Episode 5.
The Return of the Prodigal Son (4)
Lee Jeong-hak (李正鶴) could not help but be amazed.
“The kids told me to go to Goyangru, but there was a reason. “I never thought the scenery would be this good.”
He had a solid physique and a very deep voice. Although he seemed young, he looked more mature than his original age.
“What is that lake in the distance? Is it Taihu?”
“It’s not Taeho, but a small lake next to it.”
“Small? Even though it fell this far away, isn’t it really big?”
“Haha compared to Taeho.”
The boy who sat next to Lee Jeong-hak and explained things rather dignifiedly seemed to be about the same age as Yeon Ji-pyeong.
The boy was Yangwoo (楊遇), a fellow student with Yeon Ji-pyeong at Seowon. Although he was not as famous as Yeonga, he was the successor to a military officer who was quite famous in the region.
“There are definitely a lot of good places in Jiangsu Province. “It’s not as good as Anhui.”
“Is Anhui that amazing?”
The corners of Lee Jeong-hak’s mouth rose.
“of course. Doesn’t Yang’s younger brother know this? “Once you look at Huangshan Mountain, you cannot see the Five Mountains.”
“ah! “I’ve heard of it!”
“Is Huangshan the only scenery in Anhui? “It’s not because I live in that region, but there’s no place like Anhui in the central plains.”
Lee Jeong-hak looked back at the woman standing behind him and asked.
“Isn’t that right, Soger?”
The woman nodded briefly. A look of displeasure was evident on his expressionless face.
Lee Jeong-hak pretended not to see her expression.
“Anyway, it’s a good thing you came as your brother said. “I think it tastes great when you pair good food with a drink.”
At first glance, I wasn’t old enough to know the true taste of alcohol yet. But Yangwoo quickly clapped his hands and agreed.
“I really think so. While we’re talking, would you like to order a bottle of alcohol?”
“That’s great!” I heard that fish dishes here are famous? “Let’s order it together.”
“great.”
Lee Jeong-hak, who was bursting out laughing, suddenly looked at Yeon Ji-pyeong.
He was somehow managing his facial expressions, but anyone could see him looking awkward and uncomfortable. Lee Jeong-hak tilted his head.
“Why are you doing this, little brother?”
“….”
“Little brother.”
“yes? Ah yes!”
“You don’t look very good?”
“Ah…”
Yeon Ji-pyeong was polite to everyone. But I didn’t lie.
“I thought I should introduce you to my brother first.”
Lee Jeong-hak said with a smile.
“Oh, I’m sorry. “I forgot for a moment that your brother was there.”
Words and actions that aren’t terribly rude, but aren’t exactly okay either.
It was a situation that could easily be overlooked with a smile. But Yeon Ji-pyeong couldn’t say it was okay. This is because it concerns one’s own family, not anyone else’s.
When Yeon Ji-pyeong opens his mouth again.
“Pyeong-ah.”
“Yes brother!”
“Bring me here.”
It was an exquisite moment. Yeon Ji-pyeong, who hesitated, spoke to Lee Nam-il-nyeo.
“Please go.”
“….”
“This brother?”
“hmm? Oh yeah. “Sure.”
Lee Jeong-hak’s still relaxed face.
However, people around him did not notice that his eyes had changed slightly.
It was when the group walked to the table where Yeon Ho-jeong was sitting.
“uh? Namgung Soje?”
Unexpectedly, the woman did not join the group.
She went to a far away place and sat down calmly, resting her chin and looking out the window. He seemed completely uninterested in the group’s conversation.
Embarrassment appeared on Yangwoo’s face, and thick tendons appeared on Yeonjipyeong’s chin.
In a slightly colder atmosphere.
Lee Jeong-hak suddenly burst into laughter.
“haha! “I don’t think you’ve calmed down yet.”
He took a step forward and took a gun at Yeon Ho-jeong.
“This is Lee Jeong-hak of the Anhui family. “It is an honor to meet the Grand Duke of Byeoksan Yeonga.”
