Chapter 232
Chapter 232
As Grandfather trembled as if he would leap out any second, a cheerful laugh burst from across.
“You, you……!”
“I wanted to see that distorted face. I like it.”
Unlike Grandfather, who couldn’t continue speaking while pointing his finger, Gwisu-sin, sitting on the opposite side, was smiling brightly, looking unusually delighted.
He even leisurely beckoned his hand as if teasing Grandfather.
It was the composure of a victor who had succeeded in messing with his opponent.
Seeing Grandfather huffing and suppressing his anger, it seemed they were having a telepathic argument.
Those two… anyone could tell they were friends, but it seemed only they didn’t know it.
I pretended not to see the two people engaged in a battle of wills and fixed my gaze on the Martial Arts Stage.
Namgung Hwi’s sword, which I thought would be full of superficiality like its owner, was clean without any unnecessary elements.
No deception, no feint moves, just honest.
But that honesty confused his opponent.
Namgung Hwi’s opponent hesitated, wondering if Namgung Hwi might mix in a feint move, unsure if he could trust his eyes.
Since he was already intimidated, it would only be a matter of time before he lost the initiative to Namgung Hwi.
I frowned, contemplating what it would be like if I were standing on the opposite side and mentally strategizing.
That guy Namgung Hwi has a bad habit.
He was toying with his opponent as if mocking him.
He seemed to be trying to make it look like he was on par with his opponent, but just looking at the opponent’s embarrassed face, I could tell that wasn’t the case.
He looked like he wanted to get off the Martial Arts Stage as soon as possible.
Grandfather snorted in disbelief and grumbled.
“That fox-like guy.”
“Pardon?”
“I’m talking about the Namgung Family child. He knows he’s good, so he’s acting like that. He knows that standing out too much will make him disliked, so he’s matching his level to play along. It seems he’s always been like that. He’s good at getting along.”
A forced smile naturally appeared at Grandfather’s grumpy compliment.
If it were Jin-sung, he would have exchanged a sincere exchange even with an opponent with a difference in skill…
Grandfather seemed to see it in a good light, and I knew what his intention was, but I didn’t like it very much.
I wondered if it was a difference in thinking between a Taoist and a Young Master of a prestigious family.
That guy seems like he’d be good at politics too. It’ll be easy to gain favor thanks to his face.
I clicked my tongue and watched Namgung Hwi, who was continuing his act with a slick smile.
After leisurely dragging out the time, Namgung Hwi seemed to think it was time to wrap things up after an hour, and he put strength into the hand holding his sword.
As he struck down strongly with his sword, his opponent knelt without even resisting.
“…I lost.”
“I learned a lot.”
As I glared at Namgung Hwi, who was spouting lies without even wetting his lips, I heard a groan from the side.
Turning my head, I hurriedly supported Grandfather, who was clutching his neck and gasping for breath.
“Grandfather. Are you alright?”
“That, that old man who deserves to be chewed up and spat out…!”
Oh dear. He’s going to get sick before the competition even ends.
“Namgung Family’s Namgung Hwi, victory!”
It was Namgung Hwi’s victory.
And Gwisu-sin’s victory.
Grandfather, glaring at Gwisu-sin, who was leisurely leaving the arena, fumed for a long time.
“He’s been played by that sword his whole life, and now he’s going to do the same to our puppy? I can’t stand to see that. No, I absolutely can’t. That resentful old monster.”
“Haha, I’ll win and come back, Grandfather.”
“Of course. You have to win. Child, listen to your grandpa from now on. The Namgung Family child melted that old monster’s sword by…”
Grandfather’s eyes, explaining Gwisu-sin’s sword in a heated voice, burned fiercely like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
I quickly agreed and patted Grandfather’s arm, which was folded.
It was the moment when one more reason to beat Namgung Hwi was added.
\ \ *
The noisy Alliance’s lodging became quiet as darkness fell, as if it had never been boisterous.
Namgung Hwi, blankly listening to the sound of insects and the snoring of a stranger, looked at the ceiling.
Even though the night was deep, he couldn’t easily fall asleep.
‘I have to do this boring thing until I win… How tedious.’
As he tossed and turned, a sleepy voice was heard from outside.
“Young Patriarch, can’t you sleep? Shall I bring you some tea?”
“It’s alright. Sleep more, Jeokroe.”
Jeokroe’s mumbling voice gradually faded away.
Namgung Hwi chuckled and got up, putting on his outer garment.
He thought he would rather get some fresh air than disturb someone else’s sleep for nothing.
Was it because he was getting old? His Bodyguard had been noticeably tired lately.
‘They say there’s no match for time… I should get him some useful Elixir to eat.’
Namgung Hwi left the lodging, thinking about how Jeokroe, who had suffered from overwork for years, would jump up and down in resentment if he heard that.
As he walked, entrusting himself to the night breeze that tickled his cheeks, his complicated mind seemed to clear up a bit.
