.jpeg){kind=tracking}
Chapter 116. Do Not Try to Live Life Easily
Jin Seolha, the second disciple of the Changin Sect, grew up receiving much love. Perhaps because of that, her behavior was as free and carefree as her radiant appearance.
In her daily life, she rarely felt the discomfort that others experience when meeting someone for the first time.
Her character was displayed without reserve even during her first encounter with the members of Nokrim. She treated Yeon Jeokha the same way she would treat someone from the Justice Alliance.
Towards the end of the meal, she began calling him "Yeon Sohyeop" and referring to Shim Tong as "Senior Shim" without any hesitation.
During a light gathering with drinks that followed, she jovially patted Yeon Jeokha on the shoulder and laughed heartily.
Thanks to her enthusiastic attitude, Seol Chasu and Yoo Geunsik also began to speak more.
By the time the gathering ended, the two had almost overcome their initial discomfort.
"…And then, the man said to his beloved, 'If I had to choose between you and the world, I would choose you.' Kyaaa! What do you think? Isn't that charming? I like that kind of man."
Tap, tap, tap~
Half-drunk, with her face red, Jin Seolha was tapping Yeon Jeokha's shoulder and back.
Yeon Jeokha looked at Seol Chasu and Yoo Geunsik with bewildered eyes.
Seol Chasu awkwardly stood up and gestured to Jin Seolha.
"Junior Sister Jin, it seems you've had enough to drink. Why don't we leave?"
Seol Chasu got up, but Jin Seolha didn't listen.
"What are you saying? I haven't drunk that much."
Jin Seolha looked at Yeon Jeokha with eyes full of injustice.
Sweating, Yeon Jeokha tried to pry Jin Seolha's hands off, as she clung to his arm like an octopus.
"Um, Lady Jin, why don't we rest for today? We have a long journey ahead tomorrow."
Yeon Jeokha, although sweating profusely, tried not to be rude to Jin Seolha. She reminded him of the brazen confidence of Han Chaeyeon and the innocence of Ha Sobaek, which made him more cautious.
Although Yeon Jeokha didn't like women, that only applied to those with bad intentions or who had no relation to him. Even for someone as stubborn as him, rejecting a woman who approached him in a friendly and unreserved manner wasn't easy. Moreover, Jin Seolha was his traveling companion.
Shim Tong, who seemed to be enjoying the situation, just laughed "hehe" and did nothing to stop her.
It was only when Yeon Jeokha mentioned the long journey the next day that Jin Seolha got up with a sad expression. It seemed she wasn't as drunk as she appeared, as she immediately reacted to Yeon Jeokha's polite rejection.
When Seol Chasu and Yoo Geunsik took Jin Seolha away, Yeon Jeokha let out a long sigh.
"Ugh! Why is this so difficult? Next time, let's just eat."
"Still, it didn't seem like you were having a hard time. Am I wrong?"
"It's not that I had a hard time. She seems like a good person."
"Hehe, I see. It seemed to me that you two were getting along well."
"Getting along well? It just doesn't seem like she's a bad person. Do you think Lady Jin is bad?"
"If she were, I would have already sent her away."
"You see. I feel the same way."
"But you seemed pretty affectionate, you even linked arms…"
"Old Shim, let's be clear. I was grabbed by the arm. It was scarier than that woman from the Demon Warriors. Do you want to see the sweat on my back? It wasn't a joke."
Yeon Jeokha shook his head as if to make it clear there was a misunderstanding.
While the two were discussing trivial things, a man climbed the stairs.
Out of curiosity, some customers had gone up to the seventh floor before, so they didn't pay much attention. It was a time when the business was at its peak, so they thought he was just another customer.
As soon as Yeon Mubaek reached the seventh floor, he recognized Yeon Jeokha.
Despite the fourteen years that had passed, the youth still bore traces of the past.
He walked determinedly towards where the old man and Yeon Jeokha were sitting.
At that moment, Shim Tong spoke coldly.
"Who are you? If you come any closer, I'll cut off your head."
Shim Tong's threat, filled with murderous intent, made Yeon Mubaek stop, surprised.
The old man emitted such powerful killing intent that Yeon Mubaek had no choice but to stop.
He quickly bowed his head in respect.
"I am Yeon Mubaek. I have come to speak with the Grand Inspector…"
Shim Tong squinted his eyes at him.
"Hmph! Who is this rookie? Do you think our young master meets with just anyone…?"
"Old Shim, why don't you go have a drink somewhere else?"
"Yes."
Without another word, Shim Tong stood up and walked towards the window.
After a brief moment of hesitation, Yeon Mubaek sat down in front of Yeon Jeokha.
Yeon Jeokha stared at him.
He knew that the members of the Yeon Family would soon seek him out.
With such a significant matter as the Samjangbulip, they couldn't just stand idly by.
Seeing Yeon Mubaek felt different from seeing Baek Miju a few days before.
When he met her, all he felt was rage. But seeing Yeon Mubaek brought back old memories.
Yeon Mubaek, Yeon Seungbaek, and Yeon Seolju used to torment him under the pretext of playing.
Every time they did, the insults they used were so vulgar that he still wondered how children from a noble family had learned such words.
While Yeon Jeokha was immersed in those memories, Yeon Mubaek bowed his head.
"I'm sorry. I was young and didn't know right from wrong. I committed a great sin. I know that anything I say now will sound like an excuse, but I wanted to apologize to you, even if it wasn't for this matter."
"Do not try to live life easily. Doing all sorts of wrongs and then saying 'sorry' is not enough."
"…I know."
Yeon Mubaek lowered his head, feeling bitter.
He was right. Life wasn't that simple.
