Chapter 57 : Your Greed Is Excessive. -03

Chapter 57: Your Greed Is Excessive. -03

Despite his internal injuries being more severe, Sunwoo Bang finished circulating his qi and healing before Seo Joun did.

Unlike Seo Joun, for whom this kind of internal injury was a first, he had plenty of experience.

And because his essence, energy, and spirit were in harmony, his recovery was proportionally fast.

“Isn’t that a bit too honest? You should at least think about the main family.”

“If something deserves acknowledgment, it should be acknowledged. That’s how there’s progress.”

“Judging by your expression, you look like you want to take one with you if you could?”

“If I could, I would. From one perspective, internal injury medicine is made using secret methods, after all.”

Sunwoo Bang nodded.

It was as if he truly meant that he would do so if only he could.

However, there was no way the Hebei Peng Family would allow that so easily.

“Maybe I should have taken one too. I even sparred with the Blade King.”

“You’re more than qualified. But you didn’t go all out, did you?”

“I worked pretty hard in my own way.”

“In your own way?”

Sunwoo Bang let out a snort of laughter.

He could tell that the two words ‘in your own way’ carried a lot of meaning within them.

That made it all the more surprising.

“Yeah. That was enough.”

“Working ‘in your own way’ against the Blade King. I don’t know when I’ll be able to say something like that.”

“Probably sooner than you think. You feel it yourself too, don’t you?”

“Every night before I sleep, I think about it. That following you was really the right choice.”

“Hehehe.”

Ban Hojin laughed meaningfully.

True to his personality of being good at objectively assessing himself, he understood his intentions very well.

“That’s why I’m grateful. You showed me a much wider world.”

“It’s not all thanks to me. In the end, deciding whether to move forward or stop is up to you. Everything you’ve gained so far is the result of your own choices.”

“Would it hurt you to just say you understand?”

“It’s the truth.”

Ban Hojin shrugged.

At that sight, Sunwoo Bang made an expression as if he couldn’t deal with him.

Still, he too was smiling at this very moment.

‘Someday, I too.’

At the same time, Sunwoo Bang made a vow.

That even if it was difficult now, someday he would stand shoulder to shoulder beside Ban Hojin.

And he thought he would repay at least a little of what he had received so far.

“Is all internal injury medicine from prestigious families like this? The effect is incredible.”

“There’ll be some that are better or worse, but they’re roughly similar.”

“There really are so many things needed to leap up to becoming a prestigious family.”

Seo Joun, who had finished circulating his qi and healing, spoke with a serious face.

Just from a single pill of internal injury medicine, he could feel the difference between a prestigious family and the Seo Family Manor.

“It’s a field where it’s hard to see results in the short term. Unless you replicate it exactly.”

“Copying would probably be faster. But that’s a matter of conscience.”

At Sunwoo Bang’s words, Seo Joun briefly looked tempted, then shook his head.

No matter what, replication didn’t feel right.

There was the issue of conscience, but for the pride of future generations as well, replication was not the right course of action.

“If you do things one by one, step by step, someday you’ll be able to make as much as you want.”

“I guess so?”

“How does it feel to win?”

Ban Hojin laughed playfully.

He had seen how overjoyed Seo Joun was after winning the spar, but he asked again anyway.

“It feels amazing. Especially because flattening his nose made it even better.”

“That young master couldn’t lift his head the entire time we were moving.”

“That’s only natural. He trained for well over ten years and still lost to a brat.”

Sunwoo Bang muttered as if he felt sorry for him.

He could guess to some extent how much frustration Peng Juyeong must have felt.

That frustration was exactly what Sunwoo Bang felt every time he sparred with the Four Dragons, so he understood Peng Juyeong’s feelings better than anyone present.

“You reap what you sow. The moment you acknowledge it as a difference in talent, your limits are set. Moreover, if he’s a young master of the Hebei Peng Family, just how tremendous must the tangible and intangible support be? Even so, being only at that level means he was negligent.”

“It’s cold, but not wrong.”

