Reincarnation of the Cloud Dragon - Chapter 85

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This chapter is translated by Falnar Novels Team.
Support us by reading on our official site: https://falnarnovels.com
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Chapter 85.
Two groups arrived at the Daepung Inn’s courtyard nearly simultaneously. The only difference was that Kang Hui dismounted half a step ahead of the others, giving one of the four a single stride’s advantage.
Yun Cheon handed over the reins with a light gesture of his chin.
“Kang Hui, go ahead and secure our seats.”
“Leave that to me.”
Kang Hui strode purposefully toward the Inn’s entrance. The three who remained behind brushed the dust from their martial robes and led the horses toward the back courtyard.
Kang Hui entered the Inn alone.
Jeom So Yi hurried after him.
“Guest! Allow me to show you to—”
“Never mind. I’ll seat myself.”
Kang Hui’s gaze swept rapidly across the Inn’s interior before he climbed the staircase with long strides.
With each movement of his robes, metal gleamed softly within his sleeves. Yet no weapons were visible on the surface. His waist and back were clean.
Few in this Inn would possess the discernment to recognize from the mere drape of fabric that this man was far from unarmed.
A corner table by the second-floor window.
Without hesitation, Kang Hui settled into that seat.
‘Back against the wall. Stairs and entrance in full view. The stable visible through the window. If trouble erupts, this is the finest position.’
Jeom So Yi followed, his expression troubled.
“Guest, if you rush off like this—”
Kang Hui drew several silver coins from his pouch.
Ting-ting—
At the clear ring of silver rolling across the table, Jeom So Yi’s eyes widened.
“What’s good here? Braised meat or shredded meat—something with plenty of it. Enough for four of us to eat our fill.”
“Y-yes, of course!”
Jeom So Yi swept the coins into his palm and hurried down the stairs.
Kang Hui glanced down through the window. Beyond the courtyard toward the back. He could see Yun Cheon leading the horses. Yalü Hee and Yalü Hyeon brushed the dust from their martial robes.
‘The Pavilion Master is truly remarkable.’
Though there seemed little difference in their ages, the gap in experience was unmistakable.
Over ten days of travel—a journey not particularly long, yet he led the group with more camping experience than anyone. Yun Cheon had emphasized securing horses and escape routes countless times during the journey. Especially the horses, which he personally ensured were cared for as the Pavilion Master.
It was then that the Inn’s door opened again.
Another group entered.
Unlike Kang Hui, they waited for Jeom So Yi’s guidance.
“Welcome. Shall I show you to the second floor?”
“Please do.”
The man’s voice carried considerable refinement. Five of them followed Jeom So Yi up to the second floor.
All wore swords at their waists. The scabbards were similar in length and thickness. Save for slightly different gleaming ornaments, all were the sort of long blades befitting the scions of distinguished families.
Martial family disciples.
The youth in jade-green martial robes leading the group noticed Kang Hui seated leisurely by the window and furrowed his brow.
“Ja Gyeom, older brother? What’s the matter?”
A young woman in a vibrant martial robe, who had climbed last, followed and asked the question.
A young woman in a bright, plain dress who had come up from the very back followed along and asked.
“Oh, it’s nothing, Yeon Ha Ran.”
“Is that so? But where should we sit? Yeon So Ran, what do you think of that table by the window?”
Yeon So Ran beside her lifted her gaze. Her aloof eyes slowly shifted toward the window seat.
“…Someone is already sitting there.”
Yeon So Ran’s voice was low but clear.
“My, taking such a prime spot all alone?”
Yeon Ha Ran’s words rang out slightly louder. A few other guests on this floor glanced back.
No Ja Gyeom seemed conscious of her remark and stepped forward.
“Young Master No. There is no need to insist on the window seat, is there? Someone is already seated there. Let us take another table.”
A composed woman’s voice emerged from another part of the group. No Ja Gyeom was about to respond when another man in the party cut him off first.
“Miss Yeop, you are always so considerate.”
A proper smile hung at the corners of Bong Chu Un’s mouth. Yet beneath that propriety, his eyes gleamed with shallowness.
“However, if a lone wanderer monopolizes the window seat instead of a group of numerous guests, would that not be a loss for the inn as well?”
Yeop Cheong A’s eyes narrowed slightly.
No Ja Gyeom seemed resolved by those words and stepped forward.
