Chapter : 113 Has Spring Come? (3)
“People are really sneaky. Once they have enough to live on, greed emerges. If you look back, it hasn’t been that long since we suffered under the Honggal faction or the Black Ghost faction. But that was too much. No matter how greedy you get, you can’t do something as vile as Um-yak. No, if they had just thanked me, they wouldn’t try to stab me in the back like this. Right?”
“Hic!”
At Seok Jin-ho’s fierce gaze, the middle-aged man trembled violently.
There was no mistake in Seok Jin-ho’s words, leaving no room for excuses.
But dying here was not an option, so the middle-aged man desperately tried to think of a way out.
“I can even hear your pathetic scheming from here. After spouting such nonsense, you still want to live?”
“Please, spare me! I swear, I will never, ever appear in front of the innkeeper again! I won’t even speak a word!”
Thud!
The middle-aged man slammed his head on the floor.
If it weren’t for Um-yak, he might have gotten away somehow—but unfortunately, Seok Jin-ho had overheard those words. The man’s face turned pale as he cried out.
Still, Seok Jin-ho didn’t respond in any way.
But that silence was even more terrifying to the middle-aged man.
“I will leave Hwanghwahyeon! So, please forgive me just this once!”
Heart pounding as if it would explode, the middle-aged man shouted again.
The heavy silence felt as if it were squeezing his heart.
“Well, that’s somewhat to my liking.”
“I-I will leave immediately! And I will never return to Hwanghwahyeon!”
“One more thing. Leave quietly, without leaving any strange rumors behind.”
“I will remember that!”
Perhaps feeling the relief of having survived, a faint blush of color returned to the man’s face.
It was as if he had returned from the brink of death to the living world, repeatedly pressing his forehead to the ground.
“Just remember, don’t do anything foolish. Things won’t be the same if you try.”
“O-of course! I will never, ever think such thoughts!”
The chill from Seok Jin-ho’s presence at the back of his neck made the middle-aged man shiver in fright.
Then he felt something warm trickling down his neck.
It was a damp, wet sensation, something flowing downward.
Drip… drip… drip…
As the drops fell to the floor, the man realized what had dripped from the back of his neck.
At the same time, he shivered.
‘I—I wasn’t imagining it!’
Watching the slowly dripping blood, the man swallowed hard.
He hunched his body even tighter, trying to look as pitiful as possible.
“When I come back this evening, I hope this place will be completely empty.”
“I will make sure of it!”
The oppressive weight pressing down on him vanished, but the man didn’t dare raise his head.
He feared meeting Seok Jin-ho’s gaze, so he remained in a prostrated position until some time had passed.
Swish.
Once he cautiously looked up and saw that Seok Jin-ho had disappeared, the middle-aged man jumped up and began packing his belongings.
He was ready to leave, just as he had promised.
What he didn’t know was that Seok Jin-ho had been watching him from a distance.
“Meeting a good person isn’t so easy,” Seok Jin-ho muttered, watching the terrified man pack.
Yet, Seok Jin-ho didn’t think he had been too harsh.
If the man hadn’t harbored ill intentions, he wouldn’t have ended up in such a state.
Even thinking about it silently wouldn’t have led him this far.
“How is there not a single decent one?”
Seok Jin-ho clicked his tongue.
He had spent the day secretly following So Ha-jeong, carefully observing the men who showed interest in her.
He didn’t intend to interfere with whom she met, but he also couldn’t stand by and watch her end up with a worthless man.
He wanted her to meet someone truly good, someone who could make her genuinely happy.
Yet, as it turned out, there wasn’t a single man who seemed acceptable.
Just as Jeong Ma-ryung had said, only frauds and scoundrels were gathered. Seok Jin-ho felt frustrated.
“At least there’s only one of those types. The others aren’t much better either,” he muttered.
Seok Jin-ho silently felt grateful to Jeong Ma-ryung.
It wasn’t wrong for men to show interest in So Ha-jeong, but Jeong Ma-ryung had warned that some would cross the line.
Thanks to that warning, he could prevent any potential disasters in advance, and Seok Jin-ho vanished like smoke, feeling a little lighter.
Meanwhile, Pang Jin-geuk watched his eldest son across from him, his expression troubled.
“How many times have I told you? He’s someone too valuable to miss.”
“But back then…”
“Even then, I told you he’s a hidden dragon. He may not be revealed, but his skills are genuine. At least the Six Dragons. But look now. Even the famed Six Dragons are losing their shine in front of Seok Jin-ho. People even say the Six Dragons should be changed to Seven, or that they shouldn’t even be compared, and the nicknames that come up are ‘Heavenly Dragon Sword’ and ‘Secret Heaven Sword Monster.’”
“Ugh!”
Pang Mu-geon had pressured him, but Pang Jin-geuk had no proper defense.
After all, Pang Mu-geon had been right. Even if he had a mouth, there was nothing to say.
“You even forced Na-yeon to undergo secluded training, even though she strongly opposed it. After finishing, what do you think she’ll become?”
“…I said back then, it couldn’t be helped. Strange rumors could harm a woman.”
