Chapter 167: Realm of The Boundary of the Upper World (2)
"Wouldn't your own realization feel different? Why bother using this old man's useless experience?"
"No, sir. I gained much insight from your words. That’s exactly why I want to reach that level as well."
"Feel free to use it, then. But in return, you must tell what lies beyond the Realm of The Boundary of the Upper World."
"Understood, sir."
"Then be on your way. You must be busy."
Namgung Bi stood up and began walking.
Not even the squirrels or butterflies avoided the path he walked on.
Namgung Bi had already beco a part of Mountain Wave Garden.
Watching that scene, I had many thoughts.
'When will I be able to reach the Realm of The Boundary of the Upper World?'
I held out my palm with so feed placed on top, stretching my hand toward the mountain bird.
However, the bird did not fly over to take the feed.
It was because it still saw as human.
Yet, seeing that it dared to co within a single jang of distance showed it was not extrely wary.
"If the bird were to sit on my hand without a hint of wariness, would that an I've reached the Realm of The Boundary of the Upper World?"
Even the squirrels and butterflies fled in surprise whenever I approached within a single jang.
'Just how much deeper must my understanding grow to truly beco one with nature?'
Once again, I beca solemn before the endless profundity of martial arts.
"This is disappointing. Parting without even sharing a proper drink."
Paeng Giyok refused to let go of my hand.
From an outsider’s view, it might have looked like the two of us were lovers, that’s how close we seed.
To Paeng Giyok, I was a friend more precious than anything else.
That’s why it saddened him to part ways without even a drink.
Because of the chaos from the Soho incident and the attack on the Namgung Clan, there had been no ti for drinks, let alone a proper conversation.
"I’ll head straight to my family after finishing up in Zhengzhou. If you have ti, co visit my ho."
"That’s the only way I’ll be able to see you, isn’t it? You’re so busy I never get to see your face. Hwarin, why don’t you stay one more day? Let’s drink until our noses turn crooked tonight."
Despite knowing the mood in the Namgung Clan wasn’t suitable for drinking, Paeng Giyok forced the matter because he wanted to spend more ti with .
In truth, I could have stayed another day, but Hoi Unkyung had been poisoned. The more I delayed, the worse her condition would beco.
Since I hadn’t shared this fact, Paeng Giyok couldn’t understand why I was leaving so urgently and felt disappointed.
"I’m sorry. It’s sothing that can’t wait."
When my face filled with genuine apology, Paeng Giyok finally gave up.
"Alright. I’m the one who should be sorry for trying to hold back soone who’s busy."
At that mont, Jegal Yohye, who had been standing behind, muttered quietly.
"Why does it seem like among all of us here, Young Master Yong is the busiest?"
Her words carried a bit of spite. They were all busy investigating the mastermind behind the alliance’s formation and the Namgung Clan’s attack, yet I seed even busier, which irked her for no reason.
Jegal Yohye felt frustrated that despite spending so much ti in the sa place as , she hadn’t been able to have a proper conversation.
Every ti she tried to make ti, so incident occurred, leaving her unable to approach .
So she had decided to change her approach and take things slowly.
Upon careful observation, I wasn’t soone who entertained won easily.
Despite nurous daughters from various clans sending flirtatious signals, I had shown no interest. Jegal Yohye had been among them, but she had consciously excluded herself from that group.
She had planned to gradually earn my heart over ti, but with no opportunity to do so, her plan had beco aningless.
And just when she resolved to be patient, I announced I was leaving the Namgung Clan.
No wonder she couldn’t help but sound sour.
"Yohye, Brother Hwarin is busy. You should understand," Jegal Cheongyeong said from beside her, trying to calm her down.
But that only made her more annoyed.
"Hmph! As if he’s busier than ?"
Still, she had co all the way to say goodbye, and now Jegal Cheongyeong kept taking my side, which flipped her mood upside down.
"Tch! Tch! Tch!"
Kicking the ground several tis as if sothing displeased her, she abruptly turned around and disappeared.
Jegal Cheongyeong watched her leave and silently clicked her tongue.
'She’s a smart girl, yet she’s terrible at expressing her feelings.'
Jegal Cheongyeong already knew that Jegal Yohye had feelings for .
At one ti, she had even considered helping them get together.
But now, she no longer felt like doing so.
In fact, seeing Jegal Yohye sulking and possibly earning my dislike made her feel oddly relieved.
'I’ve beco selfish too. But whether it’s martial arts or love, you can’t claim anything without being selfish.'
Jegal Cheongyeong had changed a lot.
Ever since she learned of her true identity, many things had shifted within her.
And those changes had been largely positive.
'Good things aren’t ant to be given away—they’re ant to be claid for myself.'
After realizing that giving good things to others was not kindness but foolishness, Jegal Cheongyeong’s view of the world changed completely.
It was then that soone appeared who felt as irritating as a grain of sand in her eye.
"Young Master Yong, I happen to have business in Zhengzhou as well. Looks like I can join you on the way," said Namgung Yoo with a bright smile.
Jegal Cheongyeong muttered inwardly.
'Hmph, look at her trying to flirt with Brother Hwarin.'
Lately, every ti another woman smiled at Yong Hwarin, it looked like flirtation to Jegal Cheongyeong.
Yong Hwarin found it curious that Namgung Yoo, who had many responsibilities in the Namgung Clan, claid she was going to Zhengzhou.
"You’re going to Zhengzhou? You’ve seed quite busy lately."