“Brother Bong speaks reason. Since we are far more numerous, it would be to the inn’s advantage to yield us the better seat.”
No Ja Gyeom called for the innkeeper.
“Innkeeper! Give us the window seat on this floor.”
The innkeeper approached with an embarrassed expression.
“…Well… there is no available seat at the moment….”
“It seems to me there is.”
No Ja Gyeom gestured with his chin toward Kang Hui.
“That guest has not been seated long. No food has been served yet, has it? Ask for his understanding and show him to another table.”
Bong Chu Un interjected as if he had been waiting for this moment.
“For your information, we are on our way to the Martial Gathering of the Guang Feng Yalü Family. All of us are from distinguished martial clans.”
The innkeeper’s face went pale.
If the other party were martial practitioners, and moreover on their way to the Guang Feng Yalü Family’s Martial Gathering, it would be difficult to offend them. The problem was that to the experienced innkeeper’s eye, even Kang Hui, despite his shabby appearance, did not seem like someone who would readily vacate his seat.
“…The Guang Feng Yalü Family… but that guest paid silver coins first and secured the seat….”
“Silver coins? Is payment the issue?”
No Ja Gyeom’s voice dropped a notch.
“I will pay double. Tell him to yield the seat.”
The innkeeper shrank back in confusion. Jeom So Yi merely watched from behind. The women’s gazes turned toward No Ja Gyeom.
“Tsk. I shall speak to him directly.”
No Ja Gyeom rose from his seat.
Yeon Ha Ran’s curious eyes and Yeon So Ran’s silent expectation pushed against his back simultaneously. Receiving their gaze, his stride grew more forceful. Bong Chu Un pressed close beside him.
No Ja Gyeom walked toward the window seat with long strides. Standing before Kang Hui’s table, he cleared his throat once.
“…You there.”
Kang Hui only then lifted his eyes. There was composure in them. No tension at meeting a stranger, no anxiety about losing the seat.
No Ja Gyeom’s lips curved thinly upward.
“It seems you are a wanderer. Since you came alone, would it not be fitting to yield this seat?”
“Isn’t it first come, first served?”
Kang Hui’s answer was terse. Dry. All the more grating for it.
Bong Chu Un stepped forward.
“We are guests invited to the Guang Feng Yalü Family’s martial tournament.”
“Then ask the Guang Feng Yalü Family for a seat since that’s who invited you. Why cause trouble at an Inn? Were you invited to the Inn itself?”
“….”
A brief silence.
Laughter leaked from one corner of the second floor. Someone quickly covered it with a cough, another hid their mouth behind a wine cup. Even Yeon Ha Ran covered her lips, her shoulders trembling once with suppressed mirth.
The atmosphere inside the Inn shifted subtly.
Guests who had been staring at their own bowls moments before began tilting their ears toward the commotion.
“This bastard….”
No Ja Gyeom’s brow furrowed as his face hardened, his pride wounded. Noticing this, Yeon Ha Ran called his name in a deliberately sweet voice, trying to help in her own way.
“Brother Ja Gyeom. My throat feels scratchy from the dust. I think it would be nice to breathe some fresh air by the window….”
Several guests exchanged glances with subtle significance. Typically, at this point, a wanderer would withdraw first.
But the man seated at the far end of the window didn’t budge.
No Ja Gyeom looked down at Kang Hui again. He stripped the anger from his voice and forced composure over it.
“…Did you hear? The young lady wishes for the window seat. A man of honor would yield his place at this point.”
Kang Hui glanced at Yeon Ha Ran, then shrugged.
“The window seat does get good breeze. Though it also gets plenty of dust. If your throat’s bothering you, wouldn’t warm tea be better?”
Yeon Ha Ran’s face stiffened slightly. The pretext she had offered was returned to her unchanged.
“Lord No, is there more to say?”
Bong Chu Un cut in as if he’d been waiting for this moment.
“A mere wanderer dares act presumptuously toward a daughter of the Yeon Family? You wretch! Do you know who we are?”
His hand moved toward the long sword at his waist.
It looked impressive, but the fingertips gripping the hilt trembled faintly. These were hands more accustomed to display than actual combat.
In an instant, the air on the second floor turned frigid. The laughter and breathing of other guests seemed to cease.
“I don’t care who you are. But… are you putting your hand on a weapon right now? If you draw that, you’d better be prepared to stake your life on it.”
Kang Hui warned coldly.
