"Kuh, cough."
Baek Cheon trembled.
His hands, soaked in poison, had been convulsing for some time. Even if the poison hadn't invaded his body, he would have been trembling anyway. He was that exhausted, with no strength left at all.
"Cough!"
Baek Cheon coughed dryly several times from the surging poison and painfully lifted his head to look up at the sky.
Staring at the sky that was already beginning to darken, he barely raised the sword he was holding above his head.
Then, with a voice barely alive, he shouted with difficulty.
"We won…"
Before he could even finish his words, Baek Cheon's body collapsed forward.
"We… won…"
Thud.
The last remaining person crumbled like a rotten old tree.
It was a sight that was, in some ways, comedic, and in others, tragic.
Among those who had fought fiercely as if to destroy the training ground, no one remained standing. Regardless of whether they were from Mount Hua or the Tang Family, everyone lay sprawled on the ground, groaning or foaming at the mouth, unconscious.
"Ugh…"
"You… bastards…"
"Kill…"
Even amid the groans, curses occasionally slipped out. It was hard to say whether this was impressive or pathetic.
Chung Myung, standing silently in a corner watching the scene, quietly turned his head.
"It seems to be over?"
"…"
"Family lord?"
"…"
"Hey?"
Tang Gunak's eyebrows trembled. Even the corners of his eyes and mouth quivered slightly.
"That…"
Tang Gunak, speaking, clenched his teeth tightly.
"…It seems so."
He was clearly trying to appear calm, but the sound of his grinding teeth slipped out involuntarily. It seemed he was very displeased that despite regrouping and fighting again, they ultimately lost.
"Hmm. Was that not enough?"
"…They'll die if you keep that up."
"I don't think that's something you should say."
"… Even I think that was harsh enough."
Tang Gunak frowned deeply at those words. It seemed that if Chung Myung hadn't stopped him, he would have severely reprimanded them again today.
'He's really not normal.'
Chung Myung shook his head and stepped forward. Standing before the fallen, he spoke.
"So originally…"
He scratched the back of his head reflexively.
"The losing side had planned to train until dawn."
"Ugh…"
"Oh dear… oh dear… I'm dying…"
Looking at the pitifully sprawled winners and losers alike, Chung Myung shook his head.
"…It doesn't seem like the right situation for that, so let's end today's training here. As promised, the Tang Family will come out tomorrow morning, and Mount Hua in the afternoon."
"…"
"Are you listening?"
"…"
"Hey?"
No answer came. Chung Myung shook his head and turned around.
"…I wonder what happened over there."
He sighed deeply and trudged toward the place where the Green Forest and Namgung family were grappling.
"I'll carry it!"
"No, I'll do it!"
"I heard your body isn't fully recovered yet…"
"I'm fine! Give it here!"
Mrs. Chu snatched the plate from the servant as if taking it by force.
"Ah, no, you don't have to push yourself so much already. We can do it."
"No. This isn't a free job; it's paid work. Of course, I have to do my best."
"If that's the case…"
Mrs. Chu smiled gently and moved inside.
Since Hyun Jong's visit, she had been working in the manor's kitchen. Still adapting, she focused more on chores than cooking but gave her best in everything.
'I must never be a burden on them.'
She knew she wasn't much help to them now. But while she could accept being called unhelpful, she never wanted to be accused of working half-heartedly out of pity.
A person who doesn't appreciate kindness is no different from a beast.
She was feeding the disciples of Mount Hua, who had not only been generously hosted here but also employed to ensure their comfort. There could be no negligence.
For the sake of the child to be born as well.
The work wasn't as hard as she thought, and those who knew her situation were considerate, so she had no discomfort.
If there was one problem.
Mrs. Chu's steps slowed as she entered the dining hall carrying plates. As if approaching an awkward place, she reluctantly moved and carefully set the plates on the table.
Then she subtly glanced at the person sitting there.
