CLS-Chapter 198

Chapter 198

“Hey there, Eon-hyo!”

“Hiiiiik!“

Feeling someone place a hand on his back, Eon-hyo immediately spun around and threw a punch without thinking.

“Guweeeeeeek!“

The person who had put their hand on Eon-hyo’s back screamed and went flying, crashing straight into the wall.

“Huk!“

Eon-hyo, horrified that he had unconsciously infused Internal Energy and sent his opponent flying, rushed toward the figure embedded in the wall.

‘Are they… dead?’

He was worried about the life and death of the person buried in the wall, but fortunately, they didn’t seem to be dead.

“What in blazes are you doing!”

Eon-hyo let out a deep sigh as he watched Hwangbo Jung-geol emerge from the wall, shouting angrily.

“So it was you.”

“You throw a punch at someone out of nowhere and that’s all you have to say!”

“I’m sorry about that. I haven’t been myself lately.”

Eon-hyo sighed deeply enough to make the ground cave in. If the person who had placed their hand on him hadn’t been someone from the Hwangbo family—people said to have iron tower giants among their ancestors—it really could have been a disaster.

“What’s gotten into you that you’re living so scattered?”

It wasn’t that he was living scattered, but rather that this happened because he’d been living too tensely.

“Hmm, anyway, I’m sorry about that.”

How long had it been since he started dodging the stones Wei Yan-ho threw at him? During that time, he’d crossed the boundary between life and death five times. He’d been carried to the medical hall and brought back six times.

Living day by day on the border between life and death, it was no wonder his entire body was tense with nerves.

‘But… now that I think about it, that’s strange?’

No matter how off-guard Hwangbo Jung-geol had been, he wasn’t someone who would be hit so easily by a thoughtless punch.

Just as Eon-hyo was about to fall into thought, Hwangbo Jung-geol spoke again.

“Get your head together. How can you expect to achieve proper results in this martial arts tournament?”

“…Martial arts tournament?”

“Didn’t you hear?”

Hwangbo Jung-geol clicked his tongue and said.

“There’s going to be a martial arts tournament. It seems the intention is for the rising stars of each sect to compete while also building friendships.”

“Are you saying I was selected for that?”

“That’s right. The announcement was posted. You’ll be going as a representative of the Righteous Alliance.”

“…Just me alone?”

“How could that be? Was it ten out of something? Or was it fifteen?”

Eon-hyo tilted his head at Hwangbo Jung-geol’s words.

‘Even though they call us the Three Dragons and Phoenix…’

Although he was called one of the Three Dragons and Phoenix, considering there were two senior classes ahead of them, it was presumptuous for him to take a representative position for the Righteous Alliance.

“How many from our class are going?”

“You and Sang Gwan-hong, and also…”

“There’s another?”

“There is. The young lady Mu-bong Jong Mi-ryeo.”

“…Mu-bong?”

Eon-hyo rubbed his face. The fact that Jong Mi-ryeo’s real name was Wei Su-ryeon and that she was Wi San-ho’s sister hadn’t spread throughout the academy yet. Wei Su-ryeon had earnestly asked them to keep it secret.

‘Well, being Wi San-ho’s sister is no ordinary matter, but if it became known that she’s Wei Yan-ho’s sister, there would be chaos.’

The world’s people didn’t yet know much about Wei Yan-ho’s existence, but soon everyone would know of his presence. Having such accomplished older brothers was a sin if it was a sin.

“So three were selected.”

But it was puzzling.

Wei Su-ryeon instead of Paeng Do-hyeong? Wei Su-ryeon was certainly called Mu-bong and showed exceptional talent. Considering her brothers, it was natural.

However, she was still young, and in terms of absolute skill, she couldn’t be said to be better than Nam-gung Hye or Paeng Do-hyeong.

‘Paeng Do-hyeong aside, Nam-gung Hye will raise hell if she finds out.’

It was already strange that he and Sang Gwan-hong were selected, but having Wei Su-ryeon go as well was odd.

