Chapter 104: The Boy Grows Into A Young Man (3)
Hebei.
Winter.
Time relentlessly flowed.
Even when it felt slow, it continuously moved forward, and the passage of years was unstoppable.
Even after Yi-gang left for the Azure Forest, time kept moving.
It was a snowy winter when he left, and now another winter had come. A year had passed since he left Xian.
It must have been a year since Yi-gangs father and younger brother at the Baek Noble Clan last saw him.
But for Peng Mu-ah, it was different.
It had been almost a year and a half since she last saw Yi-gang.
The ruler of the Hebei region, the Peng Clan of Hebei.
In a rustic yet majestic hall, Peng Mu-ah was alone.
The winters in Hebei were harsh. She was deep in thought, wearing a thick fur coat, holding a brush in one hand.
Hmm Its been a while, why havent you written a letter? Peng Mu-ah muttered to herself and then shook her head.
No, that sounds a bit too Is Azure Forest okay? Youre not alone there, are you? Dont forget you have friends No. This also sounds a bit off.
She was writing a letter to Yi-gang.
Though Yi-gang had promised to visit the Seven Stars Conference later, that seemed like a distant future event.
To a girl at this time of the year, a year felt like an eternity.
So lost in thought and shaking her brush repeatedly, black ink splattered on her white fox fur coat.
But Peng Mu-ah was so engrossed in her letter that she didnt notice.
Surprisingly, her handwriting was quite good. A habit of biting her lower lip when focused emerged.
It was a while later that her expression changed.
With a slightly stiffened expression, she casually put down the brush and slowly lowered her right hand beneath her knee.
Peng Mu-ah grabbed the wooden blade at her feet and moved like lightning.
She swung the blade directly towards the ornately decorated moon gate window.
Crash!
It was a destructive blow that would have made any servant in charge of maintenance cry out in despair.
The wooden blade tore through the windows paper and shattered the latticework.
Through the torn gap, a persons face appeared.
Though she was focused on the letter, Peng Mu-ah had sensed the presence of an intruder beyond the window.
However, the wooden blade that effortlessly sliced through the window suddenly stopped at one point.
Grip
No matter how much force Peng Mu-ah applied, the wooden blade would not move.
The intruder smirked.
Such audacity, this girl.
He was holding onto Peng Mu-ahs wooden blade.
Despite it being a wooden blade, the fact that he caught it barehanded while it was being swung with such force was astounding.
Come here!
The intruder pulled the wooden blade with great strength.
Peng Mu-ah felt herself being dragged. It wasnt the first time she had encountered this technique.
Boldly, she let go of the wooden blade and used the momentum of being pulled to leap forward.
She aimed to hit the opponent in the face with her forehead. It was not a behavior befitting a lady of a noble clan.
But the intruder blocked even that.
He stretched out his hand to block her forehead and gently pushed her back, ensuring she was not hurt.
Peng Mu-ah stopped attacking and stood quietly.
Brother, I told you not to spy on me!
The target of her wooden blade swing was none other than her own brother.
Peng Gu-hwi, who was laughing through the torn moon gate window, tore off the broken window frame with a hearty gesture.
Beyond the torn window, there was not only Peng Gu-hwi but also his twin brother, Peng Gu-in.
Our Mu-ah is indeed incredible. To detect us even when we hid our presence.
Brother Gu-in too How could you be so large and yet make no sound?
As Peng Mu-ah said, the twins stature was indeed remarkable.
They were tall, but more than that, it was the muscles covering their bodies that were most striking. Their physique seemed to embody the fierce aura of the Five Tigers Breaking the Gate Blade Technique.
Both were already rising masters in Jianghu with their reputation. Yet, they were completely at a loss with their much younger sister.
We couldnt interrupt since you were so engrossed in writing the letter.
But still!
Peng Mu-ah glared at her brothers as if she was really angry.
Peng Gu-hwi and Peng Gu-in looked embarrassed and also found their little sister endearing as they fidgeted.
Meanwhile, Peng Mu-ah seized the letter she had finished and ran off.
She jumped into the snow-covered yard, seemingly unfazed by the cold, and ran away.
Mu-ah, its cold outside!
Dont you dare follow me!
Peng Mu-ah dashed off into the white snow. The brothers watched her with affectionate smiles.
