Chapter 131
Chapter 131: Fame (4)
The dining hall was arranged like a tavern where multiple people could sit and eat together at one table. When seated at a dining table, one of the kitchen servants working for the Murim Alliance would bring out food prepared that day according to the number of people seated.
Dong Bong-soo and his companions didn't bother going far and sat at the table closest to the entrance where they sat every day.
Glance, glance.
Even during this, the whispers and curious stares from people continued.
Because Paeng Ho-ryu and Hwa Seon-hyang were sitting with them, they couldn't stare too openly or speak out loud. However, if those two hadn't been there, they might have openly displayed hostility toward Dong Bong-soo.
"Tch. I suppose people from the Nine Sects and Four Great Families can't help being who they are."
Paeng Ho-ryu glared fiercely at the people shooting glances that went beyond curiosity to contain hostility. He could tolerate gossip behind their backs, but such blatant emotions were unpleasant. It had been repeated over the past few days, but he could never get used to it.
"Please bear with it, Brother. This dining hall was originally only for guests of Jibin Pavilion anyway."
As Hwa Seon-hyang said, this place was originally a dining hall used only by people invited by the Murim Alliance. Naturally, the majority of guests came from the Nine Sects and One Society or the Four Great Families. As expected—if it could be called expected—an extremely exclusionary atmosphere had formed toward anyone outside those groups.
This was especially true after the term Young Ones on the Tiles emerged.
Originally, several members of Young Ones on the Tiles from minor sects who had received recommendations from elders of the Nine Sects and advanced to the finals used to eat here, but now none of them ate here anymore.
Except for one person. Excluding Dong Bong-soo.
Paeng Ho-ryu looked at that one and only person, Dong Bong-soo.
He just sat quietly staring straight ahead, impossible to read. Even while facing those lustrous white locks that reached down to his chin, could they really display hostility toward this person when looking him in the eye?
'Heh. Of course not. They can only act this way because they haven't seen it.'
Paeng Ho-ryu chuckled quietly and waited for the kitchen servant to bring dinner.
Meanwhile, Hwa Seon-hyang was already holding a chopstick in each hand, placing both hands firmly on the table. With her mouth clamped shut and her hair tied up in twin tails, she couldn't have looked more adorable.
But the gaze of Dong Bong-soo, whose attention she wanted, merely pointed at empty space, unclear where it was directed.
'It's regrettable......'
It was regrettable. If only he would look at her more.......
'Well, this much was fine for now. Though not enough, just being able to sit facing each other like this and being able to call him Brother...... it was okay.'
Just as they were each lost in their own thoughts waiting for dinner.
"Junior Sister."
Was she a single plum blossom blooming on frost? A woman in colorful robes, cold yet extremely beautiful, walked toward the table where they sat. It was Hwa Ye-ji of the Mount Hua Sect.
"Ah, Elder Sister! W-welcome."
Hwa Seon-hyang stammered as she stood up from her seat. She felt guilty about separating from the Mount Hua Sect group recently and acting independently every day.
"Are you moving around separately again?"
"I'm sorry......"
"Greetings, Young Lady Hwa."
When Hwa Seon-hyang seemed slightly troubled, Paeng Ho-ryu greeted Hwa Ye-ji first.
"Yes, greetings, Family Head Paeng."
Hwa Ye-ji took a cupped fist salute and bowed at the waist. Though they were similar in age, Paeng Ho-ryu was the family head of one of the Four Great Families.
"If it's about Young Lady Hwa, I'll apologize on her behalf. I was the one who called her out every day to eat together and tempted—"
"Brother—!"
Hwa Seon-hyang instantly shouted at Paeng Ho-ryu, forgetting Hwa Ye-ji was there. She was afraid others might hear his words about "tempting" her and spread rumors. She already had someone else she liked...... after all.
Seeing this, Hwa Ye-ji raised her crescent moon-like eyebrows into an inverted figure-eight.
"Junior Sister! How dare you behave so rudely toward Family Head Paeng? And wandering around on your own like this!"
"I-I'm sorry, Elder Sister. I got excited for a moment......"
"Ah, it's fine. This much is nothing."
Just as Hwa Ye-ji was scolding Hwa Seon-hyang, Hwa Seon-hyang was apologizing, and Paeng Ho-ryu was trying to smooth things over.
"What's going on, Young Lady Hwa?"
About a dozen men who appeared to be Hwa Ye-ji's companions approached and spoke.
Until then, Dong Bong-soo, who had been sitting still, slightly raised his head to look at them.
'Kunlun White Dragon Hundred-Breaking Sword U Sim-gi, Heavenly Net Sword Murong Byeong, and the rest must be disciples from the other Nine Dragons and Nine Sects.'
Dong Bong-soo already knew two of them, and judging by their status and character, he could roughly infer who the others were. They were probably companions who came to eat with Hwa Ye-ji.
When her companions approached, Hwa Ye-ji shook her head slightly and said,
"It's nothing."
