There were some suspicions, but I couldn’t tell Yak Ran about them.

Yak Ran spoke with an indignant face.

“If I had the chance to torture that bastard, I would have made him in a state where living wouldn’t even be considered living.”

[That’s right. I can’t accept the fact that he died so easily.]

Is this the way of thinking in the world of martial arts? I couldn’t help but admire Yak Ran’s sharp tone despite her frail appearance.

“The people from the Dang family said they would visit. They wanted to apologize to the young lady. And… there are rumors that the Dang family is going to seal their doors.”

“The Dang family is sealing their doors?”

“I’m not sure about the details either.”

Dang Hae Jun was a collateral member of the Dang family.

‘I heard he was someone with terrible skills even among the collateral members.’

In other words, he wasn’t that important of a person even in the Dang family.

‘But the current head of the Dang family and our grandfather are very close.’

The relationship between the current head of the Dang family and my grandfather was intimate. I heard they developed a deep friendship when my grandfather made his debut in the martial arts world when he was young.

‘They said they were almost like sworn brothers.’

Because of that, the relationship between Ji Cheon Wu and the Dang family wasn’t that good in the original story.

‘Since Ji Cheon Wu killed my grandfather.’

But even so, the Dang family was cooperative with Ji Cheon Wu.

After all, they were also righteous martial artists.

As such, the Dang family couldn’t let this incident pass just like that.

I heard the Martial Arts Alliance and the Cheonha School were in an uproar. I picked up the teacup in front of me.

Actually, I didn’t have any particular feelings towards the Dang family.

Dang Hae Jun being from the Blood Sect meant that the Dang family was also a victim of the Blood Sect.

‘Grandfather will take care of it.’

There was something else more important than that right now.

“It seems like Je Gal Yu Ryong is asking the family head for permission to see the young lady.”

I nodded my head.

Je Gal Yu Ryong came to apologize for his rudeness towards me.

Of course, Grandfather and Aunt jumped up and down, saying it wasn’t allowed. I also had no intention of officially meeting anyone yet.

‘Of course, I mean I don’t like the official part.’

As I was lost in thought for a moment, I heard the voice of Uncle Dagger in my ear.

[Come to think of it, I haven’t seen that guy around these past few days.]

Ji Cheon Wu hadn’t shown himself since I gave him the inner elixir.

‘That’s right, I hope nothing serious happened, right?’

I was planning to help Ji Cheon Wu absorb the inner elixir. It would be difficult for him to fully make the inner elixir of the Solar Flower into his own by himself.

But after I gave him the inner elixir, Ji Cheon Wu had disappeared without a trace.

‘I should probably go look for him.’

[Hmph, if he has business with you, he’ll come on his own. You’re already busy enough just focusing on your training.]

Even while saying that, Uncle Dagger also seemed to be worried about Ji Cheon Wu.

‘Since Grandfather called for me, I should go see him first and then go check on Cheon Wu.’

That’s when I heard a commotion coming from outside.

Uncle Dagger clicked his tongue and said.

[Speak of the devil… a commotion has broken out.]

At Uncle Dagger’s words, I lifted my head.

‘Did a fight break out now?’

I quickly moved my steps.

“Young Lady?”

I heard Yak Ran’s questioning tone, but I didn’t stop walking. I hadn’t met Ji Cheon Wu since giving him the inner elixir of the Solar Flower.

‘Could it be that he ate it alone?’

I didn’t have a chance to give Ji Cheon Wu a detailed explanation because I had to go see Grandfather.

Consuming a precious medicine like the inner elixir of the Solar Flower alone was very dangerous.

Especially since Ji Cheon Wu had only recently started properly learning martial arts.

‘If done wrong, he could even fall into qi deviation.’

Moreover, Uncle Dagger’s words about a commotion breaking out also bothered me.

The place I arrived at was the training ground inside the Nam Gung Estate.

[Amazing indeed.]

I agreed with Uncle Dagger’s words. The ones there were Ji Cheon Wu and a young boy.

They weren’t the only ones there. There were many others surrounding the boy as well.

I couldn’t help but be surprised seeing the two of them. It was because the atmosphere between Ji Cheon Wu and the boy was unusual. The two were glaring at each other with their swords drawn.

As if reading my bewilderment, Yak Ran whispered in my ear.

“That person is Hwangbo Yeong from the Hwangbo family. I heard he is the second son whom the family head cherishes greatly.”

Hwangbo Yeong of the Hwangbo family.

I had also heard rumors about him. I heard he had excellent martial arts skills, and the head of the Hwangbo family particularly favored him.

‘But why is such a person with Ji Cheon Wu?’

The large-built Hwangbo Yeong was menacingly looking down at Ji Cheon Wu.

He was a boy with burly muscles that didn’t match his age. The immense build characteristic of the Hwangbo family stood out.

