The Return of the Sw Chapter 62 : An Unexpected Gain? -01

Chapter 62: An Unexpected Gain? -01

However, the world was not as easy as Murong Cheok had thought.

It coldly inford him of just how arrogant his thoughts had been.

“There was a guy like that, after all.”

Because he himself had been born with trendous talent, Murong Cheok knew the mont they exchanged their first move.

That Seo Joun standing before him also possessed truly extraordinary talent.

But their attitudes toward martial arts were starkly different.

Unlike himself, who had acted as if the world lay beneath his feet despite not having reached the pinnacle, Seo Joun, despite possessing such imnse talent, did not show even a trace of arrogance.

“Perhaps the reason is that man.”

Murong Cheok closed his eyes.

Then, the sense of existence that Ban Hojin had revealed for just a brief mont rose vividly in his mind.

At that gaze, which seed to ask whether he dared to be arrogant at rely that level, goosebumps spread across Murong Cheok’s entire body.

Moreover, Ban Hojin’s age was said to be only twenty now.

“There’s only a two-year difference between us…….”

On top of that, today Murong Cheok had been utterly crushed by Seo Joun, who was a year younger than him.

It was not just a simple defeat, nor was it a narrow loss by a hair’s breadth—he had been completely defeated in the truest sense.

It was a perfect loss with no room for dispute, and Murong Cheok’s eyelids trembled.

Only now did he realize how arrogant and insolent he had been, and without realizing it, Murong Cheok let out a deep sigh.

“Hoo. Still, it’s not too late.”

Having finished a cold, objective self-assessnt, Murong Cheok opened the eyes he had kept shut.

The light in his eyes was completely different from that of the morning.

In his eyes, gleaming with a fierce intensity, were filled with resolve and longing.

Because he had recognized his current position, his mindset had changed as well.

“If I start now, if I push myself ruthlessly, I can catch up.”

Murong Cheok judged calmly.

Even if he started putting in effort from now on, it was impossible to catch up to Seo Joun or Ban Hojin imdiately.

Unless the two of them wasted their ti as he had, which was unlikely.

Ti was fair to everyone, and as much as Murong Cheok worked hard, the two of them would do the sa, so catching up in a short period was difficult.

“But that doesn’t an I can’t catch up. Overtaking them is possible too.”

Murong Cheok, who had lost interest in everything, was now burning more fiercely than ever.

With the appearance of Ban Hojin and Seo Joun, who were in no way inferior even when compared to him, the competitive spirit that had been sleeping inside him erupted like a live volcano.

“For now, my target is that guy.”

Murong Cheok set his goal.

First, surpass Seo Joun.

And after that, of course, Ban Hojin.

“I don’t have ti to be like this.”

Murong Cheok, wearing his martial robes for the first ti in a long while, went outside.

He intended to begin training imdiately.

Having squandered so much ti in vain, he could not afford to waste even a mont.

Thud.

Returning to the lodging assigned to her, Peng Suyeong set down the teacup she had been holding.

Then she looked at the younger sister sitting across from her.

“Looks like you and I are both done for, don’t you think?”

“Yeah.”

“You’re really fine with it?”

“I thought from the start that the chance of failure was greater than the chance of success. Since I didn’t expect much, the disappointnt couldn’t be that big.”

Peng Hwayeong shrugged her shoulders.

She understood their father’s feelings, but relationships between n and won were not sothing that could be ford by the will of just one side.

That was why Peng Hwayeong had not held high expectations from the beginning.

“Dad’s going to fly into a rage.”

“He won’t. Dad probably knows too. That the chances of success were slim. Only long-standing lovers et through affection, after all. If sparks don’t fly at the beginning, it’s hard for a relationship to progress. And you don’t particularly have interest in Young Master Seo either, do you?”

“It’s certainly not a bad match. He has plenty of potential too.”

Peng Suyeong recalled Seo Joun, who had overwhelmingly pressured Murong Cheok earlier.

His build was not particularly impressive, but his looks and skill were more than sufficient to et the standards she desired.

And his personality was gentle enough, so it was not bad.

