The Return of the Sw Chapter 86 : The Rising Stars. -01

Chapter 86: The Rising Stars. -01

Pang Hwayeong jutted out her lips.

She had not tried to hide her hurt feelings.

And Pang Suyeong, who was beside her, was the sa.

Ban Hojin stared at him with his mouth hanging open, as if he had never expected him to say sothing like this.

“You’re too much.”

“Just like studying, cultivation also has its proper timing.”

“That just sounds like an excuse.”

Pang Hwayeong said with a hardened expression.

At this point, no matter what he said, it felt like nothing but an excuse.

Yet Ban Hojin was instead unabashed.

As if there was nothing he could do if that was how it was taken, he shrugged his shoulders.

“Wow, what a bad man.”

“I was being considerate in my own way.”

“This isn’t consideration, it’s indifference.”

“It’s not to that extent.”

Ban Hojin slowly shook his head.

It was true that his interest was not great, but that did not an he was indifferent.

If he were, he would not have engaged with them in the first place.

“But this is unexpected. I thought you wouldn’t co to the Sichuan Tang Family. You don’t like noisy gatherings like this.”

“That’s right. But I also had circumstances I couldn’t avoid.”

“That sounds like you were dragged here.”

“I won’t deny it.”

“Hohoho.”

Not only Pang Hwayeong, who had been speaking, but also Pang Suyeong, Namgung So-yeon, and Zhuge Hye-jeong let out soft laughs.

It was because the Sichuan Tang Family’s children were right there, and they had not expected him to speak so openly.

What was interesting, though, was that it did not co across as arrogant, but rather confident.

He was not belittling the Sichuan Tang Family to elevate himself; because his words were sincere, no one took them the wrong way.

“You have an interesting personality.”

“That’s the first ti I’ve heard that.”

“Could it be that no one ever said it to you like this?”

“That could be.”

In that very brief gap, Tang Seorin slipped in.

She had naturally struck up a conversation with Ban Hojin.

The rising juniors who had been listening in all wore expressions of surprise.

They had never expected Tang Seorin, the most aloof of the Three Phoenixes, to speak first like this.

“You’re quick to admit things, aren’t you?”

“One has to accept what should be accepted, and fix what should be fixed, in order to grow and develop.”

“Ho.”

Tang Seorin, who had spoken rather provocatively, showed a slightly surprised expression.

Because his personality was so firm, she had thought he would be completely closed off in this regard, but after actually talking with him, it did not seem to be the case.

“Even so, thank you for visiting our main house. Personally, I really wanted to et Young Hero Ban at least once.”

Tang Seogeon, whose gentle eyes left an impression, subtly joined the conversation.

Unlike his soft appearance, his eyes did not hide his competitive spirit.

Up until just last year, his goal had been the Heavenly Dragon Namgung Gwang.

But now, it was different.

“Is that so.”

In contrast, Ban Hojin’s attitude was indifferent.

To him, whether it was Tang Seogeon who had spoken to him or Namgung Gwang, it was all the sa.

Though the two were said to be among the most renowned rising juniors in Jianghu, to Ban Hojin they were rely two among countless rising juniors.

Unless they were among the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven, rising juniors were not even in his consideration.

‘Co to think of it, there was this Second Young Lord.’

Ban Hojin’s gaze shifted to Tang Seogon, who was sitting quietly beside Tang Seorin, so unobtrusive as to seem almost nonexistent.

All three were children of the Sichuan Tang Family Head, but their statuses were slightly different.

Unlike Tang Seogeon and Tang Seorin, who were born of the principal wife, Tang Seogon, the youngest and the Second Young Lord, was the child of a concubine.

In other words, he was a half-brother to the Tang Seogeon–Tang Seorin siblings.

‘The beginning of the downfall, and its root cause.’

Like Ban Hojin himself, Tang Seogon also seed as though he had been dragged here against his will, and after the initial greetings, he had not spoken a single word.

He simply sat there in silence, sipping his tea.

Ban Hojin looked at Tang Seogon with a aningful gaze.

And Tang Seogeon and Tang Seorin saw it.

Step, step.

