Chapter 124

Dang Jeonghu looked at me with a cold, expressionless face and asked,
“You’re twenty-four now, right? Twenty-five next year. It’s a bit late, but with your beauty and martial skills, it’s fortunate you can still be of use to the main family. If I had known, I would have sent some useless branch family child to the front lines instead of you, just to save face.”

His voice was utterly devoid of emotion, clinical and detached, as if he were appraising an object rather than speaking about his own daughter.

He seemed utterly convinced that Dang Sojeo wouldn’t dare refuse his words. His tone carried the weight of absolute certainty.

And indeed, Dang Sojeo trembled faintly, clearly shaken, but couldn’t bring herself to voice any objection.

Finally, she managed to speak, her voice barely above a whisper.
“L-Lord of the House, I…”

But it was as if Dang Jeonghu didn’t even hear her. Or perhaps he simply didn’t care.

“Your marriage will be to Hong Sageommun,” he declared. “A renowned family of swordsmen. The one you will marry is Hong Sageomryong On Jeung-ung, the most promising prodigy of the Hong Sageommun. Since you like the sword, I thought you two would be a good match. He’s currently here at the main house, so while he stays, you should spend some time getting to know each other.”

Hong Sageommun? Hong Sageomryong On Jeung-ung?

My memory instantly recalled those names.

Hong Sageommun was the group that had come with the Dang family’s warriors to Jeonghyeopbang last time. And On Jeung-ung—the very man who had sent his men to threaten me into selling Mokrang.

The same man who had abandoned his men and fled the moment Hwayeongbin hyungnim arrived.

Among the lined-up warriors, I easily spotted his face.

He stood there, dressed in red martial robes, wearing a greedy smile as he looked at Dang Sojeo.

Now that I thought about it, he had mentioned back then that he would soon become part of the Dang family. I hadn’t expected it to mean this.

This was an unwelcome connection, and I felt a surge of disbelief.

At that moment, Dang Sojeo mustered her courage and spoke again.
“Lord of the House, I have never given thought to marriage.”

Her voice was fragile, filled with desperate pleading.

But as soon as her words echoed through the great hall, the atmosphere turned icy cold in an instant.

Every warrior present stared at her in shock.

Their eyes seemed to say, How dare you question the Lord’s words?

The hall, packed with countless warriors, fell utterly silent—not even a breath could be heard.

Dang Jeonghu’s gaze grew even colder, sharp as an ice blade.

He stared at Dang Sojeo for a moment before speaking in a chilling tone.
“Do you think that matters?”

A brief question, but heavy with meaning.

Dang Sojeo couldn’t meet his eyes and bowed her head deeply, tears welling up in her eyes.

What Dang Jeonghu was saying was clear: it didn’t matter what she thought, whether she agreed or not.

Judging by the reactions around us, this was an unquestioned truth within the Sacheon Dangmun.

His voice rising slightly with anger, Dang Jeonghu asked again.
“Will you not ask anything?”

Still bowed and trembling, Dang Sojeo finally spoke.
“…I’m sorry, Lord of the House. My thoughts are unimportant. I will do as you wish.”

The chill that had filled the hall eased slightly.

Everyone had been holding their breath.

Dang Jeonghu’s tone softened a little.
“Return to your room and rest for a while. Then meet with On Jeung-ung.”

The conversation was over. It was a clear signal to leave.

It seemed Dang Sojeo’s marriage was now a foregone conclusion.

Then I stepped forward and said,
“Excuse me, Lord of the House, but I cannot accept Dang Sojeo’s marriage.”

For a moment, everyone in the hall froze.

All eyes turned to me in shock.

Their gazes were sharp enough to pierce through a person.

But I only met one pair of eyes—Dang Sojeo’s, standing beside me.

She looked at me with tear-filled, pleading eyes.

Her pitiful gaze reminded me of Na Sojeo.

How she had been dragged off to be married against her will by her stepmother.

Just as Na Sojeo had suffered, I could not allow Dang Sojeo to be forced into this marriage.

No, I absolutely would not tolerate it.

