew that Jang Seon-yeon would distinguish himself at the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly and establish himself as an outstanding late-stage expert.
Because it was so in my past life.
But was it this year?
In my memory, it felt like it happened after a bit more time had passed.
'If that's not my misconception, does it mean the future has changed?'
As my small steps had already changed countless futures, this too could be different.
I left the meeting behind and looked at Jang Seon-yeon sitting far away, but...
He had the same expression as before.
I desperately suppressed the urge to clench my fist.
Because right now, there was nothing I could do.
Damn it.
"Young Master Gu."
While my head was spinning, I turned at Dang So-yeol's call.
Dang So-yeol was pointing her fingertips toward the entrance of the banquet hall.
Wondering what it was, I focused my attention and saw someone entering.
It was the Thunder Dragon, Namgung Cheon-jun.
'I thought I'd be the last.'
Apart from the attention immediately drawn by the Thunder Dragon's appearance...
Namgung Cheon-jun's expression as he walked in looked much more refreshed than last time.
Did something good happen?
That wasn't the only strange thing.
I thought for sure he would come over and throw a tantrum to sit with us.
But Namgung Cheon-jun merely cast a glance at Namgung Bi-ah and moved to a seat a bit further away.
Whether by coincidence or not, it was toward the area where Jang Seon-yeon was sitting.
*Start-*
I wasn't the only one who reacted to Dang So-yeol's movement.
Moyong Hee-ah, who was right next to me, saw that and stood up as if she had been waiting for it.
"...I think we should move our seats a little."
I was a bit flustered by the words.
'Why is she asking me?'
But saying no was difficult, as Moyong Hee-ah's sky-blue eyes were looking at me so precisely.
"Yes. Please do so."
The seats for the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly were pre-assigned, but...
If people in the same seating class wanted to move, they wouldn't particularly stop them.
Though it would be a different story if someone of a lower rank wanted to go to a higher one.
Phew.
I heard a sigh near my ear.
A low, cold breath—it was definitely Moyong Hee-ah's.
It's something I can't understand.
Why is she showing such a reaction?
It felt like she was reluctant to be here. What reason would Moyong Hee-ah have to avoid Namgung Cheon-jun?
Well, if I thought about it, there were plenty of reasons, but considering how persistently she clung to him in my past life, it was strange.
'Now is not the time to worry about such things.'
Even as I tried hard to maintain a normal expression, I had to endlessly suppress the emotions boiling inside.
Funnily enough, the method I trained with Noya was helping me control the killing intent that felt like it would burst at any moment.
Should I say emotions are also a type of energy flow?
Even if it couldn't block everything, it seemed possible to redirect and calm it down.
'Is this also an enlightenment?'
No way. It wasn't such a grand story; I just came to know what I could already do but didn't know.
If it were Noya, he would have appeared around this time, spitting out some harsh words.
'He'll be back soon.'
I had to believe that. Because right now, I couldn't go looking for him or anything.
To think my mind was shaken this much just from facing him.
'What should I do...'
It was a similar dilemma to the one with Jegal Hyeok, but the essence was different.
I will kill him. This does not change.
It was just a worry about how to do it.
Right now, there is no way. It meant there was no way to make a move with him right in front of me.
'Fuck, I always hate this feeling.'
I knew this wasn't the opportunity.
I also knew that acting rashly would be poison to me, but...
Killing intent (殺心) is like a fog that blurs everything.
I suppress the thorny killing intent that keeps trying to protrude.
Let's not forget the original purpose.
I had to remind myself that my current purpose wasn't him.
*Smoothly.*
I feel a touch on my shoulder and hand.
Wi Seol-ah, who had approached at some point, was resting her hand on my shoulder. When I looked at her with slightly surprised eyes, she wore her characteristic bright smile.
The somewhat cold sensation on my captured hand belonged to Namgung Bi-ah.
Namgung Bi-ah was holding my hand tightly.
She wasn't smiling like Wi Seol-ah, but she looked at me with eyes that seemed aloof yet clear.
'Is she worried?'
It seemed she had caught on to the anomaly within me.
Seeing my emotions slowly fading from such a trivial action, I thought it was funny, but contradictorily, I could also feel how amazing it was.
I said to her.
"I'm fine."
"You don't look fine..."
"What wouldn't be fine?"
"So... why aren't you fine...?"
Even though a person was saying they were fine, Namgung Bi-ah didn't seem to believe it at all.
Rather, she put more strength into holding my hand.
I warmed Namgung Bi-ah's cold hand, then calmly pulled my hand away.
"I'm fine now. I'm really fine."
"Young Master, is it because you're hungry?"
"...Right, I guess I'm a bit hungry."
I caught my breath a little.
Only then did my head start working properly.
'Let's calm down.'
This isn't the only opportunity, or rather, it wasn't even an opportunity.
Rather than throwing a gamble that could ruin everything, it would be better to wait for an opportunity or create one.
Tap tap... tap... tap.
As if expressing my impatience, my fingers tapping the table gradually slowed down.
I quietly closed my eyes.
Closing my eyes blocked my vision, allowing me to feel the touch of Wi Seol-ah's hand resting on my shoulder more distinctly.
Because of that, I could repeat it to myself even more.
For you.
And for me.
These two lines were enough.
I opened my closed eyes and looked at Jang Seon-yeon sitting a bit further away.
Was it a coincidence? Our eyes met once again.
The sight of him smiling and offering me a greeting was still nauseating.
But this time, I could smile back.
Even if the bastard in this life is innocent.
I'm not deep-hearted enough to just let it go, so it seems I won't be able to easily overlook it.
Even if it's not this time, I won't set the wait too long.
Above all.
-The Alliance Leader is entering.
Even if I have no way to deal with him right now.
I didn't intend to do nothing.
By chance, everything he would have gained at this banquet...
I was planning to take it all.
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