Chapter 82
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: The Grandson's Return
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Just as the sun began to peek over the horizon.
Yang Rim led his old servant away from his dwelling and walked along the sandy beach.
From the left side of the island, the sun lifted its head above the horizon, heating the sky and sea to a glowing crimson, like iron thrust into a bellows.
Yang Rim halted his steps, the sand crunching underfoot, at the sight of the sea starting to stain red like spreading blood.
Splash. Swish.
He turned his head to see that the waves had already erased all the footprints he had left behind.
"Damn it..."
Through the strands of hair whipping in the chill sea breeze, Yang Rim's face was a crumpled mess.
Hainan Island—an isolated tropical isle hundreds of li from Guangdong, the southernmost edge of the Central Plains.
A place that belonged to the Central Plains yet stood apart from it.
Yang Rim was the patriarch of the Yue Clan, one of the six tribes that had made their home there for generations.
Their land was mild year-round, perfect for living, and had known peace across the ages.
The people's faces always brimmed with vitality, and they maintained friendly ties with Central Plains merchants who came and went by sea, just as always.
He had believed their land would continue to prosper, as it always had.
That everything would flow smoothly onward, as it always had.
But had the heavens grown jealous?
Why bring such trials upon his generation?
He knew that once the sun rose, the darkness would fade, and the damp sand would sparkle gold. That was the natural order, the flow of time.
But this darkness was too hard to bear.
Though the rising sun painted the sky red and blazed blindingly bright, illuminating the world, the shadow etched on his face was as dark as if he would never greet another dawn.
What tormented him was the new island lord who had seized the seat after the previous generation fell bedridden.
The one who should have rightfully inherited the position and earned the six tribes' loyalty had fallen to inexplicable qi deviation, unable to succeed. Then his younger brother had taken the lord's seat as if he had been waiting for it.
"Gok Ja-seong."
A man's name escaped Yang Rim's lips like a stifled groan.
Though a bastard son rather than legitimate, status meant little among them, so bloodline was no issue. With Gok Ja-heon fallen, he was the only blood kin who could take the role anyway.
The problem was how suspiciously he had become the new lord.
Wasn't the timing too perfect?
The former lord's illness deepening out of nowhere, the young lord plunging into qi deviation as if by design.
Moreover, Gok Ja-seong had seized Hainan Island's strongest warrior band, as if long prepared, and taken control of the main stronghold in one stroke.
Then came the rumor that the young lord's qi deviation stemmed from poisoning, sparking whispers among the people in an instant.
But the longtime physician of the lord's house backed Gok Ja-seong, quashing doubts about the poison.
Still, the seeds of suspicion already sown did not settle easily.
Yang Rim had harbored doubts about how Gok Ja-seong became lord and rallied the other five tribes to his cause.
By voicing distrust in him, they rejected all the lord's former control over the tribes.
That was where the trouble began.
Just as they pressed the lord, the sea's long-guarded treasure and the Yue Clan's sacred relic—the Eye of the White Butterfly Shell—vanished.
It was an item owed in exchange for loyalty, one that should have been with the lord.
Yet Yang Hyo was named the culprit.
Absurd. How could a mere thirteen-year-old boy steal something handed to the lord himself?
But according to Yang Hyo, the Eye of the White Butterfly Shell—their sacred relic—had been in pirates' hands.
Enraged at them treating their holy treasure like roadside gravel, Yang Hyo had snapped.
A fight broke out. Yang Hyo's guards and the pirates died. Only Yang Hyo survived, having snatched back the relic.
Then suddenly witnesses appeared, and Yang Hyo transformed into a thief who had sneaked into the lord's dwelling to steal the relic.
It was clearly a frame-up to anyone with eyes, but with them at odds against the new lord, they couldn't hand him over.
If the false charge wasn't cleared, the Yue Clan could raise no more questions.
They would have to watch Hainan fall into Gok Ja-seong's hands without even resolving their doubts.
So he had disguised his grandson Yang Hyo's departure as a runaway and secretly sent him into hiding.
To the Central Plains, beyond their reach...
"...I hope Hyo is safe."
Worry for his grandson darkened Yang Rim's face further.
With Gok Ja-seong's spies watching closely, he couldn't even send a single guard, leaving him in constant agony.
But he was alive. The clever boy surely was.
"Hoo..."
As Yang Rim let out a deep sigh and took a step, a voice called to him.
"Patriarch! Patriarch!"
"......?"
Someone was running from the village.
Baek Ta, the chief instructor leading the Yue Clan's warriors.
"What is it?"
Yang Rim frowned at the sight of him sprinting up, bowing, and panting.
"He's arrived."
"Arrived? Who?"
"The young patriarch... returned under cover of dawn."
At the grim expression and unexpected news, Yang Rim felt his heart sink as he slowly spoke.
......Tell me the details."
"Well..."
Yang Rim's brow furrowed deeply at Baek Ta's hesitation.
Had he not yet escaped Hainan? He'd heard Gok Ja-seong's lackeys were searching for the boy with bloodshot eyes...
"No, no. I'll go see for myself. Where is Hyo now?"
"With eyes everywhere, I quietly brought him to your dwelling. But there's someone with him."
"With him?"
"Yes. We checked his identity—he's a warrior from the Justice Alliance."
"What?"
It made no sense.
A Justice Alliance warrior?
Why had his grandson returned with a Central Plains man?
"Let's go!"
"Yes."
* * *
The beaches of the Sama region.
The Yue Clan's village nestled in a grove of betel palms.
Returning from the beach, Yang Rim ignored the tribesfolk greeting him and flung open the door to his dwelling.
