Chapter 12

From behind, a man's voice spoke.

"Wow-- awesome!"

I know. So please, just stay still. Stepping forward like this is really pushing me.

Young Master Jang chuckled, touching the wrist that had just been grabbed.

"You grabbed my wrist? Are you interested in me?"

Disgusting bastard.

From behind, another voice.

"Just be careful not to spill the food."

Ah, a dilemma.

Still, the one behind me is a hundred times better than you, Jang In-geol.

Jang In-geol proved it again with his actions.

"This is how you grab a wrist."

Jang In-geol quickly reached out towards Jeong Charyeon.

Jeong Charyeon roughly struck the back of his hand with the flat of her sword.

Thwack!

Jang In-geol was only half-joking, but Jeong Charyeon was not.

The back of Jang In-geol's hand turned red and swollen.

If it were any other woman, he would have cursed, "You bitch!" and made sure to follow through.

But the opponent was Jeong Charyeon. There was something else he wanted to do more than kill her. He had been yearning for that moment ever since he saw her. He couldn't kill her for the sake of that future moment.

"Not bad."

Jang In-geol grinned slyly and took another step closer.

Jeong Charyeon's expression hardened.

Should I just cut him down right here?

No one knew that her Crimson Snake Sword Art had reached the seventh level.

Of course, Jang In-geol probably thought of the Crimson Snake Sword Art as garbage anyway. In any case, she was confident she could cut down Jang In-geol. The problem was what would happen afterward.

Jeong Charyeon had two concerns.

What if she accidentally killed him? Her Clan could be annihilated.

Conversely, what if she died? Her parents would be devastated.

In that tense moment, the man behind her spoke.

His target was Hyeok Isang.

"Looks like you're not friends? You acted so happy to see him earlier."

Hyeok Isang's face immediately turned red.

He also didn't like Jang In-geol's behavior. But he didn't want to upset Jang In-geol, so he had just been watching.

It was as if the man was strangling him, with a large thorn stuck in his throat.

Instead of her flustered brother, Song-hwa snapped.

"Mind your own business!"

"Why?"

"I guess you don't know much about the Jianghu, but let me tell you something. If you interfere in the affairs of the Jianghu without knowing what you're doing, you'll get into big trouble."

It was a subtle threat, but the man didn't even bat an eye.

"Get into trouble? Why? Because I pointed out that his friend was in danger? Then how do you live in this Jianghu without getting into trouble? Close your eyes, block your ears, and just shut your mouth? Is that how you survive?"

Song-hwa bit her lip tightly. The young Song-hwa was no match for him in words. The young Song-hwa didn't know that.

"Hmph! Do you know who this person is?"

"No."

At that point, Jang In-geol twitched. Hyeok Isang stopped him from jumping out, saying that getting caught up in something like this before the Dragon Phoenix Gathering would cause gossip. Let's just watch for now.

This time, the man asked Song-hwa.

"Then do you know who I am?"

"No!"

The man smiled and said.

"Do you know how people react when they encounter something they don't know?"

"What is it?"

"They either ignore it or fear it."

"So?"

"You're doing both. You're ignoring me because you don't know me. But at the same time, you want me to be afraid of that friend over there. Don't you think that's contradictory?"

Song-hwa was speechless.

"The younger you are, the clearer your convictions should be. Even if you think you'll naturally develop a great outlook on life as you get older, it's not true. The older you get... even your dreams get old."

As the man spoke like a preacher, Song-hwa's eyes welled up with tears of frustration. Song-hwa shouted.

"Young Master Jang here is going to be the successor of the Palm Heart Clan, the best Clan in the Infinite!"

"Ah."

That was all the man's reaction was. Song-hwa's face turned red.

"Song-hwa, that's enough."

Hyeok Isang, who had been watching, finally stepped in. He first appeased Jang In-geol.

"Young Master Jang, please, sit down and have a drink. Since that guy doesn't recognize Young Master Jang, he must be a country bumpkin who came from afar to see the Dragon Phoenix Gathering. Let's just let it go. It'll ruin the taste of the alcohol."

