Chapter 12
Moyong Gi was the first to spot So Moogyeol leaving his room.
"Huh? Why are you coming out of there?"
"This is my room."
Moyong Gi, with a bewildered expression, looked back and forth between the number thirteen written above the door and So Moogyeol's face. Moyong Gi let out a faint laugh.
So Moogyeol's face contorted.
"Hey, you bastard. It's not like that."
"If it's not like that, then what is it?"
"They said men and women had to be mixed."
"Even so, aren't you last among the men? You should have worked a little harder."
The Orthodox Justice Alliance was good at ranking, if nothing else. In this regard, nothing worked.
Yoo Hojin and Jo Iljang were pushed to the back numbers because they were taking the sword examination late. From their perspective, that in itself was a humiliation.
So Moogyeol, still with a contorted face, grumbled.
"Of all people, I had to meet the old man of the Namgung family..."
The Beggars' Sect's Dog Beating Staff Technique was a martial art that focused on change, and it was the opposite of the Namgung family's sword art, which was based on weight. He had met the wrong opponent.
'Come to think of it, those guys aren't in their right minds either.'
They had put the essence of weight into a sword that should be light. He wanted to argue that if they were going to do that, they should just use a saber, why use a sword. They were doing such a thing because they weren't in their right minds.
As Moyong Gi was shaking his head, So Moogyeol plopped down next to Moyong Gi.
"By the way, what are you guys doing here?"
"What do you mean, what are we doing? We came to get Yeon."
"Wow... you were serious about that?"
"Of course. I don't joke about things like that."
"Then what about Baek Unseol?"
Moyong Gi frowned.
"Why is Baek Unseol coming up here?"
"That's because it seemed like you had feelings for her."
"She's just a childhood friend."
"And you caused all that trouble with Yoo Hojin over that? I heard he gave up on entering and went home."
Moyong Gi looked at So Moogyeol with a dumbfounded expression.
"What are you talking about? Why did he go home?"
"You're asking because you don't know? If you were Grandmaster Yoon, could you walk around the Orthodox Justice Alliance with your head held high? I heard he packed his bags right after the sword examination."
"What does that have to do with Yoo Hojin?"
"Of course it has something to do with it. What's he going to do staying here? He doesn't have an adult to teach him. Grandmaster Yoon is the only elder from Diancang in the Alliance, isn't he? If Grandmaster Yoon isn't here, what's there for him to do? Is he going to go to the Martial Tiger Class and learn the Seven Star Sword Art?"
Unlike the students of the Martial Tiger Class who had to attend classes obligatorily, the rising generation martial artists of the Ascending Dragon Class had a free schedule.
They could attend classes or train on their own. Most of them learned martial arts from the elders of their sects in the Elder's Hall.
But when Yoon Choong, the only adult from Diancang, slipped away, there was no reason for Yoo Hojin to stay.
Moyong Gi's face contorted.
"Aish. Weak-minded bastard. What was he trying to do with that kind of mentality."
"Why? Do you feel sorry now?"
"Are you crazy? Me, feel sorry for that guy?"
"Then?"
"I'm disappointed. If I had known he would run away so quickly, I would have beaten him more."
Moyong Gi was genuinely disappointed.
So Moogyeol let out a hollow laugh.
"You're going to beat him more after beating him like that?"
"I didn't hit him that many times."
"Hey, you bastard. Is that the problem? The kid couldn't even move because of a concussion, and you're disappointed after beating him so brutally?"
He had wondered why he couldn't get a grip after not being hit that many times.
He found out later that he had used internal energy when he hit him.
He couldn't get a grip because his brain was shaken.
So Moogyeol clicked his tongue and then belatedly gestured to Myung Jin with his chin.
"What's wrong with him again?"
"Leave him alone. He's busy."
"I'm asking what he's busy with."
"Ah, I don't know. Ask him yourself later."
"What is this... you're not answering anything properly?"
So Moogyeol, with his mouth pouting, turned his head and fumed for a while.
But that didn't last long, and he looked at Moyong Gi again.
"By the way... are you going to be okay?"
"What now?"
"What do you mean, what? Diancang. No matter how I look at it, it doesn't seem like they'll stay still."
"Ugh..."
Moyong Gi let out a groan. It was something that had been bothering him inwardly anyway.
Although he had spoken easily in front of Joo Jinsung, he knew well that it was not an easy matter.
If they targeted him, he could hold his own, but it would be troublesome if they targeted his family.
"Anyway... let's use the favor you promised me last time now."
"What favor?"
"Your master is the leader of the Beggars' Sect, right? Let me meet him."