Regardless of his previous words and actions, it was a polite greeting in its own way.
Yeon Ho-jeong also stood up and took the gun.
“Nice to meet you. “This is Yeonhojeong.”
Lee Jeong-hak smiled with an embarrassed face.
“I hope you understand about my group. “I have something to upset you about.”
It was a reference to a woman, Namgung Sanghwa (南宮想華).
Yeon Ho-jeong shook his head.
“It’s okay.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
Lee Jeong-hak’s face brightened as if he was relieved.
“Yeon’s younger brother praised him like that at Seowon. “It’s nice to see the close friendship between brothers.”
Yeon Ho-jeong glanced at Yeon Ji-pyeong. Yeon Ji-pyeong’s face turned a little red.
“Unlike me, he is a good and smart guy. Please take care of me.”
“of course. “Isn’t he such a good kid?”
A fairly friendly conversation.
Then a cold voice was heard.
“Did you bring me here just to look around?”
Everyone’s eyes turned to Namgung Sanghwa. There was a subtle annoyance on her face.
Lee Jeong-hak spoke hurriedly.
“Is that possible? It was nice to meet you, Yeon. “I have company, so I’ll have to go now.”
“Sure.”
Lee Jeong-hak quickly heads towards Namgung Sang-hwa.
Yangwoo, who was following behind, glanced at Yeonhojeong.
His eyebrows were somewhat frowned when he looked at Yeon Ho-jeong. Although he had a deep friendship with Yeon Ji-pyeong, he did not view Yeon Ho-jeong favorably.
Because the rumors were so bad. Moreover, Yeon Ji-pyeong always had a hard time because of Yeon Ho-jeong. I couldn’t look down on him kindly because he was the one who gave my close friend a hard time.
“Jipyeong. Are you going to be there?”
Yeon Ji-pyeong was impressed.
“You mean there?”
Yangwoo turned around and pretended not to hear.
“No, see you later.”
With those words, Yangwoo walked to Namgung Sanghwa and Lee Jeonghak.
Yeon Ji-pyeong, looking at Yang Woo’s back and biting her lip, sat across from Yeon Ho-jeong.
“I’m sorry, brother.”
“what?”
“It’s just… I asked to come here for no reason…”
The messy atmosphere bothered me. Moreover, I got the feeling that the group over there was strangely ignoring my brother. I feel bad myself, but it probably doesn’t compare to my brother.
Yeon Ho-jeong chuckled.
“I don’t care.”
I meant it.
It’s okay to talk too much when you’re not even close friends, but there’s no problem as long as you smile and say hello. Moreover, they were audit students at the seowon my younger brother attended.
I don’t know how long I’ll be at the academy, but I didn’t want to see my younger brother in trouble because of me.
Of course, I had something to say to my younger brother.
“There is a difference between being polite and being timid. “I hope you know the difference.”
“yes?”
“Kangho doesn’t listen to good people. “It’s good to be good, but I hope you try to become a better person than that.”
Yeon Ji-pyeong tilted his head. Although it seemed understandable at first glance, it was a puzzling statement.
Yeon Ho-jeong said with a smile.
“Do you still have enough money in your wallet?”
“yes? Oh, of course!”
“Then shall we have a drink too?”
Yeon Ji-pyeong’s expression brightened.
“great!”
The two immediately ordered drinks.
Although he didn’t tell his brother, it was Yeon Ji-pyeong’s first time drinking alcohol. This is because, due to my age, I did not have time to train myself in martial arts and academics.
The brothers shared a drink for the first time. It was an overwhelming moment for both of them.
How long has it been like that?
bang!
There was a cold silence.
“Damn it!”
A sharp shout tore through the silence.
“Stop talking! “Whether it’s a vow or something else, I don’t like it!”
The main character with the piercing voice was Namgung Sanghwa.
Her face was red, perhaps from alcohol or anger. My breathing became heavy and my eyes were bloodshot.
When he was quiet, he had a very bright appearance, but when he got angry, he had no rakshasa.
Lee Jeong-hak spoke hurriedly.
