Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: The Mocking Snort
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Peng Cheonwi's brow furrowed ever so slightly.
'Sword Pavilion's prodigy is traveling with the Nangong family?'
Why?
He couldn't help but have questions.
The Sword Pavilion he knew had as its greatest goal in entering the jianghu a journey of martial exchanges.
They traveled to exchange techniques with countless sects and masters, honing their swordsmanship even further.
The Sword Pavilion sought out only the famed experts and outstanding disciples of great sects of every era.
Since martial exchanges were their main purpose, they severely limited all other external activities.
Thus, it was obvious that So Hye-yeon's traveling with the Nangong family bunch meant there was some expert among them who had caught her interest.
In other words, So Hye-yeon had come to the Hebei Peng family because the Nangong family had come here, not to celebrate his daughter's birthday.
Peng Cheonwi's gaze swept over the Nangong family group once more before halting.
Something strange(?) entered his sight.
The figure was round-bodied in a way that made one wonder how he'd even dressed himself, his face all scrunched up in annoyance.
The boy had his mouth half-open as if drool might spill out at any moment, yet his eyes were fixed repeatedly on the table.
He was muttering something under his breath, too quiet to make out.
His posture was crooked, as if uncomfortable, his face sallow. He was also a full handspan shorter than the others.
'Even the scholars of Hebei Province aren't that scrawny.'
The boy even seemed somehow lacking.
'......Well, it can't be that one.'
Peng Cheonwi shifted his gaze to Nangong Ryong.
Majestic.
His upright demeanor and calm aura were like gazing upon a single sharp famed sword.
The aura, more refined than when he'd last seen him, and the deepened gaze within, were enough to draw even Peng Cheonwi's admiration.
'As they say, even rotten is still a bluefin.'
This was why families with tradition held such terrifying potential.
Even from a declining Nangong family, a talent like Nangong Ryong had emerged.
Naturally, the Young Sword Marquess's reason for accompanying them must be Nangong Ryong.
'Well, a Sword Pavilion prodigy would have that kind of eye for talent!'
But in the end, hadn't So Hye-yeon come to the Hebei Peng family?
Then they had only to welcome Sword Pavilion's prodigy as their guest.
Hmmm. Peng Cheonwi let out a low breath and chuckled lightly.
Laughter escaped his lips, but his eyes remained sunken.
"Haha! It seems Sword Pavilion's prodigy has found someone of interest."
"......"
"Since you've come to our main house, would you perhaps grace our child with a lesson or two?"
A troubled light flickered in So Hye-yeon's eyes.
Her gaze lingered briefly on Peng Jung-hyeok, the young family head seated beside Peng Cheonwi.
Sensing her look, Peng Jung-hyeok smiled faintly and spoke.
"I've heard Sword Pavilion's swordsmanship is unparalleled. However, our family's blade arts are no less. The blade arts that once matched evenly with that Divine Demon are precisely the Peng family's......"
"Pfft."
......Huh?
Hadn't there just been a snickering sound?
'No way.'
A hint of smile faded from Peng Jung-hyeok's face.
His gaze moved toward the source of the sound.
Past Nangong Ryong, it landed on Nangong Hyeok, who stood awkwardly beside him.
Nangong Hyeok pursed his lips and turned his eyes back to the roast goose.
Peng Jung-hyeok fixed his gaze and continued.
"The Peng family's blade arts that fought the Divine Demon who turned the world upside down would be more than worthy to exchange with Sword Pavilion's swords......"
"Snrk."
"......"
At the twisted sound again, Peng Jung-hyeok's brow furrowed as he glared at Nangong Hyeok.
The eyes of everyone present turned to him.
"Ahem!"
Nangong Hyeok glanced around furtively before bowing his head further.
But he couldn't hide his shaking shoulders.
'Is that retard-looking bastard mocking me?'
Some nobody whose identity he didn't even know was holding back laughter every time he spoke, and it made his teeth grind.
Geum Cheomsang, who had been glancing around nervously, tugged lightly at Nangong Hyeok's sleeve and gritted his own teeth.
'Why are you suddenly laughing!'
