Chapter 76 : Azure Sky, One Emperor
Namgung Il had been displeased with one thing for a while now.
'Miss Yeon...?'
Who on earth was that lanky brat to call Namgung Yeon by her name?
Namgung Il was even more displeased with the fact that he had first said Miss Namgung and then had changed it to Miss Yeon.
'He's trying to make a move on my sister.'
There was one thing he had been worried about since a long time ago.
Beautiful flowers tend to attract many bugs.
Of course, many such bugs would also be attracted to Namgung Yeon.
But now that he saw a bug in front of him, openly trying to approach Namgung Yeon, Namgung Il, as a younger brother, tried to get rid of that bug.
Screech—
A sword that was drawn in an instant. And Namgung Il still said to Ak Si-ung, emitting a murderous aura.
"How dare you call my sister's name with that mouth? I'll cut off your tongue so that you can never do it again."
"...Sister?"
Only then did Ak Si-ung realize that something was strange.
In the first place, could the Ice Flower of the Cliff, as she was called, shed tears because of a man?
Ak Si-ung cautiously asked Namgung Il with a reluctant expression.
"Perhaps... what is your name?"
"You should have listened well when I was about to say it earlier."
"..."
"I won't say it twice."
In the end, Ak Si-ung could not hear Namgung Il's name.
'It can't be helped.'
Since they had both drawn their weapons, he could not back down here.
If he were to back down here first, it was obvious that the tag of a runaway would follow him for the rest of his life, so Ak Si-ung put aside his uneasy feeling and took a stance.
'Let's defeat that brat first and then think!'
Thinking that in his heart, Ak Si-ung moved first.
Phat—
Rushing towards Namgung Il, Ak Si-ung kicked off the floor and jumped into the air.
At the same time, a spear that was raised high with one hand.
In that state, Ak Si-ung brought the spear down on Namgung Il's head.
Clang—!
But Namgung Il raised his sword over his head and lightly blocked Ak Si-ung's attack.
Seeing that, Ak Si-ung's two eyes widened, as if he were slightly surprised.
Although the move just now was just a light poke to gauge the opponent's skill, it was by no means at a level that could be blocked so easily.
'Is he used to spears?'
Namgung Il's movement gave Ak Si-ung that feeling.
As he had expected, in fact, Namgung Il was quite used to facing spears.
To be precise, he was used to facing long weapons like spears.
'The basic principles of a spear or a staff are ultimately similar.'
Regarding the staff, it could be said that Namgung Il was already at a level where he had mastered it.
No matter how much Ak Si-ung was from the Shandong Ak Clan, his level was far below Namgung Il's staff style.
And so, the movement of Ak Si-ung, who was handling the spear, was also clearly visible to Namgung Il.
Phat—
As if he had realized that the opponent was not to be taken lightly, Ak Si-ung took a step back for now.
'I have to do it properly.'
Because he was focused on his opponent, Ak Si-ung had now forgotten about Namgung Yeon.
Now, he was just fighting with the sole intention of not losing as a martial artist.
Ak Si-ung was about to bring out the secret art of the Ak Clan's Spear Style.
"Stop it."
It was then.
With a voice, someone intervened between Namgung Il and Ak Si-ung.
"...!"
Discovering the person who had appeared in front of him, Ak Si-ung's two eyes widened.
The same went for Namgung Il.
With a blue robe fluttering, Namgung Cheon was now blocking the path between the two.
'Namgung Cheon?'
To think that that brat would appear here now.
Just then, Namgung Cheon said to Ak Si-ung with an expressionless face.
"Ak Si-ung. What on earth are you doing here?"
"C-class president..."
"Don't you know that sparring in a place like this is against the school rules?"
Class president?
Ak Si-ung had surely said that to Namgung Cheon just now.
'Is Namgung Cheon the class president of the Azure Dragon Class?'
As far as he knew, Namgung Cheon was now a third-year student this year.
But to have become the class president of the Azure Dragon Class, beating all the prominent talents of the fourth-year students?
