“Has everyone arrived?”
Jong Ri-heon asked about the safety of people he brought in earlier.
“Yes. Monk Seok Jong arrived four days ago and is staying in the guest room. Also Ju Ya-seong arrived yesterday, and he is being taken care of. Nothing is lacking.”
“Thank you.”
Jong Ri-heon smiled, and so did Jong Rimi.
He was very concerned that they would suddenly leave or something would arise. All the more so with the warriors who just came and were shattering all their expectations.
“But they…”
The general asked.
Two men and a young boy looked around, giggling like this was a new world—he was wondering why they were brought here.
“Ah, they are the new people who will help us.”
“Hmm. Is that so?”
The general seemed slightly shocked, but then he lowered the head and said,
“I will guide them in.”
“Thank you.”
Jong Ri-heon said so, and then he said to Jong Rimi,
“You should get some rest. Haven’t we journeyed long?”
“Brother should also rest.”
“It is fine. I have something to share with the general.”
When Jong Ri-heon gave her a slight look, she nodded and moved out.
“General, what are the elders doing?”
When Jong Rimi disappeared, Jong Ri-heon lowered his voice and spoke, and the general responded,
“A little while ago, everyone gathered in the main room, and it was a family meeting.”
“Ah…”
Jong Ri-heon sighed.
He knew exactly when he would arrive and held the meeting.
It was an unspoken request for the successor to personally observe it and to give general information about tomorrow’s matches, and they said they would follow him.
“Your travel pains haven’t been resolved yet, so why don’t you rest? If you go there you will only feel upset at things.”
It was something he was worried about, the elders holding a family meeting.
Most of the people there were not on the side of Jong Ri-heon. Maybe it was to say they were going to take this head on.
But Jong Ri-heon had other plans.
“No. There are people who have followed me constantly, so I have to meet and greet them. Also, shouldn’t I check who the others have brought?”
He brushed off his clothes and stood tall. Seeing that determination, the general lowered his head.
“Then I will serve you first.”
“Oh, so tasty!”
“This tastes like silk. Hahaha!”
At the sound of the bright laughter, the general turned his head and it felt like a couple more wrinkles were now on his face.
As they approached the main hall, the servants bowed and relayed the message and then came out as Jong Ri-heon stood in front of the door.
“Jong Ri-heon.”
“Oh! Come in!”
Listening to the cheerful voices of the elders, Jong Ri-heon entered. All seven old men were sitting there.
All were elders of the family, with four on one side and two near the seat of the head of the family.
“Long time no see. Did you have a good time?”
And the old man, the First Elder, who presided over the meeting was on the left side…
“Yes.”
As soon as Jong Ri-heon answered, the First Elder, said,
“But… the rumors I heard was that you were feeling a bit uncomfortable. The young master said that you went to see a fortune teller.”
“…”
“I feel like there must be some misunderstanding. So, please take care of yourself so that nothing worrisome happens. No matter how rushed you are feeling, bringing in a fortune teller will tarnish the name of the family.”
“Yes”
“Right.”
“Hahaha!!!”
At the words of the First Elder, the others supported each other. The ridicule directed at him was so awkward.
And when the laughter faded, Jong Ri-heon said,
“Yes. I will take care of my attitude so that the elders won’t have to worry. Ah, speaking of it…”
He looked around and then said, looking at the First Elder,
“Is there anything dirtier and more shameful than betraying someone you trusted?”
“…Haha. What do you mean?”
“Everyone will know. At least, those who are here will know.”
“Is that so? Then this old man will speak of this later.”
The First Elder replied with only light words.
Seeing that, Jong Ri-heo only clenched his fist.
…Dirty shit.
The First Elder, when his father was alive, this man was his best support. He, who had been attached to his father like some concubine, was now trying to expel him from his own home. He had hidden his true intentions as he helped Jong Ri-heon grow.
“Sit on one side.”
And in time, the next elder said that, trying to change the atmosphere.
Jong Ri-heon shook his head.
He was just trying to see his opponents, but judging by this atmosphere, it would not be easy to stay here longer.
“Then, I am busy so I will leave…”
And when he was turning around,
“The lady is here!”
Jong Ri-heon frowned at the announcement.
The person he did not want to meet in this situation had just arrived.
“Oh, the young master is here.”
Appearing from behind and dressed in fancy clothes, she pretended to speak kindly.
She was the concubine claiming to be the lady of the home, and her son, Ja Myung was right next to her.
“Have you been well?”
Jong Ri-heon calmly said,
“As you can see.”
“Yes. The fate of the family will be decided tomorrow.”
“…”
Sshh
They passed by him and did not care as they sat down. And Jabi, who calmly tidied her clothes said,
“Now that we are gathered like this, why don’t we speak?”
“What do you mean? Lady?”
At those words Jong Ri-heon’s face hardened.
Originally, she was a concubine to his father, so he should be referring to his mother as Lady, but he had to do this here because she had been acknowledged.
