Chapter 218: Omen (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 218: Omen (5)
How long had it been?
I hadn’t seen Gu Jeolyub since I killed the First Elder. I hadn’t bothered looking for him, believing it was best if we never crossed paths again.
It wasn’t as if I could have done anything for him anyway.
Should I have apologized?
I couldn’t bring myself to do it. It hadn’t been an impulsive act. If I were the type to regret it, I never would have killed him in the first place.
I was surprised to see how much Gu Jeolyub had changed. His face had grown gaunt, a clear sign he was having a difficult time.
But I never expected him to seek me out.
Then again, I did need to speak with him about matters concerning Gu Sunmoon. After the Elder’s Meeting concluded, I had been planning to visit him soon. For him to come to me first was unexpected.
Step. Step.
He walked toward me slowly, one deliberate step at a time.
…Hm.
I had no idea what Gu Jeolyub might do in his current state, yet I didn’t react. I simply watched him.
Wi Seol-Ah moved as if to step in front of me, but I quickly grabbed her shoulder to stop her.
“Young Master.”
“Yeah.”
After a moment that stretched far longer than it should have, Gu Jeolyub finally stood before me.
“…I have a question.”
His request piqued my curiosity. It seemed he had no intention of attacking me—not that I would have allowed it. He simply wanted to ask me something.
“Ask.”
I granted him permission and waited. After a long pause, he finally spoke.
“…Why did you do it?”
His lips trembled as he formed the words.
Hm.
There was no resentment in his voice, no anger, no curse. He just wanted a reason.
I’d heard he hadn’t left his room for some time. I’d received occasional reports on his whereabouts. Since the First Elder’s funeral, he had secluded himself.
“Why did I do it?”
“…Yes.”
“Haven’t you already heard the reason?”
“I have.”
He must have heard it from the Second Elder, Muyeon, or other clan members. It wasn’t a minor incident; I was sure it was a frequent topic of discussion.
“Then why ask? You already know.”
“I needed to hear it from you directly.”
It was strange.
Gu Jeolyub’s gaze was fixed on me, emotions simmering beneath the surface. Yet, despite his agitation, all he asked for was a reason.
Of course, he likely chose this path because he knew he couldn’t harm me.
But he wasn’t running away, either.
Though I didn’t know if it could even be called running away. Whatever the case, Gu Jeolyub had chosen to face me directly. With that realization, I answered him.
“Your grandfather crossed a line I could not ignore.”
My voice was colder than I’d intended.
“He targeted not only me, but those around me. Furthermore, he was becoming a poison to the clan.”
I spoke calmly, without pause, my words harsher than my tone. This wasn’t a time for careful wording.
“I took matters into my own hands because I could not allow him to continue unchecked.”
“…”
“If you were expecting a different answer, I apologize, but there isn’t one.”
I didn’t know what Gu Jeolyub wanted from me by coming here, but this was all I could offer.
He stared at me in silence.
“I wasn’t hoping for a particular response.”
“Then?”
“I only asked because I don’t know.”
“You don’t know? What?”
I frowned slightly, puzzled by his cryptic words. What was it he didn’t know?
“What I should do from now on… I don’t know the answer.”
“So you came to me for an answer?”
“No… not exactly.”
I understood he was struggling. His world had been turned upside down. But if he had come seeking answers from me, it was a foolish move.
Stupid bastard.
What closure did he expect from me? What could he possibly want from the person who killed his grandfather?
It seemed even Gu Jeolyub didn’t have the answer to that.
After all, he was still just a boy, not even twenty. A teenager crushed by a harsh reality.
“Do you resent me?” I asked.
“Yes,” he replied without hesitation.
“Do you want revenge?”
“…”
He fell silent. It seemed he wanted to spit out a ‘yes,’ but couldn’t bring himself to do it easily.
“No?”
“…I do.”
“Then why hesitate?”
