Chapter 217: Omen (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 217: Omen (4)
The time had come for the Elder’s Meeting.
While the Lord typically made most decisions alone, there were occasions when he required the counsel of the clan's most important members. These were usually the Elders. The Gu Clan had four such Elders.
Well, three now.
Like the First Elder, the Third and Fourth Elders each had their own responsibilities within the clan. The First Elder oversaw Gu Sunmoon, while the Third and Fourth managed the clan’s various business ventures.
It was strange that the Second Elder never held any official duties.
But then again, Gu Ryoon, the Flaming Fist, had never wanted to be an Elder in the first place. He’d been forced into the position by Father, the Lord.
Was that why he was always leaving the clan grounds?
He claimed his duty was to manage the clan’s external affairs, but it often seemed like he was just wandering around. He’d always return with some odd trinket won from a drinking bet.
Then again, I don't know anyone else who brings back another clan's treasure every time he goes out.
I had also asked the Beggar King to gather some information for me. He hadn't delivered yet.
I hope he hasn't run into trouble.
But it was a possibility. The Beggar King appeared weak now. He had once been strong, but these days he acted like any other common beggar. And I’d asked him to look into the Dishonored Venerable. The thought made me nervous.
[I heard it from you, but it’s still shocking. For a master of his stature to disguise himself as a Young Prodigy.]
…He must have his reasons.
The Dragon Warrior, Bi Eejin. He was from the Bi Clan, the same as the Dishonored Venerable, Bijuu. He was the second son of the Lord, yet he inherited nothing. Now, he was counted among the Six Dragons and Three Phoenixes. He was the Young Prodigy of the Bi Clan, who vanished after his first major tournament.
His fame initially stemmed from being a relative of a Heavenly Venerable and earning the Dragon title, but people rarely spoke of him anymore. He was remembered only as a talented scion of the Bi Clan.
But his true identity was the Zenith of Fists. One of the Three Venerables. The Dishonored Venerable Bijuu.
Eternal Youth. I can’t believe he achieved that.
Eternal Youth. It was a legend, an ancient topic of discussion. It was said to occur when a martial artist reached the true peak of their realm, causing their body to revert to youth. It restored youth to an aged warrior, and some believed it offered a chance to ascend to an even higher level.
But that wasn't the case. Eternal Youth carried far more drawbacks than benefits. That was why the Dishonored Venerable hid from the world, much like the Sword Venerable. And he didn't reappear until the Heavenly Demon brought calamity to the world.
If that hadn't happened, he never would have returned.
Had the Heavenly Demon not emerged, he would have remained in hiding. I would have done the same.
Eternal Youth sounded like a miracle—a chance to become young again and extend one's lifespan. But it came with a terrible price.
You have to give up everything you've attained.
The realm a martial artist painstakingly reached, the arts they cultivated over a lifetime—all of it had to be discarded for Eternal Youth. The only thing retained was experience. It was somewhat analogous to my own situation, returning to the past.
But no, it’s fundamentally different.
Eternal Youth had a critical flaw. The body of a Heavenly Venerable, having reached the pinnacle of an absolute path, was perfect. This perfection was determined from birth, intertwined with natural talent, and it aided a martial artist in surpassing their limits. But Eternal Youth blocked the body's inherent potential.
A weak body. A small vessel. The body after undergoing Eternal Youth was so fragile it could collapse from a single light blow. The Dishonored Venerable had said it himself: all that remained after losing everything was a feeble body housing old memories.
Yet, for some reason, he had still chosen that path. And he was forced to hide within his clan, secluded from the world.
Did the Second Elder know about this?
He had received a recommendation letter from the Dishonored Venerable, and a ring as well. He must have been aware of his situation.
And he dumped that mess onto me?
A headache pulsed behind my eyes. The false rumor of me being his disciple was still circulating, all because of that damned letter.
Why me, out of all the fist practitioners in the world?
The Dishonored Venerable never used any ranged martial arts, only close combat. That letter had caused me nothing but trouble.
And I never even got to use it properly.
It hadn't helped me in the slightest. It only served to make people misunderstand me. I felt like my head might explode.
I hope he doesn’t hear about this and decide to cause problems.
