Chapter 137: Chapter 137
Their sprint did not stop.
They continued their journey towards the Divine Spear Yang Clan, even changing carriages several times.
Perhaps it was thanks to such haste.
Despite the considerable distance to Lanzhou in Gansu, they were able to arrive at the Divine Spear Yang Clan much faster than expected.
Neigh!
The martial artist of the Divine Spear Yang Clan sitting in the driver’s seat snatched the reins.
“Patriarch, we have arrived.”
Yang Jo-gang-gang opened the carriage door.
As soon as he got down.
“Patriarch!”
“Did you bring the young lady?”
A commotion broke out outside.
When dozens of voices, not just one or two, dizzyingly filled their ears.
“I will get off first, Great Hero.”
Yang Se-ryeong got down with those words.
At that moment, it became even more chaotic.
“Young Lady!”
“Are you alright?”
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
Cheon-hwi slyly looked outside the carriage door.
Whether it was because they were a clan bound by blood, or because Yang Se-ryeong was loved by them.
They left Yang Jo-gang-gang as he was and entirely clung to Yang Se-ryeong.
“Tsk, to ignore the Patriarch like this.”
“Is the Patriarch important right now?”
“That’s right! How much our young lady suffered…….”
“……Well, I just said it. I also went because I was worried about Se-ryeong.”
Yang Jo-gang-gang grumbled at the scolding.
‘It is a quite interesting place.’
It was a truly fascinating situation.
Usually, in a family, the Patriarch was a leader overflowing with dignity, and it was natural for most of the family members to find him difficult to approach.
However, how were they treating him now?
He was almost treated like cold rice.
When most of the family members were closely clinging to Yang Se-ryeong and worrying.
“Se-ryeong.”
A woman’s voice was heard.
At the same time, those who had clung around Yang Se-ryeong split wide open.
“Se-ryeong!”
A beautiful middle-aged woman appeared between them.
The beautiful middle-aged woman, whose appearance looked exactly like what Yang Se-ryeong would become as she aged, ran breathlessly and embraced Yang Se-ryeong.
Trickle…
With tears slightly welling up, she slowly stroked Yang Se-ryeong’s face while hugging her.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
Looking at a streak of tears flowing with her words, Yang Se-ryeong choked up.
However, suppressing it firmly, she opened her mouth.
“……I…… am alright.”
“Thank goodness. I am so relieved. Really…….”
Their suppressing of tears was only for a moment.
“Sob.”
As Yang Se-ryeong finally could not hold back and choked up, the two wailed and hugged each other tightly.
At the same time, the Divine Spear Yang Clan family members around them also began to wipe away tears.
Amidst a situation where a sea of tears unfolded.
‘It’s a lost cause to go out now.’
Cheon-hwi, who was about to go out, sat back down.
It was because he instinctively felt that going out for no reason would only become bothersome.
‘They will call me on their own when they calm down.’
Resting while leaning against the backrest for a while.
“Great Hero.”
As expected, Yang Se-ryeong called.
“Hmm? It seems to be all over now.”
Whether she had shed a bout of tears, Yang Se-ryeong with swollen eyes nodded her head.
He turned his head and looked outside the carriage.
The rising stars had already come out of their carriages and were exchanging greetings here and there.
“Heave-ho.”
The moment he got up and alighted from the carriage.
“So it is you. The one who saved our daughter…….”
The beautiful middle-aged woman approached immediately.
Perhaps because she had wailed, she approached while letting out a slightly hoarse voice.
Then she held Cheon-hwi’s hands tightly.
“Thank you for saving my daughter.”
Cheon-hwi looked at the hands of the beautiful middle-aged woman holding his, then met her eyes.
‘She is like Hyeon-ryeo.’
Looking at her actions and expressions that faintly resembled Hyeon-ryeo’s way of speaking and behavior.
“Ah right, I haven’t revealed my name.”
The beautiful middle-aged woman released the hands she was holding.
After that, she took a fist-and-palm salute and smiled.
“I am Gongsun Yeon.”
‘Gongsun? Then is it the Gongsun Clan?’
Cheon-hwi gazed at the woman.
It was not one of the current Eight Great Clans, but a place that was one of the Five Great Clans of the past.
