Dragon Phoenix Gathering. (5)
People often say that silence is heavy.
How can soundless emptiness be heavy? It doesn't make sense even metaphorically.
But that was exactly the situation right now.
The rising stars gathered at the banquet hall numbered at least several dozen.
With everyone assembled, the place should have been full of noise.
Then what was this silence?
The reason was simple.
They had merely witnessed something appalling enough to make them forget all questions and doubts.
"What…."
"What was that just now? Did anyone see?"
"…Who is that young master?"
Buzzing voices gradually returned.
From their extremely cautious gestures and hushed voices, one could tell just how bewildered they were.
Click. Click.
Crack. Crack.
Bones sounded with every rotation of the wrist.
'I didn't need to go this far.'
Things had progressed ahead of what I expected.
At least in the banquet hall, I planned to stay quiet.
Who knew the useless baggage that followed would cause an incident.
'…Haaa.'
Thanks to that, things became much more annoying than anticipated.
The pouring gazes of the rising stars weren't particularly burdensome.
I could understand what meaning they held in their stares.
But when it came to receiving any kind of emotional response, my sensibilities had long since withered away.
I naturally looked for Jang Seon-yeon.
'If that guy hadn't planned to move, I would have just watched.'
Even without intervening, Gu Jeol-yeop would have won.
After being manipulated that much, he had to make something of it.
'He's more useful than I thought, too.'
Gu Jeol-yeop belonged to the genius category, common as they came.
Tell him one thing and he'd absorb about five—that was the saying.
'Though I rolled him more because I didn't like that.'
Narrow-minded, too.
If the old man were here, he surely would have said so.
'Was he trying to hit the jaw?'
Gu Jeol-yeop's judgment wasn't bad.
Of course, it wouldn't have landed. The Hwangbo pig lying dead still beside him was an ugly one.
But not a weak one.
A martial artist's skill ultimately includes proficiency in martial arts and enlightenment regarding realms.
But in the end, the most important thing is something far more basic.
Gu Jeol-yeop's sword would have been too slow to reach.
That was all.
Even if Hwangbo Cheol-wi was weaker than Gu Jeol-yeop.
Since Gu Jeol-yeop wasn't at a level to overwhelm him, it definitely wouldn't have ended in a single strike.
Jang Seon-yeon's gaze from afar, watching this way, was unusual.
The smile had disappeared, and a calm face entered my view.
What emotion was in that gaze? I couldn't know that far.
'Just now, he was about to rush in.'
Jang Seon-yeon's gaze, footwork. Even the internal energy he was drawing up.
Because his movements were caught by the senses I had subtly spread out, I ended up stepping forward without realizing.
What would have happened if I hadn't?
If it were that guy, what would he have done?
The current buzzing voices.
The gazes pouring toward me. The heat rising on my back, failing to act my age.
Would all of it have become that guy's?
Like back then.
The gaze I calmly met was momentary.
To others, it was only a brief instant, but I could smile while looking at him.
Did he see my smile?
Jang Seon-yeon's eyes widened slightly.
'This far.'
There's no justification to provoke further. Slowly, bit by bit.
Like that, until the end.
'Everything you will take.'
I will take every single thing.
I made up my mind to do so.
I nudged the Hwangbo pig lying next to me with my foot and spoke.
"Hey."
The ones I called out to were the pig's companions.
When I called, I could see their shoulders flinch.
"What are you doing, come pick him up."
My words must not have pleased them, as their expressions were quite sour.
Perhaps because a young kid is speaking informally?
Then too bad, I didn't feel like being nice.
Nor did I want to manage how I appeared now.
"Are you not going to pick him up?"
When I asked a second time, only then did they drag their sulking bodies to lift Hwangbo Cheol-wi and carry him away.
It seemed they had no intention of charging at me.
Fortunately, they didn't seem completely devoid of sense.
Hwangbo Cheol-wi, being dragged away, was drooling from the corner of his mouth.
That guy must be experiencing his first Dragon Phoenix Gathering too.
'He'll probably be remembered as the drooling guy from now on.'
It was pitiful, but what could be done?
Guys like that need to be thoroughly thrashed at least once before they realize reality.
Just like me.
Only after Hwangbo Cheol-wi disappeared could I turn my gaze to Gu Jeol-yeop.
