Chapter 14 Hebei

Chapter 14 Hebei

Namgung-woo’s muttering caught Yang Kwae’s ear, who asked with a puzzled tone.

“Hanbok? Are you referring to the attire of the Central Plains?”

Since ‘Hanbok’ (Korean traditional clothing) and ‘Hanfu’ (Han Chinese clothing) shared the same pronunciation, it was natural for Yang Kwae to interpret it that way.

Before Yang Kwae could speak, Yang Jeong added.

“Young Hero, that is called Goryeoyang. It’s the attire from Haedong, beyond Liaodong.”

At least, it confirmed that the Hanbok Namgung-woo had in mind was indeed what he saw.

While the Hanbok most familiar to Namgung-woo from his modern era would have been from the opening port period, this one differed slightly. It was the Hanbok commonly associated with the early Joseon period.

Others might have simply thought, ‘Oh, it’s a bit different from what I know,’ and moved on, but Namgung-woo was aware of these subtle distinctions.

‘Master Pung always customized his character with Hanbok.’

One of the trio who had journeyed with him in Chullok Murim, Pung had an extraordinary love for Hanbok. As the proverb goes, “Even a dog at a village school recites poetry after three years,” Namgung-woo had naturally accumulated considerable knowledge about Hanbok.

“No, what I mean is, why are they wearing those clothes in the Central Plains?”

At Namgung-woo’s question, Yang Kwae, with a bewildered expression, stated an obvious fact.

“Listen, little brother, it’s common knowledge that Haedong’s attire is elegant and beautiful, isn’t it? Look closely. Unlike the single-piece garments of the Central Plains, that Mamigun skirt is more beautiful than an Immortal Maiden’s robes. And indeed, it must be the Hebei Peng Clan. You wouldn’t find such finely woven Mamigun in the Central Plains.”

“They must have acquired it directly from Haedong. Just looking at that dark teal silk makes it obvious.”

Is this a Cultural Victory?

Namgung-woo was seized by a strange feeling. Hearing them praise the beauty of Hanbok and declare that “Made in Haedong” was the best made him doubt if this was truly a Parallel World following a similar history.

‘I think I heard something like this from Master Pung before.’

Well, if it’s good, it’s good.

Namgung-woo decided not to dwell on it further. He merely made a mental note to perhaps acquire a Hanbok for himself later.

“But… I didn’t expect the Blade Princess herself to come…”

“One Blade, Severed Soul Pung Mu-ho is also here.”

The Blade Princess and One Blade, Severed Soul.

Though the epithets and names were new to him, Namgung-woo immediately identified who they were referring to.

The Blade Princess, mentioned first, was naturally the representative woman leading the group. She must be the very person who had surprised Namgung-woo when he saw her in Hanbok.

And the other Peng, mentioned separately, was undoubtedly the most powerful individual in that group. It was clearly the middle-aged man standing to the right of the woman called the Blade Princess.

“Are they very famous people?”

“You… don’t know?”

“No.”

“Hmm, if you only operate in Shanxi, that might be the case.”

Namgung-woo felt a misunderstanding brewing but tried to brush it off.

Instead, he instinctively observed the surrounding atmosphere. Namgung-woo and the Yang brothers weren’t the only ones whispering about the Peng Clan members. Everyone gathered at the Lee Clan Manor was doing the same.

Perhaps accustomed to such reactions, the Peng Clan members showed no particular response, simply walked forward, and greeted the Lee Clan Manor Lord.

“I am Peng Ha-ryeong, from the Peng Clan.”

“Oh, welcome! It is truly an eye-opening experience for this humble one to meet the renowned Blade Princess of the Peng Clan.”

The Lee Clan Manor Lord showered her with praises that bordered on exaggerated.

Yet, no one found it strange. Even Namgung-woo himself took it as a matter of course.

Because she was beautiful.

‘Chae-ji was pretty too, but… is it the difference between being adorned and not?’

The Hengshan Sect, an orthodox profound sect once counted among the Nine Great Sects, neither wore makeup nor elaborate attire.

