LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 7 - What Comes Before Addition (1)
Chapter 7. What Comes Before Addition (1)
“…”
The air in the room was heavy and suffocating.
It felt like they couldn’t even breathe freely. Yeon Ji-pyeong looked at his father and brother with anxious eyes.
“Gulp.”
The sound of swallowing saliva shook the air.
After a long two hours, Yeon Wi finally opened his mouth.
“Explain.”
It was a simple word that cut both ends.
Yeon Ho-jeong spoke calmly.
“We got into a fight and fought.”
“I didn’t ask you to summarize.”
It was a voice that was hard to read emotions.
And so was Yeon Ho-jeong.
“The girl from Namgung family started the fight. She said she would make us kneel. She even spat out her killing intent, so I thought it was not something to let go and knocked them all down.”
“I heard that the son of Yi family had his face smashed and the daughter of Namgung family had her arms and legs broken.”
“That’s right.”
“Especially, the daughter of Namgung family is still in a state of unconsciousness. She has to rest for at least six months due to severe internal and external injuries.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“They won’t dare to touch us again.”
Yeon Wi’s eyebrows twitched.
It was a subtle change of expression. Yeon Ji-pyeong was more nervous because he didn’t know what it meant.
Yeon Wi opened his mouth again.
“Even if they started the fight, it’s a big problem that two men beat up one woman.”
“Two?”
“Hmm?”
“I did it alone. Pyeong didn’t intervene.”
Yeon Wi looked at Yeon Ji-pyeong.
“Is that true?”
“…Yes.”
He looked very tense, but he didn’t seem to be lying.
Yeon Wi was secretly perplexed.
‘He faced them alone?’
He knew his eldest son’s skills well. He was not a talentless child, but he was not yet skilled enough to be called a first-class.
He could accept that he could handle the son of Yi family, but the daughter of Namgung family head was different. He couldn’t believe that he could overpower her without any injuries, let alone exchange blows.
“Are you saying that you alone, faced those two?”
“Exactly, I knocked down the Yi bastard who came out first, and then I took care of the girl from Namgung family.”
“Took care of her…”
Yeon Wi spoke with a heavier voice.
“I don’t want you to be gentlemen. But be more careful about your usual words and deeds. A rough mind makes you spit out rough words, and rough words influence your actions.”
“Is that so?”
“There is nothing more costly than losing your composure with a few words.”
Yeon Ho-jeong didn’t say anything more.
This was not a place to argue or to instill his philosophy. He was the eldest son of Yeon family, but at the same time, he was the leader of the black faction, Heukje-seongju. He was bound to be different from the martial ideal that the family pursued.
Most importantly, he didn’t want to quarrel with his father. That was why Yeon Ho-jeong kept his mouth shut.
Looking at his silent eldest son, Yeon Wi said,
“Whatever the reason, Namgung family is one of the seven great families of the martial world, along with the main family. It’s a big problem that the children of the two families fought to the point of bleeding. You must know that too.”
It was a subtle reproach. It meant that he should have avoided the fight even if he had to flee.
Yeon Ho-jeong tilted his head.
“Is the main family a seven great family?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“That girl didn’t recognize the main family as a seven great family.”
Yeon Wi’s eyes changed.
But his voice was no different from before.
“That’s just a childish and immature remark. To judge the whole Namgung family’s will by that, what is the difference between seeing one and counting ten and being complacent?”
“I have no complaints about the Namgung family.”
“Then?”
“What matters is the situation and who is wrong.”
“Are you saying to face the essence?”
“Yes.”
“Essence is always important. Likewise, judging right and wrong and punishing accordingly are also important. But the world is not that simple. Especially when the opponent is strong, you have to be more careful.”
“I know that.”
“If you know that, you shouldn’t have acted like that.”
This time, too, Yeon Ho-jeong closed his mouth.
He had a lot to say. He had faced the lowliness and horror of the black path countless times while living in the back alleys, but at the same time, he was also aware of the duplicity and frustration of the white path.
But if this was the law of Yeon family and his father’s thought, he had nothing more to say.
Yeon Wi looked at his two sons with indifferent eyes and opened his mouth.
“Whether I reward or punish, I will decide after seeing how the situation goes.”
“…”
“Go back to your quarters and reflect on yourselves.”
Yeon Ji-pyeong’s face turned pale at the ominous words.
His father had never ordered them to reflect before. His father’s eyes were always clear like a judge, and he made his choices and judgments with a sharpness like a blade.
He told them to reflect. Yeon Ji-pyeong felt that the situation was more serious than he thought.
“Father.”
“Speak.”
“Well, maybe the fight happened because of me. If I had stopped it beforehand…”
“The deed is done, and people are hurt. And the one who hurt them is not you, but your brother.”
“Ah, father!”
“Go back to your quarters and reflect.”
“Just a little more, let me say…”
Yeon Wi’s eyebrows twitched. Yeon Ji-pyeong’s mouth closed involuntarily.
Then, Yeon Ho-jeong got up.
“Then I’ll go in. Pyeong-ah, let’s go.”
In the end, Yeon Ji-pyeong had no choice but to get up.
On the way back to their quarters from the head’s room.
Yeon Ji-pyeong bowed his head.
“I’m sorry, brother.”
“Hmm?”
“It’s all because of me. If we had just eaten at the quarters with you…”
“Ji-pyeong.”
