Overlord of Sichuan

Chapter 77: Tang Serin (1)

The exterior of the Tower Ship was already dazzling, but the inside of the pavilion built on deck was so luxurious that comparison was impossible.

The pavilion, which rose three stories high, became more extravagant with each floor ascended, and Namgung Jun had inevitably dragged the entire party up to the top.

“Ohhh!”

“……!!”

Exclamations of awe burst forth everywhere.

A banquet hall filled with all kinds of delicacies and the finest wines unfolded before them.

Unjung of Kunlun rushed forward to the table like the wind.

“Good heavens! I had heard the Namgung Clan’s wealth and prestige were unmatched under heaven, but I never imagined Young Master Namgung would prepare such a luxurious ship!”

“Hehe, come now. It’s nothing much. Why does Brother Unjung paint my face with gold like this?”

“How could you say it’s nothing, Brother Namgung! I swear, I’ve never seen such a marvelous sight in my life!”

“Even Junior Brother Wi intends to embarrass me, it seems.”

“Hoho, then I should also join in. This is truly splendid, Brother Namgung!”

“Haha, this is truly embarrassing. Come now, enough of this. Have another drink instead.”

Unjung, Wi Jibo, and Hwangbo Yeong were all shamelessly gilding Namgung Jun’s face with praise.

Of course, Namgung Jun pretended modesty while greedily basking in their flattery.

All the while, he kept sneaking glances at Tang Serin, shrugging his shoulders as if to show off.

He was supremely confident.

This banquet ship, the Blue Sky, was the perfect symbol of the Namgung Clan’s standing in the current martial world.

Aside from government warships, no vessel large enough to carry a three-story pavilion on deck existed.

And indeed, the Blue Sky had been converted from a warship.

But it was not illegal. Through connections with the imperial palace, they had formally acquired and gained permission to launch it.

Naturally, it was all part of calculated political maneuvering.

Not only did it display a hidden connection with the imperial family, but it also demonstrated overwhelming financial power—the ability to use a warship purely for entertainment.

None here could fail to recognize the astonishing might of the Namgung Clan’s Azure Sky Trading Company, one of the Four Great Trading Companies of the Central Plains.

‘Now, Tang Serin. Do you finally see what kind of man I am?’

Namgung Jun grinned inwardly in triumph.

‘Tsk.’

But Serin’s reaction was nothing like he expected.

She was struggling to hide the contempt and frustration that threatened to spill from her heart.

‘……If even a fraction of the gold wasted decorating this place had been spared, they could have built a hundred more clinics for the suffering patients in Anhui.’

Though most descendants of the great clans of the martial world were accustomed to waste and extravagance, Serin was different.

Having grown up in a declining household where belts were always tightened, she abhorred such pointless luxury.

Moreover, she considered her true calling closer to that of a physician than a martial artist.

For someone who used her meager monthly stipend to care for sick commoners, this place, built solely for pleasure and indulgence, felt alien and disgusting.

But Namgung Jun, unaware of her true thoughts, continued to revel in the flattery of those around him.

“Come now, there’s more than enough wine for everyone. Drink your fill, Brother Unjung.”

“Haha, much obliged.”

“Ah! Brother Namgung, then pour me a gla—”

“……Young Miss Yeong, you seem a bit tipsy. For your health, perhaps you should refrain.”

“Ah, ahh. Y-yes, Sister Namgung. Th-thank you for your concern.”

At Namgung Hoyeon’s words, Hwangbo Yeong quickly pulled her cup back.

To others, it might have looked like a sister worried for her younger sibling’s health, but the reality was quite different.

Tremble.

Terrified, Hwangbo Yeong tried to hide her shaking hands under the table.

‘Hmph, how dare a servant girl of our clan act so presumptuous.’

Namgung Hoyeon had cut off Hwangbo Yeong, who had been using her drunkenness as an excuse to cling more brazenly to her brother.

To Hwangbo Yeong—who had lived her entire life as little more than Hoyeon’s servant in everything but name—Hoyeon was an object of fear.

In front of others, Hoyeon acted as though she cared for her like true kin, regardless of clan ties.

But behind the scenes, she showered Yeong with scorn, irritation, and even violence.

As the drinking continued—

“Lady Tang.”

“Yes?”

Suddenly, Peng Daeho spoke to Serin.

She could not hide her surprise.

She had rarely exchanged more than greetings with him before.

In truth, the only person she considered herself close to here was Peng So-hye.

Well, if she included Jang Sopyeong of the Beggars’ Sect, who clung to her despite her attempts to push him away, perhaps two.

Anyhow, Peng Daeho continued with his usual blunt expression.

“May I ask a favor?”

“……A favor?”

What could the legitimate son of the Peng Clan possibly want from her?

As Serin tilted her head, Peng Daeho’s eyes gleamed.

“I’ve heard rumors in the martial world that your younger brother is quite the fighter.”

“Eh??”

“I would greatly reward you if you could arrange a match between us soon—”

Thud!

Suddenly, with a dull sound, Peng Daeho’s head bowed forward as if in greeting.

“You muscle-headed fool! How could you say such a thing to my sister?!”

“Wait a moment! I only heard that the boy wields some rather unusual arms—”

“Arghhh! You’re embarrassing me to death, shut up already!!”

Just as Peng So-hye said, Peng Daeho truly seemed like a one-track mind who knew nothing but martial arts.

After her noisy scolding of him—

“Young Master Peng, I’m sorry, but I must decline that request.”

Serin politely refused.

As if he had half-expected it, Peng Daeho nodded.

“Hm, I thought so.”

“Yes. I fear someone would end up hurt, and I could never impose such discourtesy upon the Peng Clan.”

