Chapter 81

Anyway, since we decided to go eat, I also decided to bring along Jang Sam-i, who has no friends in the Martial Alliance and would feel awkward.

“Jang Sam-i, we’re going to eat. Want to come along?”

“Of course, I’d love to. I really struggled to get here, so please treat me to something delicious.”

“It’s not me who’s treating.”

I pointed to Seol Wonhwa, who was puffing up with pride, looking quite pleased.

“Getting treated by a girl, and it’s not even your own money. Shamelessly inviting others too.”

Jang Sam-i’s eyes narrowed as he looked at me.

“…I can already see the makings of a freeloader. Not Sima Mantian, but Sima the Moocher.”

The brat’s really scratching at me after not seeing me for a while. But since I had no retort, I weakly hit him with Tagujang.

“Be quiet!”

“Ugh-?!”

Anyway, since we came all the way to the Martial Alliance, I suggested we also invite Wang Miaoyang and our little Master to join us for some sightseeing.

But perhaps because her body has weakened and she sleeps a lot, or because she’s been tired lately thinking of ways to defeat the Ancient Grave Sect’s martial arts, she kept sleeping.

So we decided to go just by ourselves.

…Still, she’ll probably be hungry when she wakes up later.

I should buy some dumplings as a simple snack when we come back.

“Come on, hurry up~ Let’s go!!”

“But why is that girl so excited?”

Looking at Wolhwa, who was leading the way with a bright smile, Jang Sam-i whispered to me.

“I don’t know, maybe something good happened.”

“She’s probably happy because she gets to see her brother.”

Sososo, who was watching Wolhwa from behind, explained the reason.

“Her brother?”

…Come to think of it, whenever she introduces herself, she always says she’s the younger sister of the Ice Dragon, Seol Bong.

“Yes, his name is Seol Modan (Snow Peony). Among the later generations, he’s called the Ice Dragon.”

“He’s staying at an inn near the Martial Alliance to participate in this Dragon and Phoenix Association. Hearing that Wolhwa and I have arrived, he sent someone to invite us to a meal.”

Modan (Peony). The male ‘Mo’ with the red ‘Dan’.

Translated, it means the king of flowers, the peony.

The youngest daughter’s name is Moon Flower, and the son’s name is the King of Flowers.

I don’t know about other things, but the North Sea Ice Palace Lord really seems to like flowers. Maybe because it’s a cold region where ornamental plants don’t grow well, he likes them even more?

“Hehe~ Sima Mantian! You’re also quite outstanding! Handsome! And eye-catching!”

Puffing up like a proud bird, Wolhwa’s golden eyes sparkled.

“But in front of my brother, you’re just a little seal trembling in fear of the white wolf, its natural enemy!!”

…If you meet your natural enemy in the wild, you just die.

I only thought about getting a free lunch. To think it’s a path to death. What a shock.

And I’ve felt it before, but she really likes little seals.

‘Bow-wow~!’

Well, a little seal rolling in the snow and crying is cute. I like them too.

Anyway, it’s good that siblings get along well.

‘Brother.’

Beautiful red eyes, porcelain-like white skin, polite speech.

Unlike my reckless self, when you talk to her, you can feel the honor of a prestigious family.

The face of a cute younger sister comes to mind.

‘…Is Yeonghwa doing well? Is she eating well?’

She’s the type to feel lonely easily, though she doesn’t show it, so I’m worried.

But since she’s coming to the Martial Alliance with her father, I’ll probably see her soon. This might be a good chance to introduce Guhae to her.

I glance down at Sososo, who walks gracefully beside me, matching my stride.

Of course, I’ll also introduce my newly sworn brother Sososo.

It might be good to gather everyone together at once.

***

As we entered the inn with the large sign “Dragon Gate Inn,”

The first thing that caught my eye was a painting of a carp swimming upstream against a waterfall in the center of the inn.

“Who do you think will claim the name of the dragon at this Dragon and Phoenix Association?”

“Surely one of the people here.”

“Hahaha~ Certainly! Let’s all toast to the future dragon!”

Numerous young people, the later generations of various sects, were seated everywhere.

So that’s why the inn is called Dragon Gate.

Dragon Gate – A legendary gate said to exist in the upper reaches of the Yellow River. It’s said that if a carp passes through this gate, it becomes a dragon.

Probably, the main clientele of this inn are the passionate later generations who have come here to make a name for themselves.

