Chapter 123
Chapter 123
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: Unexpected Guests
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The young elites from various sects staying at the Hebei Peng Clan gathered inside Wind Soul Pavilion, where Peng Zhonghe resided.
They were the heirs of sects with some influence in Hebei Province.
The fine clothes they wore and the accessories adorning their bodies alone revealed just how wealthy and powerful their sects were.
However, even these juniors, who had been strutting in arrogantly, cupped their hands respectfully and bowed upon seeing Peng Zhonghe.
“We greet Young Master Peng.”
“It’s an honor to be invited like this, Young Master!”
“Thank you so much for arranging this gathering.”
“I’ll pass on your regards to my father. Haha.”
No matter how mighty their prestige in Hebei Province, it was nothing compared to the Hebei Peng Clan.
The Hebei Peng Clan was the undisputed leader among the Five Great Clans in the current martial world.
Even with the Tang Clan in Sichuan Province, they couldn’t compare to the Hebei Peng Clan, whose influence extended beyond Hebei into Liaoning and Shandong Provinces.
There was no real disagreement that the Hebei Peng Clan, at the peak of its power, held the top seat among the Five Great Clans.
Thus, everyone had no choice but to show deference to the young master of the Hebei Peng Clan.
Even as the sun set, the lanterns illuminating every direction made Wind Soul Pavilion as bright as midday.
Sumptuous food and wine were laid out in abundance, and lavish decorations filled the interior.
All who entered let out exclamations of admiration at the grandeur and wealth of the Hebei Peng Clan.
Peng Zhonghe greeted the arriving juniors with a bold smile on his lips.
“Come on in. Sorry for calling you all so suddenly.”
“Hahaha, if the Young Master calls, we’d come running even from our beds!”
“Pung-cheon, your flattery’s getting worse by the day!”
“I mean it sincerely.”
“Enough of that. Come and sit.”
“Yes, sir!”
Young Master Pung-cheon of the Heavenly Fortune Sect grinned broadly as he found his seat.
The eldest son of the Jinju Yan Clan, Yan Ha-gun, also attended the gathering.
The Jinju Yan Clan was a family said to rival the Five Great Clans.
Yan Ha-gun grinned at Peng Zhonghe.
“Brother Peng, what’s the occasion for summoning us all? We’ll see each other at Lady Yeon-hwa’s birthday banquet anyway.”
Peng Zhonghe, who had been tapping the table with his fingers while gazing at the entrance, turned his eyes.
He smiled softly and said,
“Isn’t it good to see faces more often?”
“Haha, what’s with the sappy talk between men? I’m here to see Lady Yeon-hwa’s face, myself.”
“What’s so great about that girl Yeon-hwa? Tsk tsk.”
“To list all her good points would take all night. Anyway, if things go well, the Yan Clan and Peng Clan could become family. Ahem!”
Peng Zhonghe sneered inwardly at Yan Ha-gun, who coughed awkwardly with a laugh.
As if the Yan Clan could ever.
But he kept a light smile on his face and replied,
“Yeah, give it your best shot. It wouldn’t be bad for me to have a brother-in-law like a blood brother.”
“Hahaha! Right? But winning Lady Yeon-hwa’s heart isn’t easy.”
“Is that girl Yeon-hwa like ordinary women? Just piling on jewelry and gems won’t even get a glance.”
“But usually, they love that stuff...”
“You’d have better luck giving her a fine sword.”
“Ah!”
Yan Ha-gun exclaimed and looked at Peng Zhonghe.
“Now that you mention it! A sword right away...”
“Not unless it’s made by a place like the Iron Divine Sect.”
“That’s too far away...”
Yan Ha-gun looked at Peng Zhonghe with a troubled face.
It was as if he were saying, *Help me out here.*
Peng Zhonghe picked up the teacup in front of him and let out a low hum.
“There is a good way.”
Yan Ha-gun’s eyes widened.
“What way? Tell me! Don’t keep me hanging...”