If Yeon Jeokha were a stranger, the members of the Yeon Family would have been dead a long time ago. He was probably sparing their lives only because they were his blood.
But he couldn't just stand by.
"I know that asking for forgiveness is brazen. But please, for the sake of our father, give me a chance. What must I do to earn your forgiveness?"
Yeon Jeokha wanted to ignore him, but he couldn't.
There was sincerity in his expression of pain and his honest confession.
It only took a few words to realize that Yeon Mubaek had grown to be a decent adult.
"Do you know what they did to me at our aunt's Waryong Manor?"
Yeon Mubaek nodded.
"Go and tell our aunt, the elders of the Yeon Family, the warriors of the Baek clan, and their leaders, including the head of the Baek clan who helped rebuild the Waryong Manor, that they must present themselves before me and apologize on their knees. Only then might I consider it."
"…I will relay it, but I don't know if they will accept."
Yeon Jeokha laughed.
"If they want to avoid ruin, they'll do whatever it takes. This is their last chance, so tell them to make the most of it. Because after tomorrow, it will be difficult. I will be busy."
"…Is there no other way?"
"Hehe. Brother Mubaek, you underestimate me. I'm not an easy person. If you were in my place, wouldn't you have done something worse? Right?"
Yeon Jeokha's piercing eyes made Yeon Mubaek avert his gaze.
Maybe…
If he had gone through what he did and had the power to take revenge…
"I understand. I will relay your message."
Yeon Jeokha spoke casually as Yeon Mubaek stood up.
"By the way, a piece of advice. Don't hold on too tightly to the Waryong Manor. Think about the lives of your future children."
"…"
Yeon Mubaek didn't fully understand why Yeon Jeokha said that.
He had never stopped considering himself the Leader of the Waryong Manor. Even when his mother was in control, he saw himself as the true owner.
---------------------
Baek Clan
At Yeon Mubaek's request, the head of the Baek clan and the head of the Yang clan met. They chose the Baek Clan as it was in the middle of the three clans.
"So, why did you want to see us? Is there any news from the Justice Alliance or Nokrim?"
The head of the Baek clan, Baek Seungho, although the young man was his grandson, did not use an informal tone.
It was a subtle way of indicating that this meeting was an official matter between the three clans.
Yeon Mubaek looked at Baek Seungho and Yang Juhwan with serious eyes.
"I can no longer hide this for the sake of our future."
Although it was an embarrassing family matter, he could no longer conceal it. He had to speak.
"You may wonder why Yeon Jeokha is troubling our clans. There is a reason for it."
Yeon Mubaek explained Baek Miju's actions after Yeon Muryong's death and how Yeon Jeokha, who was his half-brother, had been mistreated and imprisoned for ten years before escaping and joining Nokrim.
"…Yeon Jeokha received a special opportunity in the ancestral warehouse and escaped after ten years. It was just before I returned to the Waryong Manor. After that, he joined Nokrim and started all this."
"…"
Baek Seungho's face darkened.
He was embarrassed that all this was due to his own daughter's actions.
Yang Juhwan, incredulous, asked:
"Then, what fault does the Yang clan have?"
"Because they helped rebuild the Waryong Manor… I'm sorry."
"Why didn't you tell me earlier? Why would I give money if I had known this? Why are we being dragged into this by the Waryong Manor and the Baek clan?"
Yang Juhwan reprimanded Yeon Mubaek, feeling aggrieved.
Baek Seungho, although annoyed, held back due to the guilt over his daughter.
"Hmph. At least we know where all this is coming from. Do you know how to resolve it?"
"I just came from seeing Yeon Jeokha. He said that all those involved must kneel before him and apologize. Only then might he consider it."
Baek Seungho snorted.
"Hmph! Bow to that boy?"
Yang Juhwan also shook his head in disbelief.
"The Yang clan will not bow to Nokrim. We prefer to fight and die."
"But grandfather, it's clear that we made a mistake…"
"Nonsense! It was your aunt's fault, not mine. I only felt compassion and helped you. I will not bow my head and humiliate our family for that."
Yeon Mubaek didn't know what to say. They were right in a way.
"I agree with the head of the Yang clan. I will not bow my head for the mistakes of the Waryong Manor. Yang Gaju, don't you agree?"
"Exactly. I don't see why we should suffer for the Waryong Manor and the Baek clan. This is an abuse of power by Nokrim."
Yeon Mubaek carefully addressed Baek Seungho.
"Grandfather, this is not that simple. The warriors of the Baek clan were the ones who kept watch over Yeon Jeokha. No matter what you say, the Baek clan cannot avoid responsibility."
"That… Ugh…"
Baek Seungho couldn't find the words to respond.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Yang Juhwan added:
"You know that the Yang clan is not at fault. Try to convince Yeon Jeokha."
"Father-in-law, he despises the reconstruction of the Waryong Manor. He is furious with those who helped. He is not an unreasonable person. If you bow a little, everything will be resolved."
"Apologize?! That's nonsense! The Yang clan is a righteous family. We will never bow to Nokrim."
"Gentlemen, please reconsider. Tomorrow, this opportunity will disappear. We must make Yeon Jeokha cancel the Samjangbulip while he is in Zhengzhou."
Yeon Mubaek was desperate.
He hadn't yet spoken to his mother, Baek Miju. He knew she would react furiously. But he thought Baek Seungho and Yang Juhwan would be more reasonable.
But in the end, Baek Seungho and Yang Juhwan refused to bow. As figures of righteousness, they preferred to die rather than humiliate themselves before Nokrim.
-
(Up to '50' more ch4pt3rs)
Publication of up to 5 weekly ch4pters, thanks.
---