Chapter 89
Three days had passed, and the day of the duel finally arrived.
Paeng Seo-yeon woke up early in the morning and slowly began to stretch her body.
Hmm?
She suddenly tilted her head in confusion.
"Why does my body feel so light today?"
She felt surprisingly energetic.
It was strange.
She hadn't done anything special before going to bed last night.
After pondering for a moment, Paeng Seo-yeon soon stopped thinking about it.
Having a light body was a good thing, not a bad one.
Now wasn't the time to waste on such thoughts.
For now, it was right to focus only on the duel that would take place today.
After stretching for a while, Paeng Seo-yeon returned to her room and prepared to go to the venue for today's duel.
The duel was set to take place in one of the training grounds within the Paeng Family compound.
The early time was chosen in hopes of having fewer spectators.
It wouldn't be good to show people a fierce duel that was more than just a friendly sparring match to promote camaraderie.
"Phew."
As Paeng Seo-yeon adjusted her clothes with a somewhat tense face, unable to completely avoid nervousness, Yeo Un-hwi approached her.
Unlike usual, he was dressed more casually today.
On any other day, he too would be preparing to head out for the White Wolf Unit's training at this time, but today he had agreed to watch over Yul-i, who would be waking up in the morning, since Paeng Seo-yeon was leaving early.
While handing her a hair tie, Yeo Un-hwi asked,
"A duel so early in the morning? Are you sure nothing's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong. It's just for fun between old friends after a long time."
"Really?"
"Of course."
Paeng Seo-yeon smiled brightly in response to Yeo Un-hwi's question.
As if to say there was absolutely nothing to worry about.
Of course, it was a lie to prevent her husband from worrying.
But did she realize?
That her expression was awkwardly stiff as she said those words.
Despite being smarter and wiser than anyone else, Paeng Seo-yeon was surprisingly bad at lying.
Well, it was perhaps natural for someone who had never had reason to lie to anyone in her entire life.
Fortunately, Yul-i was still asleep.
If she had been awake, she might have insisted on following her mother, which would have been a bit worrying.
"Are you sure you don't want me to come along and cheer for you?"
"Don't do that, it's embarrassing. I told you, it's just a casual thing between friends."
Paeng Seo-yeon playfully poked Yeo Un-hwi's side in response to his teasing words.
A small smile spread across Paeng Seo-yeon's face, which had been slightly tense.
Meanwhile, Paeng Seo-jin arrived to escort her.
Unlike the smiling couple, he looked extremely tired for some reason.
He seemed to have stayed up all night worrying about various things.
It was understandable, as it would be strange not to be concerned.
He knew better than anyone how disadvantageous today's duel was for Paeng Seo-yeon.
Perhaps in the past, when Paeng Seo-yeon was known as one of the Four Peaks, he wouldn't have worried like this.
Back then, Danmok Hwaryeon was no match for Paeng Seo-yeon at all.
If we were to judge by that time alone, Paeng Seo-yeon was undoubtedly one of the most accomplished and fastest among the Four Peaks.
But now it was different.
The situation had completely reversed from then.
This was why he couldn't help but worry.
But then,
'I wonder what Brother-in-law is thinking.'
He glanced at Yeo Un-hwi's face.
Yeo Un-hwi, who was joking with Paeng Seo-yeon, didn't look worried at all.
Even though he surely knew the current situation, having heard everything from Paeng Seo-jin.
On the day Paeng Seo-yeon decided to have the duel, Paeng Seo-jin had come to Yeo Un-hwi and explained everything.
He had told him about the conversation they had, the relationship between Danmok Hwaryeon and Paeng Seo-yeon, and even the worries he was having now.
He had thought that Yeo Un-hwi might have some solution, or at least try to dissuade Paeng Seo-yeon.
But the duel was still happening, and Paeng Seo-yeon hadn't changed at all.
And Yeo Un-hwi seemed completely unbothered.
Why?
Knowing how much Yeo Un-hwi loved and cherished his family, Paeng Seo-jin couldn't understand Yeo Un-hwi's current behavior at all.
Ah. Or perhaps he had already done something?
There was a good chance of that.
No, was that too much to assume?
But if not, how could he be like this?
Ah, what was going on?
Due to excessive worry, Paeng Seo-jin's mind was uncharacteristically wavering back and forth.
"Well then, shall we go?"
"Ah, yes, Sister."
Paeng Seo-yeon, who had finished preparing, took the lead, and Paeng Seo-jin nodded quickly before following her steps.
As they walked, Paeng Seo-jin glanced back.
Yeo Un-hwi was still smiling and waving his hand.
'Seriously. If you've done something, you could at least tell me.'
Paeng Seo-jin began heading towards the duel venue with Paeng Seo-yeon, his face full of worry and anxiety.
"So it's today."
Paeng Mugang, who was drinking tea alone, muttered softly.
Clank.
The teacup made an uneasy sound as it settled on the table.
