Chapter 179 Land of Death (5)
"Did you just say... you're going to teach us some manners?"
The women, with stiff expressions, raised their auras towards the young men. The calm waters of the lake suddenly began to ripple.
"I didn't realize you were so thoughtless as to insult the Namgung Family in the middle of Wuhan."
"The Namgung Family, you say. A good family. But you're children of a branch family, aren't you? We don't intend to take your lives. We're just trying to teach you about the proper conduct between men and women, and the ways of the martial world. Did we look like people who couldn't even lecture the branch family of the Namgung Family?"
As the young men, who were chuckling and walking forward, were approached by the coachman, he quickly bowed deeply and whispered quietly.
"Young masters. That Miss Namgung Hwi-yeon is the one who advanced to the finals of the recent Dragon and Phoenix Tournament and showed excellent results..."
"Shut up! Do you think the name of the Golden Flower Twin Fists is a joke? We have even exchanged blows with the Ice Rakshasa of the Sado Alliance. Even if that woman danced with a sword a little at the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament, her skills are no threat to us!"
Namgung Hwi-yeon's brow furrowed at the young men's words. Namgung So-yo, who was standing next to her, gripped her arm tightly.
"Unni, the Ice Rakshasa of the Sado Alliance is..."
"A Peak Realm master. She's called a legend in the Sado Alliance. Those brats from the Golden Flower Manor have exchanged blows with the Ice Rakshasa? Ha! Ridiculous! You stay right here. I'll take care of it."
Namgung Hwi-yeon, who had shielded Namgung So-yo with her body, glared at the Golden Flower Twin Fists and then slowly stepped forward.
"A bluff to the very end. How unsightly. If you truly have such power and status, then show me. My sword is not that dull either, so you can prove it with your skills!"
Namgung Hwi-yeon drew her sword from her waist with a clang.
The expressions of the Golden Flower Twin Fists contorted fiercely as they saw Namgung Hwi-yeon, who was not intimidated at all even after they had played their trump card.
'...A daughter of the Namgung Family.'
Danli-hyeong, who had been leaning against the tree, opened his eyes and was watching the commotion in front of him, as the flow of events was quite interesting.
'She has good spirit, and her skills are not bad. Her innate talent is also at a considerable level. If she receives proper support and learns martial arts, she could aim for a much higher realm...'
Danli-hyeong could roughly gauge her skills just by looking at the stance she took when she drew her sword. After scanning Namgung Hwi-yeon's stance, Danli-hyeong's gaze shifted to the Golden Flower Twin Fists.
'In comparison, those guys are only full of internal energy, and their center of gravity is even shaking. It seems like the two of them would have to attack together to barely be a match for that woman. Kekeke. Shall we see how the righteous faction handles a situation like this?'
Danli-hyeong's eyes twinkled as he looked at Namgung Hwi-yeon, who had drawn her sword, and the Golden Flower Twin Fists, who had clenched their fists.
"...To draw your sword in front of us. It seems the Namgung Family is determined to make an enemy of the Imperial Court."
Ju Ha-ryong, the elder of the Golden Flower Twin Fists, took out a fist guard from his bosom and put it on, glaring at Namgung Hwi-yeon.
Namgung Hwi-yeon, who was exuding a sharp aura, bit her lip hard. These two were distant relatives of the Imperial Family, and in a broader sense, they were connected to the Emperor's bloodline. The reason they were acting so rudely was all because they believed in their background.
On top of that, not only were they connected to the Imperial bloodline, but the Golden Flower Manor they belonged to was a huge merchant group that encompassed all of Hubei.
It was said that more than half of the goods needed by the Murim Alliance were supplied by the Golden Flower Manor, so it was needless to say that the relationship between the two organizations was close.
'Even so... these people have insulted the Namgung Family.'
Although the prestige of the Namgung Family had been declining since the death of the Peak Realm swordsman Namgung Hwi-in five years ago, the Namgung Family was still one of the Five Great Families that formed the backbone of the Murim Alliance.