Only then did he speak to the man.

"You certainly have a silver tongue."

"I'm good at everything. People who eat well also talk well."

Hyeok Isang suppressed his anger. He was known for being quite calm, but that guy kept making him bristle.

He had to create a good atmosphere somehow.

He had gone to great lengths to arrange this meeting today to strengthen his friendship with Jang In-geol. The moment he saw Jeong Charyeon, he had suggested a match to improve Jang In-geol's mood. Damn it, how could this happen?

The man glanced at Jang In-geol and then looked back at Hyeok Isang, saying.

"I think you're worse than him. At least you know what you're doing right now. Well, the real bad guys in this Jianghu are all the ones who know something."

Jang In-geol, who had become someone who didn't know anything, and Hyeok Isang, who had become a bad guy who knew something, both turned red in the face.

Jang In-hwa gave both of them a look of disdain. At the same time, she looked at the man with curiosity. Her deep gaze said, "Attractive."

Jang In-geol gritted his teeth. He had always been at odds with his younger sister, who had grown up arrogant. To show her such a humiliating sight. What was even more infuriating was the look of affection his sister was giving that guy.

A heavy silence fell in the room.

Wow! I must be really pretty. Jang In-geol is holding back like that just because he's blocking me.

At that moment, Song-hwa shouted in anger.

"Sister, you're going to the Dragon Phoenix Gathering with Young Master Jang this time! Why are you taking that guy's side?"

That's right.

But what? Who's going where with whom? Has it already become a rumor?

"It's not confirmed yet."

I hate myself for giving such a passive answer.

But I have to endure it. I can picture my sister's sighing face. Yes, let's just endure it for now. It's better to keep the peace.

Jang In-geol asked directly.

"Do you not want to go with me?"

More than anything.

"I just don't like the Dragon Phoenix Gathering itself."

"Why?"

"Being a spectacle for people..."

Jang In-geol interrupted her.

"It depends on how you look at it, doesn't it? You can gain experience and bring honor to your Clan."

This guy really has all the bad habits.

She tried to calm her anger. She tried to treat him well, thinking of her family.

But there are definitely people in the world who are just not compatible by nature. Jang In-geol seemed to be trying his best to prove that.

"Anyway, I'll take it that you're going with me."

Jang In-geol was speaking as if he was giving a notice. As if she should be honored to go with him. Even while constantly stealing glances at her chest.

Jeong Charyeon's patience reached its limit.

"I'm sorry, but I have someone to go with."

Ah, this isn't good.

But she couldn't take back the words she had spoken. No, she didn't want to.

Jang In-geol smiled slightly.

As if he knew it was a lie. Seeing that expression, Jeong Charyeon couldn't stand it.

She spoke slowly and clearly.

"I absolutely don't want to go with you."

Jang In-geol was a little taken aback by her direct refusal.

"What's the reason?"

"It's cowardly and dirty to use your family's power to force someone like this."

Jang In-geol snorted. Jang In-hwa looked at Jeong Charyeon and Jang In-geol alternately with a playful smile, as if she found it amusing. Of course, she was probably cursing Jeong Charyeon as a bitch in her mind, but she seemed to be enjoying it for now. This messed-up situation.

"Who is the one you're going with?"

Jang In-geol asked, pressing her.

"Why should I tell you that?"

"Tell me."

Jang In-geol said in a commanding tone.

"What if I don't want to?"

The moment their cold gazes collided in the air,

The man who had been watching broke the silence.

"She's going with me."

What?

Everyone's eyes were focused on the man.

"She's going with me."

Hey! Why are you doing this again?

Bang!

Jang In-geol slammed the table. The table broke, and the dishes crashed down. The man clicked his tongue in dismay.

"So you two knew each other."

He had an expression as if he now understood everything.

Jang In-geol's subconscious wanted to believe that. If that were the case, he could blame all the ugly behavior he had shown earlier on a conspiracy between Jeong Charyeon and the man.