Dang Jeonghu fixed me with a terrifying glare and slowly asked,
“You cannot accept this marriage?”

His eyes held many meanings: who I was, and by what right I dared speak so.

Though I had stood behind Dang Sojeo all this time, he had ignored me completely—until now.

Now, all his attention was on me, his gaze sharp enough to tear me apart.

I met his eyes without flinching and spoke.
“I am Seonwoo Jin of the noble Seonwoo family in Guizhou, serving as the deputy head of Dang Sojeo’s division in the Biryong Thirteen Generations. And…”

I turned to look at Dang Sojeo.

Her beautiful eyes shimmered with tears, filled with surprise and hope.

I smiled warmly at her and continued,
“I am betrothed to Yeoeun.”

At that moment, the great hall felt as if a storm had erupted.

Though no sound was heard, the atmosphere was like a powerful explosion, throwing everyone into chaos.

Deadly intent poured from all directions, aimed squarely at me.

I recalled the time at Nagajang.

Back then, I had half-jokingly offered to pretend to be Na Sojeo’s fiancé.

She had immediately rejected me.

But this time felt different.

Dang Sojeo looked at me with eyes full of gratitude and astonishment.

A single tear traced down her cheek.

I looked at her kindly and gently wiped away her tears.

Then I sent a private message.

—Yeoeun, you have to grow stronger. Remember, only you can change your own fate.

Her eyes flickered with a strange light upon receiving my message.

I could see a faint strength returning to her gaze.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the hall had turned as cold as a winter field.

Especially after I tenderly wiped her tears, the people’s shocked gazes intensified.

Dang Jeonghu suddenly stood up.

He unleashed the overwhelming aura of a supreme master, pressing down on me as he said,
“How dare the Seonwoo family of Guizhou covet a daughter of our Sacheon Dangmun?! Do you think our Dang family is a joke?!”

His presence alone was suffocating.

But even under that pressure, I stepped forward and stood protectively in front of Dang Sojeo.

He blinked in surprise, his eyes flickering as he looked at me.

The Sacheon Dangmun is one of the Five Great Families of the world, and Dang Jeonghu’s aura was indeed formidable.

But having met Yeoryeong Saekma Son Heesang, Sahyehyeolma Jeon Mookwang, and Cheonyeokseom Ha Eunbaek, and even having faced the overwhelming presence of my master, Gwanghyeopgeomgoe Jeong Myeonggwang, I was not easily shaken.

I stood firm against his aura and said,
“How could I, backed by the Seonwoo family, ever belittle the Sacheon Dangmun, one of the Five Great Families?”

In truth, few considered Sacheon Dangmun the foremost among the Five Great Families.

But perhaps because of that, the hostility directed at me lessened slightly.

I smiled inwardly and pointed with my finger to one side.
“However, as Yeoeun’s fiancé, I confidently say I am far better than that man.”

Where I pointed stood On Jeung-ung.

His eyes burned with anger and jealousy, glaring at me as if ready to kill.

All eyes now turned to him.

Dang Jeonghu looked at him briefly, then asked me,
“Are you saying you’re better than On Jeung-ung, the so-called Hong Sageomryong of the prestigious Hong Sageommun?”

Inside, I quietly rejoiced.

Stopping an event within Sacheon Dangmun—defying the will of the indomitable Dang Jeonghu—was nearly impossible.

Politically and militarily, it was a lost cause.

But if there was any chance to prevent this marriage, it would come from a direct comparison with that On Jeung-ung.

So the moment Dang Jeonghu asked me to compare myself to him, a possibility opened.

I smirked and looked down on On Jeung-ung.
“Hong Sageomryong? If he’s a ‘Hong sword dragon,’ then I’m afraid he’s not even worthy of the name ‘Hong sword.’”

On Jeung-ung, who had been holding back, finally exploded with rage.
“You insolent brat!”

Swish!

His red sword flashed like a venomous snake, striking at me with a swift, sharp attack infused with sword energy.

The crowd gasped.
“So fast!”
“To have sword energy at that age!”
“Truly the Hong Sageomryong!”

But I just scoffed and moved lightly.

