Peng Zonghun could not contain his anger.

The Peng family was strong, but things were different when facing the Nam Gung family.

Especially the Nam Gung family with Nam Gung Jin Cheon still alive.

Peng Zonghun had seen Nam Gung Jin Cheon when he visited the Peng family in the past.

His cool eyes, mountain-like shoulders, and the overwhelming aura he exuded.

If it were someone from another family, it might be different, but being from the Nam Gung family made it difficult to retaliate against Nam Gung Lin for today’s incident.

“Damn that Dang Hwa Ryeong! How does he know Nam Gung Lin? I didn’t even realize the opponent was Nam Gung Lin because he was with him.”

Dang Feng nodded and said.

“It seems elder brother has made some interesting friends.”

Dang Feng nodded.

“By the way, I heard there will be a guest at this harmony meeting.”

“A guest?”

“Yes, I heard Nam Gung Grand Master has allowed a guest to come this time.”

“What kind of guest?”

“Ji Cheon Wu.”

“Why is the Second Young Master of the Demon Cult coming?”

“It’s probably because things are unsettled due to the Blood Cult’s appearance. They want to show the alliance’s solidarity.”

Peng Zonghun smiled coldly at Dang Feng’s words.

“Right, they have appeared.”

“Not much is known about Ji Cheon Wu. Well, it might not be bad to see what kind of person he is.”

“……”

“I heard he made it to the finals of the Cheonhaje in the past but was eliminated.”

Peng Zonghun gritted his teeth.

Thinking of Cheonhaje naturally reminded him of Nam Gung Lin, who was the winner there.

The harmony meeting starts tomorrow.

He might meet Nam Gung Lin again.

The image of Nam Gung Lin looking down at him coldly flashed in his mind.

‘You think I’ll just sit back and take this, even if you are from the Nam Gung family?’

Both Nam Gung Lin and Ji Cheon Wu were people from renowned families he had never encountered before.

Peng Zonghun muttered softly.

“We’ll see what kind of person he is.”

[This is the timeline separator]

Dang Hwa Ryeong and I headed to the harmony meeting place prepared by the Dang family.

“It’s a shame, young lady Nam Gung. Do well and come back.”

Sin So Gyeong decided to stay at the residence. She didn’t meet the conditions to participate in the harmony meeting.

Despite coming to his own family, Dang Hwa Ryeong’s expression wasn’t very good.

The same was true for the Dang family members looking at Dang Hwa Ryeong.

‘Some look sympathetic, while Dang Feng’s people are giving hostile glances.’

Perhaps it was natural.

There were quite a few gazes on me as well.

[It seems the rumors about yesterday’s incident have spread.]

‘Yes, the fight with Peng Zonghun at the inn was bound to become gossip.’

The one who came out to greet us was Peng Yeon Sim, the lady of the Dang family.

She looked coldly at Dang Hwa Ryeong and said.

“You’re late.”

Dang Hwa Ryeong calmly replied to her cold words.

“Yes, I apologize. There were many incidents on the way.”

Peng Yeon Sim glanced at me briefly.

‘Her gaze isn’t very kind.’

It was natural since I had humiliated Peng Zonghun.

‘There’s a reason Dang Feng and Peng Zonghun are close.’

Peng Yeon Sim, being from the Peng family, must hate the sight of me.

“I heard you’re young lady Nam Gung. I hope you have a good time at the harmony meeting and return safely.”

“Yes, thank you.”

I couldn’t hide my bitter smile. Dang Hwa Ryeong’s situation didn’t seem much different from my past.

‘At least I had grandfather and aunt, but…..’

I heard the current Dang family head wasn’t particularly taking anyone’s side.

‘They say he’s still in shock from Dang Hae Yeol’s death.’

In a way, he might be in a similar state to grandfather who couldn’t return to the family while searching for father.

I couldn’t easily understand it.

[This is the timeline separator]

Dang Hwa Ryeong and I sat in the prepared place. There were more people at the harmony meeting than I expected.

‘About twenty people?’

Of course, there was no need to remember everyone.

Many of them rarely appeared even within the Cheonma faction.

Dang Hwa Ryeong stuck close to me and started telling me who the other people were. I listened carefully to his words.

My participation in the harmony meeting was also aimed at finding any Blood Cult spies that might be here.

“You’ve seen Peng Zonghun and Dang Feng, so you should know them.”

I looked where Dang Hwa Ryeong was gazing.

Quite a few people were gathered around Peng Zonghun and Dang Feng.

It was inevitable since they were the ones who would lead the future even among the Five Great Families.

But I couldn’t hold back my laughter when I saw Peng Zonghun.

“Pfft.”

[His face has become quite a funny sight.]

Peng Zonghun’s face was all swollen. Perhaps hearing my laughter, I saw Peng Zonghun glaring at me.

‘His gaze is sharp.’

But above all, I was the one receiving the most attention from people.

“That person is young lady Nam Gung….”

“I heard she had a duel with young master Peng recently.”

“Could it be that young master Peng’s face ended up like this because of young lady Nam Gung?”

