Chapter 32: Only Three Times (2)

༺ Only Three Times (2) ༻

Tang Soyeol had always been unique compared to others; this uniqueness was particularly glaring when one looked at her early life.

While other children chased after cute dogs and kittens, she looked for reptiles like snakes and lizards.

As she grew older, she went from chasing after snakes and lizards to chasing after beasts like tigers.RêAd lateSt chapters at nô(v)e(l)bin/.c/o/m Only

Her sharp visage, which resembled that of a fierce animal, made her seem like a natural predator to weak animals.

That was why, in the past, when the idea of a marriage between the Namgung and Tang clans was proposed, she harshly opposed the idea.

Tang Soyeol had never really liked Namgung Cheonjun.

Everyone said that he was handsome, but-

‘He looks like a playboy.’

She felt disgusted every time she looked at him.

She had never fallen for Namgung Cheonjun’s looks, and she even felt a bit creeped out by the aura he gave off.

She had always found him... odd.

To her, his kindness had always seemed laced with hidden motives.

She couldn’t understand why everyone else lost their minds whene face with Namgung Cheonjun’s appearance.

In comparison, Namgung Bi-ah was a much better person.

Although she was quiet and unexpressive, Tang Soyeol felt that she was genuine. Namgung Bi-ah had always accepted Tang Soyeol, even when she had treated her harshly.

Tang Soyeol liked Namgung Bi-ah, who accepted her despite her difficult personality.

She was touched when Namgung Bi-ah kept her promise about her coming to the next Military Exhibition of Tang,

But she wondered why Namgung Cheonjun had also come along.

Wherever Namgung Bi-ah went, Namgung Cheonjun was never far behind.

Why?

Whenever she looked at them, Tang Soyeol got the feeling that Namgung Bi-ah didn’t like Namgung Cheonjun all that much.

However, her impassive expression made it difficult to figure out how she really felt, and Tang Soyeol didn’t feel like she was in a position to ask Namgung Bi-ah about it.

“Right, Tangrang?”

– Grrr.

A huge wolf with black fur, it was one of Tang Soyeol’s pets.

Tang Soyeol softly sighed as she pet her pet.

“You’re so adorable... I wish all men in the world were like you.”

While she wished that were the case, Tang Soyeol knew that such a thing wasn’t possible.

Namgung Cheonjun, the guy from Moyong, and the Peng clan’s Peng Woojin all had soft, kind-looking faces.

Why do all of them look so much like playboys?

Plus, the guys from the Namgung and Moyong clans made her feel uneasy whenever she was with them. As for the last one...

‘Peng Woojin is just a weirdo.’

Tang Soyeol felt a creeping headache as she remembered the scenes of Tang Jooyeok and Peng Woojin causing trouble together.

‘It’s no wonder that I and Peng Ah-hee became close friends on our first meeting—we both have weird older brothers...

‘I think the last time I met her was when her engagement was annulled.’

‘I forget what clan she was going to marry into; then again, I don’t think she actually told me.’

All Tang Soyeol remembered was Peng Ah-hee saying that he was a piece of shit, and that she was happy that the engagement was cut off.

“...Are there any cool men anywhere?”

Tang Soyeol, who was currently going through puberty, yearned for a romantic encounter.

On the night of Namgung Bi-ah’s arrival, Tang Soyeol invited her to see their lake.

The Lotus Flower Lake was a masterpiece of the Tang clan and was restricted to outsiders – no one was allowed in without permission.

The lotus flower that floated above the water was, after all, a valuable sacred herb.

Apart from the lotus itself, the lake and the fish that inhabited it were all luxuries.

According to Tang Jooyeok, the lake was made too extravagantly by the professionals.

Tang Soyeol honestly agreed with that statement.

It looked super pretty... But other than that, it had nothing going for it.

While they were slowly walking through the night, Tang Soyeol asked Namgung Bi-ah.

“Bi-ah, how was your trip here?”

“...Yes, though I did get lost...”

“...You got lost again.”

Namgung Bi-ah was abnormally talented at getting lost.

One moment she was going the right way, and then suddenly she would go off in the wrong direction by herself.

‘Maybe it’s her emotionless personality,’ Tang Soyeol thought.

“Well, at least you made it here... I was nervous.”

“I had a companion.”

“A companion?”

“Yes.”

Is she talking about the people of a different clan that they had come along with?

Tang Soyeol had heard that they were called the Gu Clan or something along those lines. She honestly didn’t really know them.

All she knew about the Gu Clan was that it was the home of the famous Tiger Warrior, that the Sword Phoenix came from that clan, and that they were the mightiest clan of Shanxi.

They were a clan that didn’t do many outside activities, so Tang Soyeol didn’t know much about them aside from those three facts.

A descendant from the Gu Clan coming to this year’s Military Exhibition of Tang was also unprecedented.

Maybe Tang Jooyeok knows about them since he’s the young lord?

“You mean that Gu Clan?”

“Yes...”

‘Huh?’

For a second, Tang Soyeol thought that she had seen a smile on Namgung Bi-ah’s face.

She had never seen Namgung Bi-ah smile, ever.

They continued their walk through the night with a cool breeze blowing around them.

It seemed like Namgung Bi-ah didn’t really want to go back after all.

Then they came to a stop.

They felt a presence ahead of them.

“...It’s not my brother.”