Of course, he was not in a state to call her whatever he wanted.
“Don’t we all have three cards? Let’s put them out in the open to know the strength of the opponent.”
“I am not…”
“Let’s start with the one who brought it up.”
Jong Ri-heon wanted to refuse but she was faster.
“Kang Won-tae, was the person we brought.”
“…!”
Jong Ri-heon’s eyes widened.
This name was a famous one he had heard of before. The man was known to be one of the three greatest swordsmen in this region and was known to have surpassed everyone here.
“Kang Won-tae…”
“Right. One in the top three.”
“He is coming here?”
The elders in the room were all shocked at this.
Kang Won-tae was a big name. He was a swordsman who has been making a name for himself since seven years back, and he was known to be the next greatest swordsman.
It was like a bizarre thing for such a person to come here. And he was known to have the best sword technique.
Lee Geon, the successor of the Shadow Phantom Sword technique was unable to fully grasp it, and the technique had nine levels while everyone else was at just seven. However, Kang Won-tae managed to get to the ninth level.
He was the head of the Shadow Phantom Sword Clan which currently had nearly a hundred disciples, and this man was known to be the strongest, or at least in top three.
Ah…
And this made Jong Ri-heon’s mind turn complicated.
He expected them to bring out some outstanding talented warriors, but he could not help but feel despair at the name he heard.
But—
“But of the three people he isn’t even the best.”
“Is that true?”
“My lady, you are not lying about this are you?”
Her words intensified the reaction from the elder, because it was hard to think about anyone stronger than Kang Won-tae.
“Of course, how can one act lightly when the fate of the family is at stake?”
The woman smiled with a hand covering her mouth. She was confident in what she did, and the smile felt like daggers to Jong Ri-heon.
“So, who did the young master bring?”
The words of hers drew all the eyes to the other side. And the eyes of Ja Myung could be seen looking down.
Jong Ri-heon was calm as he said,
“I also have a big heart on wanting to show myself to all, but as you said isn’t this an important place to decide the things of the family?”
“…”
“You will know this tomorrow anyway, so don’t ask for more.”
Saying that Jong Ri-heon turned around, and he received the stares of anxious elders but ignored it all.
Keeek!
As he left and the door closed, the lady said some more,
“Oh my. It looks like he is empty handed. At a time like this he doesn’t even say a name…”
“Huk. Maybe he did bring the fortune teller.”
“Kuahaha!”
“Hehehehe!”
A loud voice that could be heard from outside. The sound was painful to him.
“Huh, seriously.”
Seol-Hwi and the party were given guest rooms, all new.
The chairs, the furniture within, and everything else was on a different level compared to what they had been using until now.
It could not be helped since they had been in the Demonic Sect up until this point, and all they did was live to survive rather than being able to enjoy themselves.
Moreover, the daily necessities provided to the people there who did not even have a proper name were even worse.
But here, it was the opposite, everything from the building to its interior to its food, everything was different.
The house of the family they came to help, even the guest room held silk fabric and pottery and all sorts of things a wealthy man would have. They were supposedly one of the wealthiest families in the area.
“This is so nice.”
In particular, Seol-Hwi drew attention to the pottery placed.
“Oh. This is the Sancai.”
Imugi pretended to know. It was something else, but he used fancy words like someone who had been living this kind of life.
“Is this good?”
“Very good.”
“How much will this cost?”
“Don’t know. Maybe five pieces of gold?”
“Will they notice if this is missing?”
“…Of course they will. Don’t you know how expensive this is?”
“The chair then?”
Seol-Hwi said to which Imugi stuttered.
“A chair… even if I knew I wouldn’t bother.”
“Bed?”
“The bed too…”
Songhwa shook his head.
After coming to the central plains, Seol-Hwi had this obsession with money.
He was a person with no vanity about things.
At first he wondered why.
<Your mental strength has been restored.>
He had been training his mind ever since he left. On that day, when his body felt exhausted, when he had had no energy, and was unable to move his body, all of a sudden a surge of strength flowed through him.
‘I have a good number of talents. The better the elixir the better the effect. So it is essential to raise money to get such things.’
After that, Songhwa decided to not ask anymore.
And he believed that there was a meaning for it.
“Dinner is served.”
Soon the food for the guests were served and everyone was seated. It was duck soup. It was soft food that was perfect for a long trip.
“An expert must have made this.”
“It is soft.”
In the midst of eating food served by rich families, Imugi spoke slowly.
“Uh, Master. After coming here it seems like quite a rich house.”
“I know.”
“Yes.”
Imugi just placed the duck meat in his mouth and spoke with serious eyes.
“I did some thinking about how can we help them more reliably in here, but then—”
“But?”
Seol-Hwi also stopped moving.
Imugi was good at using his brain and because he seemed serious. Seol-Hwi was sure of it. Songhwa too focused on him
“The one who brought us. Didn’t they say there were two others helping him?”
“Yes, two other warriors.”
“Why don’t we dispose of them quietly?”
“…!”