‘I thought the Gongsun Clan had perished since it wasn’t in the Eight Great Clans, but it seems they are maintaining their lineage.’
At that moment, Yang Se-ryeong approached.
“She is my mother.”
Her explanation was added, but Cheon-hwi was calm as if he already knew.
It was because he had roughly noticed it.
Looking at the reactions of others, it had already seemed to be so.
As soon as she appeared, the family members split wide open and cleared the way on their own,
Then Gongsun Yeon formed an eye smile.
“If it is alright, could I know the Young Hero’s name?”
“It is difficult to reveal.”
At Cheon-hwi’s indifferent words, several figures of the Divine Spear Yang Clan flinched for a moment, but.
“Is that so.”
She, the person in question, let it out softly.
Afterwards, she scanned Cheon-hwi up and down, then moved her lips with a satisfied face.
“Everyone has secrets they cannot reveal, so I will not ask any further.”
“You are refreshing, unlike a certain someone.”
“Is that so?”
When she covered her mouth and smiled.
“Is that ‘certain someone’ by any chance me?”
Yang Jo-gang-gang abruptly revealed himself.
Having perhaps heard their conversation, he, with a face full of dissatisfaction, glared at Cheon-hwi’s mouth, waiting for it to open.
Staring continuously with eyes saying ‘Let’s see you answer!’, for a moment, the closed lips parted just as he wished.
“You know it well.”
Yang Jo-gang-gang’s eyebrows twitched.
His lips opened, but the words that came out from between them were not the answer he had wanted.
However, that was not the end.
“I suffered because you were incredibly persistent.”
Cheon-hwi immediately opened his mouth again and drove a wedge in deeply.
“Persistent!”
Yang Jo-gang-gang’s face crumpled.
“I only asked what is natural as a Patriarch. We must know your identity for this family to feel at ease and your visit…….”
“That is what it means to be persistent.”
“Then we don’t know your identity…….”
Cheon-hwi looked with fascination at him chattering continuously without resting.
He was a truly unique individual.
His perception was that usually the head of a sect would be heavy and serious, but Yang Jo-gang-gang in front of him was not.
‘What kind of Patriarch talks so much.’
It felt like even a merchant selling goods in the marketplace would not blabber like that.
“We need to at least know a name…….”
Even during that time as he continued to mutter, Gongsun Yeon grabbed his forearm.
“Husband. Shouldn’t we welcome the guest rather than keeping him standing here?”
It was soft words, but Yang Jo-gang-gang instantly froze in that state.
It was because, unlike her fully curved eye corners, the pupils gazing at him were frozen as cold as a sheet of ice.
“K-Khm.”
Yang Jo-gang-gang repeatedly cleared his throat.
“I-I was planning to do so, Madam.”
He subtly answered as if he had intended to do so from the start and turned his body.
At the same time, his atmosphere changed.
‘Does it mean public and private matters are different?’
Cheon-hwi’s eyes half-closed.
If he had been no different from a merchant one might see in some marketplace just moments ago, the presence he exuded now was heavy.
Yang Jo-gang-gang let out a low voice towards the family members chattering chaotically.
“Everyone, welcome the guest.”
In an instant, the commotion ended.
At the same time, the family members who had been ignoring him until now bowed their heads and answered in unison.
“Understood. Patriarch.”
While watching the family members move in perfect order at just a single word, Yang Se-ryeong raised her head and met his gaze.
“I will guide the Great Hero…….”
“Se-ryeong.”
Gongsun Yeon grabbed Yang Se-ryeong’s hand.
“M-Mother?”
“Follow me for a moment.”
“But I must guide the Great Hero…….”
“That is not your job.”
Gongsun Yeon, having spoken firmly, slightly looked back and moved her lips.
“Seo-yun.”
At the call, a single woman approached.
A girl with a soft impression wearing blue clothes approached with short, quick steps.
“Matriarch, did you call me?”
“Could you guide him to the detached pavilion?”
“Understood.”
As the woman called Seo-yun nodded and was about to approach Cheon-hwi.
“But I…… M-Mother?”
Yang Se-ryeong did not give up and spoke, but.
“That is Seo-yun’s job.”
Gongsun Yeon forcefully led her hand and went inside the main gate.
Watching the two slip inside, Seo-yun approached and sparkled her eyes.
