Chapter 372: Gathering of the Orthodox Faction (13)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 372: Gathering of the Orthodox Faction (13)
While a storm raged in the waiting room, Gu Yangcheon found himself facing an entirely different kind of annoyance.
“Look at how thin you are. Are you eating properly?”
“Your clothes are in a terrible state.”
“Didn’t your sister tell you to eat well? You’re not growing because you keep skipping meals.”
“I’ll have a set of high-quality clothes prepared for you. Don’t forget to take them.”
The endless barrage of words from both sides was giving him a headache.
He had stepped out for a walk, thinking he had some time before the meeting started. Of course, he had to run into them, of all people.
“Little brother, why aren’t you saying anything?”
“…Why are you even here, sis? Aren’t you supposed to be busy?”
He’d heard rumors that she might come, but he hadn’t actually believed them.
When he questioned her back, she smirked in response.
This person was none other than his older sister, Gu Huibi, the Sword Phoenix. He hadn’t seen her in over a year.
“Of course I’m busy. But I made time for you, so you’d better be grateful.”
“You shouldn’t have bothered. You should’ve rested instead of wasting your precious time on me.”
“Do you want to die?”
With that, Gu Huibi ruffled his hair mercilessly.
Honestly, why was she even here? She should have been focusing on her duties in the army. She could have gone to see Gu Yeonseo instead of bothering him. Of all things, she had chosen to come here for no apparent reason.
Someone stepped in to put a stop to Gu Huibi’s antics. It wasn’t him, but Lady Mi.
“Why are you behaving so undignified with so many people around? Is this how your mother raised you?”
Gu Huibi froze under Lady Mi’s sharp reprimand.
“…Sorry.”
“How can you treat your little brother like that when he’s fully grown now?”
“It’s just… he’s so cute…”
“Don’t make excuses.”
“Understood…”
It was always fascinating to see how powerless Gu Huibi became in front of Lady Mi. Who would have thought a wild dog like her could be subdued so easily?
After scolding her, Lady Mi calmly began fixing his disheveled hair. He had no idea where she got the brush, but she was already using it to neaten his hair.
“You must keep yourself tidy in an important setting like this.”
“…Understood.”
“Training may be important for a martial artist, but you must also learn to present yourself properly when necessary.”
He bit his tongue, trying to suppress the ticklish sensation as Lady Mi gently fixed his hair. He reminded himself that this was purely for the sake of the clan’s and her merchant association’s image. He couldn’t misinterpret her actions.
“I’ll send someone later with a new set of clothes for you. Don’t forget to take them.”
“I’ll remember.”
“Good.”
Once she finished fixing his hair, Lady Mi put away the brush and glanced around. Was she searching for something out of place? After completing her inspection, she let out a quiet sigh and turned to him.
“I heard that a lot has happened.”
“It wasn’t a lot, but there were a few incidents.”
“Were you injured anywhere?”
“As you can s- …No, I mean.”
He nearly answered in his usual tone but quickly adjusted his words midway. He always found it difficult to talk to Lady Mi in his normal way of speaking.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“…”
Her words were probably nothing special, yet they stirred a faint warmth within him. Was it because he’d recently learned his mother was alive? He quickly erased that thought.
“…Lady Mi.”
“Yes.”
“Do you know where Father is?”
“He’s already in the meeting room. He said there was something he needed to handle.”
“Handle something?”
What business could he possibly have here? He came all this way and still couldn’t let work go? Then again, this meeting could technically be considered work.
“Do you not need to go as well, Lady Mi?”
Since Lady Mi was here representing her merchant association, she likely had her own waiting room, just like Father. There was no need for her to wait outside. Then again, he wasn’t exactly using his waiting room, either.
Lady Mi’s expression hardened slightly at his question.
“Even if I went, the room would just be full of greedy, pompous merchants. I have no desire to associate with people like that.”
“…Ah, I see.”
Her answer was far harsher than he’d anticipated. He rubbed his arms, suddenly chilled, and glanced around.
“Now that I think about it, where is the First Elder?”
He was sure the elder had been coming with them, yet he was nowhere in sight. Gu Huibi was the one who answered.
“The First Elder said he had some business to take care of.”
“Business in Henan?”
“He said he was going to see his friends.”
“…?”
He frowned instinctively at Gu Huibi’s response. The First Elder prioritized visiting his friends over him, even in a situation this serious? This old man… he really did whatever he pleased.
Still, he supposed it was understandable for the First Elder to act this way.
Also, friends in Henan? I wonder who—
As he began to think, a few names of people currently in Henan came to mind. He wanted to believe otherwise, but he already knew the answer.
“…Hmm.”
If his guess was right, the First Elder had likely gone to see the Dishonored Venerable. After all, the two knew each other fairly well.
That would be problematic, though.
He recalled the time he had sold out the First Elder when the Dishonored Venerable questioned how he had learned his true identity. He had done that thinking he would deal with the mess later, but at this rate, the Dishonored Venerable might find out the truth before he could come up with a solution.
What do I do then?
Why did he even bother asking? If that happened, he was just screwed. He had been expecting to run into this mess, but not so soon.
Hmm… I’m screwed, huh.
Surprisingly, he started feeling calm after accepting his fate. All he could do was pray that the First Elder didn’t see the Dishonored Venerable right now.
“Little brother, what’s wrong? You don’t look good. Are you hungry?”
