Chapter 137: Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors
Chapter 137: Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors
On the day Seonwoo Jung and Seonwoo Jin met again, Seonwoo Jung asked Seonwoo Jin with a puzzled expression.
"How can you drive them away?"
Seonwoo Jin grinned and answered.
"You know of Yan Ying's Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors from when I was in the Qi kingdom, don't you?"
Two Peaches Kill Three Warriors referred to the historical tale where Yan Ying, a renowned prime minister of the Qi kingdom whom even Confucius had expressed respect for, used two peaches to make three generals—who were so powerful in martial strength that no one could touch them—kill each other.
At that time, Yan Ying had given one peach each to only the two generals with the greatest achievements among the three, and the generals, boasting of their superior merits, all ended up dead.
Then Seonwoo Jung asked with a quizzical look.
"If you mean Yan Ying's tale, I know it well. But why bring that up now?"
At Seonwoo Jung's question, Seonwoo Jin smiled faintly and answered.
"I brought it up to say that you, Father, could also give them peaches. Since we conveniently have an observer from the Jegal family, if you toss them one peach, rather than pestering you for more peaches, wouldn't they fight to the death among themselves to eat the one they've already been given?"
Having furrowed his brow at Seonwoo Jin's words that sounded like a Zen riddle, Seonwoo Jung's expression began to brighten more and more as Seonwoo Jin explained in detail.
As he smiled and responded, Jegal Ji-yong's mind raced.
It was a different demeanor from the Seonwoo Jung he had known until now, who had always been courteous but gave off a feeling like knocking against a wall.
'What's going on? There seems to be a change in his state of mind...'
While Jegal Ji-yong was thinking that, Seonwoo Jung scolded his children with a stern face.
"Can you not see Jin-i, who has returned safely from the frontline? Why do you all have nothing to say?!"
At that, everyone's eyes turned toward a handsome young man sitting at one side of the table.
At the table, already laden with food, the four wives of Seonwoo Jung were also seated, and there at one side sat an unfamiliar-faced young man.
Having apparently already exchanged greetings with the wives, all of them wore awkward expressions.
Then the eyes of the Seonwoo brothers widened in shock upon discovering him.
"Uh, uh, y-you, are you really Jin-i?"
"You've lost so much weight I didn't recognize you. You truly have changed a great deal."
"Hy-hyung-nim, congratulations on returning safely."
Then Seonwoo Jin, who had been smiling good-naturedly as if simply overjoyed to be reunited with his family, ran over to them, grabbed their hands warmly, and cried out.
"Hyung-nims! Have you been well?! It truly is wonderful to see you again like this! Gi-ya! Have you been well?!"
At Seonwoo Jin's excessively overjoyed behavior, the brothers could not bring themselves to say anything and merely smiled awkwardly.
Then Seonwoo Jin turned his head again, looked at Seonwoo Yeon-ha, and cried out.
"Yeon-ha-ya! Have you been well?! Do you know how much your orabeoni missed you?!"
"Ah, y-yes. Orabeoni."
In truth, having spotted Seonwoo Jin the moment she entered the main hall, Seonwoo Yeon-ha had turned pale and could not meet his eyes.
Then, seeing her complexion, Seonwoo Jin asked again with concern.
"Yeon-ha-ya, your color is not good! Are you feeling unwell somewhere?!"
"Ah, no. I'm just a bit dizzy..."
At that moment, family head Seonwoo Jung, who had been quietly observing, spoke up in a stern voice.
"Now, honored guests are present—how long do you intend to keep them standing? Everyone, take your seats."
Once his words fell, everyone sat at the table where bountiful food was laid out.
As she took her seat, Jegal Seoyul scrutinized Seonwoo Jin carefully.
No matter how she looked at it, it was an astonishingly startling transformation.
That pig whose eyes couldn't even be seen because they were buried in flesh had transformed into such a handsome young master.
Basically, all the sons of the Seonwoo family were good-looking, but with looks like that, was he not even better—perhaps even better—than the fourth son, Seonwoo Gi, whom she had thought was the most handsome?
Of course, his frivolous behavior, which still seemed silly even after losing weight, was disappointing.
But even so, Jegal Seoyul somehow could not take her eyes off him.