“This girl will guide you.”
The place he arrived following her was a large detached pavilion in the backyard of the Divine Spear Yang Clan.
There were as many as three pavilions larger than expected, and it was a place accompanied by a neat lake and a garden; she said it was a place opened only when precious guests arrived.
“It certainly warrants that.”
Cheon-hwi was convinced by her words.
Despite being a detached pavilion, the water of the lake was clean, and the flowers and grass in the garden bloomed beautifully, perhaps because they cleaned it neatly every day.
When Cheon-hwi entered the largest of the detached pavilion’s halls and was sipping tea while looking at the scenery outside the window.
Creak!
The door opened and Yang Se-ryeong entered.
“Great Hero.”
At that moment, Seo-yun, who was pouring tea beside him, was surprised and gazed at Yang Se-ryeong.
“Oh my, Young Lady.”
Her appearance was different from usual.
Instead of the martial arts uniform she wore almost every day, she was wearing splendid clothing, and on her face, she had light makeup on for the first time in her life.
In an instant, Seo-yun smiled insidiously.
“Then since the Young Lady has come, this girl will take her leave now.”
Having spoken lowly, she walked backwards past Yang Se-ryeong and whispered quietly.
“Then, Young Lady. Have a good time with him.”
“……A good time?”
Yang Se-ryeong tilted her head as if asking what she meant, then belatedly realizing the intent of her words, she dyed her face bright red.
“S-Seo-yun……!”
Yang Se-ryeong glared with wide eyes.
“It’s not like that.”
She spoke forcefully with a firm tone, but Seo-yun smiled radiantly.
“Yes, yes. I know everything.”
“You, right now…….”
As Yang Se-ryeong spoke while trembling.
“This girl will go now.”
Seo-yun hastily ran away.
Yang Se-ryeong looked sideways at the back of the vigorously running Seo-yun, then let out a sigh.
After doing so for a moment, she gazed at Cheon-hwi.
‘……He has no reaction.’
Usually, men around his age could not take their eyes off her.
It was hard to say it with her own mouth, but she could be considered a beauty.
Was that all?
She was someone who ordinarily wouldn’t even wear powder, but right now it was different.
It was because her mother had suddenly done her makeup and dressed her in clothes.
Even she had been so surprised when she first saw the bronze mirror that it felt like it wasn’t herself.
The man in front of her didn’t even pay attention.
No, he pretended not to see her.
And that rather drew her interest and allowed her to approach comfortably.
‘He is different from the guys who only had ulterior motives.’
She approached Cheon-hwi.
“Great Hero. I came to keep my promise.”
“Promise?”
“I said I would show you mountain and sea delicacies if you came to our family.”
“Ah!”
Cheon-hwi stood up from his seat.
“Where is it?”
“Follow me.”
He came out of the detached pavilion together with Yang Se-ryeong.
Subsequently, as the two walked across the garden of the Divine Spear Yang Clan, passing family members with sparkling eyes struck up a conversation.
“Young Lady! You are truly pretty today!”
“It is good to see!”
“What a perfect match!”
At the continuous praises and words subtly trying to link them, regardless of men and women of all ages, Yang Se-ryeong reddened her face in embarrassment.
“What are you doing without working?”
Yang Se-ryeong spoke coldly, but the family members smiled warmly, perhaps enjoying such a reaction from Yang Se-ryeong.
“Aigoo! Since I’m getting older, I completely forgot.”
“Haha, I will quickly go to work.”
“Hey, what are you guys doing! Isn’t the Young Lady telling you to work!”
At their tone and actions that seemed to tease her, Yang Se-ryeong touched her forehead as if her head ached.
‘……It must be Seo-yun’s doing.’
Recalling Seo-yun, who could not get enough of romance stories, she let out an inward sigh and glanced at Cheon-hwi.
‘Fortunately, the Great Hero isn’t bothered by it.’
It was an appearance without even any reaction.
Though she liked the appearance without ulterior motives, when he actually continued to show not even a single reaction, she felt a tiny bit disappointed.
‘……Do I lack charm that much? A-Ah, no! What am I thinking.’
She shook her head vigorously.
‘It’s not like I put on makeup to look good to him.’
To shake off the thoughts dominating her mind, she walked with large strides.
