Black and White Untitled

Episode 4.
The Return of the Prodigal Son (3)

The wind was quite cool.

But the cold autumn wind did not cool down the liveliness of the market. Many people were soliciting customers to come into their stores.

‘It’s been a while.’

As soon as I went outside, thoughts about Byeokrajinkyul suddenly entered my mind.

It was my first time going to the market since returning to the past. It was a new feeling.

‘Still the same.’

This is the street I walked down many times as a child.

It was a street I had never visited since my family was destroyed. Every time I came here, I felt like I would be reminded of my dead family.

“Good.”

“Hehe, right?”

Yeon Ji-pyeong’s face was flushed. This was because it was the first time he and his brother had been out on the street alone.

“Brother, are you uncomfortable somewhere?”

“hmm?”

“You walk a little strangely?”

“Oh, just a little.”

Suddenly, the quality of my internal energy rose by two levels.

In addition, many of the blocked blood vessels were cleared. As the energy passed back and forth through that area, strength naturally entered my body.

The body and the spirit were out of sync. Even when I tried to walk slowly, I picked up speed on my own. It was a discrepancy that arose because my muscles and bones were not perfectly aligned.

‘I’m going to have a hard time from now on.’

Just as important as internal energy is physical strength. In order to train a body that is still immature to the level of a black magician, hellish training is necessary.

When Yeonhojeong was spinning his shoulders around for a while.

“Oh, over there! Let’s go over there!”

The place Yeon Ji-pyeong pointed to was a tower with a clean exterior.

“It’s Goyang Tower.”

Goyangru was a famous restaurant in southern Jiangsu Province. Although it was quite expensive, it was famous for its delicious food and beautiful scenery.

“Oh, did you go there too, hyung?”

“How many times.”

It wasn’t a place I had particularly good memories of.

About half a year before Yeonga was destroyed, I drank a lot of alcohol in a state of despair. Among them, I drank a lot at Goyangru.

‘I’ve lived so stupidly.’

He got drunk and broke a lot of things, and got into an argument and got beaten up badly.

It was a place where both body and mind were completely torn apart.

“They say the fish dishes there are really famous. Let’s go and eat some fish, fish.”

“Okay.”

“Huh? But do you eat fish too, hyung? You don’t seem to like it very much, do you?”

Yeonhojeong shrugged.

“You should eat it while you can. By the way, is this your first time here?”

“Hehe, actually, I went there once. With my friends.”

“Friend… … from Cheonggangseowon?”

“Yes! They are all good friends.”

The Byeoksan Yeonga emphasized both literature and martial arts more than other martial arts schools. Although they did not wish to have outstanding scholars, their ancestors thought that they should at least be better than others.

That teaching was still the same even after he had ascended to the ranks of the Seven Great Masters. That was also the reason why Yeon Ji-pyeong went to Cheonggang Seowon to study.

Yeonhojeong smiled.

“Make sure you learn it well. There’s no harm in learning it.”

Yeon Ji-pyeong asked with an innocent expression.

“But you won’t come out again, hyung?”

“To Cheonggangseowon?”

“yes!”

“I’m not going out.”

Yeonhojeong was the first to go to Cheonggang Seowon and study. However, two years ago, he stopped writing to focus on martial arts.

A faint disappointment appeared on Yeon Ji-pyeong’s face.

“Oh, I see.”

He’s such an honest guy.

It’s a shame, but I still have no intention of leaving. It’s not because I don’t like writing, but because I don’t think I need to learn more.

“Are you getting along well with your friends?”

“Of course. Oh! By the way, we have some short-term students coming to Seowon this time!”

“Short-term auditor?”

“Yes! They are from famous martial families in Anhui. Among them, there is a son of the Nan Gong family!”

He speaks with a bright expression as if nothing had happened.

Yeonhojeong frowned.

“At Namgung?”

“Yes! Isn’t it amazing?”

Was it like that?

I don’t remember that part. At that time, I was only interested in myself.

‘Namgung… … Namgung.’

The most prestigious family in Anhui, adjacent to Jiangsu.

It is considered one of the seven great families along with Yeonga, but it has a much longer history than Yeonga.

