Before the Furious Grandfather Could Scold
Before Grandfather could unleash his fury, Aunt quickly interjected.
"Father, just look at how diligently Pyo and Ak have been training. They're already nearing the third star of the Mubak Divine Art."
Mubak Divine Art. It was a martial art that only the bloodline of the Baek Ri Clan could cultivate.
Grandfather turned his gaze to the twins. They hastily straightened their postures, but their upturned chins brimmed with arrogance.
Uncle swiftly chimed in to back her up. "Pyo and Ak are nearing the third star already? Astonishing. Yi-ran, congratulations. Father, isn't it truly remarkable?"
Aunt, who had been covering her mouth to hide a smile, suddenly glanced at Father and said, "If Ak and Pyo surpass the third star at seven years old, it'll shatter Uncle Gang's record as the youngest ever!"
Aunt was picking a fight with Father, who had been sitting silently.
"......"
Father lowered his eyes and silently sipped his tea.
For reference, I had fallen into qi deviation before even receiving instruction in the Mubak Divine Art.
'I asked Father to teach me later and learned the basics superficially... but without inner energy, I was stuck at the first star.'
In any case, the first star was the barest foundation, like taking the very first step. From there, it progressed step by step: second star, third, fourth, and so on. The higher the stage, the more powerful the feats one could perform. Even swinging a sword the same way, the first star could slice a tree branch, the second a sapling, the fifth a boulder.
But advancing stages grew exponentially harder. Crossing from the fifth to the sixth alone demanded twice the effort it took to reach the fifth. The seventh, eighth, and ninth were even more daunting.
Moreover, the ninth star was a legendary wall. So many devoted their lives to it yet never crossed, earning it the name. Even among the Baek Ri Clan's past patriarchs, those who surpassed it could be counted on one hand.
The gap between those who broke through the ninth and those who didn't was immense.
And the world's supreme powerhouse, Grandfather—one of the Ten Great Under Heaven—had reached the tenth star. The pinnacle of the Baek Ri Clan.
Father was currently at the eighth star, nearing the ninth. Later, he shattered all of Grandfather's youngest-ever records to ascend to the ninth. Many believed he would reach the tenth faster than Grandfather, perhaps even touch the legendary twelfth. Whispers spread far and wide.
But in the end, Father never attained the tenth... and passed away.
Grandfather asked suspiciously, "Are they truly nearing the third star?"
Even Father, a genius among geniuses, had surpassed it at eight. Grandfather himself, hailed as a prodigy, did so at nine.
"Of course! The boys train so hard! Seeing how much they love it, they're just like you, Father."
Aunt seized the moment to praise the twins.
Grandfather stroked his beard, eyeing the twins who held their heads high.
"If Pyo and Ak surpass the third star, that would be impressive indeed."
"Father! It's not just impressive!"
I kept my head bowed, carefully managing my expression. In my memory, it would take the twins another five years to reach the third star.
'Last time, they bragged endlessly about being close too...'
After a moment of silence, Grandfather turned to Baek Ri-myeong.
"Very well, let's say Pyo and Ak are one thing. Myeong, what do you think of the academy?"
"It's a chance to learn from esteemed teachers. I'd love to go. But with Pyo and Ak so focused on martial arts, I worry if it's right for me to slack off. Wouldn't it be better if I devoted myself to martial arts too?"
She was beating around the bush, but it meant she didn't want to go if Pyo and Ak weren't.
Grandfather's eye twitched.
His stern face now turned to Baek Ri-ri.
"Ri, what about you?"
"Huh? What?"
"The academy. Do you want to go or not?"
He started gently but ended with irritation seeping through.
Baek Ri-ri gaped blankly.
Uncle stared intensely at her, as if sending telepathy.
Looking puzzled at her father, Baek Ri-ri said, "Why would I go there? We can just call the teacher here."
Oh... what a statement worthy of admiration.
That's the mindset a Baek Ri Clan granddaughter should have.
I nodded inwardly, but it clearly wasn't the answer Grandfather wanted.
Seeing Grandfather's neck flush with anger, Uncle hurriedly scolded her.
