Chapter 282: Chapter 282

Dan So-mi and Ju Ji-yak frowned as they looked around the streets of Yueyang.

As more people gathered in Changsha, this place naturally became packed to the point of forming a mountain of people and a sea of crowds.

Hong Jin-rang, who was by their side, was also breaking into a cold sweat.

The weather was hot enough as it was, and with people crowding in, the stuffiness was beyond description.

“I heard they are holding something in Changsha?”

Dan So-mi asked with a look full of curiosity.

Hearing Dan Woo-hyun and Namgung Cheon whispering, it seemed that a huge festival was about to be held in Changsha.

Thanks to that, people gathered there, and Yueyang, the town of Dongting Lake which was already famous, had even more people visiting.

Evading the numerous crowds here and there, the three children tucked themselves into a corner.

“They are holding… a Martial World tournament…”

Ju Ji-yak muttered with a highly reluctant expression.

It was a Martial World tournament held every year, but those representing the Prince of Jin’s estate had never once achieved victory.

Of course, winning was not a problem at all.

Still, at the very least, they should not lose to the people of the Prince of Geum’s estate.

She clenched her small fists and made a cross expression for no reason.

“This time too, the Prince of Geum’s estate will wi… Keheck?!”

The moment the tactless Hong Jin-rang carelessly blurted out those words, Ju Ji-yak’s fist struck his abdomen.

Although she had not even learned martial arts, the surprise blow delivered a fairly large amount of pain.

Hong Jin-rang sat down with a pale, turned face.

“Hoho, what are you talking about?”

“N… Nothing… Cough…”

“The Prince of Geum’s estate what?”

“Cough, cough.”

Hong Jin-rang gasped for breath, unable to answer properly.

He shrank back, completely cowed by Ju Ji-yak’s terrifying expression.

“What is the Prince of Geum’s estate?”

Dan So-mi tilted her head in confusion.

Asking as if it were a place she was hearing of for the first time, Dan So-mi did not seem to know at all why Ju Ji-yak was so angry.

Hong Jin-rang cleared his throat.

“I will explain it to you. The one ruling this Hunan is none other than the Prince of Jin’s estate.”

“Yes, yes, I have heard of that. I heard he is a very high-ranking person?”

At the mention of a high-ranking person, Ju Ji-yak’s nose went up in the air.

Ahem! She looked as if she wanted to show off.

Hong Jin-rang looked at her and wore a slightly fed-up expression, but quickly swallowed his breath at Ju Ji-yak’s glare.

“He is not just a high-ranking person! He is a relative of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor and a highly trusted one at that.”

“Heh…”

Dan So-mi nodded with a surprised expression.

She did not know other things, but she knew who the Emperor was.

It was because of the headmaster who, when she attended the academy, would go around boasting that the reason to study was to help His Imperial Majesty the Emperor rule the country benevolently.

“And the Prince of Geum’s estate refers to the royal estate that rules Hubei.”

At Hong Jin-rang’s words, Dan So-mi let out a small exclamation.

Nevertheless, she had a slightly puzzled look, not quite understanding.

“But Uncle Hong rules Yueyang…?”

“They are not dregs like that, So-mi! You cannot compare them!”

“Dr… Dregs…”

At the firm word uttered by Ju Ji-yak, Hong Jin-rang wore a tearful face.

Even so, he was an official who ran around diligently for Yueyang and maintained public order, and he had even earned the reputation of being a famous investigator in public.

If Ju Ji-yak’s father, the Prince of Jin, had not held him back, Hong Jin-rang’s family would have been in Beijing by now.

Eventually, just as Ju Ji-yak was blocking Hong Jin-rang’s path, the Prince of Jin was blocking Hong Won-chang’s path.

“But is there something between the Prince of Geum’s estate and the Prince of Jin’s estate?”

“The Prince of Geum’s maternal family is a famous martial family… unlike the Prince of Jin’s. That is why they have never once won in terms of martial strength.”

Ju Ji-yak frowned at Hong Jin-rang’s words.

Although it was true, her face was clearly filled with displeasure.

She really did not like the fact that those who were ignoramuses in politics and academics were acting all mighty just because they had some skill in martial arts.

“Oh? Who is this! Is it not Ji-yak?”

At that moment, hearing a voice quietly drift over, Ju Ji-yak frowned.

Since a voice she did not want to hear pierced her ears, her mood turned sour.

Frowning deeply, she looked in the direction of the voice.

There stood a boy of similar age, who had been there since who knows when, accompanied by several guards.

The clothes he wore were more than just luxurious; they looked expensive enough to make one’s eyes spin, and the guards surrounding him felt quite strong, emitting a considerable momentum.

“Ju Ja-in…”

“How long has it been? Has it been a year?”

The boy, who was laughing loudly, had quite a hearty vibe.

He possessed a different charm from Hong Jin-rang, and he seemed to have nothing to fear in whatever he did.

In a word, he was the very symbol of an immature child.

“Was it? I do not remember well.”

“Hahaha, senile already? You do not remember?”

Ju Ji-yak’s expression hardened.

In fact, strictly speaking, Ju Ji-yak was the Emperor’s niece, and Ju Ja-in was a distant relative.

It was proper etiquette to treat Ji-yak with more modesty, yet he spoke quite brashly.

Apparently, because he was a child, he did not care about ranks. And there was no one to correct him.

“Are you participating in the Martial World tournament this time too?”

“Looks like it.”

