Chapter 212: Chapter 212
The rumor that the Sichuan Tang Clan and the Mount Hua Sect clashed spread widely within Taean before long.
That was an extremely obvious matter.
Even without it, Taean was already a place where many people belonging to the Flying Heaven Society had gathered due to the Clan Patriarch’s sixtieth birthday banquet to be held at the Zhuge Clan. The sudden appearance of the Mount Hua Sect in such a situation was an event more than enough to attract all sorts of attention.
However, a conflict arose between such a Mount Hua Sect Taoist and the Sichuan Tang Clan. Furthermore, the Poison Dragon, Tang Jeok, a late-bloomer counted among the top in the Sichuan Tang Clan, had even unleashed his poison arts.
Rather, it would have been stranger for the rumors not to spread.
“I heard the Poison Dragon went back carried on the back of his escort warrior?”
“Then are the two of them clashing?”
“To think we might see blood on such an auspicious day, this has truly become complicated.”
Everyone worried about the aftermath of the incident.
It might be different for other sects or clans, but if it was the Sichuan Tang Clan, they were a persistent clan that repaid grudges several dozen times over.
However, strangely enough, even when the next day came, there was no movement shown from the Sichuan Tang Clan’s side.
Various rumors derived from that.
That Tang Jeok collapsed because he was drunk.
That Zhuge Seung-ho and the Blade Dragon, Young Hero Peng Cheol-wi, who shared a seat with the Taoist of the Mount Hua Sect, mediated the fight between the two, and so on.
And some even suggested the opinion, ‘The Tang Clan is staying still to not disrupt the banquet.’, but that was close to nonsense.
That was because they had already unleashed their poison arts at the Taean Guest House.
Like that, people put forth all sorts of speculations about what had happened, but time passed with no one being able to exactly know the events of that day.
And finally, three days later.
The day of the sixtieth birthday banquet of the Zhuge Clan Patriarch, which everyone in Taean had been looking forward to, arrived.
* * *
Knock… Knock.
At the sound of knocking on the door, Cheon-hwi, who was immersed in meditation, opened his closed eyes.
“Senior Martial Brother. May I enter?”
At Danmok Rin’s voice heard right after, Cheon-hwi stepped down from his bed and said.
“Come in.”
A moment later, the door opened, and Danmok Rin entered.
Perhaps because it was a banquet.
She was wearing light makeup.
Her appearance, dressed up more than usual, was neither excessive nor lacking, looking exactly like the graceful beauty the world imagined.
She, with her cheeks dyed pink like peaches, gazed at Cheon-hwi with eyes filled with subtle expectation, but.
“Has the time already come.”
Cheon-hwi did not show any interest.
Her expression immediately became sullen.
She had tried dressing up as much as she could, but as expected, she completely failed to capture Cheon-hwi’s attention.
Then, she soon shook her head.
That was not what was important right now.
“Senior Martial Brother, we have to hurry. The banquet will begin shortly.”
She spoke as if urging him.
No matter how much they came receiving the invitation of the Zhuge Clan, in the eyes of the numerous visitors who didn’t know that, the two were close to being uninvited guests.
But to be late on top of that?
They would only become even more embarrassed.
However, unlike Danmok Rin who was restless, Cheon-hwi moved leisurely.
“Where is that item the Sect Leader told me to deliver to the Zhuge Clan’s Patriarch.”
Seeing Cheon-hwi moving nonchalantly, Danmok Rin spoke urgently.
“Senior Martial Brother. Hurrying a little bit is…….”
“What’s there to hurry for. Let’s just go slowly. It’s not like anything will change by going quickly anyway.”
“But if we go late, and end up receiving the glares of other people…….”
“We’re already receiving enough glares even now.”
Cheon-hwi let out a chuckle.
As for glares, it was something they had received to the point of being sick of it while staying at the Zhuge Clan for these past three days.
Saying there was nothing to care about and still moving leisurely, eventually about a cup of tea’s time later.
“Then I’ve packed everything, let’s go.”
Before long, the two exited the detached house and walked to the banquet venue.
Just how long did they walk like that.
“You have come. I was waiting.”
A middle-aged man welcomed Cheon-hwi and Danmok Rin, who arrived at the manor where the banquet was prepared, with a glad expression.
It was a very familiar face.
That was to be expected because he was the Inner Chief Steward, who had already come looking for Cheon-hwi and Danmok Rin several times.
“Please go in.”