‘Surely not…’

Eon-hyo shook his head vigorously.

‘It can’t be.’

It wouldn’t be. The Wei Yan-ho he knew wasn’t someone who would give his sister special treatment, even out of annoyance. No matter how strong he was, it was hard to see him as having enough influence to interfere with the Righteous Alliance’s official events.

‘Then why?’

Eon-hyo was suddenly overcome with an ominous feeling.

He didn’t know why Wei Su-ryeon was selected, but with her joining, he had an ominous premonition that this martial arts tournament wouldn’t end ordinarily.

“It shouldn’t be…”

“Mom, so what I’m saying is…”

Wei Yan-ho trembled as he looked at Han Sang-ah, who had a ghostly expression.

If there was one person in this world that he feared most, it would undoubtedly be Baek Mu-han. The memories of being beaten, thrashed, and pummeled by Baek Mu-han were deeply carved into Wei Yan-ho’s soul.

There was a reason he felt hostility just seeing elderly men with immortal bone structure.

But since Baek Mu-han had already gone far away, excluding him, among those remaining in this world, the person Wei Yan-ho feared most was undoubtedly Han Sang-ah.

Han Sang-ah always cherished Wei Yan-ho. Wei Yan-ho also followed Han Sang-ah much more than Wi Jeong-han, who always said unpleasant things, or Wi San-ho, who was always eager to work him to the bone.

But…

When someone you like gets angry, it’s twice as frightening.

Right now, Wei Yan-ho was looking at the angry Han Sang-ah and wondering how he should escape this situation.

“So, so… Mom, what I mean is…”

“Enough.”

Han Sang-ah mercilessly cut off Wei Yan-ho’s words.

“So you’re saying you can’t go?”

“No… Mom, just listen to what I have to say first. So, it’s not that I can’t go… it’s whether there’s really a need for me to go. Big brother is going with her anyway.”

“So.That’s.Why.”

Feeling his mother’s voice drop coldly, Wei Yan-ho made a tearful face.

‘Why is everyone being like this to me?’

It seemed like everyone in the world was dying to devour him.

“Your one and only sister is going to enemy territory, and as her older brother, you’re saying you can’t even follow her there?”

“…Enemy territory, Mom. They’re righteous sects too…”

“Anyone who isn’t on our side is an enemy!”

Wei Yan-ho finally understood why someone like Han Sang-ah married someone like Wi Jeong-han. Wi Jeong-han was too extreme, but Han Sang-ah also lived with the excellent mindset of a martial artist.

“Mom, this is an age of harmony.”

“Is it?”

When Han Sang-ah smiled gently, Wei Yan-ho smiled back without knowing why.

“Yan-ho.”

“Yes, Mom.”

“Mom doesn’t want anything from you.”

“Yes. Mom doesn’t want anything from me.”

“There was a time when I thought it would be nice if you were just a little less lazy, but when you went missing, I realized something. The greatest filial piety a child can show their parents is to live healthy and show them that sight.”

“Yes, Mom. I’m healthy.”

“But.”

Han Sang-ah’s hand curved slightly. Recognizing that this gesture resembled the hand motion before clawing someone, Wei Yan-ho gripped his blanket tightly.

“At least you should show sibling affection! Right now you’re saying you’ll just abandon your sister when she’s going far away? Mom misjudged you. The Yan-ho I knew might complain about things being bothersome, but when his sister who could barely walk was about to fall from the veranda, he would dart like lightning—he was a child full of affection.”

“…”

Wei Yan-ho became a mute who ate honey and shut his mouth. If he tried to say something here, he would only lose points. Sometimes silence is the best response.

“You seem to have changed a lot while I haven’t seen you. At least Mom thought that even if you complained with your mouth, your heart would still care for your sister just like before.”

Han Sang-ah sighed deeply.

Wei Yan-ho shrank endlessly.

Though he’d been called all sorts of names like ‘good-for-nothing’ and ‘wastrel,’ no insult had ever made Wei Yan-ho shrink as much as Han Sang-ah’s sigh did now. It was a powerful sigh that made him naturally think ‘I really must have done something wrong.’

