Embrace (3)
If he couldn't dominate the Paewang Dao and instead let it control him, he could easily fall into the demonic path. Moreover, his resolve and determination shifted like boiling water on a whim. The outcome of such a man mastering the Paewang Gong was plain as day.
'Yeoui Seon-gyeol suits him better.'
It wasn't empty flattery. Just as talents varied from person to person, martial arts chose their wielders. Unless one was born with once-in-a-millennium aptitude to dominate any art, Gu Cheon-gi's gifts weren't exceptional enough. At best, cultivating the Yeoui Seon-gyeol might bloom his potential and make him a master.
"If you want to steel your resolve, challenge me anytime. I'll point you in the right direction, like today."
"...Thanks, big bro!"
Brotherly bonds were forged in fists, as the old saying went—and ancient wisdom never failed. For Gu Cheon-woo, stopping his brother's wayward path was satisfaction enough. True, his resolve lacked steel, but that could be honed over time. One more step toward Susin Jegah.
'Not bad.'
He glimpsed that Mireok Paedo wasn't everything. Still, he wouldn't ignore twisted history.
'Wait for it.'
***
It was a dream he'd desperately want to wake from—if it wasn't a nightmare straight out of sorcery or illusion. Even after his eldest brother left the courtyard, chills crawled up Gu Cheon-gi's spine the more he dwelled on it.
"Let's go."
"Yes, Second Young Master."
In this harsh world of smiles and slaughter, it had been a rare, fun spectacle. That was enough for Gu Cheon-su and Ga-bok. For Gu Cheon-gi, it was time to snap out of it and shed his rivers-and-lakes fever dream. He had to ditch the delusion that peak masters and divine arts would come knocking just because.
"Go where?"
Gu Cheon-gi couldn't let Gu Cheon-su and Ga-bok leave quietly. They'd witnessed his humiliation at big bro's hands. Send them off now, and who knew what gossip their loose tongues would spread? He couldn't let it hobble him later as an Absolute Realm master. And he hadn't forgotten calling the future world's greatest a cripple—that blasphemy demanded swift payback.
A gentleman's revenge waits not a moment, as they said. Mom and big bro were off-limits, but he couldn't lose his spot as top dog in the Gu household. Disasters were best ignored from the start—that was common sense. Man shrank small before nature's fury. He was that humble.
Slaughtering peasants felt queasy, but he had to muzzle Gu Cheon-su and Ga-bok.
"You callin' us?"
"Said you're free, but you're holdin' up busy folks."
Hah! Gu Cheon-gi clicked his tongue at their overtly annoyed retorts. When had he ever been treated like this? As the Lu Bu of the Gu Clan, he couldn't overlook this insubordination flouting the chain of command. For the venerable Gu household's hierarchy, he needed to reassert order.
"You know what happens if you blab about today?"
"Gonna blab all over."
"Can't keep this fun stuff to ourselves."
Far from the cowed response he wanted. At least pretend up front—hell, they were openly declaring they'd spread it.
Gu Cheon-gi couldn't ignore his precarious spot. He felt smaller than a rice grain in cold porridge.
"Hah! Thought only big bro went nuts! Second bro, it's me, Cheon-gi?"
"Yeah, my cripple little bro Cheon-gi, embarrassing wherever you go."
"I agree with Second Young Master."
...?
They insulted him without flinching. So blunt it clogged his nose and ears. Nothing normal here.
"You all crazy?"
"You still can't face reality."
Gu Cheon-su grew exasperated watching Gu Cheon-gi ignore big bro's lesson. What to do with this fool? Couldn't leave him be—he'd die wandering the wilds, and how to face their parents then?
"When will our Third Young Master wise up? Second Young Master must worry so."
"At least Ga-bok gets my plight."
"Who else would know if not me?"
"Glad you understand."
Gu Cheon-gi felt sidelined. They chatted excluding him, making him too awkward to butt in. Worse, they trashed him openly. He felt pulverized.
Even with an ocean-wide heart, Gu Cheon-gi couldn't endure more. Even the sea overflows. As a noble heir, he had to enforce discipline. He'd never forgotten respect for elders—except today, he'd teach second bro there were skies above skies.
"Bro, let's throw down today."
"Didn't you just with big bro?"
