LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 25 - Just You and Me
Chapter 25: Just You and Me
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The head of the Zhongli Clan, Zhongli Cheon, slammed his desk with furious eyes.
Bang!
The desk didn’t just crack—it shattered completely.
“How on earth are you handling things?!”
The middle-aged man sitting in front of him broke out into a cold sweat.
“How can I trust you with anything like this?!”
Violent energy radiated from Zhongli Cheon’s body in turbulent waves.
The middle-aged man, Won Mungwang, bowed his head deeply.
For now, staying silent was the best course of action.
“Huuh. So, have you still not figured out the situation?”
“I’ve only confirmed part of it.”
“Then report that part.”
“First, all the clan’s warriors were injured. According to their account, they were one-sidedly overwhelmed by Cheon Kyungwan and Yoo Seoyeon.”
“One-sidedly overwhelmed? Does that even make sense?”
“They claim Cheon Kyungwan and Yoo Seoyeon are far stronger than what is known.”
“Are you telling me just the two of them managed to overpower all eleven of our warriors?”
“Yes. This comes directly from the witnesses.”
“Could someone else have intervened? Like if Yeon Manor slipped them a small dose of poison beforehand?”
“We investigated that as well, but so far, there’s nothing suspicious.”
“There’s definitely something going on. Keep investigating. What happened to my youngest still doesn’t sit right.”
“Yes, I also found that peculiar and am continuing to look into it.”
From their perspective, the idea of Zhongli Woong losing to Byeok Taesan was inconceivable.
But no matter how much they questioned Zhongli Woong, he wouldn’t provide a proper explanation, leaving them no choice but to dig into his surroundings.
The issue was that Zhongli Woong had met with Byeok Taesan alone.
Whatever happened between the two was a complete mystery.
“How is the youngest condition?”
At Zhongli Cheon’s question, Won Mungwang replied with a troubled expression.
“He’s dejected. He barely speaks and doesn’t go outside.”
“Did you try giving him something he likes?”
Zhongli Woong was known for his fondness for women. Zhongli Cheon didn’t particularly mind his sons indulging in such pleasures.
As long as they did their work properly, he didn’t care whether they chased women or harbored strange habits.
Although Zhongli Woong pursued women and occasionally got involved in shady dealings, he had never neglected his martial arts training or studies.
“I took him to a brothel, but… he just drank heavily and came back.”
Zhongli Cheon’s face filled with disbelief.
“He went to a brothel and just drank? Without bringing a girl back?”
About half the trouble Zhongli Woong caused stemmed from his mistreatment of courtesans at the brothel.
Of course, the brothel usually covered it up, intimidated by the Zhongli Clan’s power.
The clan’s involvement was limited to preventing any rumors from spreading.
“Did he say anything while drunk?”
Won Mungwang shook his head.
“If anything, he became even quieter. And… there’s another issue.”
“Another issue?”
“It seems there’s a problem with his martial arts.”
“What? A problem with his martial arts? What do you mean?”
“I observed his training while I was there… His movements are disjointed, and the flow of his internal energy is strange.”
Zhongli Cheon’s expression turned icy.
“Is it a physical issue?”
“It appears to be… psychological. It’s a problem that would only occur if he’s forgotten his techniques entirely.”
“Hah! Not only did he humiliate himself, but now he can’t even recover and has turned into an idiot?”
Zhongli Cheon ground his teeth and glared at Won Mungwang.
“Someone must have interfered. Find that person, no matter what it takes.”
“Yes, I will find them without fail.”
Won Mungwang answered resolutely, though inwardly, he doubted he could solve the matter.
With so few clues, how could they possibly identify the culprit?
There’s no other way. We’ll have to dig through everything around Yeon Manor.
He planned to proceed as if Yeon Manor had been involved and start gathering information.
“By the way… How are things going with the Golden Wall Merchants?”
“The Golden Heavenly Alliance’s capabilities are stronger than expected.”
“Really? That’s good. You confirmed multiple times that there’s no one backing them?”
“Yes, I’ve confirmed it several times.”
