I Surely Won't Grow Old Like That
A few nights later, in the Maple Forest of Gowoljin.
The forest sprawled across three thousand mu — vast enough to swallow a large village or a modest city whole.
Scattered throughout those broad woods lurked every manner of rogue, thug, and criminal that Gowoljin and the surrounding territories had to offer, teeming like maggots on a carcass.
Yet Yi Yeok moved through the forest without a soul daring to stand in his way. No one so much as showed their shadow. He hadn't even bothered to unfold the Hidden Soul White Knot — but every one of them knew exactly where he was headed.
Before long, Yi Yeok emerged into a wide clearing.
There stood a single mansion. In its day, when it had been built as the country retreat of some powerful family, it must have been grand and lavish indeed — but ever since the assassin band known as the Gwiyeong Squad had claimed it, it had fallen into such neglect that it now wore a crumbling, broken-down face everywhere one looked.
In the mansion's courtyard, someone lay sprawled across a long chair. Even his nightclothes were that unbearable shade of teal.
Yeo Gwi spoke without even opening his eyes.
"You came, thief?"
"Sure did, turtle."
"Wandering in and out like it's your own house, huh. This is our headquarters, if you hadn't noticed. Show some respect."
"Then you should've sent me an invitation ages ago."
Yeo Gwi snorted through his nose.
"Why are you out here lying around anyway? You've got a room, don't you?"
"Damn it all — how's a man supposed to sleep with an old geezer making that kind of racket?"
Yi Yeok snickered.
The old turtle — that is, Yeo Gwi's father and the leader of the Gwiyeong Squad, Yeo Wi — had evidently summoned courtesans again, true to form.
"Get ready. We leave now."
Only then did Yeo Gwi sit up, his eyes gleaming.
"So you've made up your mind? We're hitting the Yangcheon Sect?"
Just then, a voice rang out from deep inside the mansion — a rough, booming bellow that shook the night sky.
"The old man's boy is here! You'd better pay your respects before you go!"
Yi Yeok, who had been hoping to slip away quietly with nothing but Yeo Gwi, clicked his tongue.
"The old man's ears are sharp."
"Sharp as ever. He probably heard that too, just now."
"I said it so he'd hear."
The two of them stepped into the mansion. Cobwebs hung everywhere, and inside as well as out, not a corner had escaped decay and ruin. The walls, at least, were decorated to the owner's taste — plastered with every sort of erotic painting imaginable.
Creeeeak.
The moment Yi Yeok pushed open the door to the inner chamber, he immediately covered his eyes and staggered back.
"Damn it, my eyes! Put some damn clothes on, right now!"
Yeo Wi, leader of the Gwiyeong Squad, lay stark naked on the bed without a thread on him, and rose with a hearty laugh.
"Have a seat."
Only after confirming that Yeo Wi had managed to squeeze into his pants did Yi Yeok grumble his way over and sit down across from him.
Yeo Gwi, apparently with no intention of sitting, folded his arms and leaned against the wall.
"I heard it from my boy. You're pulling off something quite big, they say?"
"Nothing worth calling big. Just cracking open one low-tier sect."
"Low-tier is only low-tier by the standards of the Celestial Realm. It's still an immortal sect — a different beast from the mortal world. You'd best be careful."
"You old turtle. Did you drag me in here just to nag like a grandfather?"
"Not a shred of manners on you. I'll never understand how the old man raised you."
Then he hollered toward the side chamber attached to the room.
"Bring us something to drink!"
The door to the side chamber opened, and a woman dressed as scantily as Yeo Wi himself came out bearing water — most likely one of the courtesans he'd dragged in.
Yeo Wi gulped down the water with loud, unrestrained swallows, let out a long belch, and only then resumed speaking.
"You know how fond I am of you, boy? Word is the old man isn't at your side anymore. I take it he figures he's finished raising you. So — how about making your home with the Gwiyeong Squad from now on?"
"Don't make me laugh. If I stuck around with a bastard like you, who knows in which woman's arms I'd drop dead."
"That's exactly it! Every man's dream — to die in a woman's embrace! I'd be a happy ghost, even in the afterlife!"
