Chapter 7. What Takes Precedence Over Martial Arts (1)

"......"

The air in the room was suffocatingly heavy.

The atmosphere was so tense that even a breath seemed out of place. Yeon Jipyeong glanced nervously at his father and older brother.

"Swallow."

The sound of swallowing disrupted the heavy air.

After what seemed like a full two hours, Yeon Wei finally spoke.

"Explain."

It was a simple, straightforward statement.

Yeon Hojeong spoke calmly.

"A quarrel broke out and we fought."

"I didn't ask for a summary."

His voice was hard to read.

And the same went for Yeon Hojeong.

"The girl from the Namgung family started the quarrel. She demanded that we kneel. She was so aggressive that I couldn't just let it go, so I knocked them all down."

"I heard that the child of the Anhui family had her face smashed, and the girl from the Namgung family had her limbs broken."

"That's correct."

"Indeed. I heard that the girl from the Namgung family hasn't regained her senses yet. She suffered severe internal and external injuries and will need at least half a year to recover."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

"Then they won't dare to provoke us again."

Yeon Wei's eyebrows twitched.

It was a subtle change in expression, and Yeon Jipyeong couldn't tell what it meant, which made him even more nervous.

Yeon Wei spoke again.

"Even if she started it, it's a big problem for two men to beat up one woman."

"Two men?"

"Hmm?"

"I did it alone. Jipyeong didn't get involved."

Yeon Wei looked at Yeon Jipyeong.

"Is that true?"

"......Yes."

He looked extremely tense, but at least he didn't seem to be lying.

Yeon Wei was inwardly perplexed.

'He took on two by himself?'

He knew his eldest son's abilities well. He wasn't a talentless child, but he wasn't yet at a level to be called first-rate.

It was one thing to handle the child of the Anhui family, but the girl from the Namgung family was different. If it had been a fair fight, it would have been understandable, but it was hard to believe he could overpower her without a scratch.

"Are you saying you took on both of them alone?"

"More precisely, I knocked down the Anhui kid first, and then I dealt with the girl from the Namgung family."

"Dealt with her......"

Yeon Wei's voice grew even heavier.

"I don't expect you to be a gentleman, but you should be more careful with your words and actions. Rough words come from a rough heart, and rough words influence your actions."

"I understand."

"There's nothing more damaging than losing your composure in a few words."

Yeon Hojeong didn't say anything more.

This wasn't a place for debate or to instill ideology. He was the eldest son of the Yeon family, but also the Black Emperor, the leader of the Black Sect. Naturally, the image of a martial artist pursued by the family was something he couldn't align with.

Most importantly, he didn't want to argue with his father. That was why he kept quiet.

Looking at his silent eldest son, Yeon Wei said:

"Regardless of the reason, the Namgung family is one of the seven major families in the martial world, alongside our main family. A fight between the children of two such families that results in injuries is a serious matter. I believe you understand this."

It was a subtle reprimand, meaning that he should have avoided the conflict even if it meant leaving the scene.

Yeon Hojeong tilted his head.

"Is our main family one of the seven major families?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"The girl from the Namgung family doesn't recognize our main family as one of the seven major families."

Yeon Wei's eyes changed, but his voice remained the same.

"It's just the immature words of a child. Judging the entire Namgung family by her words is like claiming to know ten things from seeing one. What's the difference?"

"I don't have any grievances with the Namgung family."

"Then what?"

"The important thing is the situation and who is at fault."

"Are you saying we should focus on the essence?"

"Yes."

"The essence is always important. Similarly, determining right and wrong and meting out appropriate punishment is also important. But the world isn't that simple. Especially when the other party is powerful, we must be even more cautious."

"I understand."

"If you understood, you shouldn't have acted that way."

Yeon Hojeong remained silent again.

There was a lot he could say. He had lived in the back alleys and faced the baseness and horror of the Black Sect, but he had also observed the hypocrisy and frustration of the White Sect.

But if this was the way of the Yeon family and his father's thinking, there was nothing more to say.

Yeon Wei, looking at his two sons with a detached gaze, spoke.

"Whether to reward or punish, I will decide after seeing how the situation unfolds."

"......"

"Go back to your quarters and reflect on your actions."

Yeon Jipyeong's face turned pale at these unusual words.

His father had never before ordered them to reflect on their actions. His father's eyes were always clear like a judge's, and he made choices and judgments with the decisiveness of a blade.

For such a person to order them to reflect, Yeon Jipyeong felt that the situation was more serious than he thought.

"Father."

"Speak."

"Well, maybe the fight happened because of me. If I had prevented it beforehand......"

"The incident has already happened, and people have been injured. The one who injured them is not you but your brother."

"Father!"

"Go back to your quarters and reflect."

"Just a moment, let me say a little more......!"

Yeon Wei's eyebrows twitched. Yeon Jipyeong's mouth closed involuntarily.

At that moment, Yeon Hojeong stood up.

"Then I'll go in. Jipyeong, let's go."

Yeon Jipyeong had no choice but to stand up as well.

On the way from the head of the family's room to their quarters, Yeon Jipyeong bowed his head deeply.

"I'm sorry, brother."

"Hmm?"

