Chapter 192
Chapter 192
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 192
Chapter Title: Doubts
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Even if Je-gal Soon and the elders had researched demonic arts for decades on end, it was impossible.
Geun-yeong nodded at the words of the Mu-ryeon Pavilion Master, who spoke with such conviction.
"Yes, saving the practitioners of the Blood Explosion Art may ultimately be impossible."
"Then...!"
"But they're family, aren't they?"
Words that sounded light at first glance.
Yet their resonance weighed heavily on everyone's hearts.
"Those suffering inside the cave are our blood kin, our family."
"...Young Master Il."
"At the very least, I won't abandon my family without even trying."
Geun-yeong spoke in a resolute tone.
His words plunged the room into silence.
Every face looked complicated.
How could they want to abandon the Blood Explosion Art practitioners, their own brothers and children?
But it was a demonic art, of all things.
A demonic art that would have the imperial court and the Royal Guard foaming at the mouth and charging in if discovered.
They knew this all too well, yet none could bring themselves to say, "Don't kill the practitioners, our family."
Yet Geun-yeong was voicing the words they couldn't.
"......"
They had to speak.
They couldn't impose the danger on other blood kin who were unaware of the circumstances.
They couldn't let them cling to false hope.
'...We have to say it.'
But why wouldn't the words come out?
The same conflict appeared on everyone's faces.
The desire not to kill their family wrestled with the fear of continuing to risk the clan's annihilation.
Of course, their conflict meant nothing to Geun-yeong.
"Oh, and by the way, you don't really have a choice here, do you?"
"...Pardon?"
Bewilderment flashed across everyone's faces.
Amused, Geun-yeong let out a smirk.
"Didn't you promise? That if I won, you'd acknowledge me as the new family head. I won, so just follow along quietly."
"Uh...?"
Wait, was that how it worked?
This wasn't something to decide so lightly, was it?
"Y-Young Master Il. That's..."
People stammered, unable to hide their bewilderment.
But Geun-yeong struck first.
"You're just following my orders. I'll take responsibility for the outcome."
"......"
This was his decision alone.
Thus, the responsibility was his alone, and he wouldn't hold them accountable.
Everyone grasped the meaning embedded in Geun-yeong's words.
After that, no voices of opposition arose.
Pretending they couldn't overcome Geun-yeong's stubbornness, they decided to cling to that thread of hope.
"...Thank you, Young Master Il. No, thank you, Family Head."
Geun-yeong turned back to the sinners with a faint smile at the Mu-ryeon Pavilion Master's words, his eyes slightly reddened.
"Did everyone hear that?"
"...Yes. We heard."
The sinners had already straightened their postures, kneeling properly.
The pain of their dantians being shattered and the sense of loss from losing their martial arts must have been immense, yet none showed it.
If anything, a subtle light gleamed in their previously dull eyes.
It was the gaze of those who, in the twilight of lives filled with wrong choices, had resolved to correct their mistakes.
"We will succeed, no matter what. Once we've atoned for our wrongs, we will beg forgiveness from the Family Head once more. At that time, please take our lives."
"...So be it."
With Geun-yeong's reply, the meeting ended.
The sinners, their dantians destroyed, were transported to the Medical Pavilion for treatment, and the clan's heavyweights politely bid farewell to their young Family Head before returning to their posts.
All that remained in the front courtyard of the Great Heavenly Pavilion were Ja-seong's group and the direct blood kin.
Geun-yeong approached Ja-seong with a wry smile and asked.
"What do you think? Of my choice?"
"What do you think? It's a truly foolish one."
"I figured as much."
As mentioned before, Blood Explosion Art practitioners were living proof of demonic arts.
Yet instead of destroying that evidence, he planned to treat them.
There was no guarantee the treatment would even work.
As Ja-seong said, it was an irrational, foolish choice.
But neither Ja-seong, who criticized Geun-yeong, nor Geun-yeong, who smiled wryly, looked particularly displeased.
"So, you're not happy with it?"
"Not at all. I would've been greatly disappointed if you'd chosen to abandon them."
Geun-yeong burst into hearty laughter at Ja-seong's grinning words.
Hwa-ryeon, standing beside Ja-seong, spoke to him.
"No regrets about that decision?"
"...Yes. I know it's a foolish choice, as Young Master Goon says, but I have no intention of reversing it."
Geun-yeong, who had shown such firm resolve, soon adopted an apologetic expression.
"I'm sorry to all of you. You helped us erase the traces of demonic arts from our clan, yet my choice has turned that favor into enmity."
Due to Geun-yeong's decision, the Je-gal Clan would bear the risk of entanglement with demonic arts for some time longer.
This meant potential disruptions to the alliance between Ja-seong's group and the Je-gal Clan.
"Well, that might be a bit premature a judgment."
But Hwa-ryeon seemed to think differently.
Geun-yeong countered with a flustered look.
"Pardon?"
"It's certainly a burden related to demonic arts, but not enough for us to abandon the alliance."
"...Are you sure that's alright?"