Gu Jeol-yeop was somehow shrinking his body to the fullest.
Why is he acting like that?
"Jeol-yeop."
"Yes! Yes!"
"What's wrong?"
"It's nothing…"
When I took a step closer, the guy flinched and trembled. Seeing that, I made a hesitant expression and spoke.
"What's with that reaction? Anyone watching would think I hit you or something."
"…"
"…"
Right, I did hit him.
At that awkward reaction, I unknowingly let out a dry cough.
That aside.
"Why do you keep causing incidents?"
"…I'm sorry."
"What kind of guy tries to get into a fight at a banquet hall, and even goes around spitting out stakes?"
…Actually, I think I was like that in my past life too.
Nobody knows now, though. So it never happened, what of it.
Perhaps because of my words, Gu Jeol-yeop made an extremely sullen expression. For a handsome guy to make that face, it was even more annoying.
Bang!
"Ugh!"
I disguised it as a flick and struck his head with my fist. I didn't put internal energy into it, but it must have landed properly as Gu Jeol-yeop staggered and slumped down.
"Are you some kind of Elder Lee? Why do you keep charging in, always charging! Later, are you going to ram a carriage into a wall too?"
"N-no, I'm not…"
"Not my foot…. Weren't you here to monitor me? Why are you the one causing incidents?"
"Monitoring… is not it."
"Do you have nothing to say except 'it's not'?"
"…It's n…"
Somehow, I kept getting the feeling that Gu Jeol-yeop was taking the initiative from me.
To be precise, it felt like I was only doing cleanup.
Gu Jeol-yeop seemed to be aware of that too, as he couldn't meet my eyes.
'Was this guy always like this?'
It was a greatly changed perception from the beginning, but separate from that, the situation was flowing somewhat strangely.
Fortunately, since it could be resolved before a fight broke out, it wouldn't become a problem.
It would have been troublesome if something had been broken.
Should I say it's a relief it ended before that.
Of course, even if an incident had occurred, Gu Jeol-yeop would have been the one to handle it, but still.
While I was clicking my tongue to the fullest, voices gradually crept into my ears.
"They said he's the Ho Hyup's kid…."
"Just now… that was…."
"The sword tip…."
Bothered by the voices, I looked around.
The surroundings were full of different gazes from earlier. Earlier, they didn't even seem to want to come near me.
Perhaps because of the recent incident, I must have caught their eye.
'They've developed wariness.'
What filled their eyes was alarm and wariness.
Did I show too much?
Honestly, I didn't show that much.
In the first place, there would be even fewer who could have seen it. The level of the rising stars would only be so high.
'At most four… five?'
Just about that much. That was how I saw it.
"It really is a bit annoying."
Having to use effort where kids are playing—I'm not some alley boss or anything.
The creeping sense of futility still dampened my mood.
Still, I have to do it. What can I do.
This was the easiest method available right now.
Feeling the following gazes, I returned to the corner where I originally stood.
"Y-young Master."
When I returned to my spot, Dang So-yeol was wrapping something around his shoulder and trembling.
Did he catch a cold? Why is he like that?
"Why are you like that?"
"…I can't stop trembling because the Young Master was so cool."
"Pardon?"
Dang So-yeol spoke with a deeply flushed face, and feeling considerable cringe, I unknowingly stepped back.
At that, Dang So-yeol stopped as if struck by shock.
"Young Master?"
"No, well, I'm sorry. I was momentarily flustered…."
He wore a subtle expression as if he had inhaled a large dose of poppy—how could I not be frightened.
Dang So-yeol's face, looking forlorn as if hit by rain, bothered me, but there was nothing I could do.
Namgung Bi-a, who was getting some breeze by the window, approached Dang So-yeol and gently patted his shoulder.
Is that supposed to be comforting?
While watching that, someone tugged at my collar.
A faint floral scent brushed the tip of my nose.
"Young Master! That was so cool…!"
When I wondered who it was, it was Wi Seol-a, who had playfully lifted her veil.
Her smiling lips and slightly deepened dimples. I looked at such Wi Seol-a and grinned.
At the same time, I playfully grabbed Wi Seol-a's nose bridge and pressed down firmly.
"Squeal…."
