Chapter 20
"Make sure no unnecessary words leak out. Everyone, watch your mouths and don't leave your posts. Stay put. Especially today, don't cause any trouble whatsoever. That is, if you want to keep your bodies intact."
"Yes, sir!"
The Hebei Peng Family was in a state of emergency.
What could have happened to cause such turmoil in one of the Five Great Families of the martial world?
"Oh my, what's all this commotion about?"
A warrior who had just taken over guard duty at the Hebei Peng Family's gate asked as he took his post.
His fellow guard who was already there replied:
"Heh. Haven't you heard?"
"Heard what?"
"They say Young Lady Seo-yeon has returned."
"Huh? Who?"
The man tilted his head in confusion.
His colleague clicked his tongue and explained:
"Young Lady Seo-yeon. Paeng Seo-yeon. Our Family Head's daughter."
"What? That Seo-yeon?"
"That's right."
For a moment, the man recalled a pretty young woman with a lively demeanor.
He let out a disbelieving chuckle.
"Wasn't it ages ago that she ran off with some scholar? How could she suddenly return now? And with what nerve, knowing the Family Head's temper."
"Shh, lower your voice. What if someone hears you?"
His colleague looked around nervously, startled by how loud the man had spoken.
Getting caught talking about such things could lead to real trouble.
With bad luck, they might even go hungry for a while.
The Peng Family was known to treat its regular warriors quite well.
But there was one thing they were extremely strict about.
Namely, not speaking carelessly about the Family Head and his immediate family.
So whether sharing facts or opinions, one had to be extremely cautious.
Phew.
Fortunately, it seemed no one else was around.
Finally relaxing, his colleague spoke in a low voice:
"Anyway, I hear everyone's walking on eggshells now, keeping their heads down and holding their breath while watching the Family Head's mood. You know how sensitive he is about Young Lady Seo-yeon, right?"
"Of course I do. Who in the Peng Family doesn't know that? It's practically the Family Head's only sore spot."
"Exactly. Aish. I was planning to go for a drink after work, but that's all ruined now. Damn."
"On a day like this, one wrong move could spell big trouble. Be careful, be careful. I'd like to keep seeing you around for a long time."
The guards quickly fell silent as some Peng Family elders passed by.
Soon silence returned.
'Ah, so that's what this is all about.'
The guard who had just started his shift nodded in understanding.
'I wonder what's going to happen.'
His gaze turned towards the building where the reception room was located.
Imagining the Family Head's angry face given his fiery temper, the man involuntarily shuddered.
He was intimidating enough normally... ugh, that was a sight he didn't want to see even in his dreams.
He felt that today of all days, he absolutely had to watch his step.
For some reason, he already felt utterly exhausted.
"...Father."
The briefly warm atmosphere had completely vanished, replaced by a suffocating heaviness that filled the room.
This was due to the overwhelming pressure emanating from Peng Mugang, the master of the Peng Family, who had just entered.
From his appearance to his aura, he evoked the image of a great tiger straight out of legend.
Family Head Peng Mugang's gaze was fixed on his daughter Paeng Seo-yeon.
She was the daughter who had left the Hebei Peng Family of her own accord long ago, saying she hated it here.
Though much time had passed, her face hadn't changed much since then.
But looking closely, Paeng Seo-yeon's face and hands were rough and chapped in places.
This was only natural.
How could it compare to the days when she had received nothing but love and adoration in the Peng Family?
Moreover, the fine silk clothes she used to wear had been replaced by the kind of garments worn by village women.
Tsk tsk.
Peng Mugang's brow furrowed deeper and deeper as he looked his daughter up and down.
The more he thought about it, the more his anger rose.
She had once been his clever, beautiful daughter.
There was even a time when she was called one of the Six Dragons and Four Phoenixes, counted among the greatest talents in the entire martial world.
Peng Mugang was furious at his daughter's utterly foolish and stupid choice, and the state she was in now because of that choice.
His eyes growing even fiercer, he opened his mouth:
"Truly, you're quite a sight to behold."
Peng Mugang's first words made Paeng Seo-yeon freeze.
She hadn't expected warm words. But still...
"F-Father."
"You be quiet."
"...Yes."
At Peng Mugang's words, Peng Seo-jin had no choice but to step back.
Right now, trying to intervene might only further provoke his anger.
So he too could only watch the situation with an incredibly troubled expression.
Peng Mugang clicked his tongue and continued:
"How pathetic. You threw away everything you had, living without want, and left as you pleased. And this is how you've been living?"
Peng Mugang felt he would never understand his daughter, not then, not now, not ever.
"And yet you have the gall to return like this? In that state?"
