Chapter 227

“Hello, Grandfather. I’m Sohae’s friend.”

“What a polite child. Welcome.”

Grandfather accepted the greeting without much fuss and patted Yang Gyojin on the head.

I let out a breath of relief and rubbed my chest.

At least she’s using polite speech because he’s my grandfather. Thanks, Gyojin.

“Want some candied fruit?”

“Yes.”

“Here.”

Grandfather rummaged through his sleeve, pulled out a piece of candied fruit, and held it out to Yang Gyojin.

I swallowed and stared intently at it.

Surely it isn’t poisoned candied fruit?

Unlike me, Yang Gyojin didn’t seem to have a single thought in her head.

She accepted it, immediately unwrapped the cloth, and took a huge bite.

“Oh. It’s good.”

Watching her chew with both cheeks puffed out and her usual blank expression, Grandfather made a strange face.

Then he burst out laughing.

“Ahahaha! Little one, where did you pick up something like this? She’s the sort of child who’ll drop dead by the roadside one day.”

Grandfather clutched his stomach as he laughed, and Yang Gyojin grinned along without a care in the world.

Don’t laugh. He’s saying you’re exactly the sort to eat random poison off the ground and die.

Whatever the case, it was obvious Yang Gyojin’s behavior had won Grandfather over.

His gaze had softened.

Come to think of it, she might be the first person ever to happily pop food from a Tang Clan martial artist—much less the Poison King—straight into her mouth without hesitation.

“Now, let’s see. Who else has my little pup brought along...?”

Grandfather lifted his head, and his gaze moved to Jinseong.

Jinseong greeted him respectfully as well.

“Jinseong, first-generation disciple of Wudang, pays his respects to a great senior of the martial world.”

“So you’re Taeheo’s disciple. I’ve heard plenty of praise for you at the Alliance. They say you’re exceptionally capable when it comes to getting things done.”

“You flatter me.”

A faint tension appeared on Jinseong’s face as he answered quietly.

Grandfather studied him for a moment, then gave him a couple of pats on the back and moved on.

Namgung Hwi met Grandfather’s gaze with a smile.

“Have you been well, Elder?”

“I have. It has been a while, Namgung boy.”

Grandfather flicked his fingers in acknowledgment, then naturally took the seat of honor and looked over all of us.

“Grandfather, would you like some tea?”

When I quickly asked, he shook his head.

“No need. Better if I make it myself. Hand me the teapot.”

Grandfather took the tea utensils, brought out fresh leaves, and began brewing a new pot.

As the rich fragrance of tea filled the room, Yang Gyojin sniffed the air.

“Wow. That smells good.”

“You like it? It’s Mengding tea. It only grows in Sichuan. If you go to Mount Meng...”

Yang Gyojin wore an expression that made it painfully obvious she understood none of what he was saying, but Grandfather continued his lecture on tea without the slightest concern.

Then he pushed the plate of refreshments toward her.

“Eat as much as you like. If that isn’t enough, just say so and I’ll give you more.”

“Yes. More, please.”

Yang Gyojin reached for the snacks without even pretending to refuse.

Grandfather looked deeply satisfied.

“So you’re the child from Yang Manor? For someone from a military family, you’re remarkably free-spirited.”

“We haven’t been military for a while. Mother says if our family still served in the army, I would’ve been executed for disobeying orders by now.”

“Looks that way to this old man too.”

The conversation seemed slightly misaligned somehow, but no one dared interrupt.

Grandfather clearly liked Yang Gyojin, who ate everything he put in front of her without question.

I smiled at the sight of him in such a good mood.

Then my eyes met Namgung Hwi’s, and I immediately felt troubled again.

Did he smile like that this much when he was little too?

I found it difficult to look him straight in the face, so I turned my eyes away.

He tilted his head toward me and curved his eyes into another beautiful smile.

That smile was so captivating it drew the eye whether I wanted it to or not.

He really grew up ridiculously well. I suppose that’s the protagonist for you.

Feeling strangely like I was being drawn in, I subtly turned my head aside.

Namgung Hwi simply dragged his chair back into my field of vision and faced me again.

My reflection appeared in his bright blue eyes.

Wh-What? Why is he making such a stupid face?

Flustered, I lowered my head so far it was practically buried in my teacup and turned to Jinseong.

“Oh, right. Daoist Jinseong. I figured I’d be seeing you soon, so I deliberately didn’t reply to your letter. That’s all right, isn’t it?”

“Yes. It’s fine.”

“I laughed for ages when I got it. How do you manage to write a letter like it’s a prayer text? I could practically see you sitting inside the letter.”

“Did you?”

Jinseong’s voice softened.

Namgung Hwi, who had been listening silently, cleared his throat and joined in.

“Ahem. Miss Tang.”

“Yes?”

“Have you and the Sword Dragon been exchanging letters?”

