The main residence of the Shinjeom Taoist Sect, the top floor of the main hall, was a space created for the head of the household.
“Hmm.”
The head of the household, Do Ye-eok, was there.
Despite being at the pinnacle of all the disciples, he did not slacken in his self-cultivation. Even on the day of the banquet, he did not skip his training.
After a bout of sword-wielding, he washed his sweat-drenched body.
And then…
“Refreshed.”
With a damp towel draped over his head and only a towel around his waist, Do Ye-eok entered the sauna room.
Phew.
He spent that time without controlling his mana in the heat that an ordinary person could not endure.
Although sweat flowed down endlessly, his breathing did not show the slightest sign of disorder.
In that state…
“It seems everyone has gathered.”
Without deploying his detection net, Do Ye-eok expanded his senses to perceive the direct family members in the main hall.
Unlike ordinary people, it was not difficult for him to detect the presence of those who handled mana and had trained with swords since childhood.
Soon, he retracted his senses.
“Since everyone has gathered, I should also get ready.”
The banquet was about to start.
His busy children had come, and as the head of the household, he could not be late for the family’s annual event.
Just then, the secretary-general arrived.
“Head of the household, the banquet is scheduled to begin shortly.”
“Yes, I am aware. I am leaving now.”
The secretary-general conveyed the message from outside the door.
Do Ye-eok picked up the towel on his head and stood up from his seat.
As he opened the door, the heat and steam trapped in the sauna room seeped out.
“I will assist you with your preparations.”
“Thank you.”
Ignoring the heat, the secretary-general, wearing glasses fogged up with steam, gestured to the attendants behind him.
The attendants approached Do Ye-eok and began to assist him.
Do Ye-eok took the clothes they handed him and put them on his body.
While doing so, he asked the secretary-general,
“Since all the children have gathered in one place, has there been any problem?”
“There has been no particular problem that would concern you, Head of the household.”
“Is that so?”
“However…”
The secretary-general paused for a moment.
Do Ye-eok silently sent a glance.
Then the secretary-general continued,
“It is said that two of your sons had a rather noticeable argument.”
“An argument? It’s nothing serious. So, who was arguing with whom?”
“Lord Do Beom-joon and Director Do Sang-joon.”
“Sang-joon?”
“Yes, Head of the household.”
“Hmm…”
His fifth son, Do Sang-joon.
A disappointing child who, despite being born into a prestigious family, married an ordinary person with no talent and established a family.
Do Ye-eok could not help but be surprised to hear Do Sang-joon’s name.
After marrying against the family’s opposition, Do Sang-joon had been living humbly, knowing his place.
That he was involved in an argument was naturally intriguing.
“It seems the argument was reignited over the previous conflict between the two.”
“That incident, huh.”
Do Ye-eok soon understood.
As the head of the household, he could not be unaware of the disputes within the family.
He recalled the recent clash between Do Beom-joon and Do Sang-joon over their children’s issues.
“That guy, who wanted to live quietly without drawing attention, is now showing his true colors because of his child’s issue. So, how did it end up?”
“Well…”
Even if Do Sang-joon bared his teeth, he could not match Do Beom-joon’s influence.
Do Ye-eok asked, anticipating the answer.
However, the response from the secretary-general was completely different from what he had expected.
“Coincidentally, when Lords Do Seung-woo and Do Gyeon-woo began to duel, the situation shifted towards the parties resolving the issue themselves.”
“…”
“Lord Do Beom-joon organized it, and everyone present went to watch the duel between the two young masters.”
“Huh, how did that happen?”
It was a completely unexpected turn of events.
Do Ye-eok clicked his tongue in disbelief.
“Sang-joon must have been utterly humiliated.”
Judging by the flow of events.
It seemed that Do Beom-joon and Do Seung-woo had conspired in advance to embarrass Do Sang-joon and Do Gyeon-woo.
Do Sang-joon had fallen into a trap.
Do Ye-eok decided to lose interest in the predictable outcome.
Had the secretary-general not spoken up immediately afterward.
“However, it is said that Young Master Do Gyeon-woo was the one who proposed the duel first.”
“What?”
“Young Master Do Gyeon-woo requested the duel.”
“…”
“He just outright challenged Young Master Do Seung-woo.”
Do Gyeon-woo proposed the duel.
