Did You Truly Name Me?
"What?!"
In the private guest chamber of the Yi estate, Yi Jo cried out with an expression of sheer disbelief.
Two men sat before him. One was his son Yi Pyeong, who had arrived just the day before; the other was a man in a pristine white robe, with fine brows and sharply cutting eyes.
Yi Pyeong, though visibly no less shaken, forced himself to remain composed as he asked, "Master Seol Chong, is this certain?"
"After you departed, the Elder of the Inner Court summoned me and gave the order directly."
Yi Pyeong turned his gaze to Yi Jo. "Could it be that you had a hand in this, Father?"
"Preposterous! I never had the chance, and even if I had, that wretched boy who can't even look me in the eye as his own father—"
Seol Chong cut him off with an awkward cough, clearly uncomfortable. "Lord of the House, forgive me for speaking out of turn, but he may yet join us in the sect. Such an address would hardly be fitting."
Yi Jo strained to smooth over his expression. "Ah—my training is still lacking, and I've misspoken. I beg your gracious forgiveness, Master Seol."
Yi Pyeong pressed on. "Master, might it not simply be someone who shares his name?"
"The Elder himself made it unmistakably clear. He said the name was Yi Yeok, and that he is your younger brother."
Yi Jo and Yi Pyeong exchanged a look. No matter how charitably one tried to read the situation, neither of them appeared remotely pleased. Seol Chong asked, puzzled, "My lord, and Elder Brother—might there be some circumstance I'm unaware of? It is rare indeed for a sect to personally name a specific individual like this. One might even call it a tremendous honor."
"Master, of course my father and I understand it to be a great blessing. But the direct male line of our family consists of myself and my two brothers, and that is all."
Yi Pyeong had by now recovered his calm.
"Moreover, the youngest caused a serious scandal and left home for a long while, only returning recently. And on top of that, for all his years, he remains reckless and immature. So we are merely a little... concerned."
"I see. That is understandable."
Yet Seol Chong continued, unmoved. "Nevertheless, it was the higher-ups themselves who named your brother. If, by some chance, he possesses a genius-level talent and is denied entry here only to be taken by another sect, how would you bear the weight of that, my lord? And you, Elder Brother?"
"We are well aware."
And Yi Pyeong was indeed very well aware.
Every sect, without exception, craves talented individuals with an almost insatiable hunger, for their futures depend on it. They wage fierce contests over promising prodigies, weave schemes and stratagems to secure them, and sometimes clash outright.
Yi Pyeong nodded. "Master, everything has happened so abruptly that I need time to think. Besides, my brother's temper burns like fire, so it matters that we persuade him beforehand and help him understand properly. And you must be exhausted, rushing after me so quickly—why don't you go rest for now?"
Seol Chong had no reason to hurry. Guided by a servant summoned on Yi Jo's orders, he made his way to the guest quarters.
"Father, what do you make of it?"
Once Seol Chong had gone, Yi Pyeong spoke with a smile.
"It's abrupt, certainly, but an immense blessing. My brother never had the aptitude to qualify for the sects, and now he receives a direct nomination. I never imagined such a thing."
Unable to shake off his displeasure and bewilderment, Yi Jo replied sourly. "True enough... but what is this, really? Could it be that your performance was so impressive they assumed your brother must be every bit as talented?"
Yi Pyeong's face lit up with pride. Within the sect itself, he had been recognized for his exceptional aptitude and skill, and his reputation stood high. The thought even crossed his mind that perhaps his father's guess was right.
"Had my brother not returned this time, I intended to seek him out and bring him back myself before long. Someone must carry on the family line in my stead, after all. But if he were to enter the sect..."
"Do you truly believe that wretch is capable of it? Sect or no sect, wherever he goes, he'll do nothing but drag our family's name through the mud."
"Father, I understand your worry. But he is not so hopeless as all that. He merely strayed down the wrong path in his youth. There is still room for him to be reformed."
Yi Jo recalled his encounter with Yi Yeok days before, and his mood soured. "Thinking of that boy makes my blood boil. If not for your grandmother, I'd have beaten him to death long ago."
"Father, I have already set foot on the path of cultivation. I may need to devote myself to it for decades—perhaps even centuries—to come. That would make my brother the only child left to carry on our family's line. Please, set your feelings aside and consider it carefully."
Yi Jo sank into thought. The boy had a point. Yi Pyeong had been born with the talent to soar to great heights. He would bring immense glory to the family—but glory meant nothing if the line ended with him.
It was a truth he had long since grasped, one he had merely turned away from out of sheer spite. For the sake of the family line, Yi Jo could never afford to cast Yi Yeok aside.
"...Very well. If the wretch stops causing trouble—if he marries quietly and sires children to continue the line—then I shall pass the position of Lord of the House to him."
"Then the sect's offer—"
"Obviously he stays right here!"
Yi Pyeong heaved a resigned sigh.
"But we can hardly refuse the sect outright. So we must make him refuse it of his own accord."
A smile crept across Yi Pyeong's face.
"Leave that to me. My brother is utterly unrestrained by nature, and he harbors a deep grudge against me. I will go myself, together with Master Seol, and speak with him. I'll play the dutiful peacemaker and guide him into refusing on his own."
◆ ◆ ◆
"Not interested."
Evening, Yi Yeok's room.
Before Seol Chong had even finished his explanation, Yi Yeok cut him off with a single, flat refusal.
Seol Chong was flustered. It had never occurred to him that anyone might not want to become an immortal cultivator.
Yi Pyeong, watching both his brother and Seol Chong carefully, said, "Little brother, come with me. Your big brother will take good care of you—there's nothing to worry about. Cultivation is the only true path. Everything of the mortal world is nothing more than drifting clouds."
"You've got to be kidding me."
Yi Yeok scoffed. "You don't even know how most people in this world live, and you're calling it the true path? Spare me the nonsense."
Yi Pyeong gave a wry smile and glanced at Seol Chong, as if to say see?
Having barely recovered his composure, Seol Chong tried again. "Is something troubling you? If so, speak honestly. We will resolve it. What matters is your own will. If you set your mind on joining our sect, no one in this world can suppress that will."
Yi Yeok waved a hand as if shooing away an annoying fly. "I already told you. Not interested."
Faced with a situation he had never once encountered in his life, Seol Chong could find no further way to respond.
"Once your grandmother's eightieth birthday celebration concludes, I shall depart with Elder Brother. There is still time, so think it over. Ask whatever you wish to know—I'll give you any information that might aid your decision."
"There is one thing I'm curious about. I don't even know the name of your sect. How did you know me well enough to name me?"
"I promised honesty, so I'll be honest with you."
Seol Chong paused briefly before answering.
"I have no idea."
"What?"
"That is all I know. If you want the answer, you'll have to go and ask for yourself. I am merely the one entrusted with bringing you there."
As they stepped out of Yi Yeok's room together, Seol Chong added one last remark.
"Life in the immortal realm and life in the mortal world are entirely different things. It would be best to think very carefully."