Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 5 - The Prodigal Son Returns (4)
Chapter 5 – The Prodigal Son Returns (4)
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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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Yi Jeong-hak could not contain his admiration.
“The kids kept telling me to visit Goyang Tower, and there was a reason. I didn’t know the scenery would be this good.”
He had a sturdy build and a fairly thick voice. He seemed young, but he looked more mature than his actual age.
“What is that lake visible far over there? Is it Lake Tai?”
“It’s not Lake Tai, it’s a small lake attached next to it.”
“Small? If it’s that size even from this far away, isn’t it quite large?”
“Haha, compared to Lake Tai, that is.”
The boy explaining quite maturely next to Yi Jeong-hak seemed to be of a similar age to Yeon Ji-pyeong.
The boy was Yang Woo, who studied with Yeon Ji-pyeong at the academy. He was the successor of a fairly famous martial arts hall in the region, though not as much as the Yeon Clan.
“Certainly, Jiangsu Province has many good places. Though it’s not as good as Anhui.”
“Is Anhui that great?”
The corners of Yi Jeong-hak’s mouth rose.
“Of course. Brother Yang, don’t you know this saying? Once you see Huangshan, the Five Great Mountains do not enter your eyes.”
“Ah! I’ve heard of it!”
“Is the scenery of Anhui only Huangshan? It’s not because I live in that region, but there’s no place in the Central Plains like Anhui.”
Yi Jeong-hak turned to the woman standing behind and asked.
“Is it not so, Young Lady?”
The woman nodded briefly. An indifferent look was evident on her expressionless face.
Yi Jeong-hak pretended not to see her expression.
“Anyway, as Brother Yang said, it was good to come. I think the taste would be superb with a glass of liquor and good food.”
At a glance, he was not yet at the age to know the true taste of liquor. However, Yang Woo quickly clapped his hands in agreement.
“It truly seems so. Since we’re talking about it, shall we order a bottle of liquor?”
“That’s good! I heard the fish dishes here are famous? Let’s order them together.”
“Sounds good.”
Yi Jeong-hak, who was bursting into laughter, suddenly looked at Yeon Ji-pyeong.
No matter how he tried to manage his expression, he looked awkward and uncomfortable to anyone. Yi Jeong-hak tilted his head.
“What’s wrong, brother?”
“…”
“Brother Yeon.”
“Pardon? Ah, yes!”
“Your expression doesn’t look very good?”
“Ah…”
Yeon Ji-pyeong was a person who was polite to everyone. However, he did not lie.
“I thought I should introduce my elder brother first.”
Yi Jeong-hak said with a smile.
“Ah, I’m sorry. I forgot for a moment that your elder brother was here.”
Words and actions that were not greatly rude, yet not very okay either.
It was a situation that could be sufficiently laughed off and passed over. However, Yeon Ji-pyeong could not say it was okay. Because it was a matter related to his family, and no one else.
When Yeon Ji-pyeong was about to open his mouth again.
“Pyeong-ah.”
“Yes, elder brother!”
“Bring them over.”
It was an exquisite moment. The hesitating Yeon Ji-pyeong said to the two males and one female.
“Let’s go.”
“…”
“Brother Yi?”
“Hmm? Ah, right. Let’s do that.”
Yi Jeong-hak’s face was still leisurely.
However, people around did not know that his gaze had changed a little.
It was when the group was walking to the table where Yeon Ho-jeong sat.
“Eh? Young Lady Namgung?”
Unexpectedly, the woman did not join the group.
Going to a seat far away and sitting calmly, she propped her chin and looked out the window. She seemed completely uninterested in the group’s conversation.
Embarrassment dwelt on Yang Woo’s face, and thick veins stood out on Yeon Ji-pyeong’s jaw.
In the somewhat chilly atmosphere.
Yi Jeong-hak suddenly let out a hearty laugh.
“Haha! It seems she’s not in a good mood yet.”
He took a step forward and performed a fist-and-palm salute to Yeon Ho-jeong.
“I am Yi Jeong-hak of the Anhui Yi Clan. It is an honor to meet the Eldest Young Master of the Green Mountain Yeon Clan.”