“I see. Forgive me for making such a thoughtless req—”

Hmm?

At that moment, Peng Daeho, who had been maintaining his manners, suddenly showed a look of confusion.

Something struck him as strange.

Her words about not offending the Peng Clan—did she mean her younger brother might injure him?

“Wait, Lady Ta—”

“Hic! Brother Namgung! I can only lament!”

Wi Jibo of Qingcheng, his words slurred with drunkenness, cut him off.

His face was not merely flushed but red as if it would burst, and the light of reason had entirely left his eyes.

“On such a joyous day! Hic! How wonderful it would be if the entire former Nine Dragons Four Phoenixes were gathered here together!”

“Ahem, Junior Brother Wi, you are far too drunk—”

“And yet! Why is everyone so busy, eh? Such arrogance, such insufferable arrogance!!”

Even as Namgung Jun frowned and signaled at him, the drunken Wi Jibo continued to act like a ruffian.

Only then did Unjung finally try to intervene, glancing nervously at Namgung Jun—

“Wi Jibo, why are you acting like this? Sopyeong could not attend only because he became the Kaifeng Branch Leader and was truly too busy. And Un-gil of Diancang entered seclusion training by the command of Sword Sovereign Sa Il. As for Mount Hua……”

“Heh-heh, I see!! That’s right! Then the only one absent must be that Fallen Dragon of Mount Hua!”

“……!!”

At those mocking words toward Do Yecheon, fury filled Peng Daeho’s eyes.

He and Do Yecheon had been close friends since childhood.

“Kekeke, who would have thought the once Sword Dragon would fall so far!”

“Wi Jibo, shut your mouth!”

“No, let him be.”

Just as even Nam Mujin of Mount Hainan raised his voice, Peng Daeho shot up from his seat.

“I intend to shatter your jaw right now.”

“B-brother.”

“Young Master Peng.”

Peng So-hye and Serin stepped forward, sensing the gravity of the situation, but Wi Jibo continued to sneer.

“Keke, siding with him because he’s your friend? It’s not loyalty, it’s worry! Hic! Can’t even fellow members of the Nine Dragons Four Phoenixes grant each other this much!?”

Peng Daeho twisted his lips in contempt.

“Worry? Worry instead about your own pathetic mediocrity that hasn’t changed a bit in three years.”

“What?? You bastard! What did you just say!!”

“Enough!!”

Namgung Jun suddenly roared.

His eyes, glaring at Wi Jibo, brimmed with disdain.

“Hmph, Junior Brother Wi seems too drunk, so I shall apologize in his stead.”

“No, no! What wrong have I done?!”

“Wi Jibo!!”

“Damn it!! Who the hell are you to order me around?!”

“!!”

At his vulgar outburst, the entire hall was thrown into confusion.

Namgung Jun’s eyes turned cold as ice.

But Wi Jibo’s rampage only grew worse.

“Namgung Jun! Do you think you are truly my senior?! Soon enough, you’ll be a fool stripped of your clan by some bastard of concubine blood!!”

“-!!”

And at last, he dragged out the one truth that must never be spoken.

Shaa.

The atmosphere instantly froze over.

Namgung Jun was undeniably the legitimate heir of the Namgung Clan, but his position was precarious beyond belief.

Among the current Nine Dragons Four Phoenixes stood the Sword Dragon of the era, his half-brother Namgung Baek, born of a concubine, who possessed talent that reminded many of the clan’s founding patriarch.

So much so that rumors abounded that the title of Young Master would be his before the year was out.

Slowly, Namgung Jun rose to his feet.

Srrrng!

“You know well that such words can never be taken back.”

“……H-hiieek!”

He unsheathed his sword and leveled it at Wi Jibo’s throat.

The mad dog who had been rampaging paled in terror.

“Young Master Namgung!!”

“This mustn’t be! Please restrain yourself!”

“With all present here as witnesses, settling grievances with Qingcheng will be simple.”

“W-wait! Brother Namgung, I-I must have been drunk! Please! Aaagh!”

The fury of the Peng Clan and Namgung Clan poured down upon a single man.

The situation teetered on the brink of disaster.

Shaaah!

Suddenly, a mysterious Buddhist power filled the hall in an instant.

“……!”

“!!”

Namgung Jun, who had been about to strike without hesitation, faltered at the pure, righteous force.

The aura of Dispelling Evil and Revealing Righteousness soothed his heated mind at once.

All eyes turned toward the one who had released this qi.

With eyes closed, Ilryun stood with one hand raised in Shaolin’s distinctive half-palm stance.

‘Astounding.’

‘So this is Shaolin?’

‘……His realm has risen even higher.’

Everyone was stunned.

It was a qi that surpassed Supreme Peak Mastery, nearing the ultimate extreme.

Namgung Jun ground his teeth.

His own realm had only just touched the threshold of Supreme Peak. If the man chose to intervene, he could never cut down Wi Jibo.

Ilryun slowly opened his eyes and spoke.

“Amitabha. Esteemed patrons, the atmosphere has grown too heated. Let us disperse this gathering and turn the ship back—”

Sssst!

Suddenly, the faint buzz of an insect rang out.

But Ilryun’s words did not continue.

‘……What?’

Everyone’s minds went blank for a moment.

An unthinkable sight was before them.

Strange.

Why was there a large hole where Ilryun’s right eye should have been?

The next instant—

Gurgle!

Splurt! Splurt!

Brain matter and blood burst forth like a fountain, showering the food.

Thud!

Crash!

Ilryun’s corpse collapsed to the ground.

“Kyaaa!”

“Enemies!!”

With terrible screams, hell descended upon them.