After saying that, she took a cupped fist salute toward Dong Bong-soo and Paeng Ho-ryu and apologized politely.
"Family Head Paeng, Young Master Dong. I apologize for the disturbance."
"Haha. It's fine. I'll graciously yield to Young Lady Hwa after we finish eating."
"It's fine."
"Yes, then we'll be going now."
Since it was nothing serious, Dong Bong-soo and Paeng Ho-ryu let it pass. After all, their only interest in this place right now was eating. Hwa Ye-ji also thought it wouldn't look good to make a scene in front of many people. So it seemed to conclude there.
However,
"Now look here, Paeng Ho-ryu. I've held back for several days, but today I must say something."
As he passed Hwa Ye-ji, who had turned to leave, U Sim-gi approached the table where Dong Bong-soo and the others sat and spoke.
"What is it? Go ahead."
Paeng Ho-ryu was actually known as a romantic and gallant man, and had gotten to know many people since entering the Martial World. Though he had become a family head, his past friendships didn't disappear, so U Sim-gi treated him casually.
"Why do you keep hanging around with such a fellow? Don't you have any pride? Not only did you lose to such a person and fail the preliminaries, but you even follow him around."
At U Sim-gi's words about "losing to such a person and failing the preliminaries," the other person who fit that description—Murong Byeong—flinched for a moment. He unconsciously stroked the scar on his forehead and slowly stepped back. He remembered Dong Bong-soo's eyes from that time.
"What? Following around without pride? Me? This Paeng Ho-ryu?"
Paeng Ho-ryu glanced once at Murong Byeong, stepping back, then looked back at U Sim-gi and spoke.
"That's right. Lately, because of you alone, we rising stars are being collectively disparaged. They say the Family Head of the Paeng Family sticks close to one of the Young Ones on the Tiles who has no background. Choose your company more carefully."
"Heh, heuhahahahahaha! Choose my company more carefully?"
"......"
After laughing for a while, Paeng Ho-ryu abruptly stopped his laughter.
He raised his head, his eyes flashing like lightning. With eyes still holding traces of laughter, he thoroughly scanned U Sim-gi and the disciples of the Nine Sects and Nine Dragons lined up behind him.
Except for Murong Byeong, who had already experienced Dong Bong-soo's "flavor," everyone wore expressions of disbelief. They didn't understand why he was suddenly laughing so madly and rudely.
Pfft.
"What's this about? Me, you see, I didn't used to choose my company. I've only been choosing my company for a few days, you know?"
Paeng Ho-ryu let out a light sneer.
At this, the faces of U Sim-gi and the other Nine Dragons and Nine Sects members turned bright red. They had become the people he "didn't choose"—in other words, "just anyone."
U Sim-gi shouted in an angry voice.
"Watch your words! Even if you are the Family Head of the Paeng Family—"
"Hey, U Sim-gi. These days I not only choose my company but also don't spout nonsense, my friend. Haha."
"......!"
Paeng Ho-ryu laughed, and the Nine Sects members' faces hardened.
Moreover, the atmosphere in the dining hall also began to sink coldly.
People's gazes naturally concentrated on the table near the entrance where they were. It must have been due to the ominous atmosphere right before a fight broke out.
"What exactly do you mean by that?"
U Sim-gi spoke with a face as cold as the current situation.
On the other hand, Paeng Ho-ryu's expression still overflowed with leisure.
"Exactly what I said. It means I used to have poor eyesight and befriended some wrong people. But you see, lately those friends seem to have poor hearing as well, which worries me. Still, since they're friends I'm concerned, but they can't seem to understand what I'm saying at all?"
"Ugh......!"
"Sorry. As I said earlier, I've become too honest lately and can't speak indirectly anymore, my friend. Ah, was that indirect enough?"
Clang—!
Was that the final blow?
Finally unable to contain his anger, U Sim-gi drew his sword and shouted.
"I, twentieth-generation disciple of the Great Kunlun Sword Immortal, U Sim-gi, challenge you, Paeng Family Head Paeng Ho-ryu, to a duel."
Drawing one's sword to formally request a match.
It wasn't common, but it wasn't extremely rare either. It was a method used by major sects that valued honor when they felt their honor had been tarnished. A clichéd but certain path to defeat an opponent with skill and restore one's reputation—that was a duel.
Paeng Ho-ryu looked at U Sim-gi's sharp sword tip and smiled lightly.
"Since ancient times, the Paeng Family teaches that if you refuse a fight that comes to you, your manhood should be cut off. I'll teach my son the same way when I have one. Also, it wouldn't be proper etiquette between men to refuse when someone rushes at you demanding a fight."
Just as he was about to stand up after saying that.
Thud.
One timely sound.
The flow of conversation was cut off.
Paeng Ho-ryu stopped laughing, and the gazes of many people in the dining hall scattered all at once.
It all happened when Dong Bong-soo placed his chopsticks down on the table with a thud.
Screech.
Dong Bong-soo stood up from his seat.