Nangong Hyeok glanced at Geum Cheomsang and tightened his lips.
'Fuck, what can I do when it's funny?'
The Divine Demon—that was him, wasn't it?
He'd once been called the Lone Tyrant, but now his name echoed through the world as the Divine Demon.
And these Peng family bastards claimed to have matched evenly with him?
Evenly matched my ass—more like getting their horns blown off.
'What was that Blade King's name again? Peng, Peng...... what was it?'
He couldn't even remember.
That was the extent of the Blade King in Nangong Hyeok's memory.
Not even worth remembering.
'The Sword King would beat the Blade King to dust whenever he got pissed, and especially after I annoyed him.'
Not only did the Sword King hold higher seniority, but the gap in skill was even greater than that.
Even that Sword King couldn't stand tall before him, and these Peng family blade arts were what now?
'Fuck off with your fabrications, you bastards.'
If you're gonna lie, at least make it believable.
Seventy years ago, and they just mash everything together and blow it up?
Nangong Hyeok clicked his tongue and shook his head.
Peng Jung-hyeok's caterpillar-like eyebrows twitched as he glared at Nangong Hyeok.
"You there, from earlier......"
Nangong Hyeok pretended not to hear.
Peng Jung-hyeok clenched his jaw and squeezed out his voice.
"What's so damn funny?"
Nangong Hyeok looked around blankly before turning to Peng Jung-hyeok.
Me?
That was the look on his face.
His innocent act, as if he knew nothing, only scraped at Peng Jung-hyeok's nerves more.
Nangong Hyeok smirked.
"Just."
It was a fairly short reply, but for Nangong Hyeok, this was him going out of his way.
'Hah, having to use polite speech on a blood clot like that. Ridiculous.'
But Peng Jung-hyeok clearly didn't see it that way.
"......Just?"
Peng Jung-hyeok's eyebrows arched.
"That laugh seems to have intent behind it—is that my misunderstanding?"
"It's just that what I heard differs a bit......"
Peng Jung-hyeok's face hardened.
"How does it differ?"
"Just, you know."
At Nangong Hyeok's bored attitude, Peng Jung-hyeok's face stiffened further.
A low shadow fell over Peng Jung-hyeok's eyes.
"You think I'm lying?"
"It's not a lie, sure. Yeah. Rumors get distorted, exaggerated, your thing becomes mine, mine becomes yours—that's how they work."
"So in the end, you're saying I'm lying right now!"
Peng Jung-hyeok ground his teeth and glared at Nangong Hyeok.
Nangong Hyeok grinned and said.
"The entire force of the Orthodox Alliance got diced up by one Divine Demon, and you're saying one sect's martial arts matched evenly? That's what's funny."
Peng Jung-hyeok's face turned not just red but ready to explode.
As people watched Peng Jung-hyeok with bated breath, a voice cut through the tension.
"Hahaha, an amusing tale."
All eyes turned to Peng Cheonwi, who had spoken.
"Such things are mere old stories, no need to bring them up here and sour the mood. We can discuss them separately another time."
Peng Cheonwi gave Peng Jung-hyeok a look.
Peng Jung-hyeok smacked his lips, glared at Nangong Hyeok one last time, and stepped back.
As he retreated, Peng Cheonwi smoothly turned to Nangong Ryong, as if excluding Nangong Hyeok from the conversation entirely.
"Long time no see. You've deepened your realm in the meantime."
"......Thank you."
Nangong Ryong replied slowly.
To others, it might seem frustratingly sluggish, but to Nangong Hyeok's ears, it was astonishingly quick.
'Oh, fast. If he always talked at this speed, it'd be refreshing!'
So he can do it if he tries?
As Nangong Hyeok thought that, Peng Cheonwi's voice came again.
"Is the family head well?"
"Yes."
"Hoho! As expected, deep-thinking and solemn. That's how a man should be."
Peng Cheonwi laughed heartily, praising Nangong Ryong, then casually shifted his gaze.
"But I know you well, Ryong, yet that boy beside you seems new to me."
Peng Cheonwi looked at Nangong Hyeok with a subtle expression, then his eyes widened.