I knew a little about his personality. I prayed he wouldn't find out. That was why I had asked Chuwong.
And the Silent Fist… while it would be nice to know more, it's not crucial.
I wasn't sure how much information Chuwong could actually obtain. My main goal had been to forge a connection with the future Beggar King. The information itself wasn't that important. I wondered if Chuwong had realized that.
But I can’t afford to focus on that right now…
I felt the weight of gazes upon me. Four pairs of eyes. They stared at me fiercely, all except for the Steward, whose gaze was kinder.
I had forgotten. I was in the middle of an important meeting. The Elder’s Meeting, convened to decide my punishment. I was standing there, facing my father.
The Lord’s seat. Father sat there, his eyes fixed on me.
“…This Elder’s Meeting is to discuss the incident caused by the First Son,” he stated, his words heavy and imposing even without the infusion of Qi. “First Son.”
“Yes.”
“Do you have anything to say?”
“I do not.”
I told him the truth. I had nothing more to add. I had already explained everything to everyone, including Father. They would verify it soon enough.
“Ahem…”
A cough came from my left. One of the Elders was clearly displeased with my answer.
“If you have nothing to say, do you then admit that you killed the First Elder?”
Is that the Third Elder?
I hadn't seen him in a long time. I couldn't recall what had happened to him in my past life. I believed he was still alive when I left the clan.
I answered without hesitation. “There is nothing to admit. I killed him.”
“Ha…! You killed a clan member, an Elder, with your own hands. How can you be so calm!” he roared.
I frowned. He was clearly trying to manipulate the situation.
“Anyone who commits a wrong should be punished, regardless of whether they are a clan member or not.”
“But why were you the one to decide the punishment?”
“Who else would have?”
“What?”
“If you had known what the First Elder did, would you have acted?”
He looked shocked, visibly disliking my response.
“Even if what you allege is true, the Lord should have decided the punishment following a proper investigation!”
“The Lord was away, and the criminal could have escaped. So I acted.”
“Did you… just refer to an Elder as a criminal?”
“He committed a sin. Should I treat him like a hero? Why are you spouting such nonsense?”
“You…!”
“If you're suffering from dementia, go to your room and rest. Or perhaps you're worried we might uncover something linking you to the First El—”
Slam-!
An invisible pressure wrapped around me, forcing me to stop speaking. A dense, oppressive atmosphere filled the room.
“Do not cross the line,” Father’s voice cut through, cold and absolute. “Do not forget why you are here.”
“…I apologize.”
The old man had annoyed me with his insinuations, and I’d spoken rudely without thinking.
[Didn’t you say you would work on improving your personality?]
But how was I supposed to hold back when he was so blatantly manipulating the situation?
I didn't understand these people. They deserved to be burned and thrown in a cell, yet Father did nothing about them.
Father spoke again. “As the First Son stated, we discovered a secret room within the First Elder’s residence.”
Thankfully, they had found it.
“However, it is protected by powerful barriers. We must confirm its contents before proceeding.”
“Lord, you cannot let this matter pass lightly,” the Fourth Elder, who had been silent until now, interjected.
“This is a case of a direct descendant attacking an Elder. We cannot simply—”
“I have no intention of letting it pass lightly.”
“…Hm.”
“But we should first verify everything the First Son has alleged concerning the First Elder,” Father said, his gaze briefly resting on the Fourth Elder. “Or do you wish for him to be punished before confirmation? That would also be a breach of our rules.”
“Well, no…” the Fourth Elder conceded weakly.
The Steward spoke up to steer the meeting back on course. “This meeting is not solely about the Young Master’s punishment for killing the First Elder.”
Father’s eyes swept across the room, fierce and commanding.
“It is also concerning his actions taken without the Lord’s approval, and his breaking out of confinement before any facts were confirmed.”
That was true. Not everything had been verified yet. This meeting was to punish me for what was already confirmed.
Don’t try anything.
That was the underlying warning in his words.
“Do you admit to these transgressions?”
“I do.”
I had done it all knowing I would be held accountable.
“I will overlook the jailbreak, as you acted to rescue the First Daughter and provided significant assistance thereafter.”