Inside the room, filled with wooden furniture and ornate decorations, two figures sat with the tribe's elders.
At the sound of the door, a boy shot to his feet and bowed deeply.
"I greet you, Grandfather."
"You..."
Yang Rim's face twisted and flushed at the boy's greeting.
This grandson shouldn't have come back, but the swollen face and wounds covering his body made anger impossible.
Seeing the weary eyes worn by the storms that had battered him tore at Yang Rim's heart.
Gritting his teeth, he barely held back surging tears and slowly approached Yang Hyo, embracing him tightly.
"Hyo..."
"......"
How much worry after sending him away. How much heartache fearing he might never return.
"You've suffered... You've suffered so much."
"Grandfather..."
"......"
Yang Rim simply closed his eyes tightly and patted Yang Hyo's back.
* * *
After the reunion, Yang Rim called a tribal council.
Yang Rim sat in the patriarch's seat.
Aged elders and the chiefs of the Yue Clan's warriors lined up to either side, while Yang Hyo knelt in the center.
"What happened? Tell us everything."
After silently staring at him for a time, Yang Rim asked, and Yang Hyo slowly began.
What had happened to him. What he had heard.
As his tale unfolded, gasps of pity erupted here and there.
"Quiet!"
"......"
Yang Rim silenced the room and spoke with a deeply furrowed face.
"Is everything you said true?"
"Yes. That's why your grandson hurried back."
"Hm..."
No one had imagined the new lord would prepare something like that.
......What is your name?"
Yang Rim's gaze, amid a hum, fell on the man who had come with Yang Hyo: Yu Hyun.
Yu Hyun answered politely.
"I am Yu Hyun, captain of the Justice Alliance's Latent Dragon Squad."
"I see. For now, my thanks for your kindness. My blood kin owes you a great debt."
"......"
Yu Hyun gave a wry internal smile at Yang Rim's words.
He spoke of rescue, but his expression and eyes showed clear displeasure—how could he miss it?
Just as he had a position as the Beggars' Sect's youngest disciple to Inspector Ge, Yang Rim had his own stance.
He was an elder and one of Hainan's patriarchs who had long guarded the island. He wouldn't welcome outsiders spotting his flaws.
He tolerated it only because Yu Hyun had saved his grandson; a Justice Alliance man meddling in internal affairs irked him deeply.
But that was their view. He had now reached Sama using Yang Hyo, so from here, he needed to find the Thousand-Year Zapa.
One couldn't roam a house freely by just opening the gate latch; he needed the homeowner's favor.
"But the Justice Alliance..."
"There will be no cause for concern."
"......?"
Before he could reach the point, Yu Hyun cut in with a grin, sharpening Yang Rim's glare.
"Cause for concern?"
"Yes."
"What do you mean?"
"I just saved him because he looked pitiful."
"......?"
"Only after saving him did I learn he was the Yue Clan's heir. Hainan affairs are for Hainan to handle. Would we meddle?"
"You seek no gain?"
"Yes. Though we do have our mission..."
"What mission?"
"Young Lord Gok Ja-heon. We must meet him."
"What?"
Subtle anger laced Yang Rim's repeated question.
He claimed no meddling, yet wanted to meet the affair's core figure—naturally infuriating.
As if expecting the outburst, Yu Hyun continued calmly.
"We merely carry out our orders."
"What orders?"
"......"
Under all eyes, Yu Hyun paused briefly, then smiled brightly.
"To recruit Hainan's young lord, Gok Ja-heon, into the Latent Dragon Squad."
"What?"
"Absurd!"
"Daring to make the young lord join a Justice Alliance squad!"
Outraged voices exploded from all sides, everyone glaring at Yu Hyun as if to kill.
Yu Hyun took the stares impassively, clicking his tongue inwardly.
Treating me like a traitor.
He understood their feelings, but still—he had saved their young patriarch...
"Enough! Silence!"
"......"
As the clamor grew excessive, Yang Rim raised a hand to stop it.
"Continue."
"Within a day or two, two Latent Dragon Squad warriors and a Justice Alliance envoy will arrive. They'll likely meet the new lord right away and investigate former young lord Gok Ja-heon in detail. They have to report up, after all."
"......."
Yang Rim closely observed Yu Hyun, who spoke smoothly with a constant smile.
Calm to the point of leisure.
Word was, not only had he saved the grandson but also baited their foes' eyes with a lure, even drawing them in just enough. The new lord, eyes rolled back in rage, would chase the bait.
By then, with the Justice Alliance envoy arriving, the new lord—who had planned to raid the six tribes—would have to hesitate.
Even if equals to the Justice Alliance, he couldn't ignore them entirely.
......You're buying us time?"
"Perish the thought."
"No?"
"As I said, we just do our job. How you use the lucky time gained is up to you. I only hope the patriarch uses it wisely."
Yang Rim stared long at the brightly smiling Yu Hyun, then nodded.
"I see... I shall respect your goodwill."
"Thank you."
The rigidly upright Yu Hyun bowed politely.
The wise do not visit; visitors are not wise.
No profit, no visit with favors—guarding against that was natural.
But now the situation had shifted.
The wariness in Yang Rim's eyes had softened into recognition for the savior of his grandson.
Now was the time to claim his desire.
Come on, ask. Hurry!
Having decided to treat him as benefactor, he would ask next what he wanted.
That thing we both knew!
"By any chance, do you desire something?"
"......"
"You saved my grandson and opened a path to life for our tribe, so it seems right I repay you..."
At Yang Rim's words, Yu Hyun spoke boldly, smile fading.
What I want!
"I would like to see the Return Current."