Upon hearing the secretary-general’s words, Do Ye-eok could not help but doubt his ears.
“Did that child… really do that?”
“Yes, it is certain.”
Rabbit, Do Gyeon-woo.
Once hailed as a prodigy in the family, he later became a despised grandson due to his timid and fearful nature.
Do Ye-eok could not believe that he had challenged Do Seung-woo to a duel.
“What on earth is he thinking?”
Do Ye-eok fell into thought.
The thought soon turned into curiosity.
“If I go now, will I be able to see it?”
“By the time you arrive, Head of the household, it will probably already be over.”
“Then I should go see the outcome.”
The result was somewhat predictable.
However, curiosity about what made Do Gyeon-woo challenge Do Seung-woo to a duel could not be suppressed.
Eventually, Do Ye-eok moved his steps.
Any existence will reveal a weakness the moment it attacks.
That is the moment for hunting.
I aimed for that moment…
“Well grown, it was nothing.”
I struck Do Seung-woo’s vulnerability.
The second form of the Shuwang-style defense requires defending with a force equal to or stronger than the opponent’s attack. Therefore, it cannot be used efficiently without properly gauging the opponent’s skill.
However, I was able to compensate for the shortcomings with the effect of my evasion instinct.
The evasion instinct adjusted the distribution of power.
[Skill level has increased.]
[Instinct Control Lv 1 → 2]
The level of Instinct Control has increased.
I brushed away the message that immediately appeared and looked down at Do Seung-woo.
Do Seung-woo was lying face down on the ground.
In a way, it seemed like he was clinging on.
“I didn’t plan to end it like this…”
Seeing Do Seung-woo lying spread-eagled on the ground, I regretfully clicked my tongue.
“I did consider pretending it was an accident and breaking his arm or something…”
No matter what, I couldn’t do that.
It was beyond my capacity to handle.
Although the Shinjeom Taoist Sect emphasized competition, it was not a family that would cause internal strife or take human life lightly in the pursuit of competition.
“So, I thought I would just buy some time and toy with him, damn it.”
I ended up losing control of my strength.
It just so happened that I got emotionally agitated halfway through.
“Can I ask for a redo? Maybe I can suggest it when he wakes up?”
Do Seung-woo’s smug face overlapped with the face of the bully from the past who used to torment me.
Seeing that face made me angry.
Before I knew it, I exerted too much force on the sword I was holding.
And this is the result.
“Isn’t he waking up?”
I nudged the guy lying on the ground with my toe.
He didn’t budge.
Then, for a moment, I felt a pang of fear.
“…Could he possibly be dead?”
I did hit him with the flat of the sword, but that didn’t mean I could relax.
A misstep could truly be fatal.
Moreover, this was the first time I had knocked someone out with the flat of a sword.
Naturally, I couldn’t help but feel scared.
“Hey, wake up. Get up, quickly.”
I tapped the guy’s body with my sword.
When he still didn’t regain consciousness, I slapped his cheeks a few times.
“Hey, don’t pretend to be dead.”
Smack!
“Get up, quickly.”
Smack!
“Don’t make me a murderer.”
Smack!
“Seung-woo? Can you get up?”
Smack!
“Ugh…”
Oh, there’s a reaction.
When Do Seung-woo’s cheeks turned red, he furrowed his brow.
Only then could I breathe a sigh of relief.
It was then that I realized I had forgotten the most obvious fact in the moment of losing my composure.
That was when it happened.
“Huh?”
As I lifted the guy by the nape of his neck, I soon realized that something was flowing from his lower body.
It was urine.
His lower body was damp, and a puddle was spreading on the ground, clearly visible because the training hall floor was not made of dirt.
“Ah, he wet himself…”
Oops, I spoke too loudly, didn’t I?
I belatedly checked the reactions of the people who had been watching the duel.
“…”
They were all agape.
Although Do Seung-woo had fainted, been slapped, and wet himself, they looked as if they themselves had been struck, their spirits completely shattered.
I chuckled to myself.
‘They all saw it, I guess.’
After all, with such a large puddle, it was impossible not to notice.
Without my needing to draw attention, everyone had already seen it.
“Ugh, it’s dirty.”
I immediately stepped back.
Do Seung-woo’s urine had already spread to my feet.
