Chapter 4: Why Is She Here? (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 4: Why Is She Here? (2)
In my past life, I once woke up in a particularly foul mood and did something terrible.
So terrible that, even now, I can’t comprehend what drove me to such extremes.
It was bad enough to crack the stony composure of my typically expressionless father, provoking a rage so pure he felt compelled to scold me personally.
As punishment for that incident, I was banished to the Fifth Army, where my sister Gu Huibi was stationed, and forced to remain there for half a year.
Naturally, the punishment did little to reform my wretched character.
It was also the reason I met Wi Seol-Ah for the second time.
Though, to be honest, that encounter was probably—no, definitely—not a pleasant memory for her.
The point of this long recollection is simple: I should not be seeing Wi Seol-Ah for at least another six months.
So why was Wi Seol-Ah standing right in front of me, at my residence?
The first thing I saw upon opening my door was the face of someone I shouldn't encounter for half a year. My stunned expression was more than justified.
This is a dream… It has to be.
“I did stay up far too late last night…”
Fatigue was making me hallucinate. This is why proper rest is essential.
I sighed and shook my head, but as I turned to lock the door, I felt a small tug on my clothes.
Looking down, I saw a pair of small hands clutching the hem of my robe. My gaze traveled up the arm, leading me straight back to the face of Wi Seol-Ah.
…This isn’t a dream?
As confusion and dawning realization washed over me, I noticed she seemed to be trying to say something.
“I… I-”
At that moment, a figure appeared with fluid, swift movements and sharply smacked the hands holding my robe.
“Ow!”
She released me instantly, yelping in pain and shock as she stumbled back.
My own eyes widened as I recognized the person who had just materialized before me.
Wi Seol-Ah’s presence was shocking enough, but the Sword Venerable, Wi Hyogun, was here too…?
Bloody hell…
The curse formed in my mind, and a moment later, I thanked all the gods that it hadn’t escaped my lips. If it had, I would have likely died of a heart attack on the spot.
Wi Hyogun, his face a mask of anger, began to berate Wi Seol-Ah.
“Wi-ah, you little brat! What did I tell you about how to behave in front of the Young Master?”
…Huh? Young Master?
“Apologize. Immediately!”
“I’m sorry, Grandpa…”
“Apologize to the Young Master, you brat!”
“I-I’m sorry, Young Master!”
“…”
What in the world is happening?
As I struggled to process the scene, Wi Hyogun bowed his head to me.
No… Why is the Sword Venerable bowing to me? Can someone please explain what the hell is going on?
“Starting today, I, Wi Moon, will be here to serve you, as we are in your debt. I do not know if you will be satisfied with a weak old man like myself, but I will strive to do my best.”
Wi Moon? Not Wi Hyogun?
Wi Moon glanced at Wi Seol-Ah, who immediately lowered herself into a modest bow.
“S-Starting today, I, W-Wi Seol-Ah, will be serving the Young Master alongside my grandfather. P-Please take care of us.”
Serve? Who?
“Me…?”
A wave of dizziness hit me, blurring my vision for a second. I raised a hand to my head, utterly failing to comprehend the situation.
To understand my current predicament, one must know exactly who Wi Hyogun is.
He was one of the ‘Three Venerables’.
The Three Venerables are the three greatest martial artists in the world, standing above the countless warriors who inhabit the Murim.
The Sword Venerable’s achievements are too numerous to list. He was the one who defeated the Black Dragon, now known as the Defeated King. Shortly after that victory, he ascended to become the head of the Murim Alliance.
The title ‘First Sword’ was bestowed upon him solely due to his unparalleled personal strength.
At this point in time, before the emergence of the Heavenly Demon, he was arguably the strongest being in existence.
And now, such a person wants to serve me? Why?
For what reason would the potentially strongest being in the world use a fake name to hide his identity? As the Sword Venerable, even the Four Noble Clans would welcome him with open arms and grand ceremony.
I couldn’t conceive of any reason for him to be here, let alone for him to conceal his identity.