My new form, using the Cheonpung Bo technique of the Bichongmun, scattered like petals in the wind.

Shhaaak!

My flowing movements effortlessly evaded his snake-like sword strike.

Even amid the clash, I asked Dang Jeonghu with a calm expression.

“My lord, may I dare to present a humble sword demonstration before you, the head of the Tang family?”

At that, Tang Zhenghou, who had been watching with a flicker of interest, let the corner of his mouth twitch into a faint smile.

On one side was On Je-ung, who had recklessly drawn his sword in the main hall of the Tang clan. On the other was me, who had deftly avoided his blade and now asked politely for permission to draw mine.

There was no need to say who held the upper hand.

He answered curtly, “Granted.”

In that instant, my Mukrang sword revealed its blade to the world.

A gleaming white edge, overlaid with a deep violet sword aura that roiled and blazed fiercely.

The first move of the Thirteen Sword Techniques of Seonwoo: Divine Response Ascension.

From the blade emerged massive wings of violet light, spreading wide to cover On Je-ung’s front.

Whoosh!

“W-What?!”

Startled, On Je-ung clenched his teeth and unleashed his own sword technique again, as if pride would not allow him to back down. It was a desperate, all-out effort.

A dozen or so crimson lions charged like beams of light toward the glowing wings.

But his attack never reached me.

The wings of light, as if alive, fluttered and deflected his sword strikes effortlessly.

On Je-ung’s eyes widened in shock.

“!”

Those around us gasped in disbelief.

“C-Can that be?”

“Unbelievable!”

In the next moment, my Mukrang, having dispelled the violet aura, was already pressed against On Je-ung’s throat.

An overwhelming victory.

On Je-ung stared at the blade at his neck with a dazed, defeated look.

“Th-This can’t be…”

Then, suddenly, his pupils dilated sharply.

It seemed he had just remembered that we were acquainted.

I smiled faintly and slowly sheathed my sword.

Turning to Tang Zhenghou, I said, “Do you still see him as a dragon? I do not.”

On Je-ung glared at me with hatred, grinding his teeth.

But even he could no longer act rashly.

Tang Zhenghou chuckled softly and said, “Impressive. Such skill at such a young age. But!”

His voice turned icy as he fixed me with a piercing gaze.

“To become a son-in-law of the Tang clan is not a matter of individual skill alone. On Je-ung is the heir to the Crimson Lion Sword Sect. In other words, if he becomes our adopted son-in-law, the Crimson Lion Sword Sect becomes part of our family. Do you truly believe your abilities are worth comparing to the entire Crimson Lion Sword Sect?”

Many warriors around us nodded in agreement.

They all sided with Tang Zhenghou’s words.

Suddenly, I realized this was the crux of the matter.

And I understood why the head of the Tang clan had pushed for this marriage so urgently.

Judging from the previous situation at the Alliance Hall, the Tang clan was likely still embroiled in territorial disputes with the Cheongseong faction.

Both were orthodox sects representing Sichuan Province, yet neither could afford open conflict.

“So the Tang clan needs allies who can fight their battles without sullying their own name. Like the Crimson Lion Sword Sect.”

And to fully bring them under control, they needed a blood tie—like marriage.

That was probably why they had even hurriedly involved Tang Sojeo, who was on the front lines.

I was certain this assessment was accurate.

But understanding this only made the situation feel more hopeless.

“If that’s what they want, then I have nothing about me that would appeal to them.”

That was it.

No matter how high my martial prowess, if they wanted an ally like that, I could never match On Je-ung.

Sure, the Seonwoo family of Guizhou was one of the Eight Great Families of Guizhou.

But to those who needed a fighter to brawl in Sichuan right now, the Seonwoo family’s influence in Guizhou was meaningless.

Moreover, unlike On Je-ung, I was not the heir of the Seonwoo family, so taking me as an adopted son-in-law wouldn’t mean the Seonwoo family was brought under their control.

“Damn it.”

I was at a loss.

Glancing to the side, I saw On Je-ung, his face a mask of anger and humiliation, now wearing a cold, bitter smile as he looked at me.