Just then, a young man strode briskly toward where Ban Hojin and his group were seated.

His eyes were fixed solely on Ban Hojin.

The young man approached with a gaze, eye line, and expression that made it clear to anyone that he had business with Ban Hojin, and he executed a disciplined fist-clasp salute.

“It’s a pleasure to et you, Young Hero Ban. I am Gongsun Hyeok of the Gongsun Family. I know this is presumptuous, but I felt that if not today, I might not have another chance. I would like to request instruction from Young Hero Ban for a single exchange.”

“Ohh!”

Exclamations erupted from all around at the sight of Gongsun Hyeok boldly stepping forward to request a sparring match.

Everyone had been full of desire, yet none had dared to step out.

Because Ban Hojin was known for his prickly temperant, everyone had only been watching for an opening, but when Gongsun Hyeok broke the ice, their eyes all began to shine.

They were preparing to step forward themselves, starting with Gongsun Hyeok.

“Please!”

As encouragent burst out from all sides, Gongsun Hyeok, still holding his fist-clasp salute, bowed his head with a aningful smile.

At his respectful, almost deferential plea, everyone’s gaze shifted to Ban Hojin.

They were all curious about what decision he would make.

‘With the stage set like this, he won’t be able to refuse easily.’

Gongsun Hyeok, with his head still bowed, curled his lips into a grin.

Since he had taken such a low posture, it would not be easy for Ban Hojin to refuse without considering his own dignity.

If he refused, it would be tantamount to disregarding not only Gongsun Hyeok’s face, but also the Gongsun Family.

That was exactly what Gongsun Hyeok was aiming for.

‘Fools. Do peaches fall just because you open your mouth? You have to shake the tree, or knock them down with a pole for peaches to fall.’

Feeling the subtly shifted atmosphere with his whole body, Gongsun Hyeok beca certain.

His move had worked.

Everyone felt the sa way, but none had dared to ask for a sparring match outright.

Partly because of Ban Hojin’s personality, and partly because of the cold aura unique to him.

But just as the brave win the beauty, opportunity was the sa.

Only those who tried first could have it.

‘Beating the Divine Dragon will be hard, but just showing that I don’t lose easily will be enough. Once I’m ntioned alongside the Divine Dragon, everything afterward will proceed smoothly. And who knows? With a bit of luck, I might even win.’

Gongsun Hyeok chuckled inwardly.

Even he himself thought that the chances of defeating Ban Hojin, who had taken down the Green Forest Great Lord, in a sparring match were slim.

However, he did not think that the possibility was nonexistent.

Since victory and defeat were not absolute, Gongsun Hyeok believed there was more than enough room for a sliver of hope.

‘If that were to happen…….’

Brrr!

Gongsun Hyeok’s body trembled.

Just imagining it sent shivers through him.

If he were to defeat Ban Hojin, his na would spread across the entire Central Plains in an instant.

Not only that, the attention of the Three Phoenixes gathered here, and of all the won present, would be focused on him.

Gulp!

Among them, what seized Gongsun Hyeok’s heart was, without question, the Three Phoenixes.

At the thought of receiving the full attention of the Three Phoenixes, said to be the most beautiful won under heaven, blood rushed to one place.

Right now, he could not even properly exchange greetings with them, but if he were to bring down Ban Hojin, it would be possible to choose one of the three.

‘No. It might even be possible to have all three. If I defeat the current Ban Hojin, the Sichuan Tang Family, the Murong Family, and the Mount Hua Sect will all try to take

in by any ans.’

The corners of Gongsun Hyeok’s mouth twitched.

Just imagining it made him unbearably happy.

At the sa ti, he desperately wanted to make it happen.

Ssk.

As he was grinning while picturing the broad, smooth road that would unfold before him, he sensed movent from the front.

It was the sound of a chair being pushed back.

At that sound, Gongsun Hyeok’s face brightened.

It seed that Ban Hojin was finally moving, just as he had intended.

“If you want to have a sparring match with my elder brother, you’ll have to get past

first.”

“Huh?”

Gongsun Hyeok’s head snapped up.

