Chapter 9 – The Yang Minor Faction (3)
Yang Gi-cheol leapt down next to his son.
“What the hell is going on here?”
His first emotion upon assessing the situation was not surprise or concern, but anger.
“I asked what happened here!”
At his thunderous voice, Yang Gi-gang painfully opened his eyes.
Groaning in pain, Yang Gi-gang said:
“Father… that bastard… tried to kill me…”
Realizing it was me who had beaten up his son, Yang Gi-cheol glared at me as if he would kill me.
But unable to charge at me directly, he berated his subordinate instead.
“Is this true?”
“Well…”
The subordinate hesitated to answer.
Slap!
Yang Gi-cheol mercilessly struck his subordinate’s cheek.
“You stupid fool! What were you doing while the heir of the Great Yang Minor Faction was reduced to this state?”
As if that wasn’t enough to vent his anger, the beating continued.
Slap! Slap! Slap! Slaaap!
I could tell. Right now, Yang Gi-cheol wasn’t beating his subordinate. He was beating me. He was demonstrating to my father. Saying that his son could be next.
The man being beaten eventually fainted and collapsed. Still not satisfied, Yang Gi-cheol stomped on the fallen subordinate several times before turning to my father.
“How do you intend to take responsibility for this?”
My father looked at me. I calmly looked back at him. I wasn’t dejected, nor was I defiant.
What did he read in my attitude?
It seemed like he would immediately issue a stern reprimand, but my father was calm.
First, he asked Seo Jung for the details.
“What happened?”
Seo Jung calmly reported what had just occurred. How the guy tried to harass Song-hee, how he tried to force Gwang-du who intervened to do something inhumane, and how I stepped in and said I would let it go if he apologized. Thankfully, he didn’t leave out any crucial details.
In a normal situation, a father should have been unable to lift his head due to his child’s actions, but Yang Gi-cheol shouted accusingly:
“You beat my son like this over some worm-like servant and maid? How dare you do this to my son!”
I don’t think we need any further evaluation of him. That statement was enough to understand what kind of person he is.
Yang Gi-cheol threatened me with a fierce demeanor.
“How do you intend to take responsibility for this incident?”
If only I could do what I really want to!
But I refrained from both fists and words. It wasn’t a matter of whether I could beat him or not. Though reluctant, resolving this incident should start with my apology.
That’s when my father said something unexpected.
“It seems the Yang Faction Leader should be the one taking responsibility.”
Everyone, including myself, was shocked. My father in the center of attention was not his usual calm and passive self. His aura was sharp and fierce.
“What did you just say?”
“Not only did Young Master Yang infuse his fists with internal energy, but he even drew his sword to try to kill my son. Against an unarmed opponent. Everyone here witnessed it, so I think we have enough witnesses.”
My father looked around. All our martial artists nodded, while the Yang Minor Faction martial artists couldn’t say anything. There were too many witnesses to deny or fabricate.
My father put more strength into his stern tone.
“If it were anyone else, I would personally deal out a heavy punishment, but for the sake of Faction Leader Yang’s face, I’ll forgive it just this once.”
“What!”
“If this incident becomes known in the martial world, wouldn’t it bring great ridicule not only to Young Master Yang but to your entire faction?”
Yang Gi-cheol’s expression twisted viciously. It seemed his anger might explode at any moment. It wouldn’t have been strange if he drew his sword right then.
“What are you trying to do?”
My father threw the question right back at him.
“What are you trying to do?”
The two men’s auras clashed. My father was overwhelming him.
I had thought my father might have a somewhat timid personality.
But that was a misconception stemming from his calm nature.
My father was a martial artist. Moreover, he was a rough and rugged martial man exuding masculine energy. Before the question of how strong his martial arts were, this was a matter of a martial artist’s temperament.
Now I could understand.
Why Seo Jung didn’t leave my father. He knew my father’s true nature. That he was someone worth pledging loyalty to.
Yang Gi-cheol ultimately couldn’t charge at us. Instead, he expressed his anger in the lowest way possible.
“Pay back the borrowed money immediately.”
“I will.”