He had said that before. I’d used the Marble of Celestial Captivation to help locate and rescue Gu Huibi. For that, I was given a pass. But Father had confiscated the Marble afterward. Gu Huibi had complained, but he’d scolded her soundly. Given that her original intentions with the marbles were less than pure, I was satisfied with the outcome.
“However, you acted without authorization, even in the Lord’s absence.”
“And you killed an Elder. You will be punished for these acts.”
If the First Elder had been taken alive, we could have extracted information from him. But I’d acted recklessly and killed him. I could have subdued him and waited.
“First Son, do you have any objections?”
“I do not.”
The Elders murmured among themselves, surprised by my lack of protest.
…I threw a massive tantrum at the last Elder’s Meeting.
A truly spectacular one.
-How is it my fault…! She started it…!
-Do you think I don’t know that none of you are on my side in this damned clan?
I didn’t want to remember those moments, but the memories surfaced easily. I wished I could erase them.
Father looked at me, then spoke again.
“…We will now decide the First Son’s punishment.”
They hadn't discussed much, yet the meeting was already concluding. Why had he even called the Elders? He would have decided everything himself anyway.
Is this really okay?
The Elders might be dissatisfied with the punishment. They could argue with Father. Did he have a plan?
[You don’t seem frightened.]
Why would I be scared at my age?
[Yet you argue like a child with an old man at this age?]
I don't consider him to be the same species as me.
I waited calmly for Father’s verdict. I had broken numerous rules. I expected to be confined for several months.
The Elders want to delay my appointment as Young Lord, but that won’t happen.
I wanted that delay, too. But I knew better than anyone that it was inevitable.
Father finally announced the decision.
“The First Son will be confined for two months.”
“…Two months?”
The words escaped me before I could stop them. It was far shorter than I had anticipated.
The Elders were evidently thinking the same thing, rising to their feet with shocked expressions.
“Lord of the Clan… you—”
“In addition,” Father interrupted, his voice leaving no room for argument, “as soon as your confinement ends, I order you to join the Swordsmen Army on the battlefield for one year.”
“…Pardon? What did you say?”
“The discussion is concluded.”
“Wait… Father?”
I called out hastily, but he had already left the building the moment he finished speaking.
…What did he just say? Swordsmen Army?
Two months of confinement, followed by a full year on the battlefield?
He must be joking. I must have misheard.
The battlefield was the responsibility of the Fifth Army. Furthermore, they were led by Gu Huibi. He was sentencing me to a year on the front lines under the command of the Fifth Army and Gu Huibi. It was the same hellish punishment I’d endured in my past life, and the mere memory of it made me feel sick.
And I had to go through it again?
“…Fuck.”
Now I understood. The reason Father hadn't bothered seeking the Elders' opinions.
It was because he was going to give me a punishment so severe they would readily approve of it, so he didn't need to listen to their objections.
I recalled what my father had said to me yesterday.
-I won’t take your side either.
Yeah, he wasn't kidding in the slightest.
“But even so, this is excessively harsh…”
This was the moment I resolved, once again, that I needed to escape this household as soon as humanly possible.
* * *
When I stepped outside, a familiar face was waiting for me.
“Young Master! Over here!”
Wi Seol-Ah came running toward me. And for some reason, she was holding a block of tofu.
“…What is this?”
“They say you should eat tofu when you’re released from confinement,” she explained cheerfully.
With a sour expression, I took a bite of the tofu she offered.
“…It’s tasty.”
“Right?”
“It’s so good. So good I might cry.”
“Huh? Really? I’m glad I bought it, then!”
Seeing Wi Seol-Ah’s bright, oblivious smile, I could only sigh and pat her head. It did make me feel a little better.
“Young Master, Young Master.”
“What?”
“Over there… someone is waiting for you, Young Master.”
“Hmm? Who?”
I followed her gaze. I saw a familiar red uniform. I thought it might be Namgung Bi-ah or Tang Soyeol, but contrary to my expectations, it was someone far more difficult to deal with.
“…Hello.”
He looked haggard, but his handsomeness was still intact. His face remained striking, despite the clear exhaustion. And he was probably someone who hated me right now.
“…Young Master.”
The Young Leader of Gu Sunmoon, Gu Jeolyub, was waiting for me.