"If it was something that happened a little while ago you wouldn't have had to do that-"
"Other than that what your mother and Yoochang did to you all this time."
"…."
There was silence for a moment.
"I'm really sorry. I apologize on behalf of both of you."
I scratched the back of my head wondering how on earth I should answer this.
"Raise your head."
"that-"
"I don't believe you were asking me to forgive those two people."
"…."
"If that's really what you were going to say I would appreciate it if you could just leave now."
Concerns about how to treat Dang Gyu-jin have not changed much.
If you rush in to get revenge on Namgung Sanyoung and Dang Yuchang who will soon be ruined? Just step on them and that's it.
Otherwise? I was thinking of just leaving it alone.
That will be enough.
The price of the candy that 'Dangunhwi' received so far.
"I know I know it's hard. But I really wanted to tell you that."
However Dang Gyu-jin did not express any particular opinion on this matter. He must be confused as well. No matter how much he hates them they are his parents and siblings.
I nodded silently.
After that we just chatted about useless small talk.
"But where on earth did you learn such martial arts? Even your cursed poison and even your riding style are different."
"My master is Danggon right now."
"You learned it from your uncle?"
Your uncle?
Did you call Danggon that?
I've been speaking informally to you the whole time… right?
"Yes thanks to my mother."
"??"
Dang Gyu-jin's face was filled with doubt.
For her there's no way she'll be able to connect. The relationship structure between Namgung Sanyoung Danggon and me.
But I just laughed and didn't answer properly.
"How have you been Sister? I heard in a letter that you came down with your friends this time."
As we chatted about this and that time passed quickly.
"I heard you're going to have a duel with Yuchang. Is that okay?"
"Do you think I will lose?"
"I saw your prayer a little while ago… but you shouldn't take Chang-ah lightly. It's even more of a problem after winning."
It seemed as if Namgung Sanyoung was trying to hint that the hidden cards were not easy.
"It's okay. I have already thought about that."
"thought?"
"It wouldn't be fun if we just did nothing."
"??"
Instead of answering the questioning Dang Gyu-jin I smiled brightly.
Smile!
"…He's plotting something again! The young cult leader is plotting a conspiracy!"
The ghosts shuddered.
* * *
The next day at noon.
Only after arriving at the Jay training ground where the Bimu was scheduled to take place Dang Gyu-jin was able to realize what Yun-hui had meant.
"This is not an opportunity that comes every day! Just 5 nyang! For just 5 nyang we will serve you the pumpkin candy that Chungkyung is proud of-"
"I'm selling a mat. A mat! If I were to talk about this mat it would be a mat woven from fabric brought from the faraway Western Kingdom of Pasa-"
The training ground was bustling with merchants and onlookers. There were the Kowloon branch's military officers and servants and even outsiders.
People who were bored because they had nothing to do seemed to have been punished.
But the biggest problem is.
"Put your bets put your bets! The current stakes are a whopping one hundred and sixty-four to one! So do you want to go the regular route and win a little or do you want to go the reverse route and win a lot!"
In one corner a betting game was being held openly.
'Why… things seem to be going a little… no a lot differently than I expected…?'
Everything was confusing.
In fact this was all a result of rumors that Yun Hui had spread over the past day.
―They say that the second and third princes will have a formal ceremony at noon.
-They said the loser decided to treat the winner like his older brother for the rest of his life.
―The loser promised not to show his face at the upcoming visit to the lord.
In the Kowloon branch there are issues that cannot be easily overlooked.
Of course those who ignored Yun Hui laughed at him asking how he could possibly deal with Dang Yuchang.
However the conversation between the Inspectorate and Danggon who had stepped forward to stop the nonsense caused a bigger stir.
"Prince Yunhui and Prince Yuchang are having a duel?"
"Yes. That's why the garden is in an uproar. So as a warrior what do you think about this-"
"I don't know why you are fighting a fight that you obviously can't win."
"As expected! Then in case of an accident I will stop Prince Yun-Hwi-"
"Oh. Try to talk to Prince Yunhui. He doesn't listen to me at all. Prince Yuchang is too pitiful."
"…Huh? Aren't you saying the same thing over and over again?"