To his cautious question, Hwa-ryeon nodded lightly.
"Yes. If anything, the branch head's—no, Family Head's—choice makes me trust him more. I couldn't easily trust someone heartless enough to discard their own family."
Right after Hwa-ryeon's response, Dae-un unexpectedly stepped forward with astonishing words.
"Je-gal Family Head. We have records on our side regarding the Blood Explosion Art practitioners from back then."
"...Pardon?"
"Uncle?"
Everyone, including Geun-yeong and Hwa-ryeon, turned surprised gazes toward Dae-un.
"No, how...?"
"...I haven't mentioned it yet, but I'm one of the survivors who fought against Blood Explosion Art practitioners as a Royal Guard during the Demonic Cult's uprising."
A story even Ja-seong's group didn't know poured from Dae-un's mouth.
In his youth, as a White Tiger Captain of the Royal Guard, Dae-un had battled the Demonic Cult's uprising.
When the imperial court's decision halted attempts to treat Blood Explosion Art practitioners, he had secretly smuggled out materials slated for disposal.
On the orders of his direct superior at the time, Joo Cheon-mu of the Heavenly Tiger Division.
At the mention of her father's name, Hwa-ryeon's eyes widened.
"My father...?"
"Yes. Though it was halted by imperial decree, he ordered me to preserve them, believing they might prove useful later. They were kept in the Heavenly Net Hall afterward, and now they're at the Cheoncheon Merchant Group's head office."
Finishing his explanation, Dae-un turned back to Geun-yeong.
"If the Je-gal Family Head wishes, I'll send a letter instructing that those materials be sent to the Je-gal Clan."
"That would be... truly grateful."
Though stunned, Geun-yeong clasped his hands in a fist salute toward Dae-un.
"I thank Hero Yeo for his kindness. You've given us so many favors like this; I don't even know how to repay you..."
Dae-un smiled bitterly at Geun-yeong, who trailed off unable to continue.
"It's fine. They were just gathering dust anyway. I only hope those men recover safely."
Dae-un recalled the memories of that day, scarred into him as old wounds.
Corpses filling the horizon.
Ravens endlessly cawing over a feast they'd never forget.
Golden banners soaked in blood, turned to ruin.
Too many had already died because of the Blood Explosion Art.
He hoped no more would perish to that damned demonic art.
That horrific scene was enough if it remained only in his memories.
'...I hope they find a way.'
Unable to forget the corpse mountains and blood seas etched into his mind, he wished the Blood Explosion Art practitioners could recover safely and emerge from the cave.
*
"Really, we keep receiving nothing but favors from all of you."
"We'll collect on them in kind, so steel yourself in advance."
"Hahaha, I'll look forward to it."
To the muttering beside him, he replied playfully, prompting laughter from Je-gal Geun-yeong, who shot back confidently.
Hm, he feels a bit different from when we first met, doesn't he?
They say position makes the man—has he already started building some gravitas?
I smirked at the trivial thought that crossed my mind and kept walking.
Right now, Je-gal Geun-yeong and I were heading to Old Man Gok's residence in a secluded corner of the inner courtyard.
-Geun-yeong? Don't we have some things we need to discuss soon?
-...Oh! Come to think of it, I had something to ask Old Man Gok!
-Don't you dare stop there?!
I was tagging along after Je-gal Geun-yeong, who was fleeing to Old Man Gok to escape Je-gal Seo-ryeong's nagging.
To express thanks for the previous help and ask something else I was curious about.
"...Hm?"
Wait, couldn't I just ask him about this?
"Branch Head... Family Head? Mind if I ask one question?"
"Ah, sure. Ask away."
"It's nothing major, but why is Old Man Gok staying with the Je-gal Clan?"
I recalled my final conversation with Old Man Yeon back in Wuhwan.
-If they're purging sorcerers to that extent... is it okay for Old Man Gok to be staying with the Je-gal Clan?
-No way it is. It's only fine because the imperial eyes are turned outward; if they catch wind, the Royal Guard or the Heaven-Smashing Division will storm in and reduce it to rubble.
The story that the imperial court viewed sorcerers as Demonic Cult lackeys and purged them, and that Old Man Gok was stuck with the Je-gal Clan due to some circumstances.
-It's not for me to say. Hear it from him directly.
Old Man Yeon had held back on the reason.
Telling me to hear it from the man himself.
I asked thinking maybe Je-gal Geun-yeong knew, but the response wasn't very enlightening.
"I'm sorry. Truth is, I don't know the reason either—that's why I'm going to ask."
"Hm? Wasn't this just an excuse to escape your sister's nagging?"
"...No."
I chuckled at Je-gal Geun-yeong's suddenly chilled gaze, then tilted my head.
"Hmm, I thought the Family Head might know."
"I probably would if I'd formally inherited the Family Head position from my father. It's something only the Family Head and Old Man Gok know."
A reason known only to the Family Head and him...
Looks like I'd have to hear it directly from the man after all.
As I thought that, a serene, modest hall came into view before my eyes.
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