Chapter 119 : Chapter 119

Chapter 119: New Star Exchange Meeting (2)

By nature, a direct descendant of a prestigious family is a noble person, so it is right for them not to wander outside carelessly. This is because the Jianghu Murim is a harsh world where stabbings are rampant.

In truth, it would be right to say that the one named Myeong of the Dancheon Clan, who made a habit of running away from home and leaving home, was a strange one.

Nevertheless…….

“Is it not a great fortune for the clan?”

Bang Yeo-baek asked back with a hearty laugh.

“Hmm…….”

Dancheon Gang could not deny Bang Yeo-baek’s words.

In truth, being invited to the New Star Exchange Meeting hosted by the Nine Sects was in itself an acknowledgment of the clan, and it was based on the recognition of the clan’s successors.

Although no one says it out loud, it is common sense in the Jianghu Murim that the prestige of the Nine Sects easily surpasses the fame of the numerous prestigious clans.

Therefore, the recognition of the Nine Sects could not be an unpleasant thing.

After all, there must be more than one or two prestigious clans craning their necks, wanting to receive an invitation to the New Star Exchange Meeting.

“Clan Head.”

“Speak.”

“They won’t be children in your arms forever, will they?”

As if he hadn't expected an answer, Bang Yeo-baek continued his words.

“Young Master Lee’s depth of martial learning has long surpassed ours, and Young Master Il is also standing shoulder to shoulder with us. That worry of yours would not be right.”

“……Hmm.”

“Am I wrong?”

Bang Yeo-baek smiled.

Dancheon Gang looked at Bang Yeo-baek quietly.

It must have been a relationship close to that of a lord and a vassal, but these days, it felt quite different.

Rather than a lord and a vassal, it would be right to say it felt more like a close friend, no, closer to family. In truth, Bang Yeo-baek was from a branch family of the Dancheon Clan, so it wouldn't be a wrong statement.

“……Yes. You are right.”

As Dancheon Gang reluctantly nodded, Bang Yeo-baek led the Clan Head.

“Then let’s go quickly.”

“Let’s.”

Accompanied by Bang Yeo-baek’s escort, Dancheon Gang walked to the main gate of the Dancheon Clan.

There, a group of people were gathered together.

“Greetings to the Clan Head.”

The numerous family members and his two sons saw him and bowed their heads.

“Hmm.”

It was quite different from the time they had departed for the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly, when they were divided into groups.

Everyone was gathered together.

The escort squad and the elders were mingled together, and Baek Yeo-hae and the family members were also with them.

In particular, unlike in those days, the sight of his two sons standing side by side stimulated Dancheon Gang’s mind.

“Hmm.”

It seems Bang Yeo-baek’s words were right.

It wasn't he, but his two sons who had mended the divided family.

“Have a safe trip.”

Leaving only those short words, Dancheon Gang turned his body.

“Brother, are you not taking any family members with you this time?”

“Shut up.”

“Have you matured?”

“Hmph.”

The sound of his sons whispering to each other could be heard faintly.

It seemed they were still bickering, but.

‘This is good.’

It wasn’t a bad feeling.

* * *

The first seat of the Nine Sects.

The greatest sword sect under heaven.

The home of the sword.

A prestigious school with endless modifiers, the honored Wudang of the South, has its roots in Mount Wudang in Junxian, Hubei Province.

This Mount Wudang is also called Profound Peak, and it is known as a spiritual mountain range, to the extent that it is considered one of the four great holy lands of Daoism.

Although Profound Peak was not included in the Five Great Mountains that the people of the Central Plains consider the best, that fact could not be a basis for devaluing the spiritual nature of Mount Wudang. Nature is great by its own existence, so it is absolute even without human standards.

Even if the peerless prodigy named Sambong founded Wudang, the spirituality of the land must have contributed to its history and prestige continuing uninterruptedly, so it was even more so.

Empowered by the terrestrial energy of Profound Peak, Wudang became great, and empowered by the great Wudang, Profound Peak became even greater.

* * *

An inn in Hubei Province.

Today, too, the dilettantes were killing time, which was overflowing with useless discussions.

“Which is the most splendid city in Hubei?”

“When you say Hubei, isn't it Wuhan without a doubt?”

“Hmm. Your words are not wrong.”

Wuhan is the provincial capital of Hubei.

However, the reason Wuhan was splendid was not because it was the provincial capital.

It was not splendid because it was the provincial capital, but because it was a splendid place, it was established as the provincial capital.

“Wuhan is the place that has established itself as the center of land and water transportation around the East Lake. It is said that if you follow the waterways of the East Lake, there is no place in the entire Central Plains that you cannot reach.”

The dilettante who shouted so had his shoulders raised high, as if he were a native of Wuhan.

“Didn't they say to go to Wuhan if you want to see the future of the Central Plains?”

His words were not wrong.

It was an era where land routes were inconvenient due to the vast territory and rugged mountain ranges.

