Chapter 380: Good Work (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 380: Good Work (1)
An overwhelming presence.
The man finally understood the true meaning of those words.
The heat radiating from Gu Cheolun’s body made the very air difficult to breathe. The chorus of crickets in the grass fell silent. Wild animals scattered from the area, fleeing an instinctual terror.
Rustle.
Though it was still the chill of early spring, the entire vicinity was engulfed in a stifling heatwave.
Moyong Tae managed to speak through the suffocating atmosphere, his eyes locked on his opponent. “…Tiger Warrior.”
Gu Cheolun’s gaze was unwavering. As Moyong Tae watched, the man’s black eyes and hair slowly began to burn a vivid crimson. His oppressive aura intensified, swelling to even greater heights.
Moyong Tae concealed his shock. Was the Tiger Warrior always this powerful?
Rumors claimed that the man who once ruled the Central Plains was past his prime. Yet the presence bearing down on him now was utterly overwhelming. Did that mean he has been hiding his strength all along?
Moyong Tae couldn’t fathom why Gu Cheolun would conceal his power, but he could no longer deny the truth unfolding before him. As a martial artist who rose to prominence around the same time, he was intimately familiar with the Tiger Warrior’s legendary past.
In his youth, Gu Cheolun had been hailed as the strongest of the Heavenly Dragons, a veritable prodigy. He became the youngest captain ever to lead the Heavenly Dragon Army, the Alliance's foremost unit. The Sword Emperor, the Alliance Leader of that era, had even proclaimed that the Tiger Warrior was destined to reach the Zenith.
Every martial artist in the Central Plains dreamed of that ultimate peak. For the Sword Emperor, the man closest to that hallowed realm, to anoint Gu Cheolun as his successor… the hopes placed upon him were immense.
Those hopes persisted until the Heavenly Dragon Army was nearly wiped out. Following the catastrophe, the Sword Emperor stepped down, and the Tiger Warrior retreated to Shanxi, becoming the Lord of the Gu Clan.
As years passed, talk of the Tiger Warrior faded. The ferocious man who once struck fear into the hearts of the Unorthodox Faction was now referred to merely as the Clan Lord. When his daughter, the Sword Phoenix, began to make a name for herself, public opinion solidified: the Tiger Warrior was past his prime, his strength irreparably damaged by wounds suffered in the Abyss.
These rumors spread like wildfire, fueled by the fact that Gu Cheolun almost never displayed his power after secluding himself in Shanxi, with few exceptions.
However…
…It was all a lie.
Seeing Gu Cheolun now, Moyong Tae was certain. Every rumor circulating through the Central Plains was false.
The man standing before him was no mere member of the Hundred Masters of the Central Plains. Moyong Tae, the White Heavenly Sword, was a Fusion Realm expert ranked among the Hundred Masters of the World. Yet, he knew with absolute certainty that if they fought, he would lose. The sheer weight of Gu Cheolun’s presence and the scorching heat were enough to convince him of his defeat.
How could a man with such an unbelievable aura be considered his equal? The notion was absurd.
Cggck-!
“…!”
Moyong Tae’s hand flew to his chest as the pressure in the air constricted like a vise.
“White Heavenly Sword.”
“…Huff… Ugh…” Sweat beaded on Moyong Tae’s forehead as Gu Cheolun began to walk toward him.
“I asked what you were doing.” Gu Cheolun’s voice was dense with anger. Though his tone remained level, the fury was palpable.
“Aren’t you going to respond?”
“…Ugh…” It wasn’t that Moyong Tae refused to answer; he simply couldn’t.
Ignoring his plight, Gu Cheolun slowly reached a hand toward him. Moyong Tae watched, helpless, as that large hand began to eclipse his vision. He felt death approaching.
Just as Gu Cheolun’s fingers were about to close around his face—
“…Father.”
Pause.
Gu Cheolun froze at the sound of Gu Yangcheon’s voice. He turned his head.
It had been nearly a decade since Gu Yangcheon last called him ‘Father.’
