The commotion over the disappearance of the Grand Young Lady's tutor was brief, and the Gongya clan soon regained its tranquility.
"Was he really that handsome?"
"I heard he was incredibly elegant, almost as much as the Second Young Lord."
"That's not all. He might even have razor-sharp ears hidden in his hair!"
"It's a shame about his status. A so-called sole successor of a martial tradition sounds grand, but in this day and age, isn't that just another word for a wandering vagabond?"
Sunlight shimmered on the edges of the blue-tiled roof. The peace that permeated the vast province of Shaanxi was a testament to the powerful influence of the great clan.
Mystic Heaven Sect's leader, Geom Un-bi.
The friend of the late tutor who had been teaching the Grand Young Lady was not particularly extraordinary. He was merely an occasional subject of gossip among the lower-ranking servants.
In a household renowned enough to be called a great clan throughout Shaanxi, it was inevitable that distinguished and high-minded individuals would take up residence as honored guests.
These guests were not only esteemed visitors but also formed part of the clan's strength. With such a vast estate, it was no surprise that there were more than a few eccentric martial artists in residence.
This was precisely why Geom Un-bi's name was not brought up in the presence of the clan's senior members.
There were simply more prominent guests and more pressing matters at hand. This was, after all, a noble and prestigious clan.
"The fragrance is faint. The brew is cloudy."
"That is because your heart is clouded by inner demons. How could Longjing tea possibly have a weak fragrance?"
"You speak as if you and I are different, Lord Patriarch. But I know you are worried. After all, this concerns your eldest daughter's safety. Jung-ah, our leader doubts your martial skills."
Four people sat around a table in an immaculate and spacious room. Two middle-aged men, their faces lined with deep wrinkles, sat across from the elegant Gongya siblings.
The two older men exuded an aura so powerful that it filled the entire room.
Shaanxi was the province closest to the imperial capital, Beijing. Due to its historical significance as a center of cultural exchange, the native aristocrats, who had coexisted with the bureaucratic authorities for generations, carried an air of noble refinement.
Even among those who practiced martial arts, the level of dignity and sophistication was different. Their very presence transformed into an extraordinary force.
The middle-aged man in the deepest crimson robe was the first to speak.
"Enough with your frivolous words. What good would it do me to plant doubts in the mind of my own heir? Even if one were to sharpen their mind like a blade, this is not an easy trial to overcome."
"I am fine, Clan Leader."
The voice of the Grand Young Lady, Gongya Jung, was calm. Her expression was equally composed.
She was the noble daughter destined to inherit a prestigious martial lineage.
Unlike her shoulders, refined through rigorous training, which carried a graceful softness, the invisible waves of her internal energy radiated with an unshakable solidity.
Her energy bore the elegance of a noble. It was an exceptional refinement of internal power for someone of her age.
"Recently, two Blood Flame Cult swordsmen have fallen to the hands of the Murim Alliance. How could we not be concerned? This is bound to be a difficult task for you."
The clan leader's younger brother spoke, his gaze sharp as a blade.
As the Grand Young Lady's uncle, his energy was nearly as formidable as that of the leader himself.
The keen, aristocratic eyes were a distinctive trait of the Gongya lineage.
"The achievements of the Murim Alliance are insignificant," she replied. "He is not the only formidable one. Among the young warriors who have risen in Shaanxi during this famine, I must simply focus on proving the clan's prestige through my own martial skills."
"You speak just like your noble mother."
Her uncle remarked with a chuckle.
"Your unyielding spirit as a young warrior is admirable, but as the heir to a noble clan, you must think differently. If you do not win every duel, the clan's reputation will suffer. That is why we keep repeating this conversation, day after day. We cannot allow the assassins to run rampant. You must win. No matter what."
"I understand."
Gongya Jung responded with a smooth, steady voice. Perhaps because the issue had been laid out so explicitly, this time, even the clan leader did not intervene to halt his brother's words.
Only Gongya Su, the Second Young Lord, darted his large eyes between them, gauging the atmosphere.
"And that is not all. Even the mountain bandits who built their clans from the remnants of the Green Forest are mocking the Gongya name. We cannot strike them outright and bear the consequences, so the only way to uphold our honor is through the martial tournament. If we are to maintain our power during this famine, it must be done."
The leader's voice was composed, deep with dignity.
His daughter bowed her head.
"I understand that as well."
"Focus on refining your sword aura. As your father, I trust in you."
"…I will meet your expectations."
"By the way, I heard that Master Go brought in a young swordsman."
The leader continued.
"If he was introduced by Master Go, then he must be of good character. It would not be a bad idea to teach him a few things and take him under your wing. Wandering swordsmen are always hungry for the teachings of a noble clan. Do you think he is worth crossing swords with?"
"I have not had the chance to observe him carefully. His appearance was remarkable, but…"
When Gongya Jung shook her head slightly, the clan leader's lips curved into a faint smile.