When you think of Namgung, you think of swords. In the past and present, the most famous swordsman was the Namgung family.

It was the same after the emergence of an unparalleled swordsman from the Murong clan.

“older brother?”

“hmm?”

“What’s wrong? You don’t look so happy.”

“No. Let’s go.”

“yes!”

The two finally entered the cat room.

The cat tower was quieter than expected. There didn’t seem to be even ten people in the four-story tower.

“You’re lucky, bro. Go to the fourth floor!”

“okay.”

When I went up to the fourth floor, the view was really nice. The windows were wide open, so the breeze was refreshing rather than cold.

“Isn’t it good? Is it good?”

“Yeah, I guess it’s a good idea.”

Although I have been here many times in the past, it felt like my first time here.

Yeon Ji-pyeong was so excited that she ordered food after sitting at the window seat. She ordered one fish dish and a couple of stir-fried vegetables, but the price was not cheap.

“Isn’t it too expensive?”

“I’ve saved up a lot of pocket money!”

“Are you going to buy it?”

“Of course! I told you I would buy it for you!”

By the way, you didn’t even bring money.

Yeonhojeong whetted his appetite.

“Eat well.”

“As much as you want!”

All the dishes in Goyangru were delicious. There was no dog that was so excited that his eyes sparkled.

Yeonhojeong found her younger brother cute. But at the same time, she also found him burdensome.

‘What a bright kid.’

I was jealous of this child and treated him badly. I didn’t use any verbal or physical abuse, but sometimes indifference can be much more cruel.

So, even though it was burdensome, I tried my best to smile in front of Yeon Ji-pyeong. The regret I had for my past mistakes was that great.

Yeon Ji-pyeong, who was looking at Yeonho-jeong with a big smile, asked cautiously.

“excuse me…….”

“huh?”

“You’re not upset or anything, are you?”

“what?”

“No. It’s just… … there’s something that bothers me for no reason, or something like that.”

Yeonhojeong tilted his head.

“Well? That never happened.”

“I see.”

“Why? Does your face look so bad?”

“No! Just in case.”

“What a singular guy.”

Yeonhojeong turned his head to the window. He wanted to see the scenery.

Looking at his brother like that, Yeon Ji-pyeong sighed in relief.

‘I hope you’re okay.’

At that time, as a person from Yeonga, I could fully understand the behavior of the non-responsive leader Kang Yoon. However, wasn’t it in front of his younger brother? Anyone would feel embarrassed.

Fortunately, his brother didn’t seem to care much. Rather, Yeon Ji-pyeong felt very sorry because it seemed like it was because of him that such a thing happened.

Yeon Ji-pyeong, who was looking at Yeonho-jeong with a smile, tilted his head for a moment.

“But, brother.”

“huh?”

“Uh… … I don’t know if I should say this.”

“What is it?”

“Have you become more active?”

Huh?

“Would you like to find out?”

“Huh? Oh, yes. I was wondering if it was a long time ago, but it definitely seems like you’ve changed since before.”

Yeonhojeong looked at Yeonjipyeong with new eyes.

‘You felt it?’

Although the Danjeon has become more active and the Biyeonsim method has also become more advanced, it is a change that is difficult to detect without feeling the pulse.

This is because Yeonhojeong is constantly skilled at regulating his energy. In addition, since the Biyeonsim method itself is not a high-level martial art, the range of change is not great. It is difficult to detect the change in true energy by looking at it from the outside.

My younger brother saw right through it, even though he wasn’t yet a first-class player.

“I have mastered the non-religious method.”

Yeon Ji-pyeong sat up without realizing it.

“Me, really?!”

“okay.”

Is it so out of the blue that you don’t believe it?

“Congratulations! Really congratulations, brother!”

I believe it.

Yeon Ji-pyeong congratulated him wholeheartedly as if it were her own business. She looked extremely excited as she clenched her fists and shook them wildly.

I was grateful to have such a younger brother, but I was more surprised than grateful.

‘I knew you were talented, but… … .’

A faint look of admiration appeared on Yeonhojeong’s face.

‘This guy was a total monster, wasn’t he?’

There are usually two types of people who are considered talented in martial arts: those with excellent physiques and those with excellent intelligence.

