Chapter 18
The next day.
“Is that true?”
“How could I speak a falsehood to the esteemed head of the great Moyong Family?”
Moyong Baek was shocked.
He had gathered the key figures and rising generation of the family for a rare occasion.
Then he had gathered the Tang siblings and So-ah for a breakfast meeting, both to introduce So-ah to the family members and to conclude the reception for the Tang siblings at once.
When he first introduced So-ah, the family members showed a surprised expression but accepted him obediently.
More than anything, they believed that if Moyong Cheon had chosen So-ah as the successor to the Ten-Second Invincible Arts, there must be a good reason.
But the news he heard from Tang Il-gi during the conversation was truly shocking.
—The appearance of a monster presumed to be a Ghost Demon Jiangshi.
—And So-ah, who fought a one-on-one duel with that Ghost Demon Jiangshi and won.
These two topics were by no means easy to accept.
“So-ah. Is it true that you caught a monster presumed to be a Ghost Demon Jiangshi?”
“Yes, Uncle.”
For a moment, two emotions simultaneously appeared on the faces of the Moyong Family members.
A certain anxiety due to the appearance of the Ghost Demon Jiangshi.
And a sense of elation that So-ah, who had become an external disciple of the Moyong Family, had disposed of that monster.
‘Hoho, is So-ah’s martial arts, who is only fifteen, really that outstanding?’
Moyong Baek barely managed to hold back his laughter.
If a real Ghost Demon Jiangshi had appeared, it would be nothing short of a disaster for the martial world.
But if he were to laugh foolishly here, what would the Tang siblings think?
He was worried, but he was also human, so he couldn’t help but be proud of So-ah.
“Grand Steward.”
“Yes, Family Head.”
“Since the Martial Alliance has also made a move, please look into the matter of the Ghost Demon Jiangshi. We will probably receive word at our family residence within a few days, but we need to move one step ahead.”
“I understand.”
“Now, then, let’s all finish our meal.”
Moyong Baek buried his face in his soup bowl.
In fact, he was smiling so that no one could see.
‘Is So-ah’s martial arts really that strong? Hahaha.’
***
“Hehe, Senior Brother! We have a Senior Brother! Aren’t you happy too, big sis?”
Moyong Su.
A twelve-year-old boy who was a distant relative of the family head, Moyong Baek, and a sixth cousin to Moyong Hwa.
Usually, children of this age are prone to jealousy and envy.
But Moyong Su looked so pure.
So-ah was reminded of his own childhood as he looked at Moyong Su.
‘What a cute kid. Haha.’
Just then.
Moyong Hwa spoke in a sharp tone.
“Moyong Su! You can be happy all you want. I’m not nice enough to give my affection to someone who doesn’t share a single drop of my blood.”
Hearing those words, Moyong Su’s expression turned sullen, but he soon grabbed So-ah’s arm.
“Senior Brother. Senior Brother. Hehet. I’m your junior brother now, right? Right?”
So-ah smiled.
His expression was one of not knowing what to do with this cute little kid.
“Yes. I’m your Senior Brother now. If anyone bullies you or gives you a hard time in the future, tell me.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Senior Brother! There’s someone who gives me a hard time.”
“Who is it?”
“Big sis Hwa-ah!”
Moyong Su pointed his finger at Moyong Hwa.
At that, Moyong Hwa frowned and was about to retort but gave up and let out a sigh.
Just then.
A playful voice flowed from So-ah’s mouth.
“Junior Sister. Why are you trying to bully your younger brother?”
“J-Junior Sister?!”
“Why? Is there a problem?”
“Ugh. You’re really going to act like a Senior Brother.”
“I’m acting like a Senior Brother because I am one.”
“Do as you please. Let the dog bark, the traveler goes on his way!”
“You don’t seem to want to acknowledge me.”
“Isn’t that obvious?”
“Alright. First, I’ll go get permission from Uncle.”
At So-ah’s words, Moyong Hwa asked with a questioning gaze.
“Wh-What permission?”
“Regarding the discipline of a rude junior sister.”
The atmosphere flowed strangely.
A smile was already on the faces of the Tang siblings and Moyong Su at the bickering between So-ah and Moyong Hwa.
Surprisingly, Tang Hwa-rin slowly opened her mouth and spoke to Moyong Hwa.
