Chapter 119
Hoangru.
It seemed to be a fairly famous Wine House in Anhui, as we were able to find it quickly after asking around.
From what I heard, it operated as both an inn and a Wine House. Anyway, they said the Hebei Peng Family had rented the entire place for the duration of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.
“Wow, they sure have a lot of money.”
Standing at the entrance of Hoangru and estimating its size, I clicked my tongue in amazement.
To rent out this massive Wine House and inn entirely for the duration of the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.
The cost must have been formidable, but as expected, the financial power of the Five Great Families was on a different level.
“Let’s go in, then.”
“…Yes.”
“Square your shoulders, you Bastard! What’s the worst that could happen?”
I genuinely believed that nothing would go wrong during this meeting with the Peng Family Head.
Whatever the case, we were currently disciples of the Zhongnan Sect.
Originally, sects of the Nine Great Sects and One Alliance like Zhongnan were extremely sensitive about the safety of their disciples.
If it were ever revealed that the Hebei Peng Family messed with a Zhongnan Disciple, a clash between the Peng Family and Zhongnan would be inevitable.
I judged that Dongryong wasn’t worth the Hebei Peng Family’s taking on all those risks.
However…
Slide-.
“…”
“…”
…As soon as I opened the door and took a single step inside, I had to retract that thought.
“…”
“…”
martial artists of the Hebei Peng Family, each wearing a Saber, were sitting at dozens of tables on the first floor, seemingly having a meal.
But the moment we opened the door, they silently turned their gazes this way.
No, to be exact, toward Dongryong.
The glares directed at Dongryong were so fierce that it was exactly like…
“I will kill him.”
“No, I will kill him.”
…It felt like they were shouting that out loud.
Even so, those were not the eyes of people looking at the Bloodline of their Noble Family.
Piqued by curiosity, I whispered to Dongryong.
“Dongryong-a, why are they acting like that? Did you really steal that Tiger Blood Golden Body art to learn it?”
“…”
This Bastard must have really stolen it.
I thought Bandit work suited his constitution for some reason, but was his true nature that of a thief all along…?
As I let my imagination Run Wild on my own, the person with the least ferocious Glare among those in the inn guided us.
“…Head to the second floor. The Family Head is waiting for you on the second floor.”
Why the informal speech?
…I wanted to ask, but since it was absolutely not the atmosphere for it, I quietly followed behind the guy with Dongryong.
And as we followed him up to the second floor and headed toward the best room…
Slide-.
“I have brought them, Family Head.”
There were three men with massive physiques who looked like the Hebei Peng Family Bloodline to anyone’s eyes.
“…”
The man in the middle must be the Hebei Peng Family Head, Peng Cho-San…, and the guys on either side must be his sons?
“…”
“Hah…, it really is that Bastard…?”
Unlike the guy wearing a Serious expression, the one who looked a bit younger spat out a curse upon seeing Dongryong.
“…”
The Hebei Peng Family Head, Peng Cho-San, hadn’t spoken yet either, but the gaze he directed at Dongryong was blazing with fire.
As expected, it didn’t seem like a good relationship.
But how long were they going to just stare without saying anything?
As the suffocating silence continued, Dongryong, seemingly unable to bear it, offered a Cupped Fist Salute first.
“…It has been a long time, Hebei Peng Family Head.”
“…”
At Dongryong’s greeting, the Peng Family Head’s eyes bulged, and he continued speaking with a voice full of Roar of Rage.
“…It really is you. You’re wearing a Sword that doesn’t even suit you, so I almost didn’t recognize you.”
“Yes, it is me, Dongryong. Through a stroke of fate, I joined a Zhongnan Affiliated Family called Jongrimun, and at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering…”
CRASH-!!!
As Dongryong continued speaking, the Peng Family Head slammed the table, smashing it in two.
“I thought you would live as a Beggar or become a Bandit after leaving the Main Family, but you’ve lived somewhat respectably. However, I have no interest in your trivial sob story.”
Flinch.
When one saw the Peng Family Head speak like that, it seemed he didn’t know Dongryong had actually lived as a Bandit.
I flinched and my body twitched at that, but the Peng Family Head didn’t even pay attention to me and continued speaking.
“But the story changed since you failed to keep your promise-!! You clearly swore never to appear before the Hebei Peng Family again! So why am I seeing your face right in front of my eyes right now-!!”
The Peng Family Head’s voice was truly booming, and with internal energy mixed into it, it was so loud that my ears hurt.
I also grimaced at this, but Dongryong, who must have been feeling an even more severe pressure than I, stood perfectly straight without a single movement.
Come to think of it, there was no trembling in Dongryong’s body either. It was a World of difference compared to how he was shaking before entering Hoangru.
Like that, without trembling or being pushed back by the Aura, Dongryong answered the Peng Family Head with a firm voice.
“As promised, I have never set a single foot in the Hebei Region. And this Dragon-Phoenix Gathering… I only participated due to unavoidable circumstances. Anhui is not the Peng Family’s territory, so what does it matter to you, Family Head, if I come and go freely?”
“What did you say?!!!”
Unable to endure it any longer, I raised my hands and covered my ears. As I saw the Peng Family’s sons next to him also covering their ears, it seemed the Peng Family Head’s shouting like this was a frequent occurrence.
Well, that was originally how the Peng Family was.
