Chapter 56 : Your Greed Is Excessive. -02

Chapter 56: Your Greed Is Excessive. -02

When the two daughters sat down on their chairs, Peng Mancheol slowly lifted the teapot.

He then used the method of Sammaejinhwa to warm the tea.

Though it was said to be autumn, the night wind was still rather chilly, so Peng Mancheol filled his two daughters’ teacups with the warmed tea.

“Thank you.”

After pouring tea into his daughters’ cups, Peng Mancheol filled his own cup as well.

In an instant, the fragrance of tea filled the room.

“Hwayeong, you look like you know why I called you.”

“You called me to ask about the three of them, didn’t you?”

“That’s right. The child of the Seonwu Family, yes, but also the child of the Seo Family. His talent is anything but ordinary.”

Peng Mancheol’s eyes gleamed.

Seonwu Bang, who had defeated his eldest son Peng Chu-yeong, was certainly astonishing, but he could not be compared to Seo Joun.

Moreover, in Peng Mancheol’s eyes, Seo Joun was a child who had only recently entered martial arts.

“I heard he suffered from the Nine Yang Severed Meridians.”

“So it was as I thought. After all, that level of Extreme Yang Energy is not easily obtained even through spiritual medicine.”

As with all inner energy, Extreme Yang Energy also came in different types.

And the Extreme Yang Energy Seo Joun possessed was, even among Extreme Yang Energy, the purest—Pure Yang Energy.

No matter how pure a spiritual medicine was, the moment it entered the human body, its nature inevitably changed.

That was because it naturally mixed with human energy.

But Seo Joun was different.

He was born with inherently pure Extreme Yang Energy, so he possessed energy purer than anyone else’s.

“Wait a moment. If that’s the case, does that mean the Nine Yang Severed Meridians were cured?”

“Yes. He said Young Master Ban treated him.”

“How do you know?”

“I don’t know the detailed circumstances either. I just heard that much.”

Peng Suyeong showed a shocked expression.

A severed meridian was not called a severed meridian for nothing.

If it were easy to cure, it would never have been given such a name in the first place.

“If Heaven’s fortune aligns, it isn’t impossible. It’s rare, but there have been cases where the Nine Yang Severed Meridians or Nine Yin Severed Meridians were cured. Still, it’s unfortunate for Chu-yeong.”

“In just one year, he’ll have grown frighteningly fast.”

“That he will. It’s talent bestowed by Heaven.”

Peng Mancheol smacked his lips.

It was because neither he nor his son would likely be able to speak of becoming the Best Under Heaven this time.

Seo Joun was a problem, but the greatest wall was, as expected, Ban Hojin.

“But there’s someone he still can’t surpass, even with the talent of a fully cured Nine Yang Severed Meridians.”

“That’s right. In fact, that fellow is why I called you.”

“Because of Young Master Ban?”

“Yes.”

At Peng Mancheol’s answer, both Peng Hwayeong and Peng Suyeong revealed their curiosity.

They were both wondering what Peng Mancheol was about to say.

“I don’t know much about Young Master Ban either.”

“Even so, among us, haven’t you spent the longest time with him?”

“That’s true.”

Peng Hwayeong soon nodded.

Her father’s words were not wrong.

“And you benefited greatly as well.”

“I do think it was the right decision to go find him.”

“If you had been born a son, I wouldn’t be worrying like this.”

Suddenly, Peng Mancheol let out a deep sigh.

At that sight, both Peng Hwayeong and Peng Suyeong smiled awkwardly.

It wasn’t the first or second time their father had said something like that.

And both women knew well the reason behind it.

“There’s nothing we can do about that. And Eldest Brother is trying his best.”

“Effort is important, but what’s more important than that is results.”

“Even if I were a son, it would have been difficult to surpass Young Master Seo or Young Master Ban.”

“Still, you could have at least tried to contend.”

Peng Mancheol spoke with certainty.

As a father, he had recognized Peng Hwayeong’s talent long ago.

Once she grew older, Peng Hwayeong tried to hide it, but it was impossible to escape Peng Mancheol’s eyes.

“It would have been hard.”

“He’s certainly incredible now, but there’s such a thing as a stagnation period. It might just be that he reached it a little earlier than others.”

