Chapter 226

Maybe it was the suffocating atmosphere.

For a moment, I had the strange illusion that all the sounds around us had faded into the distance.

I exchanged an awkward look with Songhwa as she caught her breath, then realized it wasn’t an illusion at all.

The area really had gone quiet.

Every eye, both inside and outside the inn, was fixed on us.

Jinseong was the one who finally broke the uncomfortable silence.

Apparently acquainted with the man, he slowly gave a clasped-hands salute.

“It has been a long time.”

The man returned the salute, lifting his chin slightly.

“I did not expect to encounter the Sword Dragon here.”

“Nor did I. This hardly seems an appropriate place to exchange pleasantries. Would you mind stepping aside for a moment?”

“I’m afraid I cannot. I have waited a very long time for this moment.”

The man rejected him flatly, then smiled.

If he knows Jinseong, is he a martial artist from the Alliance?

Curious about his identity, I stole another glance at him. Judging by the ornate hairpiece and martial clothes, he looked like the son of some wealthy household.

If he knows me, maybe he’s from one of the great clans? But I really don’t remember ever seeing a face like that.

Where have I seen him? It couldn’t have been at the Tang Clan. Did we exchange greetings when I visited the Alliance?

As I searched through my hazy memories, whispers drifted from behind me.

“Isn’t that the Divine Dragon and the Sword Dragon? What’s going on? Are they about to fight?”

“Shh. Keep your voice down, man. Martial artists can hear everything.”

The Divine Dragon and the Sword Dragon?

...The Divine Dragon?

D-Don’t tell me this is Namgung Hwi?

Yang Gyojin, who had been staring openly at the two men, spoke in fascination.

“Oh. If they’re both Dragons, then this one must be the Divine Dragon, right? I can tell just by looking at his face. They said he looked prettier than a courtesan, and they weren’t kidding.”

“Don’t say it loud enough for him to hear, idiot.”

I pinched Yang Gyojin in the side, then nervously glanced at the man and swallowed.

Meeting my eyes, he replied gently,

“It’s quite all right. She isn’t exactly wrong.”

Fortunately, Yang Gyojin’s remark did not seem to have offended him.

I nodded blankly.

The man’s eyes curved as he smiled.

And suddenly, the face of a young boy from my memories overlapped with his.

It really is him. He smiles exactly the same way.

Perhaps my shocked expression amused him, because Namgung Hwi let out a clear laugh and gave me another clasped-hands salute.

“Do you remember me now? Allow me to introduce myself again, miss. I am Namgung Hwi.”

“It has been a long time, Young Clan Head. Forgive me. I was so caught off guard that I didn’t recognize you immediately.”

“Hwi.”

“Excuse me?”

“Please call me Hwi.”

His clear voice rang out as he smiled brightly and asked me to call him by name.

“Have I perhaps done something to offend you, Young Clan Head...?”

“Hwi.”

“Yes. Young Master Namgung, I—”

“Hwi, I said.”

He lowered his brows in obvious disappointment, leaving me speechless.

Did I ever call him by his given name before? I don’t think so...

Then why does he look so disappointed? Were we closer than I remember?

No. We only went on a few walks and visited the night market once. That should have been all.

As I stood there blinking stupidly, Songhwa hurriedly stepped in.

“All right, everyone. I think we have attracted more than enough attention at the entrance of the inn. We have no idea what sort of rumors might start, so why don’t we move somewhere else first?”

Only then did I notice the crowd that had gathered outside and the inn attendant hovering helplessly around us.

Feeling embarrassed, I turned to him.

“Do you have any private rooms available?”

“I-I’ll go check immediately!”

The attendant bowed deeply, then rushed inside with a great clatter.

I smacked my lips and looked between Jinseong and Namgung Hwi.

“If there aren’t any rooms, we should probably move somewhere else like Daoist Songhwa said. Standing here like this is a little... Huh? Uncle?”

As I glanced around, my eyes met Uncle Geunmyeong’s at the railing of the second-floor stairs.

He beckoned to me.

“Child. Bring them upstairs.”

At once, every gaze that had been fixed on us scattered.

Watching people desperately pretend not to notice us just so they would not make eye contact with a Tang Clan Elder made me feel a little melancholy.

Apparently, the reputation of the green robe was even worse than I had thought.

******

My relief at escaping everyone’s attention lasted only until we reached the private room, where I immediately found myself facing a new problem.

“Um, Miss Tang? I think I should be going...”

“Stay. It’ll be awkward if Daoist Jinseong is here alone.”

“I suspect it will remain awkward even with me here... Very well.”

Songhwa gave me an embarrassed smile, sweating profusely.

“This is an excellent room, befitting your discerning eye.”

“I didn’t choose it.”

Namgung Hwi sat as comfortably as though he were in his own sitting room, smiling every time our eyes met.

“...”

Jinseong’s expression was calm, but something about him suggested he was in a very poor mood.

“Oh, I smell alcohol. Sohae, can I drink this?”