He stepped aside and cleared the way.
As the interior of the manor that was hidden because of him was revealed, Danmok Rin looked at that place with surprised eyes.
“There are many people.”
There were countless tables that couldn’t be counted in the banquet hall, and most of the people were sitting around each table, looking busy having conversations.
“It’s been a long time.”
“Hoho, it’s been a while. So, has there been anything special recently?”
“Aigoo! You, you were still alive!”
“Are you trying to kill me?”
Danmok Rin’s expression, who scanned the banquet hall in a short time, became colored with tension.
‘They are all sects belonging to the Flying Heaven Society.’
Around the time Danmok Rin made a rough guess of their identities while looking at the martial uniforms of those sitting at the tables.
“What are you doing not going in?”
Cheon-hwi passed by her standing in front.
“Oh. It seems quite a lot of people came since it’s the Zhuge Clan Patriarch’s sixtieth birthday banquet.”
Cheon-hwi, who was looking at the exceptionally bustling banquet hall, stepped inside the manor.
And that moment.
“…….”
The banquet hall that had been noisy instantly became quiet as if cold water was poured over it.
At the same time, sharp gazes poured towards the walking Cheon-hwi and Danmok Rin.
Gulp…
Danmok Rin’s mouth went completely dry upon feeling the intense gazes of the people.
She was one who had received many gazes usually as well, but this was of a different nature.
Sharp vigilance, devoid of goodwill.
Under the sharp gazes that felt like they were stabbing with knives, she broke out in a cold sweat.
‘I thought we would attract attention, but to think it would be to this extent…….’
She slightly turned her head to the side.
Cheon-hwi’s glabella, which seemed bored just moments ago, was narrowed.
‘Even if it’s the Senior Martial Brother, does he get nervous under this level of gaze…….’
At that fleeting moment when she felt a sense of kinship with Cheon-hwi, the walking Cheon-hwi muttered.
“Tsk, to think I can’t eat while leaving such delicious foods in front of me.”
“Yes……?”
At Cheon-hwi’s grumbling that was completely different from what she thought, Danmok Rin unknowingly let out an empty sound.
“Smack, what a shame. There’s Fenjiu and Xiangxuejiu, and the other foods all look delicious too, right? It’s a rare chance to eat wonderful dishes.”
Cheon-hwi, who smacked his lips at the smell of foods and liquor fragrance piercing his nose, looked around before taking a seat at an empty table in the corner.
“It’s a pity, but I’ll have to ask them to pack some for me separately later.”
As soon as he settled in his seat, Cheon-hwi immediately began to eat.
Not caring whether anyone was watching from all directions or not, he continued to move his chopsticks, and everyone let out hollow laughs watching him like that.
“……He’s confident.”
“Hohoho, is he thick-skinned or is he really not paying any attention to us.”
Feeling foolish that only they were tense, the vigilance of the people softened.
Instead, whispering sounds spread out.
“But it’s truly fascinating. To think a Taoist of the Mount Hua Sect would really attend the banquet.”
“It’s been a long time since the Nine Great Sects and One Gang directly visited to congratulate the Eight Great Clans.”
“Does he have some purpose?”
When they were sharing their respective stories while looking at the table where Cheon-hwi and Danmok Rin were sitting.
Step… Step…
There was an old man and a young man with a refreshing impression approaching the Mount Hua Sect Taoists.
And the people who looked over the faces of the two unknowingly burst out in shock.
“Heok! The Iron Heart Sword Old Man Great Hero?”
“Th-that young man is the First Young Master of the Danmok Clan, the Plain Moon Sword Young Hero, is he not!”
At the appearance of the two, everyone swallowed their breath.
That was to be expected because the Iron Heart Sword Old Man was a great hero who had made a name for himself in the Jianghu since a long time ago, and was a person difficult to see at banquets.
But adding to that the Plain Moon Sword, who was the First Young Master of the Danmok Clan and was certain to be appointed as the Vice Patriarch soon.
When everyone was looking at the Iron Heart Sword Old Man and the Plain Moon Sword with sparkling eyes, Danmok Rin’s eyes, who also saw the two, wavered.
She had expected to some extent that she would meet people from the Danmok Clan at the banquet.
But those she ended up meeting were unexpected figures.
‘Why are Grandfather and Eldest Brother here……?’
The two she knew had personalities that didn’t usually attend such banquets.
When she, surprised by such two moving together, was looking at them with a bewildered expression, the Plain Moon Sword took a fist-and-palm salute.