If they let this insult from the children of a merchant family, not a martial family, slide, the Namgung Family could become a laughingstock in the entire martial world.
It was definitely a situation where she had to draw her sword, but there was one thing that bothered her.
As the Golden Flower Twin Fists had said, she was from a branch family, she was a woman, and she was the daughter of a man whom the family head hated to death.
'Perhaps... in order to protect the relationship with the Golden Flower Manor, my claims could be dismissed as a fabrication.'
She had tried hard to get into the family head's good graces and had even participated in the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament to show her excellent skills, but the family head had not given her a single glance.
She knew it well.
Her father was a scoundrel who did not deserve the name of Namgung, and the family head had gained the dishonorable title of an incompetent head who had led to the decline of the Namgung Family because he had spent years cleaning up the mess her father had made.
'How long... do I have to carry my father's burden?'
But she couldn't back down here. The moment she decided to let these people who had insulted the Namgung Family go, it was obvious that everything she had worked for in the Namgung Family would be negated.
Namgung Hwi-yeon, who had made up her mind, slowly raised her sword.
A sword that contained the worries, regrets, and frustrations of her entire life. A sharp energy began to form on that sword.
The expressions of the Golden Flower Twin Fists turned pale as they confirmed that the aura emanating from Namgung Hwi-yeon's body was beyond imagination. But soon, a rough aura began to emanate from their bodies as well.
A touch-and-go situation.
The moment killing intent began to fill Namgung Hwi-yeon's sword, a loud shout was heard from afar.
"Namgung Hwi-yeon!"
It was an imposing aura, enough to momentarily shake the auras of the three who were confronting each other. A deep look of concern appeared on the face of Namgung Hwi-yeon, who knew who the owner of the voice was.
─ THUD!
A man who had closed the distance in an instant launched himself into the air and landed between the three who were confronting each other.
"This is... Elder Namgung Hyeong-san, isn't it?"
A bright smile appeared on the faces of the Golden Flower Twin Fists, who had confirmed the identity of the man who had appeared.
"It's been a while. Have you been well?"
"Hehe. We've been well... Have you been well too, Elder? Are you making good use of the funds we lent you before?"
"...Of course. Thanks to you, we got through a difficult situation."
"That's a relief. If you have any problems in the future, just let us know and we'll help you anytime. However... I'm a little doubtful whether our relationship can continue well in the future. This daughter of the Namgung Family is pointing her sword at us right now."
Hearing the words of the Golden Flower Twin Fists, Namgung Hyeong-san turned to Namgung Hwi-yeon.
"Elder..."
"Namgung Hwi-yeon. What on earth are you doing!"
"Elder, those people harassed us and insulted the name of Namgung."
"Shut that mouth! Isn't the boat you just got off from the Golden Flower Manor?"
At Namgung Hyeong-san's question, Namgung Hwi-yeon bit her lip hard.
Today, after confirming that she could not get into the family head's good graces no matter how much she struggled, Namgung Hwi-yeon had persuaded Namgung So-yo and come to the lake of Wuhan to soothe her heavy heart.
She had just intended to get some fresh air, but Namgung So-yo had been completely persuaded by the Golden Flower Twin Fists whom they had met at the lakeside.
It was the Golden Flower Twin Fists' invitation to a drinking party, which she had accepted with a "whatever happens, happens" attitude, due to Namgung So-yo's plea that they would never be able to have a drinking party on such a magnificent boat on the lake if not for this opportunity.
It was something she would never have done normally.
Perhaps all of this had been foreseen the moment she had boarded the boat.
Namgung Hwi-yeon let out a small sigh as she looked at Namgung So-yo's trembling hand behind her.
"That's right. I... accepted the young masters' offer while I was trying to get some fresh air with So-yo."
"Then, why are you, who boarded that boat, holding a sword right now!"
"As I said before, the two young masters harassed us and insulted the Namgung Family..."
"Namgung Hwi-yeon! Are you finally going to follow your father's path? If the young masters offered a drinking party, you should have enjoyed it and come back! Weren't you fully aware that the atmosphere created by alcohol can make one's words and actions lighter than usual when you boarded that boat!"