"I told you not to lift the veil."
"But… it's stifling."
I could understand that.
"Still, no."
At my firm words, Wi Seol-a made a pouty expression for a moment, but as if to say she would listen, she lowered her veil again.
"There aren't many days left, so just endure a little."
"…Okay."
I did feel sorry.
Part of the reason for this measure was Wi Seol-a's appearance.
But precisely, it was because of my own anxiety.
'…If possible, without catching that guy's eye.'
Even if we keep facing each other, I don't think anything will happen.
But there was no guarantee that nothing would happen either.
Just a little.
The next few days.
With somewhat dirty feelings, I wanted to ask Wi Seol-a for just a few days.
To put this the other way around.
It also meant that the remaining few days would be enough to relieve my anxiety.
The gaze constantly felt from behind.
Surely, that guy is looking elsewhere.
Probably continuing his conversation with the rising stars like earlier.
Yet feeling a gaze from behind like this—does it mean he's mindful of me?
'Not bad.'
It wasn't entirely unpleasant. Rather, it was what I had hoped for.
Please keep looking like that.
So that you can feel even more.
After Hwangbo Cheol-wi dropped out of the banquet and Gu Yang-chun returned to his place.
"…What on earth happened?"
"The person who just collapsed, isn't he a blood member of the Hwangbo Family? How could he be so powerless…"
The topics they had been discussing with full of laughter changed in an instant.
The smiles disappeared, and the conversation turned serious.
It was shocking enough to warrant that.
Because it was the sight of someone that formidable collapsing so easily.
Not to mention, being taken down by a boy who barely reached half his size.
"I heard he's a blood member of the Gu Family."
"Gu Family, you say… the Ho Hyup's?"
Everyone's glances subtly turned toward the boy standing in the corner of the banquet hall.
Black hair with a reddish glow, eyes full of ferocious atmosphere, and a boy wearing a frightening smile.
He was completely different from earlier.
To be precise, it felt like an atmosphere had formed.
Surely, his presence earlier shouldn't have been that strong.
Compared to the overly radiant people around him, his extremely low presence rather made him stand out.
But that was a different matter. That's why it was even more surprising.
"I couldn't see his movement at all."
"…Well, that's because we were focused on the person in front, so that could be…"
"True… that young boy couldn't have evaded our eyes, so it must be said that the surprise attack succeeded miraculously…."
However, even seeing it with their own eyes, it seemed hard to fully believe.
'Idiots.'
Jang Seon-yeon, who had been listening to the rising stars' conversation with a smile, thought.
Do they truly think it was a surprise attack?
Let alone the idea that he couldn't have evaded their eyes? Trash who don't know their place.
'He was simply fast.'
He was just fast enough that their eyes couldn't follow.
A surprise attack?
He walked right up from the front and struck the jaw, and that's a surprise attack? Jang Seon-yeon could see it.
The clean movement without a single unnecessary motion.
The absurd precision contained within it.
To see such movements and have this kind of conversation—it was a petty excuse that only low-level people could think of.
"What do you think, Young Master Jang?"
This time, the arrow flew his way.
It was clearly intended to get his agreement with their opinion.
Jang Seon-yeon barely smiled and answered.
"…Well, I also didn't see it in detail, so."
He didn't see it. That was true.
Jang Seon-yeon hadn't properly seen how Gu Yang-chun moved to reach that point.
Even though he had focused his ki sense on Hwangbo Cheol-wi.
'To miss someone who isn't even a Dragon or Phoenix.'
He had only thought of the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes as the ones to be wary of when coming to the Dragon Phoenix Gathering….
It was an unexpected variable.
He had already heard about Gu Yang-chun from his father.
—I heard he brought a recommendation letter from the Supreme Venerable.
The Supreme Venerable's recommendation letter. He had even wondered if the boy named Gu Yang-chun might be the disciple of the Ruler of the West.
But from what he heard, that didn't seem to be the case either.
Jang Seon-yeon recalled the moment when he shook hands with Gu Yang-chun earlier. It was a subtle feeling.
'He seemed to be on guard against me.'
It was only for a moment, but Jang Seon-yeon could definitely feel it. The feeling that Gu Yang-chun was wary of him.
What could be the reason?
'I didn't do anything that would give it away.'