Therefore, water transportation was the center of logistics.

In the first place, it is a world where waterways are much faster for mere travel, except for a few martial artists who have reached the extreme of lightweight footwork.

“My thoughts are a little different.”

As another dilettante opened the prelude to a rebuttal, the eyes of the dilettante who had been talking until a moment ago turned triangular.

“What is the place you are thinking of?”

“Junxian of Hubei Province.”

“Junxian doesn't have proper waterways, it has rugged mountain ranges, and while you can farm, there's nothing special about it.”

As if to say, is that all, the dilettante who had made the rebuttal snorted.

“Wudang is there.”

“…….”

At that one word, the dilettante who had been making a full-throated rebuttal shut his mouth.

A value comparable to the waterways of a bustling provincial capital.

That was the status and value that the current Wudang possessed.

‘That’s right.’

Recalling old memories, I, who was eavesdropping on the dilettantes' discussion, poured Geomnamchun into Brother Chun-baek’s cup.

Gurgle gurgle gurgle.

Slurp-

“Kyah-”

“Keuh-”

It was said that a true close friend is one with whom you can share a drink at the end of a weary journey.

“Making a sound while drinking is against etiquette.”

If there was one difference from usual, it would be the fact that there was someone nagging next to me.

“Brother.”

“Why?”

“Have a drink.”

I poured Geomnamchun into my elder brother Dancheon Hak’s cup with the intention of shutting his mouth.

Gurgle gurgle gurgle.

As my behavior was quite like that of a heavy drinker, Dancheon Hak accepted the Geomnamchun in a daze.

“…….”

About ten breaths.

It could be said to be a short time, but for a high-level master, it was a time during which life could have come and gone dozens of times, and during that time, Dancheon Hak stared at the Geomnamchun cup without a word.

From that scene, my brilliant mind was able to come up with a hypothesis.

“Brother, can’t you hold your liquor?”

Come to think of it, I have never shared a drink with Dancheon Hak.

It might be natural that I have never shared a drink with him because I was not close to him, but I also have no memory of hearing information that Dancheon Hak had drunk.

At my question, Dancheon Hak just glared at me with a sharp look, but did not answer.

“Myeong, you might not understand, but there can be people who are weak to alcohol.”

The lover of Geomnamchun, Master Lee Chun-baek, the heavy drinker, said.

“Hmm.”

Unlike what Brother Chun-baek said, I understand the above fact.

To be precise, it would be right to express it as knowing it as information.

According to the research of a certain prodigy, about twenty percent of the population of the Central Plains cannot drink alcohol.

As I understand it, just as there are people who get sick because they cannot overcome the energy of a spirit herb even after eating it, I know that there are those who cannot overcome the energy of the precious thing called alcohol. They are weak humans.

“I see. Being weak to alcohol is not a flaw.”

I said so, contrary to my true feelings.

It was because there was no loss, as the Geomnamchun to be shared with Brother Chun-baek had increased.

But Dancheon Hak may have read my true intentions.

“I am not weak!”

With a bold shout, Dancheon Hak downed the Geomnamchun in one gulp.

Gulp.

“Kiyaaaaaa-”

It was accompanied by an exclamation with a deeply furrowed brow.

“See, brother. It is natural for such a sound to come out when drinking, so isn't this not against etiquette?”

“Hmph.”

Since he had spoken his mind, Dancheon Hak could not refute my words.

It would be right to call it my victory.

“In an emergency, it would be right to expel the alcohol poison with internal energy, but on a day like today when we are enjoying a trip, it would be improper conduct. Wouldn’t it be a waste of precious liquor?”

Detecting the true qi flowing in Dancheon Hak’s lower dantian, I said so, and Dancheon Hak’s true qi came to a halt.

“Hmph. Do you think I don’t know that much? The way of drinking is the dignity of a prestigious family.”

“Haha.”

One might think it a trivial matter, but I was once again surprised by Dancheon Hak’s ability to instantly control the flowing true qi.

Certainly, the word ‘genius’ would not be an exaggeration for Dancheon Hak’s martial talent.

If it weren’t for the arrangements of the Healing Sage’s Mind Cultivation Art and the regression, I might have struggled just to follow behind him.

“Young Master Hak, please accept my cup as well.”

It was the law that Master Lee Chun-baek, the heavy drinker, could not be left out of such a drinking party, so he offered a drink to Dancheon Hak.

“If it is Sir Lee’s cup, then I must accept.”

Dancheon Hak accepted his offered drink without hesitation.

Befitting a son of a prestigious martial family, the sight of his face turning red, unable to overcome the intoxication behind his polite words and conduct, was heartwarming.

Since his face turned red with just one cup, it would be right to see that alcohol did not agree with Dancheon Hak’s constitution.

Gurgle gurgle gurgle.

Nevertheless, Brother Chun-baek poured the Geomnamchun to the brim of the cup.

It could be said to be a little mischievous, but a martial artist’s instincts are keen, so if he felt he couldn’t hold on, his body would expel the alcohol poison on its own, so there were no worries.