If he owed a debt to my father, Gu Cheolun, and my father had summoned him, then…
Does my father know about this?
This never happened in my previous life. The one time I saw the Sword Venerable then, we had no interaction. I likely left a poor impression on him due to the trouble I was causing.
My head hurts…
My plan was to maintain the flow of events while slowly gathering my own strength and waiting for the Orthodox-Demonic War to conclude. But now, the future had undoubtedly changed.
I lowered my hand from my head and studied Wi Hyogun carefully.
At a glance, he seemed an unassuming old man with a benevolent smile. Had I not known his true appearance from my past life, I would have dismissed him as average. Even now, if Wi Seol-Ah weren’t here, I would have subconsciously rejected the idea that this old man was the Sword Venerable.
But… what should I do? What should I ask?
Should I ask why he is really here? That would be strange; the current me should have no inkling of Wi Hyogun’s true identity.
Then, should I pretend ignorance and simply accept that the Sword Venerable and his granddaughter are here to serve me?
What frightened me most was that their presence meant the future was going to change drastically.
Damn it, where did things go wrong?
The only ‘major’ change I’d made was treating Wi Seol-Ah differently from how I had in the past.
Could that single action have altered history so profoundly?
Or… should I revert to my arrogant persona and kick them out, declaring I have no need for an old man and a little girl?
As these thoughts swirled in my indecisive mind, Wi Hyogun spoke again.
“My granddaughter,” he continued, “is still inexperienced in the ways of the world. You may be dissatisfied with her work initially, but I assure you, Young Master, she is a quick learner. I will educate her thoroughly and swiftly to meet your expectations.”
I glanced at the girl in question as Wi Hyogun spoke. She was hiding behind him, clutching his clothes. Through her messy bangs, I could see her trembling eyes.
Why is she so nervous? Do I seem that intimidating?
The moment our eyes met, Wi Seol-Ah stammered, “I’ll do my best… I’ll really do my best…”
If she was this nervous, then why were they here at all? Why not seek service under Gu Cheolun or Gu Yeonseo instead?
What exactly were these two trying to achieve by coming to me?
Seconds ticked by, and I realized both Wi Hyogun and Wi Seol-Ah were waiting for my response. I snapped out of my thoughts.
“Uh… Yes, it’d be my pleasure.”
I couldn’t devise a solution. As those words left my mouth, I couldn’t help but feel this second chance at life had been ruined from the very start…
Why… why did this happen so suddenly?
* * *
Earlier that night, while Gu Yangcheon was training his Fire Qi…
“Are you certain about this?” Gu Cheolun asked.
He was in his residence, a single candle flickering before him as he conversed with his guest.
“I don’t see why not. I am in no position to be selective.”
“But, Senior, you know that if you wished, you would be welcomed with open arms by any of the Four Noble Clans. Instead, you are going through all this trouble…”
“I do not find this troublesome in the least, Lord Gu.”
Wi Hyogun slowly took a sip of his now-cooled tea.
“Moreover, I would not call it trouble. I can endure much more for the sake of my granddaughter.”
“Senior…”
“On the contrary, it is I who should apologize for imposing such a heavy request due to our connection. I am sorry to burden you.”
“Senior, I-”
“I have heard that Shaolin and the Wudang Sect are searching for Seol-Ah. My debt to you grows ever deeper.”
Gu Cheolun fell silent, having no words to offer.
“To be perfectly honest, Lord Gu, I had not initially planned to seek your help. Regardless of what Shaolin or those shamans did, they likely would never have found us if I had simply hidden away in the mountains.”
“…Then why?”
“Call it the greed of a dying old man. A life confined to the mountains with someone like me would not bring happiness to Seol-Ah. I wanted her to experience the world.”
“If that is the case, then it is all the more reason for you to stay here with me. Gu Yangcheon is my son, but he is… a child who lacks much.”
Gu Cheolun could not understand why Wi Hyogun wished to serve his son.