"Huh? No?"
"!?"
"Is Prince Yuchang going to be beaten like a dog? Just think about getting beaten up in front of so many people. Ugh! What kind of dog is that?"
"!!!"
"!!!"
Dang Yuchang will be defeated!
The problem was that although Dang-gon appeared indifferent to everything he never said anything he didn't mean.
It means that he did not take Yun-Hwi's side simply because he was a Musabu.
Because of this the rumor grew like a snowball and caught the attention of the households.
War of Destruction.
In fact once you lose it is like throwing away all the privileges of the branch family so people watch the match with even more excitement.
"…You dare turn me into a monkey in a zoo?"
Crap!
Dang Yu-chang couldn't stand this situation.
He grew up always learning from Namgung Sanyoung that he must have the dignity of a nobleman.
A noble being born with the blood of both the Sichuan Dynasty's Paeju Tang family and the Anhui Dynasty's ruler the Namgung Family.
So when I dealt with Un-Hwi today I planned to sternly rebuke him for his mistake and make him realize the gap between us.
For him this match was not a fight but a training session.
So I chose a place that is not easily accessible to others but who would have thought that so many people would flock there!
And when I saw the betting tables being played in one corner I thought I was going crazy.
If this was all a scheme by the bastard to provoke his feelings… then it was a complete success.
"Hoo-"
But the anger was short-lived.
Dang Yuchang vented all the anger he had built up inside while activating the dark energy.
Is it worth getting excited and sad over something like this?
If my bastard brings up the methods of a low-class person I should do the same to him-
『Did you really come out when I told you to? I didn't know you would listen so well? Who would call you a mama's boy? Ujjujju! You're doing well you're doing well.』
When the sound of that bastard giggling reached my ears I lost all sense of reason.
Kwajik!
"Your Highness?"
The servant who was assisting Dang Yu-chang was startled.
As soon as I put all my strength into my hand the magic weapon I was holding suddenly fell apart.
"…Tell your mother. I think we should change the plan and consider eliminating Un-Hwi after this military operation is over if necessary."
"Your Majesty Lord!"
Dang Yu-chang's two eyes glowed menacingly.
"Hey hey. Relax your eyes. Are you serious because I made a joke?"
Let's ignore it let's ignore it.
If I get involved like this I'll just end up following his plans.
『Anyway who did you take after to be so socially inept? Tsk. Did you take after your mom?』
"…Shut up."
Dang Yu-chang clenched his teeth and glared at Yun-hui who was sitting across from the training ground and grinning.
"Come to my house."
"…I told you to shut up!"
"What the hell is going on at home! Oh my! It's scary!"
But this time he imitated me in a funny way… I couldn't stand it any longer.
Bam!
Something snapped in Dang Yu-chang's mind.
"Dangunhwieeeeee!"
Dang Yu-chang suddenly got up from his seat with a face full of blood.
* * *
"You've lost your sense of reason."
"But I think I lasted quite a while didn't I?"
When Dang Yu-chang flew into a rage and flew over the smoke screen everyone's attention turned to him.
The peddlers who sold chestnuts and the children who played with their parents all became gangsters.
Silence fell on the training ground.
"Come up here! I'll tear out your wicked tongue and throw it into the pigsty!"
It's just funny how he goes wild with his face turned red.
He wouldn't know.
The fact that just by the actions I've shown now the superiority between me and him has already been decided in people's minds.
He had to deal with me from the perspective of a defender who was 'receiving' a challenge.
I had to maintain my composure as much as possible no matter what provocation I made.
If you approach the training with the attitude of either rejecting it or accepting it as a teaching you can at least save your initial investment.
It was because unlike me who had nothing he had so much.
If the guy wins the battle as a Mercury he can make people realize that he has taught me a lesson.
On the other hand what if you lose in a duel? Since defeat by an unmanned team is a grave matter you can just accept defeat cleanly and aim for the kick.
Anyway since Namgung Sanyoung is behind him and he has built up his position over time he could have made a comeback at any time.
But this time everything was ruined by a wrong decision.
In front of so many people he jumped out first and started yelling at me to come out quickly and stuff.