“…Do you think I’m you? My expression doesn’t change when I’m hungry, unlike yours.”
“You really know how to punch someone with your words sometimes. Dear brother, I’m starting to get angry, you know?”
“You’re just honest with your emotions. Take it as a compliment.”
“Whatever. Who is he over there?”
Gu Huibi raised her finger, pointing at someone. He wondered who she was pointing to—it was none other than Cheol Jiseon, who was reading the atmosphere. When Gu Huibi pointed at him, Cheol Jiseon flinched.
“Huh? Why are you stalking from far away?”
“Eek…!”
“Hey you, come he- agck!”
Just as Gu Huibi was about to call him over in her usual brash manner, Lady Mi stomped on her foot. While Gu Huibi winced in pain, Lady Mi turned to Cheol Jiseon with a gentle smile.
“I’m sorry. My daughter still has much to learn.”
“I-It’s no problem at all…”
“I heard that you are my son’s friend?”
“Ah… yes. I am Cheol Jiseon of the Cheol Clan. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Hey, what do you mean you heard a lot? Since when did I talk about her with y- “
“It’s nice to meet you.”
Lady Mi interrupted him and continued the conversation.
“Young Master Cheol, is it? I trust you’ll continue to stay close to my son.”
“W-Will do…”
Cheol Jiseon couldn’t deny Lady Mi’s request. Satisfied with his answer, Lady Mi nodded.
From the way things unfolded, he could imagine it would have always been like this if she’d been around. She always made everything so unnecessarily uncomfortable.
…I will ask my father as I planned.
He had planned to question Father after returning to the Gu Clan, but since he was here in Henan, he decided to do it sooner. He had to ask him about his mother’s whereabouts, and about his Gu Flame Wheel Art.
While lost in thought and distracted by Gu Huibi’s antics, someone from the Alliance appeared with a message.
“The meeting will start soon.”
He stood up after hearing the announcement. Cheol Jiseon’s shoulders began to tremble nervously again, so he pulled him closer. Just as he was about to head toward the meeting room,
“Yangcheon.”
Lady Mi stopped him. He flinched in shock. It was the first time in years she had called him by name.
“Yes…?”
“Are you planning to return to the clan once this is over?”
She was asking if he was going back to the Gu Clan after the meeting. He had to think. Returning might have been the better choice given his situation, but he had other priorities.
“No.”
A frown creased Lady Mi’s face at his response. Not only did he have to continue the Dishonored Venerable’s training, but he also had other matters to attend. He had already discussed this with the venerable beforehand.
“I don’t think I’ll be returning to the clan.”
“…Do you have somewhere else to go?”
“Yes.”
After a moment’s thought, he gave Lady Mi his answer.
“Sichuan. I have something to take care of there.”
Sichuan, home to the White Demonic Stone and the secret vault of the Golden Sky Yeon Clan, was his next destination. He planned to go there after everything here was done.
Oh, right. He hadn’t told him yet.
“Friend, you heard what I just said, right?”
“Huh? That you’re going to Sichuan?”
“Exactly. And by the way, you’re coming with me.”
“…I see… Wait, what?”
“You like the idea? I knew you would.”
Cheol Jiseon blinked, as though he’d misheard, but it was already too late.
* * *
Gu Ryoon, the First Elder of the Gu Clan and famed as the Flaming Fist of the Central Plains, was climbing a mountain behind Henan.
“…These insane bastards.”
He ground his teeth as he climbed. With his beast-like expression, the towering old man sent nearby wildlife scattering in fear. Climbing the mountain was one thing, but his hands were full with bundles of food.
“How dare they put an old man on food delivery duty.”
If I were just a little younger, I would’ve caught him and crushed him.
Gu Ryoon couldn’t help but reflect on how pitiful his situation had become. After all, he was being treated like this because he had met a bad friend.
After a long time, he finally reached the cave that was his destination.
“…What even is this place?”
Gu Ryoon paused as he looked around inside the cave. The cave was clearly man-made, with traces of dense combat qi lingering throughout its walls. Moreover, this qi felt familiar to him.
This is… Bijuu’s doing, huh.
Bijuu, the Dishonored Venerable. His qi could be felt everywhere in the cave. To think he had dug out a cave using his bare hands.
Did his brain regress along with his body?
That was certainly possible. Seeing this sight, Gu Ryoon became certain. He swore to himself that he wouldn’t undergo the Eternal Youth process even if it meant his death. He had thought about living a longer life to be entertained by his grandson, but he shook his head after seeing what his bastard friend had been doing.
But there was something Gu Ryoon hadn’t realized. This cave wasn’t dug out by the Dishonored Venerable, but by Gu Yangcheon, whom Gu Ryoon treated as his own grandson.
Unaware of this, he walked along the path lit by torches. Soon, he saw the bastards enjoying themselves with drinks. One appeared to be a middle-aged man, while the other had the youthful look of someone in his twenties.
“You are late, Gu Ryoon.”
The Dishonored Venerable greeted him with a sly smile the moment he noticed him. There was already a drink in his hand.
Another figure also greeted him. Upon seeing him, Gu Ryoon tossed the food he’d been carrying. The man effortlessly caught it and set it neatly on the ground. Once he finished arranging everything,
“It’s been a while.”
The man greeted Gu Ryoon. He was a man with white hair and white eyes. It was none other than the Dark King himself.