Chapter 19 A Warrior's Values (3)
"Family Head."
"What is it?"
Even though several years had passed since Tae-kyung became the Yeon Family's Chief Manager, he was still excessively polite and cautious towards Yeon-wi.
"A letter has arrived from the Murong Family."
"From Murong?"
"Yes."
A flicker of surprise crossed Yeon-wi's impassive face.
The Murong Family was one of the Seven Great Families, just like the Yeon Family. Unlike the Byeoksan Yeon Family, the Murong Family was a traditional martial arts clan with over five hundred years of history.
Perhaps because of this, the Yeon Family had little contact with the Murong Family. They had exchanged greetings a few times at the Righteous Martial Arts Alliance, but that was the extent of their relationship.
"Give it to me."
"Here it is."
Yeon-wi's eyebrows twitched as he read the letter.
Tae-kyung cautiously asked, "What is it about?"
"A business proposal, it seems."
"Business?"
Yeon-wi placed the letter on the table and tapped it with his index finger.
'Join forces?'
Gangso Province, where the Yeon Family was located, was a region actively engaged in maritime trade, along with Jeolgang Province.
Of course, prestigious sects would sometimes establish branches in Gangso and Jeolgang to conduct trade. The Yeon Family, based in Gangso, was also involved in the trading business.
'Is the Murong Family also trying to get into this business?'
In the past, the Murong Family was located in Liaoning Province, on the outskirts of the Central Plains. However, after the Blood Cult's Turmoil three hundred years ago, they moved to Hunan Province, in the heart of the Central Plains.
Since they had settled inland, he thought they would have no interest in maritime trade. But it seemed that was not the case.
After pondering for a moment, Yeon-wi shook his head.
"It won't work out after all. Chief Manager."
"Yes."
"Prepare a brush, ink, and paper."
"Ah, yes!"
Yeon-wi quickly wrote a letter and dried it. Known for his mastery of both the pen and the sword, his calligraphy was exceptionally elegant.
"Deliver this to the Murong Family."
"Understood!"
"You may leave now."
Tae-kyung bowed deeply and left the Family Head's office.
As Yeon-wi was about to return to his work, he suddenly looked out the window.
A hint of worry, almost imperceptible, clouded his indifferent eyes.
"...It must be cold over there, too."
"Wow!"
Unconcealed admiration spread across Yeon Ji-pyeong's face.
"Amazing, Brother!"
As they entered Hefei, the number of people noticeably increased.
And that wasn't all. The city's splendor was truly remarkable. It was on par with Suzhou, which, along with Hangzhou, was considered a paradise on earth.
Yeon Ji-pyeong looked around in a daze. It was a stark contrast to Gangso Province, which bordered the sea. From the buildings to the people's clothing, everything visible was vibrant and pleasing to the eye.
Seeing the excited Yeon Ji-pyeong, Je-gal Ah-yeon nudged Yeon Ho-jeong.
"Your brother's mood is practically surfing waves? Just last night, he looked like he was carrying all the worries of the world. Is it because he lives near the sea?"
"......"
"Is he always like this?"
"Shut up."
"You just had to say something, didn't you?"
Yeon Ji-pyeong approached Yeon Ho-jeong with an excited face.
"Brother! Brother! Can we go check out the marketplace? Please?"
A troubled expression appeared on Yeon Ho-jeong's face.
"Shouldn't we secure lodging first?"
"We can get lodging anywhere! Right?"
"Well, I guess that's true, but..."
"Even if you look fine, rest should be a priority."
Yeon Ho-jeong pointed to Je-gal Ah-yeon and Je-gal Jun.
Yeon Ji-pyeong realized his mistake.
"Ah! I, I'm sorry. I was too excited..."
Je-gal Ah-yeon waved her hand dismissively with a silly laugh.
"Oh, it's okay. Don't worry about us and go play. We can find lodging ourselves, no big deal."
Je-gal Jun also chimed in.
"That's right. We have about two days left anyway, so we can rest nearby during that time."
The Je-gal siblings turned to Shin-mo and asked simultaneously.
"Right?"