“Making mistakes is possible.”

“…Yes, Mom.”

“Because it’s something that can be fixed.”

“Yes?”

Han Sang-ah opened her mouth with a frosty momentum.

“Kneel.”

“…Yes.”

Wei Yan-ho quietly went to a corner, knelt down, and raised both hands even though no one told him to.

No matter how strong you become, no child can win against their mother.

“Please!”

Wei Yan-ho shouted while shedding tears.

“Let me go with her! Please!”

The martial arts tournament wasn’t the problem.

If he could just escape from this nagging, it seemed like he could even go to the Western Regions to retrieve Buddhist scriptures if asked. He didn’t know how much Sun Wukong suffered, but compared to the suffering he was experiencing now, it would be nothing.

He’d been nagged so much that his ears were about to bleed.

But Han Sang-ah didn’t seem to have any intention of stopping her nagging.

“Mom isn’t doing this because you said you wouldn’t go together. I’m disappointed because it seems like you don’t have a heart that thinks of your sister. Think about it. How long do you think Mom and Dad will live? When we die, only you siblings will remain, so with your current mindset, can you embrace your sister? Of course your brother will take care of her, but just because your brother is there doesn’t mean you don’t need to look after your sister! Do you understand what Mom is saying?”

If only he had the ability to turn back time.

Then at the moment the words came out, he would have shouted ‘I will stake my life to protect Su-ryeon!’ and said he would unconditionally follow Wei Su-ryeon.

Then he wouldn’t have had to experience this hell.

Seeing Wei Yan-ho constantly trembling, Han Sang-ah sighed.

“Do you understand what Mom is saying?”

“Yes! Mom! I understand! I understand perfectly.”

“What does it mean?”

“So…”

Seeing Wei Yan-ho unable to answer properly, Han Sang-ah sighed again.

“I’ll explain from the beginning again, so listen well.”

“Uwaaaah! Mom! I’ll protect Su-ryeon by whatever means necessary! If anyone so much as lays a finger on her, I’ll send them flying all the way to the South Sea!”

“Yes, now you seem to understand. So… you’ll go together?”

“Yes! Please let me go with her.”

“…Put your hands down.”

Wei Yan-ho’s hands came down awkwardly. Han Sang-ah approached Wei Yan-ho and stroked his head.

“You’re such a good boy, our son.”

Tears flowed from Wei Yan-ho’s eyes.

If all mothers were like this, everyone in the world would become good, but unfortunately, others didn’t seem to get such good opportunities as Wei Yan-ho.

“Yes. Then let’s talk about this again when we have dinner later.”

“…We’re going to talk about this again?”

“Do you have a problem with that?”

“Oh, of course not.”

Wei Yan-ho waved his hands dismissively.

Han Sang-ah glared at Wei Yan-ho slightly, then walked outside.

“Grrrrrr!“

As soon as Han Sang-ah’s figure disappeared, Wei Yan-ho staggered up from his spot and collapsed directly onto the bed.

“I won’t forget this!”

Wei Yan-ho wasn’t a fool. He couldn’t not know how this situation came about. Surely Jo Hyeon, who had decided to send him to the martial arts tournament, had put Wei Su-ryeon among the participants to drag him into it as well.

Flames blazed in Wei Yan-ho’s eyes.

“Do you think I’ll just take this lying down?”

He wanted to rush to the military office immediately and cause a ruckus, but with his mother keeping her eyes wide open and alert, he had no choice but to endure for now.

“Since it’s come to this!”

Wei Yan-ho shouted in a voice full of resentment.

“I’ll make you regret it!”

Wei Yan-ho, who couldn’t even peep in front of Han Sang-ah, was baring his fangs at others.

And at this moment, Jo Hyeon, who was drinking tea in the military office, felt an inexplicable chill and called for a physician.

“I think I’ll need to take some leave after this matter is over.”

It seemed like the day when Jo Hyeon’s pitiful wish would come true would never arrive.

***