“Hoho, Young Lady Moyong. Why don’t you just accept him as your Senior Brother? Not only is So-ah’s martial arts profound, but his face is also quite cute, isn’t it? If it were me, I would welcome him with open arms.”
But those words were like pouring oil on a fire.
Of course, Moyong Hwa was not a girl with a bad personality.
It was just that she was annoyed at having to look up to So-ah, who was only her peer, as a Senior Brother.
“Young Lady Tang. If you actually had a Senior Brother you’ve never seen or heard of, you wouldn’t be able to say that.”
Moyong Hwa turned her head away with a sullen expression.
The Tang siblings had a slight smile on their faces and glanced at So-ah.
So-ah, though he was teasing her with his words, understood Moyong Hwa’s feelings and was just smiling.
Just then, Tang Il-gi spoke in a light voice.
“Haha, it seems Young Lady Moyong is quite upset, so you won’t be able to accompany us?”
At that, Moyong Hwa turned her head again and reacted.
“Where… are you talking about?”
“What do you think our purpose for coming to Liaoning is? It’s all because of the Young Heroes Tournament. So, we were thinking of going to the tournament venue, which is currently under preparation, to greet the rising generation. I thought you would come with us, Young Lady, but it’s a pity.”
As soon as Tang Il-gi finished speaking, he gave a look to Tang Hwa-rin and So-ah and strode forward.
So-ah, also understanding his intention, raised the corners of his mouth and followed him.
A few steps passed like that.
As expected, a sharp cry erupted from behind the group.
“H-Hey! Let’s go together!”
***
<Martial World Rising Generation Young Heroes Tournament Venue>
Since there was still time, the tournament venue was in full preparation.
“Wow, it’s a sea of people.”
“If you stand out in this year’s tournament, you’ll get the qualification to enter the Martial Alliance’s martial arts academy, so not only the Nine Great Sects but also the rising generation from minor sects and martial arts schools in each region will participate. It’s only natural that there are a lot of people.”
The Tang siblings exclaimed at the bustling tournament venue.
Moyong Hwa was no different.
She was impressed by the fact that such a large martial world tournament was being held in Liaoning.
“So-ah. Why don’t you really give it a try?”
Tang Hwa-rin said to So-ah.
“Hmm… is there any point?”
“Why? Is it too ridiculous for you?”
“It’s not that. It’s just that there’s no particular reason to participate.”
At that, Moyong Hwa spoke.
“Hmph! You said you caught a Ghost Demon Jiangshi or something, wasn’t that a lie? Maybe you just don’t want to be embarrassed by participating.”
At Moyong Hwa’s words, Tang Hwa-rin’s expression crumpled more than So-ah’s.
The more she saw, the more she disliked the attitude of this cheerful girl who was one year younger than her.
“Hey, Young Lady Moyong. Are you ignoring our Tang Clan right now?”
Tang Hwa-rin asked in a sharp voice.
At that, Moyong Hwa said with a bewildered expression.
“What are you talking about, Young Lady Tang?”
“I thought my brother Il-gi and I already guaranteed So-ah’s martial arts. It’s fist ki, fist ki! Don’t you know what it means to manifest fist ki? It means you’re at a level where you can freely control and shape your internal energy. You wouldn’t be ignorant of the fact that the developed form of fist ki is fist gang, would you? A lie? You’ll be embarrassed? Goodness! I’m speechless.”
The person who was truly speechless was Moyong Hwa.
Now, whether she liked it or not, So-ah was a member of the Moyong family.
But Tang Hwa-rin was acting as if So-ah were a member of the Tang Clan, so it was understandable that she was bewildered.
“Hwa-rin. What are you doing? Apologize to Young Lady Moyong at once.”
Tang Il-gi tried to stop Tang Hwa-rin.
But Tang Hwa-rin did not yield.
“Apologize for what. She keeps picking on So-ah. It’s so annoying!”
‘What’s wrong with her…?’
So-ah was just as bewildered.
Of course, they were the same age, and they had overcome a crisis together so far, so Tang Hwa-rin was someone he could call a friend.
But it was unexpected for her to get so worked up over his business.
‘Still, I’m grateful… is she taking my side?’
So-ah thought inwardly and patted Tang Hwa-rin’s shoulder.
Pat, pat.