“Good. Work with them properly. This is a chance to ease our burdens. We can’t live under such tight constraints forever, can we?”
“It will go well. Please don’t worry.”
Zhongli Cheon sighed, shaking his head.
“Hah. All this trouble because of that lunatic Heavenly Demon… It’s ridiculous.”
Won Mungwang gave a wry smile.
“Still, from what I’ve heard, something seems to have happened to that Heavenly Demon. Considering how much chaos they caused, isn’t it divine punishment?”
Zhongli Cheon shook his head firmly.
“I’ve experienced it myself. You can’t think of the Heavenly Demon in simple terms. That being defies common sense. Avoiding them is the wisest course. Hah. My father’s choices have led to this…”
Zhongli Cheon vividly remembered when the Heavenly Demon attacked the Zhongli Clan.
At the time, the clan head was his father, who had made the decision to ambush the Heavenly Demon.
Zhongli Cheon still resented his father for that decision.
And the terrible power the Heavenly Demon had displayed remained etched into his mind—a fear so overwhelming it was impossible to resist.
“Anyway, handle this matter well. We must succeed to restore the Zhongli Clan to its former glory.”
Only then could they properly strike back at those who had looked down on them all this time.
Zhongli Cheon’s eyes gleamed darkly.
* * *
“Young Master, new people from the Zhongli Clan have arrived.”
At Cheon Kyungwan’s report, Byeok Taesan nodded.
“Typical. Kids’ fights always escalate into adult fights. So, are they here to avenge their beaten men?”
Of course, the ones who had been beaten were the Zhongli Clan’s warriors.
As for what had happened to Zhongli Woong, no one knew yet.
“I’m not sure. But there were some formidable experts among them.”
“Experts?”
“Yes. Two of them seemed far beyond what I could handle.”
“You’re getting better at noticing these things.”
“They weren’t trying to hide themselves, so it wasn’t difficult to notice.”
Byeok Taesan smirked at that.
Back in the Demonic Cult, there had often been people like that—those who flaunted their strength to intimidate others.
Of course, when such people crossed paths with the Heavenly Demon, they usually ended up half-dead.
Strength should be shown in battle, not flaunted casually. Doing so was a sure way to get stabbed in the back.
And whenever he punished such individuals, he always started with a sneak attack to bring them down, only stopping after they had thoroughly learned their lesson.
“This works out nicely. We’ll settle this quickly and return. There’s still much I want to experiment with.”
Byeok Taesan recalled the method he had used to deal with Zhongli Woong.
By extracting half of his spirit and burning it slowly, he could absorb only the unwanted fragments attached to it.
Though traces of Zhongli Woong’s original spirit remained, it was far better than what he’d encountered back at the Fragrant Flower House.
Still, since it was mixed, he couldn’t use it as it was. He needed to refine it or store it for future use.
When he returned, he planned to delve deeper into this method.
In truth, understanding the new Soul Augmenting Demonic Art was crucial.
Only by mastering it could he treat Severed Meridians Syndrome more efficiently.
“By the way, what about the Heavenly Divine Healer?”
Cheon Kyungwan hesitated before replying.
“He said he was going to spread some rumors.”
Byeok Taesan chuckled.
Although the Heavenly Divine Healer was a physician, he also secretly led a small intelligence network.
He excelled at spreading rumors, gathering information, or obtaining intel through casual conversations.
Of course, this time, it seemed he was more interested in the entertainment value of the situation.
After all, how juicy was a rumor about a Zhongli Clan heir soiling himself at a meal?
“We’ll head back today.”
Cheon Kyungwan looked at Byeok Taesan with a surprised expression.
“Today, sir? Then what about the people from the Zhongli Clan…?”
“What about them? They came to Yeon Manor, not to see me, didn’t they?”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
Outwardly, yes. But it was obvious they were here to meet Byeok Taesan and Cheon Kyungwan.
Still, was it really okay to ignore them and just leave?
“They annoyed me, so it’s only fair to return the favor.”
“Excuse me?”