"I heard he is said to possess a beauty so striking it borders on wickedness. If you do not let his looks distract you, he may prove to be quite useful. I should thank Master Go for his kindness. Perhaps I will visit him for a drink sometime. For now, you should return to your training."
"Yes, my lord."
* * *
The hem of Gongya Jung's crimson trousers brushed against the threshold as she stepped outside.
With each step, her expression hardened. The weight of the leader's presence faded behind her.
Tap.
Gongya Su followed with light, rhythmic footsteps, as if keeping time.
"Did you not tell Father? That swordsman from Mystic Heaven Sect… Master Go didn't bring him here to learn from us. He seemed to expect that he would be teaching you instead."
"He would be reprimanded. The leader perceives the world through hierarchy. If one is not a renowned master, he looks down on those who wander alone. And if they are young, even more so."
Gongya Jung spoke in an even tone. A hint of weariness lingered in her elegantly slanted eyes.
The crimson hue of Gongya Su's noble lips hesitated.
"…Get some rest, Sister."
"I will."
The Grand Young Lady answered briefly.
Gongya Su gave a slight nod before trudging away. Gongya Jung did not look back.
Her younger brother was second in the line of succession. Though affectionate toward his elder sister, he did not share in the burden of responsibility.
That was not his role. Gongya Jung, as the Grand Young Lady, had to bear the weight alone.
'Even if I duel an inferior opponent ten times and lose only once…'
Such an outcome was not permissible for the heir of a noble martial clan.
Her breath dissipated into the crimson glow of the sunset.
Even sighs had to be exhaled without sound.
In recent days, only the clear, wintry twilight seemed to acknowledge her worries.
The Shaanxi Martial Tournament.
The moment when she would face the blades of young and formidable noble warriors was fast approaching.
It was then.
"Ah."
A quiet exclamation escaped Gongya Jung's lips.
Step.
A pale figure emerged in the twilight.
A swordsman approached with the sunset at his back.
Though shadows obscured his features, the high bridge of his nose and the graceful curve of his jaw were strikingly distinct.
He looked like a noble who had descended from the heavens.
The scabbard swaying at his hip carried an air of solitude.
Despite appearing to be her younger brother's age, he exuded an entirely different atmosphere.
A man who stood apart from the chaos of the world.
In a realm with few wonders, it felt as though she had opened her eyes to a hidden spectacle.
'Seeing him like this, he is truly extraordinary. A rare man.'
They called him Geom Un-bi of the Mystic Heaven Sect. A man from outside the clan.
Perhaps, with him, she could share her burdens.
The heir to the Gongya clan found herself speaking without thought.
"Would you care for a drink?"
"...?"
* * *
Jung Yeonshin's residence.
It was a modest drinking gathering. Two figures sat side by side on the wooden veranda, gazing at the horizon as dusk settled over the landscape.
Each held a jade bottle filled with Bamboo Leaf Green, a refined liquor. Jung Yeonshin, gripping his bottle, occasionally flicked his fingers ever so slightly.
It was a subtle motion, one meant to make him appear accustomed to the way of drinking.
Though he was observing the gestures of his companion to blend in, his control over energy perception ensured that his movements never seemed awkward.
Was it because he had mimicked the mannerisms of the Lazy Flame Dragon? He now felt closer to an elder who knew how to appreciate the finer things in life.
'At this rate, I might even be able to share a drink with the Lord of the Fortress.'
That was what Jung Yeonshin was thinking when—
"Shaanxi has always been barren land for the martial world,"
Gongya Jung suddenly spoke, gazing at the distant mountains.
"We had to grow our power while carefully watching the eyes of the powerful bureaucrats. But then, a dozen or so years ago, the Heavenly Demon Tomb Rebellion erupted, and much of it was undone. An unknown Heavenly Demon, the legacy of the dead, brought harm to the living, through the greedy great sects."
"The Heavenly Demon Tomb Rebellion…"
Jung Yeonshin repeated quietly. He recalled what Heon Wonchang had told him. Shaanxi was his homeland.
"In any case, the families that made a name for themselves managed to solidify their foundations, whether their histories were long or short."
"You mean the ones with short histories are the problem."
"Exactly. These sects may have little history behind them, but their martial strength is formidable, and they are constantly eyeing my clan's prestige."
Swish.
Gongya Jung took a deep gulp of the Bamboo Leaf Green wine and wiped her lips with the crimson sleeve of her robe.
She was already quite drunk. The dignity of a noble house was fading, replaced by the uninhibited boldness of a warrior.
"We cannot afford to show weakness at the upcoming martial tournament. The Gongya clan has long defended the Shaanxi martial world from all sorts of riffraff from the Demonic Faction. If I were to lose to the young master of the Shaanxi Nobility, who merely pretends not to be a Green Forest bandit, or if I were to fall to the assassins of the Murim Alliance… the chaos of the Shaanxi martial world, already disrupted by famine, would only deepen. This is my burden to bear."
