Vol. 1 Chapter 2.3

 

 

 

* * *

 

 

Finding the Guest House wasn’t difficult. She just had to walk toward the building Hyun-oh had pointed out.

As Yeon and So-jin approached the entrance, the Guest House doors suddenly burst open. Two identical-looking men stormed out, followed by a girl walking with her head bowed.

“What’s this?”

As they passed by Yeon, the girl lifted her head slightly. Her eyes widened when they met Yeon’s.

“Oh, unni?”

“Huh?”

Who was she again?

After a moment’s thought, Yeon recalled her identity from Hwangbo Yeon’s memories. Tang Xiao-xiao. The youngest of the Sichuan Tang Clan.

“Tang Xiao-xiao?”

“Yeon unni…”

Almost no one in the martial world called Hwangbo Yeon by that title. Only then did Yeon remember. Tang Xiao-xiao was something like Hwangbo Yeon’s friend. The only one among all those juniors.

“Xiao-xiao! You came too?”

Since her memories of her weren’t bad, Yeon smiled warmly and greeted her. But Tang Xiao-xiao looked rather flustered.

“Huh? Ah, yes…”

Just then, one of the two men ahead shouted irritably.

“Xiao-xiao! What are you doing? Hurry up!”

“I-I’m sorry, brother!”

Tang Xiao-xiao quickly ran toward him. Before leaving, she shot Yeon a wistful glance, but that was it.

Yeon glanced at the man who had yelled at Xiao-xiao. Whether he was the first or second of the Tang Clan, they were twins so it was hard to tell.

So those two must be the Tang Clan Twin Heroes.

The twins of the Tang Clan, both exceptionally skilled, were called the Twin Heroes. Unfortunately, in the middle of the novel, the Twin Heroes become the Twin Demons, but that was still in the future.

As Yeon was lost in thought, a “Hmph!” sounded. One of the twins had let it out as he roughly turned away.

“What’s with that response, like a moody teenager?”

Shrugging, Yeon resumed walking. No one could say what would actually become of the twins’ fate. It just meant there was nothing Yeon could do about it right now.

For now, I need to focus on the exchange gathering in front of me.

 

* * *

 

Arriving at the Guest House entrance, Yeon stood before the firmly closed doors and steadied her mind.

“So-jin, are you ready?”

“Huh?”

“Like I told you on the walking path.”

At her low voice, So-jin let out a small sigh.

“Do I really have to?”

“Why? Can’t you?”

“That’s not it. It’s just that I’ve never seen or heard of such a thing…”

“Just this once, So-jin. Please? It’s my wish.”

Yeon’s earnest gaze poured toward So-jin. Strictly speaking, So-jin was Yeon’s maid. No matter how much they’d grown up together, this had to be burdensome.

“I’ll do it. I’ll do it, so please don’t look at me like that, miss.”

“Really! You mean it? Thank you, So-jin. I’ll never forget this!”

Amid Yeon’s excited promises, So-jin let out another deep sigh. Then, squeezing her eyes shut, she opened the doors to the Guest House.

Creak.

Inside, brightly lit, a considerable number of people had gathered. From their looks to their attire, they were all clearly children of good families.

Under the weight of their collective gaze, So-jin felt herself shrinking endlessly. But having come this far, she couldn’t stop.

Hesitantly stepping inside, So-jin awkwardly cleared her throat. Finally, mustering her courage despite her embarrassment, her small lips parted.

“P-presenting the daughter of the Hwangbo Clan! Young Lady Hwangbo Yeon!”

“Pffft!”

Someone spat out the drink they had been sipping. And then, finally, Yeon crossed the threshold of the Guest House.

Shalalak.

Stepping lightly gracefully, Yeon’s shoulders trembled faintly. Her jet-black hair cascaded down over them. The top portion, pinned with a golden crown to keep it from falling completely loose, only added to her elegance.

Her small, snow-white face was delicately packed with neat, refined features. Her straight nose, small lips, and moist sparkling eyes,the kind that stirred protective instincts were captivating. In contrast, her intense red attire gave the effect of hiding a twist of charm.

Yes. This is exactly what I wanted. A perfect introduction. So-jin.

An unrealized dream of romance fantasy. As Yeon appeared, realizing that dream, the atmosphere in the Guest House stirred. So much so that the strange introduction was immediately forgotten.

“Ohhh…”

“Who is that young lady?”

“Where could such a beautiful young lady have come from…”

Yeon absorbed every voice and every tiny whisper flying toward her. Keeping her long eyelashes demurely lowered, she slowly walked through the Guest House.

Heh heh heh. Enjoy it all you want, you masses. The most beautiful woman in Shandong has arrived!

Inwardly, she was boasting to the fullest, but outwardly, she covered her mouth as if shy.

“That kind of introduction is a bit embarrassing. So-jin, stop that and come here. Hehe.”

“Huh? But Miss, you clearly..”

“Come! Over here…!”

Yeon abruptly pulled So-jin’s arm. Dragged in like a puppet with its strings cut, So-jin disappeared behind the halo radiating from Yeon.