But Yeon Ji-pyeong’s talent wasn’t at that level.

‘I have a good feeling.’

What is more difficult to obtain than physical superiority or outstanding insight is the sense of touch.

The power to overwhelm logic and reason. It is an innate ability, so to speak. I don’t know about other fields, but at least in martial arts, Yeon Ji-pyeong’s senses were clearly superior to anyone else’s.

Besides, his physical talent is also said to be the best in Yeon-ga.

‘If you practice it properly, you’ll be famous in the near future.’

Yeon Ji-pyeong said with a very excited face.

“You’ll get stronger soon, hyung! I’m sure of it!”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

Anyway, it was a moment that surprised both of us.

After a while, the food came out.

The two laughed and chatted even while eating. Yeon Ji-pyeong was usually the one talking, but Yeon Ho-jeong was also quite talkative.

The two people who finished their meal in no time also ordered tea. A good aroma wafted from the steam rising from the tea leaves.

“Brother, since you have achieved great success in the mind method, let’s practice together!”

“no.”

It was a firmer rejection than expected. Yeon Ji-pyeong shrugged.

“why?”

“You and I have different ways of practicing. Maybe later, but for now, we should each do it separately… … Hmm?”

Yeonhojeong turned his gaze towards the stairs.

“What’s wrong, brother?”

“… … .”

“older brother?”

“Is it considerable?”

Considerable? What?

Yeon Ji-pyeong, who was tilting her head, suddenly felt a faint prayer coming up from the first floor in the distance.

Yeon Ji-pyeong’s eyes widened.

“master?!”

No, I’m not an expert.

A true master must be able to apply the skills he has achieved in real life situations. Only then can he be called a master.

In that sense, there were no masters among those who came up from the first floor. At least, Yeonhojeong thought so.

But the level of achievement was considerable.

‘For her age, that is.’

The vitality emanating from his spirit was very refreshing. He was clearly not yet in his prime.

“ah!”

Yeon Ji-pyeong let out a gasp.

“Why? Do you know him?”

“Yes! I don’t know who the master is, but I feel a familiar prayer. It must be a friend of Seowon.”

Are you Seowon’s friend?

“At least say hello.”

“Oh?! Is that okay?”

“If you didn’t know, then I wouldn’t know, but if you do, you can’t just pass by without saying hello. Go and come back.”

Yeon Ji-pyeong slowly woke up.

“Then, brother, I’ll be back soon. Please wait a moment.”

“Come and talk slowly.”

Yeon Ji-pyeong quickly went down the stairs.

Yeonhojeong smiled and rested her chin on her hand.

‘How cheerful.’

Is it because I grew up in such a dark place?

Although he developed some social skills while gathering black people, he was not as bright as Yeon Ji-pyeong. There were many times when he found it annoying to talk to someone.

That’s why I liked that side of my brother. It was a personality trait I didn’t have.

‘Grow up brightly. You don’t have to be serious every moment just because the world is tough.’

I wish he would grow up to be more awesome than anyone else. Now, that was the only thing Yeonhojeong wanted from his younger brother.

Yeonhojeong, where you can drink tea and enjoy the scenery outside the window.

I don’t think this is the time to enjoy this kind of leisure, but what can I do? This is the first time I’ve gone out to eat with my younger sibling.

Preparing for extinction was the most important thing, but there were also things that could not be overlooked.

It was at that time that Yeonhojeong was enjoying a short moment of leisure.

“Are you here?”

“Wow! Even just the third floor is definitely different!”

A roaring voice came from the third floor.

And the voice of Yeon Ji-pyeong, who was flustered.

“Okay, just a moment. First, let me talk to my brother… … .”

“Oh! Why are you doing that when you just wanted to say hello? Besides, you didn’t rent the entire fourth floor. Let’s take a look around.”

“ah…….”

A strange sense of bewilderment came out of Yeon Ji-pyeong’s voice.

After a while.

“Wow, the view is killer!”

“It was good that you came up!”

Yeonhojeong turned his gaze there.

Yeon Ji-pyeong’s face, caught between two men and one woman whom she was seeing for the first time, looked extremely embarrassed.