Chapter 72
Thankfully, the two didn't actually clash. It was because Cheonsan Yeomje yielded a step and suggested they talk inside.
And that was even stranger.
That old man wouldn't yield to just anyone.
Did he get properly scolded by the Namgung family head?
There was only suffocating silence as they poured the hastily brought tea. I wanted to leave this place more than anything.
For now, the biggest problem was... I was sleepy. It was already past midnight. On top of that, I'd trained hard at the Changgung Pavilion, bawled my eyes out seeing my father, and run all over the Namgung estate.
Ah, I'm dying of sleepiness.
The drowning silence felt like a lullaby to me. But I couldn't leave, worried about what the two would discuss. My nodding head suddenly lolled to the side.
It was Yahul's shoulder.
The moment I was about to drift off like that, Cheonsan Yeomje spoke up.
"Let's cut to the chase."
Cheonsan Yeomje's finger pointed at me. I froze, wiping away the drool that had just slipped out.
No, looking closer, it was pointing at Yahul beside me.
Ah, that scared me.
I sighed in relief for a moment, then was shocked again.
Yahul? He wants Yahul?
Father asked back.
"Could you explain what you mean?"
"I'll take him as my disciple, so hand him over."
What the...?
At that moment, Yahul's hand gripped mine tightly, covering it. The heat pressing against my skin was scorching.
I turned to Yahul, and our eyes met. Was that desperation in his gaze just my imagination?
Here, Father seemed the calmest of all. His composure was something to aspire to.
"To be the disciple of Senior Cheonsan Yeomje, one of the Eleven Great Powers of the World."
Father lowered his eyes, pondered briefly, then continued.
"It's truly an exalted position, but this proposal is so sudden. What is it about the child that caught your eye?"
"No need to worry. This old man already knows everything about him."
That meant he knew about the Star Absorption Demonic Art.
Only then did Father's composure crack. Father glanced at Yahul. More strength entered Yahul's grip on my hand.
"How did this happen... No, it's my own failing."
Cheonsan Yeomje looked at me and asked.
"You haven't told him yet?"
Father's puzzled gaze turned to me. With a hint of grievance, I said,
"...I was going to tell him back at my quarters."
But running into Cheonsan Yeomje out of nowhere had thrown everything off.
Cheonsan Yeomje stroked his beard.
"No need to worry. I haven't told a soul. You've raised a most filial daughter."
"Pardon?"
Father, baffled, narrowed his eyes at me. But the situation wasn't right for prying into the details.
Father turned back to Cheonsan Yeomje.
"Since you already know, it makes this easier to discuss. Yahul has learned a demonic art, so he cannot learn any other martial arts."
Demonic arts weren't like orthodox ones. Once you learned a demonic cultivation method, you couldn't touch any others. Not only did they reject alternatives, forcing another would lead straight to qi deviation and death.
And among demonic arts, the Star Absorption Demonic Art was notoriously infamous.
But Cheonsan Yeomje dismissed it casually.
"Even if he's cultivated the Star Absorption Demonic Art, there's no issue inheriting my martial lineage. No, he must inherit my arts."
What did that mean? Could his arts be learned regardless of demonic arts?
Father voiced my question.
"Do you mean your arts can suppress the demonic art?"
"Exactly. If he cultivates my Guhwa Jeokyeomgyeol."
Guhwa Jeokyeomgyeol. The art that made Cheonsan Yeomje one of the Eleven Great Powers. Just that told you how extraordinary it was.
No, the art wasn't the issue. If one of the Eleven Great Powers wanted a disciple, people from across the Central Plains would flock to learn it.
So why Yahul of all people?
The doubt lingered, but... if Cheonsan Yeomje's words were true and Yahul could learn the Guhwa Jeokyeomgyeol, nothing could be better for him.
This was what they called a heaven-sent opportunity.
Father seemed to think the same.
"It's an unbelievable stroke of fortune."
"What gain would this old man get from lying?"
"......"
"Is there even anything to deliberate? You should be jumping at the chance!"
Cheonsan Yeomje slammed the table threateningly. Tension built as more strength crept into Yahul's grip on my hand.
I held back as long as I could, then whispered softly.
"Yahul."
Only then did Yahul startle and loosen his hold.
Under the gazes of both men, I continued nonchalantly.
"W-We should ask Yahul. Isn't what he wants most important?"
Honestly, who would pass up a chance like this?
A bit disappointing.
I'd grown quite attached over time.
I smiled at Yahul, as if to say speak freely.
Then the answer came from Cheonsan Yeomje.
"No need to ask. He already refused."
Father looked at Yahul in surprise. So did I.
Father, staring at Yahul, spoke.
"Did you really refuse?"
"Yes."
I couldn't help but interject.
"Why?"
Remembering how he'd gripped my hand like he might crush it, I added,
"This is an incredible opportunity."
Yahul met my eyes and replied.
"I like it here."
"......"
"......"
Silence enveloped the room.
I like it here. For rejecting Cheonsan Yeomje's offer, it was the most underwhelming reason imaginable.
Father frowned slightly at Yahul, unable to comprehend.
Can't blame him.
I didn't get it either.
Yet Father calmly faced Cheonsan Yeomje.
"I hope that answers you, Senior."
Cheonsan Yeomje let out a hollow chuckle, stroking his beard.
"Just one question."
"Please ask."
"Why go so far for that child? You've only known him a few months. Nothing special about daily companionship, is there?"
"You can't measure the depth of a bond by time spent."
"If I've seen through it, others will too. Does your birth father, Baek Ri-paehyeok, know? As the White Heron Unit Leader of the Murim Alliance, how would he react? If this comes out, discipline is inevitable. How do you plan to hide him forever?"
"I've been prepared for that from the start."
"So nearly losing your daughter was part of your resolve too?"
"......"
Ah, that was... a brutal hit.
Father's calm expression twisted the most yet—almost crumpling.
Cheonsan Yeomje clicked his tongue.
"Just hand him over to this old man. It'll be far easier for the child, and for you."
Considering Cheonsan Yeomje's known temperament, this gentle persuasion was astonishing.
Father drew a deep breath, closed his eyes, then opened them.
"I can't force a child who doesn't want to go."
Cheonsan Yeomje exhaled in exasperation, stroking his beard.
"Tch tch. I knew from the moment he defended my servant, ripping his own palm. Like father, like daughter? To think such fools still live in this world. No, actually, this works out better!"
Despite the refusal, he looked pleased.
Cheonsan Yeomje continued.
"Have you heard of the Extreme Yang Body?"
In Father's silence, I answered.
"Isn't that a rare... incurable disease?"
Many physicians didn't even know it existed. I only knew because I'd devoured every book to fix my own body.
Qi was divided into various harmonies. Among them were yin and yang, and the Extreme Yang Body referred to a constitution where yang qi was extremely developed.
To be precise, it wasn't an illness but a rare physique. Still, there was reason to call it incurable.
"Incurable disease. Spot on. From birth, the extreme yang qi dries up the meridians throughout the body as it grows. They burn alive at best by age fifteen, or twenty at latest, in agony."
Why bring that up out of nowhere?
An ominous premonition hit me.
Cheonsan Yeomje's finger pointed at Yahul.
"And that child has the Extreme Yang Body."
Ha. I nearly swore out loud.
I recalled Yahul's meridians, which I'd seen countless times.
Extreme Yang Body?
From the first time I'd seen them, I'd felt something off... but I'd chalked it up to the Star Absorption Demonic Art.
An Extreme Yang Body? That meant Yahul would die by fifteen at earliest, twenty at latest, if nothing changed!