Let’s see what kind of quality we have here.

Yeon’s eyes scanned the Guest House in an instant. Her radar didn’t discriminate between men and women.

Well, everyone’s not bad. They’ve brought some decent weapons.

Of course, none could compare to Yeon. Her weapon, to use an analogy, was a top-grade sniper rifle. In comparison, what the others carried were toy BB guns at best, pistols.

Various gazes turned toward her. Admiration, jealousy, liking and envy.

Among them, a woman with particularly fierce eyes stood out. Toward that venomous face, Yeon deliberately smiled. Her leisurely smile became a sniper’s bullet, fired at its target.

“Hmph.”

Bang!

“Hngh…!”

The woman who had been glaring at Yeon staggered as if genuinely shot. Yeon snickered and shook her head.

How can you challenge me with just a pistol? Tsk tsk.

Just as everyone’s attention was focused on her, someone invaded Yeon’s range and approached. This one was about the level of a rifle.

“Hwangbo Yeon? What brings you here?”

The rifleman, asking with a smirk, was named Namgung Ji-hyun. The daughter of the Namgung Clan. Despite Hwangbo Yeon having no particular memory of speaking with her, she used casual speech as if it were natural.

That bothered Yeon slightly. She silently stared at Namgung Ji-hyun.

Perhaps it was because she carried the blood of the Namgung Clan, which vied for the top of the Four Great Families. There seemed to be a certain dignity about her. Of course, there was a hint of immaturity, but that was due to her youth, hardly a flaw. However…

“Hey, aren’t you listening?”

Namgung Ji-hyun asked again, her voice sharpening.

Yes, that was exactly the problem. The attitude of treating others as beneath her without a second thought. It was the groundless confidence typical of children from prestigious families.

Yeon curled her lips wryly. She had fully remembered who Namgung Ji-hyun was. A foal throwing its weight around on the Namgung name. A wretched girl who gathered other families’ daughters and treated them like maids.

So, in modern terms, she was something like a bully. A bully backed by none other than the Namgung Clan. If bullies had levels, she would be top-tier.

Having finished her thoughts, Yeon slowly opened her mouth.

“You’re quite confident.”

“What?”

“You don’t seem to have achieved anything with your own hands yet.”

“What? What did you just say?”

“Ah, forget it. It’s nothing.”

Waving her hand as if shooing away an annoying fly, Yeon moved to walk away. Tried to, anyway.

“…Hey.”

At the voice, heavy with tension, Yeon stopped and chuckled.

Wow, she really is a bully.

The bullies in her modern life had been beaten soundly by Yeon. High School bullies and all that none of it worked. Even the male school bullies they’d brought along as “older brothers” had all been crushed.

In other words, a bully from another world was now picking a fight with a bully hunter from the modern world.

“Why?”

Hiding the claws of a predator, Yeon turned her head with a bright smile. It was a radiantly beautiful smile, but the air between them froze. So much so that the chill seemed to spread throughout the entire Guest House.

“I asked you a question. What did you just say?”

“Do I have to answer just because you ask?”

“Ha.”

Namgung Ji-hyun looked around as if dumbfounded. It wasn’t to gauge the mood.. it was a gesture seeking agreement from her group. Like, “Oh my, girls. Look at this bitch talking.”

Turning her gaze back, Namgung Ji-hyun’s lips twitched.

“I heard you beat the second son of the Peng Clan in a spar. Is that why you’re acting like this?”

She’s already heard about that? Gossip sure travels fast.

“Are you acting like this just because you disciplined a half-wit? What, you want to start a new life or something?”

Yes, that’s right.

“But what can you do? Everyone here knows. They know what Hwangbo Yeon is like. Have you already forgotten how you ran away from the last exchange gathering?”

At Namgung Ji-hyun’s mockery, a few people laughed in agreement. Tired of watching the pathetic scene, Yeon said.

“Hey.”

“Hey?”

Namgung Ji-hyun’s eyebrows bent into an inverted “V.” You called me “hey,” so I called you “hey” back. What hypocrisy.

“Yeah, hey.”

Yeon took a step toward Namgung Ji-hyun. Ji-hyun seemed a bit flustered but, conscious of the surrounding eyes, soon lifted her chin stiffly.

Toward those poorly raised thorns, Yeon unhesitatingly leaned in her face. Just as Ji-hyun’s pupils shook at the unusual intensity, a low remark flowed from Yeon’s lips.

“Who do you think you are?”

For about three seconds, silence reigned.

After those three seconds, which felt like an eternity, Namgung Ji-hyun’s face became quite a sight. Her expression, once feigning composure, shattered. Her complexion turned red and pale. It looked like steam might rise from the top of her head.

“H-Hwangbo Yeon, how dare you speak to me like that…”

Yeon enjoyed the sight and mentally prepared her upcoming choices:

1. The enraged Namgung Ji-hyun would raise her hand to slap her.

2. Though unlikely, she would formally challenge Yeon to a spar.

Option one is more probable.

Frankly, Yeon didn’t care which. Just as she was leisurely waiting..

Creak.