Chapter 184 : The Price of Turning Away from the Truth. -01
Chapter 184: The Price of Turning Away from the Truth. -01
Tang Woo-hyeok defended Namgung Ho.
If it had been Ban Hojin, he would never have done such a thing.
Rather than spending time looking after others, it would have been far more beneficial to focus on personal training.
That was why, in one sense, he could not understand Ban Hojin’s actions.
‘Why go out of his way?’
Ban Hojin was no longer a martial artist who needed to prove himself, nor was he merely a rising junior.
Though young in age, Ban Hojin was already an Absolute Master representing the Central Plains Murim.
Of course, Tang Woo-hyeok had not personally witnessed him fight the Iron Blood Demon Emperor, but having heard what the Yama King Namgung Ho and the Beggar King had said, he accepted it without resistance.
If it had been Peng Mancheol, doubts might have arisen, but with those two acknowledging him, Tang Woo-hyeok believed it as well.
“Your expression seems to be asking whether this is a waste of time.”
“Do you think it isn’t?”
“Considering that child’s skill, it is a waste. A waste of time, a waste of talent. But don’t you think there might be a reason he’s doing this?”
“Hmm.”
At Namgung Ho’s words, Tang Woo-hyeok stroked his chin.
The more he considered it, the more reasonable it sounded.
The Ban Hojin he had met was by no means a foolish man.
If so, there must have been a reason for setting up such a stage.
“By the way, you raised your daughter well. She’s far better than her brothers.”
“Hwayeong should have been born a son……”
Namgung Ho sincerely admired Peng Hwayeong’s level, which did not fall far behind even when compared to Namgung Gwang, who was called the Heavenly Dragon.
Among women, she was unrivaled, and even compared to men, she ranked among the very top.
That was what astonished Namgung Ho.
But Peng Mancheol could not be entirely pleased.
“They certainly do compare. Neither is bad.”
“Just not bad. That’s all, for the son of the Blade King.”
Tang Woo-hyeok and Namgung Ho spoke bluntly.
There was no need to offer comfort, and it was the truth.
At the same time, they could understand Peng Mancheol’s feelings.
“Hoo!”
“You’re planning to marry your eldest daughter to the Sword Dragon, I hear?”
“That’s right.”
“Do you think it’s possible?”
“What wouldn’t be?”
Already in low spirits because of Peng Hwayeong, Peng Mancheol answered curtly.
But Namgung Ho did not even blink.
Though Peng Mancheol’s temperament was formidable, Namgung Ho’s was no ordinary one either.
“It’s not impossible. I just wonder if she’s a bit lacking to push aside the competitors. He’s a rising star in full ascent.”
“That’s precisely why it’s enough. You have to consider the difference between our main house and the Seonwu Family.”
“And the second daughter is aiming for Hojin?”
“That’s right.”
“Seems like you’re sending her down a thorny path as well.”
Namgung Ho wore a meaningful expression.
It was as if he were saying Peng Hwayeong would have a hard time too.
At that look, not only Peng Mancheol but Tang Woo-hyeok bristled.
“That expression just now is rather irritating. You speak as though he’s already a fish you’ve caught.”
“That’s how it will turn out.”
Namgung Ho spoke confidently.
Though nothing had been decided, he was certain.
In the end, things would unfold as he desired.
“I’d like to know where that confidence comes from. From what I see, it looks even harder than for our second daughter.”
Peng Mancheol sneered at him.
No matter how he looked at it, it seemed nothing but bluster.
At the same time, he was genuinely curious about the source of that confidence.
“The Namgung Family. Aren’t those four words explanation enough?”
“You’re saying quite a few irritating things today.”
Tang Woo-hyeok’s brows knit deeply at the way Namgung Ho spoke as though the Namgung Family were the Greatest Family Under Heaven.
But even as Tang Woo-hyeok revealed his discomfort, Namgung Ho’s expression did not change.
“What use is the Namgung Family? Other than a handsome face, there’s nothing. Even that loses to Seorin.”
“That’s true.”
