The Returned Prodigal (2)
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
Having removed his upper garments, he clasped his hands behind his back with his left hand while raising his sword with his right, aiming it at the midguard position. He held that stance for so long that Yeon Wi’s upper body was drenched in sweat. The cool autumn breeze created a faint, translucent haze rising from his skin. His breathing was somewhat ragged, but not loud.
“What did it look like to you?”
“Pardon?”
“I asked what the atmosphere between them seemed like.”
Gang Yun reported honestly what he had sensed.
“It was only for a brief moment, so I couldn’t see in detail. But the mood didn’t seem bad.”
“I see.”
“Yes.”
After staring at the sword tip for a full hour, Yeon Wi finally relaxed his stance.
Shing.
The sound of the sword sliding into its sheath was smooth, like a single line of song.
‘He claims he ordered it himself?’
Hearing Gang Yun’s report, Yeon Wi felt inwardly puzzled. His eldest hated his youngest to the point of loathing him—treating him as if he didn’t exist at all. And Yeon Wi knew why the eldest harbored such hatred for the youngest. Yet he had confessed to ordering it himself? Willingly?
“Anything else unusual?”
“Nothing.”
“Understood.”
Gang Yun bowed crisply.
“I’ll summon the Law Blade Pavilion Master.”
“No need.”
“Pardon?”
“I said there’s no need to summon him.”
A genuine look of bewilderment crossed Gang Yun’s rigid, wooden face.
“You won’t punish the Youngest Young Master separately?”
Yeon Wi stared at Gang Yun wordlessly. Gang Yun’s face paled. Meeting the family head’s gaze felt like hundreds of swords piercing his body.
“Captain Gang.”
“Y-yes!”
“Do not forget your position.”
“My apologies!”
“You may go.”
Gang Yun bowed deeply and withdrew with impeccable courtesy.
Yeon Wi looked up at the sky. Not a single cloud marred the clear blue. The breeze was refreshing, the sunlight just right.
‘Perhaps it’s nothing to worry about overly much.’
During the ancestral rites, he had been stunned to see his eldest suddenly embrace his youngest. The tongue may easily lie, but actions are harder to fake. The eldest, moved to tears while holding the youngest, had clearly been filled with deep emotion. Even Yeon Wi himself had felt it. His eldest had never once approached him like that before, leaving him with an inexplicable unease.
‘Is he having some strange thoughts?’
At eighteen, he was fully grown. Had he not been from a Murim family, he would have married long ago. Yet the eldest had never shown any sign of maturity. Even as his father, Yeon Wi had no idea what thoughts occupied his son’s mind.
Yeon Wi drew the sword at his waist and tossed it onto the weapon rack.
Thud!
The rack shook violently. It looked like any ordinary longsword from the outside, but this specially forged blade weighed twenty geun—a true heavy sword.
“Wang Jeon.”
“Yes, Family Head.”
A faint voice emerged from the empty air.
“When did they say the Namgung family would arrive?”
“Around four days, they said.”
“Will a child of the Namgung family be coming too?”
“Yes, the youngest daughter of the family head. She’s here to audit classes at the academy where the Youngest Young Master studies. She arrived a few days ago.”
“I see.”
He had no interest in the family head’s daughter. But one of the Namgung family’s leaders was visiting Yeon-ga. It had been a long time since they’d hosted such an important guest.
“Inform the Guest Pavilion Master to prepare for the visitors within two days.”
“Understood.”
A subtle weariness flickered in Yeon Wi’s stern eyes—though not, it seemed, because of his two sons.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye. There had been much to think about, much to organize. Though it was punishment, the time was precious to Yeon Hojeong.
Back in his room, Yeon Hojeong sorted his thoughts.
“In the end, this is what I must do. Prepare... and prevent.”
Yeon-ga would be exterminated in a year and five months. And twenty years later, the Saneumgyo would turn the Central Plains into hell. Neither was a threat to take lightly. Yeon-ga was his family, and the Saneumgyo calamity would burn the entire Central Plains. If he couldn’t stop Saneumgyo, his family would be doomed anyway. What’s more, Saneumgyo’s first strike in the Central Plains had begun in Jiangsu Province, where Yeon-ga stood.
‘Beyond Saneumgyo, there are two more enemies of equal caliber. To block their assaults in advance, even starting now won’t be enough.’
His head felt overheated. After a few deep breaths to calm himself, Yeon Hojeong made his decision.
‘Enough. Saneumgyo or whatever— that’s not what matters now. What matters is the family.’
Returned to the past, he could do many things he hadn’t before. But Yeon Hojeong didn’t set needless goals. He judged swiftly what was most urgent in any situation and what to prioritize for his aims. Right now, the family came first.
To protect the family?
Yeon Hojeong lightly slapped his own cheek.
“Let’s start with the body.”
Sitting cross-legged on the floor by his bed, he examined himself.
‘As expected.’
He’d checked several times in Josa-dang, but it was still disappointing.
‘Where even to begin...’
Compared to his peers, his internal energy reserves were considerable. Even Yeon Jipyeong, who overwhelmed him, lagged behind in raw quantity. But as with all things in the world, quality mattered more than quantity.
‘Bi-yeon Simbeop at the seven seong realm?’
Bi-yeon Simbeop was the foundational heart method of Bi-san Yeon Family Estate. It wasn’t advanced, nor did it excel at projecting inner force. It was basic, yet at eighteen, he had only reached seven seong.
Yeon Hojeong felt a bitter pang inwardly.
