Chapter 92
Their steps were light as they headed to the Peng Family's dining hall.
Among them, the most boisterous was, as expected, Hwangbo Cheonwoo.
"Hah, I can finally eat the Peng Family's food without having to walk on eggshells!"
"What? You've been walking on eggshells this whole time?"
"Really?"
Hwangbo Cheonwoo's face scrunched into a deep frown. Seeing his expression, it felt like one could guess what he was about to say without even hearing it.
"Why do you think I went out for noodles this morning? It was all because of a certain someone who didn't want to eat the Peng Family's breakfast. She ate just fine before we came to the Peng Family, but then she suddenly declared she hated Beijing's food, so we only had noodles. The trouble I went through to cater to that selfish, high-and-mighty princess was no joke. I mean, I'm a high-and-mighty young master too, so why do I have to go to such length for her? Ah, it's making me feel wronged all over again."
"Pfft."
"One moment she wants to eat out, the next she doesn't want to eat this or that. Today she wants to eat light. But what if I want to eat heavy?"
As if seizing the perfect opportunity, Hwangbo Cheonwoo poured out all his recent sorrows without taking a breath, bringing smiles to the lips of the others.
Ah, except for Tang Mujun.
Tang Mujun, seemingly embarrassed by his friend, had already turned his head away.
"So, aside from the first day we arrived at the Peng Family, maybe I have eaten here once...? Twice?"
"Oh dear. How unfortunate."
"Right? I really like Beijing cuisine, and now I can finally eat to my heart's content."
"The Peng Family's chef is very skilled. Eat as much as you want."
"I'm going to eat a ton. You have no idea how long I've waited for this moment."
They were about halfway to the dining hall, with Hwangbo
Suddenly, Peng Seo-yeon clapped her hands together and asked.
"Ah! What time is it?"
"Hmm? Why?"
It was Peng Seo-jin who answered the question.
"Ah, it's about time for Yul-i to wake up."
"Yul-i...?"
Peng Seo-yeon then broke into a wide smile.
"You guys haven't met my daughter yet, have you? Want to eat with us?"
\*\*\*
"Wait, what...? Who is this cute and adorable child?"
The first thing Yul-i saw as she entered the dining hall holding her father Yeo Un-hwi's hand was a muscular man with excessively sparkling eyes.
Yul-i stared blankly up at the man, who was even bigger than the bear-like man from the White Wolf Unit.
*A quick glance at her mother standing beside the man showed a gentle smile, so he probably wasn't a bad man...*
While Yul-i was pondering the identity of the man before her, that large man, Hwangbo Cheonwoo, was beside himself with how cute she was the moment he saw her.
"Hey, is she really your daughter?"
"She's a cute child."
Hwangbo Cheonwoo kept looking back and forth between Yul-i and Peng Seo-yeon, and Tang Mujun also smiled warmly.
Tang Mujun's reaction wasn't as big, but he found Yul-i just as lovely. In fact, she seemed to be the cutest child he had ever seen.
However, he was more composed than Hwangbo Cheonwoo.
No, perhaps he was trying to be even more dignified because of how Hwangbo Cheonwoo was acting.
Tang Mujun absolutely did not want to hear people say that the two of them, who were always together, were a pair of loudmouths.
Peng Seo-jin tilted his head as he watched Hwangbo Cheonwoo's fuss.
"Did you always like children?"
"Well, I'm usually indifferent... but look at this! This child is something else entirely!"
"Something else? What on earth does that mean?"
Ignoring Peng Seo-jin's chiding, Hwangbo Cheonwoo squatted down to look at Yul-i.
He was so large that even when he squatted, Yul-i had to crane her neck way back to look up at him.
"Hello? Your name is Yul-i, right?"
"Yes! My name is Yeo So-yul."
"My, my. What a brave young lady!"
Hwangbo Cheonwoo slapped his forehead in admiration, then pointed to himself with a finger.
"Yul-i. Say 'uncle.' Uncle!"
"I can't!"
"Hmm? Why?!"
Hwangbo Cheonwoo's eyes went wide, not expecting to be refused.
And the answer that followed was something he truly never could have predicted.
"Mommy told me not to call just anyone 'uncle'!"
Instantly, everyone's gaze turned to Peng Seo-yeon.
*Wow, you've taught her well...*
Hwangbo Cheonwoo's face fell.
"I'm not just anyone, though! Yul-i! Uncle is your mommy's friend! So you can call me uncle."
At Hwangbo Cheonwoo's words, Yul-i looked at Peng Seo-yeon with a troubled expression.
Peng Seo-yeon chuckled and nodded, and Yul-i let out a deep sigh as if she had no choice, placing her hands on her hips.
"Sigh! Okay. Uncle! There, happy?"
"What?"
Hahaha!
Everyone in the dining hall burst into laughter.
Soon, Yul-i's talent show... no, Hwangbo Cheonwoo's talent show followed, and the precious scene of Yul-i seriously judging his performance unfolded.
Amidst the laughter, Peng Seo-jin quietly approached Yeo Un-hwi's side.
"Brother-in-law. If you had already made some arrangements, you should have told me beforehand. Do you know how much I worried?"
"Haha. Did you? I'll do that next time. Sorry, sorry."
Yeo Un-hwi gave an awkward laugh at Peng Seo-jin's small complaint.
From Peng Seo-jin's perspective, it might have looked like Yeo Un-hwi had made arrangements and was completely at ease, but that wasn't the case.
Worried about his wife, Yeo Un-hwi had also been at the dueling ground from the moment the duel began until it ended.
It was just that no one had noticed.
In the past.