Yi Yeok rose from his seat.
"If you're done talking, I'll be going."
"Hold on — one more thing."
Yeo Wi stopped him, then turned to his son.
"Bring me that map, boy. Second drawer on the left."
Without a word, Yeo Gwi fetched the map his father meant and handed it to Yi Yeok. It was made of cowhide.
For the first time since facing the man, Yi Yeok's eyes gleamed.
"A treasure map?"
"Who's to say."
"Then what is it? You want me to find your burial plot for you?"
Yeo Wi pointed to the spot marked on the map.
"It's near the Yangcheon Sect. No idea what's there. I went once myself, but there was nothing. You two might have different luck. Go test your fortune."
Yi Yeok spat.
"What's this supposed to be — you couldn't find it, or it was already picked clean? Which is it?"
"You cursed brat. What a rotten old man I am. If I didn't love you so much, I'd have ripped that filthy mouth of yours apart by now!"
Yeo Wi thrust out a brutish fist as if to pound him flat.
Yi Yeok didn't so much as glance at it, merely studying the map in his hands.
Yeo Wi reached out to snatch the map back.
"Fine, don't want it, then drop it! I'll go look myself."
Yi Yeok dodged the old man's hand and swiftly tucked the map into his coat.
"Tch. Well, you went to the trouble, so I might as well take a look. Doesn't seem all that far from the Yangcheon Sect, either."
As he stepped out of the room with Yeo Gwi, Yi Yeok threw a parting shot over his shoulder.
"Old turtle — you've lost quite a bit of your edge since I last saw you. Women are knives that carve a man down to the bone, you know."
This time Yeo Wi genuinely exploded.
"Watch your mouth! I'm still in my prime. Ten times a night? Easily done!"
"Of course, of course. Whatever you say, sir."
Long after Yi Yeok and Yeo Gwi had vanished, Yeo Wi was still huffing and puffing. He yanked the wrist of the courtesan beside him.
"Get over here! I'll prove it right this instant!"
Yi Yeok and Yeo Gwi left the Gwiyeong Squad's headquarters behind and made their way through the Maple Forest.
"Tsk tsk. Your old man's as lively as ever. Me? I surely won't grow old like that."
Only now — not a single word spoken in front of Yeo Wi — did Yeo Gwi open his mouth.
"Damn it all. What sin did I commit in a past life to end up with a father like that?"
"Wasn't he one of the people you killed last time around? Word of advice — don't go killing people carelessly in this life either. Who's to say you won't be reborn as their father next life? Ah — too late for you, huh?"
"You damn thief. Your mouth hasn't lost a step."
"Is it actually true that man was once called the Ghost Sword? Not a blade for catching turtles — a blade of demons, I mean?"
"Who can say. But I've never once seen the old man step in himself and fail. He claims he even cut down a true immortal once. Though for all I know, that was just drunken boasting."
Yeo Gwi fell silent for a moment before speaking.
"Well — I just have to put up with it a little longer. I'm leaving soon."
"Leaving the Gwiyeong Squad? Going where?"
"The Nokhyeon Sect."
Yi Yeok tilted his head. Come to think of it, he seemed to remember hearing that name from Seol Chong once before.
"An immortal sect?"
"That's right. A low-tier one for now — but I'll climb all the way to mid-tier, to high-tier, just watch me."
"What an ambitious fellow you are. And what exactly are you good at besides killing people?"
"I just kill everyone stronger than me. Then I'm the best, aren't I?"
"Like father, like son. You two think exactly alike."
"Cursed brat. Jeer all you want for now. But once I become the Number One Sword Immortal under the heavens, you won't dare — even if I gave you permission. Work under me then, and I'll let you wallow in wealth and glory until the day you die."
"Much obliged, but I'll pass, you turtle-brained bastard."
Yi Yeok waved a dismissive hand.
"Enough chitchat. Let's move. I'll show you just how impressive these immortal sects really are."
"Gladly. Those are the bastards I'll have to rough up once I break into the Celestial Realm anyway. Might as well sweep them clean while I've got the chance."