‘Should I go back soon… Oh.’
Namgung Hwi sighed and rubbed his eyes.
As he walked wherever his feet led him, he had somehow come near Dang So-hye’s lodging.
Wouldn’t this make him look like a lecherous man visiting a woman’s residence in the middle of the night?
Dang So-hye was already wary of him, thinking he was a guy who relied on his face to hit on her.
No matter how much he tried to explain, it seemed like it would only increase the misunderstanding, so he tried to show only a harmless side, but if he stood out like this, all his efforts would be in vain.
Recalling Dang So-hye’s sullen gaze, he felt a little disappointed.
‘Where else would you find a man as devoted as me? Someone even proposed, saying he would take responsibility for seeing her bare feet, but the person in question doesn’t even remember.’
As Namgung Hwi smacked his lips and turned around, he heard a small footstep.
The toes were heavy, but there was no sound of the soles of the shoes scraping against the sand.
‘What is it?’
Feeling something was strange, Namgung Hwi brought his hand to the hilt of his sword.
There are only two reasons why a Martial Artist who has learned footwork would drag their feet. To obscure their footprints and confuse pursuit, or because they were injured.
He narrowed his eyes and turned his head, looking for the source of the sound. It was inside Dang So-hye’s residence.
Changing his expression, he approached the residence and gently knocked on the gate.
“Excuse me… Are you inside?”
No answer came back. But there was something unsettling about just backing away.
The killing intent emanating from inside was no ordinary thing.
Did something happen?
Frowning, Namgung Hwi swallowed hard and lightly jumped over the wall.
At that moment, dozens of Hidden Weapons poured out towards him.
Reflexively wrapping Strong Energy around his sleeves to shake off the Hidden Weapons, Namgung Hwi met the eyes of Dang So-hye, who was looking at him with a blank face.
“Excuse me, Dang Sojeo. I felt killing intent from inside, so…”
As he hurriedly cupped his fist and poured out excuses, he rolled on the dirt floor to avoid Dang So-hye, who was rushing at him with a Flying Dagger held in reverse grip.
Dumbfoundedness appeared on Namgung Hwi’s face as he realized that the owner of the eerie killing intent was Dang So-hye.
“Dang Sojeo? Calm down…! Ugh!”
Namgung Hwi, who avoided the blade that grazed his face, jumped over the fence and created distance.
Namgung Hwi’s hair, which was cut off instead of his neck, fell to the ground in a shower.
Cold sweat ran down Namgung Hwi’s back. He almost gave up his neck.
He touched his neck, which had a red line, and examined Dang So-hye.
Looking again, her eyes were unfocused. Her white feet were covered in dirt, and her waist tie was falling down, as if she was unconscious.
Namgung Hwi, who quickly grasped the situation, groaned inwardly.
‘…Inner Demon.’
He thought it was strange that she was too fine for someone who had been on the verge of life and death…
“You can’t sleep at all, so why do you lie?”
Namgung Hwi muttered dejectedly and looked at Dang So-hye, who was standing there scattering a fierce aura.
The moon reflected in her dark blue eyes shone sharply as if it would cut him.
Namgung Hwi, who calmly met Dang So-hye’s gaze, quickly made a decision.
There were many things he wanted to say and many things he was curious about, but helping her not show that appearance to others was the top priority.
If he became her opponent until Dang So-hye regained her senses, he could prevent strange rumors from spreading outside the lodging.
It would be even better if the Poison King came before that.
“I’m sorry, Dang Sojeo. I know you want my neck, but if I obediently offer my neck, both you and I will be in trouble.”
Namgung Hwi, who offered a joke-filled apology, drew his sword.
The smooth blade turned blue, driving away the darkness.
The moment the swaying blue met the Flying Dagger that spewed Poison, Dang So-hye’s fierce movements stopped.
Namgung Hwi, who flinched, quickly took the strength out of the hand holding his sword.
Dang So-hye, who slowly blinked her eyes, muttered.
“Blue…”
‘Blue?’
He wondered what it meant, but it wasn’t an important issue. Seeing her reaction as if she had regained consciousness, Namgung Hwi lowered his voice and asked as if whispering.
“Dang Sojeo. Are you alright?”
“……”
“Dang Sojeo? So-hye?”
At the quiet call, the Flying Dagger that had fallen from Dang So-hye’s hand fell to the ground.
Just as Namgung Hwi was relieved at the sight of her hostility subsiding, Dang So-hye’s body tilted forward like a doll with a broken string.
“Sojeo, you must be careful…! Ah…”
Namgung Hwi, who quickly threw his sword, caught the falling Dang So-hye. His neck turned bright red at the breath that touched his shoulder.
As if the actions of guarding against him and aiming for his neck were a lie, Dang So-hye was sound asleep.
Namgung Hwi, who squeezed his eyes shut and opened them, tried to put strength into the hand holding Dang So-hye, when a voice as cold as ice was heard.
“Step back. Child.”