“Things like this happen. Anyway, what about Yoo Seoyeon? Are you taking her with us?”
“It’s not like I can take her just because I want to. Yoo Seoyeon’s decision is what matters. And Young Lady Yeon’s opinion as well.”
Byeok Taesan smirked meaningfully.
“If you asked her to come with us, she’d probably agree.”
Cheon Kyungwan pressed his lips together and didn’t reply.
Waving his hand dismissively, Byeok Taesan said, “Go get ready to leave. Decide whether or not to bring Yoo Seoyeon and let me know.”
Cheon Kyungwan sighed softly and bowed his head.
“Understood.”
“Oh, and don’t tell the two we came with.”
“Excuse me?”
He was referring to Gyeong Chuhwang and Gal Jinhyeop.
“We’ll go back on our own. We’ve already paid in advance, so it doesn’t matter.”
Cheon Kyungwan made a troubled expression but soon nodded.
“I’ll handle it that way.”
It felt like he should inform them out of courtesy, but if Byeok Taesan said otherwise, there must be a reason.
After all, he had been suspicious of those two from the beginning.
Honestly, they do feel a little off.
Ever since Cheon Kyungwan and Yoo Seoyeon defeated the Zhongli Clan’s warriors, Gyeong Chuhwang and Gal Jinhyeop’s behavior had subtly shifted.
If those two had any connection to the Zhongli Clan, any movements on their side might be relayed back to them.
Just as Cheon Kyungwan was about to step out, Byeok Taesan called out again as if something had just occurred to him.
“Oh, and don’t tell the Heavenly Divine Healer either.”
“What?”
Cheon Kyungwan’s face showed genuine astonishment for the first time in a while.
Byeok Taesan spoke firmly again.
“I said, keep it a secret.”
“Then…”
“It’s just you and me going.”
“Excuse me? Then what about Yoo Seoyeon?”
“What about her? She’ll have to move separately. Make sure she keeps the secret too. Tell her to take her time and return to the Golden Wall Merchants with the Heavenly Divine Healer.”
Cheon Kyungwan pressed further.
“Are you really going with just me? Won’t you at least say goodbye to the Yeon Manor Master and Young Lady Yeon before leaving?”
“Goodbye? I already did.”
“What?”
“They’ve agreed to keep it a secret as well.”
Cheon Kyungwan stared blankly at Byeok Taesan.
He wanted to ask what on earth he was planning. But in the end, he swallowed the question.
He’d figure it out once they traveled together.
Somehow, he had a feeling they wouldn’t be heading straight back to the Golden Wall Merchants.
“Young Master, where are we going? If we keep going this way, we’re moving farther away from the Golden Wall Merchants.”
Cheon Kyungwan eventually couldn’t hold back and asked.
He had intended to follow without question, but as they kept getting farther from their intended destination, he couldn’t help himself.
“Where do you think we’re going? Use your brain.”
“Don’t tell me… Are we heading to the Zhongli Clan?”
Byeok Taesan grinned.
“Guess your brain isn’t entirely useless.”
“Are we really going to the Zhongli Clan? If we go unprepared, it’s dangerous.”
“You’re here, aren’t you?”
“What?”
Cheon Kyungwan was utterly bewildered.
Was he implying he trusted him to handle things at the Zhongli Clan? Even if Cheon Kyungwan knew their martial arts weaknesses, what could he accomplish alone?
At best, those weaknesses might work against the lower-level warriors they had fought before.
Against higher-level experts, they’d be entirely useless.
Maybe he could catch them off guard a few times.
“Young Master, this doesn’t seem right. They outnumber us by too much.”
“Who said I’m going to fight? Stop overthinking and just follow me.”
With that, Byeok Taesan strode forward.
Cheon Kyungwan followed anxiously, feeling torn between confusion, worry, and disbelief.
“I’ll trust you’re not planning to fight anyone.”
“To be precise, I’m not fighting. We’re not going to the Zhongli Clan itself, just nearby.”
Cheon Kyungwan’s unease only deepened.
Before long, the two of them arrived near Dongho, where the Zhongli Clan resided.