The reason for the engagement between the Pang and Gu families was simple.
The Gu family was a renowned lineage, not inferior to the Four Great Clans, and the two families had relatives of similar age.
I was to become the head of the family if nothing unexpected happened, and the Pang family likely judged that an engagement with the Gu family would be acceptable.
In the Central Plains, it was not uncommon for families to strengthen their positions through engagements, so this was not unusual.
The problem was that I had caused too many troubles.
The engagement made in childhood would have remained uneventful, but my bad reputation spread throughout the Shanxi region, and as a member of a martial family, I did nothing but indulge in debauchery, which did not sit well with the Pang family.
Of course, the final straw was likely my words and actions towards that girl.
"Why...!?"
The girl, Pang Ahxi, exclaimed in surprise.
I was the one who was more curious. Why was she here?
Although Shanxi was relatively closer than other regions, it was still a long carriage ride from Hebei.
Why would a direct descendant of the Pang family be in Shanxi, where the Gu family was holding the Nine Dragon Assembly?
"That's what I want to know. What's going on here?"
As I took a step closer, Pang Ahxi flinched. Then, the female bodyguard who was supposed to protect her stepped forward.
She shielded me like I was a villain. Was I really that much of a villain?
Seemingly reassured by the bodyguard's presence, Pang Ahxi glared at me and said,
"I just came here for some business. Do I have to report to you just because Shanxi isn't all your territory?"
"There's nothing to say if you put it that way."
I ignored her and ordered some dumplings, not forgetting my original purpose.
Pang Ahxi, who had been lightly ignored, seemed flustered, but I didn't pay attention.
Even if she had come here for a trip, it would be awkward, and if she had come for business, I didn't want to get involved. It would surely be a hassle.
The ordered dumplings arrived quickly. The neatly stacked dumplings looked tempting.
As I took the dumplings and turned around, I heard an urgent voice from behind.
"Hey, wait a moment."
I stopped and turned my head. Pang Ahxi was looking at me with an anxious expression.
The words that came out of her mouth were quite unexpected.
"...They say the Gu family will select the sword team members tomorrow."
"What?"
Indeed, the sword team members would be selected on the second day of the Nine Dragon Assembly.
But why was Pang Ahxi asking about this?
Her questioning expression and tone were strange, so I asked back.
"Why are you asking about that? Are you participating too?"
"Why would I participate! And why are you speaking so informally? I'm a year older than you!"
Is that so?
"Sorry, I forgot, Miss."
"...Don't call me that suddenly, it makes me want to throw up."
What am I supposed to do...?
Given the bad form of the broken engagement, there couldn't have been any good memories left.
Talking more would only be bad for Pang Ahxi, so I decided to leave quickly.
"Alright, whether you came for business or a trip, have a good day."
As I was about to move to prevent the dumplings from getting cold, I looked back at Pang Ahxi.
When I turned, Pang Ahxi flinched again. She was still looking at my back even as I moved.
After a brief moment of eye contact, I moved on.
******************
Pang Wujin, the young master of the Pang family, was described by others as a man like the wind. Despite being the most talented man in the history of the Pang family since its establishment in the Central Plains, he didn't put in much effort.
He often talked about his dreams, saying he didn't want to be the head of the family. He was a man who often said that reality was beyond his control.
He graduated top of his class from the New Dragon Hall, led by the Martial Arts Alliance, and became the youngest young master in the history of the Pang family.
However, he still seemed detached and cloud-like.
One day, before the end of winter, Pang Wujin told Pang Ahxi that he wanted to leave the family.
Pang Ahxi, thinking it was just another joke, suggested he go out for a while and come back. When Pang Ahxi jokingly suggested this, Pang Wujin stood there blankly and then laughed heartily.
"That's it, that's what I'll do."
And a fortnight later, Pang Wujin left a short letter saying, "I'll be back after a bit of fun," and disappeared without a trace.
When the young master went missing, the Pang family immediately launched a search, but it was not easy to find Pang Wujin.
After wasting time, the Kaifeng, which had been commissioned, managed to find a small clue about Pang Wujin.
It turned out that Pang Wujin had gone to Shanxi.
The head of the Pang family, somewhat influenced by Pang Ahxi's words, suggested the absurd idea of going to Shanxi to bring the young master back.
Pang Ahxi, feeling guilty for her words, went to Shanxi.
"...My head already hurts because of my brother, and now I have to run into that guy."
Pang Ahxi found Gou Yangqian's face awkward to look at.
Not only because of the relationship after the broken engagement, but also because they had always clashed whenever they met, so their relationship had never been good.
Gou Yangqian was always sharp-tongued and bit like a mad dog, regardless of who the target was.
