EP.7 Julong Hui (1)
Julong Hui (1)
Sword Squad (Jian Dui).
A group composed of martial artists capable of catching the monsters that spring from the Demonic Realm Gate—that is the Sword Squad.
It is something that not only the Nine Sects and One Clan, and the Four Great Families, but also small and medium-sized families and sects must absolutely possess.
By closing the Demonic Realm Gate, the Sword Squad was the most crucial working entity that could receive fame, sponsorship from merchants, and the support of the common people.
The Gu Family also possessed a total of five Sword Squads, from the First Sword Squad under the direct command of the Family Head, to the Fifth Sword Squad.
Therefore, the Julong Hui was an event to comfort the hard work of the Sword Squads who closed the Demonic Realm Gates for the sake of such a Gu Family, and for the commoners of Shanxi.
Twice a year. It was the schedule where the Gu Family selected new personnel for the Sword Squads.
As it was an event where not only the Gu Family's branch families but also the small and large sects of the Shanxi region participated, the direct bloodline of the Gu Family was required to attend.
Therefore, it meant I couldn't skip it even if I died.
"Would they let me skip it if I died?"
"Before that, you probably shouldn't die..."
"What about playing dead?"
"If you skip it by doing that, wouldn't the Family Head really kill you?"
No answer, damn it...
As I was unable to do this or that, Muyeon added a follow-up.
"Elder Yi is presiding over this Julong Hui, and he sent word that if you run away this time too, he'll really tear you to pieces..."
"Rotten... I wondered who it was..."
Among the elders who had been anxious to eat me alive since I was young, Elder Yi was an old man who was particularly severe.
The logic was that if the only son of the Gu Family Head turned out properly, the Gu Family would later establish itself as a prestigious family comparable to the Four Great Families.
'It's a responsibility even my father didn't bear, though.'
In a way, he was a truly grateful person, but as an elder with busy duties, he would appear whenever he had a spare moment to enforce education and yell, making him a very burdensome person.
"Considering I lived like an idiot even after all that, I'm quite amazing."
"Pardon?"
"Just talking to myself. So, when do we depart?"
"Since it's held at the Tianyi Merchant Guild, it shouldn't be too far by carriage."
"Co-hosted with the merchant guild? Elder Yi must have exerted a lot of influence."
Tianyi Merchant Guild was the most famous merchant guild in Shanxi. It was also a merchant guild that had cooperated with the Gu Family through three changes of the Gu Family Head.
'What happened to the Tianyi Merchant Guild in the future?'
Didn't it just continue as the number one merchant guild in Shanxi? It seemed like a place without any major problems.
Thinking it wouldn't mean much, I stopped pondering it. I already had too many things to handle to worry about a merchant guild.
"Anyway, why haven't we departed yet?"
I was ready, but for the servants to not have finished preparing was a bit too much, wasn't it?
Feeling like I should say something, I went to where the servants were gathered.
"It's been a while since the preparations ended..."
My mouth, about to give a piece of my mind, immediately shut tight.
In the center of the gathered, murmuring servants was Wi Seol-a.
Wi Seol-a.
Not the Wi Seol-a who covered her face entirely with poorly managed hair and just giggled.
She looked exactly like the her who looked down at me before I died.
Originally, since she was the same person, it couldn't be helped. I just hadn't realized it because of Wi Seol-a's actions and appearance up until now.
Thanks to her trimmed bangs, the face that had been hidden was revealed.
Transparent skin and bright red lips caught my eye.
Her black eyes containing a shallow blue light seemed to shine alone among the many people.
Even her hair, which used to just flow messily, was neatly arranged...
"Seol-a, you're really too pretty...!"
"How can a person be this pretty? When she grows up, she'll have all the men crying."
"Honestly, if I could, I'd have her with my son... Oh, Young Master!"
The servants who had been showering Wi Seol-a with praises saw me and hurriedly paid their respects, taking their places.
As I stood there as if giving a hint, the woman who had been stroking Wi Seol-a's hair stepped forward and said.
"I'm sorry... We have to go to the Julong Hui, but I thought we should at least dress Seol-a up a little..."
She meant that while dressing her up, she got so pretty that they lost their minds.
It was hard to even call it dressing up, as they had only arranged her hair.
Still, that meant it was at that level.
This time, their fault was clear, so they would know that even if I threw a fit, they couldn't help it.
In that gap, Wi Seol-a walked over.
Wi Seol-a walked lightly and faced me in front of me.
Meeting those jewel-like eyes, my gaze naturally seemed to turn away. Wi Seol-a wouldn't know what I was thinking.
It was different from the sharp eyes of my past life. It was completely different from those eyes that looked at me containing all kinds of emotions.
"Young Master, the older sisters said I'm really pretty."
My heart dropped once at Wi Seol-a's slightly smiling face as she spoke.
It was even more so because it overlapped with a face completely different from now, one I probably could never see again.
I tried hard to calm my pounding heart, but it wasn't easy.
"Young Master, am I pretty to you too?"
In the end, looking at Wi Seol-a asking with a bright smile, I couldn't say a word.
******************
The time was slightly delayed, but what followed progressed smoothly.
While I was chatting with Muyeon, the carriage was ready, and since only a few servants including Wi Seol-a were going, we could board quickly.
However, before leaving, seeing Wi Seol-a showing off her appearance to the Sword Sovereign, the Sword Sovereign stroking Wi Seol-a with suddenly sad eyes lingered in my memory a bit.