Normally, the treatment of the Peng Family in Martial Arts novels was on the level of that given to simple-minded, ignorant muscle pigs.
Guys who were strong but not very smart, and easily excited like barbarians.
And the Peng Family Head in front of my eyes was a man who was the very epitome of the Hebei Peng Family.
“Ugh…”
Still, perhaps he had no intention of using force in this place, as the Peng Family Head let out a brief groan before sitting back down.
Then, in a calmer voice, he spoke to Dongryong.
“…I will not say this twice. Leave Anhui immediately.”
“…I will not say this twice either. I have circumstances, so I absolutely cannot leave…”
“In a few days, Hui-A is coming to cheer on her older brothers.”
“…!”
…Hui-A?
I didn’t know exactly who that was…, but seeing him use an affectionate name, I wondered, was it his daughter…?
But why did the Peng Family’s daughter’s coming suddenly matter?
Feeling doubtful, I looked toward Dongryong…
“…?”
…Dongryong’s face had turned completely pale.
“…”
When Dongryong couldn’t say anything after hearing the name Hui-A, the Peng Family Head sighed as if he knew this would happen and continued speaking.
However…
“If you Understand, leave Anhui and never…”
“…I cannot.”
“…What?”
“No matter what happens, I must win this Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.”
…Dongryong said that with his eyes squeezed shut.
I didn’t know exactly what the circumstances were, but it seemed true that he shouldn’t meet this woman named 'Hui-A'…, yet Dongryong had chosen fixing Bang Sam-i’s dantian over that.
Anyway, at Dongryong’s answer, the atmosphere in the room froze in an instant.
And what broke it was the Peng Family Head’s words, dripping with Killing Intent.
“You… Do you really wish to die?”
“…”
“…The reason I haven’t torn you to death right here and now is that I considered the years you served the Main Family. But if you’re going to act like this…, I have no choice but to get vicious.”
The Peng Family Head’s words were not a lie just now, because his words actually contained murderous intent.
“This is troublesome…”
I hurriedly calculated the combined martial prowess of the guys currently in the inn to see if I could safely take Dongryong outside in case a fight broke out.
But the one who moved first in this situation wasn’t me, nor the Peng Family Head, but someone else.
“There’s no need for you to step in, father.”
The guy standing to the left of the Peng Family Head, who looked a bit younger and seemed to be the Second Son, took a step forward.
“Trash like this…”
The guy approached with an incredibly arrogant expression, raised his Fist, and…
“I will Kick him out myself!”
…He threw a punch straight at Dongryong.
Swish-!
It had some power behind it, but to my eyes, it was a sluggish punch. I thought that even with Dongryong’s level of skill, he would be more than capable of taking that punch.
However…
“…!”
…As soon as the Peng Family’s Second Son threw his punch, I saw Dongryong’s body tremble.
Dongryong was unable to move his body against the guy’s punch, even though the guy’s punch was slow, like a rabbit in front of a Tiger.
At this…
Tap-!
…I blocked the guy’s punch instead, because if he stayed like that, Dongryong would get hit.
“…Huh?”
When I blocked the punch, the Second Son’s eyes widened as if he hadn’t expected it at all, and then, realizing the situation, he growled at me.
“What are you?!”
“I’m this guy’s Senior Martial Brother?”
“What? Senior Martial Brother? Then a Zhongnan Affiliated Family?”
The Second Son soon let out a loud laugh and spoke coldly toward me.
“Not even a Direct Disciple, but a mere Affiliated Family Bastard dares To Block my punch?”
And as he tried to throw a punch with his other hand…
Grab-.
“Aaaagh-!!”
…I simply twisted his wrist and shoved him backward.
“That’s enough. The Elders are talking.”
“This Bastard!!”
As the Second Son, pushed backward, eventually couldn’t overcome his anger and tried to draw his Saber…
“Peng Ji-Yeol-!!”
…The Peng Family Head shouted to stop him.
“What kind of disgraceful behavior is this without my permission!”
“…I-I apologize.”
Peng Ji-Yeol must have been afraid of the Peng Family Head, as he shut his mouth at a single word from him.
I could roughly guess the reason why the Peng Family Head stopped Peng Ji-Yeol.
It would be quite troublesome if word spread that the Hebei Peng Family called in Zhongnan Disciples and even drew their sabers to persecute them.
Feeling the initiative shift to our side, I spoke as if arguing.
“Also, Peng Family Head, what is this behavior from someone who is a great elder of the Righteous Faction: calling in rising stars just to threaten them into giving up on the tournament.”
“What…?”
In an instant, the Peng Family Head’s Tiger-like eyes turned toward me.
It was a gaze so intense that it would make anyone looking at it tremble in their boots, but I retorted without shrinking back.
“If you’re a Martial Artist, you shouldn’t threaten with words like this but converse with your bodies.”
“With bodies…? Are you suggesting a fight with me right now? You seem to be acting up, trusting in Zhongnan as your backing…”
“No, no, not you, Peng Family Head, but your sons. Aren’t they all participating in the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering?”
“…”
I looked at the Peng Family’s sons and continued speaking.
“If the day comes when we are eliminated from the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, we will leave Anhui immediately. So…”
“…”
“If you hate the sight of Dongryong, meet us at the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering and Eliminate us with your own bodies.”
When I said that, this time…
Chill…
The two brothers of the Peng Family glared at me and Dongryong with eyes like Tiger cubs.