“As expected of the Cheonhaje winner, she’s incredible.”

Dang Hwa Ryeong continued his explanation, ignoring people’s gazes.

“And that young lady is Je Gal Yu Hwa. Je Gal Yu Ryong’s younger sister.”

Dang Hwa Ryeong carefully pointed to a young lady on one side.

‘They do look alike.’

Coincidentally, Je Gal Yu Hwa was also looking at me.

‘What’s with that burdensome gaze….’

Je Gal Yu Hwa was staring at me without taking her eyes off for even a moment, her eyes sparkling.

Dang Hwa Ryeong asked me curiously.

“Do you know Je Gal young lady?”

“How could I? This is the first time I’ve seen her.”

Uncle Dagger also added a comment.

[It’s like looking at Sin So Gyeong.]

‘Well, Miss Sin does look at me like that too….’

Could it be because she’s Je Gal Yu Ryong’s sister?

‘She might have heard something from Je Gal Yu Ryong.’

[But he wouldn’t have told her everything about you. Not if he cares for his younger sister.]

‘You think so?’

[Yes, it doesn’t seem like she knows much from the looks of it.]

The more one knows about the martial arts world, the more dangerous their life becomes.

‘Like how Je Gal Yu Ryong was chased by the Blood Cult.’

Je Gal Yu Hwa’s somewhat innocent-looking eyes might be the result of Je Gal Yu Ryong’s efforts.

“And that guy is Mo Yong Hak. You should know him too, right?”

I turned my gaze to Mo Yong Hak.

I couldn’t not know him since we were entangled with the Mo Yong family in various ways.

At that moment, Dang Feng stepped forward.

People’s attention turned to Dang Feng. The gazes focused on me disappeared in an instant.

“It seems most people have arrived now.”

Dang Feng continued with a meaningful smile.

“Actually, we have another special guest today….”

Just as he was speaking and building up the mood, before he could finish his words, someone entered with an overwhelming aura.

In an instant, the eyes of the female martial artists at the harmony meeting became dreamy.

The men also looked towards the entrance of the harmony meeting with admiring gazes.

I too turned my gaze in that direction.

I was curious about who the special guest at the Five Great Families’ harmony meeting was.

[That arrogant kid, he’s become incredibly strong.]

I heard Uncle Dagger’s small exclamation. I too couldn’t help but be a bit surprised.

‘Six years is a long time, but….’

No, even so, can a person change this much?

‘The Ji Cheon Wu I remember had a small and cute side to him….’

In front of my eyes was Ji Cheon Wu, who had become a complete young man.

Ji Cheon Wu, dressed in a neat black martial arts uniform, wasn’t wearing flashy clothes.

‘But his face is dazzling.’

His already handsome face was now glowing as if he had eaten something in the Demon Cult. And that wasn’t all.

His walk was full of confidence.

The aura he emitted was enough to overwhelm all the people from the Five Great Families.

In short, he was completely different from the Ji Cheon Wu of six years ago.

‘He should remember me.’

I suddenly felt how much time had passed. It had been a while since I exchanged letters with Ji Cheon Wu.

I heard many things had happened to Ji Cheon Wu during that time.

‘I told him not to send letters when I entered closed-door training.’

It was because I knew nothing was harder than receiving letters with no reply.

That’s when it happened.

My eyes met with Ji Cheon Wu’s.

I thought Ji Cheon Wu would immediately look away.

Everyone was focusing on him, and I didn’t think he would acknowledge knowing me in this situation.

‘Ji Cheon Wu is now a person of the Demon Cult. There’s no benefit in acting like he knows me.’

Even so, Ji Cheon Wu lacked legitimacy compared to Ak Wi Cheon.

I heard he had suffered many disadvantages within the Demon Cult because of that in the Cheonma faction.

In such a situation, there was nothing to gain by showing friendliness with me, a righteous faction person.

[That kid doesn’t seem to have any intention of pretending not to know you.]

‘Really? How could that be?’

But as Uncle Dagger said, Ji Cheon Wu really started approaching me without a moment’s hesitation.

His gaze hadn’t left me for a single moment since our eyes met.

As if only he and I existed in this harmony meeting place.

Amidst the pouring gazes of people, Ji Cheon Wu smiled brightly.

“Gasp!”

“Oh my, how could this be….”

[Th-that kid is getting better at acting foxy!]

Uncle Dagger was so shocked by Ji Cheon Wu’s smile that he almost fainted.

“It’s been a long time, Lin.”

Ji Cheon Wu was as friendly as if we had met 6 days ago, not 6 years.

His eyes curved beautifully.

“Did your closed-door training go well?”

Well, um, it did go well, but the situation was quite burdensome.

Especially to have a conversation like this at the harmony meeting while receiving everyone’s attention.

“Yeah, it went well.”

I answered like that and glanced to the side.

I saw Ji Cheon Wu and Dang Hwa Ryeong staring at each other intently.

I hoped it was my imagination that lightning was striking between their eyes…..

That’s when it happened. A man walked steadily towards Ji Cheon Wu and me.