Whatever his previous words and actions were, it was a greeting with its own set of courtesy.
Yeon Ho-jeong also stood up and performed a fist-and-palm salute.
“Nice to meet you. I am Yeon Ho-jeong.”
Yi Jeong-hak laughed with an awkward face.
“I hope you understand my group. There was something that might upset them.”
He was referring to the woman, Namgung Sang-hwa.
Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.
“It’s fine.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
As if relieved, Yi Jeong-hak’s face brightened.
“Brother Yeon praised his brother so much at the academy. It’s good to see the brotherly love is strong.”
Yeon Ho-jeong glanced at Yeon Ji-pyeong. Yeon Ji-pyeong’s face turned a bit red.
“Unlike me, he’s a kind and smart fellow. I ask you to take good care of him.”
“Of course. Is he not such a kind child?”
A fairly warm conversation.
Then, a cold voice was heard.
“Did you bring me here just to look around?”
Everyone’s gaze turned toward Namgung Sang-hwa. A subtle irritation dwelt on her face.
Yi Jeong-hak hurriedly said.
“How could that be? Brother Yeon, it was a pleasure. I have a group, so I should be going now.”
“Go ahead.”
Yi Jeong-hak hurried toward Namgung Sang-hwa.
Yang Woo, who was following him, glanced at Yeon Ho-jeong.
His brow was somewhat knit while looking at Yeon Ho-jeong. He had deep brotherly love with Yeon Ji-pyeong, but he did not view Yeon Ho-jeong favorably.
Because the rumors were so bad. Moreover, Yeon Ji-pyeong always had a hard time because of Yeon Ho-jeong. Since he was a person who made his close friend suffer, he could not view him kindly.
“Ji-pyeong. Are you going to stay there?”
Yeon Ji-pyeong frowned.
“What do you mean ‘there’?”
Yang Woo turned around as if he had not heard.
“Never mind, see you later.”
Ending with those words, Yang Woo walked toward Namgung Sang-hwa and Yi Jeong-hak.
Yeon Ji-pyeong, who bit his lip while looking at Yang Woo’s back, sat across from Yeon Ho-jeong.
“I’m sorry, elder brother.”
“For what?”
“Just… because I unnecessarily said let’s come here…”
He was bothered by the unsettled atmosphere. Moreover, he felt that the group over there subtly ignored his brother. He was not feeling good either, but it would not be comparable to his brother’s feelings.
Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.
“I don’t care.”
He was sincere.
He declined having many words when there was no friendship, but there was no problem with exchanging greetings with a smile. Moreover, they were auditing students of the academy his brother attended.
He did not know how long they would be at the academy, but he did not want to see his brother become flustered because of him.
Of course, he had something to say to his brother.
“Being polite and being timid are different. I hope you know that difference.”
“Pardon?”
“The Jianghu does not listen to the words of a kind person. Being kind is good, but I hope you strive to be a good person more than that.”
Yeon Ji-pyeong tilted his head. It was a word that seemed to be understood yet was puzzling.
Yeon Ho-jeong spoke with a smile.
“Is your money pouch still sufficient?”
“Pardon? Ah, of course!”
“Then shall we also have a glass of liquor?”
Yeon Ji-pyeong’s expression brightened.
“I’d love to!”
The two immediately ordered liquor.
Although he did not tell his brother, it was Yeon Ji-pyeong’s first time with liquor. Because of his age and because he had no time due to training martial arts and literature.
The brothers shared a glass of liquor for the first time. It was a moment filled with deep emotion for both.
Like that, how much time passed?
Thud!
A cold silence arose.
“Damn it!”
A sharp loud voice tore the silence.
“Stop talking! Whether it’s the academy or whatever trash, I said I hate it!”
The owner of the piercing voice was Namgung Sang-hwa.
Whether because of the liquor or anger, her face was flushed red. Her breathing became rough, and her eyes were fully bloodshot.
When she stayed still, she had a very radiant appearance, but when she was angry, she was no different from a Rakshasa.
Yi Jeong-hak hurriedly said.