“Is that what you think, Father?”

Peng Hwayeong stared at Peng Mancheol with clear, deep eyes.

At that gaze, Peng Mancheol gave a bitter smile.

“He’s human too. He might stumble once or twice. There’s no such thing as a perfect person in this world.”

“There are people who come close to perfection. And you were the one who told us since childhood that the world is unfair.”

“Ugh!”

At the youngest daughter’s remark that naturally brought to mind the phrase ‘hoist by one’s own petard,’ Peng Mancheol let out a groan.

As he did, he once again recalled his sparring match with Ban Hojin.

“Shall we get to the main point now?”

“That fellow—what do you think of him as your partner?”

“What?”

Peng Hwayeong’s eyes widened to the point where it seemed impossible for them to grow any larger.

And the same was true for Peng Suyeong, who had been sitting quietly and listening.

It was such an unexpected statement that both of them stared at Peng Mancheol with eyes like startled rabbits.

“If my child can’t surpass him, then bringing him into our family is also one way. Moreover, I hear he doesn’t have a woman he’s seeing yet.”

“Uh…….”

Peng Hwayeong stammered.

She was flustered by the sudden remark.

“Seeing how you didn’t immediately say you hated the idea, it seems you don’t dislike that fellow.”

“Father!”

“See? Even now.”

“No, that’s not what’s important right now! Why did the conversation suddenly go that way?”

“If Chu-yeong can’t become the Best Under Heaven, then bringing someone close to that level under the fence of the main house is also one method. There’s a very good method called becoming an adopted son-in-law, isn’t there?”

Unlike the startled Peng Hwayeong, Peng Mancheol’s expression was calm.

It was something he had thought about since the first time he saw Ban Hojin, so there was no hesitation in his words.

He also thought it was better than a political marriage with someone whose face he had never even seen.

“I’m sorry, but the decision isn’t up to us.”

“I know. In this world, the side that wants more inevitably becomes the weaker party. But if you think about it the other way around, isn’t there no partner more suitable than you?”

“That’s not true. Just thinking about it, there’s Sambong right away. For women, looks are more important than martial talent anyway.”

“What’s wrong with you!”

Peng Mancheol shouted angrily.

He was agitated because his precious youngest daughter spoke as if she were belittling herself.

At Peng Mancheol’s roar that made the room resound, Peng Hwayeong and Peng Suyeong simultaneously covered their ears with both hands.

“Objectively speaking, that’s how it is. Honestly, Sambong is far more beautiful. And it’s not like she never met her—if anything, I heard all three of them saw her at Shaolin.”

“What matters in marriage isn’t appearance. And while it’s true that looks carry weight between men and women, what overcomes appearance is charm!”

“But Young Master Ban might not think that way.”

“Hmph!”

Peng Mancheol snorted.

The youngest daughter’s words also had some merit.

However, he did not see things as negatively as Peng Hwayeong did.

“If I were Young Master Ban, I think I’d feel uncomfortable hearing this. The first impression wasn’t very good to begin with, and then suddenly bringing up marriage like that.”

“But if not now, there won’t be another chance. I hear he’s leaving tomorrow?”

“He said he’s going to the Murong Family.”

“That’s what I mean. The Murong Family has White Lotus Flower, doesn’t it? Wait. Could it be that going to the Murong Family is?”

Peng Mancheol furrowed his pitch-black, thick eyebrows.

Thinking about it carefully, suspicion arose.

That he just happened to be going to the Murong Family, of all places.

“It’s possible, isn’t it?”

“You think so too, don’t you?”

“Yes. There’s no need to go all the way to the Murong Family from Shaolin.”

Peng Suyeong also wore a doubtful expression.

Hebei Province wasn’t that far from Shaolin, but the Murong Family was different.

“Did you hear anything separately?”

“No. We hardly have any private conversations. Surprisingly, he doesn’t bring up personal matters much. But it seems Father really took a liking to Young Master Ban.”

“There’s no better groom candidate. In fact, in terms of being able to take him in as an adopted son-in-law, he’s better than the child of the Namgung Family. And it’s not like he lacks background either.”

Peng Hwayeong smiled awkwardly.

It seemed Peng Mancheol had fallen for Ban Hojin quite deeply.

