Before the Ak Clan’s outer commander could answer hyung’s question—

Gwiseong hyung grabbed him by the collar and shook him wildly.

“Speak! What in the world is going on!?”

“Th-that... Ughh. Y-Young Master Peng, if you’d just let me... Just a moment—guhhh...”

Hyung was shaking him so hard that the outer commander swayed like a blade of grass in a typhoon.

The man clearly had martial arts training, but hyung was from the Peng Clan.

A family renowned for physical strength—and hyung was their ace.

Which meant that aside from the clan head, he was probably the strongest man in the entire Peng Clan.

With strength like that, the commander could do nothing but flail helplessly like a fish caught in a storm.

“Hyung-nim, please calm down and let him explain—”

It was clear I couldn’t just watch, so I lunged in and clung to hyung’s arm.

But strength was strength.

Now clinging to him, I too was being whipped about—I was like an insect hanging onto a blade of grass in a typhoon.

It was a deeply humbling moment. I finally understood what my little bug friends must have felt like in storms.

“So this is what it’s like for them... poor things.”

“Speak already, damn it!”

“Hyung-nim!”

Just as we were all shaking together, the commander finally managed to blurt something out between gasps.

“T-this isn’t the time for this... Quickly, to the Ak Clan’s direct-line pavilion—Sahapwon!”

At those words, hyung flinched and looked toward the inner grounds.

Then, grabbing both me and the commander, he flung us aside and burst into movement, using lightfoot to dash through the Ak Clan’s entrance.

It was incredible how fast he moved for his size—like a bear set ablaze charging into battle.

“You, you there! Escort Young Master Peng inside—now!”

“Yes, sir!”

The fallen commander barked an order, and the warriors immediately raced after hyung.

A few of the Dragon Fangs also charged into the Ak Clan after him.

“Do-ryong! Do-ryong, are you there?!”

“Do-ryong!”

Only Yang Seong-hu and Geom-ryong, who were holding Jin-gyu, stayed behind.

That left me, Hwa-eun, and Seol noona.

“So-ryong, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Hwa-eun.”

Hwa-eun came to my side and helped me up from where I’d landed on my backside. Then she turned to the commander, who had fallen alongside me.

“But commander, are you alright?”

“Yes... Young Master Peng really is astonishingly strong. Phew... You seem to be part of his group—may I ask who you are?”

He was still rubbing his temple like he was dizzy, but managed to thank us and ask our names.

Since we hadn’t had a chance to properly greet him amidst all the chaos, I bowed with a martial salute.

“I’m So-ryong, son of the Beast Palace and son-in-law to the Sichuan Tang Clan. Gwiseong hyung is my sworn brother. This is my partner, Tang Hwa-eun of the Sichuan Tang Clan, and this is my older sister, Seol-pyo.

As for Yang Seong-hu and Geom-ryong hyung, I believe you already know them?”

As I quickly introduced our group, the commander stood with effort and returned the bow with a martial salute, though he wobbled a bit.

“So you’re from the Sichuan Tang Clan? It’s an honor. I’m Bang Un-gyu, outer commander of the Ak Clan.

I’d love to exchange greetings more formally, but this isn’t the time.

Let’s head inside together. The matter is urgent. Though I’ve been ordered to bring Young Master Peng in immediately, we’ll need that man for the full story.”

He pointed toward Jin-gyu, who was still dazed from Cheongyu’s venom—his eyes vacant and glassy.

Nodding, I said,

“Understood. Yang Seong-hu, Geom-ryong hyung—please follow the commander inside.”

“Understood, So-hyeop.”

“Let’s go. So-ryong, I’m dying to know what this is all about.”

Following the commander’s brisk pace, we entered the Ak Clan’s inner estate. At the entrance, the guards were all facing inward, not outward.

It must’ve been due to the storm hyung caused when he rushed in.

As we followed the outer commander ahead, I asked,

“But what happened to the Ak Clan’s lady? Why did you say she needs saving?”

I was curious about what had happened to make the commander say she had to be rescued.

He didn’t stop walking, but glanced back and hesitated a moment before answering.

“This is an internal clan matter... but since you’re Young Master Peng’s sworn brother, I’ll tell you.

Besides, it seems you helped capture that man.”

He glanced at Jin-gyu with a scowl and a twitch at his temple.

“I don’t know if you’re aware, but our Lady Soso and Young Master Peng have known each other since they were quite young.”

“Yes, hyung told me.”

The Peng and Ak Clans are fairly close geographically and practice similar martial paths. Because of that, I’d heard they were childhood friends.

I nodded, and the commander continued.

“Indeed. I believe the two harbored feelings for each other for a long time... but perhaps out of shyness, neither could ever bring themselves to confess.

Then, one day, a girl from a branch family who liked Young Master Peng asked Lady Soso for help. Our kind-hearted lady, hiding her own feelings, chose to step aside.”

That part, I’d already heard.

Not wanting to hear the full love story again, I summarized what I knew.

