It was the point when I, along with the madman Namgung, had entered the dining area in a friendly manner.
It seemed that only the promising young talents who had visited the Tang Clan were invited to the dining table, and the only one who appeared to be over the age of twenty was the acting head of the Tang Clan.
Sichuan is particularly known for its strong flavors, and among them, its spiciness is especially famous.
The food was laid out in abundance, enough to make the table legs bend, and the moment I sat down, the pungent aroma was overwhelmingly strong.
'This smell alone is enough to make my stomach turn.'
Of course, there were also milder dishes served for the guests, so I thought I could eat those.
To come all the way to Sichuan and eat dumplings again...
...Maybe it won't be that bad?
I slowly reached for the food with my chopsticks, but I kept hesitating.
It was because Tang Xiaoyue, sitting next to the acting head, was glaring at me without eating anything.
'...This is going to make me sick.'
Why is he doing this again?
I kept picking up and putting down the dumplings, my movements interrupted by the intense gaze of Tang Xiaoyue.
Tang Xiaoyue used to look at me with that same glare in my previous life whenever we met.
He never spoke and just kept staring, which eventually made me so angry that I scolded him for it.
Ironically, he burst into tears in front of me at that time.
I was just asking why he was glaring at me. Why did he cry?
'But I have to see him doing this again in this life...'
Does he have some kind of grudge against me? There's nothing that ties me to the Tang Clan.
Does he not like me eating dumplings?
...Or does he not like the way I look?
I've heard my face is unattractive all my life, so I don't really feel anything about it now.
I pretended not to notice and managed to eat one dumpling.
Snap!
'...Shit.'
I almost spat it out as soon as I started chewing.
Why is it so spicy? I almost choked.
If I spit out the food here, the looks from everyone around me would be a problem.
As I was wondering what to do, someone next to me offered a cup of water.
It was Namgung Bia.
I was a bit surprised, but since it was urgent, I took it and drank it.
What did she put in it to make the dumplings so spicy? I managed to swallow it and thanked Namgung Bia.
"Thank you, Miss."
Namgung Bia nodded slightly, as if it was no big deal, and carefully placed something on my plate.
When I looked, she had picked a piece of fish from a dish I didn't recognize and placed it on my plate.
I looked at her, wondering what it was.
"This isn't spicy..."
"...What?"
"I thought you couldn't eat spicy food..."
Did she watch me the whole time?
"I appreciate it, but why are you suddenly speaking informally...?"
"...Yes."
"..."
What is this? Is she trying to pick a fight?
I glanced at her, thinking she might be starting an argument, but her expression didn't seem to indicate that.
Then why is she acting like this?
It feels a bit uncomfortable to be treated like a child, but since she doesn't seem to have any bad intentions, there's not much I can say.
Crack.
Suddenly, I heard something break and saw that the chopsticks in Namgung Tianjun's hand had snapped.
The acting head of the Tang Clan, noticing this, said in surprise,
"Ah, were the chopsticks in bad condition?"
"No, I tend to use chopsticks a bit forcefully."
"Don't worry, Tianjun. I'll get you a new pair right away."
"That's not necessary, Brother Tang. I'm sorry for breaking the chopsticks. I'll be more careful."
He said this with proper etiquette and then glanced at me.
I deliberately put the side dish Namgung Bia had offered into my mouth.
When he saw this, the corners of his eyes trembled.
Why is he so angry about this? I don't understand.
Ignoring his gaze and choosing relatively less spicy dishes, the meal ended quickly.
I wanted to leave after just eating, but from the acting head's perspective, this wasn't just a casual dinner invitation.
It was a gathering of the Namgung and Gou families, and possibly other Sichuan sects and families friendly with the Tang Clan.
They probably wanted to foster some camaraderie, even if it wasn't a grand event.
After the meal, most of the questions were directed at Namgung Tianjun.
As the direct descendant of one of the Four Great Families, he naturally received a lot of attention.
Namgung Bia also received many questions, but her short, emotionless responses quickly ended the conversation.
'Yes...'
'Ah...?'
'Um...'
Her answers were so unhelpful that no one continued to ask her questions.
The Gou family, being a prestigious family, also approached me to strike up a conversation, but I just smiled and let it pass.
If I had to talk to so many people, I would get tired and leave quickly, but Namgung seemed to enjoy it.
