392 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

### Chapter 393: The Northern Hare The woman's stance was peculiar. She was wearing attire that signified her as a member of the Murong family, and the decorations, along with the sword from the Baekcheon Sword Brigade at her waist, indicated her high status within the family. Moreover, the faint aura that emanated from her made it clear she was no weak martial artist. Her appearance suggested she was slightly over thirty, and there was a refreshing charm to her beauty. But what was it exactly about such a person that felt so odd? “Well now, isn’t that quite the lecture you’re giving to a young sprout, acting like you know it all, aren’t you?” “...” “If you’re going to grow old, do it gracefully. Did you shove your years up your hind end?” Despite her refined appearance and the prestigious background, her rough speech was an unusual contrast. Even more striking was her posture, leaning on one leg and chewing on an unknown something, akin to a street thug one might unfortunately encounter in a dark alley. ‘...What is this brazen demeanor?’ Her image clashed so starkly with her striking appearance that I couldn’t help but flinch. What puzzled me further was that the renowned Dao King of the world sealed his lips at the sight of her. His reddened face indicated his anger, but curiously, he held it back. Judging by this, it seemed the head of Peng knew this woman. ‘Who could she be…?’ A woman from the Murong family? Considering the limited possibilities, it shouldn’t have been difficult to guess, yet her identity eluded me. While I was pondering her identity, the head of Peng finally spoke up, having held his words in check. “What do you think you’re doing right now?” “That’s exactly what I want to ask you. What is this nonsense you’re pulling?” She mimicked his manner of speech mockingly. The woman was utterly disregarding the head of Peng. His face reddened even more at her attitude. “Baekryeon Sword…! What’s the reason for giving me such an insult without warning?” “…!” Only upon hearing his words did the woman’s identity dawn on me. ‘Is that woman really the Baekryeon Sword?’ I scrutinized her with surprised eyes. How did I fail to recognize her? When it came to notable women from the Murong family, it had to be her. ‘Baekryeon Sword, Murong Biyeon.’ She was a direct descendant of the Murong family and a well-known figure in Zhongyuan. The reason was none other than the title of Sword Queen. Amid the few traditional customs passed down in Zhongyuan, there was an unwritten rule about inheriting certain prominent titles. To clarify with an example, take the title of Sword King—it's easy to understand. Currently, the title of Sword King belonged to Namgung Jin, proven by his renowned name, Changcheon Sword King. No one else could use the title of Sword King. This was an unspoken rule. Unless it was the current Sword King, the title couldn’t be used by anyone else. However, that didn’t mean it was impossible to claim it. You could do so by either waiting for Namgung Jin to retire and relinquish his title or by challenging and defeating the current holder to claim it. But few ever did such a thing. It carried great risk, and retiring with the title after one's prime became more of a tradition. Likewise, there were a few symbolic titles in Zhongyuan passed down like Sword King. Sword Queen (劍后) was one of those titles. It denoted the most outstanding woman wielding a sword. Naturally, women who practiced swordsmanship coveted it. Baekryeon Sword, Murong Biyeon, was among the exceptional women discussed concerning the title of Sword Queen. With the previous Sword Queen, Eulyoung Sword Queen, having died in an accident, the seat of Sword Queen remained vacant. Among the skilled fighters in their prime, including Murong Biyeon, there was discussion of who would claim the title. She was one of the candidates. Though she didn’t become the Sword Queen, the fact that she was a candidate testified to her genuine prowess. The reason I failed to recognize such a figure was none other than this. ‘This is… what she’s really like?’ Her current demeanor was so vastly different from the rumors that had reached the public. “An insult? Do you think I’m insulting you?” “Then… if this isn’t an insult, what do you call it?” “You’re not even grateful, talking as if your words are worth less than dirt.” “What?” Murong Biyeon, though tall for a woman, was remarkably shorter than the head of Peng. Yet, she didn’t seem intimidated at all, even poking his chest with her finger. “You’re out here blabbering nonsense and humiliating your clan, and I’m the one stopping you. You should be grateful.” “…You…!” “Getting old and yet keen on tussling with a pretty thing that might have only lived a quarter of your life? Have you no sense? When you became head, I thought you might have improved a bit, tsk tsk.” “Baekryeon Sword!” “Why are you yelling like that!” The head of Peng’s shout was drowned out by Murong Biyeon’s voice. It was truly a formidable voice. Even Gu Yeonseom shivered, her shoulders trembling. That’s why I couldn’t recognize her as Baekryeon Sword. Rumors about Baekryeon Sword in Zhongyuan weren’t much different from the present Sword Queen of Mount Huashan. A virtuous person. Unable to turn a blind eye to the plight of the people. Moved to help others even at the cost of her own life, a rare hero. Just like the current Sword Queen, who single-handedly fended off the Jin Ma Gyeong-moon and gained fame. Baekryeon Sword had also made headlines by stopping a monster craze, risking death. She saved a small, nameless village at the cost of her own life. When asked why she did it, she replied: – The meal the child gave me was delicious. She did it out of gratitude for the kindness shown to her as she passed through. And she said it was worth risking her life for that. The Baekryeon Sword was known to be such a person. At least from what I remember. ‘What was it like in my past life?’ My memories were vague. Why, you ask? It was because Baekryeon Sword was scarcely active back then. In my previous life, the Murong family had not participated in the war. This was why I had nearly no recollection of them. It's said that the Murong leader, enraged by Seolbong’s death, had slaughtered demons, only to leave for Bing Palace shortly thereafter with Murong Hia’s body. Perhaps Murong Biyeon left with him at that time. That's why I don’t know much. ‘...I don’t know.’ It wasn’t a part of my memories I’d ever thought deeply about, so even now I couldn’t recall much. In the midst of all this, Murong Biyeon continuously spoke to the head of Peng, grinding her teeth. “This bastard. Weren’t you the one groveling and calling me sis back in the day? Now you think I’m a pushover because you’ve donned a couple of hats?” “...What?” It wasn’t so much the head of Peng who was caught off guard by Murong Biyeon’s words, but me. ‘He called her sis?’ ...Does that mean Murong Biyeon is older than the head of Peng? That was quite an astonishing revelation. Murong Biyeon looked youthful, barely over thirty, while the head of Peng seemed nearly sixty. Did the head of Peng alone bear the brunt of time's hardships? “Just because you became the head and I showed you some respect, you think you can forget the past? Ready to get beaten?” Murong Biyeon’s sneering words twisted the head of Peng’s face further. “The Baekryeon Sword herself must not recognize the restraint I’m showing for the sake of old ties.” “Restraint? Then don’t restrain yourself. Draw your sword, Peng family. I’ll slice that rotten tongue of yours today.” She didn't back down an inch despite standing before the famed Dao King, the head of Peng. Mixed with the martial aura and bloodlust, the atmosphere grew tense. What were these insane people trying to do on a bustling street? The head of Peng curled his lip and spoke while glancing at Murong Biyeon. “Do you not consider how this will be perceived by the Murong master?” The Baekryeon Sword hurling insults right in the middle of the street was akin to sowing seeds of discord between the Murong and Peng families. Bringing up political issues, the head of Peng tried to pressure Murong Biyeon. But she remained unfazed, her expression unchanged. Instead, she raised her hand to him with an even broader grin. Her clenched fist popped up a single slender, white middle finger. “Screw you.” “…!” “You think our master would fear a little worm like you? If that frightens you into silence, then you’ve no business holding the title of head. Your attempts at intimidation are pathetic.” That was enough to make even my head spin. Where she initially brought to mind Gu Heebi's rough demeanor, she had now surpassed even that impression. Was this truly the Baekryeon Sword I knew? Murong Biyeon seemed indifferent to the attention from those around us as she continued to glare at the head of Peng. “What, aren’t you going to draw your sword? Let’s have a go at it.” Despite the brewing tension between prestigious figures in the center of Hanyang, Murong Biyeon seemed unfazed by the attention. On the contrary, the head of Peng was nervously surveying his surroundings. Murong