“So, I said, ‘We have to seize the opportunity.’ Look at Sa-cheon Dang-ga now. At first, people said it was insane, excessive. But now? She’s confidently remaining at Seungcheon Military Institute. If the head had trusted Na-yeon and listened to me even slightly, the position at Daharin would have been hers. Moreover, see how what was once seen as a flaw has now turned into a strength.”
“…Huff. Enough. I understand your point.”
Pang Jin-geuk wiped his face.
Life is full of choices, and one choice can change everything. But he hadn’t imagined that within a little over a year, so much could change.
He had even felt some skepticism. Potential is significant, yes, but potential is only potential. If it doesn’t bloom, that’s where it ends.
Moreover, coming from a merchant family rather than a martial arts family, he had subconsciously underestimated it.
‘To grow this much in such a short time…’
Strictly speaking, it wasn’t Pang Jin-geuk’s fault.
Seok Jin-ho’s growth was just beyond comprehension.
But the important thing was to view the present clearly and prepare for the future.
Past mistakes were to be set aside, focusing instead on what to do going forward.
“From what I’ve learned, fortunately, nothing has been decided yet. Staying at Seungcheon Military Institute is allowed, but nothing beyond that.”
“You mean we should send Na-yeon?”
“Yes. I believe Seok Jin-ho is a suitable partner for her.”
“There are better matches than him.”
Pang Jin-geuk said with a cold expression.
Having already made a name in the martial world, there was no longer any doubt about Seok Jin-ho’s ability.
But that didn’t mean he had to be paired with Pang Na-yeon.
“Indeed. Judging by conditions alone, Seungcheon Military Institute isn’t ideal. But the important question is why Sa-cheon Dang-ga is so actively involved. Why? I see two advantages.”
“Two?”
“Yes. One, there’s no problem taking him as a son-in-law. Two, potential. At nineteen, he earned the title ‘Heavenly Dragon Sword’ in the martial world, overpowering renowned families purely with skill. Imagine where he could be in ten, twenty years.”
“…”
Pang Jin-geuk frowned.
He didn’t like being lectured, but the prediction didn’t sound like nonsense, so he said nothing.
“Most importantly, Na-yeon wants this. Are you going to drive a nail into her heart?”
“Political marriages are inevitable. I did it, you did it, Pang Mu-gon did it too.”
“Which is why I’m saying this. The head of the family married according to the predecessor’s decision. But what was the result?”
“…”
Pang Jin-geuk remained silent.
He knew better than anyone the suffering of a loveless marriage.
“Na-yeon might face the same,” Pang Mu-geon warned.
“Stop. That’s enough,” Pang Jin-geuk’s face stiffened.
Even imagining it caused a pang of pain. He intended to prevent it at all costs, but life doesn’t always go as planned.
“I misspoke.”
“Misspoke? You said everything you wanted to.”
“Also, don’t just focus on flaws. There are plenty of strengths too. Keep that in mind.”
“Strengths, huh?”
“Isn’t it unfair for only the Namgung family and Sa-cheon Dang-ga to hold the title of the best families in the world?”
Pang Jin-geuk’s pupils flickered.
It wasn’t that he lacked ambition—he had simply resigned himself to reality.
But Pang Mu-geon was not like that.
“H-Head of the family!”
At that moment, the chief’s urgent voice called from outside the office.
Something seemed to have happened, and both Pang Jin-geuk and Pang Mu-geon turned toward the door.
“What is it?”
“Ah, the lady! The lady has disappeared!”
“What?!”
Pang Jin-geuk’s eyes widened in shock.
He leapt from his seat and dashed from the office like lightning, heading toward the secluded training room where Pang Na-yeon was.
Pang Mu-geon followed closely behind, his expression strangely complex.
Whoosh.
A tall woman cautiously approached Seungcheon Military Institute, the sea breeze carrying its characteristic salty scent.
Had it been before, she would have knocked on the door without hesitation, but not now.
A year of growth had matured not just her martial skills but her mind. She bit her lip, reflecting on how immature she had been.
Standing before the main gate, she hesitated.
“Huh? Aren’t you Miss Pang Na-yeon?”
“Hm?”
Unsure what to do since she had arrived unannounced, a familiar voice called.
Though there were many fishermen passing by, hearing her name made Pang Na-yeon turn.
“That’s right! Oh, it’s been so long!”
“Ma-ryung?”
“Yes! It’s me!”
Pang Na-yeon’s pupils widened.
Her face looked the same, but her body had changed greatly. The aura she emanated was vastly different from what she had seen at Seokga-jang, leaving Pang Na-yeon surprised.
“Why don’t you just come in? Why stand at the door?”
“Well, I came without notice. I didn’t want to be rude…”
Pang Na-yeon’s voice grew quieter.
She knew now how awkward it must have been for Seok Jin-ho before, so even after coming all this way, she couldn’t bring herself to open the door immediately.
“It’s okay, really. You know our master’s personality. You’re not strangers, and since you came personally, surely he won’t turn you away. Though there have been exceptions… Were you alone?”