Although the Vermilion Bird Class also had a third-year student as the class president, the weight of the Azure Dragon Class would probably be a little different.
To have grasped the position of class president in the third year in a place full of talented students who had entered through recommended admission, even Namgung Il couldn't help but be a little surprised by that fact.
'He must be a genius among geniuses.'
Namgung Il could tell that the rumors he had heard at the Namgung Clan were by no means just exaggerations.
"Th-that's... I couldn't help but draw my spear because it seemed Miss Namgung Yeon was being wronged."
"..."
"Wouldn't it be against the rules for a student of the Azure Dragon Class to just stand by when a classmate is going through such a thing?"
"Ak Si-ung, you are mistaken about one thing."
When Namgung Cheon said that, Ak Si-ung's face was instantly filled with questions.
"That person is Namgung Yeon's younger brother."
"...Pardon?"
"So you're saying you intervened in a sibling quarrel without any sense."
"..."
Ak Si-ung could not say anything, looking as if he were out of his mind.
Just then, Namgung Yeon's voice, full of anger, flew like a sharp dagger and pierced Ak Si-ung's chest.
"How dare you attack my younger brother... What on earth is this?"
"...!"
"Young Master Ak, if you don't give me a reason I can accept, you will have to have a life-and-death battle with me."
For Namgung Yeon to call him Young Master, Ak Si-ung was very happy with just that.
But soon, his mind returned to its original state.
Thinking that a situation where he and Namgung Yeon would have to have a life-and-death battle might arise if he stayed like this, Ak Si-ung hurriedly opened his mouth.
"I-it's a misunderstanding! And how can I have a life-and-death battle with Miss Yeon?"
"Don't call my name with that mouth."
"...Pardon?"
"It is very unpleasant to be called by my name by someone who tried to harm my younger brother."
It was over.
The moment he heard those words with a cold expression, Ak Si-ung intuitively felt that his long and pure love had come to an end.
'My love... to think it would end like this.'
Ak Si-ung, who knelt down and sat on the floor as if he had lost his strength.
He no longer had the strength to speak, nor the strength to live.
"Namgung Yeon."
"..."
"You stop there too."
"...I understand."
When Namgung Cheon said that, Namgung Yeon surprisingly backed down obediently.
Namgung Il couldn't help but be quite surprised by that.
'My sister is backing down so obediently?'
Namgung Il still hadn't forgotten the sight of Namgung Yeon, who had single-handedly invaded Suseonghwa's residence in the past.
Besides that, hadn't Namgung Yeon's personality changed to the point where he thought she was reckless, not caring about anything when it came to matters related to him?
For such a Namgung Yeon to back down so obediently with just one word... Namgung Il just stared at Namgung Cheon.
"Namgung Il, you put away your sword too."
Just then, Namgung Cheon said to Namgung Il.
At that moment, as if a rather interesting thought had come to mind, Namgung Il answered Namgung Cheon with a strange smile.
"What if I don't want to?"
"..."
"Since I'm not in the Azure Dragon Class, why should I listen to you, brother?"
When Namgung Il said that, not only Namgung Yeon, but also the mouths of the people around him dropped open.
On the other hand, Namgung Cheon, who was still maintaining an expressionless face to the point of being annoying.
But the qi felt in his voice was clearly different from before.
"Didn't I warn you before?"
"..."
"To not tarnish the name of the Namgung Clan."
"Did you?"
Is that brat crazy?
Most of the people who were looking at Namgung Il now were thinking that in their hearts.
Although the new students might not know, any student who was originally attending the Flying Dragon Academy knew Namgung Cheon's name.
The Azure Sky, One Emperor, Namgung Cheon.
That name was widely known throughout the academy, beyond the Azure Dragon Class.
"..."
Towards that Azure Sky, One Emperor, a brat was now picking a fight.
No matter how much they were from the same Namgung Clan, people just felt that that was a crazy act.
'He's going to get angry.'
Namgung Il had been curious since a long time ago.
