CHAPTER 228: THE SEVEN STARS ASSEMBLY (4)

The banquet hall quickly descended into disorder.

Murmur, murmur.

People sneered and looked at Kwon Oh-Jin. Of course, a few frowned among them, clearly uncomfortable with how the crowd laughed and jeered at him. However, most simply looked at Kwon Oh-Jin mockingly as if he didn’t belong there.

Namgung Hui, leisurely observing the crowd's reaction, chuckled softly. “Hahaha! I’m just joking, everyone! Please calm down.” He turned to Kwon Oh-Jin and continued. “So what if he’s not a high-ranking Awakener? I believe he has more than enough qualifications to become a Seven Stars.”

After clearly singling him out, Namgung Hui shamelessly tried to reframe it as praise.

“I’m sure all of you have heard about his many achievements over the past year, haven’t you?”

He clenched his fist and looked at Kwon Oh-Jin passionately.

“Though he hasn't reached nine stars yet, he’s already proven himself in countless ways. Don’t you all agree?”

A heavy silence settled over the banquet hall. The fact that nobody clapped clearly revealed what everyone really thought about Kwon Oh-Jin.

Han Jun-Man abruptly stood from his seat and fiercely scowled at Namgung Hui.

“Excuse me, don’t you think you’re being too rude?”

Truthfully, this had been expected ever since Kwon Oh-Jin became a candidate. It felt like an amateur player with just one year of experience in a game suddenly entered a tournament meant to determine the best player in the world.

Of course, the reactions would have been less harsh if news had spread of Kwon Oh-Jin defeating Deneb’s apostles four times in a row. However, most Awakeners hadn’t heard about the proxy battle in the Sanctum since that audience had mainly consisted of Celestials.

“Ah, I apologize if it came across that way.” Namgung Hui bowed politely. “I meant to ask everyone not to judge Mr. Oh-Jin unfairly... but it seems my earlier joke went too far.”

“Ha, a joke, you say?”

“Yes, but any joke that makes someone uncomfortable still warrants an apology. I’m truly sorry.”

With Namgung Hui apologizing so earnestly, Han Jun-Man had no choice but to sit back down with a sigh.

“Tsk, tsk.”

“Look at him get all defensive cause he knows it’s the truth.”

“Does Korea really lack talent that badly? They could’ve sent someone like the Black Lion, Lee Woo-Hyuk, but they went with someone who’s not even a high-ranking Awkanener.”

“Guess he wants to be famous like Deneb’s apostles because he’s also a North Star apostle.”

Han Jun-Man’s outburst only fueled the ridicule. A tense, sharp atmosphere settled over the hall.

“Damn, this steak is amazing.” Amid all this, the unfazed Kwon Oh-Jin calmly sliced into the juicy steak on his plate and popped it into his mouth.

The medium-rare steak melted like butter on his tongue.

“Haha. It’s a relief Mr. Oh-Jin doesn’t seem too bothered.” Namgung Hui smiled brightly and changed the subject. “This time, all candidates are here not only to fill the spots left by the Avaricious Wolf and Celestial Boat Star, but also to become heroes capable of saving many more lives...”

The dull speech dragged on.

As with most opening ceremonies, more people began to show signs of boredom the longer the speech went on.

Sensing the shift in mood, Namgung Hui glanced at the cameras filming the event. “At this point, I can tell you’re all getting bored. Honestly, I hate these long speeches too.”

He motioned lightly toward Wei, standing to the side.

“With that in mind, I’d like to offer you all a little light entertainment.”

Namgung Hui put down the microphone and stepped to the center of the wide stage. He pulled out a fan from his pocket.

“My skills aren’t much, but I hope you enjoy.”

As he finished speaking, a massive stream of water shot at him from the left while searing flames shot from the right.

Splash!

Whoosh!

Opening the fan in his hand, Namgung Hui moved gracefully as if dancing. A gentle breeze blew through the banquet hall. As the warm spring-like breeze swept in, the massive currents of water and fire began to shift with it. With water above and fire below, the two elements intertwined in a yin-yang pattern.

Gasps of amazement escaped from the crowd.

“W-Woah.”

Water and fire danced through the air like living beings guided by the wind.

The truly astonishing thing was that even though the fire and water collided, neither extinguished the other. The fire didn’t go out, and the water didn’t evaporate. Like an artist painting in midair, Namgung Hui waved his fan and began crafting faces from the fire and water.

The water formed the face of the Avaricious Wolf, Cheon Sang-Gil, and the fire formed the face of the Celestial Boat Star, Damian Salvatore.

“May these two heroes rest in peace.”

As Namgung Hui snapped his fan shut, the faces of Damian and Cheon Sang-Gil shimmered before transforming into radiant constellations that slowly dispersed.

The banquet hall echoed with cheers and applause at Namgung Hui’s unbelievable performance.

“Wooooaaah!”

“H-How is that even possible?”

“I heard you recently reached ten stars! It seems you've mastered the Stigma of Leo perfectly!”