'Why? Why is my attention drawn to him like this?'
Then Jegal Seoyul suddenly realized it.
It was that Seonwoo Jin had not once directed his gaze at her so far.
No, he had looked at her, but it was merely an indifferent glance of greeting, as if looking at a passing stranger.
And that was inevitably a feeling far too unfamiliar for her, who had always monopolized men's gazes.
At that moment, Seonwoo Jung smiled brightly and spoke.
"Now, today is an auspicious day on which we have confirmed that the third son Jin-i is faring well and safely on the frontline. Once Jin-i returns to the frontline, who knows when the whole family will be able to gather together again. That is why I arranged this gathering, so let us all enjoy the meal."
When his words ended, everyone began to eat.
But the atmosphere was by no means joyful.
Everyone was merely eating in silence with uncomfortable or awkward faces.
Except for one person.
"Woah! This is really delicious! This is food I couldn't even dream of on the frontline! Oh-oh! This one too?! Woaaaah! It tastes like honey!"
As if he couldn't feel the surrounding atmosphere at all, only Seonwoo Jin was excitedly shoveling food into his belly with gusto.
Watching that gluttonous display, even the family members who had been surprised upon seeing his slimmer figure looked at him with contemptuous eyes that said, 'Of course you'd act like that.'
It was then.
Seonwoo Jung, who had been gazing at Seonwoo Jin with an unreadable look, suddenly addressed Jegal Ji-yong.
"Does the Jegal family still hold our Seonwoo Thirteen Swords in high regard?"
Though he had said it indirectly, the meaning was still whether they coveted the sword art.
At the sensitive topic brought up during a family meal, Jegal Ji-yong smiled with effort and answered.
"Is it not an unchanging truth that the Seonwoo Thirteen Swords are the greatest illusion sword under heaven?"
Then Seonwoo Jung nodded briefly and spoke again.
"I thought long and pondered it, but it is absolutely impossible to thoughtlessly transmit the family's ultimate technique to an outsider."
That was what Seonwoo Jung had been saying all along.
But bringing up such a matter—one that was nothing new—on this occasion clearly meant there was something more.
Jegal Ji-yong's gaze sharpened.
Then, as expected, Seonwoo Jung began to speak of something somewhat different from before.
"But if we are one family, it would not be difficult. So how about doing this?"
"...What do you mean by how?"
"By having the successor who will become the family head of the Seonwoo family and Jegal Sojeo over there engage in a sparring match, and whichever clan wins, we send the loser to marry into the other's family. If our successor wins, Jegal Sojeo enters our household as our daughter-in-law, and if Jegal Sojeo wins, our successor enters the Jegal family as a matrilocal son-in-law."
At that, Jegal Seoyul's expression hardened rigidly.
Whatever the case, wasn't he saying that she would end up marrying one of the sons of the Seonwoo family?
It was an outrageous proposition.
So just as Jegal Seoyul, her face stiff, was about to say something, Jegal Ji-yong beside her gently dissuaded her.
Jegal Ji-yong's brain was currently spinning furiously.
First of all, the Seonwoo clan still had no successor.
But whoever became the successor, it was obvious that they could not be a match for Jegal Seoyul.
So while achieving victory would not be difficult, having Jegal Seoyul marry the Seonwoo clan's successor was an absurd notion. It did not seem like Seonwoo Jung would propose such an unreasonable demand in a place like this.
Jegal Ji-yong chuckled heartily and asked him.
"Whether winning or losing, if Seoyul becomes a daughter-in-law of the Seonwoo family regardless, then there is little fun in the match. The prize for winning must be great for the match to be entertaining."
Then Seonwoo Jung also nodded and said.
"Of course, that would be so. So I also think that, should the Seonwoo family's successor lose, then even if the marriage partner is not Jegal Sojeo over there but some other young lady, it cannot be helped."
At those words, Jegal Ji-yong's eyes flashed.
"You mean it does not matter even if it is a child other than Seoyul?"
"Is the important thing not that we become one family with the Jegal family? Having lost the match, I could never have the audacity to covet Jegal Sojeo as my daughter-in-law."
At those words, Jegal Seoyul's expression brightened quickly as well.
