1240 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

The words, reactions, and gaze of Chu Yeongyeon. I nodded my head slightly while observing him. ‘What is this?’ What’s the source of those negative feelings? The strange emotions directed at Soi from his eyes. What’s with that guy? “……Hoo.” Soi endures the pain and grips her sword tightly. Her spirit seems shaken by the provocation, yet the duel persists. She raises her sword once more. “……I will go again.” “Very well.” Chu Yeongyeon speaks lightly as he raises his fist. The duel resumes. In reality, it felt more like one-sided bullying rather than a fair match. “…….” As I watched expressionlessly. “There’s a thing called the Seomseochu family.” A voice came from beside me. Startled, I turned to see it was Father. “It’s a martial family in Seomseo, not on good terms with Mount Hua.” “…A family in Seomseo that’s not on good terms with Mount Hua?” Could there be a martial family in Seomseo at odds with its protector? The Seomseochu family? ‘It’s the first I’ve heard of this place.’ It was the first time I heard such a family existed. Even more so. ‘A place strong enough to have someone enter the Dragon Competition?’ Could there really exist a martial family that withstands being on bad terms with Mount Hua? Why the bad relationship? “Their ancestor was originally a disciple from Mount Hua.” “……Excuse me?” A disciple of Mount Hua? But then why the bad relationship? “…Did they get expelled?” “I don’t know the details. But maybe so.” “…….” An expelled disciple establishing a family? Odd. ‘Yet they retained their martial arts fundamentals.’ Not only did they set up a martial family in the same Seomseo. ‘Did they even change their focus to martial arts?’ It was indeed a strange connection. “Is that possible?” “Who knows.” Father replied doubtfully, as if unsure himself. ‘If what he says is true.’ That Chu Yeongyeon seems to be, quite literally. ‘A petty guy, isn’t he?’ Bearing a grudge against disciples of Mount Hua because of his family issues. ‘What kind of idiocy is this?’ Not much better than a neighborhood bully, his actions made no sense. ‘Surely…’ There must be more to it. ‘Otherwise...’ A well-disciplined disciple should not have established a martial family in Seomseo without Mount Hua’s silent consent, let alone a family strong enough to enter the Dragon Competition. Everyone has their own circumstances, so it’s conceivable. “And so.” I glanced at Father, moving closer, and asked something else. “Why are you telling me this?” What’s the intention behind subtly sharing such information? Turning to face the dueling platform, Father replied blankly. “You seemed curious.” “…Did I?” When did I? ‘Is he avoiding my eyes?’ Even his gaze seemed a bit evasive. Despite his expressionless demeanor, it was somewhat noticeable. Why would he do this? Pondering silently for a moment. “…Ah.” I started to understand the reason. I chuckled, speaking to Father. “You’re quite sly.” “…….” Father remained silent. With nothing more to say, he turned away from me and stepped back. Not long after I saw his retreat… Boom—!! “Ugh!!” A loud noise drew my attention. Looking towards the dueling platform, Soi was rolling on the ground. * * * “Cough.” She was hit hard, coughed up blood. The blood dripping from her lip stained her attire slightly. “……Well.” “She’s no match at all.” “Do we really need to drag this out?” Spectators began losing interest, finding the one-sided duel too powerless. A match needs some back-and-forth to be engaging, and this was outright bullying. “Hmm.” Sensing the stares, Chu Yeongyeon snorted. “It’d be better to stop here. No need for further disappointment….” As he was about to end it with those words. “Ugh…” Soi got up again, wiping the blood from her mouth. “It’s not over yet.” Chu Yeongyeon’s eyes widened slightly. ‘Such determination.’ Gone was the refined, graceful Soi, replaced by a fierceness burning in her eyes. Full of pain and fatigue, yet her gaze was sharp. “Please, once more.” “…….” Chu Yeongyeon didn’t conceal his displeasure. “A duel without hope. There’s no point in continuing.” “There is.” Srrrng. She grasped her sword once more. Its tip trembled faintly. “As long as Mount Hua’s name is with me, I will not give up.” “…….” Listening to her, Chu Yeongyeon glanced around, assessing his surroundings. “Isn’t it strange to initiate a duel with such disparity?” “Well, it is the Dragon Competition… I thought there might be some reason.” “It’s not even like we’re bullying kids.” Opinions deteriorated further. ‘This isn’t good.’ Chu Yeongyeon swallowed uneasily. He regretted his greed. It was right after his mission ended. He had wanted to follow up on Mount Hua’s reputation, something he hadn’t had time to do. ‘Mount Hua’s Sword Peak.’ Mount Hua, not on good terms with his family. They had produced the greatest prodigy. Tagged as one of the best Sword Peaks in history, a direct disciple of the renowned Plum Fairy, no less. Hence. ‘Mount Hua.’ He simply despised the name and got carried away with his greed. To see how great it was. Or to see how the great could be made weak. That foolish intention. Though instructed by his superior to do as he pleased, continuing would tarnish the Dragon Competition’s reputation. However. ‘…Her spirit is impressive.’ Despite such a crushing defeat, the woman refused to lower her sword. ‘Annoyingly so.’ He wished she’d fall easily. Yet she didn’t. Almost like Mount Hua wouldn’t collapse no matter what. - Must defeat the Plum Fairy. Someday. Defeating the Plum Fairy seated at the peak of Mount Hua. And to complete the duties of the noble family. That was Chu Yeongyeon’s creed. ‘To think I’m struggling against this little one.’ A delicate flower, yet resilient. Even though I handled it carefully, worried it might wither away when plucked too hastily. “I made a mistake.” With a resounding boom—!!! Chu Yeongyeon exhaled his energy as he spoke. “Ugh!?” “Whoa!” Those around him flinched. “Very well. I will do it properly.” He should have done it this way from the start. That way, she wouldn’t have dared to act so defiantly. He had been negligent. “…….” Soi hesitated in the face of the emanating force. She braced her legs, as if to avoid being pushed back. Yet. “Here I come.” Despite everything. She swung her sword again, indicating nothing had changed. A swift movement. A clean sword path. Even the subtle aura connecting her moves. Everything indicated she had surpassed her initial level. Crack---!!! “……!” Yet before Soi’s sword path could even find its flow, Chu Yeongyeon’s fist deflected her sword. The fragments of energy caused Soi’s arm to rise. Thud-!! “……Ugh!” Chu Yeongyeon’s fist grazed her chin. Soi fell helplessly, but just before she hit the ground, intending to attack once more. “Aah. That's a bit too much, isn’t it?” “……!” Before he could move his arm, Chu Yeongyeon froze in place. ‘What is this?’ Someone stood before him. The person who had caught the collapsing Soi, draping her over his shoulder, spoke. A familiar face. One of the most talked-about figures in the current duel. “……Baek Yangcheon?” It was Baek Yangcheon of the Azure Dragon Union. He stood there, staring at Chu Yeongyeon with a grin. Seeing him, Chu Yeongyeon stiffened. His expression was the issue. His mouth was smiling. But his eyes were not. “A grown man acting so shamefully. You should know when to stop.” “…What are you implying?” Chu Yeongyeon asked. “What am I implying? Why act like you don’t know?” With those words, Baek Yangcheon lightly tossed Soi aside. Thrown out of the dueling platform, she seemed to fall to the ground. But with a gentle swoosh—!!! She hovered in the air and landed safely. It was thanks to Gu Cheolun using his skill to catch her. “Mister, were you about to land one more hit just now?” “…….” Chu Yeongyeon did not deny it. “It was in the middle of a duel.” Such things could happen during a duel. He asserted this, speaking as if it justified his actions. “Damn you.” “What?” The curse following piqued Chu Yeongyeon’s anger. “You call this a duel? You were about to hit an unconscious opponent; how is that a duel? Aren’t you ashamed?” “…You little…” “I don’t know what your beef is, but handling it like this is a bit much.” “What does it matter to you?” “How can it not? I—” Baek Yangcheon hesitated mid-sentence. What should he say? He realized there wasn’t really a direct connection. At least, not in this world. “……She’s my junior.” He managed to say. The only connection was that they were both part of the Blue Dragon Unit. And perhaps, that was enough. “But seeing her get treated like that made me a bit sick to my stomach. So.” It was always the same. “Why don’t you have a go with me?” He never needed a grand reason to beat down someone he disliked.