While Gu Cheolun was immobilized, Gu Yangcheon stepped forward. “I am fine.” His voice sounded strained, as if he too was struggling to breathe, but he continued. “The Lord of Moyong only intended to teach me a simple lesson. This is a misunderstanding.”
“…”
Gu Cheolun stared at his son for a long moment. His crimson eyes were unsettling, but Gu Yangcheon did not look away.
After a few seconds, Gu Cheolun withdrew his hand from Moyong Tae and straightened up.
Cough.
Moyong Tae finally gasped, able to breathe again only because Gu Cheolun had reined in his overwhelming heat and presence.
Gu Cheolun watched the panting man. “White Heavenly Sword.”
Wiping cold sweat from his brow, Moyong Tae looked up.
“Is that true?”
“…” Moyong Tae hesitated. He weighed the dignity of accepting Gu Yangcheon’s help against the very real fear of Gu Cheolun’s wrath. The man had seemed genuinely intent on killing him moments before.
Clenching his jaw, Moyong Tae replied, “…It is.”
“…”
Hearing this, Gu Cheolun took a step back, his expression unreadable. It was as if he was giving Moyong Tae space to stand.
Then… “I apologize. I misunderstood the situation.” His tone was calm, but the apology held no remorse. He undoubtedly knew Gu Yangcheon was covering for Moyong Tae.
Nevertheless, by apologizing, Gu Cheolun was letting the matter drop. Moyong Tae, understanding this perfectly, bit his lip and stood. “…I am also at fault for allowing the situation to appear so misleading. Do not blame yourself.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
After this exchange of hollow pleasantries, Moyong Tae’s gaze shifted to Gu Yangcheon standing behind his father. Gu Yangcheon looked back with a complicated expression.
Just as Moyong Tae wondered why…
-…I’m sorry. If you are not satisfied with this outcome, I will make sure to properly visit you in the future.
…
Gu Yangcheon’s telepathic apology echoed in his mind. The audacity of the boy, promising a future visit when he had no idea what retribution might await him…
Moyong Tae still disliked Gu Yangcheon, but this was not the time for further questions.
-There is no need.
-…!
Gu Yangcheon’s eyes widened in shock at the response.
This time, Moyong Tae replied informally. -There is no need for you to come visit me.
-But…
-I will visit you again in the future.
-…
Did that mean he intended to kill him for real next time? As Gu Yangcheon’s lips began to tremble…
-I will come with my daughter next time, so be prepared.
-…
-Let me be clear, so you do not misunderstand. I still have not given you my approval.
-Understood.
-And my stance will not change.
-I understand.
Coming with Moyong Hi-ah? Did that mean he wouldn’t draw his sword? As Gu Yangcheon pondered this, Moyong Tae brought his fists together in a formal salute.
“…It grows late. I shall take my leave, if there are no objections.”
“You may go.”
“Although my actions were provoked, I apologize for what I did to your son. I will offer a personal apology when we next meet.”
Gu Cheolun gave a curt nod. Moyong Tae released an exhausted sigh and vanished.
The moment his presence disappeared entirely…
Woong-
Gu Yangcheon felt a barrier snap into place around them. It was, of course, Gu Cheolun’s doing.
Gu Yangcheon looked at his father and the shimmering barrier with an indecipherable expression. He scratched his head.
“My Lord.”
“Yes.”
“Why did you do that?”
Before Gu Cheolun could ask for clarification, Gu Yangcheon continued, “You were watching us this entire time.”
Gu Cheolun’s eyes widened slightly.
Father had been watching me the whole time. I was certain of it.
“Why did you go so far as to oppress the Lord of the Moyong Clan?”
From the beginning of my conversation with Moyong Tae to the moment I challenged him, Father had seen everything.
When he heard my question, his response confirmed my suspicion. “How did you know?”
I hadn’t actually sensed his presence. I was certain for one simple reason. “I just felt that you would.”
“…”
“You are never late. You don’t forget promises.”
I was the one who asked to speak about my mother. We promised to meet here after the meal. I didn’t believe he would be late; I expected him to be early. My assumption had been correct.