It was essentially a situation where she would win by default.
Didn't that mean if she won the duel and married a collateral line daughter to the Seonwoo clan successor, they could hand over the Seonwoo Thirteen Swords?
These were excessively favorable terms.
And at those excessively favorable terms, Jegal Ji-yong did not answer right away. He first held a sip of tea in his mouth.
He needed to understand why they had suddenly made such a decision.
After pausing for a moment, he opened his mouth again.
"For our part, it is naturally a proposal we would like to accept. However, I do find myself suddenly curious as to why you are making this offer."
At that, Seonwoo Jung smiled faintly and spoke.
"Is it not all for the sake of the family?"
Jegal Ji-yong was able to precisely capture the bitter emotion mixed into that smile.
And in that moment, he understood.
'Right now, the Seonwoo family is far too encroached upon by outside forces. Moreover, the talents of the sons who were to become successors were unimpressive. At this rate, after Seonwoo Jung, the Seonwoo family head, steps down, the decline of the Seonwoo clan would be as plain as watching a fire. He might have thought that becoming a vassal household of the Jegal clan and receiving support would be a far better choice.'
Having finished his calculations, Jegal Ji-yong smiled brightly and answered.
"This is not a matter I can answer carelessly, so I shall first seek permission from the family head. But for the sake of both families, I will do my utmost to ensure it comes to fruition."
"Hehehe! Thank you."
Jegal Ji-yong, having smiled with a satisfied expression, suddenly, as if just thinking of it, asked Seonwoo Jung.
"At any rate, doesn't the Seonwoo clan still lack a successor? Regarding this proposal you have given us, could it be that the family head is considering a successor...?"
At this, the eyes of everyone present in the hall flashed sharply.
In truth, all the wives and children had been focused on their conversation since earlier.
The marriage of the Seonwoo successor and the Jegal clan—it was far too sudden and momentous a matter.
Moreover, the sons' concentration was even more intense.
Didn't it mean that if things went well, they might marry their idol, Jegal Seoyul?
It was an opportunity they could never concede to another brother.
At that, Seonwoo Jung smiled and nodded.
At his affirmation, the eyes of everyone who had been fiercely waging a succession struggle beneath the surface were widening beyond all possibility.
"Yes, I have thought on it for a long time. But surely, the successor of a martial family must possess strong martial arts, must they not? I intend to designate the child with the strongest martial arts as the successor."
As those words ended, the eldest, Seonwoo Seong's expression brightened beyond measure.
Because when it came to the strongest martial arts, that was Seonwoo Seong himself, whatever anyone said.
It was just that his maternal faction, the Gaeyang Sect, was far weaker compared to the Ha clan of the second son Seonwoo Hyeok, one of the Guizhou Eight Families, or the Un clan of the fourth son backer and fifth birth mother of Seonwoo Gi, Seonwoo Yeon-ha, so he had been uneasy in truth.
But now, Father had finally decided to determine the successor purely by ability.
On top of that, an opportunity had arisen where he might possibly marry the Jegal Seoyul he adored—nothing could have been better.
At that moment, the family head Seonwoo Jung asked his sons with an indifferent expression.
"Who is it right now who possesses the highest martial arts?"
At this, Seonwoo Seong shot to his feet and answered.
"That is me, Father! I alone have entered the realm of first-rate! Moreover, I recently ascended to the mid first-rate realm!"
At his words, Seonwoo Jung smiled contentedly and praised him.
"Is that so? Seong seems to have put in much effort. Still, it will be fairly decided through a sparring match between brothers in a short while, so do not let your guard down and continue striving diligently."
"Yes! Understood!"
Now that Seonwoo Seong's expression was brighter than it could ever be, the expressions of the other brothers were in a very poor state.
Father's sudden bombshell declaration was far too fatal for them.
Seonwoo Seong had ascended to the mid first-rate realm—a difference the other brothers, who had not even surpassed the stage of sword energy manifestation, could scarcely dare to covet.
The wives were the same.
While the stout first wife was smiling radiantly, the second wife, with her fierce appearance, cautiously opened her mouth.
Normally, she would have screamed on the spot, but she could not show a discourteous sight before the people of the Jegal clan.