Namgung Cheon, who was called a genius among geniuses. Everyone believed without a doubt that Namgung Cheon would become the next clan head.
Since it seemed he had a chance to check Namgung Cheon's skills for a change, Namgung Il was deliberately provoking Namgung Cheon with a pure martial artist's curiosity.
"I'm sorry, brother. I have a bad memory, so I don't remember at all."
"..."
"It seems that to make me remember your words for sure, you'll have to convey them with a sword, not with words."
Namgung Il said and provoked Namgung Cheon even more.
If he said this much, Namgung Cheon would no longer back down.
Just then, someone grabbed the back of Namgung Il's head with his hand.
"My, my, it seems a first-year student of our class has been rude."
"...?"
"Since he's a first-year student and doesn't know anything, will you forgive him?"
The person who was pressing the back of Namgung Il's head and saying so was none other than Ak Simin.
At Ak Simin's sudden action, Namgung Il was about to raise his head right away, but just then, Ak Simin quietly whispered something in Namgung Il's ear.
"You haven't forgotten what we talked about last night, have you?"
"..."
"Just let it go for now."
...It can't be helped.
He didn't want to cause trouble for Ak Simin because of his actions.
When Namgung Il quietly nodded, Ak Simin took his hand that was pressing the back of his head and put it back as it was.
"I will properly educate this brat."
"..."
"So how about we just let this go smoothly by each taking our own kids here?"
Ak Simin said and pointed at Ak Si-ung, who was still in despair on the floor, with his eyes.
Just then, Namgung Cheon broke his long silence and opened his mouth.
"Let's do that."
"Thank you."
"...Namgung Yeon, Ak Si-ung."
Namgung Cheon quietly called the two's names.
Although the sound itself was low, it was a voice that was heard in the ear with more power than a normal person shouting.
"Follow me."
When Namgung Cheon said that, Ak Si-ung's body flinched.
With those words, Namgung Cheon, who turned and walked away.
Soon, Ak Si-ung quietly got up from his seat and followed behind him like a criminal.
"..."
Namgung Yeon looked back and forth between Namgung Cheon's back and Namgung Il.
Although she wanted to talk to Namgung Il a little more if she could, she also could not ignore Namgung Cheon's words.
"Sister, let's talk later."
"...Il-ah."
"But before that, I have one thing to say."
Namgung Il said and bowed his head to Namgung Yeon.
"I'm really sorry for making you worry, sister."
"..."
"But just as you worry about me, sister, I hope you know that I am also always worried about you."
When Namgung Il said that, Namgung Yeon was momentarily surprised and could not say anything.
But soon, Namgung Yeon's expression changed to a smile.
Unlike before, it was a smile that came from a truly happy heart.
"...!"
Seeing that, people couldn't help but be surprised.
To think that that Ice Flower of the Cliff was a person who could smile so brightly.
There were almost no people who had seen Namgung Yeon smile at the academy last year, and even if she did smile rarely, there was never a case where she smiled so brightly.
"Sh-she smiled..."
"She was already pretty, but she's even prettier when she smiles..."
"To see the Ice Flower of the Cliff smile like that. I have no regrets even if I die now!"
Leaving the cheers of the men behind, Namgung Yeon moved her steps.
"See you later."
"..."
Namgung Il waved his right hand at Namgung Yeon.
And so, Namgung Yeon, who turned back again and followed behind Namgung Cheon.
Just then, Ak Simin's voice was heard from behind.
"To make that ice flower smile. In this academy, you're probably the only one who can do that."
"...To me, she's just a kind sister."
"Yes, then shall we go too?"
"...?"
Go?
When Namgung Il looked at him with a puzzled gaze, Ak Simin placed a hand on his shoulder and said.
"It's lecture time."
"..."
"To think you would cause trouble from the first morning. You and I need to have a separate talk..."
Run!
In an instant, Namgung Il avoided Ak Simin and was running several feet away.
"Really... a junior who needs a lot of hands."
Muttering, Ak Simin's figure also soon disappeared from the spot.
(End of Chapter)