“Whoa, whoa, Hwa-rin. Calm down. Haha.”
Only then did Tang Hwa-rin shut her mouth.
“Hey, Brother Jin. Whose side are you on?”
This time, Moyong Hwa got annoyed at So-ah.
‘Sigh… this won’t be easy.’
So-ah thought that handling Moyong Hwa would be more difficult than he had thought.
Just then.
“Oh?! Il-gi? It’s Tang Il-gi, right?”
A group of figures shouted after confirming Tang Il-gi’s face from a distance.
Tang Il-gi looked at them.
“Oh…? You guys are?”
The group strode towards them.
The figures were three boys, who, for their age, were tall and sleek, giving the impression of young masters.
“Won, Seong-un, Yeong-je! It’s been a while!”
The boys were Seok Won of the Seok Family, Paeng Seong-un of the Hebei Paeng Family, and Eon Yeong-je of the Jinju Eon Family. Although they were not among the current Five Great Families of the martial world, their family histories were even longer than those of the Five Great Families.
“Haha, it’s been a long time.”
“I know, right.”
“Ah! Hwa-rin. Say hello. This is Won of the Seok Family, Seong-un of the Hebei Paeng Family, and Yeong-je of the Jinju Eon Family.”
At those words, Tang Hwa-rin’s pupils widened.
“Gasp. Aren’t these the ten great rising stars of the martial world?!”
“Haha. That’s right.”
“Nice to meet you. I am Hwa-rin of the Tang Clan!”
Tang Hwa-rin politely performed a cupped fist salute, as if she had never been angry.
The ten great rising stars of the martial world.
They were the most promising young masters and ladies in the martial world, and Tang Il-gi was also included among them.
“So you are the young lady of the Tang Clan. A pleasure to meet you. I am Seong-un of the Paeng Family.”
“I am Yeong-je of the Eon Family.”
“I am Won of the Shaanxi Seok Family.”
They exchanged greetings once…
This time, Tang Il-gi introduced So-ah and Moyong Hwa to them.
“Ah! These two are from the Moyong Family. This is Young Master Jin, an external disciple of the Moyong family, and this young lady is the daughter of the head of the Moyong Family, Young Lady Moyong Hwa.”
It was then.
Didn’t the three young men’s expressions turn uncomfortable when the name Moyong Family came out?
‘Ah… as expected…’
Tang Il-gi realized his mistake.
The three of them were jealous of the Moyong Family.
This must have been especially true for Paeng Seong-un of the Hebei Paeng Family.
Originally, the Hebei Paeng Family was a prestigious family that was considered one of the Five Great Families of the martial world, along with the Namgung, Tang, Seomun, and Zhuge families, before the Moyong Family.
But with the appearance of the God of War, the Hebei Paeng Family had lost its status, so a member of the Moyong Family was nothing but a thorn in Paeng Seong-un’s side.
“Ah! I’m so envious. For an unqualified family to be evaluated as one of the Five Great Families due to the achievement of just one person.”
“Don’t be so envious. The generation will change someday, right? Then, well, that family is done for. Then your family, Seong-un, will become one of the Five Great Families, right?”
This was a blatant provocation.
Tang Il-gi felt troubled and was about to reprimand them.
But in that moment.
Moyong Hwa’s words came out before Tang Il-gi’s.
“Pfft, a bunch of inferiority complexes are talking? Hoho, how amusing!”
At Moyong Hwa’s words, the boys’ expressions crumpled drastically.
Although they had started the provocation first, they were a few years older than Moyong Hwa and were strictly her seniors in the martial world, so they hadn’t expected her to spout such insolent words.
“Th-This crazy bitch!”
In the end, a curse came out of Paeng Seong-un’s mouth.
“Did you just curse at me? Huh?”
Moyong Hwa did not back down either.
Just then.
—Chwareung!
Didn’t Paeng Seong-un suddenly draw his sword?
“Alright. I’ll teach you how cruel my inferiority complex is, you rude bitch.”
Paeng Seong-un’s eyes were bloodshot.
It was truly a menacing gaze.
‘Gasp…’
Moyong Hwa had spoken confidently, but she was suddenly scared when Paeng Seong-un came out so aggressively.
In that moment.
“Put away your sword.”
So-ah spoke.
“If you swing that sword, you’ll die.”
(End of Chapter)