A pitiful sight… a man who, on a normal day, would have drawn everyone's attention just by appearing in the hall.
But Mrs. Chu glanced at his face not because he was handsome, but because that handsome face was so worn out it was beyond description.
"…Please eat well."
"…Thank… you…"
Yes. If there was one problem, it was that Mount Hua didn't seem like an ordinary place.
'…The looks of the people…'
If one saw this scene for the first time, they might have fainted thinking they had encountered a jiangshi.
Why not? Everyone had sunken faces, their bodies wrapped in bandages, sitting slumped like corpses at the table.
"You should… eat…"
"Yes…"
Baek Cheon weakly nodded toward Mrs. Chu and feebly picked up his chopsticks. Seeing this, Mrs. Chu left the dining hall.
Baek Cheon spoke in a dying voice.
"…Let's eat. We have to eat, guys…"
"Yes… sasuk."
"We… have to eat…"
The disciples of Mount Hua sluggishly moved their bodies to pick up the bowls in front of them. Their movements were so slow even an eighty-year-old would click his tongue.
Honestly, it wasn't a situation where food would go down easily.
But the disciples of Mount Hua knew from experience that if they skipped a meal now because they didn't want to swallow food, greater pain awaited them tomorrow.
It's not just that you have to eat to live, but you have to eat to survive. That was Mount Hua's unspoken rule.
"Ouch ouch ouch…"
"Ugh. My mouth is all torn up."
"Ah. It stings…"
Groans escaped from the mouths of the Mount Hua disciples as they chewed on their food.
Food touching the bruised and torn areas caused curses to fly out naturally. But the pain felt in their mouths was nothing compared to the rest.
"Ugh, ugh."
"Ah… I feel like throwing up."
"Sasuk, my stomach is queasy; I can't swallow…"
"Ah… what kind of poison is this?"
The Mount Hua disciples grimaced. Because the poison upset their stomachs, even the smell of food made them nauseous and queasy.
"No. Those filthy bastards, they want to win like that? Using poison in a duel…"
It was at that moment.
In a large dining hall converted from a warehouse originally used to store merchants' goods traveling the Yangtze River, the Tang Family members, who hadn't dared to eat and were just watching, all turned their gaze simultaneously. They reacted to the conversation of the Mount Hua disciples.
"What? Cowardly?"
Baek Sang realized what he had said and hastily covered his mouth with his hand.
"Ha. Haha…"
Yoon Jong awkwardly laughed and tried to smooth things over.
"Ah, sorry. We got excited…"
"Do you think words are sweets? If we had really used poison cowardly, do you think anyone would be alive in Mount Hua now?"
"…Zhan!"
Tang Zhan, who had stood up abruptly, sat back down awkwardly after being scolded by Tang Pae.
"Sorry, hyung."
"Be careful. No matter how true your words are, you shouldn't offend others. After all, losing is losing, right?"
It was a very orthodox statement.
But if the listener's heart is twisted, even that truth sounds bitter.
"…Truth?"
Jo Gul glared at Tang Pae and Tang Zhan with wide eyes.
"Oh dear, we didn't know this. We were happy thinking we won, but it turns out we survived only because of the mercy the Tang Family showed us."
"Ahem. No. That's not what I meant…"
"If you're that resentful, then use poison properly and win. Why are you sticking your tongue out after losing?"
"What?"
"Hey! That's harsh."
"No, sasuk! It's the truth! Those bastards subtly look down on us every time they speak!"
"…"
"If they're a prestigious family, then so be it! Even the truly prestigious Namgung Family doesn't act like that. Since when has the Sichuan Tang family been more prestigious than the Namgung Family?"
"What, you bastard?"
At that moment, Tang Pae couldn't hold back his anger and stood up abruptly.
The Sichuan Tang family was always the second among the Five Great Families. Along with the Hubei Peng Family, they inevitably had a subtle inferiority complex toward the Namgung Family. So being directly poked at on that point naturally made him furious.
