Vol. 1 Chapter 3.5

“Instead of arguing, why not just reinvestigate the matter?”

“Yeon-ah?”

Hwangbo Jeong-gun looked at her in surprise. In gatherings of Clan Heads, younger generations usually only attended.. they rarely spoke. So everyone’s attention quickly focused on her. Including Peng Ho-mok’s.

“This is not a place for you to interfere!”

Then why do YOU keep interfering!

Yeon suppressed the urge to shout back. Unlike earlier, now was the time to hold back.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m Hwangbo Yeon of the Hwangbo Clan. Since I’m attending after such a long time, am I not allowed to speak?”

“Anyone attending the gathering may freely speak.”

It was Damdeok’s voice.

Good old Grandpa Damdeok. Inwardly giving the old monk a thumbs-up, Yeon continued.

“I’m not questioning the Mount Heng Sect’s handling of the matter. But for the orthodox factions’ gathering to decide on an investigation and dispatch people… that’s a different issue. If there’s truly no problem, this will completely eliminate any lingering doubts.”

“Hmm…”

“Do we really need to go that far…?”

The reactions from the crowd were negative. Objectively speaking, Yeon’s position was still just that of a junior. Just as Yeon was starting to get anxious, someone’s voice rang out.

“Does the Hwangbo Clan’s young lady have a particular reason for insisting on this? Is it simply because you’re both women?”

Yeon studied his face, but he was a stranger. Rather than forcing herself to remember, she chose to answer.

“No. It’s not as a woman to a woman. I’m speaking as one human being to another.”

“One human being to another?”

“A person has died. If the head of a family has lost their life for any reason, and if their child has come all this way in person shouldn’t we at least hear them out?”

“So we’re supposed to deal with every random person who shows up? For someone so young, your thinking is quite shallow. Tsk tsk.”

At the end, it was Peng Ho-mok again. Yeon silently vowed that someday, she would make him pay back this debt.

“That’s not what I mean. Something like this has probably never happened at a gathering before, and it likely never will again. As the abbot said, few people would have the courage to do this.”

Even as she spoke, Yeon could feel it herself. This isn’t going to convince anyone. Grasping at straws, she made one final suggestion.

“So why not answer that courage with a little leniency, just this once? Even without spending much time, we could at least take a vote, investigate or not. Couldn’t we?”

“Nonsense. If all you’re going to do is spout rubbish, you’d better..”

Just as Yeon was starting to get annoyed, Damdeok stepped in.

“Clan Head Peng, please calm yourself. Should this gathering not be a place of mutual respect?”

It meant that Peng Ho-mok had crossed the line. Though gentle, the abbot’s reprimand left Peng with no choice but to close his mouth.

“I, on the other hand, find this refreshing. Until now, it’s not as if the younger generation has never offered opinions. It would be wonderful if all the young benefactors were as proactive as the Hwangbo benefactor.”

The abbot glanced around at the still-silent children of prestigious families and continued.

“As the Hwangbo benefactor said, this won’t take much time. So let’s settle it quickly. Those who wish to investigate the dispute between the Baekha Escort Agency and the Jeokhwa Merchant Group, please raise your hands.”

Yeon shot her hand up and quickly counted. But there were very few.

This is way too few. At this rate, I can’t change the original story.

Had she been too complacent just because she knew information others didn’t? Changing a fixed future wasn’t as easy as she’d thought. Yeon felt that lesson deep in her bones.

“Just as expected. Tch.”

Peng Ho-mok jeered at the predictable result. Yeon was too busy racking her brain to care.

At this rate, I need to find another way. What should I do?

But just as she was about to lose hope, someone’s hand went up. Everyone’s attention focused on it. The seat he was sitting in was at the very center of Lixue Pavillion… what could be called the head seat. People who saw the owner of the hand gasped.

“Oh! That young master, of all people…”

“Indeed.”

Amid the murmuring, he looked directly at Yeon and spoke.

“I also agree with young lady Hwangbo.”

A small spark of hope flickered in Yeon’s pupils. The one who had spoken in that low voice was none other than the young master of the greatest clan under heaven, Lee Cheon-gang.

Seeing his son’s unexpected action, Lee Baek-san raised his hand with a peculiar smile. That caused an even bigger stir than Cheon-gang’s move.

“Whoa!”

Only then did people here and there start watching the mood. What they were curious about was…

How will the Namgung Clan react?

Then, something no one had expected happened. Namgung Hyun, the head of the Namgung Clan, raised his hand.

“The talk of showing leniency moves my heart. I, too, support the Hwangbo child’s opinion.”

His words, almost gentle, completely changed the atmosphere. People began raising their hands in droves, following Lee Baek-san and Namgung Hyun. Watching the wave of change, Yeon’s eyes shimmered with excitement.

We did it!

She shot a gaze full of infinite affection toward Cheon-gang, the one who had started the first ripple. If “Good Job” stickers existed, she would have plastered him with a hundred.

Feeling Yeon’s sparkling stare, Cheon-gang looked a bit sheepish and lowered his head. Even that cute gesture was so adorable she could die.

Cheon-gang, even if you make mistakes when we’re dating, I’ll forgive you at least once. Except for cheating…

Just then, Damdeok stepped forward. The abbot himself was also raising his hand in favor.

“I’ve counted. A total of twenty-four. Now, would those opposed please raise your hands?”

The hands of Peng Ho-mok, Han Sa-uk, and their side shot up. Yeon quickly tallied them.

One, two, three, four, five, six…

A sigh escaped Yeon’s lips as she confirmed the number. As luck would have it, the opposition was also twenty-four.

“Twenty-four opposed as well. A tie. How unusual. Heh heh…”

Just as Damdeok was speaking…

“Abbot!”

An overly excited voice came from somewhere. A voice Yeon really, really didn’t want to hear right now.

“I’m sorry, but I didn’t raise my hand. I haven’t made up my mind yet.”

A grating voice… feigning regret, feigning helplessness.

“…Benefactor Namgung? Are you perhaps planning to abstain?”

“No, not that. But this agenda is so difficult to decide.”

With a finger pressed to her brow and a contemplative expression on her face, it was none other than Namgung Ji-hyun.

Curling her lips, Ji-hyun glanced at Yeon. Her leisurely attitude was like a fish that had just arrived at a water park.

I’m screwed…

There was no way Namgung Ji-hyun would vote in favor. No, there was no way she would do Yeon any favors.

With that absolute certainty, Yeon’s brain stopped. All her struggles until now, Cheon-gang’s dramatic assist, everything was washed away in the wave pool.

“If you’re not abstaining, you’ll have to make a decision.”

“Oh dear, you’re right. Then I’ll…”

Hope deferred is truly the most painful thing. Please don’t. Please, really, don’t. Yeon’s gaze unconsciously drifted toward Namgung Ji-hyun.

As if she had been waiting for that very moment, Ji-hyun’s mouth stretched from ear to ear. She pursed her lips dramatically and said,

“I’m opposed.”