Episode 74. Start of Gangnam Yongbong Branch 2014.05.17.
The appearance of the Blood Dragon Gate instantly became a hot topic.
Not only was it surprising that Hyeolryongmun, who had never publicly appeared in the first place, participated in the Gangnam Yongbong branch, but he also openly confronted the Namgung family in Namchang, where the Namgung family is located.
“Thanks to you, no one talks about Prince Sun anymore.”
Jeok Se-ho said with a bitter smile.
“Everyone is talking about the Blood Dragon Gate and the Namgung Family. Everyone is wondering how the Namgung family will come out… … .”
“Namgoong-cheol will participate in the preliminary selection.”
Jeok Se-hwa said in a quiet voice.
“I heard that the head of the Namgung family was angry. “It is said that even those who protected the troublemaker youngest master were unable to say anything this time.”
“Where did you hear that again?”
Jeok Se-hwa laughed slightly at Jeok Se-ho’s words.
“The information network among women is quite fast. It seems that the Namgung family is paying more attention to the movements of the blood dragon gate than that. The same goes for the Revolutionary Tax.”
‘It’s the blood dragon gate.’
Sonbin searched for memories. She had heard about Hyeolryongmun from Eun Cho-bin of So-eun Pyo-guk during her visit.
‘Did you say it was a clan that the Revolutionary Family was keeping in check? Yunnan… … .’
At the word Yunnan, the events at Jade Dragon Snow Mountain came to mind as if I had been waiting for them. Sonbin shook his head.
“Now that I think about it, it is unusual for the so-called Sapa faction to openly participate in the Gangnam Yongbong branch. “They say they come from quite a few different clans besides the Geumgeommun.”
“Strictly speaking, Geumgeommun can be said to be in the middle of Jeongsa. Just because it’s Sapa, it’s unconditional… … .”
“No, the case of Geumgeommun is rather unique.”
Jeok Se-ho said.
“Originally, Sapa, like Greenlim and Suchae, are vicious people who do not hesitate to extort people through violence and even kill them. So, you cannot let your guard down or feel sympathy.”
His words were full of concern for his sister. Jeok Se-hwa smiled.
“I know that much, brother. Anyway, the preliminary selection this time will be quite hot. If many people participated in Sapa… … .”
“Surprisingly, there may not be any surprises. Since Sapa’s martial arts skills are inherently shallow, it will be difficult to advance to the level of formal martial arts. What is worth seeing is Geumsa-ryul and Namgung-cheol at Geumgeommun? Namgoongcheol will win anyway.”
“I guess so. “Even if his behavior is shit, his skills are real.”
‘Fuck you.’
Sonbin smiled bitterly at the blatantly hostile words. It seems that Namgung-cheol’s reputation has been sinking recently, at least among women.
“More than that, my brother. Today is your turn as a preliminary selection, right? “Is it okay for me to relax like this?”
“Because the more important times are, the more important it is to remain calm.”
Jeok Se-ho raised his teacup with a relaxed expression. Jeok Se-hwa smiles bitterly.
“Soje, don’t you go to the Yongbong branch?”
Sonbin asked.
“Me? “I’m not going out.”
Jeok Se-hwa smiled and shook his head.
“One bitter experience is enough.”
Jeok Se-hwa lowered the tea cup and laughed quietly. That smile seemed to have a deep story, so Sonbin quietly picked up the teacup without asking any more questions.
* * *
As the hot afternoon passed, the scorching sun began to lose its momentum, and the cool breeze blowing from Payang Lake calmed the heat.
The dance held in the wide open space in front of Deungwanggak had quite a lot of people, even though it was a preliminary selection and not an official dance yet.
There are many people watching and the tension is evident on the faces of the participants waiting for the dance.
“It’s hot. Are you okay, Prince Sun?”
“it’s okay.”
Sonbin smiled and responded to Jeok Se-hwa’s words.
Even though the hottest time had passed, it was still hot. If it weren’t for the shade, the sun would have been quite hot. That may be the reason why colorful awnings and mountains are spread out here and there.
“ha!”
Cheaeng!
Powerful cheers and sharp sounds are constantly coming from all over the place. Several matches for preliminary selection were being held simultaneously.
‘oh.’
A young man’s sharp sword caught Sonbin’s attention.
He was a young man with bright eyes and an impressive, tightly closed mouth. He was still very young, but contrary to his appearance, the power contained in the sword was not light, and he was pushing the opponent almost one-sidedly.
‘That young man is pretty good… … oh.’
Sonbin, who was looking at me, made a sad expression.
The opponent who was being pushed back showed a loophole, and the young man did not miss the opportunity and stabbed with his sword, but the loophole was actually a trap. The game, which seemed to have already been decided, was suddenly overturned.
It was an unfortunate mistake, but the game is a game. The young man admitted his defeat and walked off the stage.
However, his facial expression, as if he was gritting his teeth and holding back tears, was enough to make Sonbin feel sorry for him.
“That’s too bad.”
