Chapter 123 : Battle of Wits. -02

Chapter 123: Battle of Wits. -02

At the sight of Ban Hojin yawning repeatedly, Seonwu Bang, who was seated beside him, asked with a puzzled look.

They had spent quite a long time together up to now, yet this was the first time he had seen him keep yawning like this.

And it seemed Seo Jo-woon, Jeong I-ryong, and Murong Cheok felt the same, as they stared at Ban Hojin with curious eyes.

“Rather than saying I slept poorly, it would be more accurate to say I didn’t sleep at all.”

“Did you have a nightmare or something?”

“Nothing like that. Something just came up.”

Since there were many wedding guests around, Ban Hojin brushed it off vaguely.

There was no need to create a noisy situation.

There were likely some who had sensed the clash between the two, but because of Namgung Ho, none would be the first to speak.

Swish.

Instead, Peng Mancheol glanced at Ban Hojin with a meaningful look.

As if to say he knew about the bout Ban Hojin had with Namgung Ho.

However, Ban Hojin paid him no mind whether he looked or not.

“I’m curious. What kind of ‘something’ was it?”

“I’ll tell you later. But it seems you two didn’t sleep much either?”

Ban Hojin’s gaze moved in turn to Seonwu Bang and Murong Cheok.

They didn’t look much better rested themselves.

“I had some things to think about.”

“Huh? Me too. Father suddenly threw a worry at me.”

“Could it be?”

Seonwu Bang and Murong Cheok looked at each other.

Then they soon wore expressions of shared misery.

Even without words, they understood each other’s hearts.

“Those who need to leave should leave quickly.”

“H-Huh! How did you know?”

“A parent’s heart is the same everywhere. If their child turns out well, the first thing they try to do is send them off to marry.”

“Gasp!”

Murong Cheok and Seonwu Bang’s eyes widened.

And Seo Jo-woon and Jeong I-ryong were no different.

They were surprised to hear that Seonwu Bang and Murong Cheok were already discussing marriage matters.

“Considering Young Master Namgung, Bang and Cheok aren’t early at all.”

“Come to think of it, he’s the same age as us, right?”

“Right. And there’s also Young Master Zhuge.”

Seonwu Bang spoke while gazing at Zhuge Gi-jeong, who was sincerely congratulating his younger sister on her wedding.

Even if he was smiling on the outside, his feelings must have been complicated.

After all, it was his longtime friend marrying his younger sister.

“Hearing it like this really makes your ages hit home.”

“But I told Father clearly. I have no intention of marrying right now.”

“Come on. Will it really go as you wish? I’m the third son, and since my elder brother is a Lay Disciple, there’s no need to pressure me—but you two are different.”

“Even so, there are options. Even if it can’t be avoided.”

“Oh? That means you didn’t like the family that proposed the match, right?”

Seo Jo-woon’s eyes sparkled.

He hadn’t heard the details, but judging from what had been said so far, that was the only conclusion.

“How did the conversation drift there?”

“The way you’re flustered makes it sound like I hit the mark?”

“Don’t you have anything to say yourself?”

Murong Cheok smoothly changed the subject.

And it was a proper counterattack.

At those words, Ban Hojin, Seonwu Bang, and Jeong I-ryong all showed interest.

Though the Seo Family Manor was considered a fallen Martial Family, Seo Jo-woon was a rapidly rising Later-Generation Expert. It would not be strange if there were those showing interest.

“Me?”

“Oh ho. The fact that you’re flustered means there is something?”

Having successfully countered, Murong Cheok grinned.

He especially liked how naturally offense and defense had switched.

“I’m called the Blazing Dragon. Wouldn’t it be stranger if there weren’t?”

“Blazing Dragon, huh.”

After being briefly flustered, Seo Jo-woon answered boldly, and Ban Hojin nodded at his words.

Among all of them, the one who had changed the future the most by returning to the past was undoubtedly Seo Jo-woon.

Because of that, Ban Hojin felt as though his own son had been acknowledged.

In truth, he had never fathered a child even in his previous life.