Instead of the voice he had been expecting, an unfamiliar voice had reached his ears.

So Gongsun Hyeok raised his head like lightning, searching for the owner of the voice.

“My elder brother has a certain standing. He can’t just accept anyone as an opponent. Unless it’s one of the Four Dragons, perhaps.”

“……Murong Cheok.”

At Murong Cheok’s tone, which sounded as if he did not need to deal with naless nobodies, Gongsun Hyeok’s face stiffened.

Being spoken to in such a dismissive way by Murong Cheok, who was much younger than him, made it impossible for him to maintain his expression.

However, Murong Cheok did not care in the slightest whether Gongsun Hyeok’s face had gone rigid or not.

“So you did your research before coming. You know my face even though we haven’t exchanged nas. Or were you listening in the whole ti?”

Murong Cheok spoke with a sneer.

At that, sounds of awkward coughing arose here and there.

Since it was true that they had been eavesdropping, several n and won coughed to hide their embarrassnt.

Others subtly turned their heads away.

“Your words seem a bit excessive.”

Gongsun Hyeok said through clenched teeth.

He wanted to shout in anger right then and there, but with so many eyes watching, he could not.

And getting into a scuffle with Murong Cheok, who was much younger, would only damage his own dignity.

So Gongsun Hyeok barely managed to compose his expression and spoke in a courteous tone.

“Hm. And you think asking my elder brother for a sparring match isn’t excessive?”

“What did you say!”

But at Murong Cheok’s following words, Gongsun Hyeok’s patience hit rock bottom in an instant.

The continued barbs finally made him explode.

Yet even at Gongsun Hyeok’s roar, Murong Cheok did not shrink back; instead, he broke into a grin.

“Challenges have to be between people of roughly equal standing. If you really want to spar with my elder brother that badly, get past

first, and then talk.”

Though he was using honorifics, the oddly twisted tone made Gongsun Hyeok’s face turn beet red.

Then he glared at Murong Cheok as if he wanted to kill him.

“Very well. If that’s what it takes, then I’ll do it.”

Whooosh!

Grinding out the words, Gongsun Hyeok turned his body.

As he walked toward the area around the banquet hall with steps that clearly suppressed his rage, the nearby rising juniors parted on their own.

“I’ll show you clearly. That half-baked skill won’t even co close.”

“Alright.”

Murong Cheok said to Ban Hojin with a grin.

Yet there was not the slightest hint of tension on his face.

And the sa was true for the rest of the group.

Starting with Seonu Bang, Seo Jo-woon and Jeong I-ryong also watched Murong Cheok’s back with relaxed expressions.

“As a senior of Jianghu, I’ll yield the first move.”

“Hmm. There’s really no need for that.”

Even under Gongsun Hyeok’s terrifying glare, Murong Cheok replied languidly.

If he even yielded the first move, it was obvious that Gongsun Hyeok would have even less he could do.

“I’ll yield it. Co.”

“Then, if you insist.”

At the sight of Gongsun Hyeok snarling as if he intended to teach him a harsh lesson, Murong Cheok shrugged his shoulders.

Judging by his face, it did not seem like he would change his decision no matter what was said.

In that case, there was no choice but to give him what he wanted.

Sssrk.

Of course, just because the first move was yielded, Murong Cheok had no intention whatsoever of going easy or treating this sparring match lightly.

In a way, this was an official occasion for him to reveal himself to the Jianghu martial world once again, so Murong Cheok intended to show them properly.

That he had returned.

That he was not a forgotten genius, but still a genius.

“Co.”

As Murong Cheok drew his sword, Gongsun Hyeok opened his mouth as if he had been waiting for it.

As if telling him to hurry up and co.

At that sight, Murong Cheok grinned.

Because it was all too clear what Gongsun Hyeok was thinking right now.

“Then, let’s go.”

Ssaeaeaek!

The mont the smile vanished from Murong Cheok’s lips, his sword moved.

The Galaxy Ten Sword Flow, which had once dominated Jianghu, unfolded.

It was not a swift sword, yet faster and sharper than countless swift swords—at that single strike, Gongsun Hyeok turned pale in shock.

“Hup!”