Namgung Hui tucked the fan into his pocket and bowed with impeccable posture like a painting that came to life.

“Haha. Thank you for enjoying such a small trick.”

Then, he handed the microphone to Wei and stepped down from the stage.

“Well then, everyone, there is more than food and drinks. Please enjoy yourselves to your heart's content!”

With Wei’s declaration, a small party officially began in the banquet hall.

Instead of heading straight for the gourmet dishes laid out on the tables, people began greeting one another and striking up conversations with famous Awakeners.

After all, out of the twenty-eight gathered here, only two would become members of the Seven Stars. It made sense to start building relationships early.

Of course, not a single person approached Kwon Oh-Jin.

Slurp.

“I’m sorry, Oh-Jin.”

Kwon Oh-Jin cocked his head in confusion at Han Jun-Man bowing apologetically.

“Huh? For what?”

Han Jun-Man’s face flushed red as he clenched his large pot-like fists. “If I knew things would turn out like this, I wouldn’t have brought you to the opening ceremony...”

“No worries. I got to eat delicious food for free, so I’m good.”

“B-But still!”

“If it’s about what happened earlier, you don’t have to worry.”

Kwon Oh-Jin shrugged with a chuckle. Sure, it felt annoying, but it wasn’t enough to get under his skin.

Just then, Namgung Hui approached them after chatting with several high-profile figures.

“Ah, there you are. I’m truly sorry about what happened earlier.” With a smile, he extended a hand to Kwon Oh-Jin.

“No hard feelings, so you can go.” Still munching on a tomato and cheese appetizer, Kwon Oh-Jin waved him off like he couldn’t be bothered.

Namgung Hui’s face twitched momentarily in embarrassment as he stood there with his hand out, but he quickly recovered with another warm smile.

“Given the setting, some may not yet understand how strong you are. I ask that you bear with them even if they are rude.” He politely bowed and smiled slyly. “You know the saying, ‘If you stay patient three times, even a nation can be saved.’”

It wasn’t hard to guess what he was trying to say by mentioning nations.

Is he telling me to stay the fuck down in front of China?

Kwon Oh-Jin couldn’t help but quietly snort. That guy was being so blatantly condescending that it was almost laughable.

Namgung Hui furrowed his brow slightly, noticing Kwon Oh-Jin’s snort. “Did I say something funny?”

As the atmosphere between them started to turn tense, the banquet hall doors burst open, and Song Ha-Eun stormed in.

Slam!

“Goddamn, is there seriously not one smoking room in this massive tower?”

She had put some effort into her outfit and wore a sleek black party dress.

Her eyes lit up as soon as she spotted Kwon Oh-Jin.

“Hey, Oh-Jin, don’t tell me you ate everything while I wasn’t here, you jerk?”

“The steak here is amazing.”

“Mine! Where’s mine!?”

“Eating two made it taste twice as good.”

“You son of a bitch.”

As Song Ha-Eun grilled Kwon Oh-Jin for eating her portion, Namgung Hui stared at her as if struck by lightning.

“Ah...”

The mocking smile on his lips vanished, replaced by stunned disbelief. His staring wide eyes had no intention of leaving her.

“How can someone like this exist...?” He swallowed nervously.

Her beauty felt borderline surreal as her figure elegantly curved like a high-end porcelain sculpture. Even the black eyepatch over her left eye couldn’t hide how stunning she was. He had met many women in his life, but no one as beautiful as her.

Song Ha-Eun cocked her head curiously at Namgung Hui’s intense stare. “Huh? Who’s this guy?”

He coughed lightly and stepped forward. “Nice to meet you. I’m Namgung Hui.”

“Namgung Hui? That name sounds familiar.”

“Haha. It’s a bit embarrassing, but I go by the title, Wind God.”

“Ohhh, right!” Song Ha-Eun snapped her fingers and nodded.

She had definitely heard that he was one of China’s most famous Awakeners.

“If it’s not rude, may I ask your name?”

“It’s Song Ha-Eun.”

Namgung Hui repeated her name over and over in his head and faintly smiled. By this point, Kwon Oh-Jin had completely vanished from his thoughts.

“It seems there’s no food left at your table, Miss Ha-Eun... Would you care to join mine?”

Not once did he consider the possibility of being rejected. He was practically royalty even before becoming an Awakene with his good looks, his status as a chosen candidate, and his lineage as the heir to China’s most powerful family. Even Vega’s only apostle, Kwon Oh-Jin, couldn’t compare to him.

Sure, they seem to know each other, but...

She clearly knew him as the Wind God, so she had to know that he was the top contender to become a member of the Seven Stars. She had no reason to refuse.

“No thanks.”

“What?” Namgung Hui looked visibly shaken, not expecting such a blunt rejection.

“B-But there’s no food left for you at your table...”

“Yes, there is.”

Song Ha-Eun plopped herself down on Kwon Oh-Jin’s thigh and wrapped her arm around his neck.

“I can eat my Oh-Jin.”

Namgung Hui’s face contorted.