Chapter 390: Nice to Meet You (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 390: Nice to Meet You (2)
It was just past noon.
Gu Yangcheon was still training inside the cave.
Meanwhile, Mi Hyoran, the esteemed owner of the renowned White Flower Merchant Association, was meeting with her husband.
A soft slide, followed by a gentle tap.
In the tranquil atmosphere, the faint creak of a waterwheel echoed in the background.
Three teacups rested neatly on the table.
Thin wisps of steam curled up from two of the three cups.
With a delicate, pale hand, Mi Hyoran lifted her teacup.
She took a silent sip, her gaze settling coldly on her husband before she spoke.
“Did the conversation go well?”
As always, her voice was monotone, yet her expression remained as icy as ever.
Gu Cheolun, well aware of her demeanor, averted his gaze in silence. Unimpressed, Mi Hyoran pressed on.
“I see the conversation went well, judging by the black eye he walked away with.”
“…”
“Do you have anything to say to that?”
The fact that Mi Hyoran spoke calmly, seemingly willing to hear any excuse from him, only made her sound more terrifying.
Though she possessed no Qi, the aura she exuded was nothing short of intimidating.
Despite the faint heat radiating from Gu Cheolun, the room felt unnervingly cold.
Clearing his throat awkwardly, Gu Cheolun finally responded.
“There was a reason for it.”
“Of course there was. If not, you’d be in far greater trouble.”
“…”
What kind of trouble? Gu Cheolun wasn’t sure, but he knew it wouldn’t be pleasant.
Mi Hyoran sighed deeply at his response.
“I won’t say much since the child seemed pleased with the outcome… but I am disappointed you damaged his precious face.”
Precious face?
Gu Cheolun shot her a perplexed look.
Though Gu Yangcheon was his son, Gu Cheolun had never considered his face particularly precious.
“I had no other choice.”
He wasn’t wrong.
At the time, Gu Yangcheon’s aura resembled Combat Qi masquerading as ordinary Qi.
Gu Cheolun immediately realized that it was the same aura he had felt from the Dishonored Venerable in the past. Not only had Gu Yangcheon used two Mind Arts simultaneously, but he had also attempted a technique that could have caused his body to explode.
Because of that, Gu Cheolun took immediate action; he couldn’t afford to let his son die.
Still, he saw no need to explain everything to Mi Hyoran.
Mi Hyoran responded after hearing him.
“No other choice, you say?”
“…I swear it.”
Mi Hyoran’s smooth forehead creased slightly at his response.
“You promised you wouldn’t hurt him.”
“It was just a spar, I couldn’t—”
“You said you’d have a conversation with him, not a spar. Or was it a physical conversation?”
“Ahem.”
After an awkward cough, Gu Cheolun took a slow sip of his tea.
Though Mi Hyoran found him frustrating, a sense of relief washed over her.
The heavy atmosphere surrounding Gu Cheolun had lightened somewhat compared to before.
He’s loosened up a little.
Because of this, Mi Hyoran refrained from scolding him further.
It was a relief, but she still couldn’t accept him leaving such a large bruise on their child.
That child is so thin and fragile.
Even so, Mi Hyoran suppressed her anger, knowing she too had kept her distance from the child out of fear and guilt.
She was no different from her husband in that regard, so she had little room to argue.
However, she felt solace in the reactions of the two girls upon seeing the child’s bruised face.
They looked ready to draw their swords at a moment’s notice.
The one known as the Sword Dancer already ranked highly in Mi Hyoran’s eyes, given her engagement to the child, but her opinions differed when it came to the others.
Many girls came to mind, but the one who stood out the most to Mi Hyoran was the girl from the Moyong Clan.
The Snow Phoenix, was it?
Mi Hyoran had grown fond of her because of her reputation and the way she handled matters behind the scenes.
Keeping her as an enemy would have been risky, but Mi Hyoran was certain that someone like her could greatly benefit her son in the future.
In many ways, Mi Hyoran liked her because she saw much of herself in the girl.
Not only that, but she was the daughter of the Moyong Clan.
Incidentally, one of the girls who had once pursued Gu Cheolun also hailed from the Moyong Clan.
Of course, in Mi Hyoran’s eyes, Moyong Hi-ah was nothing like that other girl.
If she had to compare her to someone, that girl was more similar to her own daughter, Gu Huibi.
Multiple girls, huh…
A smirk formed in Mi Hyoran’s mind at the thought.
She had once worried about Gu Yangcheon struggling to make friends, but that didn’t seem to be the case, especially when it came to girls.
However,
He’s a bit… too similar to his father in this regard.
It worried her.
His luck with girls might bring him plenty of trouble down the road.
That said, Gu Yangcheon’s path in this matter seemed far smoother.
Gu Cheolun wasn’t the type to care about such things, but Gu Yangcheon appeared different.
Moreover, each of the girls around him came from unbelievable backgrounds, so Mi Hyoran did all she could to smooth his path.
