Chapter 85. The Wind Does Not Cease (3)

His words were quite rough for a first meeting.

Yeon Ho-jeong tilted his head.

"Have you heard the rumors about the dog butcher?"

He responded with a friendly manner. Hwajin Cheon burst out laughing.

"Did you think the rumors wouldn't spread? They say your skill with the axe is like art. You used the heads of the noble families as firewood, didn't you?"

"I couldn't even use them as kindling."

"Their heads were full of shit, so that's possible."

"That's right."

"Didn't you try to kill Myeongcheon too?"

"Is that surprising?"

"It's not surprising. Do you let your enemies live when they try to kill you? It might sound good, but to someone on the battlefield, it's just a dream."

Hwajin Cheon tilted his head.

"The problem is this. In a situation where the battle was already decided, you were still trying to cut off his limbs."

Jeong A-yeon was startled and looked at Yeon Ho-jeong.

Yeon Ho-jeong calmly admitted.

"That's right. I collapsed on the way and couldn't complete my goal."

"Why did you do that? The battle was already over, and the situation was being settled. Why would you need to humiliate him?"

"You're joking."

"Joking?"

"I don't humiliate my opponents unless it's necessary."

"Isn't cutting someone into pieces a form of humiliation?"

"He said he would cut off my limbs, decapitate me, and salt my head to throw in front of my father."

"......"

"I can usually endure, but I couldn't that time."

Hwajin Cheon, who had been watching Yeon Ho-jeong with a vague look, shrugged.

"You're someone not to be messed with, usually."

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled faintly.

"Have you seen everything?"

Hwajin Cheon's eyes sparkled.

"Did you know?"

"A disciple resembles his master. When I first met Hwakae, it was exactly like this."

"Even if you resemble that leech, I still have a long way to go."

He said it lightly, but Hwajin Cheon was inwardly surprised.

'He's smart.'

Those who handle information prioritize understanding the nature of the person at the center of an event before grasping the cause and effect of the event itself. This was something he always emphasized to his disciple. After all, since events are caused by people, if you can understand people well, you can grasp the essence of the matter.

It seemed this young prodigy also knew this.

'He's not an ordinary person. He didn't show any surprise even when I came. He might not have predicted it, but he knew it wouldn't be strange for me to come.'

Hwajin Cheon sighed.

"I don't know what will happen to the Gae Bang in the future."

"Excuse me?"

"When beasts start to think like humans, the world becomes hell. My disciple has formed a friendship with a tiger that has human intelligence, so he won't die a natural death."

Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.

"Don't worry. He's not a madman who bites and kills anyone."

"If he were a madman who bites and kills anyone, he wouldn't have been able to form a friendship."

"Indeed."

Hwajin Cheon, who had been chuckling, turned to Jeong A-yeon.

"Are you the eldest daughter of the Jeong family?"

Jeong A-yeon bowed.

"I was hesitant to interrupt your conversation, so I delayed my greeting. Jeong A-yeon of the Jeong family greets you, Dragon Head."

Hwajin Cheon scratched his head.

At least she didn't seem as flaky as his disciple.

"Can you stay here?"

"Me? Me?"

"Yes, you."

Jeong A-yeon looked bewildered.

Hwajin Cheon chuckled.

"Didn't the Namgung family send a matchmaker?"

"......!"

"Even if the marriage doesn't happen, it's best to behave properly until then. Even if you haven't reached the age of twenty, you're still a man, and the Namgung family won't like it."

Jeong A-yeon's face stiffened.

She didn't expect him to mention such a significant matter between families out of the blue. She was too flustered to speak.

Hwajin Cheon laughed.

"Hehe, did I bring up something unnecessary?"

"......"

"I'm sorry. I can't control my mouth even at my age. I just threw out a question, so please understand."

"It's... fine."

Hwajin Cheon raised his hands.

"The old beggar has ruined the mood. I'll be going now. I'm sorry for coming in without permission."

Yeon Ho-jeong made a bow.

"Please take care."

"I'll see you again if we have the chance."

Hwajin Cheon, who was walking away, stopped.

"Oh! Do you know this?"

Hwajin Cheon's eyes turned to Jeong A-yeon.

Jeong A-yeon's eyes widened.

"Didn't your father know this?"

"......What?"

"Didn't he know how the Namgung family would view sending his daughter to the eldest son of the Yeon family?"

"......!!"

"As you know, your father is one of the smartest people in the martial world. He's the master of the Divine Strategist Jeong family."

Jeong A-yeon's face showed shock.

Hwajin Cheon smiled.

"The relationship between parents and children is truly wonderful, don't you think?"

With that, Hwajin Cheon left.

Yeon Ho-jeong looked uneasy.

"It's going to be tiring from now on."

Shinmo asked curiously.

"Are you talking about the Dragon Head?"

"Yes."

"Why...?"

Yeon Ho-jeong, who had been deep in thought, shook his head.

"No, never mind. I might be overthinking it."

The way Hwajin Cheon looked at him was truly unusual.

He had been away from the front lines for quite some time and was rumored to soon pass the Dragon Head position to his disciple.

That didn't mean the Dragon Head's divine eyes were dead. In just a few conversations, he had quickly discerned what kind of person Yeon Ho-jeong was.

In just a brief conversation, he had seen through the true nature of Yeon Ho-jeong, which Jang Dae-sang had spent months uncovering.

'Indeed.'

He saw Jang Dae-sang in Hwajin Cheon.

