Chapter 88
"Alright, fine! I'll give you credit for being brave."
Danmok Hwaryeon was more than pleased with Peng Seo-yeon's response.
Honestly, she hadn't expected her to actually accept.
Did she really think there was even a slight chance of winning or drawing in a duel against her? Seriously?
How foolish!
Perhaps Peng Seo-yeon still hadn't moved on from her glorious past.
If she truly believed she could still overwhelm her like before, that was a huge misconception.
Because such a thing would never happen again.
Danmok Hwaryeon was certain that the paths she and Peng Seo-yeon had walked over the past six years were fundamentally different in their purity.
And yet she dared to utter such words.
What? That her time had been just as fulfilling as theirs?
For a stupid woman who threw everything away to run off with some worthless scholar she fell for.
Danmok Hwaryeon intended to use this opportunity to thoroughly crush Peng Seo-yeon.
So that she would never again raise that smug face and spout nonsense.
Giving her three days instead of tomorrow was meant to let her struggle futilely to her heart's content.
To feel even greater misery.
If she had her way, she would have given her a month or more to feel even more wretched, but she didn't want to waste that much time on this matter.
Danmok Hwaryeon inwardly mocked Peng Seo-yeon to her heart's content.
She soon left, saying she would return in three days.
Without even giving time to stop her.
And so, Peng Seo-yeon unexpectedly ended up having a duel with Danmok Hwaryeon in three days.
"Hah. This is maddening. Really."
How did things end up like this?
The gathering to meet a long-unseen friend had been ruined.
All because of Danmok Hwaryeon.
In this atmosphere, it was impossible to continue the meeting.
Only Tang Mujun and Hwangbo Cheonwoo were left in an awkward position.
They said they would try to smooth things over, convincing Danmok Hwaryeon to forget about the duel.
But Peng Seo-yeon shook her head.
If it had been the first time, maybe, but now she didn't want to back down.
Danmok Hwaryeon had clearly crossed the line.
And by quite a lot!
She had insulted not just her, but the entire Peng Family.
That was something that should never be done between the Five Great Families.
It could potentially even spark a war between the clans if handled poorly.
Yet Danmok Hwaryeon had made that dangerous mistake.
This was an extremely serious issue.
Moreover, there were many witnesses who had heard those words.
So in many ways, it would have been appropriate to officially raise this as a problem.
But that could be done later if needed.
The biggest issue now was that Danmok Hwaryeon still didn't seem to realize what she had done wrong.
And on top of that, she even challenged Peng Seo-yeon to a duel.
Danmok Hwaryeon had committed far too many unforgivable acts in that short time.
So Peng Seo-yeon had long since given up on responding kindly to her baseless malice.
Seeing Peng Seo-yeon's unexpectedly firm stance, Tang Mujun and Hwangbo Cheonwoo had no choice but to sigh deeply and nod.
"Alright. Well, if that's what you really want... We understand. Then we'll just quietly cheer you on from behind."
"You absolutely must win. Got it? I'm on your side no matter what!"
Peng Seo-yeon smiled slightly at their words of encouragement.
But honestly, they were worried about her.
Anyone could see that this duel was extremely disadvantageous for Peng Seo-yeon.
Of course, they knew.
That Peng Seo-yeon's talent had once surpassed Danmok Hwaryeon's.
But that comparison was based on when they were both consistently training.
There would inevitably be a clear difference between Peng Seo-yeon, who had left the Peng Family and likely hadn't trained for a long time, and Danmok Hwaryeon, who had steadily honed her martial arts over those years.
And that difference was likely quite significant by now.
Unless she encountered some incredible stroke of fortune or possessed talent beyond compare that could overturn all those conditions, there was no way to bridge that gap.
So in most cases like this, consistent effort would triumph over talent.
Perhaps the outcome was already as good as decided.
But Tang Mujun and Hwangbo Cheonwoo sincerely hoped that Peng Seo-yeon would win.
Feeling their genuine concern, Peng Seo-yeon was simply grateful for their sentiment.
Anyway, now that things had come to this, they also decided to stay at the Peng Family for a few days.
After all, they too had become spectators to the duel's outcome in three days' time, whatever it might be.
They suddenly regretted bringing Danmok Hwaryeon to the Peng Family.
Though it was too late for regrets now.
Still, even they hadn't expected her to cause this much trouble.
Although they were well aware of her twisted personality, this was going too far.
The two of them simply couldn't understand what had driven Danmok Hwaryeon to act like this.
Hwangbo Cheonwoo glanced discreetly at Tang Mujun.
It was Hwangbo Cheonwoo who had invited Tang Mujun to come visit, thinking he could use a break to clear his head after all the recent commotion in his family due to his brother's affairs.
But how did inviting Tang Mujun to the Hwangbo Family lead to this?
Hwangbo Cheonwoo felt especially sorry towards Tang Mujun and Peng Seo-yeon.
In the end, he couldn't help but think that all of this was because of his father's pointless errand, sending him on a needless trip to Beijing.
"Anyway, if you need any help, just say the word. I'll gladly do whatever I can."
"Thanks for the offer."
Though Hwangbo Cheonwoo's words came from a sense of guilt, Peng Seo-yeon had no way of knowing that.
"Well, you must be tired for now, so get some rest. Seo-jin will show you to your rooms."