“…So,”
Mi Hyoran spoke, drawing Gu Cheolun’s attention.
“Did the child seem comfortable?”
This was the most important question.
She wondered if the child had become more at ease after their conversation.
Mi Hyoran gazed into Gu Cheolun’s eyes. They still held their usual gloom, but something had shifted.
After a moment, Gu Cheolun carefully began to respond.
“I’m not sure.”
His deep, heavy voice carried an unfamiliar emotion.
“I’m not sure if a simple conversation like this could change anything.”
“Did you not ask the child?”
Mi Hyoran’s gaze sharpened as she questioned him, but Gu Cheolun only shook his head.
“I didn’t.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know. However,”
Mi Hyoran leaned in slightly as Gu Cheolun hesitated, his words faltering.
“The third child… he called me father.”
“…!”
It should have been obvious.
A child calling his father by that name was natural, yet it carried so much meaning.
Mi Hyoran observed Gu Cheolun’s face.
His expression remained unchanged, but the faint tremble in his pupils betrayed his emotions.
“…How do you feel?”
“I don’t know… I’m not competent enough to understand such things.”
“…”
At least he didn’t deny it.
In Mi Hyoran’s eyes, Gu Cheolun was a great Lord, but he still had much to learn as a parent.
Of course, she wasn’t much different herself.
“How difficult.”
Mi Hyoran nodded slowly at his response.
After a pause, she spoke again.
“It’s too late now.”
“…”
“We should have realized much sooner how much he was struggling.”
In truth, they should have realized it long before now.
That regret weighed heavily on Mi Hyoran’s heart.
“So, starting now… please try to understand him better.”
“I’ll try.”
Gu Cheolun’s response came after a short pause.
For now, that was enough.
He had spoken those words not to escape the conversation, but because he was serious about changing.
Hearing his answer, Mi Hyoran slowly rose from her seat.
There was one thing she truly longed for.
He called me father.
Just as Gu Yangcheon had finally called Gu Cheolun father,
One day,
One day, I hope…
Mi Hyoran closed her eyes, realizing she was being too greedy.
Pushing the thought aside, she bid her husband farewell, masking her emotions as she left the room.
Left alone, Gu Cheolun took a sip of his tea and closed his eyes.
Countless thoughts flooded his mind, but they all led to a single conclusion.
It’s difficult.
Relationships.
The weight of guilt pressed down on him, almost unbearable.
Perhaps this, too, was a burden he had been avoiding all along.
Gu Cheolun calmed himself.
It’s late.
Like Mi Hyoran said, he was too late.
Instead of dwelling on regret, he needed to find another way forward.
“…”
Slowly, Gu Cheolun opened his eyes and gazed at the door Mi Hyoran had walked through.
Dribble.
He poured himself another cup of tea.
Once his cup was full, he reached for the cup across the table and began filling it as well.
It was strange.
After all, Mi Hyoran had already left.
When he was done, Gu Cheolun spoke.
“Apologies for keeping you waiting.”
He suddenly spoke into empty space.
However,
Slide.
As soon as he spoke, the door Mi Hyoran had exited through slid open, and someone stepped inside.
A middle-aged man, dressed in black, entered the room.
Gu Cheolun knew this person.
He was a man from a well-known clan in Xi’an.
His name was Bi Jeok, and he was the Lord of Xi’an’s Bi Clan.
Gu Cheolun stood up to greet his guest.
But he wasn’t standing for Bi Jeok.
He was waiting for someone else.
Bi Jeok stepped further into the room, quietly moving to the side.
He did so to allow someone else to enter.
Finally, the one Gu Cheolun had been expecting arrived.
Gu Cheolun observed the person.
It was a young martial artist.
He appeared to be around the same age as Gu Cheolun’s son, in his early twenties.
From his attire alone, Gu Cheolun could tell he was a direct descendant of the Bi Clan.
It was reasonable to assume he was the son of Bi Jeok, the Lord who stood beside him.
If that were the case, Gu Cheolun would have greeted Bi Jeok with due respect. Instead, he bowed his head to the young man.
It was because the young man held a position far higher than the Lord of the Bi Clan.
“It’s an honor to meet you.”
The young man’s expression shifted to one of mild surprise at Gu Cheolun’s greeting.
“I’m shocked. I didn’t even introduce myself yet.”
“I thank you for visiting me despite my sudden request.”
“Damn… I don’t even get to play around.”
The young man had hoped to tease Gu Cheolun a little.
With a smirk, the Dishonored Venerable took a seat across from Gu Cheolun.
“It’s been a while, Lord of the Gu Clan. Honestly, it’s hard to say how long. Allow me to introduce myself again.”
The Dishonored Venerable spoke while lifting his teacup.
“I am the Dishonored Venerable of the Bi Clan. And—”
Their eyes met, Gu Cheolun’s gaze locked with the Dishonored Venerable’s.
“I am your son’s master.”
The moment he spoke, a heavy silence settled over the room.
