****
The banquet began.
A noisy and bustling atmosphere continued in the grand banquet held after a long time.
“The Gaju-nim is entering.”
The hall fell silent in an instant.
The Gaju of the Cheon Family, Cheon Wi-gang, appeared wearing neat attire.
Koo-woo-woong!
Cheon Wi-gang’s aura, like a well-forged sword, truly became a model for swordsmen.
The absolute master of the Cheon Family, Cheon Wi-gang, sat on the seat engraved with a dragon.
“We have invited special guests today.”
Cheon Wi-gang gave a signal.
“Next, the guests of honor from the Sichuan Tang Clan will enter.”
Woong-seong-woong-seong! (Murmuring sound)
To think people from the Sichuan Tang Clan were coming.
Those who hadn't heard this beforehand were the majority, so it was full of surprise.
“Ah…….”
However, that commotion also calmed down.
It was because of Tang So-hye who revealed her appearance soon.
At her appearance walking slowly, any flowery words that could express beauty did not feel satisfactory.
Sa-reu-reu.
Even while feeling coldness, just with a faintly made small smile, a brightness like the sun observing the entire world was felt.
“Ice Flower (Bing-hwa)…….”
Or the beauty of Tang So-hye known as the Number One Beauty of Sichuan was widely spread throughout the Central Plains Murim.
How did such a woman come to the Cheon Family?
Suspicious eyes directed at Cheon Wi-gang.
As soon as Tang So-hye sat in the designated guest of honor seat, Cheon Wi-gang stood up from his seat and declared to everyone.
“The Cheon Family and the Sichuan Tang Clan intend to develop their relationship through marriage.”
“……!”
“Then, don't tell me…….”
“With that mangnani Eldest Gongja?”
Who would marry Tang So-hye?
There was only Cheon Muryang who fit that description.
“That is correct.”
Koo-oong!
Cheon Wi-gang’s declaration was truly shocking.
“Where is…… where is the Eldest Gongja?”
Everyone looked for Cheon Muryang.
Kki-i-ik!
After all the people of the Sichuan Tang Clan entered, the firmly closed door of the banquet hall opened.
“……!”
The ones who appeared as the door opened were Cheon Muryang and Cheon Seon-hak.
“I am here.”
Some people harbored doubts about why he was entering together with Cheon Seon-hak, but there was a more important matter.
Cheon Muryang headed to his seat.
It was the seat next to Tang So-hye, whether it was arranged like that on purpose.
“We meet again, Gongja-nim.”
“…….”
Cheon Muryang did not even turn his head.
He just stared straight at Cheon Wi-gang who was gazing at him.
“Gaju-nim.”
“Speak.”
“Please annul this marriage engagement.”
The banquet hall, which had been silent, began to become noisy again.
Kkum-teul!
Cheon Wi-gang’s brow furrowed.
Because it only looked like the childishness of an immature person throwing a tantrum without distinguishing for whom this was.
A heavy aura bloomed naturally.
Then, the moment he was about to issue a thunderous scolding.
“I also agree with that.”
Another voice harboring an aura that could not be ignored restrained this.
This time, perplexity dwelled in Cheon Wi-gang’s two eyes.
“Seon-hak……?”
Because he did not know his younger brother would oppose this.
“What does that mean?”
“It means I agree with the Elder Gongja’s opinion. Please reconsider the marriage with the Sichuan Tang Clan.”
“…….”
Cheon Wi-gang did not hide his anger.
Kwang!
Woo-ji-kkeun!
Cheon Wi-gang kicked his seat and stood up strongly enough to break the chair.
Even though the windows were clearly closed, a fierce gust of wind raged.
“Heok!”
Pressure enough to make the heart sink.
Cheon Wi-gang standing at the center truly exuded the arrogant aura of an absolute master.
“How dare you!”
However, Cheon Seon-hak also did not fall behind.
“Are you truly defying my will!”
“For what purpose do you say you are drawing in the Tang Clan? Do you not know that there is not any benefit?”
Ppu-deu-deuk!
As the tight clash of auras continued, the banquet was ruined.
The sibis who did not learn martial arts curled up their bodies in fear, and even if they learned martial arts.
They dared not make any response to that aura.
They just waited for it to pass.
“Everything is for the family! Do you truly mean you do not know?”