“The Nangong Clan juniors will be attending today’s gathering too.”
“What? That mute bastard?”
“‘Mute bastard’ is a bit crude.”
“That pretty-boy gigolo?”
“...Anyway, that’s not the point.”
Peng Zhonghe paused briefly before saying quietly,
“If you can put down the Nangong Clan’s junior attending today, wouldn’t Yeon-hwa take notice?”
“Nangong Ryong?”
“Think you can’t?”
“No, it’s not that I can’t...”
Peng Zhonghe clicked his tongue at Yan Ha-gun’s flinch.
“With such a faint heart, how do you expect to catch Yeon-hwa’s eye?”
“I didn’t say I couldn’t! It’s just there’ll be a lot of eyes on us. How should I put him down? Kill him or something?”
“I’ll handle that. No need for a formal spar to decide superiority.”
“Huh?”
“Wait and see.”
Peng Zhonghe lightly tapped the table.
The juniors, who had been chattering away, perked up their ears and looked at him.
Peng Zhonghe swept his gaze over the juniors, drawing their attention.
“The Nangong Clan juniors will be joining us today, so keep that in mind.”
At the mention of the Nangong Clan, the young masters from various sects showed discomfort.
“Hmm. They’re coming after all.”
Of course, it was true that the Nangong Clan’s momentum had waned recently, but it was still the Nangong Clan.
Having held the top seat among the Five Great Clans for ages, they weren’t something to be dismissed just because they’d stumbled a bit.
Moreover, the juniors who knew of the strained relations between the Hebei Peng Clan and Nangong Clan worried this gathering would turn extremely awkward.
Reading their thoughts, Peng Zhonghe smiled lightly.
“A declining house—what’s there to fear?”
“Even so...”
“Shouldn’t we teach them their place? This is the chance to put them firmly underfoot.”
As the juniors exchanged hesitant glances, Young Master Pung-cheon of the Heavenly Fortune Sect responded vigorously.
“Well said! If they don’t know their place and act up, they need a beating!”
Emboldened by Pung-cheon’s forceful tone, Yan Ha-gun stepped forward.
“Yes, brother! I’ve had it in for that guy anyway. I’ll put him in his place.”
“Haha.”
“When’s that punk showing up? Should I go drag him here?”
Yan Ha-gun growled, slamming his fist into his palm.
Peng Zhonghe waved him off.
“No need. I’ve already sent word, so he’ll be here soon.”
“When he arrives, I’ll give him a proper thrashing.”
“Got it. Just wait patiently, patiently.”
“Yes, sir!”
At Peng Zhonghe’s words, Yan Ha-gun sat back down quietly, eyes fierce.
The other juniors, led by Pung-cheon, nodded in agreement.
* * *
The juniors stared blankly at the doors of Wind Soul Pavilion.
Their rears were starting to go numb.
Over an hour had passed since he’d said they’d been summoned, yet not even a glimpse of the Nangong Clan juniors.
Yan Ha-gun glanced at Peng Zhonghe.
But Peng Zhonghe looked just as baffled, staring at the door.
“Uh, brother.”
Speaking for the group, he asked cautiously.
“...So, when are they coming?”
Seeing Peng Zhonghe’s face slowly twisting, Yan Ha-gun shut his mouth.
One side of Peng Zhonghe’s cheek began to tremble.
Grinding his teeth, he glared at a warrior from the Fierce Tiger Squad.
With a savage glare, he snarled,
“Did you summon them properly?!”
“Y-Yes, we did. We definitely summoned them properly...”
“Then why the hell aren’t they here?!”
“I-I’ll go check again!”
The Fierce Tiger Squad warrior bolted out.
The juniors licked their dry lips.
The moment Peng Zhonghe raised his voice, the atmosphere turned icy.
Pung-cheon, who had been watching carefully, suddenly shouted.
“Can you believe these guys? How long has it been since the Young Master summoned them?!”
“Y-Yeah! A clan on its last legs!”
“We can’t let this slide. Young Master, let us go get them. Who do they think this place is?!”