“So? Do you like any of them? Since you were talking about three wives and four concubines, I suppose you’ll marry early too?”

“Hey, hyung!”

At Murong Cheok’s sudden mention of three wives and four concubines, Seo Jo-woon’s face flushed red.

He then hurriedly glanced around.

Ban Hojin’s group was here, but so were Murong Heesu, Tang Seorin, and the Peng sisters, Peng Hwayeong and Peng Suyeong.

Because of that, Seo Jo-woon didn’t know what to do.

“How shy. Where did the confidence go—the one that talked about three wives and four concubines, saying heroes are fond of beauty?”

“Oh my. Was your goal to have seven wives?”

Tang Seorin joined the conversation at the perfect timing.

She spoke while looking at Seo Jo-woon with a meaningful gaze.

And the other four women were no different.

Yet contrary to Seo Jo-woon’s expectations, there was not the slightest hint of disgust in their eyes.

Rather, it seemed like they were teasing a younger brother.

Even though the age difference between them was not much at all.

“Uh, well, that is….”

“What are you so embarrassed about? With that attitude, do you think you can take multiple wives?”

“Hyung-nim!”

“If one has the ability, three wives and four concubines aren’t a flaw. It becomes a problem only when someone chases women without the ability to support them and refuses to take responsibility.”

Watching Seo Jo-woon, whose face had reddened as if it might explode, Ban Hojin let out a faint chuckle.

At times like this, he was no different from a child.

And it seemed the others felt the same, as they looked at Seo Jo-woon with the eyes one would use for the youngest sibling.

“That’s right. As long as he takes proper responsibility, who would complain? If the principal wife dislikes it, then the woman can simply choose not to marry.”

“Exactly.”

Seonwu Bang chimed in.

It might feel awkward for Seo Jo-woon to have multiple mothers, but for Seonwu Bang and Murong Cheok, it was something familiar.

Even in the Sichuan Tang Family, there had once been turmoil caused by illegitimate sons.

Some kept multiple wives because they were womanizers, but in many Prestigious Families or minor sects, political marriages made it unavoidable.

“But marrying multiple times is fine—just make sure you choose your wife well. If you choose wrong, your household will be ruined. And even if you choose well, one wrong move in conduct and the whole family turns into a complete mess.”

“You speak as if you’ve experienced it yourself?”

“I’ve seen and heard enough. The fights between women can be terrifying. You’ve never seen it, have you?”

“I only have one mother and one grandmother.”

At Seonwu Bang’s bold declaration, Seo Jo-woon swallowed dryly.

It was just a few simple words, yet for some reason they felt vividly real.

On top of that, everyone was nodding along to Seonwu Bang’s words.

“If you have many wives, there’s a lot to worry about. Power struggles are fierce. Even if the hierarchy is clearly defined, actual influence is a different matter.”

“That sounds complicated.”

“What you see isn’t everything.”

“But judging by how well you know it, hyung, aren’t you considering it yourself?”

“Gah!”

At Seo Jo-woon’s sudden strike, Seonwu Bang was left speechless.

For a moment, he hadn’t been able to deny it.

Then the women’s gazes all shifted toward Seonwu Bang.

“Bang would be more than capable of it. He’s the Sword Dragon.”

“Anyone can think about it, after all.”

At Ban Hojin and Murong Cheok’s remarks, Seonwu Bang subtly glanced at Peng Suyeong.

They weren’t formally betrothed, but the elders had been exchanging opinions.

Because of that, Seonwu Bang couldn’t help but check her expression.

“What about our Hidden Dragon?”

“Huh?”

With the arrow suddenly turning toward him, Jeong I-ryong flinched.

He had been quietly listening, but at Ban Hojin’s question and everyone’s gaze focusing on him, Jeong I-ryong wore an awkward expression.

“Even Seo Jo-woon is receiving marriage proposals. It’s not like you’d be any different.”

“That’s right. You’re the same age as me.”

“Ah, I don’t think I have anything like that.”

Murong Cheok nudged him with his elbow as if urging him to confess quickly, but Jeong I-ryong didn’t panic.