“Don’t touch random things. That’s poison.”

“Okay. Then where’s the alcohol?”

“You said earlier you weren’t drinking because you had to loosen up before the tournament. Wait. I’ll make you some tea.”

“Okay.”

And then there was Yang Gyojin, who could not have cared less about the atmosphere and simply said whatever she pleased.

I had absolutely no idea how to handle this strange, uncomfortable combination of people.

Damn it. What am I supposed to do with this?

The room was so awkward that I wanted to follow Uncle Geunmyeong, who had tactfully excused himself so we could talk in peace.

Songhwa seemed just as uncomfortable. His body kept angling toward the door.

“Where are you going?”

I caught hold of him and whispered.

The smile vanished from his face as he mouthed desperately,

Miss Tang, please have mercy on us. I need to get out there and drag Senior Brother far away.

Why? Did Daoist Songgwang do something?

Well, that... Haah. Never mind.

He swallowed a sigh and sat properly again.

His drooping shoulders looked a little pitiful, but I had no intention of letting him escape that easily.

If Songhwa left, I was certain something would happen that I could not possibly manage on my own.

Pretending not to notice his misery, I stood up and brought over the tea utensils.

“Um, well... I-I’ll make some tea. Everyone is fine with Maofeng, right?”

“That will be fine, miss.”

“Yes.”

“There are five of us. Won’t there be too little water? Shall I go fetch some?”

“There’s plenty of water. Just stay where you are, Daoist Songhwa.”

“Sohae. Make mine cold.”

“There’s no ice. Drink it the way I give it to you.”

“Okay.”

“Then I can go get some ice—!”

Songhwa’s eyes actually glistened as he cried out.

This man really wants out of here.

I looked at him with sympathy.

“All right. Daoist Songhwa, please do.”

“Yes. Thank you, Miss Tang.”

His expression brightened instantly, and he shot out of the private room faster than light.

Yang Gyojin tilted her head, then watched me measure out the tea leaves before addressing Namgung Hwi.

“Hey. You’re the Divine Dragon, right?”

“That is what people sometimes call me.”

I thought I saw the corner of Namgung Hwi’s mouth twitch, but Yang Gyojin paid it no mind.

“Where did you meet Sohae? Did she give you a ride in her carriage too?”

...Gyojin. I don’t just invite random people into my carriage.

“When we were children, Miss Tang and I spent some time together at the Tang Clan.”

“Really? Sohae, I want to go to Sichuan too. I want to see the Tang Clan.”

“Don’t. If you come, you’ll end up eating poison too. You saw Young Master Sima trembling just from looking at a green robe. How does that make you want to visit?”

As I discouraged Yang Gyojin and strained the tea leaves, I was inwardly flustered.

But it also felt awkward to interrupt and clarify that Namgung Hwi and I had only seen each other for a few days.

Perhaps what had been a hazy memory to me had been a deeply meaningful one to him.

I thought he would have forgotten me quickly. That’s surprising. Maybe it’s because he’s an adult now, but he’s learned some manners too.

I let it pass with a mild smile and placed a teacup in front of everyone before turning to Jinseong.

“Have some tea, Daoist Jinseong. How was your closed-door seclusion? Did you make any progress?”

“I would not call it anything remarkable, but I managed to refine my forms somewhat.”

“Really? Now I’m looking forward to it. You’ll give me a chance to broaden my horizons firsthand, won’t you?”

“Of course, miss.”

As Jinseong nodded, the tension around his mouth gradually eased.

“Did Elder Taeheo come as well?”

“Yes. He came with us. Master is currently at the Alliance.”

“I’d like to pay my respects to him. If you’re free tomorrow, would you come with me?”

“Yes. That would be fine. Shall I come escort you in the afternoon?”

“Yes. Last time, he came all the way to the Tang Clan, but I wasn’t feeling well and couldn’t greet him properly. It’s been bothering me.”

“Master will not have taken offense, so please do not dwell on it. More importantly, are you all right now?”

“You heard about it from him? I’m fine. Completely recovered.”

I waved it away.

Yang Gyojin blinked.

“You were sick?”

“For a little while, a few years ago. It was nothing serious. I’m fine.”

At my answer, the smile vanished from Namgung Hwi’s face.

Just as the atmosphere turned oddly uncomfortable again and I was about to change the subject, the door flew open.

Feeling a familiar presence, I broke into a wide smile and waved.

“You’re back?”

“I heard the youngsters had come to visit. It certainly is lively in here.”

Grandfather’s eyes brightened as he looked around the room.

Namgung Hwi recognized him and immediately rose to give a clasped-hands salute, while Jinseong seemed to understand who he was from the atmosphere and bowed respectfully.

Yang Gyojin, however, was different.

She looked back and forth between Grandfather and me, then abruptly shot to her feet and walked over to him.

And then she dropped to her knees so that she was eye level with him.

She had clearly misunderstood something.

I hurriedly reached for her.

“Gyojin, wait...!”