Was he afraid to voice his desire to kill a direct descendant of the main clan? That was somewhat understandable. But if I were in his shoes, I wouldn’t have been able to hold back.
How could anyone keep their sanity when their family’s killer stood right before them?
Even with the self-control I had now, if I were his age, I wouldn’t have been able to contain myself. As I wondered how he managed it, Gu Jeolyub answered.
“…Because it would be unjust.”
“Unjust?”
Justice? The word seemed out of place.
“If everything the Young Master said about Lord… about my grandfather is true,” his voice quivered slightly, “then my resentment toward you would be without justification.”
The First Elder hadn’t hidden his ambitions. He had manipulated events to ensure his grandson became the Young Lord, all while scheming in the shadows.
If that were all true, Gu Jeolyub believed his resentment toward me would be unjust.
So, was he conflicted because he still resented me? I couldn’t understand.
“How complicated you are.”
“…”
“I don’t know why you’re suddenly talking about justice, but there’s nothing I can do for you.”
Whether Gu Jeolyub resented me or wished for my death, I couldn’t resolve his inner turmoil.
I wouldn’t care if he resented me. And if he truly sought my death…
I’ll kill him.
I would have no choice but to end his life. There would be no second chances.
The greatest consideration I could offer him was to not lay a hand on him now.
The First Elder had received a funeral, but his remains would likely not be interred in the clan’s ancestral tomb, the final resting place for its most important figures.
They couldn’t inter the remains of a sinner there.
If the First Elder’s crimes were publicly exposed, it could impact Gu Jeolyub as well. He might have to pay for his grandfather’s sins, inheriting them like a debt.
Even if he had done nothing wrong, that was how this wretched world worked. Nothing could be done about it.
All I could do was hope to minimize the damage he would suffer. It was the most I could do for him…
Though I had no idea if this bastard would even want that.
Judging by Gu Jeolyub’s temperament from this brief encounter, it seemed unlikely.
“What has been decided for Gu Sunmoon?”
“…The Second Elder said he would take over temporarily.”
“The Second Elder?”
I was taken aback.
The Second Elder, who had no particular connection to the sword, would lead Gu Sunmoon? Would he only handle administrative affairs while someone else managed the important matters?
Well, it’s certainly better than letting it fall to the Third or Fourth Elder.
But it seemed rather arbitrary.
“And you are alright with that?”
“…I am powerless. I lack both the ability and the qualifications to become the Lord.”
Gu Jeolyub was the Young Lord of Gu Sunmoon, but that was solely because he was the First Elder’s grandson. While he had talent, that alone wasn’t enough.
“I don’t know why you came to me, but I can’t show you the right path.”
“…”
“Furthermore, it’s strange that you’re seeking guidance from me in the first place.”
It wasn’t my place to tell Gu Jeolyub what to do.
It was truly odd that he was trying to gain something from the person who killed his grandfather, when he should feel nothing but resentment.
“I do feel some remorse for you, but only to a certain extent.”
No matter how despicable the First Elder was, he was still Jeolyub’s family. In that regard, I did feel a pang of remorse.
“If you wish to resent and despise me, then do so. I will accept it.”
I wouldn’t bear responsibility for it, but I could at least accept his feelings.
However, I had no idea what decision Gu Jeolyub would make after hearing this.
Upon hearing my response, Gu Jeolyub muttered quietly, his expression somber.
“I… don’t know.”
“Then take your time to think about it. Think about what you truly want to do.”
I couldn’t offer Gu Jeolyub any further apologies. I wasn’t in a position to console him or give advice.
Because even if I could go back in time, I would still choose to kill the First Elder.
Even if I had let him live, it would only have delayed the inevitable. He would have still died, just not by my hand.
Whether I shattered his dantian and let him die slowly or used another method, the outcome would have been the same.
Just as my decision would have remained unchanged, so would the First Elder’s.
Gu Jeolyub, his face cast downward, rubbed his weary eyes with his hand.
I simply watched him, saying nothing.