'He's in his element, he really is.'
While I was waiting for it to end, I felt someone sit next to me.
I thought it was something else, but it turned out to be Tang Xiaoyue.
"..."
Tang Xiaoyue cleared her throat once and drank her tea as if nothing was wrong, but her ears were slightly red.
She seemed strange, even during the meal.
"Tang Miss."
"Y-Yes?"
"Do you have something to say to me?"
"No...! No, I don't."
But it looks like she has a lot to say.
I frowned and gave her a slight glare, making her ears turn even redder.
She then avoided my gaze as if she couldn't stand it.
Do I look that scary? If so, there's no need for her to sit next to me.
What's the reason for this behavior?
"Hmm... Hmm..."
Tang Xiaoyue kept clearing her throat, as if her throat was blocked.
After a while, she quietly whispered to me,
"Gou Young Master, do you... like..."
"Tang Brother, is that a training ground below us?"
Her voice was drowned out by Namgung Tianjun's question.
When I looked, he was asking about a large building visible outside the window.
Thinking she was about to ask me something, I asked Tang Xiaoyue again.
"Tang Miss, what did you say?"
"Nothing."
But she was looking at Namgung Tianjun with a murderous glare.
'If it's important, she'll ask again.'
The acting head of the Tang Clan answered Namgung Tianjun's question.
"Oh, it's a training ground for the bloodline members. Didn't I show it to you last time?"
"It's so big."
"We maintain it regularly, but in fact, no one uses it. Everyone has their own training grounds."
Namgung Tianjun looked at the training ground with a strange expression and said to the acting head,
"I'd like to take a look. Can I go down there?"
"Hmm... Since the conversation is almost over, why don't we all go take a look?"
Finally, the end is near.
Thinking about it, if I had to deal with such annoying things, maybe it would have been better to run away as the elder suggested.
In fact, it might have been the wisest choice.
'I never thought I'd think the elder was wise.'
I never thought I'd have such a day...
The training ground, which we descended to, was cleaner than expected.
Even though they said it wasn't used, it was well-maintained.
It was at least four times larger than the training ground I used to practice the Gou Jieye technique.
Was it really necessary to build it so large?
'...Oh, that's why it's not used.'
If it's too large, it's inefficient.
Apart from being really spacious, there wasn't much to see in the training ground, but the eyes of the martial artists present were the most interested.
The floor was made of a hard material.
It didn't seem to be ordinary stone, and it didn't look like it would easily show marks even with sword qi.
Was it because the Tang Clan specialized in throwing weapons that it was so wide? In that case, shouldn't the walls be made of a material that weapons could easily penetrate?
"It's quite spacious."
"Our ancestors believed that it's better to use a large space. I'm not sure about that."
Namgung Tianjun looked around a bit and said,
"It's such a good training ground. It's a shame it's not being used."
"Sometimes individual training is more efficient. This is usually used for sparring."
"Sparring, you mean."
"Xiaoyue used to try to beat me here for a long time... But now that she's grown up, she doesn't want to spar anymore."
"Brother!"
Tang Xiaoyue, standing next to him, suddenly shouted.
She then glanced at me.
Namgung Tianjun took a wooden sword from the wall and started to swing it a few times.
Despite his questionable character, the name 'Brain Dragon' wasn't just a reputation; even in his casual movements, there was a sense of propriety.
"Since we've finished eating, why don't we have a short sparring session to aid digestion?"
At the mention of sparring by Brain Dragon, the eyes of the others lit up.
A sparring session with Namgung's Brain Dragon was a rare event, and everyone was excited.
But why suddenly?
"What do you think? Gou Xiaoye."
"...Huh?"
It sounded like I misheard.
Namgung Tianjun, holding the wooden sword, was looking at me as if it was natural.
"Would you like to spar with me?"
"Me?"
I thought I misheard, but I didn't. He was specifically asking me.
His intention was clear.
'This guy?'
He must be really angry and wants to vent.
Of course, I had no intention of doing it.
I was about to decline.
"I won't—"
"No!"
"Excuse me?"
Everyone's attention turned to the person who had interrupted me.
It was Tang Xiaoyue.
Her face turned bright red, as if she didn't know why she had done that.
But she seemed determined to say something.
"Tianjun Brother and Gou Young Master are of different ages and skill levels. How can they spar? What if someone gets hurt?"