“I do not know.”
There was not an inch of retreat.
Just before rushing to catastrophe.
“Please stop.”
Cheon Muryang’s voice intervened between the two people.
At this, Cheon Seon-hak released his aura as if he had waited.
“…….”
Cheon Wi-gang also.
While feeling something uncomfortable, he withdrew his aura.
As if when did that happen, silence flowed.
“My will is unchanged. I will not do this marriage. Rather chase me out.”
“This guy!”
“However, I must do what I have to do.”
Cheon Muryang got up from his seat.
Simultaneously while drawing his sword, he swung it toward Tang So-hye.
Swi-i-ik!
A sword flew in.
The owner of that sword was one of the escort warriors who had provoked Cheon Muryang.
Ka-ang!
Cheon Gwang bounced off.
It was an obvious difference in power.
Watching this, Tang So-hye gazed at Cheon Muryang with cold eyes.
“What is this behavior?”
“Hand it over, the antidote.”
“Antidote, you say……. Do you mean you intend to become enemies with the Tang Clan because of a mere sibi like that?”
“She is not a mere sibi.”
“……?”
“She is my person.”
“Interesting.”
Tang So-hye took out a glass bottle from her bosom.
It must be the antidote.
“I cannot just give it to you. Ah, do not misunderstand. Since our family’s precept is like that.”
“…….”
“Unless you meet a condition.”
Tang So-hye threw a bait indirectly.
A bait he had no choice but to bite even while knowing.
“Speak.”
“Win against my escort warrior.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes. Isn't this the way of a martial family?”
“Good. I accept.”
Ssi-ik.
Cheon Muryang smiled.
Everything was according to plan.
Tang So-hye, who had no way of knowing this, only wondered seeing that smile.
“You, come out.”
“…….”
The banquet hall became a training hall in an instant.
It was the person who swung the sword at Wolyeong.
“What is this behavior?”
Cheon Wi-gang stepped forward.
A duel.
Who is dueling with whom?
It was a duel that did not hold up in the first place.
“I will resolve it.”
“……!”
Cheon Wi-gang felt something strange.
If it was the original Cheon Muryang, he would have run away long ago.
However, he did not.
Cheon Muryang said he would resolve it and lifted the sword.
‘Come to think of it…….’
Only then did the changed points enter Cheon Wi-gang’s eyes.
‘He lost weight? How did this happen?’
Cheon Wi-gang glanced at Cheon Seon-hak.
As if asking when did he bloom his aura to oppose, Cheon Seon-hak nodded his head.
‘Is that so.’
Cheon Wi-gang did not say anything.
It was effectively permission.
Cheon Muryang holding Cheon Gwang with a serious posture.
However, that opponent was relaxed.
‘Right. You are still stronger. I know, and you know too.’
Unlike his aura, Cheon Muryang never rushed first.
He waited for the time slowly.
‘The opportunity is only once.’
Prudence looked like a bluff at a glance.
At least Tang So-hye’s escort warrior judged so.
‘Mangnani Eldest Gongja……. It is just putting forward pride until the very end.’
He sneered.
They already crossed swords.
He remembered that Cheon Muryang’s sword bounced off even though he did not use full power.
It meant that a big gap existed.
That mangnani Eldest Gongja would never be able to block his sword.
‘It will be quite painful.’
Swi-i-ik!
His sword rushed in sharply.
It was a thrust that the mangnani Eldest Gongja dared not respond to.
Although he did not use full power, he judged this much was sufficient.
“It is fortunate that you moved as I thought.”
The thrust drew a straight trajectory.
However, just before reaching Cheon Muryang.
That trajectory twisted.
“……!”
The sword was not everything.
It felt as if his entire body was being sucked into Cheon Muryang’s sword.
Hwi-i-ing!
Simultaneously with a small wind blowing into the center area, that wind soared into the sky as if ascending.
“Th, this!”
Woo-ung!
Cheon Gwang’s clear sword cry rang out.
Then, a sharp wind like a storm covered him.
The anger dwelling in it was felt.
“You bastard touched the Yeok-rin (Reverse Scale).”
“……!”
Seo-geok!
Blood stained Cheon Gwang’s blade.
Tuk!
His right arm fell with a thud.
“Eu-aaaa-ak!”
The escort warrior screaming.
