Chapter 227
227
“Hello, Grandfather. This is So-hye’s friend.”
“A polite child. Welcome.”
Grandfather, who received the greeting indifferently, stroked Yang Gyo-jin’s head.
Relieved, I patted my chest.
Still, he uses honorifics with our Grandfather. Thank you.
“Want some candied fruit?”
“Yes.”
“Here.”
Grandfather rummaged through his sleeve and took out a piece of candied fruit, handing it to Yang Gyo-jin.
I swallowed hard, carefully examining the candied fruit.
Surely it’s not poisoned candied fruit, is it?
Unlike me, who was nervous, Yang Gyo-jin seemed to have no thoughts.
The guy who received the candied fruit peeled off the muslin cloth without hesitation and took a big bite of the filling.
“Oh. Delicious.”
Grandfather, with a strange expression at the sight of Yang Gyo-jin munching with a blank face, soon burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! Girl, where did you pick up something like this? He’s just the type to die on the streets.”
As Grandfather laughed, clutching his stomach, Yang Gyo-jin also laughed, guilelessly.
Don’t laugh. That’s the kind of thing that could pick up poison and die.
In any case, Yang Gyo-jin’s actions clearly won Grandfather’s favor.
Because Grandfather’s eyes softened.
He’s probably the first person to happily pop food given by a Tang Clan Martial Artist, a Poison King no less, into his mouth.
“Let’s see. Who else did our puppy bring….”
Grandfather, raising his head, turned his gaze to Jin-sung. Jin-sung also greeted him politely.
“Jinseong disciple Jin-sung of Wudang greets the great senior of Jianghu.”
“So. You’re Taeheo’s disciple. I’ve heard many praises from the Alliance. They say you’re very efficient?”
“You flatter me.”
A faint tension lingered on Jin-sung’s face as he answered in a calm voice.
Grandfather carefully examined Jin-sung, then patted him on the back and passed by.
Namgung Hwi, who met Grandfather’s gaze, smiled brightly.
“Have you been well, Elder?”
“Yes. It’s been a while, Namgung child.”
Grandfather, waving his hand, walked over and naturally sat in the head seat, examining us.
“Grandfather, shall I get you some tea?”
I quickly asked, but Grandfather shook his head.
“No need. It’s better for this old man to do it. Give me the teapot.”
Grandfather, taking the tea set, took out new tea leaves and began to brew new tea.
As the fragrant scent of tea rose, Yang Gyo-jin sniffed.
“Wow, it smells good.”
“Do you like it? It’s Mengding Tea. It only grows in Sichuan. If you go to Mount Meng….”
Yang Gyo-jin, listening to the explanation, looked like he didn’t understand anything, but Grandfather continued to talk about tea regardless.
Then, he moved the fruit plate in front of Yang Gyo-jin.
“Eat a lot. Tell me if you need more, I’ll give you as much as you want.”
“Yes. Give me more.”
Grandfather had a satisfied look on his face at Yang Gyo-jin’s appearance, reaching for the fruit without any hesitation.
“Yes. A child of the Yang Clan? Quite free-spirited for someone from a military family.”
“It’s been a while since I was in the military. My mother says that if our family was still in the military, I would have been executed for disobeying orders.”
“This old man can see that too.”
The conversation was somewhat disjointed, but no one dared to intervene.
It seemed that Grandfather liked Yang Gyo-jin, who put every piece of food he was given into his mouth.
I smiled at Grandfather’s happy appearance, but I became distressed when I met Namgung Hwi’s eyes.
Did he smile so brightly even when he was young?
I avoided his gaze, feeling burdened to look him straight in the face, and he tilted his head towards me, curving his eyes prettily.
His captivating eye smile was so eye-catching, it made me think he grew up wonderfully, like a protagonist should.
Feeling like I was being drawn in, I subtly turned my head, and Namgung Hwi pulled his chair into my field of vision, facing me.
My face was reflected in his blue shining eyes.
Wh-what. Why is he making such a blank expression?
Flustered, I lowered my head as if burying my nose in the teacup and spoke to Jin-sung.
“Oh, right, Jinseong disciple. I thought we would be meeting soon, so I deliberately didn’t reply to the letter. Is that alright?”
“Yes. It’s alright.”
“I laughed a lot when I received the letter. How can you write a letter like a memorial address? I thought the Do-jang was inside the letter.”
“Is that so.”
As Jin-sung replied in a softened voice, Namgung Hwi, who had been listening quietly, cleared his throat and interjected.
“Ahem, ahem. Dang Sojeo.”