Jeok Se-hwa said:
“But in the mighty martial arts world, skill often trumps skill. That kind of thing happens surprisingly often… … . “Why are you doing this?”
As she spoke, she looked at Sonbin with a puzzled expression. This is because Sonbin had a suspicious expression on his face as he looked at her off-stage.
“Now that young man, why did you lose?”
“yes?”
Jeok Se-hwa, who was questioning himself, soon smiles.
“It’s just as you saw. just now… … .”
“But if the final sword route had continued like this without stopping… … .”
Sonbin said, moving one hand like a sword.
“Winning or losing would have been the opposite. “I don’t know why I gave it up.”
‘give up? Did you?’
Jeok Se-hwa tilted his head and looked at the off-stage. She also saw the dance she had just seen, but she didn’t feel that way at all.
However, the off-stage where the match was over was already empty and there was nothing to confirm Sonbin’s words.
“Rather, from the beginning… … . huh?”
While Sonbin was speaking, he suddenly felt someone’s gaze. Sonbin looked around and looked at her surroundings.
‘ah.’
The two girls on the other side suddenly made eye contact with Sonbin. They were girls I didn’t know at all, but judging by the military uniform they were wearing, it seemed like they were waiting for their turn.
The girls, who were talking to each other about something, glance in Sonbin’s direction.
‘You’re probably not talking about me.’
I looked this way, but I may not be looking at Sonbin. It may just be your own illusion or excessive self-consciousness. But somehow I can’t shake off the uncomfortable feeling.
“Ah, it’s your brother.”
Sonbin turned his head to the low voice of Jeok Se-hwa. Jeok Se-ho’s unarmed figure is visible when Jeok Se-hwa’s gaze falls on him.
Unlike his usual soft appearance, Jeok Se-ho’s appearance on the off-stage was as heavy as a rock. An unusual force shines in his eyes.
“Confucius Jeok Se-ho’s spirit is very serious.”
“Actually, my brother passed the preliminary selection last time and advanced to the official position.”
There was pride in Jeok Se-hwa’s eyes.
“But we could not overcome the wall between the five major factions and the four major political factions. “I ended up losing in my first official match.”
Jeok Se-hwa muttered as if he was talking to himself.
“Even if you were a promising talent in your sect, when you come here, you become one of the common people. So it might be better not to come. “Because you end up giving up before you even try.”
Sonbin, who was listening, also had an appetite. This is because she remembered how proud she was when she passed the local civil service examination and heard that she was a brilliant student.
“Ah, it’s started.”
While Son Bin was lost in thought for a moment, Jeok Se-ho showed respect to his opponent. And soon the two began dancing.
∴
Phew.
“Tsk.”
The old man with the gray beard clicked his tongue. The wind blowing from Payang Lake blows his white hair and white eyebrows.
“Didn’t I tell you to be careful because you might get caught if you look at me too much? “You’re saying I shouldn’t ignore that guy’s senses?”
“It’s not that I ignored it. “She just saw.”
The girl wearing a cotton hat spoke in a low, quiet voice. Namaknogun, an old man with a gray beard, clicked his tongue.
“You just saw it? “If you look at it like that twice, even the pillars of Tengwanggak will break through.”
Namaknogun grumbled and said.
“They said they wouldn’t come because there were too many people, but they were very blatantly holding me back. What is this? “You have to hide and watch.”
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t come.”
Tang Yue’er, the cotton girl, still answered in a quiet voice. Her cotton yarn flutters in the wind.
“I just asked if there were a lot of people. “Rogun said you don’t need troublesome children?”
“I said it wasn’t necessary, I didn’t say I wouldn’t come.”
Namaknogun said bluntly.
“Let me appear in a place like this where there are so many people. It is obvious that it will be a troublesome and troublesome task. But I promised that I would crush anyone who tried to harm him, so I had no choice but to come even if it was annoying and tiring.”
Namaknogun glanced down. Sonbin was completely distracted by the dance. A smile appears on the old man’s face as he looks at this.
Huh.
The wind blowing from Payang Lake passed by the green roof of Tengwang Pavilion, making a sound.
The wind blowing on the sky-high roof of Deungwanggak was strong and harsh, but it was not a problem at all for the Namaknogun.
The height, which seemed to make him dizzy just by looking down, was of no concern to Noh.
“And then it gets caught again.”
“Am I you?”
The Namak Labor Army reprimanded him. At the same time, he quietly lowers his posture.
“But why did you inform the guys hiding in the next village of your destination?”
“You mean the silver sword belt?”
“Whether it’s a silver sword or a gold sword, they all followed, so their tails got longer.”
“It doesn’t matter because they will be waiting outside the male brothel. You won’t do anything unless I tell you to. And, silver is not silver, but hidden silver.”
“How about writing a letter? In any case, carrying the burden on oneself like that is poisonous to a warrior.”
“are you okay.”
Tang Yue’er said in a low voice.
“Because it’s not a bondage, it’s affection. And if it’s poison, I’m used to it.”
