Gale and Tempest (4)
In the fractured Cheongeumbang, where factions had split into two, the Han family—unlike other branches—decided to side with Lady Yi.
Loyalty? A merchant like him had no time for such nonsense. The future was what mattered. No matter what others said or cursed, Han Changjin openly aligned himself with Lady Yi and the elder council.
Then the young master, Jin Yeo-rip, returned. But what did that change? With the Ak family destroyed and even his mother dead, Jin Yeo-rip's fate was sealed. The internal strife had already grown so severe that even the family head couldn't secure the succession on his own.
Han Changjin was certain: the next generation would belong to Lady Yi's eldest son.
But then... his own son committed an unforgivable act.
The crime of targeting a direct blood relative's life. There would be no mercy.
This was still Jin Ha-seong's Cheongeumbang, after all. Lady Yi and the elders wouldn't lift a finger to help a branch family like the Hans.
"Iggeom, tell me. Why did you do it?"
Jin Yeo-rip asked softly. Han Changjin desperately hoped his son would say nothing, but Han Iggeom, flustered beyond measure, muttered without thinking.
"I-I... everyone... said it would be better if you were dead."
His mumbled words, like a soliloquy, drained the color from Han Changjin's face. It was a slip he should never have made. What difference did it make from confessing the crime outright? Who wouldn't guess he'd been put up to it? And of course, those instigators were the elders' children.
One wrong move, and they'd face not just the family head's wrath, but abandonment by the elder council too. Then no one would protect the Han family.
"So that's how it was? Everyone said they wished I was dead? So who are these 'everyone'?"
As Jin Yeo-rip pressed, Han Iggeom opened his mouth again, but Han Changjin hurriedly stopped him.
"Y-Young Master! Please spare us! My foolish son is just babbling in shock. Son, tell him it was a mistake—now!"
Han Changjin prostrated himself flat, apologizing profusely, then sharply scolded his son. Jin Yeo-rip gazed down at him with narrowed eyes.
Just his son's crime... Was that all he could think about? Wasn't he curious why Han Iggeom had acted that way?
"Hey, Han family head."
"Yes! Yes, Young Master!"
"Do you think the only issue here is Iggeom's crime?"
"Pardon?"
Jin Yeo-rip knew the Han family's situation all too well. He'd heard it countless times.
"I understand. I might have chosen Lady Yi myself. She offered the surer future. But did you ever consider it?"
"Pardon? Consider what?"
"The price your son has paid for the choice you forced on him in the name of the family's future."
Jin Yeo-rip's voice grew icy. Han Iggeom's plight overlapped with his own past life, always dragged along by others' whims.
"Iggeom has always tried to impress the elders' kids. Because that was his father's will."
"......"
"Children's glances aren't hidden like adults'. They're too young to know how."
"Young Master, what are you saying?"
"The branch kids mocked him as a traitor, pointed fingers. The elders' kids just ignored him."
At Jin Yeo-rip's words, Han Changjin glanced at his slumped son without realizing, shoulders drooping. His brow furrowed at the pathetic sight. How could the boy be so stupid? He'd nearly doomed the entire family.
"Hey, Han family head. Why the look in your eyes when you see your son?"
"......"
"Of course. Every time he complained about the mockery, contempt, and neglect, you yelled at him, even beat him, right?"
"What do you mean? Did that fool tell you that?"
No way. Jang Il's maids here had said it. But it was absurd. Even now, he focused on his son's guilt over his well-being? Why not investigate the why first? If even he could see it, why couldn't the father?
"He endured it. To not disappoint you. All he could think was winning over the elders' kids. That's the root of this mess."
"No! That's not it. I just told him to get along with them, nothing more. I never ordered him to plot your death! That was all his own..."
"Han family head!"
Jin Yeo-rip's voice sliced sharply through the frantic excuse. How could a father... He was shoving the blame onto his son. Instead of comforting the dazed, terrified boy.
Damn it. But were such fathers rare? Plenty in his past life. Fathers weren't always reliable pillars. This era had its share of unfit parents too. Human nature was universal.
"Fine, let's say it. Pretend it was all Iggeom's doing alone."
"......"
"But do you think shoving it on the kid saves your Han family?"
Anger boiled with inner energy, his bloodshot eyes gleaming mad crimson. The amplified aura choked the air, making Han Changjin gasp and sputter.
"If the son is a traitor, so is the father. Seems that's the rule of this world."
"Y-Young Master..."
"Heard that? My maternal clan was wiped out on false charges."
"......"
"Cheongeumbang isn't royalty, but they can surely erase one branch that targeted direct blood."
Right? Jin Yeo-rip's voice was cold. This wasn't the plan. He knew it wasn't just Iggeom. The boy wasn't blameless, but he'd been swayed by his situation, his father's will, and Gong Cheon-gi and the elders' kids. He just wanted to hear it from the source. The crime was real, but how bad was it to drive him to murder?
Yet the rage wouldn't subside. Because of the father's words and actions. Despite targeting his life, Jin Yeo-rip felt pity for Han Iggeom now.
"Han family head. Iggeom isn't your disposable pawn."
"......"
"He's just a pubescent boy, a reed swaying in the slightest breeze, heart full of learning but fragile."
Han Changjin's head drooped at the low, simmering fury.