Peng Mu-ah, raised as the precious jewel in the rough-and-tumble Peng Clan.
She might have been a bit unruly, but no one in the Peng Clan minded. She was known to be endlessly generous to those beneath her and possessed a kind heart.
It was just like her to yearn so much for a friend she briefly met a year and a half ago.
Peng Mu-ah disappeared from view in an instant.
The smiles on the faces of the two brothers vanished at that moment.
Their naturally fierce faces grew even more menacing as they grimaced.
I dont like this.
I am angry.
They had held back their anger, never showing it in front of Peng Mu-ah. But internally, they had been seething for a while.
What on earth did he do to bewitch our kind Mu-ah?
I did some background checks. That guy was a real troublemaker. A young lad drowning in alcohol
Initially, when Peng Mu-ah first spoke of Yi-gang upon returning to the clan, they didnt take it too seriously.
But now, she was writing letters to him, clearly showing he had left a deep impression in her heart. Fortunately, it didnt seem like the young girl had romantically fallen for Yi-gang.
In fact, they were aware that Peng Mu-ah had already sent two letters.
If we ever meet him well have to test what kind of guy he is.
Were letting it slide because he hasnt responded.
The Peng brothers clenched their fists in anger. Yi-gang had never sent a reply.
If he had sent a reply saying something like I miss you too, they would have rushed to Azure Forest right away.
Indeed, how dare he not respond to Mu-ahs letters.
That too, is unacceptable! Such insolence!
But Yi-gangs insolent attitude of not daring to reply also elicited anger.
At this very moment, Yi-gang was earnestly training in the Azure Forest. Various emotions about him were accumulating even in the far-off Hebei Province.
Although Yi-gang didnt respond to Peng Mu-ahs letters, it wasnt that he never wrote any letters.
Peng Mu-ah would be disappointed to know, but Yi-gang occasionally sent updates to his family home.
Around the time Peng Mu-ahs letters reached the Azure Forest, Yi-gang sent a letter back to his family through a messenger.
When Yi-gangs letter arrived at the Baek Noble Clan, it was already spring, with winters cold gone.
The days were warmer, and new buds sprouted. The fresh light greenery shone under Xians spring sunlight.
After Yi-gang left, the Baek Noble Clan also faced significant changes.
The Council of Elders, which had been eyeing the authority of the Clan Head, had become docile. The rebellion of Baek Jin-tae, Baek Ryu-sans younger brother and the Red Dragon Corps Commander, brought a storm of bloodshed, but the blood that soaked the land also enriched it.
With the Clan Head recovered from illness, the order within the Baek Noble Clan was restructured.
Neung Ji-pyeong, formerly the Squad Leader of the Biyeon Squad, became the new commander of the Red Dragon Corps. The Squad Leader of the Biyeon Squad became Pil Hwan, a close associate of Neung Ji-pyeong.
Baek Ha-jun, who had been on the brink of death from a stab wound, had fully recovered. His condition seemed even better than before. Of course, he knew that all of this was due to the effects of the Twin-Headed Ghost Tiger internal elixir and the Red-White Tuber Fleeceflower that Yi-gang had procured.
Whoosh!
Baek Ha-jun swung his sword.
His cold iron-made sword sliced through a specific point in the air. It was astonishingly fast.
Crack!
The sound, like air bursting, echoed after the sword had passed.
Although the Baek Noble Clans swordsmanship didnt particularly focus on speed, Baek Ha-juns strike was faster than that of many first-rate swordsmen.
An excellent swift sword!
Golden Needle Phantom, deeply knowledgeable in swordsmanship, admired it. It was rare even among the rising star disciples of the Azure Forest to display such swordplay.
He had almost forgotten that he was tapping into the meridians of Clan Head Baek Ryu-san. He had visited the Baek Noble Clan to fulfill his promise to Yi-gang and treat Baek Ryu-san.
Just watch a bit longer. Its not over yet.
Baek Ryu-san, usually of a cold demeanor, showed a warm attitude this time.
As the saying goes, even a porcupine thinks its young are soft. He couldnt help but boast about his son.
Buzzing, buzzing, buzzing -
Somewhere, a vibrating sound resonated.
Th-that is!
Golden Needle Phantom opened his mouth wide in astonishment.
Hes already achieving Sword Cry!
Sword Cry. It referred to the sound made by a sword, as if it were wailing.