While it’s true that the Yang Minor Faction’s power had grown much larger than ours, right now they only brought about twenty people. Moreover, Yang Gi-cheol had never faced my father in combat. With my father coming on so strongly, he didn’t have the confidence to fight back. Furthermore, even justification wasn’t on their side.
“The guests are leaving.”
My father’s cold order to expel them. His expression said, ‘Sprinkle salt after them.’
Yang Gi-cheol left with his son and subordinates, breathing heavily in anger.
Finally, my father asked me.
“Why did you do it?”
My father topped off the impression he gave me today. First believing in me, then asking for the reason later.
“He humiliated our family. He tried to make them do something no human should do.”
As I spoke, I looked at Gwang-du and Song-hee. They bowed their heads, looking dazed. They seemed surprised and flustered at being called family.
After looking back and forth between me and Gwang-du for a moment, my father went into his room without another word.
“Chief Seo, come in for a moment.”
“Yes, Clan Head.”
He’s probably trying to come up with countermeasures for this incident.
He neither praised nor scolded me. Well, I’ll take it as praise.
Seo Jung, following my father, glanced back at me. His gaze was closer to favor than reproach.
It wasn’t just Seo Jung. The sword squad martial artists, as well as the maids and servants, all looked at me with fresh eyes. It was the first time since reincarnating as Byeok Ri-dan’s son that I properly made eye contact with them.
Especially Song-hee, who had an expression of gratitude as if she wanted to run and hug me.
I approached Song-hee and lowered my waist to match her eye level.
“Were you very scared?”
“No… yes.”
“Don’t be afraid that that bastard might harm you again. He’s not even worth fearing. Don’t worry. From now on, I, and the brothers from the main house here, will protect you.”
Song-hee looked at the sword squad martial artists. They smiled and nodded. Those who remained despite low pay were deeply loyal. In other words, it means they are also good people.
“Thank you, Young Master. Thank you, uncles.”
Finally, the tears she had been holding back fell. It must have been the first time she felt such relief living as a maid.
Before returning to her room, Song-hee whispered to me.
“I think I can trust you now, Young Master.”
After everyone dispersed, only Gwang-du and I remained.
Perhaps his legs gave out from the tension, Gwang-du slumped down.
“I think I’m going to throw up.”
“Don’t throw up. You’ll have to clean it up.”
I grinned at Gwang-du’s incredulous look.
Staring at me intently, Gwang-du suddenly asked:
“Aren’t you scared, Young Master?”
“Why would I be scared?”
“What if the Yang Minor Faction attacks? I told you before, didn’t I? That currently, the Yang Minor Faction is the strongest in Shandong.”
“Did you see the expressions of those Yang Minor Faction martial artists earlier? They were disgusted with their master. There won’t be many who truly pledge loyalty to him. On the contrary, did you see our sword squad people?”
“Still, their numbers are far greater than ours.”
“Battles aren’t fought by numbers alone. And war doesn’t break out so easily.”
There might be many things about me you could doubt, but when it comes to war, you can trust me without question. I’ve spent my entire life on battlefields, after all.
“Someone as political and calculating as Faction Leader Yang won’t move rashly. He’ll move when he’s certain of victory.”
“Even though his son was beaten half-crippled?”
“Yang Gi-cheol didn’t even properly examine his son’s condition. He wasn’t angry because his son was hurt. He was angry because someone hit his son.”
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
“It’s different. The essence of the anger is very different.”
He was a selfish man who only thought of himself.
“I don’t understand what you mean.”
“Go and rest. You’ve had a hard day.”
As I was about to turn away, Gwang-du grabbed me.
“Young Master.”
“What?”
His pupils were trembling.
“Thank you for earlier.”
I could feel the deepest sincerity in that trembling.
“You’re welcome. Never forget it for the rest of your life.”
“Wow.”
I walked away briskly, leaving him behind. My expression had already turned serious.
Based on my long political experience, I was certain he wouldn’t move immediately. He would try to find a sure method of revenge, or a way to keep his own hands clean.
But once he moves, it will be in an incredibly petty and cruel manner.
I need to move first, before that happens.
Yes, I’ll resolve this issue and then quietly focus on training.