In contrast, Peng Ha-ryeong, despite being a Martial Artist, wore a splendid Goryeoyang Hanbok made of dark teal silk and even makeup, which amplified her beauty.

Yet, her appearance as a Martial Artist was still evident: her sleeves were shortened so as not to hinder her martial arts, and her only accessory was a single hairpin. She seemed a perfect embodiment of restrained beauty.

“Indeed, the Foremost Beauty of Hebei…”

Someone’s murmur reached Namgung-woo’s ears. It was a soft voice, but all the Peak Transcendence Masters, whose senses were extremely developed, must have heard it.

Peng Ha-ryeong was, of course, among them. However, her face showed no trace of disturbance. Her calm demeanor seemed to be proof that even the grand epithet of “Foremost Beauty of Hebei” was familiar to her.

“We are truly grateful that the heroes of the Peng Clan have graced this humble place. Please, come this way. Although we could not prepare alcohol due to the impending battle, we have arranged a modest welcome feast.”

“No, I appreciate the thought, but perhaps it would be better to share the feast’s food with the Common Folk of Wu’an County, who are undoubtedly anxious. As we don’t know when the Ghost Gate will open, I believe it’s best to formulate a strategy as quickly as possible.”

“Ah… such great compassion, truly befitting a Direct Descendant of the Seven Great Clans. I shall do as you suggest. However, you must have traveled a long way, so wouldn’t it be best to have a short meal first?”

Namgung-woo saw through the Lee Clan Manor Lord’s intentions.

Two young men stood beside the Manor Lord. They were likely the Manor Lord’s sons or close relatives. This was a blatant offer to arrange a meal where they could sit with Peng Ha-ryeong, a Direct Descendant of the Peng Clan.

Perhaps out of respect for the Lee Clan Manor Lord’s prestige, Peng Ha-ryeong did not refuse this much.

“Then I will observe the others here until preparations are complete.”

“Hmm, it might be better to rest in a room…”

“I did not walk a long distance, so it is fine.”

Peng Ha-ryeong was resolute.

The Lee Clan Manor Lord, realizing Peng Ha-ryeong had no intention of backing down, left, promising to make preparations as quickly as possible.

Thus, a subtle tension settled between the Peng Clan members and the Martial Artists already present at the Lee Clan Manor.

It was the Peng Clan who first drew the string of that tension.

The Peng Clan Martial Artists pointed at or glanced at a few individuals, whispering into Peng Ha-ryeong’s ear if they recognized them.

Was there no need to use Sound Transmission? Or did they believe no one could eavesdrop on their low voices?

Namgung-woo thought it might be a bit of both, but more likely that they didn’t care if they were overheard.

They weren’t speaking ill of anyone, only offering objective assessments of wandering martial artists and other Martial Artists: their Cultivation Realm, their primary Martial Arts, and so on.

As she listened to the general explanations, Peng Ha-ryeong’s gaze turned towards Namgung-woo’s group. This happened when the name “Twin Wave Blades” was mentioned by Pung Mu-ho.

And Namgung-woo’s eyes met Peng Ha-ryeong’s.

Upon seeing Namgung-woo’s eyes, which held a faint blue light, Peng Ha-ryeong’s pupils momentarily dilated and trembled.

They quickly returned to normal, but Namgung-woo’s Azure Serenity Eyes thoroughly read not only her pupils but also the true nature of the emotions that had surged within her.

‘Astonishment? Did she perhaps discern my Cultivation Realm?’

By all appearances, he was a Peak Transcendence Master. At best, Pung Mu-ho seemed to be at the precarious edge of Peak Transcendence, just below the Extreme Realm, but even for him, discerning Namgung-woo’s true level would be difficult.

If the two of them had cultivated a special Eye Technique, Namgung-woo’s Azure Serenity Eyes would have dissected it completely.

Before Namgung-woo’s question could be answered, they moved.

This time, Peng Ha-ryeong stepped back, and Pung Mu-ho moved forward.

“So you two were here as well, Twin Wave Blades.”

As the name “Twin Wave Blades” directly implied “twin wandering martial artists,” it seemed to be an epithet referring to the Yang brothers simultaneously.