The juniors grew restless, veins bulging in their necks.
They acted as if it were a personal affront.
Just as everyone united to soothe Peng Zhonghe’s mood.
The firmly shut doors of Wind Soul Pavilion suddenly burst open with a force that seemed to shake the building.
Boom!
The juniors flinched at the thunderous crash echoing through Wind Soul Pavilion.
Those with veins bulging turned to look at the door.
Everyone staying at the Hebei Peng Clan knew that Young Master Peng Zhonghe of the Peng Clan was hosting a banquet here today.
So who the hell was opening the door like that?
The juniors, eager to see the face of whatever madman it was, couldn’t hide their shock.
*‘What’s with that face?’*
If not for the glint in his eyes, you’d swear there were holes in his pitch-black sockets.
His cheeks were sallow, lips cracked and peeling, and his clothes were caked in dirt for some reason.
*Who let a beggar into the Hebei Peng Clan?* But behind that beggar stood none other than Nangong Ryong.
Nangong Ryong’s face wasn’t much different from the weirdo in front.
The glow that used to radiate from it was gone, making him look almost human now?
Instead, his trembling legs looked pitiful.
One thing was clear: neither was dressed for a banquet.
“......”
“......”
The people stared at the two in stunned silence.
They should be angry, berate them...
But their faces made it impossible.
Even Peng Zhonghe just blinked in disbelief at Nangong Hyuk and Nangong Ryong.
Drag, drag, drag...
Nangong Ryong grabbed Nangong Hyuk’s sleeve from behind and dragged him along.
Nangong Ryong’s usually stoic face twitched with every step.
Nangong Hyuk threw himself into an empty seat.
Creak, thud.
Dragged in, Nangong Hyuk slammed his head onto the table and became one with it.
Nangong Ryong gazed at him with hazy eyes before slumping into his own seat.
Then came the thunderous snoring.
“Snore, wheeeee.”
Drool pooling from his mouth as he slept, all eyes turned to Nangong Hyuk.
Sleeping?
Here?
Everyone’s jaws dropped.
They exhaled in utter bewilderment.
Nangong Ryong weakly rolled his eyes around before nudging Nangong Hyuk’s side with his elbow.
“Hyuk.”
His voice sounded like a throat full of sand.
It rasped through Wind Soul Pavilion.
“Snore! Whooo.”
“Hyuk.”
“Grrraaah! Wheeeee!”
Nangong Hyuk thrashed more violently, dodging the elbow.
Nangong Ryong shook his head feebly and lowered his arm.
In that brief motion, he seemed to age several years.
Everyone felt anger surpassing bewilderment at the pair’s behavior—especially the mystery guy face-planted on the table, snoring away.
Glares like sharpened axes shot toward him from all sides.
Peng Zhonghe snapped out of his daze.
“You!”
“Snore!”
“How dare you!”
“Gack!”
“......”
The snoring drowned out his words.
The juniors gaped at Nangong Hyuk in horror.
*Does this guy have guts spilling out his belly?*
*More importantly, who the hell is he?*
Peng Zhonghe’s rage boiled over.
His shoulders shook, veins threatening to pop in his neck.
“Brother!”
A clear, bright voice rang through Wind Soul Pavilion.
The juniors’ eyes instinctively turned to the door.
There stood Peng Yeon-hwa in martial robes, a lively smile on her face.
The arrival of Hebei’s top beauty, also called Blade Flower, melted the juniors’ tangled emotions in an instant.
Yan Ha-gun shot to his feet and approached her.
“Lady Peng! Please come i...”
Peng Yeon-hwa whipped her head aside.
As Yan Ha-gun stood dumbfounded.
Peng Yeon-hwa’s eyes sparkled at the snoring Nangong Hyuk and the half-dead Nangong Ryong.
“But who are these gentlemen...?”
As Hebei’s top beauty, Peng Yeon-hwa, turned her attention to the Nangong Clan ragamuffins, the juniors’ faces twisted in unison.