Confinement - 5: Clans Do Not Move Rashly
Clans do not move rashly. They are different from sects.
"Refuse them."
The clan's actions involve blood kin. Losses, deaths—all belong to family bound by blood. That is why caution is ingrained in their bones. They weave conspiracies and schemes in the shadows to perfection, pressing the blade to the enemy's throat only then do they strike.
This time was no exception.
By the time the damned Wei Clan bastard came knocking a second time, everything had spiraled into an irreversible abyss.
"How dim-witted must you be to satisfy them? What makes a mere tenant farmer's life so precious?"
"...Ajussi."
"Are farmers in this land so rare? Will you only find peace after sheltering your worthless retainer and destroying your own house in the process?"
Their schemers would have studied the child inside and out. They'd dug through every trace left by her growth, dissecting it meticulously. What words she favored. Whom she took as her master. Her temperament, likes, dislikes—all cataloged in detail to lure her into an inescapable trap.
"Ajussi, Uncle Jang is like a real uncle to me. He's watched over me my whole life."
How pure she was. How foolishly she thought of others.
"What does that matter? A gambler who can't even fend for himself, ruined by dice—what makes him so important?!"
"We have to think of Uncle Park's medicine too. You said you'd arrange a good physician."
"His fall was his own damn fault! You're the family head! The family head!"
You foolish child, tugging at these chains to free your house's enemy.
"That's right. I am the family head."
Her expression as she said it was heartbreaking. Tears glistened on her delicate lashes.
"Mother passed last winter, leaving me alone. With just this tiny hut and barren land, all I had were the people. They are more precious to me than anything. I couldn't even properly wield a sickle, yet the whole household came together to raise me. If I've received so much, isn't it right to give back?"
"..."
"It was you, Ajussi, who taught me that a clan is born from its people. Wasn't it?"
The child stood before me. What once barely reached my waist had grown enough to meet my eyes.
"I've heard that children of prestigious houses tour the jianghu once they're strong enough to protect themselves, broadening their horizons. A perfect chance has come for me, so I want to see the world."
"...A jianghu tour isn't like that."
It's not throwing yourself into filthy, petty intrigues, marching to your death.
"Don't go."
"With no elders left in the house and no one else to ask permission, I came to my one and only martial master to declare my intent."
By now, I scarcely knew what I was saying.
"Don't go! You think you'll come back safe? The moment these chains loosen, I'll hunt you to the ends of the earth!"
The child turned away. In her white martial robes, just as I'd seen her every day, she walked out of the shrine.
Chained as I was, I shouted after her.
"Who do you think you are, deciding on your own? Have you forgotten our pact? Your life is mine!"
"Don't worry."
She glanced back once.
"I'll definitely return. I'll come say goodbye before leaving tomorrow."
*
I poured every ounce of my innate true energy into the chains all night. But even after draining it to the dregs, nothing changed.
As morning broke and the child entered, I remained hanging there.
"Ajussi."
The new martial robes suited her impeccably, pure white and pristine.
Seeing me bow my head in silence, she approached, stared right at me, and burst out laughing.
"Today, I'm really going for it."
She rolled up her sleeves and strode to the chains.
"What are you—"
"Hiyah!"
The chains strained. This was no longer the feeble child who once struggled to move them.
A solid stance, perfect footwork. The Cheon Family's hereditary inner arts, honed relentlessly, surged forth, stiffening her sleeves.
In an instant, the millennia-forged iron links went taut.
"Stop! You'll ruin your robes!"
"Ugh...! So... freaking... heavy...!"
The power of a properly trained martial artist.
Maybe this time, different from before.
The fully stretched chains trembled faintly, bit by bit.
Had the mechanisms finally worn out?
"Ughhh... Ahhh! Argh! Who the hell made this thing?!"
"Enough!"
No. She was merely at the peak of first-rate.
No matter the prodigy, without sufficient inner energy, strength has limits. She could pull, but that was all. The iron, embedded like a boulder, showed no sign of breaking.
After an hour of struggle, drenched in sweat, she collapsed in a heap.
"Didn't I tell you to stop."
"I thought it'd be enough by now! You said my skills were nothing to be ashamed of."
"These are chains hammered in by Cheon Yomyeong himself. If just anyone could touch them, how would I still be hanging here?"
"Whew, Ancestor really made them too sturdy."
"Don't sully your ancestor's name..."
Seeing my pathetic state, I changed tack. There was no reason not to curse Cheon Yomyeong.
