Chapter 131: Why Are You Here Again? (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 131: Why Are You Here Again? (2)
Why was he here again?
It wasn’t difficult to deduce when I traced it back to the beginning.
The day before my departure for the Dragons and Phoenixes Tournament was when I last observed Namgung Jin’s movements.
Namgung Jin could no longer remain with the Gu Clan, and I had my own plans to attend to, so there was little I could do. He claimed he was fine, but the disappointment on his face was plain to see.
I understood his feelings, but for me, I was merely repeating what Elder Shin had instructed me to say. Frankly, I was just relieved to be done with the hassle.
The real trouble began afterward.
“It’s been a while, Yangcheon.”
“How have you been?”
After meeting Namgung Jin, I went to see the First Elder.
When I mentioned my plans to the Second Elder, he insisted on accompanying me, but I firmly refused, stating I would go alone. He didn’t understand my reasoning, but having him there would have been more hindrance than help—bringing along someone from a completely opposing faction would only complicate things.
I studied the lean, fierce-looking old man seated before me. His frame was small and wiry, yet I could sense the sharp intensity coiled within. Despite his age, he remained a master swordsman.
But that also meant I had reached a level where I could perceive the martial prowess of someone like the First Elder.
The First Elder smiled as he spoke. “What brings you to this old man?”
“I merely wished to see how you were faring.”
“Oh… Thank you for your concern.”
I returned his smile.
Gu Sunmoon—a branch family of the Gu Clan, also known as the Sword of the Gu Clan. Geographically, they weren’t far from the main clan, but rather than feeling connected, they seemed deliberately set apart. I didn’t know whether this was by design or an ancestral tradition.
“I heard you’ve been doing well lately.”
“Of course. I am always well.”
Our conversation began simply. I couldn’t afford to jump straight to the point.
“I also heard you’ve become engaged to a lovely young woman. I’m happy for you.”
“Thankfully, her clan views me favorably.”
“Yes, yes.”
The First Elder smiled, but contrary to his expression, the atmosphere grew heavy. I could feel him subtly shifting the energy in the room.
This old man.
He was releasing his Qi into the air, just enough to be imperceptible. Since he started playing dirty, I responded in kind, circulating my own Qi and dispersing it into the room.
-Whoosh-
I didn’t bother adding heat; it wasn’t necessary.
The First Elder’s expression shifted slightly, as if he hadn’t expected this. I looked directly at him and said, “I’m not particularly fond of this oppressive atmosphere, you know.”
“Ah, I see…”
The First Elder’s smile vanished.
Yeah, this is better.
“It seems you’ve changed quite a bit.”
“I’m still growing, after all.”
“Hehe… You were once a child who couldn’t even meet my eyes, but now…”
Was I? I suppose the old me wouldn’t have been able to withstand the pressure he exuded back then.
If I were still who I used to be, I wouldn’t have dared to visit the First Elder at all.
As I half-listened to him, I took a sip of the tea in front of me.
He didn’t poison this, did he?
…I’ve been tricked so many times that I can’t help but worry.
The First Elder wouldn’t resort to something so crude in this situation, but in my past life, assassination—and poison—were always on his mind. It was only natural to be cautious.
Even now, he retained his bad habit of using Qi to manipulate the atmosphere.
“You truly have changed a great deal from before. It is good to see.”
“Is it really?”
“Of course. How could it not be, when a key figure of our clan has improved so remarkably?”
“How kind of you to say.”
A key figure of the clan, huh?
I wondered how he could say that so easily when he didn’t believe a word of it.
There was a time in the past when I thought he might have meant it, but as years passed, I learned that everything he said was a lie.
“The reason I came to see you today, First Elder—”
-Woosh-
A crimson aura crept over my shoulders, swirling around them. It carried the energy of a peak-realm martial artist, and when the First Elder saw it, he frowned slightly.
“—was because I had something to say to you.”
“…And what might that be?”
The First Elder didn’t seem surprised to see I had reached the peak realm—he had likely already known. I had only one reason to reveal my strength.
It wasn’t to threaten him, because I wasn’t nearly strong enough for that. Reaching this level at my age was impressive, but it was still just the peak realm. It might be high compared to ordinary martial artists, but it was nothing to boast about.
I was still at a level where I would die instantly if the Sword Venerable or the Sword Queen drew their blades against me, let alone the Heavenly Demon. I wasn’t yet powerful enough to act recklessly toward anyone I pleased.
[How about you calm that temperament of yours?]
…Easier said than done.
I’ve already mellowed out considerably. The world just doesn’t see it that way.
I’m well aware.
Given that I’ve already come this far, don’t you think it’s a little late for that? So stop nagging.