Ju Ji-yak shrugged with an unwilling expression.

She did not want to converse with him, but she could not just ignore him either.

It would have been better if she could treat him roughly like that kid from Sichuan, but since even that did not work, it was frustrating.

“Hmm… But who are these people next to you?”

“Greetings, I am Hong Jin-rang.”

Ju Ja-in quietly looked at Hong Jin-rang.

An arrogant expression was clearly visible.

After muttering Hong Jin-rang’s name several times, his eyes suddenly sparkled, and he spoke.

“I see! Are you the son of Hong Won-chang…?”

“Y… Yes, that is correct.”

Hong Jin-rang replied, breaking into a cold sweat.

Even in the Prince of Geum’s estate, Hong Won-chang seemed to be quite famous. Seeing that his name was known even to the Prince of Geum’s estate, which had no interest unless it was the military or a martial family.

This left Hong Won-chang in a complicated state of mind.

“Hahaha! Those who cannot achieve great success in martial arts always play tricks. Your father must be one of those types, right?”

“Ugh…!”

Ju Ja-in had investigated Hong Won-chang before.

He was someone whose personal martial arts were mediocre, but who had gained fame by solving cases with his outstanding brain.

From the Prince of Geum’s perspective, he was worth laughing at.

“More than that, who is the girl next to you who is keeping her head held so high?”

“Do not touch her.”

As Ju Ja-in’s gaze turned to Dan So-mi, Ju Ji-yak glared at him with a displeased look.

It meant that while she could tolerate up to Hong Jin-rang, she would not allow him to mess with Dan So-mi.

Ju Ja-in clicked his tongue, displeased by that.

Then, a playful smile suddenly appeared on his lips, and he reached out.

It was a joint-locking technique handed down through generations.

He intended to grab Dan So-mi by the collar in one go. The cleverly extended hand bypassed Hong Jin-rang and moved toward Dan So-mi.

Just as his hand was about to grab Dan So-mi’s collar.

Tap!

“…”

“Huh?”

Dan So-mi’s small, extended hand slapped away Ju Ja-in’s incoming hand.

Even though it was a lightly thrown hand, she had blocked the joint-locking art, which someone who did not know martial arts could never block.

“What are you doing?”

Ju Ji-yak looked at it with a slightly blank expression.

Her face clearly showed that she could hardly believe what had happened just now, even though she had seen it with her own two eyes.

“Eek!”

At that moment, Ju Ja-in, whose face turned red with embarrassment, reached out even faster.

He had made a mistake due to carelessness earlier, but this time, such a thing would definitely not happen.

The joint-locking art, which was even infused with internal energy, flew faster, as if it would grab Dan So-mi’s collar in an instant.

At that moment, Dan So-mi also reached out.

Her small hand gently pushed away Ju Ja-in’s incoming hand.

When internal energy clashed with internal energy, Ju Ja-in fell back a few steps.

“W… What!”

The one flustered was Ju Ja-in.

A girl who looked like she knew nothing of martial arts had pushed him back.

His surprise grew even greater at the reality that made no sense no matter how he thought about it.

Ju Ja-in was not the only one surprised.

Even Ju Ji-yak and Hong Jin-rang, who were watching from the side, opened their eyes wide.

The two of them had never once seen Dan So-mi perform martial arts until now.

Of course, since she lived in the Hunan Dan Family, they thought she must have received a few lessons for self-defense.

But to think she could humiliate Ju Ja-in, whose skills even Hong Jin-rang could not handle.

Ju Ji-yak’s eyes sparkled.

“Amazing, So-mi!”

“Hehe…”

Dan So-mi scratched her head and laughed awkwardly.

Namgung Cheon and Sado Hak had taught her, but she had never imagined she would use it like this.

“Did… Did you learn martial arts?”

“Huh? It is just self-defense…”

Swish!

Ju Ja-in, whose anger reached the top of his head, rushed forward.

He closed the distance in an instant like a swift beast.

Like the sharp claws of a leopard, his hand dug straight toward Dan So-mi’s chest.

A strike showing no mercy.

If hit, even Dan So-mi would definitely not be safe.

However, Dan So-mi lightly parried Ju Ja-in’s incoming hand and extended her leg, kicking his knee.

Thud!

“Ack?!”

A flustered expression was clear on Ju Ja-in’s face as he lost his balance and staggered.

The moment he tried to balance himself by placing one hand on the ground, Dan So-mi’s foot stopped in front of his face.

“Ugh…!”

“I won, right?”

However, she did not strike.

If she had extended it as it was, even Ju Ja-in, who had undergone marrow cleansing and drank spiritual medicine like water to increase his internal energy, would definitely not have been safe.

Ju Ja-in’s face turned beet red.

“You wench…!”

“Are you trying to fight?”

Ju Ja-in, who was about to order his guards to kill Dan So-mi immediately, shut his mouth.

It was because the owner of the cold, hard voice was now standing in front of him.

Ju Ji-yak, squinting her eyes, looked quite angry.

It was fine to exchange playful banter, but fighting seriously was strictly forbidden.

No matter what anyone said, the power possessed by the Prince of Jin, the current Emperor’s younger brother, surpassed that of the Prince of Geum.

“Never mind!”

Ju Ja-in, springing up from his spot, gnashed his teeth and turned his back.

Glaring at Dan So-mi with a flushed face and a sharp gaze, he began to stride away.

Ju Ji-yak burst into laughter as she watched his departing back.

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