However, Jang Dae-sang during the Black Darkness Era was similar yet different. Perhaps because of his personality, he was more open and sincere.

In other words, he had a human charm. However, Hwajin Cheon's caution seemed better suited for running the Gae Bang.

Yeon Ho-jeong smacked his lips.

'I thought I had a good benefactor, but it might be hard to benefit from it for a while.'

Jang Dae-sang might issue a strict order not to get involved with him.

'No choice. Come to think of it, I did cause a lot of trouble.'

Yeon Ho-jeong, who had sighed deeply, looked at Jeong A-yeon and said.

"Let's go eat."

"......"

"Hey."

"Huh! Me, me?"

"Of course, who else?"

Jeong A-yeon looked bewildered.

"Is what the Dragon Head said true?"

"What? The engagement?"

"Yes."

Yeon Ho-jeong nodded.

"The probability is high. Even if it's not one of the Seven Great Families, as the head of a family, he wouldn't be unaware of the meaning of sending his daughter to a battlefield."

"......!"

"Well, if you think about it, the head of the Jeong family used me. Perhaps the Xiao Tianqi Pill was a way to repay a favor or a gift to make up for the guilt."

Jeong A-yeon's mouth dropped open.

Yeon Ho-jeong moved towards his room.

"I'll change my bandages and come out. Think about what you want to eat. Shin Da-ju, help me change my bandages."

"Understood."

At that moment, Jeong A-yeon shouted.

"Wait!"

Yeon Ho-jeong turned around.

"What?"

"It's... well..."

Jeong A-yeon hesitated.

"What do you think?"

"About what?"

"About the Namgung family sending a matchmaker."

"What do you think? It's possible."

"It's possible...?"

"Isn't it, Gong-ja? The one who sent the matchmaker?"

"Yes."

"The Namgung family is a renowned sword family, but they can't fully assert their power due to the Nine Great Families and the recently rising Murong family."

"......"

"Forming a marital alliance with one of the Seven Great Families would strengthen their power base. Moreover, since their son has a crush on a girl, it's a perfect excuse."

"Hmm."

Yeon Ho-jeong spoke with a serious face.

"Of course, no one knows what the head of the Namgung family is thinking. But once the marriage is finalized, surrounding forces will start to get tense. If they're not careful, they'll only be restrained."

"That's true."

"Someone at the level of the head of the Namgung family won't just sit back. He won't be unaware. In other words, he has grand ambitions."

Jeong A-yeon asked casually.

"What about the Yeon family?"

"Our family?"

"......You're really close."

"What about our family?"

"Is the Yeon family also considering expanding its power through marriage?"

It was a sensitive question.

Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.

"My father always said, 'Since you'll be living together for life, look at the person's heart, not their family.'"

"......!"

"Isn't that great? In this chaotic world, there are few people who live with such romantic ideals. That's why I like my father."

Jeong A-yeon smiled.

"Your father is really a great person."

Yeon Ho-jeong turned around again.

"Wait. I'll change my bandages and come out."

With that, Yeon Ho-jeong entered his room.

Jeong A-yeon's smiling face gradually turned serious.

"Is he overexerting himself?"

* * *

"Woof!"

Thud!

"Ah! Why are you hitting me again!"

"Ah, it's you? I thought it was some mad dog barking."

Jang Dae-sang rubbed his head.

"Damn, I'm getting old."

"Damn?"

"......Hehe, you must have heard wrong. Would I say that to my master?"

"You're being ridiculous."

Hwajin Cheon walked down the road.

Jang Dae-sang followed, smacking his lips.

"How was it?"

"Yeon Ho-jeong?"

"Yes."

"Better than the rumors?"

Jang Dae-sang's eyes sparkled.

"Indeed, even Master thinks he's extraordinary?"

"Yes, the rumors were actually understated. He's so extraordinary that he's dangerous."

Jang Dae-sang's face stiffened.

Hwajin Cheon shook his head.

"Do you know what impression I got from him?"

"......"

"A demon."

"......!"

"A man who cultivates a barren land where not even a blade of grass can grow, turning the world into a sea of blood and a mountain of corpses. I've seen many martial artists in my life, but I've never seen anyone as dangerous as him."

Jang Dae-sang's face showed annoyance.

"He's not that kind of person."

To his surprise, Hwajin Cheon nodded.

"That's possible."

"Really?"

"His nature is quite barren, but on the other hand, he has a human touch. I don't know if it's because the head of the Yeon family has nurtured him well or if he's cultivated himself."

Jang Dae-sang's face brightened.

Hwajin Cheon asked casually.

"Why? Do you like it when I praise your friend?"

"That friend isn't my friend. I'm ten years older than him."

"Those days of choosing friends based on age are over, disciple."

"Hehe."

"Watch him closely. I believe I've given you a good moral education to prevent you from falling into evil. If you see him going down the wrong path, smash his head in."

"You need the strength for that."

"Snort, that's why I told you to start practicing the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms."

"When the time comes."

"I'll really cut you out of the successor position if you keep this up."

"Even then, I'm fine."

"Ah, to have a disciple like you."

Jang Dae-sang asked subtly.

"Did you handle the Jeong A-yeon situation well?"

"Do you think I should take the blame for my disciple at my age? From now on, you handle these things."

"Hehe! I'll think about it."

Hwajin Cheon couldn't help but chuckle at his disciple's smooth talk.

While walking down the road, Hwajin Cheon looked up at the sky and suddenly felt an inexplicable unease.

'The Heavenly Mechanism... '

It's time to visit a fortune-teller.