That was the underlying message I wanted to convey by revealing my Qi. Did the First Elder not grasp the hint? I doubted it.
Under my steady gaze, he finally dropped his façade—not that he had been trying very hard to maintain it.
“You’ve changed so much, it’s as if you’ve become a different person entirely.”
“I hear that often. They say a person can mature in an instant.”
“Indeed. I had hoped you never would.”
“Whatever you are doing, or dreaming of, is none of my concern.” The dreams of an old man like him were meaningless. I didn’t care what he fantasized about.
“But for some reason, I always seem to have a role in those dreams of yours.” The problem was that I appeared to be an obstacle to his ambitions.
“How could you not be?”
“Right? It’s rather annoying.”
“What was it?” the First Elder asked. “What changed you, who once lived with your head bowed? Was it some trivial hope, or a feeble belief?”
“My hope burned to ashes long ago, and my household is far too stained for me to believe in anything.”
The fact that my father still kept someone like the First Elder around proved that. It really was a wretched family. Was there anything about it I actually liked?
“Your father is filled with arrogance.”
I made a strange face at his sudden remark. What pointless slander.
“Isn’t it true?”
“Are you asking me to join you in insulting my own father?”
I’ll admit I had trouble understanding my father, but what was he trying to accomplish?
“It seems you fail to comprehend the arrogance of your father believing that only he and you are fit to oversee this land.”
I set down my teacup. I hadn’t expected to hear that from him.
“How do you know about that?”
“Is it strange that I would?”
“Yes.”
Only a handful within the clan knew of this. I didn’t know if anyone outside was aware, but internally, it was a closely guarded secret. It had to be.
Yet the First Elder knows.
I wondered how long he had known, and how much he truly understood.
I didn’t know much about the First Elder. In the past, I was merely a pitiful existence beneath his notice. He only began showing his true colors after I was named Young Lord.
“Even knowing that, you still try to scale a wall you cannot hope to climb?”
“Cannot climb? Me, or any of my siblings?”
“Any of you.”
“It’s not just your father who is arrogant—you are as well.”
The story might have been different if the First Elder resented the fact that only my father and I were tasked with guarding the basement, but his intentions lay elsewhere.
“You cannot possibly understand the power that comes with holding such things in your hands.” I felt a chill settle in the air.
“I have no desire to know. No matter what it entails.”
The First Elder was forbidden from setting foot in that place. If he ever did, he wouldn’t be in any condition to walk freely afterward.
I didn’t know what delusions he harbored, “But if you are dreaming about it, I hope it remains just a dream.”
He was free to dream whatever he liked. That was probably why my father still tolerated him.
The First Elder mocked my words. “And what will you do if I choose not to keep it a dream?”
“I wonder.”
Even if the First Elder was blinded by delusion, would he dare go that far? Gu Sunmoon’s status and role within the clan were significant, but my father wouldn’t allow him to act recklessly indefinitely.
The First Elder knew that well, which was why he had never crossed a certain line.
“Do you know?” I stared into his eyes. “There was an old dog that guarded the house. It seemed to have lost its mind, because it started baring its fangs at its owner.”
I blended in elements from my past life. It made the story more interesting.
“A dog, you say…”
“Yes, a dog.”
I smiled faintly as I continued. “The owner tolerated it out of sentiment, but one day, the dog bit him.”
“And then?”
“Do you know what happened?”
“It seems I do not.”
The First Elder’s end in my previous life had occurred around this season, a few years later. I remembered because the autumn that year was unusually hot.
The Lord of the Gu Clan had flown into a rage. The flames he summoned had filled the sky.
“It was burned alive after having all its fangs pulled out.”
If the bite had been minor, the owner might have endured it, but the dog had gone too far.
Hadn’t it? It had laid hands on his children.
My father had been the one to act last time, but in this life, I might be the one to do it sooner.
Coincidentally, I happened to be quite skilled at what my father had done that day. If I was given a reason.
And it seemed I wouldn’t have to wait long for one. That was why I could still smile as I responded.
“I just wanted to share that story with you.”
“…An interesting tale. Very much so.”
“Right? I hope it remains just a tale.”
The First Elder may not have hidden the greed in his eyes, but he masked his emotions well. I wondered if he was seething inside. It would be understandable, given how disrespectfully a youngster like me had spoken to him.
“It was an entertaining story. My thanks.”
The First Elder smiled. Seeing that smile, I understood one thing clearly: my relationship with him would not change.
* * *
And now, seeing Gu Jeolyub here, many thoughts crossed my mind.
“…Sigh.”