“Young Lady, do not misinterpret my words. In any case, we cannot disobey the order of the Clan Leader…”
“Shut up! Do you think I’m a person who even looks at my father’s mood, so I crawled into this dirty neighborhood?!”
“Y-Young Lady!”
“To cool my head at the academy? What a damn old man! Since he couldn’t just kick me out because I’m his child, he definitely stuck me in this backwater! Damn it, what does he take me for!”
It was a language that was nothing but rough. She did not seem at all like a person who had learned the etiquette of a prestigious family.
Yang Woo carefully opened his mouth.
“Young Lady. Please calm down a little.”
“What?”
“That… isn’t this a place Brother Jeong-hak made to clear your mood. I’m afraid others will see, so please stop the anger…”
Slap!
“Kugh!”
Yang Woo tumbled over sideways.
Namgung Sang-hwa looked down at the fallen Yang Woo with cold eyes.
“I let you follow me around like a puppy that needs to poop, and you dare to lecture me? Do you want to die?”
Yang Woo looked up at Namgung Sang-hwa with bewildered eyes.
Yi Jeong-hak stood up and stopped Namgung Sang-hwa.
“Young Lady, stop it. I sufficiently understand you.”
“Understand? Who are you to understand me!”
“Of course, it’s hard for me to understand the situation you’re in too. The part I understand is that Yang Woo crossed the line.”
Yang Woo looked at Yi Jeong-hak with shocked eyes.
Yi Jeong-hak pretended not to see him.
“And there’s a part where Yang Woo’s words also have a point.”
“What?!”
“Did you not come here to represent the Namgung Clan? I am afraid others will see this scene.”
Namgung Sang-hwa sneered.
“Others? Are you talking about you or this vermin?”
“Young Lady.”
“Or those guys?”
In the place Namgung Sang-hwa pointed with her hand, there were the Yeon brothers.
Yi Jeong-hak’s face hardened.
Namgung Sang-hwa shouted out loud.
“Do not try to make me understand with such insignificant words! I am a daughter of the Namgung! If there’s a fellow whispering, it’s enough to just tear their mouth!”
Truly, she could see nothing in her eyes.
Yi Jeong-hak felt embarrassment. He knew Namgung Sang-hwa had a considerably arrogant personality, but today it was far too much.
It was not an anger that would subside quickly. Yi Jeong-hak used his head.
‘Would it be better to turn this anger elsewhere instead?’
Instantly, he turned back.
Yeon Ho-jeong sat with his back turned so he would not know, but Yeon Ji-pyeong’s expression was not very good.
It was understandable. They were not strangers, yet they were called ‘this fellow and that fellow’ because someone was drunk. Anyone would not be in a good mood.
Yi Jeong-hak’s eyes flashed.
“Even so, you must endure.”
“What?”
“This is a place where there are descendants of the most prestigious family of Jiangsu, counted among the Seven Great Clans along with your family. Shouldn’t you maintain a certain level of dignity?”
“Seven Great Clans? Dignity?”
Namgung Sang-hwa snorted.
“Since when did my main house recognize the riffraff Yeon Clan as a member of the Seven Great Clans?”
It was a dangerous statement.
He had tried to turn the anger toward the Yeon brothers, but he did not know such a statement would come out. Yi Jeong-hak made up an excuse without realizing it.
“It was not that kind of meaning. Although Yang Woo and I are for you, Young Lady…”
He trailed off.
The tone is so polite and courteous that no other intention is felt.
However, for one who had many much higher-level and gruesome experiences, it was just words where the inside could be seen clearly.
Yeon Ho-jeong harbored a chuckle.
“They’re playing cutely.”
“…”
At the words that popped out with a chuckle, everyone’s faces hardened.
It was a voice loud enough to be heard even by Yang Woo, whose internal energy was the lowest here. There was no way Namgung Sang-hwa or Yi Jeong-hak could not hear it.
Thud!
Namgung Sang-hwa, who struck the table, shouted sharply.
“You fellow, what did you just say?”
Yeon Ho-jeong emptied his glass without a reply.
There was not a shred of embarrassment or tension. That appearance felt like being ignored to Namgung Sang-hwa.
“I’m asking what you said, you damn bastard!”