“Please do not misunderstand my words. In any case, I cannot disobey the orders of the head of the family…”
“Stop being noisy! “Do you think I crawled into this dirty neighborhood because I’m someone who cares about my father?!”
“So Sojeo!”
“You want me to cool off in the seowon? You sound like a damn old man! Why can’t they just throw it away as a child? They’ve clearly stuck it in a corner like this! “What the hell are you looking at me for?”
The tone of speech was extremely harsh. He didn’t seem like someone who had learned the famous law.
Yangwoo cautiously opened his mouth.
“Sozer. Please calm down a little.”
“what?”
“Isn’t this a place that Jeonghak created to relieve Sojeo’s feelings? “I’m scared that other people will see it, so I’ll just get angry…”
Taaaaaaah!
“Tsk!”
Yangwoo fell sideways.
Nangung Sanghwa looked down at the fallen Yangwoo with cold eyes.
“I let you chase me around like a puppy that hates poop, so how dare you discipline me? “Do you want to die?”
Yangwoo looked up at Nangung Sanghwa with bewildered eyes.
Lee Jeong-hak stood up and stopped Namgung Sang-hwa.
“Soje, please stop. “I understand Sojeo well.”
“understanding? “How dare you understand me!”
“Of course, it is difficult for me to understand Sojeo’s situation. What I understand is that Yangwoo crossed the line.”
Yangwoo looked at Lee Jeonghak with shocked eyes.
Lee Jeong-hak pretended not to see him.
“And there is some truth to what Yang Woo said.”
“what?!”
“Shouldn’t Soje be here in the right capacity to represent the Namgung family? “I’m afraid that others will see this sight.”
Namgung Sanghwa sneered.
“other? “Are you talking about you or this scum?”
“Sozer.”
“Or those guys?”
Where Namgung Sanghwa pointed with his hand, there were the Yeon brothers.
Lee Jeong-hak’s face hardened.
Namgung Sanghwa shouted.
“Don’t try to make me understand with nonsense words! I am Namgung’s wife! “If you see one that is making a fuss, just rip off its muzzle and that’s it!”
There is literally nothing visible.
Lee Jeong-hak felt embarrassed. I knew that Namgung Sanghwa had a very arrogant personality, but today it was too extreme.
This is not an anger that will subside quickly. Lee Jeong-hak shook his head.
‘Would it be better to direct this anger somewhere else?’
At that moment, he looked back.
Yeon Ho-jeong was sitting with his back to me, but I don’t know, but Yeon Ji-pyeong’s expression was not very good.
It was worth it. Even though we didn’t know each other, I even heard people calling me drunk. Anyone would feel bad.
Lee Jeong-hak’s eyes lit up.
“But you still have to endure it.”
“What?”
“This is the place where the descendants of Jiangsu’s most prestigious family, which is considered one of the seven major families along with Su Zhe’s family, are located. “Shouldn’t it have its own status?”
“Seven generations? case?”
Namgung Sanghwa snorted.
“Since when did the main family recognize Yeonga Naburangi as a member of the Seven Great Families?”
It was a dangerous statement.
I tried to turn my anger towards the Yeon brothers, but I had no idea that such a comment would come out. Lee Jeong-hak looked around without even realizing it.
“I didn’t mean it that way. “Yangwoo and I are doing it for Sojeo, but….”
He trails off.
The tone is so polite and polite that you can’t sense any special intent.
However, to those who have had much more high-level and bloody experiences than this, it is just a statement that can be seen clearly.
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
“They’re playing cutely.”
“…?!”
Everyone’s faces froze at the words that came out with laughter.
It was a voice that could be heard even by Yangwoo, who had the least skill here. There was no way Namgung Sang-hwa or Lee Jeong-hak could not hear it.
bang!
Namgung Sanghwa slammed the table and shouted sharply.
“What did you just say?”
Yeon Ho-jeong emptied his glass without replying.
There was no embarrassment or tension at all. That appearance felt ignored to Namgung Sanghwa.
“I’m asking you what you said, you damn b*stard!”
