My Dad Is the Strongest Under Heaven
Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Chapter 19. It Takes Two Hands to Make a Sound
Guided to the reception room, Yeo Woonhwi and his family sat around a table.
Before them rested the tea customarily served to guests, yet even as the rising steam cooled to nothing, the cups remained untouched.
The cup in front of Peng Seoyeon was especially full.
Phoo.
From the moment she arrived, Peng Seoyeon’s breathing had been ragged.
The weight of this situation had clearly left her on edge, trembling with unease.
And why wouldn’t it?
More than anyone, Peng Seoyeon knew the fierce, unforgiving nature of her father, Peng Mugang.
Since childhood, the person she feared most in the world had always been her father.
That terrifying man…
What words would he have for his returned daughter and her family?
No—what if he cast them out entirely?
If he merely drove them away with harsh words, that would be a mercy.
As her thoughts spiraled, the dread gnawing at her grew heavier with every passing second.
The thought echoed endlessly in her mind: perhaps it would have been better to stay in Sodam Village, living that simple, quiet, happy life just as they had until now.
Rather than coming back like this.
Just then, someone took hold of Peng Seoyeon’s trembling hand.
It was her daughter, Yul-i.
Looking down at Yul-i, a wave of profound love and heartache washed over Peng Seoyeon’s face in the same breath.
Though the child had no idea why her mother was so distressed, seeing her reach out like this was utterly endearing—yet it broke her heart, terrified that she might expose Yul-i to something cruel and frightening.
“Mama?”
“Yul-ah…”
As Peng Seoyeon softly called her name, a hand gently patted her other shoulder.
It was Yeo Woonhwi, reassuring her not to worry.
“Dear…”
Peng Seoyeon turned her gaze toward him.
Seeing her husband smile and offer comfort filled her with gratitude.
Yet at the same time, a flicker of wonder crossed her mind.
While she was consumed by anxiety, Yeo Woonhwi showed not the slightest hint of fear or trembling in this overwhelming place.
She found it truly remarkable.
In truth, her husband was the one who should have been far more terrified.
Even seasoned martial artists of the Murim found the suffocating presence of Patriarch Peng Mugang difficult to bear.
To someone without a shred of martial arts training, that pressure should have felt immeasurably worse.
And yet, despite having faced her father once before, her husband remained entirely composed.
She distinctly remembered him trembling during their first encounter, but that meeting had been far too brief for him to have built up any real tolerance.
In fact, that single encounter had been their only one.
Just as Peng Seoyeon was marveling at her husband’s unshakeable calm, the door to the reception room swung wide open.
The sudden sound made Peng Seoyeon’s heart leap into her throat.
“Elder Sister.”
“Seojin!”
Peng Seoyeon’s face lit up with immediate relief and joy.
The one stepping into the room was her younger brother and the eldest son of the Hebei Peng Clan, Peng Seojin.
Though years had passed, the boy she remembered was gone, replaced by a stalwart, commanding young man. She could only stare in wonder.
“Heavens. Look how much you’ve grown, little brother.”
“Haha. Not at all, 누님. Have you been well all this time?”
“I have been well, of course. What about you?”
“How could I be well after 누님 disappeared without a word and never returned?”
“I’m so sorry…”
“I said it so you’d feel sorry. Haha.”
Peng Seojin then turned toward Yeo Woonhwi, who stood beside Peng Seoyeon, offering a brief, easy smile.
“It is good to meet you, brother-in-law.”
At Peng Seojin’s easygoing nature, calling him brother-in-law without a moment’s hesitation, Yeo Woonhwi smiled back.
He felt genuinely grateful. If anyone had a right to resent and reject him, it was Peng Seojin.
He knew that from childhood, Peng Seojin had adored his elder sister more than anyone.
To have that sister vanish overnight must have left a massive void in his heart, yet here he was, smiling warmly without a trace of bitterness and calling him brother-in-law.
Surprisingly, this was the first time Yeo Woonhwi had ever met him in person, even including his past life.
Back then, he had only heard passing tales of his renown as the brilliant Patriarch who would lead the Hebei Peng Clan into the future.
After all, this was his wife’s clan; amidst the bloody chaos of rumors throughout his past life, Yeo Woonhwi had always paid special attention to news of the Hebei Peng Clan.
And…
For a fleeting fraction of a second, Yeo Woonhwi’s gaze flickered toward Peng Seojin’s right arm.
As if checking for something.
Naturally, not a soul in the room noticed.
As those reunited after so long—and those meeting for the first time—began to catch up,
Poke, poke.
“Hm?”
Someone was poking Peng Seojin’s stomach from below.
Wondering what it was, he looked down to find a tiny girl with a lovely, bright smile peering up at him.
An adorable child whose very presence compelled anyone looking at her to smile.
Blinking in surprise, Peng Seojin looked back at his sister.
“누님, could this child be…?”
“It’s Yul-i. Yeo Soyul. Your niece.”
“Yeo Soyul…”
Softly repeating the name, Peng Seojin dropped to one knee to meet Yul-i at eye level.
Then, with the warmest smile he could muster, he greeted her.
“Nice to meet you, Soyul-ah. I’m Yul-i’s uncle.”
“Ung?”
“Can you say uncle? Un-cle.”
“Uncle?”
“That’s right. Uncle.”
“Hehe. Uncle! Uncle!”
“Hahaha!”
As his newly found, darling niece burst into bright giggles, Peng Seojin found himself grinning foolishly.
Anyone who knew the man would have been utterly shocked by the sight.
He was known as a man of deep calculation who never betrayed his true thoughts under any circumstances—yet the moment a battle began, his frenzy was so uncontrollable that the world named him the Mad Dragon.
To see such a man smiling like an idiot was a scene money could never buy.
“Just once.”