“On the other hand, our Hwayeong excels as a martial artist. She’s a perfect match for that brat.”
“It sounds like you’re saying she has nothing to compete with except martial arts.”
Tang Woo-hyeok let out a small laugh at Peng Mancheol’s nonsense, which had eventually turned into bragging about his daughter.
For a man, a partner’s martial skill did not carry such weight.
“For a martial artist, that is the most important thing!”
“You’re mistaken. Before being a martial artist, he’s a man. The woman a man likes—one out of a hundred—is always a beauty.”
“Our Hwayeong’s looks are nothing to be ashamed of anywhere!”
“But they don’t compare to Seorin.”
“Ugh!”
Among the Three Phoenixes of Murim, the Poison Phoenix was Tang Seorin.
As one of the most beautiful women under heaven, Tang Seorin left Peng Mancheol unable to refute the point, and he could only groan.
Yet Namgung Ho could not even manage that.
In beauty, he lost to Tang Seorin; in martial skill, to Peng Hwayeong.
“Still, is there any point in us having this conversation? In the end, the decision rests with Ban Hojin. No matter how much we fight among ourselves, he’s the one who chooses.”
“So you’re saying we should just sit back?”
As Tang Woo-hyeok spoke bitterly, Peng Mancheol grinned.
As though it would please him greatly if the Sichuan Tang Family withdrew.
“As if. Why would I?”
“Tch! You had me hopeful.”
“You seem overly fixated on a match you can’t win.”
“You only know after flipping the cards. Until they’re revealed, no one knows.”
“It seems they’re already face up.”
As if responding to provocation with provocation, Tang Woo-hyeok grinned.
After all, in terms of appearance, Tang Seorin clearly had the advantage.
But Peng Mancheol did not retreat so easily.
“Hmph! We’ll see. Let’s see how it turns out!”
“Well, dreams are something everyone is equally free to have.”
“Nothing’s been decided yet!”
Peng Mancheol snorted.
It was true he trailed in beauty, but he had no intention whatsoever of stepping back.
No one could predict how relationships between men and women would unfold.
And appearance was not everything.
“That’s true. You’re ahead, but nothing’s decided.”
“For once, we agree.”
“We are competitors, after all. Hmm?”
Namgung Ho, who had momentarily sided with Peng Mancheol to check Tang Woo-hyeok, suddenly widened his eyes.
Though he conversed with the two of them, his gaze had remained on the Open Clearing, where an unexpected figure was approaching.
It was not quite at the level of perfect Air-Treading Across the Void, but the near-flight movement was graceful.
Yet what mattered was not the technique, but who it was.
“What is it? Huh?”
Peng Mancheol, noticing belatedly, widened his already large eyes even further.
It was someone he had never anticipated.
“This might cause trouble.”
“The atmosphere doesn’t look good.”
“They say the ignorant are fearless.”
Though startled at first, Namgung Ho soon clicked his tongue.
In his eyes, the outcome was obvious.
The same went for Peng Mancheol and Tang Woo-hyeok.
“If a man digs his own grave, what can we do? All we can do is watch.”
“The most entertaining thing in the world is watching a fight. Heh heh heh!”
Like Namgung Ho, Tang Woo-hyeok merely clicked his tongue.
There was not the slightest sign that he intended to intervene.
Peng Mancheol sat down as if preparing to enjoy the show properly.
“Good. I didn’t like him anyway.”
Namgung Ho sat beside Peng Mancheol.
On the other side, Tang Woo-hyeok took his seat with a curious smile.
“Let’s pause for a moment.”
“Yes?”
“Pardon?”
Ban Hojin, who had been conducting the second Endless Sparring Training, came to a stop.
He had sensed someone approaching through his sensory perception.
But the rising juniors could not sense it, so they all wore puzzled expressions.
Those who had been overly focused on the sparring did not hear Ban Hojin at first, but as the surroundings fell silent, they stopped awkwardly and looked around.
“It seems we have a visitor.”
Whoosh!