“Yes?”
“There’s something I want you to remember, even though I’m not in a position to say it as the one who caused the accident.”
“What is it?”
“There is no such thing as if in the world.”
Yeon Ji-pyeong’s eyes shook.
“There is a cause and effect for everything that happens in this world. But the one who makes the cause and effect is ultimately a person. You were the one who suggested going to Goyang-ru, but I was the one who used my hands.”
“…”
“In the end, the result is what matters.”
“But…”
“Let me ask you one thing. If I hadn’t used my hands, would you have?”
After a moment of hesitation, Yeon Ji-pyeong nodded.
“Yes, I think I would have.”
It was a short but serious answer. Yeon Ho-jeong knew his sincerity.
“But the reality is different. Before you could use your hands, I already smashed those two bastards.”
“…”
“If you try to blame yourself by assuming ifs, you’ll have to curse the ancestors who brought Yeon family to the world. Is that what you want?”
“No, no! Of course not!”
“I know. That’s why the assumption of if is meaningless.”
“Still…”
He bit his lips and clenched his fists.
“If you get punished, brother, I’ll take it with you! I’ll definitely tell father that!”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled and stroked his head.
Yeon Ji-pyeong was startled.
“Wow! My-my hair is messed up!”
“You brat, where in the world is there a parent who punishes a child who has no sin?”
“Sniff. But…”
“Don’t think about useless things and just go back to your quarters. You must have been surprised by this and that, so get some rest.”
Yeon Ji-pyeong shook Yeon Ho-jeong’s sleeve.
“You too, brother. You got it?”
“Don’t worry, kid.”
He stumbled several times as if his feet wouldn’t move. Yeon Ji-pyeong finally bowed his head and headed to his quarters.
Standing there, Yeon Ho-jeong muttered softly.
“Maybe it’s natural to be so anxious. I was like that too.”
No matter how deep the love is, you don’t know if you don’t express it.
Unfortunately, his father was not the type to show his emotions outwardly. Rather, he imposed a stricter law on his kin, and taught them to value the family rules.
He didn’t care about himself, but he wished his father would be a little softer to Pyeong.
Yeon Ho-jeong grumbled.
“By the way, what should I do with the Byuk-ra-jin-gyeol? Can I learn it now? I feel like I’m going to get scolded.”
* * *
It was past midnight.
A fierce aura rose outside the gate of Yeon family.
“Head of the family!”
A thunderous voice pierced the gate and shook the whole outer compound.
“You bastards! Open the door! Call the head of the family right now!”
“Who are you?”
“What? Are you asking me who I am right now? Come on! Let me tell you!”
Bang!
A shock with a loud noise shook the south gate of the outer compound.
Crack! Thud!
One side of the door collapsed.
A large door that was one zhang high and more than half a ja thick was broken in one blow. In the center of the broken door, there was a large human palm print engraved deeply.
“What are you doing?”
“Shut up! I’m Namgung Daesan, a person from Namgung family! Call the head of the family right now!”
“Even if you are from Namgung family, how can you do such a barbaric thing!”
“Barbaric? Ha! You talk well! What is this family that calls a real barbarian a child and fights with him? Aren’t they no different from the Parakho group?”
“What an insult!”
Clatter!
Then, dozens of warriors rushed in through the broken south gate.
They were the Iron Wall Hands, who guarded the outer compound of Yeon family. Their martial arts were each worthy of being called first-class, as they mainly took on the duties of escort and guard.
“So you’re finally coming out in full force?!”
“No more tolerance…”
“Get out of the way!”
Whack!
The man who pushed the gatekeeper and entered was a middle-aged man with a huge build.
He was almost seven cheok tall, and he had a great sword on his back that was several times bigger than a normal sword.
The eyes of the Iron Wall Hands shone.
The giant swordsman exuded a rare aura. His originally vigorous energy was rising like a wave due to his anger.
He was Namgung Daesan. The person who had contacted them at noon today and said he would stop by, had broken the gate and intruded.
“Head of the family! Come out right now! I’m Namgung…”
“I’m already here.”
Namgung Daesan looked at the warehouse on the left.
A middle-aged man was walking from the alley next to the warehouse. He looked like a stubborn scholar at a glance. He was Yeon Wi.
Namgung Daesan’s face twisted.
“Head of the family! How could this happen?!”
“That’s what I want to say.”
“What?!”
Yeon Wi spat out a cold glare.
Namgung Daesan flinched unknowingly at his gaze.
“The main family welcomes guests, but not bandits. How can you do such a thing as the head of the outer compound of Namgung family, the first of the Anhwi?”
Calm and cold. Yeon Wi’s voice and tone were very contrasted with Namgung Daesan’s fiery mood.
Namgung Daesan gritted his teeth.
Even though he was the most hot-tempered in Namgung family, he couldn’t dare to curse in front of Yeon Wi.
“I won’t say much! I believe you know the situation!”
“What situation are you talking about?”
“Are you pretending not to know? Your children hurt the daughter of the head of the main family…”
“Your worthless girl not only insulted the main family, but also tried to kill my children. That’s what you’re talking about.”
Namgung Daesan’s mouth opened wide.
“What, what?!”
“Would frost settle on a thousand-year-old rock?”
Yeon Wi spoke in a sharp tone.
“I, I wanted to investigate properly anyway.”