“Nice to meet you.”
Greeting her while pretending not to know as if he was seeing Danmok Rin for the first time, he smiled with his eyes.
“This humble one is called Danmok Chan. If it is not rude, I would like to hear the Taoist names of you two. Would that be alright?”
Danmok Rin was slightly flustered by Danmok Chan’s actions, but soon regained her senses, stood up from her seat, and took a fist-and-palm salute.
“……I am Rin.”
At that moment, Danmok Chan’s eyes twinkled.
“Ah, so it was Miss Rin.”
Speaking in a voice tinged with a strange sense of relief, he turned his head towards Cheon-hwi.
At the same time, his eyebrows twitched.
Because even while they were exchanging greetings, he was busy eating food.
“……What might the Little Taoist’s Taoist name be.”
Cheon-hwi, chewing food in his mouth, slightly raised his head and looked at Danmok Chan.
“Munch, munch. Cheon-hwi.”
Speaking as if tossing the words out, Cheon-hwi focused even more on the food in front of his eyes again.
“……I see.”
A vein bulged on Danmok Chan’s forehead.
However, maintaining his smile, he turned his head to Danmok Rin and whispered.
“I will visit you later.”
Letting out a voice just loud enough for only Danmok Rin to hear, he faced her directly.
If they conversed any further here, people’s attention would only be focused on them more.
Danmok Rin nodded her head lightly.
At that, Danmok Chan smiled broadly and was about to turn his body, before glaring at Cheon-hwi.
As if feeling that gaze, Cheon-hwi, who was sipping tea and refreshing his mouth, lifted his chin.
“What are you looking at?”
Danmok Chan was angered by the attitude that lacked manners until the end, but forced it down.
“……It’s nothing.”
As if he didn’t want to see him anymore, Danmok Chan swiftly turned his body and left.
“Let us go. Grandfather.”
“Hoho, understood.”
The Iron Heart Sword Old Man, who had only been watching from behind, moved his lips towards Danmok Rin.
‘I will cheer for you.’
Danmok Rin’s eyes widened reading his lip movements, and then she held a bright smile.
And she moved her lips slightly.
‘Thank you.’
At her reply, the Iron Heart Sword Old Man left with Danmok Chan along with a soft laugh.
While Danmok Rin was watching the two leaving with a sentimental expression.
“Aren’t you following them?”
Cheon-hwi put down his teacup and said.
“There will probably be few chances to meet later, so if you’re going to talk, it’d be better to do it now.”
Danmok Rin shook her head left and right.
“……We decided to see each other later. And right now I’m a Taoist of the Mount Hua Sect. How could I pay attention elsewhere.”
Cheon-hwi quietly observed her.
Right now, she, with a smile all over her face, seemed to not have a single ounce of regret.
“Hmm, is that so? It doesn’t matter then.”
As Cheon-hwi picked up his chopsticks again, Danmok Rin also sat down in her seat and began her meal.
Meanwhile, when the Danmok Clan left after brief greetings, the interest of some who watched this increased drastically.
Especially the youths’ eyes sparkled.
To them, the Nine Great Sects and One Gang were people hard to see usually.
But not only were they appearing right here, the man and woman even possessed beautiful appearances.
How could they not be interested.
“I didn’t know there would be such a beautiful female Taoist in the Mount Hua Sect. With that level, rumors should have spread in the Jianghu.”
“That young man also has a quite handsome appearance. Do they select Taoists by appearance these days?”
“Should I try talking to them too?”
Just as the young men and women, who couldn’t bring themselves to approach, were pacing around.
“Heok!”
Someone got startled and took a step back.
And those who had turned their bodies at that reaction naturally stepped back in the same way.
“Th-the Tang Clan?!”
The ones who stepped back tensed up.
Of all things, it was the Tang Clan that appeared.
Recalling the rumor that swept Taean a few days ago, they hurriedly widened the distance.
The ones who expected a volatile situation to occur the moment the two met forgot to even breathe and just stared at them.
And unlike them, the people of the other Eight Great Clans who had taken a seat far away watched with excited eyes to see how the situation would unfold afterwards.
“This situation has gotten interesting.”
“We will be able to know what happened that day if we see the Tang Clan’s reaction.”
Like that, the distance between the Tang Clan and the table closed, and the two soon came face to face.
At that moment.
“……!”