"This is different now!"
"Oh yeah?"
Gu Cheon-su's nonchalance ignited Gu Cheon-gi's pickled rage. Time for a big mess today.
"I'm a no-mercy street fighter, no three-second handicaps... Gahk!"
"You started it?"
Not yet! Gu Cheon-su's kick nailed Gu Cheon-gi's weak spot. No worries for a Gu heir, though—bean fields yield beans, sons take after fathers. Childless heirs served the world best.
Thud thud! Ga-bok patted his back quick; Gu Cheon-gi staggered up. Bloodshot eyes blazed with fury at the threat to his lineage. Becoming Absolute Realm included bedding the realm's top beauty.
"...Cheap shot!!"
"Didn't step on you while you were down."
"...?"
Hard to cry foul when big bro's terror lingered deep. Gu Cheon-su slyly trapped him: insult me, insult big bro too. Teeth-grinding cunning.
"Won't take it anymore... Ack!"
Thwack! His head snapped back. Lights out, back on, out again.
Thud, thud, thud! Gu Cheon-gi ate every light jab from Gu Cheon-su full-face. Dodge left, right, duck, twist—face always exposed. Better stand still than dodge and hit vitals.
"This is talkin' mat... Gahk!"
Talking earned a punch. Bit his tongue near-suicidal. Deeper, and clear speech gone forever.
'This works?'
Gu Cheon-su thrilled at the one-sided beatdown. He'd half-feared when the fool yelled stop. Used to defuse before, but post-training with big bro, no more vague passes. Hitting kin taboo for scholars.
He'd tried words—futile. Bro was bone-deep fool. But big bro showed: fists of love reformed best. So simple.
Thwack, splat, splaaat! Past sermons proved bullshit; emotion fueled punches. Wasted time prattling. Time gold to merchants. Should've learned martial arts despite mom's frown.
"Know how much grief you've caused me? This is brotherly love—for your sake. No personal grudge, so take it sweet."
"...Bullshit!!"
Sugar-coated fists? Sweet my ass—big bro and second bro both nuts. How long? Big bro's hits still throbbed. Emotion or not, pain was pain.
"Treat big bro proper from now."
"...Don't... make me laugh!"
"Far from big bro's level. But don't worry—my patience runs deeper."
"...Crazy... Khaak!"
Seventeen years' grudge packed in. Two-year gap loomed large. Gu Cheon-gi crumbled, couldn't hold. Fists trumped heroes bone-deep.
"...Sorry, bro! Big bro!!"
"I know you."
Gu Cheon-su kept punching. Lifelong know-it-all needed sincere surrender. Petty defiance lingered. Crush it firm—no half-assed rebellion. Brotherly care to prevent wild death.
Dare challenge bro? Never shadow him again.
After a bit more pummeling.
"Big bro, no more lip!!"
"Good."
Gu Cheon-su forgave with magnanimity. Pulped but breathing—fine. Tough constitution, credit where due. Cripples endured.
"I'm off."
"Rest well, big bro!"
Bowed till face met ground. Only after Gu Cheon-su left did Gu Cheon-gi slump limp.
How'd it come to this? Big bro, second bro—both off. Huh? Ga-bok's snickering shattered his daze. Now even the servant dissed his master?
"You're servant, I'm young master!"
"Unexpected counter, sir."
"Can't do—throw down today."
"Your stamina's legit."
Denial issues aside. What to do? Lived foolhardy. Becoming human not bad chance. First, life's give-and-take.
As esteemed Gu servant, Ga-bok skipped losing fights.
"Win, then what? Might never leave bed."
"Hah! Fine—you win, call you big bro respectful-like!"
"Man's word, mountain of gold."
"You'll be no man today!"
Sad truth. Pure talent, Ga-bok topped Gu Cheon-su by two. No edge vs. uninitiated dreamer awaiting phantom arts.
Servant-style, Ga-bok picked wins.
Thud. Splat! Every spot Gu Cheon-gi popped up, Ga-bok schooled pain. Dodge-counter plan dead on arrival. More struggle, more hurt.
'...Nightmare!!'
Deeper the mire fleeing.
"I win. Heh heh heh!"
"...Me, dead last!!"
Today, Gu Cheon-gi became Gu household's bottom rung.