By Zephyria 
That said, he wouldn’t choose a completely neutral third location. Such places were vulnerable in terms of security.
‘The Haoh Gate!’
If it were the Haoh Gate, which dealt in information, they wouldn’t lean toward any one side, and since they already knew most things, security wouldn’t be an issue.
Seong Mu-yeon changed direction and headed toward the house of courtesans. Once he was certain he had shaken off all the martial artists pursuing him, he slowed his pace to a walk.
He decided that once he arrived at the house of courtesans, if it was indeed the right place, he would then think of a way to get inside.
As expected, as he drew closer to the house of courtesans, he saw more and more martial artists dressed in familiar attire.
‘Just as I thought!’
Worried that he might be spotted by Seomun Yuha, Owl, or someone else who wished for his departure, Seong Mu-yeon kept his head low and loitered near the meeting hall.
The house of courtesans, which had not yet opened for business, began to crowd with guests. A place he could usually enter and leave as he pleased now had strict guards at both the front and back doors, leaving no way to sneak in.
It was then that Seong Mu-yeon spotted a group of people who exuded an overwhelming presence at a single glance. Rather than martial artists, their fluttering long robes made them look like scholars.
Seong Mu-yeon’s face brightened.
“Young Master Jegal!”
The moment Jegal Un saw Seong Mu-yeon, he flinched and immediately spun around, walking away with rapid strides. The subordinates following him looked bewildered by their superior’s sudden strange behavior.
Seong Mu-yeon quickly stuck close to Jegal Un’s back.
“Where are you going? Weren’t you on your way to the meeting hall?”
“……Do not follow me.”
Jegal Un warned harshly through gritted teeth. His pace quickened further. However, Seong Mu-yeon was not intimidated in the least.
“Hey, don’t be so prickly. Aren’t we family now? I heard the Young Family Head put in so much effort, both materially and spiritually, to save me, and I haven’t even been able to thank you yet. Hehe.”
“…….”
“Anyway, please take me along to the meeting.”
If he entered as a member of the Zegal Clan, no one would be able to kick him out.
Just then, Jegal Yeom-gang, who had spotted Seong Mu-yeon from a distance, approached with his beard fluttering. He had a wide smile on his face, appearing delighted to encounter his nephew by chance.
“Mu-yeon!”
“Oh, Uncle. You’ve arrived?”
Their previous meeting had been slightly awkward. Jegal Yeom-gang was a stubborn old man who had lived his entire life without knowing how to be affectionate toward others, and Seong Mu-yeon found his belatedly appeared family unfamiliar.
However, Seong Mu-yeon was the kind of person who could flip his expression like the palm of his hand whenever he wanted something.
Seong Mu-yeon greeted him with a face just as affectionate and glad as Jegal Yeom-gang’s. At the sweet sound of ‘Uncle,’ Jegal Yeom-gang’s cheekbones twitched and then soared high.
“Yes, yes. Mu-yeon. I see you’ve already met Un. You may have seen each other before, but greet him formally.”
“Oh, there’s no need for that! It seems our bond is quite deep, despite appearances. I’ve owed the Young Family Head a great deal…… right, Young Family Head?”
Jegal Un had kept his mouth shut from the moment he heard his father’s voice. On the surface, he looked composed, but Seong Mu-yeon realized he was extremely nervous. To think that this cold-blooded man, who had revealed his foul temper without hesitation and spoken down to him from their first meeting, was now powerless before his father.
This is… a total win.
Even Jegal Yeom-gang, who was strict with his son, treated the nephew he had found after immense hardship like the tongue in his own mouth.
It meant that every single word from Seong Mu-yeon could determine Jegal Un’s fate. Seeing as he remained docile even when Seong Mu-yeon draped an arm over his shoulder—despite having looked down on, sneered at, and bullied him every time their eyes met—it seemed he was well aware of that fact.
Jegal Un avoided his father’s gaze and glared at Seong Mu-yeon as if he wanted to devour him.
‘If you say anything useless, I’ll kill you.’
……That was what he seemed to be saying.
Their positions had completely reversed, but his pride was too strong to openly ask for favorable treatment.
“What ‘Young Family Head,’ we’re family. Let’s see. Mu-yeon, how old are you this year?”
“I will be thirty next year, Uncle.”
“Is that so? Then you are a year older than Un. Since you’ll be living like brothers from now on, call him comfortably.”
“Oh?”
Through the arm draped over his shoulder, he could feel Jegal Un flinch.
“Then I’m… the older brother?”
As Seong Mu-yeon drove the point home, Jegal Un’s face, which had been losing color, turned whiter than a sheet of paper.
“That’s right. Un, call him ‘Hyung-nim’ from now on.”
“Yes, Un. Try calling me ‘Hyung-nim.’”
Blood was blood; the uncle and nephew were in perfect sync.
“What are you doing, Jegal Un! Your older brother is waiting!”