She was about to say it wasn't true, but she closed her mouth.

There was no point in making excuses now. She didn't want to say the decisive "no."

"Yes, I'm going with this person. He's a hundred times better than you."

She didn't have to say that. Ah, the atmosphere is really heating up.

Jang In-geol glared at her with burning eyes.

"Then I'll see you at the Dragon Phoenix Gathering."

Leaving a clear implication that he would get revenge, Jang In-geol stormed out.

Jang In-geol's pride was greatly hurt. Whether it was true or not that she was going with that strange guy, it was definitely insulting.

Jang In-hwa slowly turned around.

"Haven't you heard the rumors? That my brother and I have terrible tempers."

Then she smiled meaningfully.

"You'll find out the hard way why those rumors started."

Ah, this is driving me crazy.

After giving the man a flirtatious smile, Jang In-hwa left the room.

Hyeok Isang looked at the man and Jeong Charyeon alternately and said quietly.

"You... are still a child, aren't you?"

I wanted to shout at him to go lick Jang In-geol's toes, but in the end, Jeong Charyeon held back those words. The accident that had already happened was enough.

Hyeok Isang left the room with Song-hwa.

Only then did Jeong Charyeon sigh and sit down.

Whew, it feels like a storm has passed.

"Are you okay?"

The man asked worriedly.

"Why did you do that?"

"You looked like you were in trouble."

Then he grinned. Jeong Charyeon shook her head in disbelief.

The problem was just beginning.

Whether the man went to the Dragon Phoenix Gathering with her or not, he would now face great trouble from Jang In-geol. He might even be killed without anyone knowing. If the rumors about Jang In-geol were true, he was capable of anything.

Could she protect him from that?

No, even worrying about the man at this point was a luxury. The pressure from the Palm Heart Clan was already immense. Now, even greater misfortune could befall her family. Since she had already endured this much, she should have endured it to the end. Even if she had refused, she should have used her head more and done it in a way that made him feel good.

Hyeok Isang was right. Even though she was eighteen, she was still a child. It was too late for regrets anyway.

"Since it's come to this, let's just go together. Let's revise the plan."

At the man's words, Jeong Charyeon asked in a resigned tone.

"You said your original plan was to go to the competition anyway, right?"

"Yeah. So I have to revise it."

".......?"

Jeong Charyeon, who was wondering what he meant, was soon shocked.

"Don't tell me that going to the competition meant going to the Heavenly Dragon Battle?"

"Of course."

Jeong Charyeon was speechless.

The Heavenly Dragon Battle was truly a competition where all the masters of the Central Plains gathered. With the skills of young prodigies like themselves, it was impossible.

"Well, it can't be helped. Since the competitions don't overlap, I'll just think of it as warming up and playing with the kids for a while."

You look like a kid too! Ah, wait. So, when you said winning wasn't a problem earlier, you meant the Heavenly Dragon Battle? Hey, what are you?

The expectations that maybe he had some hidden skills, judging from the way he fearlessly confronted Jang In-geol and Hyeok Isang earlier, crumbled.

This guy was just a big windbag after all.

Jeong Charyeon calmly mocked.

"Then why did you just stand there with your great Martial arts? Why didn't you just beat them all up?"

"I told you."

"Told me what?"

"Ah, did I not tell you? I said I don't fight with women, right? There's also something else."

The man's expression became quite serious.

"I don't fight with kids either."

What an excuse.

"This Jianghu is rotten, but it's not because of the kids at least."

Please, don't make that face, that serious expression. It looks so real.

"If you ever see me fighting in the future, close your eyes. I'm very scary when I fight. You'll have nightmares if you see it."

Please, don't even appear in my dreams!

Jeong Charyeon sighed deeply. Ah, come to think of it.

"I still don't even know your name?"

The man grinned and replied.

"Jeok Leegeon. Cool name, right?"

Ah, I'm really going to die.