"Sigh. Let's go."
Peng Seo-jin, who had somehow managed to cool his anger beside Peng Seo-yeon, soon led them out.
Suddenly left alone in the room, Peng Seo-yeon let out a short sigh.
Various thoughts crossed her mind.
Was it too impulsive to accept? A fight she couldn't win?
Of course, she knew better than anyone how disadvantaged she was.
The days Peng Seo-yeon had spent were not so easy that she could live trapped in her glorious past, as Danmok Hwaryeon thought.
Anyway, it was too late to back out now.
And she didn't want to either.
So,
'I have no choice but to do it!'
Peng Seo-yeon clenched her fist with determination.
The next day.
Peng Seo-yeon woke up early in the morning and began training.
However, despite her overflowing enthusiasm, there was no way the results of her training would show immediately.
How much time had passed?
As she focused intently on her training, she bit her lip hard.
For a moment, she almost threw away the sword in her hand out of rising frustration and impatience.
Somehow, the more she trained, the more her sense of despair seemed to grow.
Could she really win? No, was even a draw possible? What if she lost pathetically?
All sorts of distracting thoughts filled her head.
But what good would it do to think about it now?
The water had already been spilled.
"Right. This isn't the time for that."
Every time she paused her training, it felt like these intrusive thoughts seeped in even deeper.
So for now, she could only focus on her training.
Peng Seo-yeon picked up her sword again and began swinging it vigorously.
"...You say she agreed to a duel?"
In the Family Head's room of the Hebei Peng Family.
Peng Mugang furrowed his brow deeply as he looked at his son, hearing this unexpected news.
His eyes showed that he simply couldn't understand.
"Why didn't you stop her? It's obvious she'll lose."
"Of course I tried to stop her. But it was no use."
"She insisted on doing it even after you tried to dissuade her?"
"Yes."
"Hah hah."
Looking at Peng Seo-jin's expression, Peng Mugang soon let out a deep sigh.
"Well, I suppose that's just like her. Once she sets her mind on something, she never changes it. Such a stubborn one. I wonder who she takes after, really! Tsk tsk!"
Peng Seo-jin answered inwardly.
She takes after you, Father, he thought.
But as if he had just heard Peng Seo-jin's inner thoughts, Peng Mugang's face crumpled as he said,
"You were just thinking that Seo-yeon's stubbornness takes after me, weren't you?"
"Huh?"
How did he know?
Peng Seo-jin's face showed his shock.
"Was it that obvious on my face?"
"Let me tell you clearly, that kid's pig-headedness takes after your mother. Even I'm not that bad."
"That can't be true."
"Ah, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that out loud."
"Anyway, I understand. You may go now."
"Yes, Father."
Soon after leaving the Family Head's room, Peng Seo-jin looked up at the sky.
Haah.
A deep sigh escaped Peng Seo-jin's lips.
Why did one thing after another keep happening without rest?
But if Peng Seo-yeon hadn't stopped him that day when he had completely lost his mind, he might have really cut out Danmok Hwaryeon's tongue.
That's how enraged Peng Seo-jin had been in that situation.
From the beginning, he had never liked Danmok Hwaryeon.
She was always arrogant, full of complaints, and absolutely couldn't stand seeing anyone better than herself.
Just thinking about it was exhausting.
But now it seemed she wasn't just tiresome, but completely out of her mind with no sense of thought at all.
Peng Seo-jin believed that one should be especially careful around such people.
So even though his sister wouldn't like it, he was prepared to intervene if the duel took a dangerous turn, even if it meant being scolded.
By the way, what could his brother-in-law be thinking?
He had already met Yeo Un-hwi before coming to see his father.
He thought Yeo Un-hwi would be shocked and furious upon hearing this news, but surprisingly, he seemed unbothered.
It was a very unusual reaction for someone who was always sharp and sensitive when it came to family matters.
It was unexpected.
He even seemed unconcerned about the duel in three days.
'Surely he's not planning to suddenly intervene in the middle of it.'
The thought crossed his mind that even Yeo Un-hwi wouldn't do such a thing.
'No way... or could he?'
If that was the case, just in case.
He thought he should stay alert and keep a close eye on things.
Even while thinking it was unlikely, he couldn't help but worry.
After all, Yeo Un-hwi was that unpredictable.
Ironically, Peng Seo-jin himself was also ready to intervene in the duel at any moment if necessary.
It was often difficult for people to properly examine their own behavior.
That night.
Peng Seo-yeon was sound asleep, her hands swollen from training so hard.
Yul-i had somehow snuggled up to her mother's side, fast asleep while hugging her tightly.
Yeo Un-hwi smiled gently as he quietly watched his wife and daughter.
"It's fascinating how the timing matches up so perfectly, even though it wasn't planned."
Incomprehensible words quietly flowed from Yeo Un-hwi's lips.
What could he mean?
"Don't worry. You will absolutely not lose."
Yeo Un-hwi's hand reached out towards the sleeping Peng Seo-yeon.
Soon, a brilliant golden light flowed from his hand.
That golden light gradually enveloped Peng Seo-yeon's entire body.
No, not just Peng Seo-yeon. It was the same for Yul-i.
Whoosh!
Soon, the entire room where he stood was completely covered in golden light.
What on earth was happening?
Only Yeo Un-hwi knew.
And before long, three days had passed.