It appeared he was old acquaintances with the Yang brothers, as his manner of speaking to them was quite natural.

“It’s been a long time, One Blade, Severed Soul Great Hero.”

“How have you been?”

“Haha, look at your manner of speech. Flying Knife Scholar, you must have had quite a tough time.”

“Not at all.”

“Hmm, I don’t quite understand what the Great Hero means?”

Pung Mu-ho chuckled and then asked.

“Have you thought about your answer to the offer I made last time?”

“I apologize, but we don’t wish to pledge allegiance to anyone just yet.”

“Is that so? A pity. Let’s work well together again this time.”

“Of course. With the Peng Clan’s esteemed elders here, this Gate Closing Battle should be easier.”

“Complacency is forbidden, Swift Meteor Blade.”

“Just call me by my name. It’s not like we’ve only met once or twice.”

“I’m more comfortable this way. But what about the Young Hero beside you?”

With Pung Mu-ho’s words, the gazes of the Peng Clan members converged on Namgung-woo.

For some reason, Namgung-woo felt that their objective wasn’t the Twin Wave Blades Yang brothers, but himself.

So, enhancing the special ability of his Azure Serenity Eyes a little more, Namgung-woo observed them in return.

“My name is Nam-woo.”

When they returned to the room provided after finishing the meal prepared by the Lee Clan Manor, Peng Ha-ryeong immediately spoke.

“Uncle, you felt it too, didn’t you?”

Even during the meal, Peng Ha-ryeong had thought of nothing else. Forgetting even the Ghost Gate and the Gate Closing Battle, she had continuously pondered about one person.

“Are you referring to the young man named Nam-woo, who was beside the Twin Wave Blades?”

“Yes. That person… he was strange.”

Strange.

That was the only word Peng Ha-ryeong could manage, unable to find the right vocabulary to express it.

“Indeed. His Aura was incredibly stable.”

Normally, Aura is not constant.

Internal Qi doesn’t operate on its own like an involuntary muscle; it responds to the Intent of the person holding it.

Naturally, Aura fluctuates slightly, and its strength varies depending on the development of the Meridians.

This was especially true if one hadn’t unblocked the Governing and Conception Meridians.

Since not all acupoints could be fully utilized, there would inevitably be areas where the Aura was weak. The head was one such area.

Furthermore, unlike the Lower Dantian, which almost all Martial Artists cultivate, and the Middle Dantian, which naturally opens when Internal Energy Cultivation Level deepens, the Upper Dantian, located in the head, is only trained by a select few. Thus, the Aura in the head would naturally be weak unless a Protective Skill was intentionally activated.

However, Namgung-woo’s Aura was different.

“I’ve never seen anything like it. It was like… looking at a calm lake… such serenity.”

The moment Peng Ha-ryeong saw Namgung-woo, she was so startled she almost screamed.

If not for her extensive experience, backed by numerous visits to the Imperial Court as a Direct Descendant of the Peng Clan, she might have gasped and rushed to examine him further.

“How can that be? Even Father wasn’t like that…”

While her father, the Peng Clan Head, could force himself to achieve something similar, the fact that Namgung-woo maintained it so naturally was a shock to Peng Ha-ryeong.

“Well, I don’t know either. Perhaps he has cultivated a Divine Art that simultaneously trains all three Dantians: Upper, Middle, and Lower. His Aura’s magnitude wasn’t large, so it might be possible if it’s an orthodox martial art with exceptionally deep cultivation.”

“…Wouldn’t it be helpful for Ye-ryeong?”

At the end of all Peng Ha-ryeong’s worries, that name always appeared.

It was the same this time. Pung Mu-ho looked at Peng Ha-ryeong with regretful eyes and muttered bitterly.

“That… is also difficult to guarantee. But, he is worth observing.”

“…You’re right. During this Gate Closing Battle, it would be good to move around him.”

“I’ll make a note of it.”

Peng Ha-ryeong recalled Namgung-woo’s face, which she had seen for a brief moment.

I will observe you. To see what kind of person you are.

And if you truly can become a source of hope… then…

‘I must… take him with me, no matter what.’