Pang Ahxi, who had a somewhat rough personality typical of the Pang family, fiercely resisted Gou Yangqian's character.
Eventually, Gou Yangqian crossed the line.
Her uncle, hearing about it, broke off the engagement on the grounds of being the acting head of the family.
"You're nothing, just the child of a concubine!"
Though it was said in a fit of anger, and she had also retaliated with words and actions, she didn't hold it against him.
In the end, the Gu family managed to secure many official apologies and political advantages due to Gou Yangqian's rash words during the broken engagement.
Pang Ahxi was simply surprised by how calm Gou Yangqian seemed after just a few years.
"You've changed a lot."
Had he matured? Or perhaps he just seemed that way because today was a good day.
It was unlikely that a mad dog like him would mature so easily.
Rather, his recent behavior seemed more like...
"...I don't know what to say."
For the young Pang Ahxi, it was hard to put into words.
Pang Ahxi shook her head, unsure, and asked her bodyguard.
"Yuebi, how's the search going? Have you found anything?"
"...We haven't found much, but it seems the young master is indeed in Xinyue County."
"What a crazy brother, why did he come here of all places?"
While she wanted to ask why he had specifically come to Shanxi among many regions, Pang Ahxi already knew the answer.
"He'll probably say something like, 'It's a bit far, but it's close, right?'"
She had long recognized his unusual talent but could never understand his personality.
Clearly a member of the Pang family, he was far from the typical personality of the family.
"...So annoying."
"It's getting late. Let's go back and rest, Miss."
Hearing Yuebi's words, Pang Ahxi sighed deeply, glanced in the direction Gou Yangqian had disappeared, and turned around.
"Find him... I won't let you off easily."
After Pang Ahxi stomped off, at the dumpling shop where they had been,
"Achoo...!"
The man who had been eating a lot of dumplings sneezed repeatedly.
He wiped his nose with his sleeve and said,
"Who's cursing me? Why do I feel so itchy?"
With a bored expression, he continued eating the dumplings.
******************
The day finally arrived, the first day of the Nine Dragon Assembly, the Nine Dragon Battle (俱龍戰). It was really unpleasant, but time doesn't always go as one wishes.
The Nine Dragon Battle, which would start early in the morning, involved numerous sects from Shanxi and the collateral branches of the Gu family.
Of course, anyone who could prove their identity was eligible to participate.
The long line of people from early morning were all participants in the Nine Dragon Battle.
What was so special about the sword team that so many people wanted to join?
If the Gu family was this significant, the Four Great Clans and the Nine Great Sects would be even more so.
"The Nine Great Sects only select their own sect members, so they probably don't have this problem."
I had heard that, but I didn't know for sure.
The sword team members of the Gu family, who had been celebrating the festival yesterday, stood as judges in the training ground.
Despite drinking heavily, they showed no signs of a hangover, making it unclear if they were suppressing it or if it didn't affect them at all.
When I asked Wulian later, it turned out they had practiced their internal energy to expel the alcohol an hour before.
They should have drunk more moderately.
Yesterday, after eating dumplings, I felt energetic, and Weixiaoa brought the same red robe as yesterday with a vigorous step.
I sighed deeply as I took it.
"...Well, it's the end after today."
"Master! Isn't today the day for that thing? The swish-swish-ta-ta thing!"
"I have no idea what you're talking about. Can you be a bit more specific...?"
"You know, the thing Wulian does all the time."
It seemed she was talking about the sword practice Wulian secretly did in the residence.
Even so, "swish-swish-ta-ta" was a bit too abbreviated.
"That looked really cool. I want to try it someday."
"...You'll probably get tired of it eventually."
It might be a harsh statement for Weixiaoa.
I couldn't guess what she had gone through to reach that point in the future.
Talent alone wouldn't be enough to kill a heavenly demon.
Seeing the excited Weixiaoa, I kept my words to myself.
After changing clothes, I moved to observe the training.
With some time to spare, I was walking slowly when I heard someone shouting loudly.
"What do you mean it's not allowed!"
"...Umm, please calm down first."
"I don't have time! If I get caught, will you take responsibility?"
It seemed to be someone applying for the Nine Dragon Battle, arguing about something.
Since identity verification was mandatory, those who had issues often caused a commotion.
What was unusual was that the Gu family's martial artists, who were supposed to subdue the troublemakers, were not doing so.
'Well, they'll handle it somehow.'
There were probably more than one or two such people. They would handle it well.
However, the next words made me stop in my tracks.
"What's wrong with being from the Pang family! They said anyone can participate as long as their identity is verified!"
"...No matter what, we... We have to verify properly first."
"What more do you want me to show? Should I write 'I am the young master of the Pang family' on my stomach...? Ah, would that work? I'll write it now."