“His sense of urgency was lacking. He was just half-hearted. It felt like he trained only for show. Once his so-called impressive strength was blocked, he couldn’t do anything.”

Unlike Sunwoo Bang, who showed some understanding, Seo Joun criticized him sharply.

He fully agreed with Ban Hojin’s words.

“We’ll depart tomorrow, so get plenty of rest.”

“Judging by how things looked at dinner, it doesn’t seem like they’ll let us go easily?”

“So what? We’re leaving.”

Sunwoo Bang spoke meaningfully, but Ban Hojin didn’t pay it any mind.

What mattered was his decision, not Peng Mancheol’s thoughts.

“We should hurry. To the Murong Family.”

“You’re doing this because of Baek Ryeonhwa, right?”

“Hey. No way. I’m not that kind of person.”

Seo Joun spoke with a straight face, but neither Ban Hojin nor Sunwoo Bang believed him.

Looking at his behavior so far, Seo Joun was more than capable of exactly that.

“Well, let’s say that’s the case. For now, rest. It’s late at night.”

“Yes.”

“See you tomorrow.”

When Seo Joun and Sunwoo Bang left the room, Ban Hojin also changed his clothes and sat down on the bed.

However, he did not fall asleep right away.

Instead, he entered meditation combined with mental imagery training.

After finishing breakfast, Peng Mancheol separately summoned Ban Hojin’s group.

Even if they were leaving, he coaxed them to at least have a cup of tea.

“Judging by your expression, it seems you have something to say to us.”

“We haven’t even poured the tea yet, and you’re getting straight to the point?”

“Aren’t you a busy man? Estate Lord.”

“Not always. There are busy people, and there are those who aren’t.”

Even at Ban Hojin’s words, Peng Mancheol did not panic.

Perhaps thanks to the conversation they had shared yesterday, he had adjusted to some extent.

Gurgle.

Peng Mancheol lifted the teapot and poured tea for the three of them in turn, then filled his own teacup to a suitable level.

Soon, a faint tea fragrance gently spread throughout the room.

“It’s nice.”

“I’m glad you like it. The reason I arranged this meeting is that there are a few things I’d like to ask.”

“Please go ahead.”

Everyone seated there knew that he would not have arranged this meeting without a reason.

For that reason, Ban Hojin replied calmly.

“Why are you trying to go to the Murong Family? From Hebei Province, Liaoning Province is close, but Shaolin or the Seonwu Family aren’t, are they?”

“Our original destination was Liaoning Province. We stopped by the Hebei Peng Family because of Young Lady Peng. It was on the way as well.”

“Is it perhaps because of Baek Ryeonhwa?”

“Why do you ask that?”

Ban Hojin, who had been savoring his tea, raised his head and fixed his gaze on Peng Mancheol.

And Ban Hojin’s eyes were meaningful.

It was as if he were looking at him knowing exactly what was on his mind.

“Shall I say I’m personally curious? I heard you’re acquainted but not particularly close. The same goes for those two.”

Because Ban Hojin’s direct gaze felt slightly burdensome, Peng Mancheol naturally shifted his eyes.

Partly to check the reactions of the other two as well.

However, just like Ban Hojin, neither of them showed any particular change in expression.

“We’re not close enough to say we’re friendly yet. However, there’s someone at the Murong Family we’d like to meet.”

“So in any case, that means it’s not Murong Heesu.”

Though he was impatient by nature, he wasn’t lacking in perceptiveness.

And what Peng Mancheol wanted to know right now was the relationship with Murong Heesu, not who Ban Hojin intended to meet.

That was why Peng Mancheol’s lips twitched.

“You could say that. It does seem like we’ll meet naturally. There’s also someone in our group who wants to meet her.”

But Peng Mancheol’s expression soon twisted.

Anyone could tell who Ban Hojin meant just by looking at Seo Joun’s clearly excited face.

Since Peng Mancheol had been secretly thinking of Peng Suyeong as a match, he openly showed his displeasure.

“Khmm!”

That was why Peng Mancheol let out a dry cough filled with discomfort.