That’s why, among all the inns I’ve seen, this one clearly spent the most on its interior.

It’s obvious that this is where the direct descendants of powerful families or the Nine Great Clans… well, except for the Beggar Sect, the disciples with ample support from the Nine Clans stay.

“It’s a bit noisy, but the food is definitely good.”

Sososo, who has also used the Dragon Gate Inn before, guided me with a faint smile.

“Our room is reserved on the second floor. Let’s go up.”

And just as we were about to climb the stairs.

“…Senior? Isn’t that Senior Sima?”

One of the group sitting there stood up and approached us happily.

“It’s me! Jeon Jong, whom you saved before! Hey, Do Jun, come here too!”

I remember. The later generations who shared a table with us at the inn in Baekhwa County when I first met Sososo.

Jeon Jong of the Zhongnan Sect and Do Jun of the Qingsheng Sect, and…

Click- click-

“Namgung Gongja, it’s been a while. Have you been well?”

The alluring eyes of Tang Mirang, the Poison Phoenix of the Sichuan Tang Family, licked Sososo’s body.

“I haven’t been well. My beloved fiancé left me.”

Originally, it was Tang Mirang who distanced herself first to study poison, but that wasn’t important. She just wanted to tease, torment, and toy with that little prince.

At Tang Mirang’s words, the surrounding area became restless, and many eyes turned.

“The Poison Phoenix’s fiancé… Namgung’s prince… Could it be?!”

“That little one… Namgung Sososo, the Sword Dragon?”

“So he’s participating in this Dragon and Phoenix Association… Is it the birth of the True Dragon…?”

And I was also surprised and looked down at Sososo.

‘What…? Namgung noona had a fiancée…?’

No, but thinking about it, she looks like a beautiful girl.

I just assumed she was a girl hiding her gender for some reason, but I never actually confirmed if she was really a girl.

But… when she got wet in the rain, I saw her body curves!

‘…Her chest was small.’

Anyway! She smells nice! And she always uses a separate room!

She even prepares her own bathwater in her room! Anyone would think she’s a girl disguised as a boy, right?!

Otherwise, even though I was drunk, I’d be the pervert who buried my face in my older brother’s chest and acted spoiled.

The dignity of the genius Sima Mantian, who even deceives heaven, is at stake.

…Well, rather than fussing over this alone, it’s better to ask Sososo directly later.

If she doesn’t want to reveal it, there’s nothing I can do.

But since I want to stay close to Sososo, it’s an issue we’ll have to address someday.

Anyway, Sososo, who just wanted to have a pleasant meal and chat with Mantian.

“…It’s a relationship my family decided on. You probably don’t mean it sincerely either.”

Faced with the unwanted commotion and Tang Mirang’s sarcasm, she coldly drew a line.

With the cold gaze she never showed to her family Wolhwa or her life-saving friend Mantian, she looked at the other.

“There’s a prior engagement, so I’ll take my leave now.”

Feeling insulted by her cold attitude, Tang Mirang’s face slightly twisted, and her eyelids trembled.

“Namgung Sohyup! That’s a bit harsh, isn’t it?”

Jeon Jong, who had liked Tang Mirang for a long time and didn’t have good feelings towards his fiancée Sososo, stepped forward.

“Apologize to Miss Tang right now!”

Jeon Jong’s sudden outburst, the gathering crowd, the heated atmosphere.

“P-please… do something…”

Wolhwa, trembling like a baby seal caught by an Arctic expedition team, tugged at my clothes.

“Alright, stop pulling.”

In situations like this, it’s important to have a thick face. In other words, it’s my specialty.

With a shameless face, I boldly stepped between the three. Half-covering Sososo with my back, I stood protectively.

“Everyone, calm down first…”

…And then the temperature in the inn dropped.

“To be swayed by a woman and lose all sense of reason.”

Mantian was the first to notice the change.

Like a wild animal meeting its natural enemy, his amber eyes quickly moved to confirm the other’s position.

“Too ugly to be called a talent of Zhongnan, Jeon Jong.”

Thud- thud-

Snow-white hair reaching down to his neck, sparkling golden eyes, a face like a sculpture carved by a famous artist from ice, a blue butterfly-shaped earring on one ear.

The owner of the voice slowly descended from the second floor.

At the appearance of the Ice Dragon, Seol Modan, some women’s faces turned blank and red as if they had seen a beautiful flower.