‘…There’s no way I can suggest a rematch now.’
In any case, I had confirmed Do Seung-woo’s survival.
I released my grip on the nape of his neck and decided to head back to Ye-eun.
Just then.
“Haha! Maybe the duel is already over and there’s nothing to see?”
“…”
“Regardless of who won or lost, let’s encourage both of them as adults.”
Suddenly, the training hall door burst open, and the adults poured in.
Among them were my father and mother.
‘What’s going on?’
I took in the sight of them approaching and tilted my head in confusion.
“Seung-woo, well done. Gyeon-woo, you should also accept the defeat in your heart…?”
Then, as they approached the duel area and took in the sight of Do Seung-woo and me,
“S, Seung-woo!”
“…”
The eyes of the third eldest uncle, who had been leading the group, widened in shock, and he let out an extremely surprised exclamation.
His face also contorted severely.
‘Ah, I see.’
I realized the situation and released my grip on Do Seung-woo’s nape.
He collapsed again with a thud.
After that, what happened was…
utter chaos.
“What on earth did you do to get the child into such a state?!”
“…”
Do Seung-woo’s father, Do Beom-joon.
The third eldest uncle, who usually strutted around with an air of superiority, was now red in the face and fuming.
He tried to interrogate me to defuse the situation.
He was trying to invalidate the duel by accusing me of using underhanded tactics.
“Brother, what are you doing to the child!? Have you gone mad!? It was you who said not to interfere, no matter the outcome of the duel! Don’t you remember?!”
“Get out of the way! Do Sang-joon!”
Naturally, my father stood in front of me to prevent the third eldest uncle from threatening or approaching me.
It was only natural that a physical altercation ensued.
“Ah, calm down, will you?!”
“I won’t move!”
“The kids who watched it all said it was a fair duel!”
“Ugh…! What do those kids know, and why should I believe them?!”
They didn’t use fists, but they pushed and pulled at each other, eventually rolling on the floor.
“…This is a complete mess.”
I had no choice but to watch the scene quietly.
How could I possibly get involved in a fight between fathers?
Meanwhile, fights broke out elsewhere as well.
“Alright, let’s say the duel was fair! But what about hitting the child after the duel!? Can’t you see how swollen the kid’s cheek is!? That kid is a complete bully, isn’t he?!”
“What? What did you say? Brother, say that again. Did you just call my son a kid? A bully?”
“Don’t hit my mom!”
My mother and Do Seung-woo’s mother.
Even the mothers started fighting.
Both of them glared at each other, determined not to back down, and engaged in a heated argument.
Then, when my mother’s hair was grabbed, Ye-eun also joined in.
“Our mom is really scary…”
My mother’s face, twisted with anger and shouting, was completely unfamiliar.
I had no idea that my mother, who used to bow and scrape to others back at the main house, could look like this.
By the way…
“Hey! Do Beom-joon! Just because you’re the eldest brother doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want!”
“What did you just say, you brat!?”
“Yeah! I called him a bully! The kid must have inherited it from you, being so rude and obnoxious…”
“How dare you? Your son is the one with no manners! Ever since I saw him, I’ve wanted to give him a good whack. It’s okay, Gyeon-woo! You did the right thing!”
It’s complete chaos.
There’s no other word for it.
It’s so confusing whether this is a swordsmanship family or a swordsmanship marketplace.
‘How am I supposed to fix this situation?’
It seems like the family members have no intention of calming things down.
In fact, they seem to be enjoying the chaos.
It looks like I’m on my own.
I sighed.
Just then.
“What on earth are you all doing!”
A roar filled the training hall, loud enough to fill the entire space.
The mana-infused voice carried a force that seemed to intimidate people.
“…”
After the roar died down.
Everyone fell silent.
They all turned their heads towards the direction of the sound as if they had made a pact.
I did the same.
“Absolutely disgraceful.”
“…”
A tall old man was walking towards us.
The head of the Shinjeom Taoist Sect, my grandfather.
‘Why is grandfather here?’
I’m sure everyone present was thinking the same thing.
But it seemed like grandfather had no intention of answering our questions.
As soon as he approached us, he immediately furrowed his brows.
“This is an utter mess, a complete disgrace. Are you people even from a prestigious family? I’m ashamed just looking at you.”
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