But regardless of that, Seo Joun was simply grinning ear to ear.

“Have you asked everything you wanted to ask?”

“There’s still something left. Ahem! Tell me, what do you think of Hwayeong?”

“Are you asking as a martial artist, or as a woman?”

“Obviously the latter. What reason would I have to ask you about Hwayeong as a martial artist?”

“You’re very straightforward.”

Ban Hojin let out a small laugh.

He knew Peng Mancheol was impatient by nature, but he hadn’t expected him to ask so bluntly.

What was interesting, though, was that just like Ban Hojin, Seo Joun and Sunwoo Bang also reacted as if they had anticipated this.

“If you beat around the bush with topics like this, they can be taken strangely. In that case, it’s better to be clear.”

“That’s true.”

“I’d like to hear your answer.”

“I have no such thoughts at the moment.”

“……Then I’ll give you more time to think.”

At Ban Hojin’s outright refusal, Peng Mancheol’s eyebrows twitched.

He had entertained the possibility, but he had thought the chances of such an answer were slim.

Who was Peng Hwayeong?

She was his youngest daughter and the daughter of the Hebei Peng Family.

As a marriage prospect, Peng Hwayeong had a background that would not lose out anywhere.

Yet Ban Hojin refused without even a shred of hesitation.

“You don’t need to do that.”

“Grrh! Is it really necessary to draw such a clear line? Between a man and a woman, feelings can grow over time, and minds can change, can’t they?”

“Well, I think that rather than relying on uncertainty, it’s more efficient to clearly look for another partner.”

“Is there perhaps a woman you already have in mind?”

“That’s not the case.”

Peng Mancheol’s eyes flashed.

At the very least, it seemed there was no rival.

But while it wasn’t the worst scenario, it still wasn’t going in the direction he wanted.

“I think the two of you would suit each other well.”

“That’s just the Estate Lord’s opinion.”

“What if you can’t leave unless you change your mind?”

“Do you think we won’t be able to leave?”

Stare!

Peng Mancheol glared fiercely at Ban Hojin.

It was as if he were saying that if words didn’t work, he would force his will through.

Yet even under that intense gaze, Ban Hojin didn’t blink once.

Instead, he smiled leisurely.

“Hah!”

“At the very least, I have no intention of entering a political marriage. There’s no need for me to, either.”

“You’re as stubborn as an ox.”

“I’m just saying no to something that isn’t right. You’re the one forcing the issue, Estate Lord.”

“You don’t give an inch.”

With a fed-up expression, Peng Mancheol shook his head.

He wanted to press him down with force, but inwardly, he could sense it.

That Ban Hojin hadn’t gone all out yesterday.

He didn’t think he would lose, but the important thing was that he wouldn’t be able to suppress him easily.

‘Being too outstanding is a problem too. If he were just moderately talented, I could’ve pushed him down with force.’

Peng Mancheol clicked his tongue inwardly.

But he knew one thing and not the other.

If that had been the case, Ban Hojin wouldn’t have seemed this desirable to him right now.

“I thought being clear would be better for both sides than giving an ambiguous answer.”

“How about taking this opportunity to get to know each other? No one knows how things will turn out later.”

“You’re not giving up.”

“That’s how people are. Even if there are no particular feelings now, they can arise later. That’s how it is between men and women.”

At Peng Mancheol’s unexpectedly persistent 모습, not only Ban Hojin but Seo Joun and Sunwoo Bang also wore weary expressions.

They hadn’t expected the famed Blade King to cling like this.

Still, on the other hand, Sunwoo Bang felt a twinge of envy.

“Let’s talk about later matters later.”

“You really don’t lose a single word.”

“As I said, I’m the type who prefers certainty.”

“Then what about you?”

Cough!

When Peng Mancheol’s gaze suddenly turned toward him, Seo Joun, who had been quietly savoring his tea, was startled.

So startled that he nearly choked.

“Pardon?”

“Ah, not Hwayeong—Suyeong. Suyeong is older, but a two-year difference isn’t much of a gap.”