He could fake it better than anyone.
Even his father, Nak Geom Jang-cheon, might not know Jang Seon-yeon's true nature. That was why an even more inexplicable discomfort lingered.
'It must have been just a misunderstanding.'
That would be it. If not…
'I should look into it just in case.'
It was better than keeping the uneasiness.
While Jang Seon-yeon was pondering his doubts, the others were still discussing what Gu Yang-chun had done.
"Or perhaps the blood member of the Hwangbo Family was weaker than expected?"
At one person's words, the others fell silent for a moment before slightly nodding their heads.
It felt less like finding the correct answer and more like a strong feeling that it had to be that way.
"As Young Hero Bi said… it might be so."
"That's right. If he's a blood member of the Gu Family, I've heard the rumors too—they said he's called a good-for-nothing. Innately lazy and wicked, and his talent for martial arts is utterly insignificant…."
Tsk.
Unable to hold back at the whispering words, Jang Seon-yeon unknowingly clicked his tongue.
Fortunately, since they were in the middle of conversation, it was drowned out by other sounds and didn't stand out.
'How pathetic can they get.'
Is this the appearance of the bloodlines that will represent the Orthodox Faction in the future?
If so, he felt he would be greatly disappointed.
Not only was their level infinitely low, but even their eyes were rotten.
He, who forced himself to smile and act, looked even more miserable by comparison.
'Disappointing.'
He could understand the low level. Rather, it was good.
Because he could shine even brighter. He even hoped they would continue to stay this foolish.
'What level could he be?'
While sharing tea with others with a smiling face, he thought about Gu Yang-chun.
The fact that he couldn't properly grasp him meant he was either similar to himself or higher.
'How can that be?'
That was why it was even more incomprehensible. The Gu Family was surely.
'He shouldn't belong to the Flowing Stars.'
Jang Seon-yeon's eyes quietly gleamed.
From seeing his body, he didn't seem to have received the ceremony. Whether he was hiding it or not, his internal ki wasn't properly sensed, but it definitely felt like ordinary internal ki.
Then did that mean he reached the wall entirely by his own power?
'He wouldn't have crossed the wall.'
He wouldn't have reached the Absolute Realm. In the history of the Central Plains, there was no martial artist who had crossed the wall at that age.
Then was he standing before the wall?
Even that was astonishing.
'I need to find out for sure.'
Jang Seon-yeon built plans behind his smile.
This was something he was better at than anyone else.
"Haha, yes…!"
Shrrk—
Jang Seon-yeon, who had been feigning ignorance, suddenly clamped his mouth shut.
It was a feeling as if every hair on his body was standing on end.
A sensation of something long and sharp piercing deeply into the back of his neck. A chilling sensation as if hundreds of sharp swords were aimed from all directions—he couldn't move even a single fingertip.
'Killing intent?'
Rolling his eyes, he scanned his surrounding companions, but seeing there was no reaction, it seemed he was the only one feeling it.
'Who is it?'
To be able to pour such killing intent at only one person?
Fortunately, the killing intent pressing down on Jang Seon-yeon quickly disappeared.
Measured in time, it was a brief moment, enough to exhale only a couple of breaths.
Jang Seon-yeon immediately placed his hand on his sword scabbard and looked around.
But the surroundings were only full of rising stars having conversations. Nothing seemed unusual.
He examined his palm at the damp feeling.
His palm was already full of cold sweat.
Though he carefully surveyed his surroundings, Jang Seon-yeon couldn't discover anything about the killing intent.
As if it were his own delusion.
Jang Seon-yeon, who was looking around with such unease.
Wi Seol-a was quietly watching from afar.
Such Wi Seol-a had a chillingly expressionless face.
"What are you doing?"
At the voice from beside her, Wi Seol-a's expression immediately brightened.
As if nothing had happened.
"Mm…! I didn't do anything!"
At Wi Seol-a's bright voice, Gu Yang-chun grinned and stroked her hair.
At the rough but careful touch, Wi Seol-a quietly entrusted her head.
The first day ended with the three letters of the name Gu Yang-chun being imprinted on the rising stars.
And the next day arrived.
The day the Friendly Martial Arts Competition, said to be the flower of the Dragon Phoenix Gathering, was held.