"I do have busy matters to attend to, but since you’re going, I thought I’d go as well. I figured it would be safer to travel with you, Young Master Yong."
Jegal Cheongyeong thought to herself.
'If she really had business, she could take the Namgung Clan’s elite guards. Why would she need to follow Brother Hwarin? She must have ulterior motives.'
Just as Jegal Cheongyeong suspected, Namgung Yoo’s offer to accompany was heavily influenced by Namgung Seong’s intention.
Having realized that Yong Hwarin, who he thought was a dormant dragon, was in fact a dominant dragon destined to rule the martial world, Namgung Seong had formulated a plan to bring into the Namgung Clan’s circle.
The first step was to have Namgung Yoo, who seed to have gained my favor, grow closer to .
Coincidentally, there was a scheduled eting in Zhengzhou with the Lord of Dongak Hall regarding the procurent of Jiangshi.
Though Namgung Yoo had already planned to go to Zhengzhou, her schedule was moved forward so she could travel with .
Namgung Seong had called Namgung Yoo and asked her:
"Yoo-ah, what do you think of Yong Hwarin?"
Namgung Yoo’s face lit up with admiration.
"Father, he’s an exceptional man. His martial arts and insight are far beyond what any of his peers can match. What’s even more impressive is how he draws outstanding people toward him. Even Paeng Giyok, who used to lant having no friends, chose to be his friend. And the sons of other clans don’t dare act arrogantly in front of him. He silently overwhelms them, so they can’t ignore him."
Namgung Seong nodded as he listened to his daughter’s praise of Yong Hwarin.
"What do you think will beco of him in the future?"
Namgung Yoo paused in thought and then replied.
"He is one of those people I can’t asure. But in my opinion, he will achieve great things in the martial world. What are your thoughts, Father?"
Since they often discussed such matters when evaluating talents, Namgung Yoo sensed nothing unusual in their conversation.
"I think the sa. I couldn’t asure his martial attainnt either."
"What? But Father, you surpassed the Cycle Completion Stage long ago. If you couldn’t gauge his strength... does that an Young Master Yong has surpassed the Cycle Completion Stage too?"
Namgung Seong spoke in a serious tone, without a trace of a smile.
"I recently t with your grandfather."
"Grandfather?"
"Yes, your grandfather ca to see personally. It’s been nearly a year since he last visited in person. He told to pay special attention to Yong Hwarin because he is a rare talent."
"Grandfather visited just to say that?"
"Yes, and he said sothing even more shocking afterward."
Namgung Yoo liked her grandfather Namgung Bi. He was the one who understood her best and recognized her talent.
"He said that Yong Hwarin would surpass him within ten years."
"Really?"
Namgung Yoo knew how supre her grandfather Namgung Bi was, who was called the Sword King of the World.
To hear that soone would surpass him was shocking.
And that soone was none other than Yong Hwarin, who had just barely passed his coming-of-age.
Even in ten years, Yong Hwarin would only be in his early thirties.
That ant he could ascend to the ranks of the Seven Kings of the Martial World in his early thirties.
"I’ve never known your grandfather to be wrong. His words will surely prove true. That’s why I plan to make him one of our people."
"Do you think that will be easy?"
Even from the little ti she had spent observing Yong Hwarin, she felt that he was not soone who could be easily roped in.
"That’s why I need you."
Namgung Yoo stared at her father, puzzled by the sudden shift in conversation.
"I’m not sure I understand what you an."
"Looks like So Hong is already out of the picture. Since you’re already close to Young Master Yong, I want you to make him yours."
Namgung Yoo stared at her father in surprise.
"Father, from what I’ve seen so far, Young Master Yong doesn’t seem interested in won. He even broke off his engagent. There’s no reason he’d show interest in ."
Namgung Seong cleared his throat a couple of tis and lowered his voice.
"What I an is, try to build so closeness while traveling together to Zhengzhou. It takes about a month to get there. Don’t you think you can make sothing happen in that ti?"
Namgung Yoo disliked how materialistic her father sounded, but she could understand where he was coming from.
Who wouldn’t covet a talent like Yong Hwarin?
Otherwise, they’d have no right to lead a clan.
You couldn’t run a clan without the ability to recognize people.
'Since I’m going to Zhengzhou anyway, I suppose traveling with Young Master Yong isn’t such a bad idea.'
Unlike her father, Namgung Yoo had no intention of seducing Yong Hwarin.
To her, he felt more like a reliable adult and a friend.
Paeng Giyok wasn’t the only one who had lived without friends. Namgung Yoo had also lived her whole life without a single friend.
Even within her own clan, she had been isolated for practicing the Left Path Martial Arts, leading a lonely life.
But in a way, that solitude had made it easier for her to train in the Left Path Martial Arts.
That didn’t an she had neglected her martial arts training.
Namgung Yoo was the only one who frequently visited Mountain Wave Garden to serve Namgung Bi, and as a result, she had learned quite a bit from him.
Worried that her growth might stagnate, Namgung Bi had taught her his insights.
What Namgung Yoo didn’t know was that although Namgung Seong had given the order for her to accompany Yong Hwarin, the suggestion had originally co from Namgung Bi.
Namgung Bi believed that since Yong Hwarin and Namgung Yoo shared similar natures, they could beco good companions.
And he wasn’t wrong, as Namgung Yoo already felt more friendship than romantic interest toward Yong Hwarin, making their relationship likely to beco a positive one.
User Comments
0 comments from readers