When a talented swordsman deeply practiced with a sword, they reached a state where they infused their internal energy not into their body but into a mere lump of iron.
Once the internal energy fully saturated the sword, the sword begins to wail on its own. That was the essence of Sword Cry.
It was faint but unmistakably the sound of Sword Cry.
Golden Needle Phantom cautiously asked, How old is Young Master Baek Ha-jun, Clan Head?
Ha-jun is 14 this year. Two years younger than Yi-gang.
Since Yi-gang, who was training vigorously in the Azure Forest, was 16, Baek Ha-jun had turned 14.
Sword Cry at merely 14
I couldnt do that at his age either.
Inevitably, Golden Needle Phantom had to think about the third-generation disciples of the Azure Forest.
Were there any among them who had achieved Sword Cry?
There certainly werent any before I left
At least until three months ago, he hadnt heard any such stories. Even when Yi-gang occasionally mentioned his younger brothers talent with the sword, he hadnt taken it seriously.
Indeed, the blood of the Baek Clan was extraordinary.
Ahem, how long do you plan to stay, Doctor?
Now that your health has much improved, I should be returning.
You could stay a bit longer if you wish.
The Clan Head showed considerable kindness to Golden Needle Phantom. His courtesy was exceptional, even considering their reputations and positions in the outside world.
Initially, it was thought that this was because Golden Needle Phantom had cured his illness, but that wasnt the case.
Well, if you are returning, could you please deliver this to Yi-gang?
His eldest son, Yi-gang, had joined the Azure Forest. Baek Ryu-san was showing respect because Golden Needle Phantom was his sons martial uncle.
Please take this with you.
What is this?
Its tea leaves that warm the body.
Golden Needle Phantom looked intently at Baek Ryu-san. Asking to deliver tea leaves to a son in a distant land. Such an act didnt suit the nickname Iron-blooded Merciless.
The Clan Head seemed to feel the same way.
Its a tea they drink in the cold Northern Sea. I received it as a gift recently. I have a lot of internal heat, so I dont need it. It would be a shame to waste it.
Hehe, indeed. I will do so.
Ahem.
Golden Needle Phantom stifled a laugh as he stood up.
As he was about to bow to the Clan Head and return to his quarters, Ha-jun blocked his path.
Um
Golden Needle Phantom opened his eyes wide in surprise.
Baek Ha-jun was the least clingy among all the children he had met. Of course, except for Dam Hyun, but aside from being polite, Ha-jun was quite similar to Dam Hyun.
Whats the matter?
When you return, could you deliver this for me?
He was better at talking than he thought, Golden Needle Phantom mused as he took what Ha-jun handed over.
Its a reply to my brothers letter.
Alright, Ill deliver it.
Baek Ha-jun hesitated, as if he had more to say.
Golden Needle Phantom waited patiently for him.
Is my brother also learning swordsmanship?
Yes. Hes learning martial arts from the Grand Library Master, my junior brother, and Senior Brother Do Gang from Wisdom Sword Pavilion is also showing interest in him.
In that case, maybe
Baek Ha-jun started to fiddle with the handle of his sword.
Golden Needle Phantom had a sudden realization. He seemed to understand why Baek Ha-jun was hesitating and asking questions.
Yi-gang hasnt achieved Sword Cry yet. Hehe, thats what you wanted to ask, wasnt it?
Younger siblings usually aspired to surpass their elder brothers. Baek Ha-jun, who had reached the realm of Sword Cry, probably wanted to compare himself with his brother.
Unlike the pleased expression of Golden Needle Phantom, Baek Ha-jun looked bewildered.
Oh, no, thats not it. I was just curious about how hes doing.
What? Hmm, wasnt it written in the letter?
Well, it just had simple things. About how delicious the food is, how hes taking a lot of elixirs. Things like that. And something about a fox story. It didnt mention how hes been recently.
Golden Needle Phantom nodded. Yi-gang had a carefree aspect to his personality.
Ahem, Im a bit curious too.
Then, Iron-blooded Merciless, who had been silent, chimed in.
He seemed curious about his childs life too.
Well um.
However, Golden Needle Phantom wore a troubled expression.
Im not sure if I should say this.
Baek Ha-jun and Baek Ryu-san waited for him to speak.
Golden Needle Phantom reluctantly began to talk.
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