"It's fine. We won't use our inner energy. It will be more like a demonstration sparring."
Namgung Tianjun smiled as if he was being kind.
His words made me want to laugh.
Demonstration sparring?
No inner energy?
If I read his mind, he just needs an excuse to beat me up.
Why does this guy want to eat me so badly?
I asked Namgung Tianjun,
"Is that possible?"
My tone was slightly emotional.
"What do you mean?"
"If it's a demonstration sparring, you're offering to teach me. Can you teach me without using your inner energy?"
My words made the others gasp in surprise.
To the son of the head of the Namgung family, the Blue Heaven Sword King, and the current Brain Dragon, Namgung Tianjun, a young talent whose name wasn't even widely known was asking if he could teach him.
The acting head of the Tang Clan, sensing the situation was getting strange, quickly intervened.
"Gou Xiaoye, no matter what, Tianjun is a senior. Your words are too—"
"His skills are more than sufficient. If you wish, I can fight with one foot tied behind my back."
Namgung Tianjun was smiling, but the tension in his neck showed how much he was holding back.
"Alright, then."
Tsk.
In the past, someone told me to endure three times.
In a place where knowing your place is essential for survival, they said I was too fiery.
My answer was always the same.
'This guy is just being a dick.'
'If he's being a dick, won't you just be the same if you act the same way?'
'Then I'll just live a dickish life. How can a person live by just enduring?'
'What kind of dickish talk is that... Why does it always end up like this!'
For a martial artist who bases their skills on inner energy, being fiery might actually be a compliment.
'If it's not a big deal, just endure it three times. You will definitely survive if you do.'
I never listened to that advice...
After that, I tried to follow it, especially in a world where knowing your place was deeply ingrained.
"I've endured it about three times now."
In the center of the training ground, Namgung Tianjun and I faced each other.
I had endured Namgung's crossing the line about three times.
Or more? If more, I guess I did my best.
He was still smiling.
His expression was full of confidence, as if he couldn't possibly lose.
Or maybe he was excited because he could legally beat me up.
"I'll let you have the first move."
"Understood."
I had no intention of declining. It had been a while since I had a sparring session without any stakes.
I slowly raised the sword he had lowered.
He was probably deliberately moving slowly to taunt me.
I stepped closer and threw a punch. It was a simple straight punch, with no special techniques.
'Of course, I can't do that yet.'
All I heard was the sound of the air being cut.
Namgung Tianjun easily dodged my punch and the following kick.
"I've seen enough. I'll start now, Gou Xiaoye."
I didn't respond.
Namgung Tianjun immediately swung his sword.
As expected, it was fast and sharp.
"Wow..."
"Without using inner energy, he's still that fast..."
The other young talents watching were amazed.
Even to them, Namgung Tianjun's sword skills were impressive.
The half-circles he drew in the air were steady, combining speed and the sharpness he possessed.
I narrowly dodged his first and second strikes. But his face showed no surprise.
He must have intended for me to dodge.
Namgung Tianjun's lower body tensed.
The movement of his shoulders, following the wooden sword, was visible.
Without thinking, Namgung Tianjun launched his third strike.
As expected, the previous movements were feints, and this was his real attack.
Aiming for my shoulder, not my head, to end it in one strike.
I reached out my hand.
Snap!
Thud!
"..."
The sound came from Namgung Tianjun's mouth.
He looked at his hand. The wooden sword he was holding was rolling on the ground.
"..."
I looked at Namgung Tianjun with a bored expression.
I had no more appreciation for his movements.
"What are you doing?"
At my question, Namgung Tianjun's eyes trembled slightly.
To be honest,
I probably know more about the Namgung family's sword skills than he does.
I've had to restrain the deranged Ma Jianhou several times.
How many times have I seen Namgung Bia wield her sword at night?
At that time, her sword skills had already surpassed the chronic weaknesses of the Namgung family.
Of course, the current Namgung Bia is just watching with a stupid expression.
She was the one who had surpassed even the current head of the family and annihilated the Namgung family's highest expert.
Compared to the sword skills of the deranged Ma Jianhou...
The Namgung family's sword skills shown by the current Namgung Tianjun are just a hollow shell full of weaknesses.
Without inner energy, there's no reason I can't win.
I looked at the flustered Namgung Tianjun and said,