In contrast, although Ji Cheon Wu had gained some weight compared to before, he still had a skinny physique.

Just looking at their outward appearances, it seemed like Ji Cheon Wu had no chance of winning against his opponent.

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Ji Cheon Wu glared at Hwangbo Yeong in front of him.

He recalled why he ended up in this situation.

After fully absorbing the power of the inner elixir, Ji Cheon Wu wanted to go see Nam Gung Lin right away.

That would have been the case if the disciples of the Cheonha School he encountered on the way hadn’t picked a fight with him.

“Isn’t that guy Ji Cheon Wu?”

“The one who framed Hwa Su and got kicked out of the Nam Gung Estate?”

Ji Cheon Wu tried to ignore them.

“Nam Gung Lin’s taste is quite peculiar. What’s so good about a scrawny guy like that?”

“Isn’t she just playing around with him for a bit? Girls like pretty things after all.”

“He’s probably just someone she’ll play with for a while and then throw away. Didn’t they say he was afflicted with the Nine Yin Severed Pulse?”

Even that was fine.

Because he knew how other people viewed him and Lin.

A beggar afflicted with the Nine Yin Severed Pulse and the precious daughter of the Nam Gung family.

It was naturally a combination that couldn’t be considered as friends. It didn’t matter even if her interest in him was mere sympathy.

He had already received a lot from Lin.

However, the following words from Hwangbo Yeong were something he couldn’t tolerate.

“She likes a pretty boy like that because she’s young now. According to my father, women in the martial arts world are bound to like strong men.”

The gazes of the boys didn’t leave Ji Cheon Wu’s face.

Some frowned as if disagreeing.

In fact, Ji Cheon Wu was too good-looking to fully accept Hwangbo Yeong’s words.

Pangs of conscience clawed at the boys’ hearts.

“Nam Gung Lin will be the same. Once she debuts in the martial arts world, she’ll realize how great strong men like me are. Traditionally, men with burly muscles are the best.”

Hwangbo Yeong nodded his head with a face full of conviction.

“Having a guy like that around would be troublesome for Nam Gung Lin.”

Ji Cheon Wu had never been angry at those who insulted him.

He was always used to enduring, and that didn’t change even after coming to the Nam Gung Estate.

He didn’t even think of fighting back when Nam Gung Hwa Su bullied him.

He was accustomed to unreasonable things. So, it was right to ignore it this time too.

Hwangbo Yeong was from the Hwangbo family, and Ji Cheon Wu had no one backing him up.

Fighting with Hwangbo Yeong would not be good for him.

However.

They said things they shouldn’t have.

“The Nam Gung family has fallen from grace these days. To think they’re keeping a guy like that around.”

“Haven’t they always recorded low scores in the Cheonhwa Competition? The quality of their martial arts might have declined.”

“Well, they seem to have high expectations for Lin… but can she even hold a sword with those slender arms? Tsk tsk.”

Ji Cheon Wu stopped walking.

He didn’t care if they gossiped about him. But he couldn’t forgive others talking about Nam Gung Lin.

Ji Cheon Wu stood in front of Hwangbo Yeong.

Glaring at the much larger boy, he opened his mouth.

“You’d better shut that mouth of yours.”

He couldn’t stand it.

Nam Gung Lin’s swordsmanship was excellent. He couldn’t tolerate those who didn’t know how much effort she put in, talking nonsense about her sword skills.

At Ji Cheon Wu’s words, Hwangbo Yeong frowned.

“What are you talking about?”

“I mean don’t speak recklessly about Lin. You’re inferior to her.”

“Hahaha!”

Hwangbo Yeong burst into laughter as if it was ridiculous. The other boys around him were the same.

Hwangbo Yeong stood in front of Ji Cheon Wu.

“Say something that makes sense. I heard Nam Gung Lin hasn’t been learning martial arts for long. And yet she’s superior to me?”

“……”

“I have excellent skills, always maintaining a high ranking in the Cheonha Competition. Lin can’t possibly be stronger than me.”

Hwangbo Yeong looked at Ji Cheon Wu as if he were a bug.

“You, seeing you spout nonsense, you’re trying to get in good with the Nam Gung family somehow, aren’t you? But you should know your place. Since Nam Gung Hyun went missing, no notable martial artist has emerged from the Nam Gung family.”

Hwangbo Yeong shook his head as if Ji Cheon Wu was hopeless.

He patted Ji Cheon Wu’s shoulder.

“It’s unfortunate that outstanding martial artists are no longer coming from the martial arts families… but who knows, if Lin gets a good marriage partner.”

Ji Cheon Wu realized there was no need to listen to Hwangbo Yeong’s gibberish any longer.

He firmly grasped Hwangbo Yeong’s hand that was on his shoulder.

Surprise was evident on Hwangbo Yeong’s face.

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