"Husband, even so, deciding the successor by martial arts alone is..."
At that, Seonwoo Jung rebuked her with a stern face.
"In the midst of preparing for a duel to become a single household with the Jegal clan, if we do not determine the successor by individual skill, do you mean for us to decide the successor by the power of maternal clans?!"
The second wife, Madam Ha, in her heart of hearts, naturally wanted to answer that they should.
But even she was not so shameless as to say such a thing before the people of the Jegal clan.
In the end, Madam Ha had no choice but to close her mouth.
And that was likewise the case for the fourth and fifth wives, who had been quietly pinning their hopes on Madam Ha.
Seonwoo Jung now spoke as if making a declaration with a stern expression.
"From now, two weeks hence, I shall determine the successor of the Seonwoo clan through a contest between brothers! And the successor so determined shall face off in a duel with Young Lady Jegal over there! This is the decision of I, Seonwoo Jung, head of the Seonwoo clan, and I hereby make it known that I shall accept no refutation thereafter!"
Jegal Seoyul, who had been watching the scene with an expression of absorbed interest, abruptly scanned the faces of those around her.
People smiling as bright as if they had won the whole world, people whose crumpled complexions were tinged the color of dirt. Just watching them was immensely entertaining.
But for Jegal Seoyul, who, for a member of the Jegal clan, did not particularly enjoy using her head, she could not clearly grasp exactly how this situation was unfolding.
Though it did seem like something entertaining was happening.
Abruptly, she asked her uncle Jegal Ji-yong via telepathic transmission.
- Uncle, is this a good thing for us as well?
An answer came right back.
It was a telepathic transmission with a very bright tone.
- It seems the Seonwoo family head has decided to use the Jegal clan as a line to tighten internal discipline. What harm could there be for us? You simply must not be careless and need only win the duel.
So that was how it was.
Then there was no problem whatsoever.
Wasn't winning duels what Jegal Seoyul liked best?
Against that Seonwoo Seong, who was boastfully prattling on about being a mere mid first-rate, there was not even a possibility of losing.
She, too, could now smile brightly.
Then she abruptly turned her gaze to one side.
It was the direction where Seonwoo Jin was sitting.
As if he had no interest in the situation unfolding around him, he was busily cramming food into his mouth.
It was such a pathetic sight, yet she could not understand why her gaze kept drifting his way.
It was then.
The family head Seonwoo Jung abruptly spoke to the eldest, Seonwoo Seong.
"And Seong, in a few days, let us visit the Dan Family Estate together."
At these words, Seonwoo Seong, who had been smiling brightly, asked with a puzzled face.
"Sorry? The Dan Family Estate, did you say? Why there...?"
The Dan Family Estate was the clan of Dan Ha-sang, whom the third younger brother Seonwoo Jin had killed while drunk in the past.
Back then, when Seonwoo Jin was sent to the frontline, they had sent much wealth to the Dan Family Estate as an apology, and now Father Seonwoo Jung was suddenly saying to go there.
At that, Seonwoo Jung glanced at Seonwoo Jin and spoke again.
"The place weighing most heavily on my mind is the Dan Family Estate. Now that Jin has returned safely, I thought it might be my duty as family head to pay respects there once more. Since Jin will not be able to visit that place himself, inevitably..."
At that, Seonwoo Seong grinned and immediately answered.
"Yes! Understood! I shall escort Father there and back!"
Normally, he would naturally have shown a disagreeable look and backed out with various excuses, but now that the phrase 'duty as family head' had come out, he could never avoid it.
All the more so, what meaning could it have that among all the sons, Father was taking only him?
Already, it was certainly recognition as the next family head.
Seonwoo Seong was now beginning to burn with zeal at having to visit the Dan Family Estate on behalf of his good-for-nothing younger brother.
But he was utterly failing to notice.
The eyes of the other family members, upon hearing that he would accompany the family head Seonwoo Jung alone to visit the Dan Family Estate, were glinting sharply.
And they, too, did not know.
That Seonwoo Jin, who had briefly looked crestfallen when the talk of the Dan Family Estate came up, then began shoveling food in again, was laughing inwardly as he observed their mood.
Seonwoo Jin thought to himself.
'Now, go kill each other.'