"...What's wrong with my state?"
"What?"
"I asked what's wrong with my state."
Paeng Seo-yeon, who had raised her head at some point, looked straight at Peng Mugang.
Her father was still terrifying.
However, Paeng Seo-yeon could no longer silently listen to her father's words that seemed to deny everything she had cherished and protected until now.
So she stepped forward.
The woman who had been trembling in fear until just before meeting Peng Mugang was no longer there.
Though she stood there in the shabby appearance of a village woman, she was Paeng Seo-yeon, once one of the Six Dragons and Four Phoenixes, and the daughter who was thought to resemble Peng Mugang more than anyone.
"I left this place and started everything anew where no one knew me. Though there were many difficult and trying moments. But I was truly happy in every one of those moments. For the first time, it felt like I was living my own life, not one forced on me by someone else."
"Seo-yeon."
The atmosphere had turned savage.
Dan Hee-young called out to Paeng Seo-yeon with an anxious expression, seeing her suddenly confront her father.
"And yet, Father, you judge my entire life solely by the clothes I'm wearing now and my appearance?"
"How dare you act like you've done something right!"
"Dear."
This time Dan Hee-young tried to stop her husband.
But it was no use.
"Do you have any idea how much of a laughingstock our Peng Family became because of you? Do you know how many people were harmed by your petty, foolish love affair?"
Once they started, the sharp words from Peng Mugang's mouth continued to pierce Paeng Seo-yeon's heart like daggers.
"Fine then, let me ask you this. After tarnishing the family name and leaving so abruptly, why have you come back now? What nerve do you have to show your face here!"
"Dear, please stop. You're too worked up right now."
"You stay out of this! Now speak. What's your reason for coming back? Is it money? Fine, if that's what you want, I'll give it to you. But once you take the money, never show your face to me again..."
Just as the situation was about to reach its boiling point,
"DEAR!"
A voice so loud it made ears ring.
Startled by that voice, Peng Mugang, who had been spewing every harsh word he could think of, turned to look at his wife with a shocked expression.
"W-What is it?"
Peng Mugang's face showed considerable bewilderment.
Dan Hee-young, who always maintained a gentle smile, was glaring at him with fierce eyes.
"Dear! Why are you saying such cruel things to the child when you don't mean them?"
"Who says I don't mean..."
"Enough!"
Dan Hee-young smacked Peng Mugang's tree trunk-like arm.
"Won't you stop?"
"...But still."
"Tsk."
"I mean, I'm just being honest. Should I tell you frankly? After Yeon disappeared like that, for half a year you couldn't sleep properly, and you'd often go to Yeon's room and just stand there blankly, tears streaming down..."
"Ahem!"
Peng Mugang's face turned bright red as he coughed awkwardly.
"What nonsense are you saying! When did I ever do such a thing! You must have seen things, hallucinations!"
"Hallucinations my foot!"
"Haha. ...Alright, that's enough, you two."
Unable to watch any longer, Great Young Master Peng Seo-jin awkwardly stepped in to mediate.
Muttering quietly, 'It's embarrassing.'
That's right.
This was a fact known to everyone in the Hebei Peng Family. An open secret.
Namely, that the Absolute Master of Hebei, the Crouching Tiger of Hebei known for his unparalleled dignity, was in fact the ultimate henpecked husband.
The man who was incredibly cold and overwhelmingly intimidating as a martial artist became as meek as a lamb before Dan Hee-young.
In the end, thoroughly scolded by his wife, Peng Mugang stopped his barrage of harsh words and pressed his lips tightly shut.
But that didn't mean the atmosphere that had reached its peak suddenly improved.
Neither Peng Mugang nor Paeng Seo-yeon spoke any further.
An awkward atmosphere settled in.
Unable to bear it any longer, Dan Hee-young stepped in again.
"Dear, why don't you hold your granddaughter instead of acting like this?"
"...Hmm? What do you mean, granddaughter?"
Peng Mugang looked at his wife with a puzzled expression.
Just then,
"Yul-a! This is Grandfather. Grandfather."
Peng Seo-jin had somehow picked up Yul and held her out in front of Peng Mugang's eyes.
Yul tilted her head and looked at Peng Mugang's large face with curiosity.
"Huh? Grandfather?"
Boom.
In that moment, Peng Mugang's eyes grew impossibly wide.
He stared at Yul with a dazed expression.
And he thought:
'What is this? This small, adorable little creature?'
Peng Mugang, the Hegemon of Hebei, a supreme master who ruled the martial world, with an intimidating presence like a fierce, giant tiger taking human form.
This was the moment such a man became utterly smitten with his granddaughter.