So Moogyeol had a dumbfounded expression.
"Why are you meeting my master?"
"There's a reason. Just set it up for me."
"Hey, you bastard. Do you think my master has nothing better to do than to meet you? My master is busy."
"That's why I'm asking. If I could meet him easily, do you think I'd be crazy enough to ask you?"
So Moogyeol frowned. He wasn't just putting on airs. It was because the leader of the Beggars' Sect was really busy.
"You know that's a really expensive favor, right?"
"Of course."
So Moogyeol seemed to ponder for a moment and then eventually nodded readily.
"Alright. I'll at least talk to him. It might not work out, so don't get your hopes up too high. If it doesn't work out, I don't know."
Moyong Gi also knew well that the leader of the Beggars' Sect was really busy.
But he also knew well that he would meet him.
As Moyong Gi showed a satisfied grin, So Moogyeol frowned.
"By the way... how long do we have to wait? Aren't you going to eat?"
At that moment, Myung Jin's eyes sparkled. He had finally caught Zhuge Yeon's presence.
He had barely caught her presence as she got closer, as if she was about to leave the room.
'Slow. It's better than not being able to do it at all, but...'
As Moyong Gi was sighing, Zhuge Yeon's door burst open.
Confirming the three of them lined up next to the door, Zhuge Yeon's eyes widened.
"What are you doing here?"
"What do you mean, what are we doing? We were waiting for you."
Moyong Gi stood up, brushing off his buttocks.
"What took you so long? Huh? Are you wearing makeup?"
Moyong Gi frowned with a dissatisfied expression.
"Why are you wearing makeup? You're pretty even without it."
So Moogyeol burst into a hollow laugh. Myung Jin stared at Zhuge Yeon. Zhuge Yeon's face turned red.
"Th-that's..."
"Forget it. Let's just go eat. I'm hungry."
Just as Moyong Gi was about to turn, Zhuge Yeon said urgently.
"Oh? I have a prior engagement."
Moyong Gi chuckled.
"What prior engagement. It's just the Five Great Families' kids, right? You don't have to worry about them."
Moyong Gi grabbed Zhuge Yeon's wrist.
"Let's go. Let's go eat."
"Ah... I have a prior engagement... ah, alright. Let go of this!"
Watching Moyong Gi's back as he dragged Zhuge Yeon away, So Moogyeol sighed.
"Really, what kind of person is that?"
***
"Wow... there are a lot of people."
Seeing the crowd filling the dining hall, Moyong Gi let out a hollow laugh.
"What do you mean, a lot? It's only a hundred people."
So Moogyeol pushed past him.
"That's true, but..."
Before his return, he was always alone. He could only go to the dining hall after everyone else had eaten. Otherwise, he couldn't even eat properly.
Moyong Gi, who was looking around the dining hall with a strange expression, suddenly contorted his face.
"It was all because of that beady-eyed bastard. I should have stomped on him more..."
Zhuge Yeon, who was following him into the dining hall, looked at Moyong Gi.
"What are you muttering about to yourself?"
"Nothing. It's nothing..."
Moyong Gi quickly shook his head.
As Zhuge Yeon tilted her head and stepped forward, Peng Gahyeok, who was in a corner, shot up from his seat.
Peng Gahyeok looked back and forth between Moyong Gi and Zhuge Yeon, and after seeming to ponder for a moment, he finally walked over.
"Young Lady. Why are you so late? I was waiting."
"Ah... that's..."
"It's fine. Hurry up and come here. I was just waiting."
Zhuge Yeon had a troubled expression.
Moyong Gi, who was behind her, let out a faint laugh. Then, he took a step forward and tapped Zhuge Yeon's shoulder.
"You live a tiring life too. Why do you even hang out with guys like that?"
"Young Master!"
Zhuge Yeon raised her voice with a startled face. But the water was already spilled.
Peng Gahyeok's face turned beet red.
"Are you... talking about me?"
"Didn't you hear me say 'guys like that'? Aren't I talking about all of you? Can't you even understand what I'm saying?"
"You brat! Do you want to die?"
Peng Gahyeok raised his voice.
The students who were eating started to murmur. Zhuge Yeon, worried that the situation would escalate, quickly intervened.
"Young Master Moyong, why are you doing this? Young Master Peng, that's not it... huh?"
Moyong Gi caught Zhuge Yeon's hand, which was extended to stop Peng Gahyeok, and pulled her.
Then, he took a step forward and met Peng Gahyeok's eyes.
Moyong Gi showed a faint laugh.
"Do it."
"What?"
"Do it. Go ahead and kill me. Can't you really understand what I'm saying? Didn't you learn our language?"