"That sounds difficult."
"Soon, there will be a banquet, a prelude to the tournament. The so-called ancient sects and noble clans will gather, marking the official start of the tournament. The battle of wills will be intense. We must not be pushed back."
"In life, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose."
Jung Yeonshin said lightly. He did not speak with conviction. After all, he had never lost.
Even against his strongest future opponent, Zhuge Clan's leader, he had never considered the possibility of defeat. He fully intended to win.
However, Gongya Jung seemed to take his words differently. Her delicate eyelashes trembled slightly.
"I cannot pass this burden onto my younger brother. He is a free spirit, content with his position as the Second Young Lord of the clan. I must protect both the Shaanxi martial world at large and my brother in particular. That is my duty as the Young Lord."
"The Young Lord of the Gongya clan is a good person."
Jung Yeonshin saw a reflection of the Azure Qilin in her.
He was reminded of the life of a brotherly bond he had once envisioned in his mind. It seemed that Gongya Su was a fortunate person.
Gongya Jung chuckled.
"If you wish, why not attend the banquet with me? The influential figures of the Shaanxi martial world all have ties to the government. Simply making an appearance could be of great benefit to you, Sect Leader Geom. I have the power to arrange that much."
One drink, and she was already offering him a great favor.
It was an offer only a noble heiress could make, one that even the most dignified vagabond would yearn for.
Swish.
Jung Yeonshin did not answer.
Gongya Jung had suddenly dozed off, her head slumping forward. Her dark hair cascaded downward.
'Even if I win the tournament, I won't get to learn from the Zhuge Clan's leader.'
He slowly rose to his feet, gripping his sword.
Step.
He took a few steps off the wooden floor and stood in the open courtyard.
He had been thinking of some sword techniques in preparation for his duel with the Zhuge Clan's leader.
A master of both orthodox martial arts and mystical techniques. It was possible that the duel would not follow the usual fast-paced battles unique to the Lightning Genius' martial lineage.
'Then, I must train.'
The leader of the Radiant Demon Squad, who had even come to enjoy seclusion training, drew his sword.
The pristine white blade of the Beiming slashed through the long stretch of the twilight sky.
A radiant glow extended from it, filled with an ethereal presence. At some point, an aura of radiance had begun to form around it.
—If only the Jung Clan had been more harmonious with him.
The Gongya clan once again evoked an impossible thought.
The long-abandoned annex was once the Jung Clan's manor. And Gongya Jung, who spoke of her younger brother, reminded him of an elder brother from another world.
A brother who would have trained in the Jung Family Divine Sword alongside Jung Yeonshin.
'Was it like this?'
His sword arced smoothly, carving a graceful curve through the air.
With a single strike, he refined the clumsy trajectories of third-rate swordsmanship.
The blade descended, then rose again, then curved into a diagonal line.
A trajectory resembling the crescent moon began to take shape.
Swish—
'The elegance of a noble lineage lies in restraint. That is where true power is born.'
He was no longer the burdensome child he had been at fifteen.
Now, his swordsmanship had depth, and his knowledge was incomparably vast.
He saw beyond the mere strokes of the sword into the deeper world beyond.
His mind drifted into a warm, dreamlike state.
With a faint sense of nostalgia, he entered a trance.
Inborn mental clarity magnified the form of the sword.
Many things disappeared from his vision, and the radiance of his upper dantian filled his sight.
* * *
"The Young Lord came this way? At this hour of night?"
"It was just before sunset."
Gongya Jung's eyes suddenly flickered open.
Familiar voices echoed in her ears.
As a child, whenever she nodded off during breathing exercises, her father's stern voice would rouse her.
Even now, as an adult, his voice still made her tense up.
The foremost martial noble of Pyongyang Prefecture.
It was the leader of the Gongya clan, accompanied by his attendants.
Gongya Jung tried to lift her body.
She could not greet her father in such a slumped posture.
Then—
The approaching footsteps hesitated.
It was only then that Gongya Jung sensed a faint ripple of energy before her.
A figure stood in front of her, shrouded in the dim haze of her vision.
A quiet footstep brushed over the ground, sweeping across the empty space.
Wooong.
A sword resonated.
Its sound was pure and clear.
Beneath the gentle cascade of moonlight, a blade was moving.
Despite the sweeping, grand trajectories of the strikes, the air parted with only the most delicate of sounds.
Gongya Jung's eyebrows shot up.
Was she still caught in the haze between dream and reality?
She needed to see more clearly.
She widened her eyes.
"...!"
It was beautiful.
And terrifying.
[T/L: Please support me AND read further chapters here: https://ko-fi.com/revengerscans.]
[T/L: Subscribe for a membership on my Buy Me a Coffee page and receive 15 extra chapters upon joining, along with daily updates of one chapter: buymeacoffee.com/revengerscans ]
[Additional Info: If anyone is facing the issue of payment on Ko-Fi, please contact me on revengerscans1@g