Chapter 91
It was an unfamiliar cold voice he had never heard before.
"Go ahead. I'll see you later."
"Huh? What are you..."
"And."
Swish.
Tang Mujun looked down at Danmok Hwaryeon.
Seeing his expression, Danmok Hwaryeon unconsciously shrank back.
"From now on, I hope you'll at least maintain basic courtesy. Today... No, since you came to the Peng Family, I think you've crossed the line far too many times."
"W-well... that's not what I..."
Danmok Hwaryeon's lips trembled.
It was a first. Receiving such a gaze from Tang Mujun.
Because he had always been gentle, Danmok Hwaryeon couldn't help but be flustered.
She tried to make excuses or say something, but shocked into silence, Danmok Hwaryeon couldn't utter a word.
'This... all of this it's because of you.'
Danmok Hwaryeon glared fiercely at Peng Seo-yeon, not even considering her own actions.
Everyone watching her exhaled in disbelief at Danmok Hwaryeon's fierce gaze directed straight at Peng Seo-yeon.
But seemingly oblivious to others' reactions, Danmok Hwaryeon gritted her teeth.
"Just you wait. I'll... I'll definitely make you regret this."
"As I said before, that won't happen in the future either. So don't waste your energy."
Peng Seo-yeon smiled faintly.
It was a smile that seemed to say she no longer cared about someone like her at all.
The Peng Seo-yeon who had been worried and afraid of losing today's duel was no longer there.
Standing there was the woman that Danmok Hwaryeon could never surpass no matter how hard she tried, just like long ago.
Peng Seo-yeon felt like she had regained her old self after this one duel with Danmok Hwaryeon.
Seeing this, Danmok Hwaryeon bit her lip until it bled.
She glared at Peng Seo-yeon, then left the place.
She had come as three but was leaving alone.
It was truly a miserable and pathetic sight.
Watching Danmok Hwaryeon's retreating figure as she disappeared without apologizing, Hwangbo Cheonwoo clicked his tongue.
"Tsk tsk, what can be done about that foul personality. The head of the Danmok Clan must have a lot to worry about."
Tang Mujun chuckled at Hwangbo Cheonwoo's words.
Honestly, if it was about worries, he thought the head of the Hwangbo Clan probably had no less.
Anyway, the result of today's duel was clearly an outcome they hadn't predicted.
It was a pleasant result, but still.
Finally catching his breath and stretching with a groan, Hwangbo Cheonwoo grinned and said,
"It must be quite a shock?"
"I'm sure it is. It was an unexpected result for everyone."
When this news spreads, Danmok Hwaryeon will likely become a laughingstock.
To have suffered such a perfect defeat in a duel that she herself had instigated and demanded.
And,
"Whew, such power."
Hwangbo Cheonwoo, who had strode over to where Peng Seo-yeon was standing, marveled at the completely shattered ground of the dueling area.
Tang Mujun felt the same way.
Then their gazes turned to Peng Seo-yeon.
Though she had responded firmly and strongly to Danmok Hwaryeon, she still seemed unable to fully grasp the result of today's duel.
"Wow. That was really amazing, you know?"
"Huh?"
"Are you sure you really took a long break from training? You're lying, right? Did you secretly go into seclusion to train martial arts without telling us?"
"That's what I'm saying."
"Come on, I was just lucky."
"Since when has luck become something so terrifyingly visible to the eye? Huh? Tell me too. Let me become the Zenith with that luck."
"What would you do if you became the Zenith?"
"I'd make my father stop teasing me."
"How modest you are."
"But I don't think your father would stop teasing you even if you became the Zenith."
"Eh?"
"I think so too."
After all, among the people they knew, Hwangbo Cheonwoo's father was the one who loved joking around the most.
Hwangbo Cheonwoo blinked at Peng Seo-yeon and Tang Mujun's words, sighed for a moment, then shrugged his shoulders and laughed.
"Anyway, you really did well. To win this. It's amazing! Hahah!"
At Hwangbo Cheonwoo's words, Tang Mujun also nodded at Peng Seo-yeon, as if sharing the same thought.
"Thank you."
Peng Seo-yeon smiled gently at the two's congratulations.
Then Hwangbo Cheonwoo bowed his head and apologized.
"Hey, and I'm sorry! I suggested we come visit, and it led to all this."
Hwangbo Cheonwoo was apologizing for being the one who first suggested visiting Peng Seo-yeon since they were near the Peng Family while in Beijing.
At his words, Peng Seo-yeon startled and waved both hands.
"No, don't think that way. How is this your fault? But, more importantly, don't you need to go after her?"
"Who? Oh, her? Ah, leave her be. I'm sick and tired of someone like that now."
Hwangbo Cheonwoo jumped up, making a show of disgust.
Though he didn't say it out loud, Tang Mujun beside him seemed to share the same sentiment.
He too had been putting up with Danmok Hwaryeon's tantrums thinking it was better to let things be, but he no longer wanted to do so.
Her actions since coming to the Peng Family had truly been the worst.
"Anyway, let's forget about it now."
"Forget? Who?"
At that moment, Peng Seo-jin, who had been silent until now, opened his mouth at Hwangbo Cheonwoo's words.
"Come on, what more can we do here... Whoa."
"Be quiet, muscle-head."
"Yes, sir."