At Namgung Hyeong-san's words, tears welled up in Namgung Hwi-yeon's eyes for a moment.
The Namgung Family was not on her side until the very end. Namgung Hyeong-san was like the family head's right-hand man, and he was an elder who held the real power of the family.
In a situation like this, no matter how much she told the truth, it was obvious whose side the family head would take without even looking.
Namgung Hwi-yeon, who had wiped her eyes with her sleeve, slowly lowered her sword.
Namgung Hyeong-san, who was looking at Namgung Hwi-yeon with contemptuous eyes, turned to the Golden Flower Twin Fists.
"I'm so ashamed in front of the two young masters. I'm just sorry. I'll take those two children back to the family and teach them a stern lesson. As an apology for ruining the two young masters' fun today, I'd like to treat you to dinner... what do you think?"
"Ahem. As for dinner..."
"I'll reserve a seat at Honghwaru."
"Ahem. Well, if you say so, Elder, it seems rude for us to refuse..."
At Namgung Hyeong-san's single word of apology, Namgung Hwi-yeon's heart grew cold.
Although they were the ones who had harassed them and insulted the family, in the end, the Namgung Family's choice was the Golden Flower Twin Fists.
Namgung Hwi-yeon, who was looking at Namgung Hyeong-san, who was continuing to talk with the Golden Flower Twin Fists with a fake smile, closed her eyes tightly.
'...When did the Namgung Family change like this? What's the point of protecting the position of the Five Great Families in this way?'
A tear dropped from Namgung Hwi-yeon's eye.
Namgung So-yo, who had come up from behind, gripped her arm tightly. Swallowing her anger and sadness, Namgung Hwi-yeon held Namgung So-yo's hand.
"I'll go in and talk to them, so don't worry. I'll tell them it was all my doing, so you just say you followed me onto the boat without knowing anything."
As Namgung Hwi-yeon whispered quietly, Namgung So-yo hesitated and then bowed her head low.
Since it had come to this anyway, it was better for her to just take the blame for everything. Namgung So-yo was a child who had just set foot in the martial world, so she would become a little more cautious through this opportunity, and that was enough for her.
'...As always, I just have to endure it.'
Namgung Hwi-yeon, who had let out a small sigh, slowly pushed her sword into her waist.
As she was smacking her bitter lips while looking at the Golden Flower Twin Fists and Namgung Hyeong-san, who were now laughing cheerfully, a young man walking with a swagger from behind came into Namgung Hwi-yeon's sight.
'...Huh?'
He was a complete stranger. His staggering steps, as if he were drunk, looked quite precarious.
If he was someone that she, who had lived in Wuhan for over three years, did not know, then he was not someone qualified to intervene here.
As the young man got closer, Namgung Hwi-yeon, in a hurry, slightly released a wave of qi towards him. At Namgung Hwi-yeon's energy, the young man's bangs were swept back, and a sharp but handsome appearance was revealed from within.
He was a man with a sturdy physique that did not match his shabby martial arts robes.
As the young man's eyes turned to her, Namgung Hwi-yeon signaled with her eyes to back off. Although she repeated the eye signal several times, the young man continued to walk towards her, staring intently at her.
Thus, the young man began to get closer.
'...Why isn't he stopping?'
The Golden Flower Twin Fists were famous for not leaving alone those who got in their way. She had the power of her family, and Elder Namgung Hyeong-san was also here. Moreover, she had martial arts skills that the two of them could not handle, which was why they were backing down at this point.
If that young man got on the nerves of the Golden Flower Twin Fists, he could become a corpse right here on the spot.
Namgung Hwi-yeon hurriedly moved and blocked the young man's path, shielding him with her body.
Just as Namgung Hyeong-san and the Golden Flower Twin Fists, who were looking at Namgung Hwi-yeon, who had suddenly moved, with strange eyes, were about to continue their conversation.
"You're in the way, so move."
The young man's voice was heard from behind. A look of bewilderment appeared on the face of Namgung Hwi-yeon, who had turned her head.