For a moment, No Ja Gyeom felt that Kang Hui’s warning was no empty threat. Yet if he backed down now, his dignity before his companions would be ruined.
“…Seems like someone’s tasted sword-rice. Will you really refuse a toast of goodwill and drink one of punishment instead?”
Kang Hui uncrossed his arms.
“Tch. Want to go a round? The Pavilion Master told me to keep the seat, but all sorts of trash keep showing up.”
“…Pavilion Master? Which faction? So you serve someone. Who is your master? Now I see—I should demand payment for this rudeness from him.”
“I serve someone, but he’s not my master. More than that… what makes you think you can—”
The hostile atmosphere between the men showed no sign of cooling; it was about to explode.
“Ah, looks like they’re coming up now.”
With those words, Kang Hui’s gaze turned toward the Staircase.
Three pairs of footsteps.
“Ah, I’m starving! Finally, a proper meal! Kang Hui, you did order everything right, didn’t you?”
Yalü Hee’s voice rang out brightly.
“I’m worried about that too. What if they just ordered something random….”
Yalü Hyeon added with a concerned tone.
Clang—.
Yalü Hee, carrying a sleek black saber.
Yun Cheon, with a sword and saber strapped to his back.
Yalü Hyeon, bearing a massive horse-slaying saber on his back.
All three carried weapons. Though they had brushed away the sand and dust, they could hardly be called clean.
As Yun Cheon’s group ascended the staircase, they appeared at first glance to be a gathering of Martial World practitioners.
Yalü Hee, who had reached the second floor first, spotted Kang Hui surrounded by a crowd of Martial World practitioners and moved forward.
“Did you order? What is this—do you know them?”
She asked calmly despite sensing the tense, explosive atmosphere before a confrontation could erupt.
“Yes, I did.”
Kang Hui smiled sheepishly.
“But they’re asking me to give up my seat.”
Yalü Hee turned her head slowly.
“What? Didn’t you claim this spot first?”
No Ja Gyeom looked at her properly for the first time.
In that instant, his expression changed.
Moments before, his face had been that of a man maintaining dignity, but now it was a man carefully polishing that dignity before a beautiful stranger.
“Ahem.”
No Ja Gyeom cleared his throat again.
“Young lady. We were merely arranging our seating. If we have caused any inconvenience—”
Bong Chu Un quickly interjected.
“We are disciples of martial families invited to the Guang Feng Yalü Family’s martial tournament. If we simply remove this rude fellow… we would be delighted to share a table.”
His gaze lingered openly on Yalü Hee’s face. The expression of Yeon So Ran, standing by the railing, turned cold.
Yun Cheon’s eyes shifted toward Yalü Hee and Yalü Hyeon.
“…Invited families, you say. Do you happen to know them?”
Yalü Hyeon answered briefly.
“I don’t know them.”
Yalü Hee responded matter-of-factly.
“…Neither do I.”
With those words, the air on the second floor grew heavy once more.
It was then.
Only one woman among No Ja Gyeom’s group glanced past Yalü Hyeon’s back and froze.
The massive horse-slaying saber slung diagonally across his back. A heavy weapon forged to cleave through the bodies of cavalry horses.
The blade was a full foot longer than an ordinary long saber, and the hilt was as thick as a man’s forearm.
It was a weight that even a sturdy laborer would need both hands to lift. Yet this young man carried it without his gait wavering.
It was not a weapon an ordinary person would possess.
‘That… weapon? Could it be?’
Yeop Cheong A’s eyes wavered.
Three thick leather cords were woven across the sword sheath in a lattice pattern.
The meaning was unmistakable.
The True Demonic Blade of the Guang Feng Yalü Family.
Yeop Cheong A’s urgency intensified.
“…Wait, Young Master No.”
No Ja Gyeom turned around with an irritated expression.
“Miss Yeop. This is hardly the time—”
Yeop Cheong A spoke with greater firmness.
“The young man in the back, the sword he carries on his back… you recognize it, don’t you?”
No Ja Gyeom’s gaze, which had been captivated by Yalü Hee’s beauty, shifted. Beyond Yalü Hyeon’s shoulders, the massive True Demonic Blade finally came into view.
The moment he saw that sword sheath bound with three leather cords, No Ja Gyeom’s face went rigid.
“…!”

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This chapter is translated by Falnar Novels Team.
Support us by reading on our official site: https://falnarnovels.com
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