“Hm?”
Peng Seojin looked up at Peng Seoyeon with desperate eyes.
“Could I hold her just once, 누님?”
“Ah, of course. Go ahead.”
The moment permission was granted, Peng Seojin scooped Yul-i into his arms.
Holding the tiny child with such ginger care, as though she might break at the slightest touch, he looked comically awkward yet undeniably tender.
Nestled in his embrace, Yul-i promptly reached out and began squishing Peng Seojin’s cheeks with both hands as naturally as breathing.
Startled, Peng Seojin looked at Peng Seoyeon in confusion.
“Eh? 누-누님, what is this…?”
“Ah, that’s Yul-i’s specialty. Whenever she really likes someone, she always does that.”
“Ah!”
At Peng Seoyeon’s explanation, Peng Seojin let out an exclamation of sheer delight, while Yeo Woonhwi let out a quiet chuckle.
Soon enough, Peng Seojin’s grin stretched even wider.
That meant this precious little niece had taken a liking to her uncle.
How could he not be thrilled?
Peng Seojin was thoroughly basking in an unexpected wave of pure bliss.
“By the way, Seojin-ah.”
“Yes?”
“What about Father?”
Peng Seoyeon asked with extreme caution.
Peng Seojin’s expression turned somewhat troubled.
“Ah, about that… it seems he doesn’t wish to see you just yet. The moment he heard 누님 had arrived, he went straight back to his quarters. That’s why I rushed over here first. Haha.”
“I… see.”
“The Elders wanted to come as well, but everyone is walking on eggshells around Father and can’t make a move. Mother has probably just heard the news by now—”
Crash!
“Yeon-ah!”
The door flew open violently, and a middle-aged woman bearing a striking resemblance to Peng Seoyeon rushed into the room out of breath.
“M-Mother.”
For a moment, the woman looked Peng Seoyeon up and down, trembling all over.
“What… what on earth are you wearing? You cruel, wicked girl! How could you be so heartless!”
Yet contrary to her harsh scolding, tears pooled in her eyes, and she threw her arms around Peng Seoyeon, pulling her into a fierce embrace.
“…Mother.”
“How could you be so cold? How could you just leave like that, without sending a single letter all these years? How could you!”
“I’m so sorry…”
Buried in her mother’s embrace, Peng Seoyeon hung her head low.
She had no excuse to offer.
Back then… she truly believed it was the right choice.
Even now, if she were forced to go back, she would make the very same decision.
Yeo Woonhwi and Yul-i were that precious, that irreplaceable to her.
Yet at the time, she had not understood in the slightest how deeply her departure would wound her parents.
Now, she understood.
Only after giving birth to Yul-i did Peng Seoyeon realize how devastating that heartbreak must have been, how deeply their hearts must have torn.
And so, she wept uncontrollably.
She had longed to show Yul-i to her father and mother, to beg for their forgiveness from the bottom of her heart.
Yet she had believed it was already too late, that they had strayed too far apart.
Never in her wildest dreams did she imagine the day would come when she could stand before them again.
And now, seeing her mother’s face before her eyes, words failed her, drowned out by a relentless stream of tears.
Just then,
“Mama, why are you crying?”
At the sound of that sweet, innocent voice, Peng Seoyeon’s mother, Dan Heeyoung, turned her head.
Wiping her tears, Peng Seoyeon spoke softly.
“Mother, this is your granddaughter, Yul-i. Yeo Soyul. Yul-ah, come greet your grandmother.”
“Uwoong? Grandma?”
“Oh, my heavens…”
“Grandma! Hello!”
“Y-Yes, it is wonderful to meet you, Yul-ah.”
Her initial shock gave way in an instant as Dan Heeyoung looked down at the little girl bowing so politely, her eyes overflowing with boundless warmth.
To discover she had a granddaughter out of nowhere.
She felt a surge of indignation at her daughter, yet an even deeper surge of pity and tenderness.
Dan Heeyoung quietly took Peng Seoyeon’s hand.
“You’ve suffered so much, my daughter. You’ve had a hard time.”
Those gentle words broke Peng Seoyeon all over again.
Every word from her mother’s lips seemed to unlock another flood of tears.
As the daughter wept, the mother wept alongside her.
It was truly an ocean of tears.
How long did they cry?
Only after a long while did the tears of Peng Seoyeon and Dan Heeyoung finally begin to subside.
And then,
“So you are…”
“Greetings, Mother. Forgive me for being so terribly late in paying my respects.”
Dan Heeyoung’s eyes swept over the man standing steadfastly at Peng Seoyeon’s side.
Her lips pressed into a tight, firm line, as though holding back countless words.
Yet with a faint sigh, she slowly turned her head away.
This was the man who had caused all of this turmoil.
It was impossible to look upon him with favor.
At that moment, Yeo Woonhwi bowed his head deeply.
“I am deeply sorry for causing you such immense worry. Everything is entirely my fault.”
“Dear…”
Peng Seoyeon looked at her husband with a pained expression as he lowered his head.
Watching them quietly, Dan Heeyoung finally broke the silence.
“It takes two hands clapping to make a sound. It seems our daughter was simply that deeply in love with you.”
Stepping forward, Dan Heeyoung placed a gentle hand on Yeo Woonhwi’s bowed shoulder.
“You must be exhausted from the journey. Rest comfortably now.”
“Mother…”
At Dan Heeyoung’s warm, forgiving words, the atmosphere in the room softened with profound tenderness.
Right at that moment,
“That is absolutely out of the question.”
A thunderous voice echoed from outside the room.
The door swung open, and a figure strode inside.
A man radiating an overwhelming, suffocating presence—as though a fierce tiger had taken human form.
It was the Patriarch of the Hebei Peng Clan, Peng Mugang.