The reason Hwangbo Cheonwoo nodded obediently despite Peng Seo-jin's harsh words was because Peng Seo-jin's eyes had a slightly crazed look.
That was exactly the fierce gaze of Peng Seo-jin when he entered combat mode, in other words, the man known as the Mad Dragon.
They were friends who knew each others, and they knew very well from childhood that it wasn't wise to talk back or provoke Peng Seo-jin when he had that look in his eyes.
"We absolutely can't let this slide. No. This is just the beginning."
Somehow, it was fortunate that his sister had won the duel.
Perhaps his brother-in-law had made some arrangements.
That's why he must have been unconcerned, expecting this outcome.
But even so, Peng Seo-jin had no intention of letting Danmok Hwaryeon's actions slide.
Even as she left, Danmok Hwaryeon had refused to apologize until the end, spouting all sorts of nonsense before departing.
Peng Seo-jin had no intention of letting her off the hook.
So what would he do?
First, Peng Seo-jin planned to formally protest this incident to the Danmok Clan.
For all to see. Spreading rumors far and wide.
Starting from Danmok Hwaryeon's rude behavior and words at the Peng Family, to how she instigated trouble and demanded a duel first, only to refuse to acknowledge her defeat in a fair match and throw a tantrum until the end.
Everything!
It was such a sensational story, unimaginable for one of the Three Phoenixes, that the rumors would spread quickly.
There would be no way for her to escape it.
Not only were Peng Family members present, but Tang Mujun and Hwangbo Cheonwoo had also witnessed everything clearly.
So Peng Seo-jin intended to make the Danmok Clan and Danmok Hwaryeon look utterly ridiculous because of this incident.
Especially Danmok Hwaryeon - he planned to make her unable to even raise her head for a long time.
'You've really done it now.'
Even before, he had always disliked how she constantly picked on Peng Seo-yeon.
But back then, she didn't dare to confront Peng Seo-yeon because her skills were untouchable. Now, thinking she could win, she immediately pounced to trample her.
Ha! She must have thought the Peng Family was easy to look down upon.
He intended to teach her exactly what happens when you mess with the Peng Family, using this opportunity.
Ah, she should have bowed her head and begged for forgiveness then!
He would make her regret it bitterly.
Does the world know?
That Peng Seo-jin was such a vindictive man.
"Hehe."
Just thinking about the humiliation Danmok Hwaryeon would suffer made Peng Seo-jin feel better, and he laughed sinisterly.
Peng Seo-yeon, along with Tang Mujun and Hwangbo Cheonwoo, looked at Peng Seo-jin and let out awkward laughs.
Anyway, he was clearly a man they didn't want to make an enemy of.
Just then,
*Grumble.*
Suddenly, a sound came from Hwangbo Cheonwoo's stomach.
"Oh my, how surprising."
"Ahaha! With the situation as it was, I haven't eaten properly, you see."
"What are you talking about? You ate two bowls of noodles this morning."
"But I didn't order anything else."
"You're really something, aren't you?"
"Actually, I haven't had a meal yet either."
"Is that so? Well then, shall we go get something to eat?"
"Sounds good."
"And tonight, let's shake off this ruined mood and enjoy some good food and drinks, shall we?"
The duel between Peng Seo-yeon and Danmok Hwaryeon ended with such an unexpected result.
And now it was time to fill their hungry stomachs.
"She... won?"
"Yes."
In the Peng Family Head's room.
Peng Mugang tilted his head and asked again upon hearing Jigeom's report.
"How?"
"Pardon?"
What did he mean, how?
Jigeom replied in an unusually flustered voice.
"Well, she won fair and square in the duel."
"So you're saying... Seo-yeon won fair and square? Tell me the story in detail."
"Well..."
Soon, Jigeom explained step by step exactly what he had seen.
From before the duel began, to how it progressed and ended.
"So you're saying Seo-yeon used the Iron Blood Star Plucking Blade to counter that Danmok Clan girl's Falling Star Twelve Swords and won?"
"Yes. Miss Seo-yeon's Iron Blood Star Plucking Blade was incredibly beautiful and excellent."
The Iron Blood Star Plucking Blade was quite different from other sword techniques of the Peng Family.
Compared to the other aggressive and practical sword techniques of the Peng Family, the Iron Blood Star Plucking Blade was mysterious, beautiful, and pursued swift strikes, making it surprisingly difficult to master to perfection.
Moreover, it was a technique that many didn't choose because its efficiency was lower compared to other techniques until one reached mastery.
But Peng Seo-yeon had particularly enjoyed learning the Iron Blood Star Plucking Blade since childhood.
He thought she had forgotten it all.
And to think she defeated Danmok's Falling Star Twelve Swords with that technique.
No matter how you look at it, considering the years of training, it should have been impossible to defeat the Danmok girl, so how...
Hmm.
Well, what does it matter?
His daughter won the duel, and that's what counts.
And against a child of the Danmok Clan, no less, one of the Six Dragons and Three Phoenixes.
Honestly, he had thought it would be fortunate if she didn't suffer a humiliating defeat, so Peng Mugang was equally surprised by this unexpected result.
Soon, a smile spread across his face.
"That girl. She really did inherit my talent after all."
Like all parents claim, Peng Mugang thought all the good parts took after him.
Of course, Dan Hee-young would never acknowledge such a thing.
Anyway, that day Peng Mugang laughed heartily all day, seeming to be in a good mood.