“Yes, and then that branch girl was... harmed by that man, and Lady Soso blamed herself, pushed my hyung away, and he swore to bring back that bastard’s head as a marriage proposal. That’s how far I’ve been told.”

As I wrapped up what I knew, the commander filled in the rest.

“Yes. Our lady never answered his proposal... but she waited. I know that better than anyone—I've watched her all these years.

But Young Master Peng never contacted her for several years.

And during that time, misfortune struck our clan. Just as it seemed all was lost, the head of the Geumjeok Merchant Guild offered to resolve the crisis—on the condition that he be allowed to marry Lady Soso.”

“Oh no...”

Seol noona covered her mouth in shock.

“Then that ship earlier...”

The ship bearing the Geum (金) flag at the dock flashed through my mind. I asked the commander again.

“You said a marriage proposal? Then the ship we saw earlier...?”

“Yes. That’s the one. The head of the Geumjeok Merchant Guild came in person to formalize the proposal. Lady Soso... still has feelings for Young Master Peng, but for the sake of the clan...”

No wonder I had a bad feeling about that ship.

It seemed hyung’s beloved was about to marry some wealthy old man for her clan’s benefit.

“This is bad.”

As soon as the commander finished speaking, we quickened our pace.

We arrived at a clean and elegant Sahapwon courtyard.

Entering through the main gate and passing the second gate—Suhwa Gate—I saw hyung’s massive back up ahead.

Standing behind him were several of the Dragon Fangs and the warriors who’d gone ahead.

And in front of him—

An older man and woman stood beside a finely dressed, handsome young man atop the pavilion, all three staring at hyung.

The elders were likely the clan master and mistress of the Ak Clan, which made the extravagantly dressed man the head of the Geumjeok Merchant Guild.

The moment I saw him, I knew this would be hard for hyung.

“Oh no... hyung’s in trouble.”

When I first heard the story, I imagined a rich, ugly old man trying to buy a young bride. But this guy? He was young, handsome, and dressed to perfection.

The only word that came to mind was:

“Mom’s friend’s son.”

He was that guy. The one who had it all.

Good looks, money, intelligence—he was probably the heir to the guild. Meanwhile, hyung was all brawn.

This was like Ddolsoe vs. Lee Mong-ryong from The Tale of Chunhyang.

It was a one-sided battle.

“No—maybe not. Maybe she prefers rugged guys like hyung? The commander said she still likes him. And this isn’t modern-day Korea. This is a different time!”

Sure, dramas in my past life always favored the pretty boy, but maybe here... it’d be different.

Clinging to hope in nostalgia and fate, I approached hyung—and saw his trembling back and heard his voice crack.

“S-Soso...”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

As he spoke her name, I couldn’t see her past his broad frame—but a woman’s voice rang out from behind him.

“Please go back, Young Master Peng. I’ve chosen to honor my father’s wishes.”

What had she eaten before seeing him? Steamed stone? Her voice was resolute and firm.

Then the outer commander who guided us here quickly dropped to his knees beside hyung and cried out.

“My lady! I, Bang Un-gyu, have watched over you since you were little! I know it’s not my place, but I can’t remain silent!”

“Un-gyu!”

“Young Master Peng has kept his promise! He captured the Strangling Lust Demon, Jin-gyu, and brought him ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) here!”

“What!?”

Turning, I saw Yang Seong-hu and Geom-ryong dragging Jin-gyu forward.

Geom-ryong tore away Jin-gyu’s rags, revealing the crow tattoo on his shoulder.

“Wh-Why... Why wouldn’t you forget... You fool...”

The woman’s voice cracked with disbelief.

—Thud.

“S-Soso! Soso!”

Something collapsed. Hyung rushed forward and caught the woman in his arms.

***

The Lord of the Ak Clan, said to be a descendant of a famous loyal retainer, truly seemed to be a man who understood justice and honor.

When he heard that hyung had captured Jin-gyu, he immediately bowed his head to the head of the Geumjeok Merchant Guild.

“I must apologize. While I did indeed promise my daughter’s hand in marriage, I cannot turn my back on Young Master Peng, who suffered for years for the sake of our clan.

If I did, how could I face my ancestor, the Loyal Martial Lord?

Everything that was sent in preparation for the wedding shall be returned at once.”

After all, hyung had spent years tracking down the bastard who had brought disgrace to their house—and finally caught him.

Even if it didn’t seem like much on the surface, hyung had left home and wandered the land searching for that man, chasing down every lead.

When I first met him at the Martial Alliance, he had said he was waiting on information.

He’d remained stationed there and rushed out with Yang Seong-hu and Geom-ryong whenever a tip came in.

At the clan lord’s apology, the young man—said to be the head of the Geumjeok Merchant Guild—rested his chin in one hand.

Then, with a composed expression, he nodded slightly and spoke.

“If something I spent a fortune acquiring turns out never to be mine... then perhaps I would’ve been better off never acquiring it in the first place.”

He was clearly referring to the lady of the Ak Clan—Soso.

Judging by his words and the scene earlier, it seemed he’d realized her heart belonged to hyung.

At his words, I heard Hwa-eun’s mental voice, followed by Seol noona’s inner message.