“Looking at it the other way, there’s no way we’d catch Young Master Seo’s eye.”

“When he looked at Heesu, his eyes were practically dripping with honey. He was like a boy completely in love with his first love.”

Peng Suyeong grumbled with a dissatisfied expression.

Despite spending no small amount of ti together from the Peng Family of Hebei all the way to here, Seo Joun had never once given her that kind of look.

That made Peng Suyeong feel slightly hurt.

“They’re the sa age. And Heesu’s looks hardly divide opinions, so n can’t help but like her even more.”

“How can you be so unfazed?”

“You just have to acknowledge what should be acknowledged.”

“Isn’t that because you’re looking at it from a martial artist’s perspective rather than a woman’s?”

“That could be part of it.”

Peng Hwayeong did not particularly deny it.

In truth, even when she saw a handso man, her heart did not flutter or race.

Rather, when she watched Seo Joun and Murong Cheok’s sparring earlier, her heart pounded like crazy.

The sight of the sparring between the two imnsely talented n made her blood feel as if it were boiling.

“Well, you do have talent. Be honest. You’re confident you could beat Eldest Brother, right?”

“Who knows.”

Peng Hwayeong neither affird nor denied it.

But Peng Suyeong could see it.

The self-assured smile on her younger sister’s face.

“By the way, why do you think he ca to look for Young Master Murong? Honestly, from Young Master Ban’s standpoint, whether Young Master Murong cos to his senses or not doesn’t matter at all, does it?”

“I’m curious about that too. There’s absolutely nothing to gain. If he had just mingled casually while coming to see Heesu, that would make sense, but you saw it too, didn’t you? He was consistently indifferent.”

“I’ve never seen a man like that before. To be honest, seeing that made my heart flutter just a little. What man in this world could be so calm with Heesu right in front of him?”

“He is a bit unusual.”

“Not unusual—impressive.”

Peng Suyeong waved her index finger left and right in front of Peng Hwayeong’s eyes.

It was to correct her word choice.

That was not unusual, but extraordinary.

If it had been the Poison Phoenix or the Plum Phoenix, it might have been sowhat understandable, but Murong Heesu was different.

“Well, considering Young Master Ban’s age, you could say it’s impressive.”

“You seem to forget sotis, but Young Master Ban and Young Master Seonwu are the sa age. Even Young Master Seonwu couldn’t manage his expression properly in front of Heesu.”

“You noticed all that?”

“If things really don’t work out, you have to catch a chicken instead of a pheasant, at least. That way, wouldn’t we have at least sothing to say to Father when we go back ho? Though, seeing things now, even that seems difficult.”

“I don’t think Young Master Seonwu deserves to be called a ‘chicken instead of a pheasant.’”

Peng Hwayeong said seriously.

Without a doubt, Seo Joun’s innate talent surpassed that of Sunwu Bang.

However, she did not think the gap between Sunwu Bang and Seo Joun was overwhelmingly large.

She believed Seo Joun’s potential was clearly higher, but in Peng Hwayeong’s view, Sunwu Bang did not seem like soone who would be easily caught up to or overtaken.

“Right now, Young Master Seonwu is stronger than Young Master Seo, but who knows. I think that will be reversed before long.”

“I think differently. Young Master Seonwu is no pushover. Didn’t you see Eldest Brother lose? The fundantals he’s built up over more than ten years can never be ignored. And knowing that Young Master Seo is rising so fiercely, do you think Young Master Seonwu would just sit still given his personality? I don’t think so. Techniques and skills can improve in a short ti, but fundantals and stamina are different. They require long-term effort. You might be able to catch up sohow, but leaping past him easily would be hard.”

“Hm.”

Peng Suyeong let out a thoughtful hum.

When it ca to martial arts, Peng Hwayeong clearly knew more than she did.

Perhaps Peng Hwayeong, standing right before her, might even be stronger than their eldest brother, the heir of the Hebei Peng Family.

“Well, this is just my personal opinion. It’s a private view, so there’s no need to trust it too much.”

“The important thing is that Young Master Seonwu also has a solid future ahead of him, isn’t that right?”

