Chapter 4: The Prodigal Son Returns (3)
The wind was pretty chilly.
But the cold autumn breeze couldn't dampen the buzz of the marketplace. Tons of people were hawking their goods, trying to get folks into their shops.
'It's been a while.'
The second he stepped outside, all thoughts of the Byukrajingeol vanished.
This was his first time back in the marketplace since he'd returned to the past. It was a whole new experience.
'It's still the same.'
This was the street he had wandered so much in his childhood.
He hadn't set foot on this street since his family's ruin, afraid he'd be haunted by the memories of his dead relatives.
"It's nice."
"Hehe, right?"
Yeon Jipyeong was flushed with excitement. It was the first time he'd been to the marketplace with just his older brother.
"Brother, are you feeling unwell?"
"Huh?"
"You're walking kind of funny."
"Ah, it's nothing, really."
All of a sudden, his internal energy had jumped up two levels.
On top of that, a bunch of his blocked hyul had been opened. With jin-gi flowing through them over and over, his body was naturally getting stronger.
His body and jin-gi were out of sync. He tried to walk slowly, but he kept speeding up without meaning to. It was because his muscles and bones weren't fully developed yet.
'This is gonna be rough.'
Physical strength is just as important as internal energy. To get his still-developing body up to the Black Demonic Emperor's level, he'd need to go through hellish training.
Yeon Hojeong was rolling his shoulders when...
"Ah, over there! Let's go there!"
Yeon Jipyeong pointed to a neat-looking tavern.
"The Goyangru."
The Goyangru was pretty famous, even in southern Gangso Province. It was pricey but known for its amazing food and views.
"Ah, have you been there too, Brother?"
"A few times."
It wasn't a place with good memories.
Maybe six months before the Yeon family fell? He'd been drinking a lot then, drowning his sorrows. He'd been to the Goyangru quite a few times.
'I lived so foolishly.'
He'd gotten wasted, smashed up the place, and gotten into fights where he'd been beaten to a pulp.
The place had left him a wreck, body and soul.
"They say the fish dishes there are incredibly famous. Let's go eat fish, fish."
"Sounds good."
"Huh? But Brother, do you eat fish? Didn't you used to dislike it?"
Yeon Hojeong shrugged.
"Might as well enjoy it while I can. So, is this your first time here?"
"Hehe, actually, I've been there once. With friends."
"Friends... from the Cheonggangseowon?"
"Yes! They're all good friends."
The Byeoksan Yeon family put more emphasis on both scholarly and martial pursuits than other martial clans. They didn't expect everyone to be top scholars, but the ancestors believed they should at least be above average.
That tradition remained strong, even now that they were one of the Seven Great Clans. That's why Yeon Jipyeong was at the Cheonggangseowon, learning the classics.
Yeon Hojeong smiled.
"Hit the books. Learning never hurt anyone."
Yeon Jipyeong asked with an innocent expression.
"But, Brother, are you still not coming back?"
"To Cheonggangseowon?"
"Yes!"
"I'm not going."
Yeon Hojeong had been at the Cheonggangseowon first. But two years ago, he'd dropped out to focus on his martial arts.
Yeon Jipyeong's face fell a little.
"Oh, I see."
He's so honest, it's almost painful.
He felt bad for him, but he still wasn't going back. It wasn't that he hated academics; he just felt he'd learned all he needed to there.
"So, you're getting along with your friends?"
"Of course. Ah! We've got some short-term exchange students at the academy now!"
"Short-term exchange students?"
"Yes! They're from some big-name martial arts families in Anhui. There's even a kid from the Namgung Clan!"
He perked right up, like it was nothing.
Yeon Hojeong frowned.
"The Namgung Clan?"
"Yes! Isn't it amazing?"
Was it?
He didn't remember that part. Primarily, he was only interested in himself at this time.
'Namgung... Namgung, huh.'
The top dog in Anhui, right next to Gangso.
They were one of the Seven Great Clans, just like the Yeon family, but with a much longer history.
Namgung means swords. They've always been the top sword clan, past and present.
That was still true, even after that freak of nature swordsman showed up from the Moryong Clan.
"Brother?"
"Hmm?"
"Why? Does your expression not look good?"
"Nah, it's nothing. Let's get going."
"Yes!"
The two finally entered the Goyangru.
The Goyangru was emptier than he expected. There were maybe fewer than ten people in the whole four-story place.
"Score! Let's head up to the fourth floor, Brother!"
"Okay."
The view from the fourth floor was awesome. The windows were wide open, and the breeze was refreshing, not freezing.
"It's nice, right? Right?"
"Yeah, this was a good call."
It was a place he had been to many times in the past, but it felt new, as if it was his first time.
As they sat by the window, Yeon Jipyeong got all excited and started ordering: one fish dish and a couple of veggie stir-fries. It was adding up fast.
"Isn't it too expensive?"
"I've been saving up my allowance!"
"You're going to pay?"
"Of course! I said I would treat you!"
Oops, he hadn't brought any money.
Yeon Hojeong licked his lips.
"I'll eat well."
"As much as you want!"
He looked like he wanted to order everything on the menu. His eyes were sparkling like an excited puppy's.
Yeon Hojeong found his younger brother cute. And at the same time, he also felt burdened.
'He's such a bright kid.'
He had been jealous of such a child and treated him badly. He hadn't yelled or hit him, but sometimes ignoring someone is even crueler.
So, even though it was a lot, he made a point of smiling around Yeon Jipyeong. He felt terrible about how he'd acted before.
Yeon Jipyeong, who was smiling brightly and looking at Yeon Hojeong, suddenly asked cautiously.
"Um..."
"Huh?"
"Nothing's bugging you, right?"
"About what?"
"Nah, just... checking if anything was on your mind, you know?"