The moment the three of us were about to share a cup.

“Hmm? Isn’t that the bastard son?”

An unpleasant voice was heard.

When I turned my gaze, Namgung Tan was there.

* * *

The Young Clan Head of the Namgung Clan, Namgung Tan.

Although we had an ill-fated meeting at an inn on the way to attend the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly, I don’t hate him.

There is the reason that I inflicted a greater attack on him than the insult he gave me, but the biggest reason was…….

“It’s been a while.”

“……You wanderer bastard.”

It was at the point where I got to form a connection with Brother Chun-baek thanks to him.

Having even experienced regression, I am one to believe in the flow of destiny.

Therefore, I am confident that my connection with Brother Chun-baek would have been made someday and we would have become close friends like now, but it is because the fact that the person who created the opportunity for me and Brother Chun-baek to form a connection was Namgung Tan does not change.

I heard through rumors that he broke off his engagement with Yeon Se-hwa of the Yeon Clan, so Namgung Tan was also a person who made me realize the positive influence of my regression.

Although I have not yet saved the Central Plains, haven't I saved one woman’s life?

Meeting Namgung Tan in Hubei, not Anhui, was not such a big coincidence.

“Are you guys also going to the New Star Exchange Meeting?”

“That’s right.”

It was because Namgung Tan was precisely one of the Dragons, the Azure Dragon.

Although he became the Azure Dragon after having the title of Sword Dragon from his previous life snatched away by Dancheon Hak, it cannot be denied that he is an honorable member of the Dragon and Phoenix.

As the various Dragons are the top priority for invitation, it is inevitable that he, who holds the title of Azure Dragon, is heading to the New Star Exchange Meeting.

Of course, it would be right to see it as a true coincidence that we met at the same inn again out of the many, many inns.

“Tsk.”

Namgung Tan, who narrowed his brow while looking at us, clicked his tongue and continued.

“An illegitimate child and a wanderer bastard, a truly well-matched combination.”

A bitter smile soon appeared, so I could see that his expression was varied.

“I must judge that the New Star Exchange Meeting’s class is not what it used to be.”

“Hmm.”

Seeing Namgung Tan’s current conduct, I could also see how negligent a person he is in gathering information.

Considering the martial fame that I and Brother Chun-baek have made known in the Jianghu so far, it would be right to judge that our attendance would rather elevate the class of the New Star Exchange Meeting.

Although I have hidden a lot of information using the Beggar’s Gang and the Rogues’ Guild, there should be no problem in judging so even by looking at what is known.

Moreover, that scion of the Namgung Clan was surely utterly defeated by me in the unofficial spar of the Dragon and Phoenix, yet the fact that his mouth is still alive and kicking is also a noteworthy point.

“It may be that I should consider my attendance at the New Star Exchange Meeting. Isn’t that right, Hak?”

Namgung Tan’s question was directed at Dancheon Hak, who had been keeping silent at the side.

Looking back, Namgung Tan and Dancheon Hak had formed a friendship.

Finally, Dancheon Hak opened his mouth.

“Shut up.”

The words that came out of his mouth were unexpectedly vulgar.

“You, were you talking to me?”

As if he hadn't expected Dancheon Hak’s behavior, Namgung Tan asked back in a flustered voice.

Clatter.

Dancheon Hak, who had roughly risen from his chair, met Namgung Tan’s eyes.

“If you’re going to spout such vulgarities at my younger brother and my precious friend, then please get lost.”

“…….”

Namgung Tan, who had been silent for a moment at Dancheon Hak’s insult, turned his body.

“My apologies.”

Leaving those words behind, Namgung Tan disappeared without causing any more trouble.

I think my earlier judgment at the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly that Dancheon Hak’s ranking was higher than Namgung Tan’s was an accurate one.

“Hmph.”

Dancheon Hak, who had snorted, sat down and downed the Geomnamchun that Brother Chun-baek had poured in one gulp.

“Kraaaaargh-”

It was accompanied by a rough exclamation that he could not hold back in the end.

I looked at Dancheon Hak with a renewed gaze.

Since he did not drive out the alcohol poison, his face was red.

Dancheon Hak was a handsome man who would not be lacking anywhere, so his flushed face looked like a vermilion fruit.

In truth, I don’t know if his earlier behavior was from the heart or from the intoxication.

But the fact that he used the title ‘my younger brother’ was still ringing in my ears.

“Alcohol tastes best when drunk together, brother. You need to learn the way of drinking again.”

“Shut up.”

“Hahahaha.”

Dancheon Hak spat out his usual vulgarities, but it wasn’t a bad feeling.

The Namgung Clan.

One of the Five Great Families that rule the Central Plains.

Since there have been not a few incidents so far, it was a question why a direct descendant of the Namgung was so ignorant of information, but for now, it would be better to focus on the time with my brother Dancheon Hak, who is by my side.