“That’s true. He’s not soone to be looked down on. It just feels that way comparatively because Young Master Ban and Young Master Seo are nearby.”

“But the important thing is that among those three n, there isn’t a single one who shows interest in us.”

Peng Hwayeong shrugged her shoulders.

It was bitter, but sotis reality had to be accepted as it was.

In her view, now was precisely such a ti.

“At least there’s an excuse, so that’s fortunate. Even Heesu is being treated like she doesn’t exist—what can we do about it?”

“Now that you put it that way, you’re right again?”

“And let’s take the long view. It’d be great if sparks flew imdiately, but feelings can grow with frequent etings too. From the look of it, they don’t seem like they’ll stay at the Murong Family long. Young Master Ban also has a subtly impatient personality—once he’s done with his business, he’ll leave right away.”

“He’ll stop by the main house, won’t he?”

“Unlikely, but I think they’ll travel together at least part of the way.”

Because Peng Mancheol had behaved so obnoxiously, it was unlikely that Ban Hojin would stop by the Hebei Peng Family.

Still, to go from Liaoning Province to Henan Province, where Shaolin was located, one had to pass through Hebei Province, so even if he did not stop by Beijing, there was a strong possibility they would travel together to sowhere nearby.

“If it were , I wouldn’t want to et Father either. Honestly, when we left the main house, I was so on edge. Young Master Ban also has a bit of a temper.”

“He really does seem like the type who’d be terrifying when angry. Even now, when he puts on a serious air, the atmosphere is no joke.”

“Exactly. If that’s how scary he is without truly getting angry, how terrifying would he be if he really snapped? And he doesn’t even seem like the type to get wildly emotional—more like he’d calmly tear you apart with words first, then resort to violence.”

Peng Suyeong shuddered.

Just imagining it sent chills through her entire body.

However, Peng Hwayeong frowned, seemingly displeased with Peng Suyeong’s choice of words.

“Even if it’s just us, your wording is a bit…”

“Why? Where else would you find a more accurate expression? You admit it too, don’t you?”

“Still, let’s be careful. You never know. When Young Master Ban Hojin’s group leaves, we’ll be departing together as well.”

“Alright, stop nagging. Anyone would think you were the older sister.”

“It’s not over yet, so let’s not give up. All three of them are good people.”

To be honest, Peng Hwayeong did not really see the three as n.

However, she knew for certain that they were good people.

Seo Joun still had a youthful air about him, perhaps because he was younger, but even so, he was a promising talent with a bright future, so she believed it was worth keeping the possibility open.

Their relationship was awkward now, but it could change later.

‘The problem is that the Murong Family won’t just stand by and watch.’

Peng Hwayeong had seen it clearly.

Murong Gung looking at Ban Hojin with eyes full of greed.

And when Seo Joun defeated Murong Cheok, he had cast the sa heated gaze toward him.

With Murong Heesu as such a powerful card, it was certain they would make full use of it.

‘It’s not unexpected, but it really won’t be easy.’

Peng Hwayeong let out a small sigh.

Just as n sought beautiful won, won also wished to hold exceptional n in their arms.

In a way, it was instinct, and it was also for the sake of their families.

That was why she could not really argue against it.

“Let’s stay strong, Hwayeong.”

“Yeah.”

Noticing what Peng Hwayeong was thinking from her sigh, Peng Suyeong spoke up in a comforting tone.

It would be hard, but the two of them still had to try and challenge fate.

That was the duty of the two sisters who had lived as daughters of the Hebei Peng Family.

“Please accept .”

Murong Cheok, who had not even shown his face at dinner, suddenly appeared and bowed his waist deeply, causing Ban Hojin to look utterly dumbfounded.

With no real explanation, he had abruptly asked to be accepted, leaving Ban Hojin at a loss.

anwhile, Seo Joun, who had co to Ban Hojin’s room after finishing dinner, glared at Murong Cheok with eyes full of wariness.

Not knowing what sche he might have, caution ca first.

“What do you an by that?”

“Thanks to you, Brother, I realized how narrow the world I had been living in truly was. So even if it’s late, I want to step out into the wider world now.”