“So-ryong, that man is disgusting. Speaking of people like they’re objects...”

[Ryong, don’t you ever turn out like that, okay? What kind of human talks like that?]

Their revulsion at his words was crystal clear.

Then, the merchant’s smiling voice continued.

“That aside, Lord of the Ak Clan, I must say—I worry for you. Without my help, I suspect this matter will be difficult to resolve.”

“Be that as it may, I’ll find a way.”

“Ah, and since our deal is now void, I trust you’ve also considered compensation? My reputation is not something to be taken lightly.”

At that, the face of the Ak Clan’s lord turned pale.

So now he wanted compensation because the marriage had been called off?

“Wow. This guy really is a merchant with no blood and no tears.”

Just as I was getting chills from how utterly shameless this "perfect guy" turned out to be, hyung—who was still tending to the collapsed Soso—stood and stepped in with a martial salute.

“Lord Ak, I’ll speak with my father and prepare the compensation myself. After all... I’m the one who was too late.”

Honestly, hyung was just too good of a person.

It made me think that maybe he needed a little education in self-respect.

But before I could say anything, the Lord of the Ak Clan slammed the tray next to him with a loud crack.

—Bang!

“What nonsense is this?! Do you think our Ak Clan would beg for money from a benefactor who fought for our family? Enough with the foolish talk—go tend to Soso! And if you ever make her cry again, I won’t forgive you!”

Hyung, visibly moved, bowed deeply.

“Th-thank you, Elder.”

Still, despite the Lord’s bold words, his expression remained heavy.

From what I’d overheard, their financial troubles were no small matter—and now they’d have to pay damages on top of that.

Then, just as tension was rising, the voice of the head of the Geumjeok Merchant Guild reached us once more.

He turned toward us with a bright, businesslike smile and introduced himself.

“It seems the circumstances of this meeting have led to some awkwardness. Allow me to properly introduce myself. I am Geum Gi-ryung, head of the Geumjeok Merchant Guild. I don’t shy away from befriending martial artists—might I ask your names?”

“...”

He was all smiles, but something about him just reeked of bad energy.

No one wanted to reply.

Still, I figured awkward silence was worse than just going through the motions. So I stepped up to speak on everyone’s behalf.

“Ah, so you are Merchant Lord Geum Gi-ryung. Starting from over there, these are the Dragon Fangs: Geom-ryong, Yang Seong-hu, Ji-ryong, Kwon-ryong, Seon-hwa, Gungbong, and Eum-bong.

This is my older sister Seol-pyo of the Beast Palace, and here is Tang Hwa-eun of the Tang Clan, known as the Venomous Flower Moon.

As for myself, I’m So-ryong—son of the Beast Palace, son-in-law of the Tang Clan, and sworn brother of Master Do-ryong over there.”

If we were looking to get close, I would’ve introduced everyone by name—but instead, I just used titles to maintain a polite distance.

I also made it clear I was Do-ryong hyung’s sworn brother—don’t even think about trying to cozy up to me.

But once I’d finished speaking, Geum Gi-ryung scanned me from head to toe with an intrigued glint in his eyes.

“Well, well... the Venomous Flower Moon of the Three Blossoms of the Martial World...”

His words and gaze made me immediately shift to shield Hwa-eun with my body, showing clear discomfort.

He was ogling Hwa-eun—who was recognized as one of the Three Blossoms of the Martial World.

“That’s my partner you’re staring at. A little too openly, I might add. I find it unpleasant.”

At that, Geum Gi-ryung tilted his head slightly and then burst out laughing.

“Oh? Ahaha! It seems there’s been a misunderstanding. I’m not interested in the lady of the Tang Clan—my interest lies with you, young master.”

“...Excuse me!?”

“Wait—he wasn’t looking at Hwa-eun—he was looking at me?”

Startled, I flinched. Hwa-eun immediately stepped forward and blocked me with her body.

Her thoughts came through loud and clear.

“So-ryong, I think that man’s into men.”

Into men. In other words—he’s gay.

I flinched and practically clung to Hwa-eun from behind.

“I mean... I know I’m ridiculously good-looking, but that guy?!”

Just as I was shivering with secondhand horror, Geum Gi-ryung smiled again and spoke.

“It seems the misunderstanding runs deep. I’m simply fascinated to have met the one and only ‘Heavenly Venom Beast Papa,’ Young Master So-ryong.”

“Heavenly... Venom Beast Papa?”

“You mean Heavenly Venom Beast Papa?”

I turned to look at Hwa-eun and Seol-pyo noona, and both their voices came through at once—

“So-ryong, it looks like you’ve earned yourself a nickname. Though... what kind of nickname is that...”

[So-ryong, I think you got a new title—but what kind of name is that...?]

They were definitely acknowledging the nickname, but it sounded like they didn’t exactly love it.

But personally, I thought it was amazing.

“Whoever—no, whichever genius bestowed me this title... I’m loving it.”

Heavenly Venom Beast Papa meant just that—the father of all venomous creatures under heaven.