At Peng Gahyeok's foolish face, Zhuge Yeon was greatly flustered.
But her mind was working calmly. If he came to his senses, things would get bigger. She had to get Moyong Gi out of there before that.
Just as Zhuge Yeon was about to quickly extend her hand, Peng Gahyeok was faster.
"You brat!"
A thick fist extended with a heavy force. He had properly imbued it with internal energy.
'Even internal energy!'
Even if they were the same rising generation martial artists, their internal energy levels were not the same. In particular, Peng Gahyeok was famous for his powerful internal energy. Therefore, Zhuge Yeon's face turned pale.
However, Moyong Gi was not worried at all. Rather, he casually waved his left arm with an annoyed face.
But the meaning of that gesture was not ordinary. The heavy momentum disappeared in an instant as if it had been washed away. Peng Gahyeok's fist returned to its original position.
Zhuge Yeon's eyes widened.
"Huh?"
Myung Jin, who was standing with an indifferent face, his eyes sparkled.
"How did you do that?"
"What?"
"That just now. How do you do it?"
"You'll get it if you keep doing it."
Myung Jin frowned. And then, as if he was lost in thought for a moment, he wiggled his right hand. He was imitating Moyong Gi.
As Moyong Gi let out a faint laugh, So Moogyeol approached with a food tray. And then, glancing at Peng Gahyeok, he chided Moyong Gi.
"How are you made that you can't be quiet for a moment? Why do you go around picking fights with everyone?"
"What fight did I pick? The one who comes at me without knowing his place is the one picking a fight."
"Ah! Stop!"
So Moogyeol raised his voice to try to quickly cover Moyong Gi's mouth, but it was already too late.
Flames ignited again in the eyes of Peng Gahyeok, who was staring with a foolish face.
"You damn bastard! I'll kill you!"
As Peng Gahyeok shouted, Moyong Gi glared at Peng Gahyeok. This time, he even imbued it with killing intent.
Feeling his heart drop, Peng Gahyeok flinched and stopped his movement.
Cold sweat instantly beaded on his tense face.
Moyong Gi opened his mouth with a voice that had no highs or lows.
"I really hate you."
It wasn't just Peng Gahyeok he hated. He hated the entire Peng family.
Before his return, Moyong Gi, who had fought fiercely with the martial artists of the Peng family who had sided with the emperor, couldn't help but tremble with rage.
"I'm holding back a lot right now."
It was because of Granny Peng. If it weren't for her, he would have already chewed him up and spit him out.
"Once yesterday. Once today. Now there's one left."
He had received three hundred-year-old fleeceflower roots from Granny Peng. So he had given him three chances.
"How you use it is your freedom, but after that, I really won't let you get away with it."
With those words, Moyong Gi averted his gaze.
Even after Moyong Gi averted his gaze, Peng Gahyeok let out a big breath a beat later. Only then did his tension ease.
He foolishly looked down at his soaked shirt, and in a moment, his face turned beet red.
"This damn bastard!"
His face was lost. If he backed down like this, he would have no place in the Dragon and Phoenix Inn.
As if he had gathered all his internal energy, the veins on his already thick forearms bulged and swelled up in an instant!
"Gahyeok, stop it and come here."
A low voice hit his ears.
It was Namgung Seocheon. Namgung Seocheon had imbued his voice with internal energy and spread it throughout the dining hall.
Peng Gahyeok looked back with bloodshot eyes.
"You're telling me to stop?"
A fierce momentum spread like a cloud. The students of the Martial Tiger Class who were nearby flinched and held their breath. Namgung Seocheon received it with a calm face.
"What is there to gain from bickering with a lowly person? Stop it."
Moyong Gi, who was standing still, walked without a word.
Zhuge Yeon and So Moogyeol were startled and extended their hands.
"Hey, you punk! Endure it."
"Young Master Moyong, please stop now."
Moyong Gi waved both his hands carelessly.
Zhuge Yeon and So Moogyeol's hands returned to their original positions. It was the same technique he had used on Peng Gahyeok.
"Huh?"
"Huh?"
As Zhuge Yeon and So Moogyeol let out short gasps of surprise, Myung Jin's eyes sparkled.
Moyong Gi, with Myung Jin's gaze behind him, brushed past the still fuming Peng Gahyeok.
Eon Juhye shot up. Tang Somun tensed and lowered his hands.
Moyong Gi ignored the two and looked down at Namgung Seocheon.
Namgung Seocheon met Moyong Gi's gaze with a calm face.
"Do you have some business with me?"
Moyong Gi grinned.
Thwack
(End of Chapter)