As a gentle breeze brushed past, Gu Jeolyub, biting his lip tightly, cautiously asked me.
“…I heard you are going to the battlefield.”
“Where did you hear that?”
This had only been discussed recently. How had he found out so quickly?
“The Second Elder told me the Young Master will be going to the frontlines.”
“What?”
What was he talking about? The Second Elder told him I was being sent to the battlefield?
Could it be…
…Father and the Second Elder had already discussed this?
It seemed they had already decided to send me to the battlefield as my punishment.
How petty of him, so unlike his bear-like physique.
He was probably still angry that I’d escaped from the cell without listening to him. And I had been actively avoiding him lately.
I stared at Gu Jeolyub. “So, what is your point?”
Jeolyub responded with an exhausted expression. “I want to go too.”
“What? Where?”
“To the same battlefield you are going to.”
“Are you crazy?”
What nonsense was he spouting? He wanted to go to the frontlines with me?
“What is your motive?”
“…Motive? I want to find… that.”
“Have you seriously lost your mind?”
He wanted to follow the very person who had killed his grandfather.
Is he trying to get an early opportunity to assassinate me?
If that weren’t the case, I honestly couldn’t understand what emotions were driving him to say such a thing.
“What I should do… I want to decide that later.”
Whether to live consumed by resentment, live for revenge, or perhaps do neither—to accept what happened and move on with his life.
The young boy, burdened by conflicting emotions, seemed to have chosen to confront his problems head-on…
“Sigh.”
However, I found Gu Jeolyub’s decision difficult to comprehend. It was a choice I would never have made.
“…Do as you wish. Although I doubt the elders would allow it in the first place.”
Our pasts might have been different, but now, with our relationship in shambles, it was highly unlikely they would permit Gu Jeolyub to be by my side, given the potential for ill intent.
And even if, by some chance, it was approved…
“I said I would accept your resentment, but I have no intention of accepting anything more.”
I had said it earlier. So, if he harbored anything beyond resentment…
Then I, too, would sever ties.
Having said all he wanted to say, Gu Jeolyub stared at me for a moment, gave a slight bow of his head, and turned to leave.
Behind him, I noticed a few martial artists who appeared to be from Gu Sunmoon. It seemed they had come to protect Gu Jeolyub, or perhaps they were unsure if he would try something against me.
[You are too soft-hearted.]
As I watched Gu Jeolyub walk away, Elder Shin spoke.
Are you saying I should have killed him?
[Well, I wouldn’t have done it personally. But brat, you are different.]
His words struck a chord.
It was true. In the past, I would have killed Gu Jeolyub without a second thought. Just as I had with the First Elder.
But I hadn’t.
Even if Gu Jeolyub could become a problem due to his ill will, and even if our relationship deteriorated, I didn’t want to kill him as long as he didn’t cross the line.
There were two reasons.
First, I desired to live differently from my past.
Second, it would be pitiful for him to be killed solely because of his family.
After all, I had experienced a similar fate.
[That’s why I’m saying you’ve become soft.]
You’re not wrong.
My current actions were like leaving a small ember alive, even when it could spark a calamity.
However…
“…I wanted to be a bit greedy in this life.”
[Tsk.]
Elder Shin fell silent after that.
Grab.
I felt something wrap around my hand. Looking down, I saw Wi Seol-Ah gently holding it.
“Young Master… are you alright?”
“Why? Do I not look alright?”
“Well… you look like you’re having a hard time.”
“Don’t worry. I’m perfectly fine.”
I didn’t know why I appeared that way to Wi Seol-Ah, but I was fine.
As always, I had to remain perfectly calm. As Wi Seol-Ah looked at me with worried eyes, I gently patted her head and spoke to the empty air.
“So, could you please explain this to me now?”
Though it seemed no one was there, someone was.
Rustle.
A giant figure emerged from the tall grass beside a tree, making me wonder how he had managed to hide.
The Second Elder didn’t appear fully recovered yet, bandages still wrapped around his body.