The silver sword belt is not the problem. She didn’t want to make her own older sister, Seolgeomdang Hwa-ryeon, worry. So she informed the Great Lord of the Silver Sword of her location.
Even if the Namaknogun did not tell us that they were there, we had already guessed it.
“You have all sorts of strange affections.”
The Namaknogun grunted.
“It’s Yongbongjihoe… … . Tsk.”
The Namaknogun glanced down at Bimu and clicked his tongue. The excitement of the competition for preliminary selection was at its peak.
“I don’t like it. That way, only the outcome of the game remains. “Martial arts is not about walking like that.”
Tang Yue’er didn’t say anything. A harsh wind was fluttering her cotton yarn, but she was just silently looking down at her.
“By the way, you. In the meantime, the number of thousand pounds has increased considerably?”
The sound of the Namaknogun speaking did not reach her ears at all.
∴
Kang!
With a sharp sound, the sword escaped from its owner’s hand and flew through the air.
“Ugh.”
The young man’s face distorted. My grip was torn as I let go of the sword, but the pain of defeat was greater than that.
“It was a good dance.”
Jeok Se-ho raised his sword and bowed. Although there has not yet been a declaration from the observer, the winner has already been decided.
“Onii-sama won.”
Jeok Se-hwa said in a low voice. Only then did her stiff expression become relaxed.
“It was a good dance.”
Sonbin said.
Although there was no fancy technique, Jeok Se-ho’s sword, backed by long training, consistently overwhelmed his opponents from start to finish. The game was as if it had been decided from the beginning.
“The sword of Confucius Jeok Se-ho… … .”
“Oh oh!”
Suddenly, Sonbin’s words were cut off by the cheering that arose next to him. Sonbin turned his head. There was a young man there who looked a little familiar.
“He is here.”
Jeok Se-hwa also seemed to have seen him and spoke in a low voice.
“Namgoongcheol.”
The sharp-looking young man who smiled proudly and raised his hand was none other than Namgung Cheol, the master of the Namgung family. He appeared unarmed as a preliminary selection.
People cheered him as he appeared wearing a fancy military uniform. Enemy Sehwa frowned.
“As expected, this is the land of the Namgung family. “They are cheered like that just because they are from the Namgung family.”
Contrary to the friendly reaction of people toward Namgung-cheol, the views of the young people who participated in the dance were not so kind.
Namgungcheol’s reputation was not good, but he was a competitor and a wall that everyone here had to overcome.
“look. “The non-military observer is actually waiting for him.”
Namgung-cheol’s first opponent was already on the off-stage. The observer who judged the dance was also already on the dance stage, but did not rush Namgung-cheol.
Meanwhile, Namgung-cheol took off his fancy coat and climbed onto the off-stage, holding a sword in one hand. She then lightly expressed her gratitude towards the people cheering her on.
“Wow!”
People’s support was one-sided. The face of the person waiting was crumpled, but he gritted his teeth and showed his respect to Namgoongcheol.
“Nice to meet you. I am from Yangju… … .”
“Oh, no need.”
Namgung-cheol raised his hand and interrupted him.
“Because you end up here anyway. “I won’t even remember your name.”
Namgung-cheol’s eyes were full of blatant contempt. The young man gritted his teeth.
“I will make you regret those words.”
“With your skills?”
Namgung-cheol chuckled.
“Standing on the same non-stage, how dare you think you are equal to me? “I think I need some sharp teaching.”
Sreung.
Namgungcheol’s sword appeared. His sword, which looks unusual at first glance, sparkles in the sunlight.
The young man who confronted him also did not back down. He controlled his rising anger and drew his sword.
“come.”
Namgung-cheol snapped his fingers.
“I’ll give you a chance. “The first and last and only opportunity.”
Wow.
The young man gritted his teeth. But he couldn’t back down after being insulted like this.
Holding the sword with both hands and catching his breath, he lunged towards Namgungcheol with great energy.
“ha!”
Eat.
Namgung-cheol thought of laughing when he saw that. She then slowly raised her sword.
Ugh.
His sword began to cry softly.
Kaang!
The sword containing the bet collides and an impact sound is emitted. After just one clash, the opponent’s face was already distorted. And the winner was decided not long after.
Okay.
“Ahh!”
The young man cupped his face with both hands. Blood was flowing between his fingers.
“Okay, councilor!”
The Bimu observer shouted in a panicked voice.
Although lawmakers were on standby in case of an emergency, injuries this serious were rare. This was because it was a fight, not a life-or-death contest.
“joy.”
Namgung-cheol lightly swung his sword and shook off the blood.
“From now on, every time you look in the mirror, you will be reminded of your theme.”
widely.
Namgung-cheol, who lifted his sword, turned around. Underneath the rain stage, a young man stood looking at Namgoongcheol with his cold eyes. It was the Golden Rule.
“And you will soon too, trash.”
Namgung-cheol said with a bitter sneer.
Geum Sa-ryul had a stern expression and did not say anything. Behind him, young men wearing military uniforms with blood dragons on them stood silently like the gods of death.
────────────────────────────────────
martial arts,