"No, you're right. Cheon Yomyeong is the useless, worthless one."
"Right? This is a bit much, even for him."
"..."
Her innocent smile pained me. Her purity made me doubt.
"Do you... truly believe I won't kill you?"
"No?"
Straightforward answer. No deception in her face. And yet she strained to free me.
"Your life belongs to me, by pact. If you demand I keep it, what choice do I have?"
"No resentment?"
"It hurts, but what can I do? No one saw this coming. Even Ancestor couldn't foresee it, right?"
"...In a few years, I'll break free. Prepare your heart—I'll claim your life then."
"Yes, got it."
The child no longer showed fear. Even as I glared fiercely and spat threats, she just bantered back.
"But we have feelings, so make it quick. No pain. Got it?"
"..."
"I wanted to free you sooner, but it didn't work. Sorry."
"No matter."
What more could I say to the child bowing and apologizing? I spoke less, etching her image deeper.
A heavy silence settled. She offered rice prepared by her pale hands—plain rice, nothing else.
"It's okay if I don't bring meals every day, right?"
"If it weren't, would you stay?"
"..."
The rice slid smoothly down my throat, glossy and delicious. Had she practiced cooking?
I gathered futile innate true energy, gnawing at the seals. Still nothing.
Compared to years past, release felt absurdly close—yet hopelessly far to stop her.
"Enough. How many years do you think I've endured alone in this cave? I won't die of starvation—don't worry."
"Even without asking the Wei Clan to look after you..."
"Do that, and I'll disown you."
I fixed her with a piercing glare. I couldn't tolerate such for a bit of food.
Understanding my resolve, she added no more. Instead, she stood quietly, straightening her posture.
She adjusted her robes, tidied her hair, then slowly bowed.
"Your disciple has gained much from her master, but my temperament is lacking, so I never properly thanked you. Parents gave me life, but only you taught me. I fear my slow, dull growth as an unworthy disciple has disappointed you."
Impossible. She was the sharpest, most talented child. Without proper meals or training conditions, reaching peak first-rate before twenty was unparalleled.
I could proudly boast—even Cheon Yomyeong paled beside her.
"You took no payment, ensured our arts continued, and passed flawless martial skills. Your grace is boundless."
Lies. I'd used her. Grains bolster innate true energy—I meant to free myself quickly and kill her.
I hadn't even fully taught Twin Phoenix Cooperative Dance. Knowing Cheon Yomyeong's arts secondhand couldn't compare to direct transmission from the clan.
As her master, I'd been negligent, my mind only on murder. No shame meant beastly.
"Now, your disciple ventures into the jianghu for the first time—to see famed sights, bond with fellow heroes."
Lies. Not to sights, but traps. No noble heroes there—only vile plots.
The jianghu held no grand adventures for upright martial artists, but clans sacrificing her for interests and alliances.
Yet still, I could only resent and hate, watching her prostrate.
"Accept this bow."
One bow. Two. Three, four... Three for the master's ancestors, three for the master's master, last three for the lifelong master.
Finishing the nine prostrations, she rose slowly. My heart tore.
This was wrong. Something was deeply amiss.
"How far will you humiliate me...?"
"Don't worry too much, Ajussi. I'll come back."
She smiled—like always these past years. Light and bright, unbecoming a prestigious lady's daughter. Her cheeky "hehe" felt unreliable.
"I have the martial arts you taught me. Whatever trap, I'll smash it all at once. You said so."
"It won't be that simple. You don't even know what's waiting."
"Pfft, who cares what's there. What matters is my skill. You said... I'm the family head. The head doesn't cower."
She fetched a bundle from behind—something she'd hidden all this time, absurdly.
"Didn't know your size, so I eyeballed it. You said you'd be free soon, right?"
"Yes."
"Figured I couldn't dress you then."
Inside: black martial robes. Had I ever said I favored black in life? Or just my nickname's "black"?
Grinning wide, she placed them near the entrance.
"Wear them when free. New clothes."
"I will."
"Then..."
Words stuck; she licked her lips, hesitated. Glanced at the ground, at me, forced a smile.
"I'm going."
"Don't."
"I'm going."
"Please, don't go."
"Your life is yours, so I'll definitely return. Cheon Clan folk know the weight of promises."
She offered her hand. Hooked her pinky onto my chained right hand.
Meeting my eyes, she said,
"Promise."
I said nothing.
The child left.
She never returned.