âL-Lord?â
Even Baek Cheon, who didnât lose his composure normally, instantly went red with shock.
The Sichuan Tang family.
How many in the world wouldnât be flustered at the formidable name being called in front of them?
âWow, suddenly the big giants are coming?â
Well, there was Chung Myung.
âThatâŠâ
âThat bastard probably doesnât even know what it means to be shocked or confused.â
âL-Lord Tang.â
Yoon Jong also couldnât hide how shocked he was.
âThis isnât like adults just getting involved in childrenâs fights⊠the Lord of the Tang family is here personally?â
Baek Cheon bit his lip.
He thought that the Tang family would intervene. But he never even imagined a situation where the head of the Tang family would take the initiative to do it.
It wasnât just Baek Cheon. Everyone there couldnât understand why and how this situation came about.
And at that moment, Jo Pyung who had sat on the floor, came to his senses and got up as he shouted.
âYou mean the head of the Tang family is directly here?â
âYes!â
âWhere is he?â
âHe is at the front door waiting for you.â
Jo Pyung gulped.
Waiting outside until the head of the house opened the door⊠it meant that he was still being polite to them.
If he had come to see blood spill, the man wouldnât have cared about all those things and would have just barged in.
At least, that was what Jo Pyung was thinking.
âGul.â
âYes, father!â
Jo Gul hurried to his father with a worried expression.
âFrom now on, no matter what happens, do not come out.â
âUh?â
âPromise me!â
ââŠâ
âDo it!â
ââŠYes, I understand.â
Jo Pyung looked at him with a stern gaze.
âNeither will any of you. You will never step out. You do not know what it means to go against the Tang family, especially in Sichuan! Donât ever come outside!â
At that earnest and resolute tone, Baek Cheon nodded his head.
âPhew.â
Taking a deep breath, Jo Pyung turned with a stiff face and stepped out. He wondered if he should just tell them all to run away.
However, since the head of the Tang family had come, it would be impossible to run away. Because the head of the Sichuan Tang family would never move alone.
Perhaps by now, all the Tang Family members who had come to escort the man here must have surrounded the house already.
âI am trapped.â
It was said that when bitten by a tiger a person has the chance to survive as long as he doesnât lose consciousness. Of course, it wasnât wrong.
But only about one in a thousand would be lucky enough to escape. The problem was that most people who were bitten by tigers would die whether they were conscious or not.
Jo Pyung bit his lip and stood in front of the door. Behind this door was the tiger.
No.
A truly terrifying man incomparable to a tiger was now waiting to bite him.
Seeing the people near the door trembling, Jo Pyung felt grateful for those who didnât leave him. If the man on the other side pushed open the door, they might have outright fainted.
Because that was how powerful the head of the Sichuan Tang family was.
âOpen the door!â
âYes!â
With Jo Pyungâs orders, the door opened. And through the opening, a dignified man in a green robe could be seen.
Jo Pyung bowed his head before the door even fully opened.
âIt is an honor to see the head of the Sichuan Tang family.â
Tang Gunak looked at Jo Pyung and nodded.
âIt has been so long.â
âYes, lord. I should have visited you first. Please punish me for making such a precious person come all the way here.â
âEnough with the politeness. I am here for work.â
Jo Pyung gulped.
âWould you like to come inside?â
âThat doesnât sound bad.â
âIâll guide you.â
With a stiff face, Jo Pyung guided Tang Gunak into the house.
As Tang Gunak was being guided, Tang Pae and Tang Zhan followed them.
Tang Zhan had made everyone nervous last night when he visited them, but now Jo Pyung didnât even care about him. No one would look at a wild cat when a tiger was right next to it.
And it had been a long time since Jo Pyungâs back, which was usually stiff since he had guided the merchants, was now lowered and humble towards the Tang family.
âWhat else can I do?â
Jo Pyung already knew it.
There was nothing that he could actually do. What was important now wasnât how he would react but rather what Tang Gunak was thinking when he came here.
âFor now, letâsâŠâ
âMerchant lord.â
At that moment, Jo Pyung stopped as he heard the low voice from behind him and went stiff.
âYes, Lord Tang!â
âAre the children inside?â
ââŠby children, you mean?â
âThe children from Mount Hua.â
Jo Pyung closed his eyes a little.
âThis is why he is here.â
âYes. They are.â
Lies meant nothing. At least not in front of this man.
âUm.â
There was a low hum from Tang Gunak. Just as Jo Pyung was holding his breath and shaking his head at the sound of Tang Gunak, the man spoke again.
âI think I want to see them.â
Cold sweat began to drip down Jo Pyungâs back.
He did expect this. But it felt too early! If the purpose of this man coming here was to see the disciples of Mount Hua, he thought he would at least corner Jo Pyung for it.
The fact that he spoke about this right away meant that he didnât want to deal with anything else and that he wanted to head right for the disciples of Mount Hua.
âMerchant lord.â
âUh? Ah! Yes!â
Jo Pyung who was back to reality, bowed his head.
âIt cannot be difficult to meet them, right?â
âO-Of course. ButâŠâ
Even using all of his mind to look for a way out of the situation, he couldnât find anything. Was there no way to not show that those people were in here?