Biyeon’s hand hovered over her sword, ready to draw at any moment, her fighting spirit deepening with each second. The head of Peng’s body began to tense up in response. Was it truly a moment away from erupting into chaos? If so, there would certainly be an incident on this narrow street. Maybe it’s time to sneak away; being entangled here wouldn’t bode well. As I was assessing possible escape routes, the head of Peng suddenly withdrew his tension and spoke to Murong Biyeon. “I will not forget this insult. Baekryeon Sword…!” It seemed like he was the first to withdraw. “Forget it? Let’s settle it now,” Murong Biyeon retorted mockingly, but the head of Peng merely turned his back and began to walk away, signaling his withdrawal. Martial artists who appeared to be part of the Peng family followed him, and once confirmed, Murong Biyeon finally retracted her energy. Two figures walked away in the distance, and Murong Biyeon whispered quietly to herself. “That damn fool. How does someone so big have a heart as small as a mouse's dropping?” I couldn’t help but agree, nodding internally at her words. ‘The impression is different.’ My perception of the Dao King was beginning to change. Peng Yu-jin and Peng A-hee didn’t give off this feeling, yet the man carrying the title of head seemed captivated by something. Could it be a heart demon? The head of Peng seemed tied down by some unknown heart demon. I remembered when a senior elder had met Peng Yu-jin, commenting on his fortune with children. Perhaps that remark was indirectly referencing the head of Peng. As I mused over these thoughts, Murong Biyeon turned her head to look in our direction. More specifically, she was looking at Gu Yeonseom. “Are you okay?” Murong Biyeon’s question startled Gu Yeonseom, who hurriedly straightened up. She was visibly nervous. With a flustered demeanor, Gu Yeonseom offered her respects. “Thank you for your assistance, senior… I am Gu Yeon-seo of the Gu family.” Amused by Gu Yeonseom’s adorable actions, Murong Biyeon’s previous expression softened into a gentle smile. “No need for formalities like ‘senior.’ Just call me sister.” “How could I…! I, I can’t possibly…!” Gu Yeonseom’s face reddened as she stammered, which made Murong Biyeon chuckle and ruffle her hair. Meanwhile, her gaze dropped to Gu Yeonseom’s chest. Her eyes lingered on the embroidery symbolizing the Gu family, and there was an inexplicable wistfulness in her eyes. Why was that? Why did she look at it like that? The look lasted only a moment, and then Murong Biyeon returned to her usual expression as she spoke to Gu Yeonseom. “It was scary when that big guy said those things, wasn’t it?” “No, it wasn’t…” “Don’t lie, just think of it as stepping on something unpleasant.” Gu Yeonseom couldn’t even meet her gaze, embarrassment clear on her face. For some reason, seeing the younger member of my family embarrassed was fairly unpleasant. As I watched, I subtly loosened my grip on Gu Yeonseom’s shoulder. I wondered if I should introduce myself, and that’s when Murong Biyeon’s gaze shifted to me. Thinking she might be expecting a formal greeting, I hastily moved to clasp my hands in courtesy. “I hope I didn’t interfere?” Her unexpectedly polite tone caught me off guard. “Pardon?” “I jumped in because I was annoyed, but it seemed like you were going to handle it initially.” It seemed she was aware of my intention to step in. But why was she using formal speech? “No, not at all.” “Really, thank you for stepping in. It must have been a bother.” I gave a wry smile internally at her words. ‘Seems she noticed the barrier I set.’ She’d noticed when I cast a sound barrier to keep the conversation contained. I gave her a sheepish grin and spoke. “Thank you for assisting us instead, Baekryeon Sword senior.” “Hmm?” Murong Biyeon tilted her head, suddenly sensing something strange. Did she pick up a peculiar vibe? I hadn’t done anything noticeable. Her expression began to fill with curiosity, and then she suddenly approached me. She reached for my bamboo hat without warning. “…!” Startled, I tried to intercept her arm, but she was faster than expected. She lifted the hat gently, revealing my face to her. “What in the world…!” Mixed feelings of irritation and surprise at the unexpected intrusion made me stare at her in disbelief, yet her eyes crazily trembled. I was the one to be taken aback, so why did she have that expression? Oblivious to my incredulity, Murong Biyeon, evidently flustered, looked at me and said, “…Gu... Daehyeop?” “Excuse me?” Her voice, as she addressed me, was unnecessarily wistful.