"Hm! Could you be the third son I've only heard rumors of?"
Nangong Hyeok, who had been chuckling beside him, blinked.
Huh?
Third son?
Ah, right.
He kept forgetting, but there was a third son.
Nangong Hyeok, who had been eyeing the Beijing duck and swallowing hard, lifted his head.
Nangong Ryong slowly shook his head and said.
"......Second son."
"Huh? Second?"
The Nangong family's second son......
"I've heard the second is quite ill, but it seems he's fully recovered?"
"Not completely."
A glint lit Peng Cheonwi's eyes.
Not completely?
The corner of his mouth curved softly.
"Well then, make yourself at home as if it were your own house. We'll hold a small banquet before Hwa-a's birthday, so be sure to attend."
"......"
"Then enjoy your meal. Young Sword Marquess, a pleasure. We'll arrange another meeting."
Peng Cheonwi wrapped up and exited.
Peng Jung-hyeok, who had been glaring at the group in the annex, followed after Peng Cheonwi.
The moment the two left, the remaining people exhaled in unison, tension released.
Except for Nangong Hyeok.
Seeing his nonchalant face, Geum Cheomsang fussed.
"Sir! How could you provoke them like that!"
"Provoke how?"
"This is the Peng family! The Peng family! Even if not the young master, with the family head present......"
"You told me before to give it to them straight."
"Th-that was to those escorts......"
"Enough. Do I need permission to speak truth?"
And what? Provoke?
Back in the day, he'd have lopped off that bastard's head first.
Want to see provocation?
Reading his murderous glare, Geum Cheomsang coughed dryly and averted his eyes.
Nangong Hyeok turned his head slightly to look at the door where Peng Cheonwi and Peng Jung-hyeok had left.
'Look at these guys.'
Nangong Hyeok curled the corner of his mouth slightly.
He had a feeling even the Peng family wouldn't have it easy.
* * *
Exiting the annex, Peng Jung-hyeok breathed heavily, unable to contain his rage.
Managing his expression after the humiliation inside was no easy task.
The snickers and mockery from that newcomer—Nangong Hyeok or whatever—lingered in his mind.
"I just can't understand it."
At his furious voice, Peng Cheonwi turned.
"Understand what?"
"Why these declining warrior family bastards strut around so ignorantly. Do they not know where they are?"
"......"
"Especially that Nangong Hyeok or whoever......"
Peng Jung-hyeok spoke but clamped his mouth shut.
Peng Cheonwi was staring at him with an emotionless face.
Though muddy discomfort churned inside like he'd swallowed sludge, he couldn't act rashly before that expression.
Peng Cheonwi spoke in a low voice.
"Even ruins of great wealth last three years."
"......"
"Even if the Nangong family's momentum has waned, it's still the Nangong family. Can't you see it even from Nangong Ryong?"
Peng Cheonwi's voice grew solemn.
"We've only just surpassed the Nangong family after generations. If you're truly to inherit the Peng family, you must know their terror."
No one could be certain of a traditional warrior family's potential.
Especially one like the Nangong family, which had stood at the pinnacle of the jianghu for centuries.
Though diminished now, the Nangong family's latent power couldn't be ignored.
"Nothing is more foolish than underestimating an opponent."
"......My apologies."
As Peng Jung-hyeok bowed his head, Peng Cheonwi's eyes sharpened.
"......But that's precisely why we must crush them properly."
"Yes?"
Instead of answering Peng Jung-hyeok's question, Peng Cheonwi said something else.
"They've entered our main house, so a welcome banquet is in order."
"Ah, then the banquet you mentioned earlier?"
Peng Cheonwi twisted the corner of his mouth lightly.
"I've set the stage. Soon, you'll prove your worth, won't you?"
A smile similar to Peng Cheonwi's formed on Peng Jung-hyeok's face.
"Yes, Father."
"Good."
Peng Cheonwi patted Peng Jung-hyeok's shoulder lightly and resumed walking.
'Nangong family, huh......'
Rotten dead trees still stubbornly upright.
But that wouldn't last long.
'The world's greatest family shall be this Peng family.'