âLord Tang. What happened yesterdayâŠâ
âUh. Right.â
Tang Gunak looked at Jo Pyung and smiled.
âCongratulations.â
ââŠUh?â
âI heard that the second son managed to show extraordinary results. He made sure our Tang Zhan was humiliated.â
Jo Pyungâs eyes trembled.
âIt was just luck. How could my son even go against yours?â
âHumility is a good thing.â
A smile crept onto his lips.
âBut excessive humility makes the other person feel uncomfortable. If it is something to be happy about, then you should feel free to rejoice.â
âYes, my lord.â
Jo Pyung was so shocked that he couldnât say anything, and Tang Gunak turned his head.
âTang Zhan.â
âYes! Lord!â
âYou tell me, did you get defeated because he was lucky?â
âNo. Jo Gul was strong.â
âRight.â
And he looked back at Jo Pyung, and spoke softly.
âIt would have been better if that talent shone under the name of the Tang family, but I am glad that he found a place where he could show off and use his talent.â
âT-thank you.â
âBut.â
A low voice.
The voice had a much different weight compared to his earlier tone. Jo Pyung bowed his head as if something was pushing it down.
âPeople are a lot more stupid than we think. Seeing what a few people with talent have done, they will assume that they can do it too. What do you think of that?â
Jo Pyungâs body trembled. There was only one answer he could give.
âEven if people are stupid, do they not value themselves more? There arenât many people who are blinded by greed.â
âThen how about you?â
Jo Pyung shook his head. In his eyes, he could see Tang Gunak smiling at him.
His lips were smiling but his eyes were cold. And facing the bizarre expression, Jo Pyungâs legs trembled, and his mouth turned dry.
âAre you dreaming of it?â
âMy dream is to be with Lord Tang.â
âThat is a nice answer.â
Tang Gunak nodded.
âTake me in. To see the children of Mount Hua.â
â⊠Lord Tang. They areâŠâ
âDidnât you listen to my words?â
ââŠâ
His eyes turned cold.
âIt is good that your son has achieved something great. But it seems like it has clouded the judgement of the Lord of the Merchants. I have said the same thing twice after coming here.â
Jo Pyung couldnât refuse anymore and then nodded his head.
âThis is the third time. Bring the disciples of Mount Hua to me. I wonât ask again.â
Jo Pyungâs legs trembled again.
His body was losing strength and his head felt dizzy. Any ordinary person who received the Tang Lordâs wrath wouldnât be able to stand.
But Jo Pyung didnât fall.
With the little strength left in his body, he smiled. Jo Pyung, with an expression which couldnât smile, cry, or get worried, spoke.
âLord Tang. The disciples of Mount Hua have come to my house as guests and among them is my son.â
âSo?â
Jo Pyung shook his head. His face was wet with sweat, but his mind wasnât failing him.
âAs a merchant and a host of the disciples, I cannot offer my guests up like that.â
Lord Tang looked at Jo Pyung with cold eyes.
âEven if your merchant chamber is destroyed?â
âWhere in this world would a father be afraid of such things for his son?â
âYou donât seem to understand what destroying means. If I use my hands, not a single rat from this place can survive. You do know that?â
âIf you have to do that!â
Jo Pyung spoke with firm eyes.
âPlease end it with my life alone. I will take responsibility for everything that has happened here!â
ââŠâ
âIt looks like people like you underestimate what the Tang family is.â
Tang Gunak snorted and continued.
âIt seems like the merchant lord seems to be drunk on an unknown dream. You seem to have forgotten what it means to get in the way of the Tang family. Well, I will let you know the style of the Tang family and make sure you never forget it.â
Tang Gunakâs fingers moved.
It was the moment when Jo Pyung clenched his fist and hoped the kids would run away.
âWait, that man has such a strange attitude.â
Thud!
The door to the central hall opened wide and a person walked out.
âDisciple Ch-Chung Myung!â
Jo Pyung was a bit shocked
âI told you to not comeâŠ!â
âAh, Lord, look at the situation and tell me. That mister came all the way here on purpose to do this! Do you hear that!?â
â⊠Uh?â
Jo Pyung turned his head with a bewildered face and looked at Tang Gunak.
But Tang Gunak was staring at Chung Myung intently as if he didnât care about Jo Pyung.
âAre you Mount Huaâs Divine Dragon?â
âYou arenât asking because you donât know right?â
âUh?â
Tang Gunak chuckled. Was there anyone who spoke up to him like this?
Well, it couldnât be known. Maybe in the past it happened.
But since he became the head of the Tang family, this was the first time. And he smiled.
But no one would think that this smile was a genuine one. How could one express a smile which would make them look so creepy?
Tang Zhan, who was looking at this from the side, went stiff. He knew better than anyone what would happen when his father had such an expression.
âMount Huaâs Divine Dragon. It has to be the Divine Dragon. You are a little different from what I expected, but it is fine.â
Tang Gunak smiled at Chung Myung.
âLetâs see it. What kind of person you are.â
And his hand slowly slipped into his sleeve.