Tang Jeok’s complexion, who belatedly discovered Cheon-hwi, turned pale. Soon after, he hurriedly tried to turn his steps to the opposite side, before looking at the Hidden Form Secret Guest who stood in place and stared at Cheon-hwi, and urged him.
“Let’s go somewhere else, Uncle.”
The Hidden Form Secret Guest’s eyes sank low.
Seeing Tang Jeok, who seemed to have been frightened prematurely while looking at Cheon-hwi, his eyes changed.
‘……The disappointment is great.’
Since a long time ago, the Hidden Form Secret Guest had pushed for the Second Young Master, Tang Jeok, as the Vice Patriarch rather than the exceptionally free-spirited First Young Master.
A cool-headed and firm personality.
Added to that, his tenacity to see things to the end suited the Tang Clan.
However, he changed his mind this time.
‘Have I been misjudging him all this time.’
He looked pitifully at Tang Jeok who was trembling slightly with terror-filled eyes.
He knew the situation in which Tang Jeok had collapsed because he heard it from the escort warriors.
The fact that he was defeated by that Mount Hua Sect Taoist.
And even the fact that he was continuously beaten up and eventually admitted defeat.
Of course, it was a humiliating matter, but the Hidden Form Secret Guest could understand to some extent.
There are many masters in the world, and losing in a match is something that happens occasionally.
But his coping afterwards was disappointing.
Tang Jeok desperately stopped the Hidden Form Secret Guest, who had confirmed the returned Tang Jeok, from stepping forward to take revenge, saying it was a matter already finished.
That meant he was afraid to provoke him.
So how could he not be disappointed.
‘To think the guy who is the Second Young Master of the Tang Clan is terrified like this after merely being done in by a late-bloomer of the Mount Hua Sect…….’
The Hidden Form Secret Guest couldn’t hide his disappointment.
“If you want, I will do so.”
“Thank you.”
The Hidden Form Secret Guest, who looked with a cold gaze at Tang Jeok who swept his chest in relief, glanced at Cheon-hwi for a moment, and soon turned his body.
“Then follow me.”
Everyone could not hide their surprise at the Sichuan Tang Clan who retreated surprisingly quietly.
“They’re just going? Just what in the world happened at the Taean Guest House?”
“Was it true that nothing happened with the Tang Clan?”
“They looked like they retreated though…….”
Meanwhile, Cheon-hwi, who was quietly watching this situation, smiled in satisfaction.
‘Hmm, as expected, this is comfortable.’
Cheon-hwi, who had found that day’s incident quite bothersome, awakened the Absolute Reigning Art and suppressed his spirit.
So that he couldn’t think of challenging him again.
‘Unless he reaches the Heavenly Martial Realm in the future, he won’t be able to escape it forever.’
It was then, when the banquet hall was buzzing for a while.
Duung…
Suddenly, the sound of a drum rang out loudly.
The sound transmitted everywhere instantly focused the gazes and attention that had been poured on Cheon-hwi and Danmok Rin.
As everyone’s gaze gathered, the man who held the drumstick high in the sky hit the drum once again.
Duung!
For a moment as a shockwave spread out in all directions.
Step… Step…
The sound of footsteps was heard.
It was a low sound.
But that sound of footsteps strangely made the heart boil and throb.
‘Oh boy. Look at this.’
Cheon-hwi’s eyes, who had put down his chopsticks on the table in front of him before he knew it, narrowed.
‘He carried sound arts in his footwork? That’s a quite tricky martial art.’
At that time, the sound of footsteps abruptly cut off.
And a middle-aged man stood at the seat of honor.
The middle-aged man with appropriately grown beard was not large-framed or had a tall height.
However, his straightened back and confident appearance made him look like a giant.
His mouth, looking around the banquet hall, slowly opened.
“I thank you for attending my sixtieth birthday banquet like this.”
A flat voice without highs and lows.
However, those who heard it pricked up their ears, and everyone’s eyes sparkled.
Little Sleeping Dragon Zhuge Sin.
Just when everyone was listening closely to the appearance of the Patriarch supporting the current Zhuge Clan.
Ssi-ik…
The corners of Cheon-hwi’s mouth slowly went up.
‘This is truly unexpected. I thought the Zhuge Clan was only excellent in their brains…….’
Cheon-hwi, who wore an expression full of interest, flashed his eyes looking at Zhuge Sin ahead.
‘If it’s at that level, his skill is superior to the Patriarchs of the Divine Spear Yang Clan and the Namgung Clan.’
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