‘Definitely no great talent.’
To switch to another martial art, Bi-yeon Simbeop needed at least nine seong. He had only grasped it days before the family’s destruction. Yet Yeon Jipyeong had achieved great accomplishment at sixteen. The gap in their talents was that vast.
Yeon Hojeong closed his eyes.
‘Now, Bi-yeon Simbeop is child’s play. Better to master it right away.’
Even after twenty-six years, the heart method’s formulas remained vivid in his mind. He recited them silently.
Shhh.
A faint haze rose from his cross-legged body. True energy hadn’t yet manifested visibly. His reserves were ample, but the body wasn’t accustomed to projecting force. But that was temporary.
Whirr.
A signal came from his dantian. Compared to his Black Dark Emperor days, his dantian, meridians, vessels, muscles, and bones were all amateurish. Yet his mind had fully dissected Bi-yeon Simbeop. He could force it into this body.
Moments later.
Whirrr! Whirrr!
A pale green glow clung to the haze rising from his shoulders. Dim and flickering, not yet bright.
Cold sweat beaded on Yeon Hojeong’s forehead.
‘Not easy.’
Still, not impossible.
Pop!
His shoulder twitched.
Thud! Thud!
From upper arms to forearms, both arms writhed uncontrollably. His crossed legs did the same. True energy surged through his limbs, methodically clearing blocked meridians.
Another half-hour passed.
Drenched in sweat, a drop echoed from Yeon Hojeong’s nose.
Blood, dark and thick, trickled from his nostrils. True energy had reached his head, where countless acupoints converged.
‘Done.’
A faint smile curved Yeon Hojeong’s lips.
‘One final circuit of the full body.’
ZZing! Ziiing!
A slightly brighter pale green haze leaked from his entire body.
“Hoo.”
Exhaling deeply, Yeon Hojeong opened his eyes and uncrossed his legs.
“Thought it’d be easy, but it’s tougher than expected.”
He stood, clenching and unclenching his fists repeatedly before nodding.
“Adequate, at least.”
His body was the same, but the nature of his inner energy had changed, and far more meridians were cleared. Now, he had a proper foundation for advanced cultivation. Terrifying progress speed.
“The real work starts now.”
After brief contemplation, Yeon Hojeong shook his head.
“I’ve already decided. No more wasting time dithering.”
After a thorough bath and change of clothes, he headed straight for the family head’s quarters.
Along the way, countless people greeted him upon sight.
“Greetings, Eldest Young Master.”
“Eldest Young Master.”
Courteous, formal salutes—impeccable in propriety. Yet devoid of respect or awe for a superior. Nor did they mock him. Stiff and curt, almost coldly so. Whatever their inner thoughts, their outward conduct fit perfectly within rigid bounds.
‘Rule by law, devoid of flexibility.’
The family’s atmosphere struck him anew, inevitably comparing to Heukje-seong.
‘Better than Heukje-seong, at any rate.’
Long-term, Yeon-ga’s rigidity seemed preferable. It might seem stingy on affection, but command and obedience were absolute. Still, it was excessively stiff. This atmosphere was ripe for future problems.
‘Not my concern yet.’
Soon, he stood before the family head’s building. Two guards manned the entrance—middle-aged warriors bearing sword and saber.
“Greetings, Eldest Young Master. What brings you?”
“To see Father.”
The sword guard’s eyes gleamed. The eldest had never once sought the family head first.
“Did the Family Head perhaps inform us separately without our knowledge?”
“No.”
“Then you cannot enter.”
Yeon Hojeong frowned.
“It’s urgent. Send word inside.”
“Apologies. The Family Head strictly ordered no visitors before noon.”
Strict order, even?
“Poor timing, then. At least relay my message later?”
“Of course.”
“Good. Tell him this.”
“Speak.”
“I’ll learn Bi-ra Jin-gyeol ahead of schedule.”
The guards’ eyes widened in shock.
“Pardon?”
“Deaf? Tell him I’ll master Bi-ra Jin-gyeol early.”
Yeon Hojeong turned away.
“Take care.”
“W-wait!”
“Hm?”
“Did you say Bi-ra Jin-gyeol just now?”
“And?”
The guards gaped wordlessly. Yeon Hojeong scowled.
“You’re not actually hard of hearing, are you?”
“……”
“Make sure to relay it exactly. No backtalk later.”
As he walked past the stunned guards, Yeon Hojeong spotted a boy.
“Jipyeong?”
“Ah? Brother! You were here?!”
“Yeah, came to see Father.”
Yeon Jipyeong looked at him with wide, surprised eyes. In a family where everyone wore rigid masks, he alone showed honest, human reactions. Yeon Hojeong couldn’t help smiling faintly.
“Wh-what brings you here?”
“Just some things. But what about you? Here for Father too?”
Yeon Jipyeong pouted.
“I was looking for you since you weren’t in your quarters.”
“Me? Why?”
“I said I’d treat you to a meal. Found a great restaurant too.”
“Oh?”
Yeon Hojeong cleared his throat as if just remembering.
“No need to go out. We can eat here just fine…”
He couldn’t finish. Yeon Jipyeong’s calf-like eyes were welling up. His mouth suddenly felt dry.
“Shall we get some air and dine out, then?”
Yeon Jipyeong’s face lit up instantly.
“Yes!”
Beaming, he led Yeon Hojeong toward the main gate with a swagger like a triumphant general. Yeon Hojeong sighed inwardly.
‘Hold on, Bi-ra Jin-gyeol.’