Yang So-bang (3)
Yang Gi-cheol leapt down beside his son with a swift motion.
“What on earth happened here?”
His initial reaction wasn’t shock or concern, but anger.
“I asked what happened!”
His voice boomed, and Yang Gi-gang struggled to open his eyes.
With a pained groan, Yang Gi-gang spoke.
“Father… that bastard… tried to kill me…”
Yang Gi-cheol’s eyes blazed with fury when he realized I was the one who had beaten his son.
Yet, instead of charging at me, he turned his wrath on his subordinate.
“Is this true?”
“Well…”
The subordinate hesitated, fumbling for words.
Slap!
Yang Gi-cheol struck the man across the face without mercy.
“You idiot! How could you let the heir of Daeyang So-bang end up like this?”
His anger wasn’t satisfied with just one slap; he continued to hit the man.
Slap! Slap! Slap! Smack!
I understood then. Yang Gi-cheol wasn’t just hitting his subordinate; he was sending a message to me. A warning that his son might be next.
The beaten man eventually collapsed, unconscious. Even then, Yang Gi-cheol kicked him a few more times before turning back to my father.
“How do you plan to take responsibility for this?”
My father looked at me. I met his gaze calmly, neither defiant nor submissive.
What did he see in my demeanor?
I expected him to explode, but he remained composed.
He first asked Seo-jung for an explanation.
“What happened?”
Seo-jung calmly recounted the events. How the man had harassed Song-hee, forced Gwang-du into degrading acts, and how I had intervened, offering to let it go if he apologized. Thankfully, he left out nothing important.
In any normal situation, a father would hang his head in shame at his son’s actions, but Yang Gi-cheol shouted in indignation.
“You beat my son over some lowly servant and a maid? How dare you lay a hand on my son!”
There’s no need for further evaluation of him. His words revealed everything about his character.
Yang Gi-cheol turned his threatening gaze on me.
“How do you intend to take responsibility for this?”
Honestly, I wanted to…
But I held back my fists and my words. It wasn’t about whether I could defeat him. As much as I disliked it, resolving this would have to start with my apology.
Then, unexpectedly, my father spoke up.
“It seems the responsibility lies with Yang Bang-ju.”
Everyone, including myself, was taken aback. My father, usually so calm and reserved, was now sharp and fierce.
“What did you say?”
“Yang Gong-ja not only used his inner strength but also drew his sword to kill my son, who was unarmed. Everyone here witnessed it, so there are plenty of witnesses.”
My father looked around. Our side nodded in agreement, while the Yang So-bang’s men remained silent. There were too many witnesses to deny or fabricate the truth.
My father spoke with even more authority.
“If it were anyone else, I would have dealt with it severely, but for Yang Bang-ju’s sake, I’ll let it go this once.”
“What!”
“If this incident becomes known in the martial world, both Yang Gong-ja and your faction will be ridiculed.”
Yang Gi-cheol’s face twisted with rage. He looked ready to explode, as if he might draw his sword at any moment.
“What are you trying to do?”
My father returned the question.
“What are you trying to do?”
The tension between them was palpable, but my father was clearly in control.
I had thought my father might be a bit timid.
But that was a misconception born from his calm demeanor.
He was a warrior, a rugged and tough man. It wasn’t about how strong his martial arts were; it was about his warrior spirit.
Now I understood.
Why Seo-jung never left my father’s side. He knew my father’s true nature, a man worthy of loyalty.
Yang Gi-cheol didn’t dare to attack. Instead, he resorted to the lowest form of expressing his anger.
“Pay back the money you owe immediately.”
“Very well.”
Though Yang So-bang’s influence was greater than ours, he had only brought twenty men with him. He had never faced my father directly. With my father standing firm, he lacked the confidence to fight. Moreover, the justification wasn’t on their side.
“Show our guests out.”
My father’s cold dismissal was clear. His expression said, “Throw salt on them.”
Yang Gi-cheol left, fuming, with his son and subordinates in tow.
Finally, my father turned to me.
“Why did you do it?”
He capped off the day’s events with a moment of trust, asking for my reasons after believing in me first.
“He insulted our family. He forced them to do something no human should.”
I glanced at Gwang-du and Song-hee. They looked startled and embarrassed at being called family.
My father looked between me and Gwang-du for a moment before heading inside without another word.
“Seo-jung, come in for a moment.”
“Yes, sir.”
He was likely planning how to handle the situation.
He neither praised nor scolded me. I’ll take it as praise.
As Seo-jung followed my father, he glanced back at me. His eyes were more approving than reproachful.
It wasn’t just Seo-jung. The swordsmen, the maids, and the servants all looked at me with newfound respect. It was the first time since my reincarnation as the son of the Byeok-ri family that I truly met their eyes.
Especially Song-hee, who looked like she wanted to run over and hug me.
I approached Song-hee, lowering myself to her eye level.
“Did it scare you?”
“No… yes.”
“Don’t worry about that guy coming back to bother you. He’s not worth fearing. Rest assured, I’ll protect you, and so will the brothers here.”
Song-hee looked at the swordsmen, who nodded with smiles. They were loyal, good-hearted people who stayed despite the low pay.
“Thank you, young master. Thank you, gentlemen.”
Finally, the tears she had been holding back fell. It was likely the first time she felt such relief as a maid.
Before returning to her room, Song-hee whispered to me.
“I think I can trust you now, young master.”
With that, everyone dispersed, leaving just Gwang-du and me.
Gwang-du, his tension finally released, collapsed to the ground.
“I feel like I’m going to throw up.”
“Don’t. You’ll have to clean it up.”
I chuckled at his incredulous expression.
Gwang-du, staring at me, suddenly asked.
“Aren’t you scared, young master?”
“Why would I be?”
“What if Yang So-bang attacks us? I told you before, they’re the strongest in Shandong right now.”
“Did you see the faces of their men earlier? They despised their master. There aren’t many who truly serve him. But did you see our swordsmen?”
“But they have more people than us.”
“Fights aren’t won by numbers alone. And wars don’t start so easily.”
There are many reasons to trust me, but when it comes to war, you can be sure. I’ve spent my life on the battlefield.
“Someone as political and calculating as Yang Bang-ju won’t act rashly. He’ll move when he’s sure he can win.”
“Even after his son was beaten so badly?”
“Yang Gi-cheol didn’t even check his son’s condition properly. His anger wasn’t because his son was hurt. It was because someone dared to hit his son.”
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
“It’s different. The essence of his anger is entirely different.”
He was a selfish man who only thought of himself.
“I don’t understand.”
“Go rest. You’ve had a tough day.”
As I turned to leave, Gwang-du grabbed my arm.
“Young master.”
“What?”
His eyes were trembling.
“Thank you for earlier.”
In his trembling voice, I felt a deep sincerity.
“Alright, don’t forget it.”
“Wow.”
Leaving him behind, I walked away with determined strides. My expression had already turned serious.
From my extensive political experience, I was certain he wouldn’t act immediately. He’d look for a way to exact revenge without dirtying his hands.
But when he does move, it will be in the most underhanded and cruel way possible.
I need to act first.
Yes, I’ll resolve this issue and then focus quietly on my training.