However, Cheon Muryang gazed at the escort warrior and Tang So-hye with incomparably cold eyes.
“No one can touch a person of the Cheon Family. It would be good to engrave it clearly in the Tang Clan’s precepts.”
“……I cannot let those words slide.”
Tang So-hye was not alone.
The attendants of the Tang Clan who came with her were never weak either.
Seu-reung!
They drew their swords all at once.
Also, a middle-aged man who had been silent until now uncrossed his arms and stood next to Tang So-hye.
“It is time for Uncle to step forward.”
Tang So-hye referred to him as Uncle.
A strange aura bloomed from his entire body.
Go-o-o-o-o-o!
“Hey, it isn't only you who has an uncle, you know? Please step forward.”
“Hm……. Right.”
At this, Cheon Seon-hak stepped forward.
That was not the end.
“Also, it is not only the Gongja-nim who is here.”
“……?”
Neung Ryeo-un and Cha Myeong-hak stepped forward.
Behind those two, trainees influenced by Cheon Muryang stood holding their swords respectively.
“You guys…….”
“This place is the Cheon Family. Gongja-nim is the Eldest Gongja of the Cheon Family. Who dares to harm the Eldest Gongja in this Cheon Family?”
Neung Ryeo-un was holding a wooden sword.
Cheon Muryang, seeing this, laughed.
“Right. It must be like this to be a proper family.”
“…….”
The situation was not good.
Tang So-hye was not dull enough not to know this.
“The situation is not good.”
“I know.”
“However, the shape is funny to back down like this.”
“Yes. Even if we back down when we back down…… we must accept the cost of us coming all the way here, right?”
The taut tension was like a Chil-hyeon-geum (Seven-stringed zither) string just before snapping.
At this, Tang So-hye stepped forward.
“Gaju-nim.”
“Speak.”
“I did not know you would treat guests like this in the Cheon Family.”
“No, I did not speak to So-jeo (Young Lady).”
Cheon Wi-gang asked Cheon Muryang without even giving a gaze to Tang So-hye.
“Speak who touched a person of the Cheon Family.”
“My sibi, Wolyeong, was poisoned.”
“Poison, you say…….”
Finally, Cheon Wi-gang’s gaze directed at Tang So-hye.
“Is that really true?”
“Because of a mere sibi like that! Are you pressuring the Tang Clan now?”
“I must have told you, she is not a mere sibi.”
Ku-gu-gu-gung!
Cheon Wi-gang’s gaze became fierce.
“It seems…… I must make the marriage with the Tang Clan something that never happened. Know that and go back.”
Eu-deu-deuk.
Tang So-hye’s face was distorted.
Even that was beautiful, but to Cheon Muryang, it was just disgusting.
“How, how dare!”
“If you will not back down…….”
Cheon Wi-gang drew his sword in the end.
At that moment, the Cheonryong Sword Unit and Cheonbong Sword Unit which were silent, as well as everyone who attended the banquet, drew their swords.
“The Tang Clan will come to know why the Sword of the Heavenly Dragon shakes the Gangho.”
“E, eek!”
“We must back down.”
“…….”
Tang So-hye knew it was not the time to be stubborn, so she erased her emotions until the very end.
“The insult of today…… I will never forget.”
“Forget it, hand over the antidote.”
“…….”
Tang So-hye threw the glass bottle containing the antidote to Cheon Muryang.
“Then excuse me.”
As soon as he obtained it, Cheon Muryang went out of the banquet hall.
It was to hand the antidote to Wolyeong.
Watching that appearance, she vented her anger, but Cheon Wi-gang’s order to leave followed.
“Have you still not left?”
The people of the Tang Clan eventually had to be chased out as if running away from the Cheon Family while withdrawing their weapons.
“Cheon Muryang…….”
Tang So-hye had never suffered such treatment anywhere.
Therefore, her anger froze coldly like frost in May.
“He is a person completely different from expectations.”
“It is so. They said he was a rare mangnani, that information was wrong. Tsk.”
The two looked at the man whose arm was cut off.
It was a situation completely different from expectations.
“It became regrettable. Even though it was a golden opportunity to advance into Zhejiang using the Cheon Family.”
“……We will meet again, Cheon Muryang.”
Promising the future, the people of the Tang Clan left.