“But as I said earlier, the decision lies with Young Master Ban.”

“That’s why you have to persuade him well. He might already have feelings for you. From the start, all possibilities are fifty-fifty. Sixty percent, ninety percent—those numbers are meaningless. And Suyeong.”

Peng Mancheol spoke as if Peng Hwayeong’s opinion wasn’t all that important.

And Peng Hwayeong herself had no dissatisfaction with that point.

From the beginning, a political marriage was an unavoidable fate for a daughter of a prestigious family.

If she hated it, she could abandon everything and leave.

Peng Hwayeong’s expression stiffened slightly, but Peng Mancheol did not see it.

Instead, he called Peng Suyeong.

“Yes, Father.”

“The child of the Seo Family—what did you think?”

“What?”

Not only Peng Suyeong but also Peng Hwayeong widened their eyes.

It was because words they had never even imagined came out of Peng Mancheol’s mouth.

“I mean that fellow Seo Joun. He seems suitable as your partner. The age gap isn’t that big either. And since he’s the third, he could be taken in as an adopted son-in-law too.”

“Uh…….”

Peng Suyeong couldn’t continue speaking.

Since it was a statement she hadn’t anticipated in the slightest, she stammered.

“I think he’s fine.”

“Isn’t this too sudden?”

Peng Hwayeong spoke up in place of her older sister.

No matter what, this was far too abrupt.

“If there’s a good candidate, you have to seize him. Didn’t you say it yourself? That even just one year from now, he’d devour most of the rising juniors.”

“You have to consider how my sister feels too.”

“Did I say to get married right now? I just asked what you thought.”

“That’s basically the same thing. And my sister saw Young Master Seo for the first time today.”

“Seeing his face is enough. Back in my day, we held the ceremony without even knowing each other’s faces.”

Peng Mancheol said proudly.

As if to say that compared to his generation, things had changed quite a lot.

However, Peng Hwayeong couldn’t accept that.

“That may have been true in your time, Father, but things are different now.”

“People’s lives are all pretty similar. By now, you should have sorted out your thoughts to some extent, right?”

Peng Mancheol’s gaze turned toward Peng Suyeong.

He thought he had given her more than enough time to think.

“I’m not sure.”

“That means you don’t dislike him, right? Honestly, his looks aren’t quite to my taste—he looks like a gigolo—but his talent is undeniable. A family that’s too powerful isn’t good either. Something moderate is actually better.”

Peng Mancheol grinned.

Just like with the youngest, the fact that she didn’t immediately say she hated the idea told him she was thinking positively.

Though he didn’t find him particularly appealing, Seo Joun had an appearance women would likely like.

On top of that, his abilities were outstanding, so Peng Suyeong also seemed to view him favorably.

“But even this time, the decision lies with Young Master Seo.”

“Still, he’s easier than that fellow Hojin. I can personally send a letter to the Seo Family regarding the marriage.”

“Wouldn’t Young Master Seo dislike that even more?”

“He looks rather hot-tempered, but he can’t outright reject his parents’ wishes. That’s what it means to be a prestigious family.”

There was a reason political marriages existed.

Moreover, from the Seo Family’s perspective, forming ties with the Peng Family of Hebei would bring no disadvantages at all, so the marriage might even be concluded easily.

However, Peng Hwayeong shook her head.

She felt they couldn’t judge the matter by looking only at the Seo Family.

‘Behind Young Master Seo stands Young Master Ban.’

Ban Hojin and Seo Joun were practically sworn brothers.

And since Ban Hojin had saved Seo Joun’s life, it was highly likely that the Seo Family Head also carried a great debt of gratitude toward him.

“For now, just understand it that way. I’ll talk things over with those two fellows.”

“Yes.”

“Understood.”

Peng Hwayeong answered for now.

In the end, the one who would decide was Peng Mancheol, so she intended to wait and see.

Ban Hojin sat comfortably, watching the two who were circulating their energy while taking internal injury medicine.

Though it was a detached annex of the Peng Family of Hebei, one never knew, so he was standing guard.

“As expected of one of the Five Great Families. The effect is good.”

“Your family has internal injury medicine too, doesn’t it?”

“This seems better than what the main house makes?”