Perhaps because his situation was different from the others, no one had directly spoken to him about marriage proposals.

He had received quite a few letters when he stayed at Songshan, but honestly, from the letters alone, he couldn’t tell who was who, so he had merely sent polite replies out of courtesy.

“Don’t feel too disappointed just because you’re receiving less attention.”

“I would never think that. I’m not ready yet. I also need to speak with my Master. I know my situation is very different from Cheok’s or Jo-woon’s.”

“Then that’s a relief.”

Among them, the one who was bound to receive relatively less attention was Jeong I-ryong.

Ban Hojin knew Jeong I-ryong’s true ability and what kind of sect Bangcheon Sect was—but others did not.

Not even the companions living alongside him.

Thus, it was inevitable that he would receive less attention, and Ban Hojin had been concerned about that. Fortunately, Jeong I-ryong seemed unbothered.

“Being by hyung’s side and learning from him is enough to make me happy.”

“Don’t say such embarrassing things. Just think them—don’t say them.”

“Hahaha.”

At the sincere yet teasing rebuke, not only Jeong I-ryong but everyone chuckled softly.

Even Beopmu, who had been quietly listening.

Meanwhile, the traditional wedding ceremony continued.

As Ban Hojin watched Namgung Gwang and Zhuge Hye-jeong proceed with the rites in their ceremonial attire, his gaze shifted to Namgung Ho.

Despite it being the wedding of his only son, Namgung Ho kept glancing at him.

With a gaze that would burden anyone.

‘His greed is practically dripping.’

They hadn’t exchanged a single word, yet Ban Hojin could clearly see what Namgung Ho was thinking.

In fact, it would be strange not to know.

However, he had no intention whatsoever of moving according to Namgung Ho’s wishes.

In this life, he intended to live solely for himself.

‘I’ll do only what needs to be done. In that sense, the Yama King must grow stronger than he is now.’

Namgung Ho was certainly strong.

But compared to his previous life, he was not yet fully ripened.

And at the same level as before, he would not be able to overturn defeat.

He absolutely had to grow beyond the realm he had achieved in his previous life.

‘I hope yesterday’s sparring serves as shock therapy.’

With cold eyes, Ban Hojin examined Namgung Ho.

To see what had changed as a result of yesterday’s sparring.

Considering Namgung Ho’s personality, he would not deny his own defeat.

His pride and self-respect were high, but he was colder and more rational than anyone.

Of course, it was not easy to objectively evaluate oneself—but if it was the Namgung Ho Ban Hojin knew, it was possible.

If so, there was a chance Namgung Ho would develop faster than he had in the previous life.

‘That makes two for now.’

Ban Hojin thought of his Master, Damhyeon.

It seemed that already two among the Ten Great Masters Under Heaven had altered their futures.

Of course, there was the Blade King—but he was not the sort of man whom shock therapy would work on.

He was someone who would live however he pleased, so Ban Hojin excluded Peng Mancheol as an exception.

‘And one seat is vacant. Considering the future, dealing with Danwi was a gain.’

Danwi had been walking the same path as the Green Forest Great Lord.

And since he had come targeting him, it had only been right to eliminate him.

To survive long in Jianghu, to ensure neither himself nor those around him were harmed, one had to act decisively when it was time to act.

‘The downside would be that things might become a little more troublesome.’

Avoiding Namgung Ho’s still-burning gaze, Ban Hojin clicked his tongue lightly.

But Namgung Ho was not the only one sending such intense looks.

Peng Mancheol, too, was staring at Ban Hojin with eyes no less sharp.

Murong Gung, seated nearby, could not stare openly but was casting furtive glances.

‘Still, for the sake of my own peace, I can tolerate a bit of inconvenience.’

It wasn’t as if he hadn’t anticipated this situation from the start.

And when thinking of the war against the Four Tyrants of the World, it was more than worth the trade, so Ban Hojin viewed it positively.

Namgung Ho’s or Peng Mancheol’s thoughts did not matter to him.

In the end, the one who made the decisions was himself.