Unable to bear it any longer, Jegal Yeom-gang shouted.
“Hyu… Hyu…”
Jegal Un stammered for a long time before finally bowing his head.
“Hyung-nim.”
Seong Mu-yeon smiled contentedly and patted his shoulder.
“That’s it, Un. My little brother.”
Finally, Seong Mu-yeon had a younger brother. It was the moment he graduated from his long, long tenure as the youngest.
Seong Mu-yeon entered the house of courtesans majestically, side by side with Jegal Yeom-gang.
A few people who recognized Seong Mu-yeon’s face as he appeared with the Zegal Clan gaped in shock. However, no one dared to stop the Zegal Clan.
The meeting was held on the top floor of the house of courtesans. Decorated for the purpose of entertaining high-ranking officials, the place exuded an elegant, classical atmosphere. Furthermore, as prominent martial artists filled the seats one by one, a solemn mood began to permeate.
Representatives from each Sect and Clan sat around a circular table placed in the center. Behind them, guards and attendants stood firmly, their sharp eyes gleaming with vigilance.
The meeting hall was filled with the sound of low murmuring. However, the moment Seong Mu-yeon entered, it became as silent as if cold water had been poured over them.
Directly facing the entrance, at the highest seat of honor, Ma Jin-cheon of the Hwasan Sect sat solemnly. Seong Mu-yeon could immediately spot Baek Ryeo-il standing behind him. However, because Baek Ryeo-il was staring at him with a terrifying gaze, Seong Mu-yeon deliberately avoided eye contact and pretended not to notice.
But of all places to turn his head, Seomun Yuha was standing there. It seemed he had left the task of tracking Seong Mu-yeon to others and rushed to attend the meeting. When the escaped Seong Mu-yeon appeared there, he looked so flabbergasted that he couldn’t even make a sound, only gaping like a fish.
Ma Jin-cheon and Sang-geol seemed equally surprised. They had heard rumors in passing that Seong Mu-yeon was of the Zegal Clan’s bloodline, but since it was such an unbelievable claim, they had mostly brushed it off. Yet, he actually appeared with the Zegal Clan…
“Ahem, it seems everyone has gathered.”
Ma Jin-cheon’s voice wasn’t particularly loud, but it carried a strange power that made the murmuring crowd instantly shut their mouths and focus on him.
“However, I don’t see the Peng Clan.”
Jegal Yeom-gang spoke up abruptly. He gestured with his chin toward the empty seat.
“During the night, the Peng Family Head passed away. Because of that, the Peng Clan hurried back to their main estate.”
Jegal Yeom-gang clicked his tongue softly. Seong Mu-yeon suddenly felt a hint of anxiety from his attitude. Rather than appearing saddened by the consecutive misfortunes striking the Peng Clan, with whom they frequently interacted, there was a tinge of irritation.
Sure enough, Jegal Yeom-gang stood up from his seat.
“The Peng Clan’s seat is vacant, but I wish to use this opportunity to deliver a message. Those who participated in the battle of Demon Subjugation Valley must have already noticed. The fact that Peng Yuan-jin, for whom a funeral was held three years ago, was actually alive and not dead. Since a significant number of people witnessed it clearly with their own eyes, it is an undeniable truth.”
Jegal Yeom-gang jumped straight to the point without any preamble. People shifted their eyes awkwardly.
No matter how equal their relationship was, it was a considerable breach of etiquette to start speaking abruptly without the permission of the Hwasan Sect, the host who had convened this meeting.
“Which means that the Seventh Prince Seong Muyeon here has been falsely accused.”
However, Jegal Yeom-gang continued regardless. As his name was mentioned, everyone’s gaze in the room pierced Seong Mu-yeon.
He’s just going to shout it out like this?
Seong Mu-yeon looked at his uncle with an expression of disbelief.
He should have known from when Jegal Yeom-gang started acting extra… it seemed he was the type of person who, once he set his mind on something, charged straight ahead regardless of the consequences.
“Therefore, I wish to make it clear before the meeting begins that the damages suffered by the Seventh Prince Seong Muyeon, who had to live in hiding and could not show himself to the world for a long time, are far from negligible.”
Glancing sideways at Jegal Un, he saw a face that looked almost enlightened, as if he had already been pushed to his limit.
“Furthermore, since it has been confirmed that the Seventh Prince Seong Muyeon is a blood relative of the Zegal Clan, from now on, anyone!”
Bam!
Jegal Yeom-gang suddenly exploded with emotion and slammed the table, scanning the gathered people with eyes blazing with anger.
“Anyone who persecutes my nephew without basis will never be forgiven, on the honor of the Zegal Clan.”
“…….”
Seong Mu-yeon closed his eyes tight. He had spoken at length, but in summary, it was basically saying ‘don’t bully my kid.’
‘Please… have some dignity.’
His face burned with embarrassment.