It was actually two people.

Their faces weren’t visible due to the shadows, but they weren’t from the Tang clan.

“Who are you?”

Tang Soyeol asked.

They seemed to be surprised by the voice.

It didn’t look like they were enemies, so they were probably guests who came here without knowing that the lake was a restricted area.

“This place is prohibited for outsiders.”

The moonlight slowly revealed their faces.

Tang Soyeol stopped after catching a glimpse of their faces—particularly after looking at the boy’s face.

No, perhaps it would be better to say that time as a whole stopped for her at that moment.

Thump! Thump!

She felt her heart thumping like crazy, as if it was on the verge of exploding.

With those words, the boy took a step towards Namgung Cheonjun.

And Tang Soyeol instantly dropped to her knees.

***

‘I can’t understand.’

That was the sole thought running through Namgung Cheonjun’s mind.

‘Why did I let go of the sword...?

‘After I attacked his shoulder, I was going to attack his leg.’

He had been thinking of how he would bully the guy, and had already been having fun just from the thought of it, so...

‘Why... Why did I let go of the sword?’

His arm was aching from the pain.

His wrist was turning red.

‘I let go of the sword in that short moment? But then... why didn’t I notice?’

“How astounding.”

Namgung Cheonjun lifted his head at the voice.

The guy who had come closer to Namgung Cheonjun was now looking down at him.

“Geniuses always have some thoughts or other during duels. If this was a real fight, you would have probably died three times already, you know that?”

Namgung Cheonjun was about to respond but quickly moved away.

It was because of the incoming fist.

He was successful in dodging it, but because of his broken posture, he couldn’t dodge the next attack.

The kick landed on Namgung Cheonjun’s chest and made him roll on the floor with a groan.

“Ughhh...”

While he was struggling to breathe, the wooden sword was dropped into his hands.

“Pick that up. You said this would be a learning experience for me.”

The boy then clapped his hands immediately after.

“Oh, or maybe I’m the one teaching you? That, I’m pretty confident about.”

– Crack

The taunt that came from the boy’s smiling face made Namgung Cheonjun breathe roughly.

Then Namgung Cheonjun lifted his body up, picking up his sword.

“I let my guard-“

“You’re not going to say you let your guard down, right? There’s no excuse more pathetic than that for a martial artist.”

Namgung Cheonjun shut his mouth at the boy’s words.

Even he knew that it was a pathetic excuse.

He instead quietly fixed his posture.

‘...He has some talent in him after all.’

He had underestimated him too much.

He should’ve known that he had something considering he was the younger brother of the Sword Phoenix.

Namgung Cheonjun took a small step forward and positioned his sword to face his opponent.

He was getting serious.

He drew a half circle, then did a stabbing motion, retrieved the sword, and continued to repeat the process.

It was a movement that he had trained for many years.

Thanks to his training, he was able to be flawless in his movements while also being firm.

He knew that one day he would represent the fast sword art of the Namgung.

The Zenith.

It was the name that belonged to the Sword Emperor during this time, but Namgung Cheonjun was sure that he would one day be the one to inherit that title.

‘I’ve been told that I have more talent with the sword than even the Lord of the clan.’

So he was sure of it.

‘Because I am a genius.’

But then why...

‘Why can’t I touch him!?’

How many swings had it been? How many attacks had he made?

Namgung Cheonjun’s sword was definitely fast.

There was no flaw in his movements, and the continuous attacks had no mid-point.

As his breathing roughened due to his anger, Namgung Cheonjun retrieved his sword.

There was no reason for him to be losing against this guy.

But then why?

‘How does he know, every time, where I will swing?’

The boy kept dodging his attacks by a narrow margin.

The sword would skim his clothes and his hair.

But it had never landed directly on him.

He was using the least amount of movement possible to dodge the attacks, which meant he wasn’t getting tired as well.

There was no way this was possible unless he was actually better than Namgung Cheonjun.

So what was the answer, then?

‘This piece of shit... Is stronger than me?’

Namgung Cheonjun’s thoughts started to darken as he felt his pride crumbling apart.

‘...I want to kill him.’

The piece of shit that was getting attention from his perfect sister.

The piece of shit that was dodging his sword like it was nothing.

‘I want to kill him.’

As Namgung Cheonjun lost control of his desire to kill, he channeled a bit of Qi into his sword.

Just enough that no one would notice.

Namgung Cheonjun then put his all into his next attack, aiming for the boy’s head.

– Poow!

“Urgghhhh!”

Namgung Cheonjun shook and dropped to his knees.

Then the boy slapped Namgung Cheonjun’s face.

With a sharp ‘Pa!’, Namgung Cheonjun collapsed.

“This bastard.”

The boy, Gu Yangcheon, walked closer to Namgung Cheonjun and shouted.

His voice was filled with anger.

“I was going to let you off the hook, but you, piece of shit, dared to use Qi in your attack? Why? Did you want to kill me?”

Namgung Cheonjun couldn’t focus as blood flowed down his head.

“Wow, what a shitty feeling this is. Honestly, didn’t I hold my anger more than three times already?”

As Gu Yangcheon talked to what seemed to be an unknown person,

He kicked the crotch of Namgung Cheonjun, who was crawling away.

“Aghhhhhhh-!!!”

“Gasp...!”

Tang Jooyeok, who had been watching all this time, flinched without realizing it.