Shin-mo cleared his throat.
"Young Master. What would you like to do?"
Everyone's gaze naturally turned to Yeon Ho-jeong.
After looking around for a moment, Yeon Ho-jeong nodded.
"I'll go to the assembly hall first, so those who want to play can do so and come later."
"Ahem!"
"Ah..."
A cough and a groan of disappointment were heard at the same time.
Yeon Ho-jeong scratched his head.
He spoke without thinking, but it was a statement that seemed to invite misunderstanding.
"No, really, you don't have to worry about me."
"Hey, still, that's not right."
Yeon Ho-jeong gave Je-gal Ah-yeon a death glare.
Je-gal Ah-yeon shrank her neck like a turtle. But she said what she had to say.
"If we decided to come together, we should move together. Ahem!"
"Don't you guys have things to do separately?"
"Huh? Things to do?"
"Shouldn't you find your family's escorts first, who you most likely ditched?"
"Huh?!"
Je-gal Jun also seemed to realize his mistake and straightened his limping leg.
Yeon Ho-jeong frowned.
"I see. If you can't find your escorts before the assembly starts, the innocent escorts will return to the family and get a beating."
"Ah, no way!"
Swish!
Je-gal Ah-yeon abruptly picked up Je-gal Jun. Je-gal Jun couldn't even stop her.
"We'll go first! Great Hero Shin! See you at the assembly hall! Jeong-ah! See you later!"
"Uwaaaah! Sister! Put me down! I'm a grown man...!"
"Shut up, you weakling!"
Zoom!
The Je-gal siblings disappeared in an instant. Everyone stared blankly at the spot where they had vanished.
Yeon Ho-jeong muttered.
"They're really laying it on thick with the friendliness."
Whether it was the Nine Great Sects or the Seven Great Families, everyone was a suspect in this situation. The suspicion about the Je-gal Family had mostly dissipated, but you never knew.
He had seen countless times where incidents erupted in unexpected situations. It was not yet time to lower his guard against the Je-gal Family.
'To know for sure, I need to see the key figures of the family. No room for complacency.'
Just then, Yeon Ji-pyeong asked.
"Brother."
"Huh?"
"Let's go to the assembly hall."
"Huh? Didn't you want to look around the marketplace?"
Yeon Ji-pyeong smiled brightly and said.
"What fun would it be if you're not going with me, Brother? It's okay."
"There's no need to force yourself. If you really want to, we can just go together until tonight..."
"No, no. Come to think of it, we didn't come here to play. Even though it's an assembly, we can't tarnish the family's reputation. It's better to compose ourselves."
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
'He's become admirable.'
His way of thinking is definitely different from boys his age. He still has his innocence, but he's also very thoughtful.
"Alright, let's do that."
"Yes!"
And so, the group headed straight to the assembly hall.
As they headed to the assembly hall, Yeon Ho-jeong fell into thought.
'The Later Generation Assembly is in two days. It lasts for three days. It's just a social gathering in name, so I need to find out everything I can in the meantime.'
As it was an assembly of later-generation figures representing the Seven Great Families, the number of people was small. Even if each family sent five or six people, there would be less than fifty people in total.
The important thing was to thoroughly examine the martial arts and inner energy of each individual. At Yeon Ho-jeong's current level, it was impossible to analyze someone just by looking at the nature of their internal energy.
'If there's a sparring match or physical contact, even if it's not a full-blown fight, somehow...'
It was then.
"I'm sorry."
"Hmm?"
Yeon Ho-jeong looked at Yeon Ji-pyeong.
"What did you say?"
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
Yeon Ji-pyeong lowered his head deeply.
"I, actually, yesterday in the forest, I overheard you and Sister Je-gal talking."
"I know."
"Huh! Ah, you knew?"
Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.
"You concealed your energy so clumsily; it was impossible not to notice."
"Ah..."
"There's no need to apologize for that. If I was bothered by it, I would have called you out first."
Yeon Ji-pyeong's face flushed red. It was an expression of embarrassment and apology.
"That's also true."
"Hmm? Did you do something else wrong to me?"