After the incident where Peng Seo-yeon was poisoned, Yeo Un-hwi had made it a nightly routine to infuse qi into the bodies of Peng Seo-yeon and Yul-i.
This was partly to monitor their bodies in case such an incident happened again, but it was also to strengthen their bodies so they wouldn't fall victim to it even if it did.
The golden qi that Yeo Un-hwi infused would have a great effect just by circulating through their bodies.
Of course, Yul-i might not have noticed, but if he had overdone it, Peng Seo-yeon, who had learned martial arts, would have surely realized.
But Yeo Un-hwi had infused the qi and circulated it through her body little by little, so subtly that even she didn't notice.
And recently, he had finally completed a certain amount of circulation and was able to transform all the internal qi in her dantian into an extremely pure form.
Moreover, thanks to Yeo Un-hwi's qi repeatedly circulating within Peng Seo-yeon's body, the flow of her own qi had become smoother than ever before.
That was the reason Peng Seo-yeon had been able to win the duel against Danmok Hwaryeon with such tremendous momentum and power.
However, this result couldn't be attributed solely to Yeo Un-hwi.
No matter how much qi Yeo Un-hwi had infused into Peng Seo-yeon, it was a result that would not have been possible if Peng Seo-yeon had lacked the will to win.
So, in the end, it was a result born from everything aligning and harmonizing.
Thus, Yeo Un-hwi was confident that Peng Seo-yeon would win the duel.
But as is always the case with the hearts of those who care for someone, Yeo Un-hwi had come to watch in secret, his heart pounding because of that one-in-a-million possibility.
But the interesting thing was, it seemed he and Peng Seo-jin weren't the only ones worried about his wife.
Another figure, who seemed accustomed to concealing their presence, was also watching the duel.
He guessed it was probably his father-in-law's personal guard.
He had heard from Peng Seo-jin that this man was the most skilled in the Stealth Technique in the Peng Family.
Of course, he couldn't deceive Yeo Un-hwi's eyes.
In any case, Peng Seo-yeon might not have known it, but there were so many people worried about her.
Soon, the food arrived, and everyone gathered at the dining hall sat around a round table.
At Peng Seo-yeon's special request, a grand feast was laid out, featuring not only famous dishes from Beijing but also the favorite dishes of the Peng Family members.
"Come to think of it, I'm only properly introducing myself now. I am Tang Mujun."
Tang Mujun greeted Yeo Un-hwi, who was with Peng Seo-yeon in front of him.
From the day they arrived at the Peng Family until now, with the incident and the ensuing chaos, they hadn't even had a chance to properly introduce themselves.
"I am Hwangbo Cheonwoo."
"It is an honor to meet the men who will lead the Tang Family and the Hwangbo Clan. It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Yeo Un-hwi."
Yeo Un-hwi spoke with an uncharacteristic friendliness.
For his wife's friends, this much was not difficult.
"My, you flatter us. It's embarrassing. By the way, I heard you are the Commander of the White Wolf Unit."
The Peng Family's White Wolf Unit. And the Commander of the White Wolf Unit.
There was no way these two wouldn't know the stories about them, which were known not only to martial artists in Jungwon but also to the general public these days.
Yeo Un-hwi smiled gently in response to the looks of pure admiration from Tang Mujun and Hwangbo Cheonwoo, which held no sarcasm or ulterior motives.
"Yes. I was undeservedly entrusted with this position, and though I am lacking, I am trying my best to handle it well."
"Undeservedly? I believe the Patriarch had great foresight."
He had heard that Yeo Un-hwi had not yet properly learned martial arts.
That he had only just begun to learn the Peng Family's basic Blade Art.
But looking at the achievements of the White Wolf Unit after Yeo Un-hwi took charge, Tang Mujun's words certainly had a point.
Even if his martial arts skills were not high, it must have been possible because he had something that could lead the White Wolf Unit well.
Although those who learned martial arts tended to discriminate against people based on their level of skill, martial arts alone was not everything when it came to making people follow you.
As sincere compliments were exchanged, a bright smile soon appeared on Peng Seo-yeon's face as she watched her husband and friends.
A face of genuine happiness.
Perhaps this was the moment one of her wishes had come true.
Soon, the meal began in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
A peaceful time with no complaints or anything else.
The moment when five adults simultaneously placed side dishes on the rice bowl of Yul-i, who was still clumsy with her chopsticks, passed by as the only incident of note.
And the next day.
"We've been a great bother."
"Nonsense, come anytime. I'll be waiting."
"Don't even say that as a courtesy. This guy will really show up whenever he's bored."
"Hey, I thought you were being sincere."
Hwangbo Cheonwoo grumbled at Tang Mujun's experience-based comment.
"Well then, see you again."
With that final farewell, Hwangbo Cheonwoo and Tang Mujun left the Peng Family.
Peng Seo-yeon, Peng Seo-jin, and Yeo Un-hwi saw them off.
After walking for a long time, when the Peng Family was no longer in sight.
Tang Mujun suddenly tilted his head.
"But... the more I think about it, the stranger it is."
"What is?"
"I'm sure I've seen him somewhere before, but I just can't remember where. Where did I see him?"
"Who are you talking about?"
"Who else?"
"Huh?"
Realizing that Tang Mujun was talking about Yeo Un-hwi, Hwangbo Cheonwoo looked at him as if to ask what he was talking about.
"It must be a mistake. Where would you have run into him? He said he was living with Seo-yeon in the countryside, teaching writing the whole time."
"I suppose so?"
Now that he heard it, that made sense.
And so, Tang Mujun and Hwangbo Cheonwoo resumed their steps.
But he didn't know.
The fact that Yeo Un-hwi had been watching them leave with a mysterious smile on his face.