**Chapter 114**
After some of the martial artists carried away the injured one, Yerin addressed the remaining martial artists.
“You shouldn’t be whispering behind the young lord’s back like this. Apologize to him immediately.”
“W-We’re sorry.”
The martial artists bowed deeply to Dang Yejun without a word.
Seeing their polite apology, Dang Yejun felt his insides twist once more.
‘Damn it.’
This was inevitable.
The attitude of the martial artists towards him contrasted sharply with their demeanor towards Yerin.
When the martial artists looked at Yejun, their eyes were filled with fear and defiance.
On the other hand, when dealing with Yerin, their expressions were full of awe and respect.
‘…Awe and respect.’
Dang Yejun gritted his teeth.
What on earth was it about that woman that made everyone so trusting and loyal to her?
‘She’s nothing but a lowly concubine sold off to the Northern Sea Ice Palace through a political marriage!’
Dang Yejun glared at the martial artists and Yerin alternately.
His expression was so twisted with anger that it seemed he might tear apart anyone in sight.
‘What should we do?’
‘The young lord seems to have completely lost his composure…’
Terrified, the martial artists quickly looked away.
In the tense atmosphere that seemed ready to explode at any moment,
“Rather than berating others with words, wouldn’t it be better to settle things with a sword?”
Yerin’s calm voice rang out.
“If you’re a martial artist, that is.”
“…You!”
Dang Yejun, who had been about to retort reflexively, stopped.
As soon as Yerin’s words were spoken, the surrounding martial artists turned their gazes to Dang Yejun.
Dozens of indifferent, emotionless eyes.
Those eyes were reproaching Dang Yejun.
‘When was the last time we saw the young lord practicing martial arts?’
‘Moreover, the young lord doesn’t even stay in the hall.’
‘Ah, running around the compound and the guesthouse?’
The whispers Dang Yejun had just heard echoed clearly in his ears once more.
‘Could it be that he’s even avoiding duels with the madam?’
‘What a disgrace to the Four Heavenly Dang Sect.’
‘To think we must serve such a person as the young lord…’
Though no one had explicitly voiced these thoughts, it was evident.
They mistrusted Dang Yejun.
And he could no longer tolerate the pressure.
“I understand!”
Pushing aside their reproachful gazes, Dang Yejun shouted loudly, regaining his composure.
“…”
“…”
A chilling silence fell over the area.
Dang Yejun felt a crushing sense of pressure.
As if fleeing from that silence, Dang Yejun turned abruptly, pretending to be indifferent.
“Indeed, martial artists should resolve matters with their swords!”
Yerin watched her brother’s back as he dramatically strode toward the training arena.
Dang Yejun, with his chest out, marched towards the arena with an air of display.
“Let’s see who better suits the Dang Sect, let’s decide it with a duel!”
His voice was as forceful as ever.
‘…Though it seems no one else has noticed.’
Yerin could tell.
Dang Yejun’s entire body was tense with anxiety.
** * **
Yerin and Yejun stood in the training arena.
Dang Yejun confidently raised a wooden sword.
“Come at me!”
At least his attitude was that of a general commanding the battlefield.
However, Yerin felt a distinct sense of incongruity from Dang Yejun’s appearance.
‘The tip of his sword is trembling.’
Though he tried to act imposing, Dang Yejun was clearly nervous.
Yerin recalled what had happened earlier.
‘That doesn’t mean Dang Yejun’s actions were justified.’
His outburst in the inn, losing his temper and causing injury to a martial artist.
And preventing them from getting treatment.
All of these deserved severe punishment.
But.
‘This time, Dang Yejun had a reason to be angry.’
Dang Yejun was the officially recognized young lord of the Dang Sect.
He was, after all, to become the future lord of the Four Heavenly Dang Sect.
‘To have such a person overhearing gossip and insults from the very martial artists he is supposed to command…’
That alone was proof that the family’s discipline had completely disintegrated, and also.
‘…It means the Dang Head is neglecting Dang Yejun.’
When Yerin had met Dang Yejun after the incident with Seo Pyeong-oh, she remembered how the Dang Lord had openly supported her.
Even in front of Doyul, the lord of the Northern Sea Ice Palace, he had disregarded Dang Yejun.
“What are you standing there for?”
At that moment, Dang Yejun urged Yerin with a harsh voice.
“I’ll let you make the first move.”