“Yes. We have.”

At that, his eyes curved into a gentle smile.

“I have yet to receive a reply myself.”

A reply? What reply?

I stared at him, wondering what on earth he was talking about.

Namgung Hwi’s expression fell, as though he truly couldn’t believe I had forgotten.

The blatant disappointment on his face made me flinch.

“Um... I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Five years ago, before I returned to Anhui, I left you a letter.”

“For me?”

I tilted my head and searched my memory.

Then I remembered the silk pouch he had pressed into my hand when we were children.

“Ah. Ah!”

Good heavens, that’s right! There was something like that!

I sucked in a breath and covered my mouth.

Namgung Hwi looked at me with obvious expectation.

Hey, I’m sorry. I lost it. I never even found out what was inside.

My eyes darted helplessly from side to side.

The light in his eyes dimmed again.

Feeling like a criminal in an instant, I clasped my hands together and awkwardly began,

“Young Master Namgung, I’m truly sorry, but that item...”

“You lost it?”

“...Yes.”

I licked my lips and cautiously watched his reaction.

Namgung Hwi gave a small laugh, as though he had expected as much.

“It’s all right. A letter can always be written again.”

“Then...”

“I’ll write you another one. Don’t worry about it.”

Thankfully, he didn’t look upset.

I nodded in acknowledgment, only to become confused a moment later.

He’ll write another one? We’re going to be seeing each other throughout the tournament. Does he really want to exchange letters while we’re both here?

No, he probably means he’ll write one after he goes back to the Namgung Clan.

I was about to ask for clarification when Jinseong turned toward me.

“Miss Tang. It seems you registered without a formal invitation. Have you checked the preliminary schedule?”

“Not yet. Registration isn’t even closed, is the bracket already out?”

“Not the bracket, but the schedule has been decided. I’ll help you check it tomorrow when we go to see Master.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“I heard they received so many applicants that registration will only remain open until tomorrow morning. The bracket should be announced soon as well.”

“Really? Wow. If I’d been even a little later, I might not have been able to register at all.”

The heavens really helped me. That was way too close.

I sighed in relief and smiled.

“I’ll make it through the preliminaries soon enough, so just wait for me in the main tournament. More importantly, who else from Wudang is competing besides you?”

“Songgwang, Songhwa, and Songin. The other third-generation disciples came as well, so if you’re curious how they’ve been, I can bring them by. Songmyeong said he wanted to see you.”

“Oh, I should be the one to visit. I’m glad Daoist Songmyeong came too.”

“Even after you left, he kept wandering around near the guest quarters. I’m sure he’ll be delighted to see you.”

That was probably because he wanted meat. Madam Ma must have boiled some for him.

At that moment, Namgung Hwi smoothly entered the conversation.

“You seem to have close ties with the disciples of Wudang, Miss Tang.”

“Ah, yes. I stayed with them for about a year once.”

“A year is quite a long time... So you were on Mount Wudang then?”

“Yes.”

“I see.”

Despite his pleasant expression, a tendon stood out along Namgung Hwi’s neck.

He seemed displeased about something.

But after a moment, he steadied his breathing and spoke again.

“Would it be rude of me to ask how you have been all this time?”

“I’ve been well.”

“And sleep... Have you been sleeping well?”

“What? Yes. I sleep fine.”

Why is he suddenly asking about my sleep?

I scratched my cheek, baffled by the question.

Grandfather, who had been resting his chin crookedly on one hand, cut in gruffly.

“Don’t ask pointless questions.”

“Yes, Elder.”

Namgung Hwi answered politely, then smiled and took a sip of tea.

I glanced at him while cupping my teacup in both hands.

It was almost fascinating how his expression didn’t change in the slightest even after such a sharp rebuke.

When he was little, he used to be terrified just from running into Grandfather. He really has changed a lot.

The awkward young master from my memories, whose hair I had once tied with my own hands, had grown into an effortlessly smooth young man.

Then again, he was supposed to make his name throughout the martial world by winning the tournament when he came of age at twenty.

It made sense that he would be starting to look like a proper protagonist by now.

I was about to accept that when something suddenly struck me as wrong.

...Wait. He isn’t twenty yet, is he?

That was strange.

There couldn’t be two Martial Alliance tournaments.

“Young Master Namgung. If it isn’t rude, may I ask how old you are?”

“I’m eighteen, miss.”

A chill ran down my spine at Namgung Hwi’s answer.

He’s not twenty yet.

Then why has the tournament date changed?

Come to think of it, the age at which he first entered the martial world was different too.

If I remembered the novel correctly, Namgung Hwi shouldn’t have earned the sobriquet Azure Sky Divine Dragon until after the martial tournament.

But hadn’t he already been called that at fifteen?

My heart began beating faster as an inexplicable unease crept over me.

Am I remembering the novel wrong?