"It's all because of me that this happened. If we had just eaten at our quarters......"

"Jipyeong."

"Yes?"

"Though I shouldn't be the one to say this, there's something I want you to remember."

"What is it?"

"There's no such thing as 'if' in this world."

Yeon Jipyeong's eyes wavered.

"Everything that happens in this world has a cause and effect. But ultimately, it's people who create that cause and effect. You suggested going to Gongyang Pavilion, but I was the one who took action."

"......"

"Ultimately, the result is what matters."

"But......"

"Let me ask you something. If I hadn't taken action, would you have?"

After a moment of thought, Yeon Jipyeong nodded.

"Yes, I probably would have."

It was a short but sincere answer. Yeon Hojeong understood Yeon Jipyeong's sincerity.

"But reality is different. Before you could act, I had already taken care of the two of them."

"......"

"If you start blaming me for 'ifs,' you'd have to blame the ancestors who established the Yeon family as well. Is that what you want?"

"No, of course not! That's impossible!"

"I understand. That's why hypotheticals are meaningless."

"Still......"

Biting his lip, Yeon Jipyeong clenched his fist and shouted.

"If brother gets punished, I'll take the punishment with you! I'll definitely tell Father that!"

Yeon Hojeong smiled and patted his head.

Yeon Jipyeong was startled.

"Ah! My hair is all messed up!"

"Brat, where have you seen parents punish their innocent children?"

"Sniff. But......"

"Stop thinking about it and go back to your quarters. You must have had a shock, so get some rest."

Yeon Jipyeong shook Yeon Hojeong's sleeve.

"Brother too. Got it?"

"Don't worry, I will."

Yeon Jipyeong, hesitating a few times, finally bowed deeply and headed to his quarters.

Standing there, Yeon Hojeong muttered softly.

"Maybe it's natural for him to be so anxious. I was the same."

No matter how deep the love, it's unknown if it's not expressed.

Unfortunately, his father wasn't the type to show his emotions. He was even stricter with his blood relatives and taught them to value the family rules.

It didn't matter for himself, but he wished his father could be a bit gentler with Jipyeong.

Yeon Hojeong grumbled quietly.

"Still, what should I do about the Bie La Zhen Jue? Should I start practicing it now? I'll probably get a good scolding."

* * *

Past midnight.

A powerful aura rose outside the main gate of the Yeon family.

"Head of the family!"

A loud voice echoed through the outer courtyard, shaking the main gate.

"You brats! Open the gate! Bring the head of the family immediately!"

"Who are you?"

"What? Did you just ask me who I am? Fine! I'll tell you!"

Bang!

A shock accompanied by a loud noise shook the south gate of the outer courtyard.

Crack! Thud!

One side of the gate collapsed.

A large gate, over ten feet high and more than half a foot thick, was shattered in one blow. A large handprint was deeply imprinted in the center of the broken gate.

"What is this?"

"Shut up! I am Namgung Daishan! Bring the head of the family immediately!"

"How can the Namgung family, no matter how powerful, act so recklessly!"

"Reckless? Ha! You talk well! Then what about a family that raises a truly reckless child and calls him their own! Isn't it just a group of bandits?"

"What an insult!"

Thud!

At that moment, dozens of martial artists rushed through the broken south gate.

They were the Iron Wall Hands, the guardians of the outer courtyard of the Yeon family. Each of them was a first-rate martial artist.

"Are they finally showing up?"

"Can't tolerate it any longer......!"

"Move!"

Thud!

A man pushed aside the gatekeeper and entered. He was a middle-aged man with a mountain-like build.

Standing almost seven feet tall, he carried a massive sword on his back, several times larger than a regular longsword.

The Iron Wall Hands' eyes gleamed.

The large man exuded a rare and formidable aura. The energy that had always been strong was now rising like a wave due to his anger.

He was Namgung Daishan, who had said he would visit at noon but had now broken the gate and barged in.

"Head of the family! Come out immediately! I am Namgung......!"

"I'm already here."

Namgung Daishan looked at the building on the left.

A middle-aged man was walking down a small path next to the warehouse. He looked like a stubborn scholar at first glance, but it was Yeon Wei.

Namgung Daishan's face twisted.

"Head of the family! How can you do this?!"

"That's what I want to know."

"What?!"

Yeon Wei emitted a cold gaze.

Namgung Daishan involuntarily flinched at that gaze.

"Our main family welcomes guests but not ruffians. What kind of behavior is this from the head of the outer courtyard of the Anhui's first family, the Namgung family?"

Calm and icy. Yeon Wei's voice and tone were in stark contrast to Namgung Daishan's fiery atmosphere.

Namgung Daishan gritted his teeth.

Even he, known for his hot temper in the Namgung family, couldn't dare to speak rudely in front of Yeon Wei.

"I won't waste words! I believe the head of the family has heard the details!"

"What details are you talking about?"

"Are you pretending not to know? Your children......!"

"The girl from your family not only disrespected our main family but also tried to kill my children."

Namgung Daishan's mouth dropped open.

"Wh-What did you say?!"

As if frost had settled on a thousand-year-old rock.

Yeon Wei spoke in a crisp, cutting tone.

"I, I was already planning to get to the bottom of this."