"No. Did I say something wrong? Isn't it true? Namgung so…"
Jo Gul spoke smoothly and turned his head but suddenly shut his mouth.
He had intended to bring in the Namgung Family's young lord to gain an advantage, but Namgung Do-Wei's condition was somewhat strange. His usually neat appearance was gone, and his bloodshot eyes glared as if ready to kill someone.
"Namgung lord?"
"Oh dear. That look could kill a person."
And right in front of Namgung Do-Wei, sitting almost sprawled in his chair directly opposite, was Im So-Byeong. He had his feet on the table and was gently fanning his face with a fan.
"Does that change the fact that the losing fight was lost?"
"This…"
"Ah, if you're upset, then win. What did I do wrong? The Green Forest! Our Green Forest! Those insignificant bandits are stronger than the Namgung Family now. Oh dear, what can I do?"
Grinding teeth!
Namgung Do-Wei's teeth grinding echoed throughout the dining hall.
Of course, Im So-Byeong's condition wasn't good either. Every time his fluttering fan moved away from his face, his bruised blue eyelids were visible.
But regardless of his condition, Im So-Byeong exuded the composure of a victor.
"Ah, you don't need to be so resentful. It's not that Namgung is weak, but the Green Forest is stronger. Hahahahahahaha!"
"Ugh… ugh…"
Namgung Do-Wei's eyes were bloodshot.
"If it was a fight of skill, we would have won!"
"Who? Who?"
"We were just not used to the chaotic fights. It's just experience…!"
"Yeah, yeah. That's right. Of course, there's no doubt about it."
"You…"
Seeing Namgung Do-Wei's hand trembling, Jo Gul instinctively shrank his neck.
'Someone's going to die if this keeps up.'
Normally, when such a person loses control, they're even scarier, but the Green Forest King seems fearless. He's really rubbing salt in the wound… But how did the atmosphere get so bad over there?
Then Im So-Byeong turned his head toward the Tang Family and chuckled.
"Oh dear. It seems the great Sichuan Tang Family got beaten up pretty badly too. This, this is the state of the Justice faction."
"That bandit?"
"Do you really want to die?"
"Die?"
Im So-Byeong chuckled.
"Ah. You have that skill? Getting beaten by Mount Hua too?"
"Ugh… aah!"
Tang Zhan, unable to hold back any longer, slammed the table and tried to charge, but Tang Pae shouted.
"Calm down!"
"But hyung!"
"Didn't you hear? The family lord and the Mount Hua's Sword Saint said they will punish anyone who draws their sword privately! Endure it!"
"Ugh…"
Everyone openly showed hostility toward each other but couldn't rush in rashly. Then a quiet voice rang out.
"But that."
"Huh?"
Everyone's gaze turned to Yu Yiseol, who had spoken.
"…It means as long as you don't draw your sword."
"…"
"…"
Mrs. Chu quickened her pace. Carrying plates in both hands, she swiftly opened the dining hall door.
"More food has arrived…"
But at that moment, someone flew right beside her, crashing through the wall.
"Aaaaaah!"
"I've never liked you! You bastard!"
"Who said that nonsense!"
"You rotten bandit!"
"Who do you call a bandit, you snotty brat! Dieee!"
The food she had painstakingly prepared scattered everywhere.
Tables, chairs, and people flew through the air as some climbed on others, throwing punches. The tangled mess was so chaotic that no one could tell who was who, and they were biting each other in the fight.
Mrs. Chu couldn't even think of dodging and stared blankly at the scene.
"Alliance, my ass! You bastards!"
"Since when did you think you could match us!"
"Even the bandits are going crazy in here! I'll kill you all!"
"Aaaah! Everyone, attack!"
Watching the pandemonium before her eyes, she squeezed her eyes shut involuntarily.
'Can… I do it well in here…?'
For the first time, Mrs. Chu thought maybe she hadn't been blessed but rather badly bitten.