“So I am curious. Why did you let this happen?” Why did he wait so long to intervene? He could have stopped this from the start.
The power Father just displayed was more than enough to subdue Moyong Tae. Just how strong was he? Even as a Fusion Realm martial artist, I couldn’t begin to gauge his true depth. But I was sure of one thing: he was overwhelmingly more powerful than the White Heavenly Sword.
This was the second time in this life I had witnessed his strength—the first was at the Black Palace, and now here. Only two glimpses, but it was enough for me to be certain. Father was terrifyingly powerful. His true strength was beyond my imagination.
“…I’m curious why you chose to stop him precisely when you did.”
As I spoke, Father’s hair began to return to its normal black, and the residual heat in the air dissipated. Breathing became easier.
“I only did what was necessary,” he replied.
“Necessary?”
“Yes.”
What did he mean? “I originally had no intention of interfering.”
“Then why…?”
“It was because he began to consider fighting you in earnest.”
“…!”
“Do I need to say more?”
Moyong Tae had been getting serious… Father was willing to overlook a simple lesson, but he intervened the moment Moyong Tae crossed a line.
“…Does that mean you were prepared to kill him?” I remembered the deadly heat concentrated in Father’s hand. Had it connected with Moyong Tae’s face, the results would have been horrific.
Thankfully, Father shook his head. “I only did what was natural. Even if you hadn’t stopped me, I would have chosen a similar method and let him go.”
“…”
He had calculated everything—even the display of rage—to force Moyong Tae into a disadvantageous position. It was all a ploy? The thought made Father seem even more formidable.
“…I can understand that. But is this really alright?”
“What is?”
“You’ve been hiding your true strength. I wonder if it was wise to reveal it so plainly to the Lord of the Moyong Clan.”
He must have had his reasons for concealing his power, yet he showed it to Moyong Tae without hesitation.
Hearing my question, Father responded with a hint of confusion. “Third child.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
“You seem to be mistaken.”
“Huh?”
Father fixed me with his usual sharp gaze, then spoke while smoothing his hair with a large hand. “I have never once hidden my strength.”
“…!” I gasped.
He never hid it? “I simply never had a need to show it.”
“But the rumors stated…”
“Are the words of others truly that important?”
“Not at all.”
“I agree. I use only the strength a situation demands. There is no deeper meaning.”
This was unexpected. Father hadn’t been hiding his strength at all. He was completely indifferent to the rumors spreading across the Central Plains. More shockingly, he claimed he had never even needed to use his full power.
…I didn’t see this coming.
I truly had not known his capabilities. But it made sense, considering his character. Still, I had assumed he cared about the rumors, at least a little.
As I processed this revelation, Father spoke again. “Third child.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
“You seem to have broken through your wall.”
“…” I concealed my reaction to his sudden comment. He was referring to my breakthrough into the Fusion Realm.
“…Yes.”
“When did it happen?”
“A little over two months ago.”
“I see.”
Gu Cheolun nodded and showed no further reaction. His son had reached the Fusion Realm before turning twenty, and this was his response. What a great father he—
“Good work. It must have been difficult.”
“It was. Thank— …Huh?”
Shocked, my eyes widened as I stared at him. But he was no longer looking at me. Instead, his gaze was fixed strangely elsewhere.
“My Lord…?”
“You said you had questions for me.”
“Ah, yes.” I wanted to ask what he was looking at, but Father had abruptly changed the subject, almost as if telling me not to inquire.
I swallowed nervously. I was reminded of why I had asked to meet him alone.
That’s right. I came here to ask questions.
Steeling myself, I spoke. “My Lord.”
Father’s eyes returned to me.
Meeting his now-crimson gaze, I asked, “I heard that my mother is still alive.”
“…”
His shoulders twitched almost imperceptibly.
Seeing his reaction, I pressed on. “…I wanted to ask… if you know where she is.”
“…”
Father fell silent for a long time. Was he thinking about how I found out? Or why I was asking now?
As I braced for his questions, he finally spoke. “Yes.”
“…!”
“I do.”
My heart began to pound violently at his answer.