"Ri-ri! What kind of talk is that? What have you been listening to all this time?"
Baek Ri-ri, still gaping, began to whimper.
"D-Dad, why are you yelling?"
"Baek Ri-ri!"
In the end, she burst into tearful sobs.
Baek Ri-myeong, at her side, awkwardly comforted her little sister.
Grandfather swept a furious glare around the table and slammed it down.
"Enough! No one goes!"
It was a disaster.
And I wanted to leap from my chair in protest.
'What do you mean?! I want to go!'
I knew the future, but that alone wasn't enough. We'd muddled through crises so far with Father's and my strength, but I wouldn't get arrogant assuming it would always work.
I needed to study this world more. Besides, Baek Ri-myeong, the twins, and even Baek Ri-ri built solid networks at the academy, helping one another later. That was why Grandfather wanted to send Baek Ri-myeong—to forge connections.
But she had no clue.
'Look at her, look at her. She's thrilled inside.'
Baek Ri-myeong soothed her sister while inwardly relieved at Grandfather's decision. The twins were obviously delighted too.
Grandfather, sharp as ever, couldn't miss his grandchildren's moods. His face twisted as he bellowed,
"Meal's over. Everyone, withdraw!"
But standing abruptly would only stoke his rage further. Everyone sat frozen, hoping someone else would rise first or soothe him.
Grandfather shouted again. "Why are you still sitting there?!"
They exchanged glances, waiting for another to act.
Then Father spoke. "Father."
"What?!"
"You haven't asked Yeon."
"......"
Uncle, Aunt, and even Baek Ri-myeong stared at Father in disbelief.
Aunt, unable to hold back, sneered. "That's what you want to say right now? Father's furious, and all you care about is Yeon? What would she know anyway? She's the same age as Ri-ri. No need to ask."
Who are you mad at?!
Aunt's words fanned the flames. Grandfather, visibly irked, glared at me.
I quickly averted my eyes.
"Fine. Yeon, what do you think? Do you want to go to the academy or not? No need to lie."
Sobbing from one side, beastly glares from the other.
'Why is it always my turn in messes like this!'
In the chaotic atmosphere, I mumbled timidly as if intimidated.
"I......"
Father gazed at me warmly, as if to say it was fine.
Emboldened, I said, "I don't understand why Grandfather is angry."
Aunt snorted triumphantly, chin raised.
I looked at her, then the twins beside her.
"Don't Brothers Ak and Pyo not want to go to the academy—they can't go?"
"Can't?"
"Yes."
"What do you mean by that?"
Grandfather frowned.
I feigned utter confusion. "Don't the two brothers need to enter secluded training?"
"What nonsense are you spouting?!"
Aunt yelped in shock.
She'd looked uneasy since I mentioned the twins.
Secluded training. Locking oneself away to focus solely on cultivation. Once begun, no visitors allowed; one subsisted on preserved rations called Byeokgok Pills, which were... utterly revolting.
Eating those, one trained a month at shortest, years at longest.
And the twins had been pampered their whole lives.
'Can you two even endure secluded training?'
I played innocent. "But Aunt, I heard Grandfather did secluded training to reach the third star. And Father too."
I turned to the twins and blinked. "Aren't you two doing the same?"
Grandfather and Father, hailed as prodigies, worked that hard— what about you?
Before they could retort, I added with a slightly wistful look, "I'm so jealous of you brothers. Nearing the third star already—congratulations in advance."
"You little—your dantian is—!"
Aunt blocked the flushed, shouting twin.
"What are you saying? Secluded training? Your father never did that!"
"Huh? Really?"
I tilted my head and looked at Father. "Did I get it wrong? Why didn't you, Father?"
The twins, meeting Father's piercing gaze, flinched and sat back down.
With a single look taming them, Father replied, "You didn't get it wrong. I did enter secluded training. But Mother fell ill, so I had to emerge after just two days."
"Oh, Grandmother was sick?"
"Yes."
"I see. I didn't know."
With that, I shifted my gaze to Aunt and the fuming twins. Aunt was perfectly fine, and the twins looked robust as ever. My pointed stare conveyed everything to Grandfather.