Dang Yejun still didn’t loosen the tension in his shoulders.
‘Very well then.’
Sighing, Yerin raised her wooden sword and took her stance.
“Then, I’ll begin.”
Clang!
The wooden swords clashed fiercely.
‘Huh?’
As Yerin gauged the force and speed transmitted through the wooden sword, Dang Yejun tilted his head.
It was much weaker than expected.
The momentum, the movements, the trajectory of the sword.
‘With this level…’
Though somewhat challenging, it was manageable.
For a moment, a look of joy appeared on Dang Yejun’s face.
‘So many openings, and here you are, acting like a prodigy from heaven!’
Dang Yejun switched to an aggressive stance.
“Is this the extent of your skill?”
At the same time, he launched a relentless series of attacks on Yerin.
“How dare you!”
As their wooden swords collided,
“You’re just a lowly creature!”
Dang Yejun took advantage of the obvious openings, reveling in his sense of victory.
“So you were just talking about fighting me, huh?”
“…”
But Yerin did not react to Dang Yejun’s blatant provocation.
She simply focused on the duel.
As the battle continued, Dang Yejun squinted.
‘What is that woman doing?’
During their exchanges, Yerin had occasionally observed Dang Yejun’s movements closely.
After a few exchanges.
Breathing heavily, Dang Yejun stepped back, scrutinizing Yerin with suspicion.
‘Why?’
Dang Yejun was in a position of complete advantage.
Yerin had only been defending his attacks and had not once gone on the offensive.
Yet, why.
‘Why… is she so composed?’
Even under pressure, Yerin’s expression remained calm.
She didn’t look tired or anxious.
Then,
“Excellent, young lord.”
Yerin spoke, offering praise.
Dang Yejun flinched as if struck by a whip.
“Then, I’ll teach you one more thing.”
That was the start.
With a thud, Yerin sprang from her spot.
Dang Yejun widened his eyes in disbelief.
Impossible!
Indeed, Yerin was moving in perfect sync with Yejun.
Blocking attacks, redirecting them, and targeting openings.
And all those movements…
‘They’re exactly like mine.’
Cold sweat ran down Yejun’s back.
It was as if she had completely copied his martial skills.
To the martial artists, it probably appeared as if the two were evenly matched.
Evidence of this was seen in their whispered conversations as they watched the duel.
“Isn’t this an even match?”
“Seems like our young lord can hold his own quite well.”
“Indeed, he’s managing to fend off all those attacks…”
But Yejun, locked in the duel, realized.
‘She’s letting me see her.’
A chill ran down his spine.
At the same moment, Yerin closed the distance quickly.
“Ugh!”
Breathing heavily, Yejun heard a voice in his ear.
[How about calling it a draw here?]
What?
Yejun gritted his teeth.
Yerin continued to fend off Yejun’s attacks while speaking in a calm tone.
[It would be more advantageous for you.]
With those words, Yerin swiftly stepped back.
Then, in a voice meant for everyone to hear, she said politely.
“I would like to continue the duel, but given how close it is, it’s difficult to determine who has the upper hand.”
…What is this lowly person babbling about now?
Yejun’s face twisted.
“It seems meaningless to continue the fight, so I think it’s best to end the duel here.”
Yerin smiled slightly and looked at Yejun.
“What does the young lord think?”
“That’s absurd…!”
Dang Yejun, who was about to retort reflexively, hesitated.
He could hear the murmurs around him.
“The madam is declaring a draw?”
“She usually wins every duel she participates in, doesn’t she?”
“That’s right, she does.”
What do you think?
Yerin tilted her head slightly, as if asking.
Yejun clenched his teeth.
He couldn’t say ‘let’s continue the duel’ in front of the martial artists’ reactions like that.
It was clear he would lose if he continued.
The thought of being seen losing in such a public place…
“…”
He didn’t even want to imagine it.
Dang Yejun tightly clenched his fist and nodded.
“…I’ll accept it.”
“Good.”
Yerin, who had nodded in agreement, leaped down from the arena.
Dang Yejun tried to maintain a dignified pose as he looked down at the martial artists.
“Did you all see? I…!”
Dang Yejun’s triumphant expression suddenly hardened.
Because.
“Madam, that was truly an excellent match!”
“Will you have a duel with me next?”
“I would like to seek advice on the sword techniques you showed earlier!”
All the martial artists had gathered around Yerin.