Soon after, the carriage departed for the Tianyi Merchant Guild along with a few assigned guards.
"Wow! Amazing! It's moving!"
As soon as she boarded the carriage, Wi Seol-a was excited by the moving scenery.
She said the trees were moving fast. When another servant corrected her, saying, "It's not the trees, it's the carriage moving fast," she got even more excited.
Wi Seol-a, who already received a lot of affection for being cute, seemed to receive even more affection after her appearance changed.
It was about two shichen by carriage to the Tianyi Merchant Guild. I planned to get some sleep during that time.
Having set up various plans, the remaining time was spent cultivating until dawn and then going to bed, so my sleep time had been severely lacking lately.
In the meantime, the excited Wi Seol-a was a bit noisy, so I gave her a yakgwa to hold, and taking advantage of the quiet moment, I immediately sought sleep.
******************
The carriage that ran without resting soon arrived at Shanyue County, where the Tianyi Merchant Guild was located.
On the streets, an incredible number of people gathered as if it were the biggest festival in Shanxi.
This was the revitalization of the streets, and an opportunity for the surrounding merchants.
Of course, for me, it was a tedious matter.
'..I was thinking of finishing quickly and cultivating.'
It was to fix the weakness caused by the lack of cultivation that I had been constantly feeling since returning.
My whole body ached in every corner due to the suddenly started training, but it was absolutely necessary for the future.
I have to do it since I might die if I don't.
Passing through the streets and reaching the Tianyi Merchant Guild, people appeared in front of the guild to greet me.
A middle-aged man with some flesh on him was draped in gold silk embroidered with the characters Tianyi (天一).
He introduced himself as the Vice Head of the Tianyi Merchant Guild.
"I am Cheon I-sil, the Vice Head of the Tianyi Merchant Guild. It is an honor to meet the little star of the Gu Family."
"I am Gu Yang-cheon of the Gu Family."
Cheon I-sil looked around behind me, and when he saw Wi Seol-a, his eyes widened briefly, but it was only for a moment, and he immediately fixed his gaze on me.
Perhaps because he was a merchant, his facial expression management was skilled.
"Elder Yi has not arrived yet, but Miss Gu is unpacking and resting. I would like to guide Young Master Gu to unpack as well."
"...Hmm, that would be better. Please do."
Cheon I-sil said he would guide us himself.
He said it was a guest quarters inside the guild. I remembered that the Tianyi Merchant Guild was large, but experiencing it again after returning, the scale was incredibly vast.
'In a way, isn't it wider than the Gu Family estate?'
Of course, given the Family Head's personality, it was probably intentionally not expanded.
They said Gu Yeon-seo had already arrived.
Since she had arrived at the quarters early and unpacked, she probably wouldn't come out until the Julong Hui started.
Gu Yeon-seo definitely hated me. If we ran into each other, it seemed like something annoying would happen.
Thanks to that, I was glad to think that I wouldn't have to waste unnecessary energy from bumping into her.
'No way I'd run into her with my bad luck.'
...Famous last words.
On the way to the quarters, as if asking if I'd forgotten my consistently bad luck so far, I ran into Gu Yeon-seo like a ghost.
"To think I have to see an unpleasant face as soon as I arrive."
Those were the words Gu Yeon-seo spat out as soon as she saw me.
"Hello, sister."
"Don't greet me, it's annoying."
Why not just tell me not to breathe while you're at it.
Whether she didn't like my greeting or not, Gu Yeon-seo opened her mouth full of irritation.
"I doubt you'd cause trouble even at the Julong Hui, but please endure at least that much. There is nothing as ugly as a bloodline tarnishing the family's name."
"I'll hide well and go quietly, so don't worry."
"Who said I was worried..."
Gu Yeon-seo spat sharply, then saw Wi Seol-a, was surprised for a moment, and then fiercely scowled.
Then she looked at me with eyes much more loathsome than before.
"I heard you couldn't fix your old habits, but are you really planning to pull your useless stunts even here?"
"...What strange talk is this all of a sudden?"
"I thought you had changed a little lately, but people really don't change."
Spouting words on her own, she swept past me.
Why is she suddenly throwing a fit...?
Instead, only Cheon I-sil, who was guiding us, was sweating profusely.
Unable to withstand the atmosphere, Cheon I-sil spoke.
"Yes, well, I heard siblings originally fight often. I also fought with my sister when I was young..."
"...."
You don't have to comfort me...
Following the guide, we arrived at the quarters after a short walk.
It was comparable in size to my exclusive quarters in the family estate, and it was clean, as if it was always maintained.
I would have liked to rest a bit more, but since there wasn't much time left before the Julong Hui started, I hurriedly moved.
The venue created under the leadership of the Tianyi Merchant Guild boasted a considerable size.
Originally, when merchants undertook a project, they said they went big because the scale of the event was used to judge the financial power of the merchant guild.
'Isn't this too big even for that?'
"Wow...! It's incredibly wide, I've never seen somewhere this wide!"
For once, I agreed with Wi Seol-a's words.
It was so wide that anyone looking would think it was hosted by the Murim Alliance.
On the first day, a festival would be held to bestow rewards for the Gu Family's Sword Squads.
On the second day, which many were waiting for, there would be a sparring tournament to select the members of the Gu Family's Sword Squad.
Fortunately, the bloodline did not participate in the sparring.
The only thing I had to do here was simply observe.
"It's really just observing, what kind of big incident could happen?"
I really hope so.