"...It's not that, but anyway, I'm sorry."
Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled involuntarily.
At first, he didn't know why his brother was like this. But last night, during his conversation with Je-gal Ah-yeon, he realized why Yeon Ji-pyeong had been unusually quiet.
'I was too insensitive.'
He had no intention of changing his own ways and principles. But he felt sorry for not being considerate of his brother.
Yeon Ho-jeong ruffled Yeon Ji-pyeong's hair roughly.
"Hey! B-Brother!"
"Hey, you little rascal, don't keep saying sorry all the time. It'll become a habit."
"But...!"
"My principles are too clear and harsh, so I don't easily get close to people. Because of that, there are times when I don't even try to understand others. So, I'm not good at feeling gratitude or apology."
"......"
"You don't have to be as extreme as me, but I don't think it's good to have 'thank you' and 'sorry' constantly on your lips either. Being different doesn't mean being wrong, does it?"
"Is that so?"
"That's what I think."
Yeon Ho-jeong usually tried not to impose his thoughts on his brother.
He just wanted to make him think. He wanted him to become someone who saw wider and deeper than himself, not someone like him.
At least, he didn't want him to become someone who mistakenly believed that principles set by others were his own.
A strange light flickered across Shin-mo's face as he watched the brothers talking quietly.
'Their brotherly affection is very deep.'
He had thought so when they were heading to the Choseong Tower as well.
That's why he was inwardly puzzled. Because it was common knowledge that the First Young Master hated the Second Young Master terribly.
But in reality, it wasn't like that. In Shin-mo's eyes, the Yeon brothers seemed to have deeper brotherly affection than any other brothers in the world.
'Moreover...'
Shin-mo's eyes were fixed on Yeon Ho-jeong's back.
'He was amazing.'
At the time, the situation was urgent, so he hadn't thought about it, but looking back, it was a series of surprises.
Not just his martial arts, but especially his judgment was remarkable. He came up with incredibly quick and clear countermeasures, as if he had experienced countless fire incidents.
'Where on earth did he get such experience?'
As for martial arts, he could understand it by thinking that the Family Head had taught him separately.
However, the series of actions in crisis situations, finding solutions as naturally as breathing, was not something that could be learned from secret manuals.
'It wasn't the skill of someone who had experienced it just once or twice. Really, I just don't understand...'
"Chief Shin."
"Yes? Ah, yes!"
"I'd like you to have one of the guards stand watch at the entrance of the assembly hall."
Shin-mo was startled and looked around.
They had already arrived at the entrance of the assembly hall. It was called an assembly hall, but it was just a rented manor. Of course, the manor was large enough to accommodate hundreds of people.
"Ah, of course."
"And if anyone comes in, I'd like you to immediately report to me which family they are from, who they are, and how many of them there are."
"I will follow your orders, Young Master."
"Good."
Yeon Ho-jeong slowly loosened his shoulders.
"Shall we go in?"
Shin-mo knocked on the manor's main gate.
Knock! Knock!
"Is anyone inside?"
As if waiting, a voice was heard from inside.
"Who is it?"
"We are from the Byeoksan Yeon Family of Gangso. Open the door."
After a moment.
Creak!
When the door opened, the spacious interior of the manor came into view. And a group of people standing near the main gate as well.
"Byeoksan Yeon Family?"
"That's right."
The man at the front bowed his head.
"I am Han Ho-myeong from Sichuan. It is an honor to meet the warriors of the Yeon Family."
Sichuan, and Han Ho-myeong.
Although they had never met face to face, Shin-mo immediately recognized his identity.
"'Poison Dragon Iron Whip' Han Ho-myeong?!"
"Haha! It's an honor to be recognized."
Like Shin-mo, Han Ho-myeong was also one of the top experts who was well-known in his region.
Moreover, Shin-mo and Han Ho-myeong had another thing in common. They had both joined the best martial arts family in their respective regions as subordinates.
Lightning flashed in Yeon Ho-jeong's eyes.
Behind Han Ho-myeong stood a young man of moderate build, notable for his sharp eyes.
"The Tang Family."
