Chapter 87
Six Dragons and Three Phoenixes.
This was the term used to describe the most outstanding young talents in the current Orthodox Martial World. Some declared that they would lead the Orthodox Martial World in the future.
Each of them had diverse personalities.
The Heavenly Dragon of the Namgung Clan was a true gentleman, while the Mad Dragon of the Peng Family was gentle yet fiercer than anyone else.
The Poison Dragon of the Tang Family had the warmest heart, and the Strong Dragon of the Hwangbo Clan was magnanimous.
The Martial Dragon of Shaolin quietly honed himself, and the Hidden Dragon of the Jegal Clan calmly observed the world.
The Three Phoenixes, known as the world's beauties, were also considered capable of leading the future Orthodox Martial World alongside the Six Dragons.
They were truly worthy of being called the world's greatest talents.
And now, three of them had just arrived in Hebei.
"We've arrived."
"That was quicker than I thought."
"It's been so long since we've visited the Peng Family. How many years has it been?"
"Indeed. Maybe five years?"
"Wasn't it longer than that?"
"Is that so? I can't quite remember."
"Ha. But it's been at least five years, right? Time really flies."
"Oh? Someone's standing over there."
As they arrived at the Peng Family compound, two men were chatting away.
Meanwhile, a woman with sharp eyes remained silent, her face showing clear displeasure.
But no one paid her any mind.
It was normal for her to always wear a frown.
They were used to it by now.
"Welcome, everyone."
A man from the Peng Family came out to greet the arriving group.
It was Peng Seo-jin, wearing a gentle smile.
"Well, well. To think the Young Master of the Peng Family would come out to greet us personally. I'm deeply moved."
"Why don't you stop teasing? Someone might think you're not a Young Master yourself."
"I'm not teasing, I'm being sincere. Isn't the Hebei Peng Family's status higher than our Hwangbo Clan these days?"
"Ahem. Cheonwoo, you really do take after the Hwangbo Clan Leader's playful nature."
"Apologize. That's too great an insult to me."
"Hey, hey. That's enough. Seo-jin, I've told you many times. Don't take this Cheonwoo fellow seriously."
Tang Mujun smiled at Peng Seo-jin.
"It's been a while. I've heard about the Sichuan Tang Family. You've had a lot going on."
"It feels a bit odd to say we've been busy in front of you. The Peng Family has gone through so many hardships recently. Though there have been good things too, of course."
"That's true. Haha. But we're still alive, so that's what matters."
As always, it was hard to imagine this man as the Mad Dragon when seeing him like this.
"Well then, shall we go inside?"
They soon headed to the Family Head's room.
It was only natural to pay respects to Peng Mugang, the Family Head, when visiting the Hebei Peng Family.
"Greetings, Family Head."
"Oh. You've come. Good. You all look well."
Peng Mugang welcomed them with an unusually warm expression.
They were all around the same age as Peng Seo-jin.
Peng Mugang felt especially glad to see them, having watched them grow up from time to time since they were children.
"Well then. I hope you have an enjoyable time here."
"Yes, Family Head."
As they came out of the Family Head's room, Peng Seo-yeon was waiting for them.
"My goodness, it's been so long!"
Tang Mujun and Hwangbo Cheonwoo approached her with delighted faces.
"Have you all been well?"
"We've been fine. How have you been?"
"I've been well too. But let's not stand around here. Come in. I've prepared food and drinks. You must be hungry?"
"As expected. You know us well. We're starving after coming all this way."
"How can you complain about hunger when it's not that far from Beijing to here? Especially when you bought and ate so much food along the way."
"If we're not sitting down properly for a meal, it doesn't count as eating."
"What kind of logic is that?"
"That's how everyone in our Hwangbo Clan thinks."
"Right, right. There's no end to this conversation with you. Anyway, let's go in."
With that, they were all led into a room where food had been prepared.
Hahaha!
Soon, joyful laughter echoed from the room.
"I'm telling you, if you knew what I've been through because of my father's pranks, you'd be shocked."
"You're just as bad as your father when it comes to pranks."
"Why are you hitting my father's cheek?"
"No, if you take my words that way, what does that make me?"
The conversation between Tang Mujun and Hwangbo Cheonwoo was amusing just to listen to.
In the midst of enjoying this rare time with friends, Hwangbo Cheonwoo took a sip of alcohol and said with a pleased smile:
"Now that you're back, Seo-yeon, the next time we all gather, it'll finally be all Six Dragons and Four Phoenixes together. It's been so long. Haha. The others will be delighted too."
Peng Seo-yeon smiled gently at Hwangbo Cheonwoo's words.
She was grateful for the sentiment.
But then,
"Six Dragons and Four Phoenixes? That's ancient history. And do you really think that makes sense? How dare you?"
The woman who had been frowning silently until now spoke in a mocking tone.
She was Danmok Hwaryeon, one of the Three Phoenixes.
She was very displeased with their visit to the Hebei Peng Family.
She couldn't understand why they had to come all this way to meet Peng Seo-yeon.
Everyone's attention turned to her.
The atmosphere suddenly turned cold.
Danmok Hwaryeon snorted and continued:
"Didn't she abandon her family and everything else and leave? And yet the Peng Family just welcomes her back as if nothing happened?"
"Hey, what are you saying?"
"Hwaryeon, you're going too far."
When Hwangbo Cheonwoo and Tang Mujun rebuked her, Danmok Hwaryeon became even more irritated.
Especially by Tang Mujun's words.