Was it because I went to see my father after that conversation with the First Elder? I remembered him simply replying, “Okay,” when I asked what he intended to do about the situation.
“Why are you here?”
“…I was ordered to escort the Young Master.”
“You? Escort me?”
“Yes…”
Had the First Elder arranged this? But that would require my father’s approval. It seemed my father had a hand in it as well.
“A pawn.”
“…”
Gu Jeolyub averted his eyes. Even he seemed aware of his role.
“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”
“…Yes.”
I stared at him, but he refused to meet my gaze. Was it because of what happened last time?
I didn’t beat him that badly.
I let him leave peacefully without breaking any bones. I thought I had been rather merciful, but he clearly didn’t see it that way.
“Young Master Gu…”
Tang Soyeol appeared, glaring sharply at Gu Jeolyub.
Now that I think about it, they must have met before.
They had likely crossed paths due to the incident last time. Tang Soyeol had even complained to me about it.
When Gu Jeolyub saw her, he bowed slightly. “Hello again, Lady Tang.”
“…Hello.”
Even when greeted by the handsome Gu Jeolyub, Tang Soyeol only responded with a faint frown.
“Young Master!”
Wi Seol-Ah came running over, her cheerful demeanor unchanged from when I last took her out into the city.
“Sis Bi-ah is sleeping!”
“I figured.”
As she had mentioned earlier, Namgung Bi-ah had chosen to accompany us. I heard she was already in the carriage, and it seemed she had fallen asleep.
“Huh? Hello.”
Wi Seol-Ah greeted Gu Jeolyub when she noticed him. He flinched visibly. Was he remembering the time he tried to take her away and got beaten for it?
I spoke to Gu Jeolyub. “What is your purpose?”
“Pardon?”
“What is your role in this?”
Aside from escorting me, there had to be another reason for his presence.
Understanding my question, Gu Jeolyub produced a letter. It was a recommendation for the Dragons and Phoenixes Tournament. The recommender was none other than my father, Gu Cheolun.
I was momentarily speechless.
“…Huh?”
It was from my father, not the First Elder? When I stared at Gu Jeolyub with disbelief, he seemed equally confused. He appeared just as clueless about why he was here.
“…How amusing.”
“What is?”
I turned toward the sudden voice. Gu Ryunghwa was watching us with her large, round eyes.
“When did you get here?”
“Just now…”
“Are you here to see us off?”
“I was just passing by.”
Incidentally, the distance between the clan entrance and the guesthouse where Gu Ryunghwa was staying was considerable.
“Are you leaving now?”
“It seems so.”
“When will you return…?”
I looked at her strangely when I heard the slight sadness in her voice. Gu Ryunghwa seemed to realize her words were odd too; she stared at the ground, her face turning red.
Suppressing a laugh, I said, “I’m not sure. It shouldn’t take too long.”
It would certainly be a shorter trip than my journey to Mount Hua. But would Gu Ryunghwa still be here when I returned?
I have a feeling she will be.
I believed she was staying for half a year.
As I was lost in thought, Gu Ryunghwa spoke. “…Hyuk will miss you a lot.”
“What?”
What did she say?
“What’s with this ‘Hyuk’?”
“Hmm? Why?”
“Calling him so familiarly.”
“What’s with you all of a sudden?”
Hyuk… She can’t mean the Hyuk I’m thinking of, can she?
“Are… you close to him?”
“Not really, but we saw each other yesterday.”
“What?”
“The Master and the Immortal Healer shared a meal.”
“And?”
“What do you mean, ‘and’? We just ate together, that’s all…”
You ate together when you’re not close? I eyed her suspiciously, but Gu Ryunghwa just looked back, puzzled by my reaction.
“I’ll have to pay this Hyuk a visit someday.”
“Why?”
“I’ve decided to get closer to him.”
“Hyuk said he’s already close to you.”
“Yes, so I’ll become even closer.”
My little Hyuk.
How disappointing that I can’t see you right now!
Just as something swelled in my chest, Muyeon approached.
“Young Master, we will load the remaining luggage now.”
“Is there still much?”
“Only the food is left.”
So the heavy items remained.
I turned to Gu Jeolyub, who was still standing idle. “You.”
“Yes…?”
“What are you doing?”
“Pardon? What do you mean…?”
“Why are you just standing there? Go help them.”
I didn’t care what the First Elder or my father intended for him. If they handed him to me, I planned to use him.
Now that things had turned out this way, I intended to make full use of Gu Jeolyub during this trip.
As I patted the head of Wi Seol-Ah, who stood beside me like a loyal puppy, a thought crossed my mind.
I wondered if Gu Jeolyub realized.
That I don’t let go of the past so easily.