“Yes?”
“Did you exchange letters with the Sword Dragon?”
“Yes. I did.”
Then he curved his eyes and gave a soft smile.
“I haven’t received a reply yet either.”
Reply? What reply?
I stared blankly at Namgung Hwi, wondering what nonsense he was talking about, and he made a dejected expression as if asking if I really didn’t remember.
Feeling guilty at his obvious disappointment, I carefully asked.
“I……. What are you talking about?”
“Five years ago, before I returned to Anhui, I left a letter for Sojeo.”
“For me?”
I tilted my head, rummaging through my memories, and recalled the silk pouch he had given me when we were children.
“Ah, ah!”
Oh my god, there was such a thing!
As I gasped and covered my mouth, Namgung Hwi met my eyes with an expectant face.
Hey, I’m sorry. I lost that. I don’t even know what it said.
As I rolled my eyes, not knowing what to do, his eyes turned gloomy again.
I, who had become a sinner in an instant, clasped my hands together and awkwardly opened my mouth.
“Namgung Young Master, I’m really sorry, but I…….”
“Did you lose it?”
“……Yes.”
Affirming, I licked my lips and looked at Namgung Hwi.
Then Namgung Hwi smiled faintly, as if he expected it.
“It’s alright. I can always write a new letter.”
“Then…….”
“I will write it again. Don’t worry about it.”
Fortunately, he didn’t look upset. I nodded, meaning I understood, but I became confused.
Write it again? We’ll be seeing each other throughout the tournament, so why would he want to exchange letters here?
Well, he probably means he’ll write it when he goes back to Namgung, right?
As I wondered and tried to confirm again, Jin-sung turned to me and asked.
“Dang Sojeo. It seems you applied without an invitation letter, but have you checked the preliminary schedule?”
“Not yet. The application deadline hasn’t passed yet, but has the bracket already been released?”
“The bracket is not out yet, but the schedule has been set. I will check it for you on the way to see my master tomorrow.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“I heard that they are only accepting applications until tomorrow morning because there are so many applicants. The bracket will probably be released soon.”
“Really? Wow. I almost missed the application deadline.”
Heaven really helped me. That was close.
I let out a sigh of relief and replied with a smile.
“I’ll break through the preliminaries quickly, so wait for me in the main rounds. By the way, who else from Wudang is participating besides the Do-jang?”
“Song-gwang, Songhwa, and Songin are participating. The other Three Great Disciples have also come, so if you are curious about their recent situation, I will bring them. Songmyeong wanted to see Sojeo.”
“Oh, I should go. I’m glad that Songmyeong Do-jang has also come.”
“He kept wandering around the guest quarters even after Sojeo left. He will be happy to see Sojeo.”
He probably wants to eat meat. I think Madam Ma made boiled meat.
At that time, Namgung Hwi, who naturally intervened, asked softly.
“Dang Sojeo seems to have a deep connection with the disciples of Wudang.”
“Ah, yes. I stayed there for about a year before.”
“A year is quite a long time……. Were you on Wudang Mountain then?”
“Yes.”
“I see.”
Unlike his gentle expression, Namgung Hwi’s neck was strained. He seemed somewhat displeased.
However, he quickly composed himself and spoke again.
“Would it be rude to ask how Dang Sojeo has been?”
“I’ve been well.”
“Do you……. sleep well?”
“Yes? Yes. I sleep well.”
Why is he suddenly asking about sleep?
I scratched my cheek at the nonsensical question, and Grandfather, who was leaning on his chin, cut in bluntly.
“Don’t ask useless things.”
“Yes. Elder.”
Namgung Hwi, who answered politely, sipped his tea with a smile.
I glanced at Namgung Hwi and wrapped my hands around the teacup.
I was amazed that his expression didn’t change even after the sharp remark.
He used to be scared just meeting Grandfather when he was young. He’s really changed a lot.
The clumsy Young Master from my memories, whose hair I used to tie, had become a smooth young man.
Well, he’s a guy who made a name for himself as the winner of the Martial Arts Tournament at the age of twenty, so it’s about time he started showing the protagonist’s aura.
I was roughly agreeing when I suddenly felt something was off.
……Huh? Isn’t he not twenty yet?
That’s strange. The Alliance wouldn’t hold the tournament twice.
Looking back, his first Jianghu debut age was also different.
According to my memory, Namgung Hwi should have been called the Azure Sky Divine Dragon after the Martial Arts Tournament.
But he had already earned the title at the age of fifteen.
My heart beat rapidly with a strange anxiety.
Am I misremembering the novel?