Unlike his daughters, Gu Yangcheon remained arrogant and immature. As a father, Gu Cheolun desperately wanted to correct him, but certain obstacles stood in his way.
Having heard the two had encountered each other on the street, Gu Cheolun’s first action upon meeting Wi Hyogun was to profusely apologize for the wrongs he was certain his son had committed.
One could not imagine his shock upon learning how Gu Yangcheon had actually behaved during that meeting.
Wi Hyogun chuckled softly at Gu Cheolun’s concern.
“I, too, was initially worried because of the rumors. But as I have told you, I found him to be a surprisingly mature child. If anything, Lord Gu, you seem intent on keeping all your children to yourself.”
Upon arriving in Shanxi, Wi Hyogun had easily—and involuntarily—gathered rumors about the Gu Clan’s third son. He had wondered just how deplorable the boy must be for such detailed, negative gossip to be so readily available to a newcomer.
He had initially pondered why the daughters were so blessed by fortune, while the son seemed cursed.
His encounter with Gu Yangcheon on the street had been a complete coincidence.
Wi Hyogun shook his head as he recalled the event…
It was all because he hadn’t the heart to stop his granddaughter, who seemed excited for the first time in ages, from running ahead. So he had let her go.
Then he saw her talking to a boy her own age.
It was obvious the boy was from the Gu Clan. The Qi flowing within him was a smaller, younger version of his father’s Gu Flame Wheel Art.
Gu Yangcheon’s face, with its sharp eyes, suggested a rough personality.
His granddaughter had offered him a potato with a bright, hopeful smile.
Now, what do I do if he acts according to the rumors? Well, I had no intention of intervening unless her life was threatened.
He wanted her to learn that not everyone in the world was kind.
Contrary to his expectations, the boy did nothing bad. Instead, he stopped his escort from harming his granddaughter and even gave her a yakgwa pastry.
When Wi Hyogun approached, Gu Yangcheon had treated him with respect, despite his dirty, torn clothing. Wi Hyogun had assumed the boy would dismiss him as a mere commoner.
The title of Sword Venerable had fostered a pride in him, a belief that he had attained a certain perfection. But…
Hyogun, you still have much to learn.
He reproached himself inwardly.
He had been a fool to prejudge a boy based on appearance and rumor alone.
“I am content with this child. Rather, I hope he will be satisfied with us.”
What would have happened if events had unfolded according to the rumors?
If Gu Yangcheon had treated Wi Seol-Ah harshly, would I have made a different choice?
“…Very well, Senior. Please inform me immediately if any problems arise.”
Gu Cheolun still couldn’t grasp why Wi Hyogun saw good in Gu Yangcheon, but he decided not to object further.
As their conversation drew to a close, Gu Cheolun posed another question.
“But are you truly alright with this?”
This query was unrelated to the first. Wi Hyogun understood its meaning and found it difficult to answer immediately.
“If the Lord said so…” he finally replied, a bitter smile gracing his lips.
It was rumored that the Chief Abbot of Shaolin could perceive the flow of fate itself through his Heavenly Eyes.
“Yes, if he himself declared it, then it is destined to happen. But you can understand easily…”
At that moment, a small breeze drifted in from outside and extinguished the candle flame.
“…that Seol-Ah is at the center of the coming disaster, and that she must wield a sword to withstand it.”
Wi Hyogun let out a wry chuckle. The wrinkles on his face seemed to deepen as he spoke.
“That is why I ran away. I know it is selfish, but why must it be Seol-Ah? Is it not cruel? There is I, who was given the name Sword Venerable. There are others far more capable.”
“Senior…”
Wi Hyogun was weary of this harsh reality.
“How could I force a sword into her hand for the sake of averting a disaster, when I should be encouraging her to hold a flower?”
Wi Hyogun placed his wrinkled hands over his face.
“I will never make her wield a sword. Not even if I must die and my soul turns to ashes.”
This declaration, and the story behind it, would have devastated Gu Yangcheon had he heard it.