The truth was, she had feelings for Tang Mujun.
That's why she had insisted on coming along when Hwangbo Cheonwoo and Tang Mujun said they were heading to Beijing.
She had hoped to somehow get rid of Hwangbo Cheonwoo and spend some pleasant time with Tang Mujun, but their unexpected visit to the Peng Family had ruined all her plans.
Moreover, Danmok Hwaryeon deeply disliked Peng Seo-yeon.
At first, she was annoyed that Peng Seo-yeon excelled in everything.
Martial arts skills, popularity, even beauty.
It was the first time she had felt inferior.
She felt an inferiority complex towards Peng Seo-yeon that she had never experienced with the other Phoenixes.
And when she heard the news that Peng Seo-yeon had abandoned everything one day and disappeared with some scholar, she had laughed mockingly all day long.
Thinking how stupid one must be to do such a thing.
She thought Peng Seo-yeon wasn't even worth paying attention to anymore.
But now she had returned.
Shamelessly.
Danmok Hwaryeon wondered if Peng Seo-yeon had no sense of shame.
She had expected everyone to point fingers and laugh at her.
But why...!
Grind.
Why were they taking her side!
Danmok Hwaryeon was extremely displeased with the current situation.
"You."
Peng Seo-jin, who had been quietly observing the situation, spoke up.
He was no longer his usual self.
It was the face of the man known as the Mad Dragon.
Oh no.
Hwangbo Cheonwoo and Tang Mujun closed their eyes tightly.
The man who was scariest when angered had become furious.
It would be difficult to stop him now.
Meanwhile, Peng Seo-jin glared at Danmok Hwaryeon with ice-cold eyes.
"Do you realize that you've just insulted a member of the Peng Family while in the Peng Family's home?"
"W-What did I do wrong? I just stated the facts as they are..."
"Enough!"
Danmok Hwaryeon flinched at Peng Seo-jin's shout.
"I don't want to argue any further, so apologize. Apologize to my sister and the Peng Family right now, or I'll cut out your filthy tongue right here."
"What? Are you saying you'd do such a thing to me, a daughter of the Danmok Clan? Are you prepared for the consequences?"
"Kik! I see. No more words are needed then."
Peng Seo-jin stood up. He looked ready to draw his sword.
Although Tang Mujun and Hwangbo Cheonwoo thought Danmok Hwaryeon was completely in the wrong, they couldn't let Peng Seo-jin actually cut out her tongue.
For his sake, if nothing else.
So they prepared to stop him somehow.
But then,
Swish.
Peng Seo-yeon, who had been quietly observing the situation, stepped in to stop the enraged Peng Seo-jin.
Peng Seo-jin's gaze turned to Peng Seo-yeon.
She shook her head.
Don't do it.
"Sister. But."
The cold and terrifying face that befitted his title of Mad Dragon softened at his sister's intervention, returning to his original demeanor.
Soon, Peng Seo-yeon patted his hand as if to say it was alright.
It was an astonishing sight.
The Mad Dragon, known for rampaging until he calmed down once angered, had instantly settled at Peng Seo-yeon's single gesture.
Peng Seo-yeon's gaze then turned to Danmok Hwaryeon.
"You're right. Perhaps what you're saying is correct."
To others, her actions might have seemed foolish and stupid.
After all, she had thrown away all the love and privilege she had received since birth as if it were nothing.
And since that day, Peng Seo-yeon had lived in shabby houses she had never experienced before, shivering in cold rooms as she searched for a place to stay.
In cold winters, her hands would crack from doing laundry.
Makeup or dressing up was unimaginable.
It would be a lie to say it wasn't difficult.
But,
"I don't regret the time I spent. I was happy. Those days were just as fulfilling and good as the time you all spent."
The expression Peng Seo-yeon wore as she said those words was one that Tang Mujun and Hwangbo Cheonwoo had never seen before.
Somehow, just from that look alone, they could sense a little of what kind of feelings she had experienced.
Though not everything, of course.
For some reason, they found themselves thinking that Peng Seo-yeon was truly remarkable.
But Danmok Hwaryeon had no intention of backing down.
"Oh really? Then prove it."
"Prove it?"
"Yes! If you can even tie with me in a martial arts duel, I'll acknowledge you. Not right now, of course. How about in three days?"
Ha.
For a moment, everyone present let out a sigh.
Danmok Hwaryeon's suggestion was that absurd and unreasonable.
Danmok Hwaryeon had continuously trained in martial arts until this day and was still known as one of the Three Phoenixes.
On the other hand, Peng Seo-yeon had left the Peng Family and lived as an ordinary person for a while.
Even if she had practiced occasionally and not completely abandoned her skills, the depth of training during that period was different from Danmok Hwaryeon's.
"Sister. Ignore her. There's no need to accept such a ridiculous demand."
"That's right. Yeah, you really need to stop. Okay?"
"What do you mean stop! She said it herself! That the time she spent after abandoning the Peng Family was just as fulfilling as the time we spent! So I'm telling her to prove it! Whether the time she spent could possibly compare to ours! What? Are you scared? Afraid you can't prove it?"
What could be the reason?
Peng Seo-yeon couldn't understand why Danmok Hwaryeon was acting this way towards her.
She hadn't made any mistakes or done anything to warrant such resentment.
Then suddenly, she realized.
This was simply malice.
Danmok Hwaryeon just disliked Peng Seo-yeon.
So she decided.
"Fine. Alright. Let's do it. The duel."
She didn't want to avoid such malice, nor did she want to lose to it.