The moment Ban Hojin finished speaking, a middle-aged man in immaculate white martial robes descended into the Open Clearing.
Gasps erupted here and there.
A figure no one had imagined stood before Ban Hojin.
“Wha—?!”
“Why is the Sect Leader here?”
“But his expression doesn’t look good.”
“Are they not on good terms?”
As Bang Manchun appeared with a stiff expression, the rising juniors whispered among themselves.
Yet though he heard everything, Bang Manchun showed no particular reaction.
He simply stared intently at Ban Hojin.
“Greetings, Sect Leader.”
“You know me?”
“We have not met, but I have long heard of your reputation.”
“For someone who says that, you show no respect.”
“As long as I haven’t breached etiquette, is that not sufficient?”
Even at the sudden accusatory tone, Ban Hojin did not fluster.
Though it was their first meeting in this life, they had met in his previous one.
Knowing that this was Bang Manchun’s nature, there was nothing to be surprised about.
“Hah! Just as I’ve heard—arrogant and insolent.”
“I’ve heard that I’m arrogant before, but it’s the first time I’ve been called insolent.”
“Your reputation is widespread.”
“It seems so.”
Bang Manchun wore a look of disbelief.
Far from humility, the young man was brimming with pride.
Most would at least deny it politely, but Ban Hojin showed no such pretense.
As he answered with a face that seemed to say it was only natural, Bang Manchun’s lips twisted.
“You seem pleased.”
“There’s no reason not to be.”
As the atmosphere between the two turned ominous, the rising juniors quietly retreated.
They did not wish to be caught in the fallout.
Though Ban Hojin was a rising powerhouse, Bang Manchun had begun making his name known thirty years ago.
Moreover, he was the head of one of the Nine Great Sects—the Gongdong Sect.
“Is this how the Abbot taught you?”
“Must I bow and scrape before the Sect Leader?”
At Bang Manchun’s remark dragging Damhyeon into it, Ban Hojin gave a faint laugh.
His intentions were too transparent.
And it seemed that was not Ban Hojin’s thought alone, for everyone’s expressions grew uneasy.
“When did I say you must bow and scrape? I said you were insolent.”
“Is there a reason I must conform to your standards?”
“There is etiquette one must observe toward seniors of the Jianghu.”
“I believe this much is sufficient. Where have I erred?”
Bang Manchun’s eyes sharpened.
The young man’s direct confrontation left him in an awkward position.
In this situation, anything he said would appear as though he were merely looking for fault, so Bang Manchun glared at Ban Hojin.
But Ban Hojin was not someone to shrink beneath such an intense gaze.
“Speak plainly. Everyone already knows.”
“What is it you claim to know?”
“The reason you came here. The purpose of seeking me out. You came to test my martial arts, did you not?”
Bang Manchun’s brows twitched.
The tone grated strangely on his nerves.
It felt as though the young man deliberately mixed informal and formal speech, and Bang Manchun’s mood soured.
“Why would I? What makes you think that?”
“Otherwise, you may continue on your way. There are no disciples of the Gongdong Sect here.”
Ban Hojin shifted his body aside.
He had stepped out of the way so that Bang Manchun could pass at any time.
Yet even though Ban Hojin moved aside, Bang Manchun did not budge.
“To think you would be this ill-mannered.”
Bang Manchun’s lips twisted.
Anger burned in his eyes.
At a glance, it seemed as though Ban Hojin had offended him and earned his wrath.
But the truth was entirely different.
He simply refused to move because he did not wish to appear as though he were acting according to Ban Hojin’s design.
Ban Hojin knew it, and so did the others.
Swish.
Unable to watch any longer, Seonwu Bang began to open his mouth with a displeased expression, but Ban Hojin raised a hand.
Though he stood behind and could not even be seen, Ban Hojin seemed to read Seonwu Bang’s intent like a ghost and stopped him.
“If you wish to set the stage so badly, I shall indulge you. But you will have to pay the price. And it will be a rather costly one.”
“You show no respect for your elders.”
“If you so desire, I shall become a ruffian.”
Srrrng.