“You’ve become sharper than before.”
“Isn’t it weirder for someone your size to be hiding there?”
Despite my words, his ability to conceal himself was impressive. I wouldn’t have noticed if my senses hadn’t picked up on him moments ago.
“Is there a reason you told that bastard I was going to the battlefield?”
“I told him because he asked.”
“Even though you didn’t tell me?”
“Why would I tell you when you don’t even listen to your grandfather?”
“…”
As expected. The Second Elder was still angry about the escape.
Feeling a twinge of guilt, I scratched my cheek. The Second Elder continued.
“I know you requested that Gu Jeolyub be looked after.”
“…Ahem.”
How did he know? I had only secretly told Father.
“Is that why you chose to take over Gu Sunmoon?”
“I only did it because it’s better than letting the Third or Fourth Elder handle it. I’m merely managing it. Training the martial artists and their techniques is the responsibility of the First Army’s captain.”
“The First Army’s captain?”
When it came to the sword, the strongest man in the Gu Clan was the captain of the First Army. I didn’t know who would win if compared to the First Elder in his prime, but currently, he was the strongest.
I guess if it’s the First Army’s captain… it’ll be fine.
He was certainly better than any alternative. At the very least, he wasn’t the type to scheme behind the scenes.
“Are you feeling better?”
“Jeez, you’re quick to ask.”
“It’s better than not asking at a—… Please put your fist down. You’re a patient, remember?”
An old man not in his best shape, yet still so violent.
“I’m fine. A wound like this would heal if I just licked it.”
“…Is your saliva some kind of miracle medicine?”
If that were true, what need would there be for the Immortal Healer in this world?
“Anyway, it seems you brought a special guest as well.”
“Oh.”
After the Second Elder’s comment, I thought of the old man currently in the Gu Clan’s jail.
I totally forgot about the Lord of the Hao Clan.
I had forgotten about the Hao Clan Lord I brought from the Black Palace.
“What about him?”
“Is it someone the Second Elder knows as well?”
The Second Elder let out a fake cough, brushing his beard.
“I only met him briefly. I knew he would end up that way, given how he acts.”
So the Second Elder also knows the Hao Clan Lord.
I wondered how so many people knew about him when so little was publicly known.
Anyway, this really isn’t a normal household.
That much was certain.
“He’s an old man I found in the Black Palace. Father told me to bring him with us.”
In times like these, it was wise to use Father as an excuse.
As expected, the Second Elder nodded without another word when I mentioned Father.
“…If that’s the case, then I suppose the Lord himself will handle it.”
I didn’t know whether he would establish relations with the Hao Clan or use the lord for another purpose, but since Father had already set his sights on him, it was difficult for me to intervene.
“Putting the guest aside…”
Changing the subject, the Second Elder took a letter from his pocket and handed it to me.
“I didn’t know you had ties to the Beggar’s Sect.”
“The Beggar’s Sect?”
The Beggar’s Sect? All of a sudden?
I took the letter, wondering what he meant. On the envelope was the stamp of the Beggar’s Sect.
This is…
From the small name written beneath the stamp, I knew who had sent it.
Chuwong.
It was a letter from the future Beggar King.
I knew a letter would come.
But it had arrived faster than I expected. I wondered what information it contained. If it was about the Silent Fist or the Dishonored Venerable I had asked about back in Hanam…
I hope it’s about the Dishonored Venerable, if possible.
If I had to choose, I hoped it was information on the Dishonored Venerable. That matter was more urgent.
I also hope there aren’t any problems.
Inside the letter from Chuwong was a short message:
-True Dragon… Save m…
-There is no problem.
“…”
Ignoring the first line, which looked like it had been scribbled out mid-writing, I read the second line carefully. I then folded the letter and put it in my pocket.
I nodded and whispered to myself.
“Seems like he got caught.”
I could probably forget about Chuwong for a while.
He’ll be fine. After all, he is the Beggar King.