It was as if that sound represented Paeng Mugang's state of mind.
The bitterness in his mouth wasn't just from the tea.
A shallow sigh escaped his lips.
'That girl... her personality, really.'
From a young age, Paeng Seo-yeon would say she was afraid of her father, but she never held back from saying whatever she wanted to say.
And it wasn't just words.
She had a personality that would do whatever she set her mind to.
He knew.
That when she pushed like this, she always had her reasons.
Even accepting this duel must have had its reasons.
Despite it being unreasonable to anyone's eyes.
Still, she should know when to be cautious, but instead, she would just charge in headfirst whenever she thought something was right, and that's what worried him.
But did he realize?
That Paeng Seo-yeon's personality was actually a carbon copy of his own.
Hmm.
After being lost in thought for a while, Paeng Mugang quietly spoke.
"Jigeom."
"Yes."
Suddenly, someone appeared behind him.
It was Paeng Mugang's personal guard, who rarely showed himself.
He was also the leader of the Black Dragon Unit, the Family Head's personal guard unit.
However, on the surface, the Black Dragon Unit was practically non-existent.
They were the Paeng Family's hidden force, secretly protecting the Family Head and following his orders.
In fact, although they were called a hidden force, it would be correct to assume that each of the Five Great Families' heads had such a guard unit.
"Go and watch, but step in if the situation becomes dangerous."
"Understood."
Swish.
Soon, the man called Jigeom disappeared again.
Paeng Mugang brought the tea to his lips once more.
"Really. What am I going to do with that personality of hers? I hope Yul-i doesn't take after it."
When Paeng Seo-yeon arrived at the training ground with Paeng Seo-jin, Danmok Hwaryeon was already there waiting for them.
Tang Mujun and Hwangbo Cheonwoo were with her as well.
However, the atmosphere among them didn't seem very good either.
In fact, right after arriving here, they had told Danmok Hwaryeon to apologize to Paeng Seo-yeon and call off today's duel.
But of course, if it was to be expected.
Danmok Hwaryeon had angrily said that she absolutely couldn't do that.
Her behavior made it seem as if she was the one who had been insulted, not Paeng Seo-yeon.
However, Danmok Hwaryeon hadn't realized.
Unlike her, who thought winning this duel would put Paeng Seo-yeon in her place and restore her own face, everyone else didn't think that way.
Nor how her behavior appeared in the eyes of the two men who had been traveling with her.
That she absolutely shouldn't act like this in front of Tang Mujun, whom she secretly admired.
Well, if she had known that, things wouldn't have come to this point in the first place.
Under the gaze of those gathered here, the two women now faced each other on the training ground.
"Why don't you back down even now?"
"What?"
Danmok Hwaryeon said, shrugging her shoulders.
"I don't particularly want to hurt you either. I just thought you didn't live up to the name of 'Peak'. Maybe in the past, but honestly not now, right? You should admit that. Don't you agree?"
"I don't care if people don't call me that anymore."
"Oh? Then if you admit it..."
"However."
Paeng Seo-yeon looked at Danmok Hwaryeon with a resolute face.
"I said that my life over the past few years has been just as valuable and without regret as the days you've lived. You didn't accept that and insulted me. That's why we're standing here facing each other, isn't it? Why are you changing your words now?"
"I haven't changed my mind about that. I still think your past life was pathetic. Very much so."
"You haven't even seen it, have you? How I've lived."
"Well, there are things you can know without seeing, right? How could they be the same? It's like how the life of a poor person can't be the same as that of a rich person."
"Of course, money and environment are important. But you can't buy a person's happiness with just that."
"What an old-fashioned and stupid thought. That's why I dislike you."
"From the beginning, your selfish attitude of not caring at all about other people's feelings or thoughts, you've been like that since you were young. Yes, what's the point of saying anything now?"
Paeng Seo-yeon let out a deep sigh and readjusted her wooden saber.
It goes without saying, but she had no intention of giving up on today's duel.
She couldn't silently watch her entire past life being denied.
Denying her chosen life meant denying the value of Yeo Un-hwi and Yul-i as well.
If nothing else, that was something Paeng Seo-yeon absolutely couldn't tolerate.
'I knew it. All pride and no skill to back it up.'
Soon, a smile spread across Danmok Hwaryeon's lips as well.
Her words telling Paeng Seo-yeon to back down even now weren't sincere.
It was just something she had thrown out there.
She too knew that Paeng Seo-yeon wasn't the type to easily back down from something she had decided on.
"You'll regret this. Deeply."
"Even so, I won't be ashamed of myself."
"How foolish. That's why you made such a stupid choice and fell in love with a penniless scholar."
Paeng Seo-yeon's eyes turned cold.
Danmok Hwaryeon was crossing the line multiple times.
Paeng Seo-yeon absolutely did not want to lose.
Even knowing how difficult it would be.
"We'll see. This duel won't go as you expect."
With that, as the emotional gap between the two women deepened even further, the duel soon began.