Yeon Hojeong tilted his head.
"Nah, nothing like that."
"Oh, I see."
"Why? Do I look that miserable?"
"No! I was just wondering."
"You goofball."
Yeon Hojeong turned his head to the window. He wanted to look at the scenery.
Looking at his brother like that, Yeon Jipyeong secretly sighed in relief.
'He seems okay.'
Back then, what that Bi-eung Daeju, Gang Yoon, did made sense for a Yeon family member. But it happened right in front of his little brother. Anyone would've been mortified.
Luckily, his brother didn't seem too bothered. Yeon Jipyeong felt awful, like it was all his fault.
Yeon Jipyeong, who was smiling and looking at Yeon Hojeong, suddenly tilted his head.
"But Brother."
"Huh?"
"Um... I don't know if I should say this."
"What is it?"
"Is your Biyeon-gi a lot stronger?"
"Oh?"
"You can sense that?"
"Yeah, I... I wasn't sure, but it's definitely different from before."
Yeon Hojeong looked at Yeon Jipyeong with new eyes.
'He could tell?'
His dantian was activated, and he'd mastered the Flying Swallow Mind Method, but you wouldn't know that without feeling his pulse.
Yeon Hojeong was good at keeping his energy hidden. Plus, the Flying Swallow Mind Method wasn't exactly top-tier, so the change wasn't huge. It's not like you could just look at him and see the difference in his jin-gi.
And his little brother had picked up on it, even though he wasn't even considered first-rate yet.
"I've mastered the Flying Swallow Mind Method."
Yeon Jipyeong unknowingly jumped to his feet.
"No way!"
"Yeah."
"Congratulations! Congratulations, Brother!"
Yeon Jipyeong sincerely congratulated him as if it were his own accomplishment. He was practically bouncing, clenching his fists and shaking them.
He was grateful to his younger brother, but his surprise was greater than his gratitude.
'I knew he had talent, but...'
A subtle admiration arose on Yeon Hojeong's face.
'This kid's a freakin' monster?'
Usually, martial arts talent comes down to two things: a great body or a great mind.
But Yeon Jipyeong's talent went way beyond that.
'He's got incredible instincts.'
Instincts are even rarer than a killer physique or sharp mind.
It's a force that blows logic and reason out of the water. Basically, it's something you're born with. He didn't know about other fields, but when it came to martial arts, Yeon Jipyeong's instincts were off the charts.
And on top of that, he supposedly had the best physical gifts in the Yeon family.
'If he trains right, he'll be famous before you know it.'
Yeon Jipyeong said with a very excited face.
"Brother will become strong quickly! Definitely!"
"Yeah, I have to."
Anyway, they'd both managed to surprise each other.
After a while, the food came out.
The two laughed and talked even while eating. Yeon Jipyeong did most of the talking, but Yeon Hojeong chimed in too.
They scarfed down their food and ordered some tea. It smelled amazing as it steamed.
"Hey, Brother, now that you've mastered the mind method, we should train together!"
"No."
That was a hard no. Yeon Jipyeong kind of deflated.
"Why?"
"We train differently. Maybe later, but for now, we're better off doing our own thing... Huh?"
Yeon Hojeong turned his gaze to the stairs.
"What's wrong, Brother?"
"......"
"Brother?"
"Someone good?"
Someone good? What are you talking about?
Yeon Jipyeong, who was still confused, suddenly felt a faint gi coming from way down on the first floor.
Yeon Jipyeong's eyes widened.
"A master?"
Nah, not a master.
A real master needs to be able to use at least ninety percent of their cultivation in a real fight. That's what makes them a master.
So, no masters were coming up from the first floor. At least, that's what Yeon Hojeong figured.
But their cultivation level was pretty damn high.
Especially for their age.
"Ah!"
Yeon Jipyeong exclaimed.
"Why? Do you know them?"
"Yeah! I don't know about any master, but I recognize that gi. It's gotta be one of my friends from the academy."
A friend from the academy?
"Go on and say hi."
"Ah?! Is it okay?"
"It'd be one thing if you didn't know them, but you can't just ignore them. Go say hi and come back."
Yeon Jipyeong quietly got up.
"Then Brother, I'll be right back. Please wait a moment."
"Catch up with them. No rush."
Yeon Jipyeong hurried down the stairs.
Yeon Hojeong smiled and rested his chin on his hand.
'He's cheerful.'
Maybe it's 'cause he'd grown up so grim?
He'd gotten better at socializing after forming the Black Bandits, but he wasn't nearly as cheerful as Yeon Jipyeong. Talking to people often felt like a chore.
That's why he liked seeing this side of his little brother. It was something he lacked.
'Stay cheerful. The world's a rough place, but you don't have to be serious all the time.'
He wanted him to grow up to be amazing, more than anyone. That was all Yeon Hojeong wanted for him now.
Yeon Hojeong, was drinking tea and looking at the scenery outside the window.
He knew he shouldn't be taking it easy like this, but what else could he do? This was the first time he'd ever gone out to eat with his little brother.
Getting ready for the family's downfall was the top priority, but some things were too important to miss.
It was when Yeon Hojeong was enjoying a short break like that.
"Is it here?"
"Oh! Even the third floor is definitely different!"
A noisy voice was heard from the third floor.
And Yeon Jipyeong's flustered voice as well.
"H-Hold on a sec. Let me just check with my brother..."
"Whoa! We're just saying hi, chill out. It's not like you guys own the fourth floor. We just wanna check out the view."
"Ah..."
Yeon Jipyeong sounded totally flustered.
A moment later.
"Damn, this view is killer!"
"I'm glad we came up!"
Yeon Hojeong turned his gaze to that place.
Yeon Jipyeong, stuck between two guys and a girl he'd never seen before, looked completely mortified.