Anyone who saw it could tell that he was challenging me.
Suddenly I found myself in the position of a challenger.
On the contrary I became a Mercury.
Now if the guy loses he can't even get back up.
It's like he's completely fallen from grace.
On the contrary even if you win you won't even get your initial investment back.
I was just treated like an idiot who had barely managed to get back on track.
In the end one way or another the guy ended up in a situation where he was tied to his own knot and only ended up losing.
"A truly amazing heart-"
"From the moment he set foot in this dungeon his fate was decided."
Dang Yu-chang shouted at the lion king again.
"Come out quickly!"
I smiled and slowly climbed onto the smokescreen.
A leisurely pace. It was the leisure a challenged Mercury could have.
"Dang Yun-Hwi of Baekseokjeon. He is a nameless soldier with no nickname. I hope we can have a good match."
I bowed my head slightly taking the ticket as gracefully as I could.
A ceremony to greet people before a wedding.
In official diplomatic situations courtesy and respect for one another are important.
"You must be scared now that you're on the training ground. But it's already too late."
On the other hand Dang Yu-chang smiled bitterly and showed rudeness.
This contrasting image will also be clearly imprinted in people's eyes.
Phew!
Dang Yu-chang stepped on the dark shadow.
Numerous afterimages rushed forward at a rapid pace accompanied by blurred shadows and countless needles covered the sky.
Heavy rain pear flower needle
Heavenly Lady's Flower
"Even the Heavenly Maiden's Flower in the Dark Shadow!?"
"And how can you handle the Ihwachim so skillfully which is not allowed even for those below the first class!"
The experts among the onlookers stood up from their seats in admiration.
All the things that were unpleasant about Dang Yoo-chang's attitude up until now which was not prudent like that of a grandson were blown away in an instant.
"These needles all have extremely concentrated poison at their tips. I don't know how you've been detoxifying them but now that there's no one to do it it's impossible!"
The attitude of his slightly bitter smile was different from before.
I guess you were just acting to make me let my guard down. You weren't completely thoughtless were you?
Thank goodness the first person I step on after being reincarnated isn't that stupid.
I turned around sharply looking at the needles that filled the sky.
Anyway there is no place to escape in this narrow training ground.
In that case I have no choice but to bounce it all off at once and then destroy Dang Yoo-chang as well.
Hwaaaaak!
The wind that started from my toes suddenly turned into a gust and enveloped my entire body.
"No way!?"
Everyone who noticed what this was opened their eyes wide.
The gust of wind soon turned into a violent whirlwind sweeping away all the needles that had fallen in this direction.
Kwarrrrung!
"And the storm…!!"
"It's Gwangpungdoo! Gwangpungdoo has appeared!!"
"What? A whirlwind dance? How could Prince Yunhui do that-"
Now while everyone else was in shock I stomped hard on the ground wearing the wind as armor.
Kwaaang!
Wedge-
Wind and rain
Crazy wind blast
I became a ray of light and sent a notice to Dang Yu-chang asking for my hand as a concubine.
A technique to straighten your shoulders and back and blow away the enemy with one blow.
"Huh-"
Dang Yuchang urgently activated his dark energy and threw other dark energy weapons while moving his body backwards but none of them were able to penetrate the whirlwind.
Eventually Dang Yu-chang's face turned pale.
Kwaaaaang!
"Kueeek-"
Dang Yu-chang screamed and was thrown out of the stadium.
"!"
"!"
"!"
Everyone in the audience was shocked. Some even covered their mouths with their hands in surprise.
A first step towards inviting enemies.
They would never have imagined that their young master who had mastered the dark spirit and the heavenly maiden's flower at the age of seventeen would be defeated so easily by 'Dang Yun-hwi' who had been treated as a cripple just a few months ago.
But my original goal wasn't to be a piece of crap like Dang Yoo-chang.
Above that.
He is the successor of the Guryong branch and the proud top master of the Cheongseong faction.
A new star in the Sacheon martial arts world.
If I break it to that extent wouldn't my position change significantly from before?
"Sister."
The place where I turned my head.
Dang Gyu-jin was looking at me with a surprised face.
"Would you please accept my invitation?