Vol. 1 Chapter 1.4

Without omitting a single detail, So-jin exposed Peng Dong-hu’s vile behavior including the despicable way he had used Hwangbo Jeong-gun’s name to intimidate her miss. Now that things had escalated to this point, she knew that as the Young Miss’s loyal maid she could no longer remain silent.

As the sequence of events unfolded, Hwangbo Jeong-gun’s expression grew dangerously grave. Forcing his rising fury down, he fixed a hard gaze on Peng Dong-hu.

“Young Master Peng, is what this girl saying true?”

Knowing Hwangbo Jeong-gun’s usually mild and gentle disposition, Peng Dong-hu maintained an entirely unbothered facade.

“I do not know what absurdities you have been told but it seems there has been a massive misunderstanding. I was simply overjoyed to see Lady Yeon after such a long time and merely wished to check on her well-being. It has been incredibly difficult for me to wait faithfully for a bedridden fiancé all this time, so to be treated with such hostility is deeply hurtful.”

Predictably, Hwangbo Jeong-gun hesitated to act. Peng Dong-hu’s words had struck him right where it hurt most, his lingering guilt over his daughter’s illness. Furthermore, it was politically difficult to punish the son of the prestigious Peng Clan based solely on the testimony of a maid.

Seeing the Clan Head waver, Peng Dong-hu’s confidence surged.

“I believe I must report this incident formally to my clan the moment I return to Hebei. Only then can we properly determine who is in the right and who is in the wrong. To think this is how I am repaid after waiting for her all this time…”

At the subtly muttered jab, Hwangbo Jeong-gun’s face flushed a deep humiliated red. Watching her father’s frustrating indecisiveness, Yeon’s brow furrowed tightly.

“Father.”

“Huh? Yes?”

“I will handle this myself, so please step back.”

“What?”

“Every word So-jin said is the truth. And for a bastard like him, a good beating speaks louder than words.”

Hwangbo Jeong-gun stared at her, his face a mask of pure disbelief.

“What on earth do you mean, Yeon-ah? You’re not seriously suggesting we have a Martial Arts Duel, are you?!”

“That’s exactly why I walked out here.”

Before Hwangbo Jeong-gun could utter another word of protest, Yeon barked a challenge straight at Peng Dong-hu.

“Hey pervert. Let’s get this over with, shall we?”

“Haha! You see this, Clan Head? Lady Yeon must have been bedridden for far too long. She is clearly not in her right mind.”

Believing he had firmly seized the upper hand, Peng Dong-hu didn’t even realize how monstrously disrespectful his attitude had become. Observing this quietly, Hwangbo Jeong-gun slowly shifted his gaze back to his daughter.

“Hmm…”

Looking directly into his worried eyes, Yeon offered a reassuring tone.

“Don’t worry Father. I’m a lot stronger than you think. After all, haven’t you been feeding me every rare elixir under the sun since I was a child?”

“Well, that is true but…”

But you can’t bring yourself to strike another human being.

Yeon could practically hear the unspoken words hanging in the air. She flashed him a confident sharp grin.

“Just watch closely. I’m about to give this guy a proper education.”

“A proper education? What does that mean, Yeon-ah?”

Seeing her massive imposing father blink in utter bewilderment, Yeon couldn’t help but burst out laughing. He might be a bit slow on the uptake, but he was a textbook doting fool for his daughter. How could anyone possibly hate him?

“You’ll see.”

* * *

Once the chaotic confrontation was sorted out, a duel was officially arranged. Yeon had been incredibly aggressive in pushing for it, and Peng Dong-hu had no reason to decline.

A retainer reluctantly stepped into the center of the ring to preside over the match.

“Ahem. We will now begin the duel! As mutually agreed upon by both parties, internal energy is strictly forbidden! Furthermore, any future grievances arising from this match shall not..”

He droned on listing the standard, tedious regulations. Meanwhile, the surrounding retainers who had gathered around the courtyard were already whispering furiously among themselves.

“Tsk, tsk. What could the Young Miss possibly be thinking?”

“She can’t even execute her own clan’s martial arts against an opponent. I have no idea what she’s trying to pull.”

“Perhaps Young Master Peng is right and she really has…”

Ignoring the cynical stares burning into her back, Yeon focused on a light warm-up to get her blood pumping. Facing an audience that was entirely convinced she would lose before the fight had even begun was actually a rather refreshing experience for her.

The intricate martial arts techniques that the original Hwangbo Yeon had mastered flickered through her mind. However, Yeon decided to push them aside for now. Today, she needed to rely on the skillset she trusted most.

Yeon lightly clenched her fists and raised them to shield her face. Tucking her elbows in tight to protect her ribs, she adopted a textbook boxing stance.

Crouching slightly to minimize her target area, she snapped her hands forward in rapid succession.

Thud! Snap!

A razor-sharp jab followed immediately by a heavy, straight punch. The classic ‘one-two’ the foundation of boxing sliced through the air with a crisp, concussive pop.

In a future era centuries away, martial arts would evolve and refine themselves into the pinnacle of combat efficiency. Now, through Yeon, those ultra-modern techniques were being unleashed in the ancient Central Plains for the very first time.

Yet, the onlookers from the Hwangbo Clan remained utterly unimpressed.

“What kind of stance is that?”

“It resembles the Five Elements Fist… but the form is completely distorted.”

“Did she pick up some vulgar street brawling techniques while she was away?”

Whoosh!

As if mocking their ignorance, Yeon pivoted sharply and unleashed a lethal roundhouse kick. The sheer velocity of the strike was fierce enough to make the nearby retainers flinch but their skepticism remained.

Hovering briefly in the air, she snapped her leg back down gracefully.

This body is incredible.

Glancing over at Peng Dong-hu, she saw him standing with his arms crossed, deliberately looking anywhere but at her. The smug condescending smirk plastered across his face made it obvious he considered the match already won.

Idiot.