"I can't let this slide."
"Y-Young Master!"
Han Changjin jerked his head up desperately, but Jin Yeo-rip's mind was set.
"Pilsaeng!"
"Yes, Young Master!"
"Report this to Taewon immediately. Call the guards to watch the Han estate. No one from the Han family steps foot outside until Han Iggeom's interrogation ends!"
"Yes!"
Im Pilsaeng bowed vigorously.
"Let's go!"
Jin Yeo-rip turned sharply. Han Changjin stared blankly at his dragged-away son, muttering softly.
"Because of that fool... That idiot ruined our house with his rashness."
He was a shrewd merchant quick to read the winds of power, an excellent head who'd upheld the Hans. But to the end, no father.
They call adolescence the age of storm and stress. Unpredictable emotions and heightened sensitivity earned it that name. But the original meaning is 'swift gale and raging waves.'
Jin Yeo-rip's actions were just as swift. No—they had to be.
Delay, and the elders and Lady Yi would scheme every interference, burying the incident with Han Iggeom as the sole scapegoat.
His only limb right now was Im Pilsaeng. So he had to move personally.
Ordering Im Pilsaeng to bring the mastermind and accomplices—three in total—to Unjeong Pavilion, Jin Yeo-rip headed straight for the academy.
'Everyone said it would be better if you were dead.'
Who were those 'everyone' in Han Iggeom's words?
Bam! A kick shattered the door. Baekhak and the students stared in shock.
"You brat! What the hell is this? And look at you!"
Baekhak bellowed, but Jin Yeo-rip remained calm.
"I'm upholding my beliefs."
"What? Beliefs?"
"Yes. Someone hired killers to murder me."
"What... huh?"
Now they noticed: his mud-caked body, untreated wounds everywhere. The Han messenger from morning?
"An assassination attempt on direct blood. I won't overlook it. Even if you try to stop me, Master. But I'll ask permission."
"......"
"Do you permit my actions from here?"
Baekhak clamped his mouth shut. What madness was this? The rain had poured since dawn...
But he couldn't stop it. Jin Yeo-rip's face said he wouldn't back down. And this was no trifle—an attack on the young master was a grave family matter.
"I permit it."
"Thank you."
Bowing politely, Jin Yeo-rip eyed one student.
"Gong Cheon-gi."
"...?"
"Come out."
"What nonsense is this?"
"Won't say it twice. Out."
Gong Cheon-gi just frowned and turned away.
"Hah, Young Master. This violates decorum..."
"Decorum? Hah!"
Jin Yeo-rip snorted, trudging mud prints toward him.
"Hah! Even if you threaten..."
Wham! Without waiting, Jin Yeo-rip kicked his chest.
"Gahk!"
Gong Cheon-gi flew back, crashing into a desk.
"Young Master! What the—?"
As nearby elders' kids shot up glaring, Jin Yeo-rip eyed them coldly.
"Try stopping me. But steel yourselves."
"......"
The air froze. The kids hesitated, gulping. Jin Yeo-rip's Twelve Flows-powered eyes gleamed with madness, choking breath on sight.
"Ugh, you bastard!"
Gong Cheon-gi rose clutching his chest, cursing.
"What the hell!"
Casual speech was natural. Beaten out of nowhere, who bows politely? Status be damned.
"Come nicely, no hurt."
"Shut up! You ingrate—I tolerated you as young master! What does your attack have to do with me, you prick!"
Jin Yeo-rip chuckled at the raging Gong Cheon-gi. Yeah, you'd say that. Your crime doesn't exist in this world.
Psychological domination, gaslighting. From Han Iggeom's words and their dynamic, he knew. 'Obey and maybe friends, maybe liked.' Brainwashed relentlessly to puppet him. Time to pay.
Along with that foul mouth.
"Cheon-gi. I'm in a foul mood. Resist, get hit."
"You fucking shit! Yeah, I humored you—what makes you so great? Bastard, I don't care what you learned at Shaolin—I wasn't slacking!"
"Oh? Learned something? No holding back then."
Jin Yeo-rip clenched his fist. Ah, don't misunderstand. Not Shaolin—this was Twelve Flows, reverse heaven.
Thud! Floor trembled from a stomp. Jin Yeo-rip shot at Gong Cheon-gi.
He'd learned something—gathering energy, thrusting palm. Palm technique?
No dodging. Not from trash like this.
Twelve Flows River and Eight Extremities Crush. Crushing stab through palm.
Crack! Grotesque noise between palms, bones crunching—Gong Cheon-gi's arm snapped. Couldn't withstand the power; shattered outright.
"Argh!"
As he recoiled grimacing, Jin Yeo-rip grabbed his hair.
"Told you it'd hurt."
"...!"
Crunch! Fist smashed his face. Head whipped, but hair held him up.
"Should've come when told."
Crunch! Another punch scattered his pupils, body slumping limp.
"D-Damn it! What are you waiting for? Stop him!"
At the cry from Gong Cheon-gi's lackey, the elders' kids charged to pull Jin Yeo-rip off. Trained in their clans' arts. Alone tough, but numbers might win.
But then Twelve Flows' ferocity amplified, a savage smile curling Jin Yeo-rip's lips.
Ah, you joined in too?