A moment later, as Yang Se-ryeong, who had arrived in front of a certain room, opened the door.
Rattle…
Everyone’s gazes were concentrated.
Inside, the rising stars, Yang Jo-gang-gang, and Gongsun Yeon were already seated all around.
They widened their eyes roundly as they saw Yang Se-ryeong.
How was her usual appearance?
A martial arts uniform and bare face were routine.
Even so, her beauty was widely known, but right now she was wearing silk clothes and even had makeup on.
Everyone’s gazes flocked to that beautiful charm.
In particular, the surprise of Yang Jo-gang-gang, who knew Yang Se-ryeong hated makeup, was on a different level.
“S-Se-ryeong?”
Unlike Yang Jo-gang-gang whose mouth hung wide open, Gongsun Yeon right beside him was satisfied.
“Doesn’t the makeup suit her really well?”
“Did you, did you do it, Madam?”
“That’s right.”
“It does suit her, but…….”
Yang Se-ryeong’s appearance was beautiful.
So much so that it reminded him of the old days when he first saw Gongsun Yeon.
But there was just one thing.
There was something he didn’t like.
‘Why must she be with that guy of all people…….’
Yang Jo-gang-gang’s eyes fixed on Cheon-hwi.
His expression instantly crumpled.
He didn’t like it, but since he stood together with Yang Se-ryeong, didn’t it make a perfect picture?
Other rising stars could not withhold their admiration as well, perhaps thinking the same.
“It suits you really well.”
“……It suits you.”
“It looks like a piece of a painting.”
“Wow! It suits you well!”
Yang Se-ryeong was slightly surprised by the suddenly concentrated gazes, but soon smiled.
‘It seems I didn’t turn out ugly at least.’
Her confidence, which had instantly shrunk dry due to Cheon-hwi’s indifference, raised its head again.
Meanwhile, Cheon-hwi did not hear at all whatever they said.
There was only one thing captivating his senses.
The sumptuous feast on the table.
‘It is superior to a decent inn.’
Centered around a pork dish placed grandly in the middle, enough dishes were placed on top to break the table.
Cheon-hwi, who was smelling the savory scent heavily wafting from the table, sat in an empty seat.
That place was across from Yang Jo-gang-gang, which was usually a burdensome seat, but Cheon-hwi didn’t have an inch of hesitation.
At such an attitude of Cheon-hwi, Yang Se-ryeong was flustered, then after slightly reading the room, she sat in the empty seat next to him.
Lightning sparked in Yang Jo-gang-gang’s eyes.
“Se-ryeong. How about sitting over here instead of there?”
As he spoke pointing to the seat next to him.
“Husband.”
Gongsun Yeon gave him a signal.
Yang Jo-gang-gang wasn’t pleased at all, but shut his mouth at Gongsun Yeon’s gaze.
‘It’s a proper dish for the first time in a while.’
Meanwhile, whether they did so or not, Cheon-hwi lifted his chopsticks and picked up the food.
Fried food, pork, noodles, soup, etc.
Cheon-hwi started to taste the dishes one by one with elegant chopstick handling.
Yang Jo-gang-gang was dumbfounded by that appearance of him not caring whether everyone stared or not, then shook his head.
“First, it would be good to finish the conversation we were having earlier.”
He looked at Peng Cheol-wi and asked.
“Then will you stay in our family?”
“I plan to devote myself to treatment.”
Peng Cheol-wi said while looking at the rising stars.
Due to the continuous Heaven and Earth Net, their physical conditions were not in a very good state.
Especially, the wound on Peng Cheol-wi’s side was widely opened from blocking ambushes without even a chance to treat it.
“And after that, what will you…….”
As he was about to ask with a serious expression.
Clatter…
Cheon-hwi suddenly put down his chopsticks.
“This is a pity.”
At his sudden action, the conversation stopped and everyone’s gazes were concentrated.
Yang Jo-gang-gang frowned.
“What is a pity?”
“You still don’t know?”
As Cheon-hwi furrowed his brows and asked back with a serious expression for the first time, not only Yang Jo-gang-gang but everyone swallowed their nervousness.
Cheon-hwi, who had been glaring at the dining table for a long time, met Yang Jo-gang-gang’s eyes and opened his mouth.
“Why is there no alcohol?”
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