Chapter 3
Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: A Frail-Looking Father
A frail-looking father.
Thinking about it, it was only natural.
Before my regression, I was someone who vied for the title of World's Greatest Martial Artist.
The only ones who could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with me were absolute masters like the Martial Emperor and the Heavenly Demon, whose names adorned the Ten Strongest Under Heaven.
In contrast, my father—Mok Taehyeon, the head of the Mok Family Clan—lacked even a decent nickname, not just in the Central Plains but even in the Shanxi region.
He might have seemed impressive in my childhood, but in reality, he was someone who bowed his head to even the Mount Hua Sect.
"Come over here and pay your respects. This is Elder Baek Soeun of the Mount Hua Sect, who will be Yeon-i's master."
Standing before my father was a female Daoist around my age before the regression.
She had the kind of looks that must have stolen many men's hearts in her youth, but...
'Hmm... no dice.'
My heart didn't stir in the slightest.
Age really was important to me, after all.
As I silently judged her, Mok Jicheon bowed toward her with a fist salute from beside me.
"It's an honor to meet you. I'm Mok Jicheon, the eldest son of the Mok Family Clan. Please take good care of our youngest, Yeon-i."
Meanwhile, as I stood there blankly, the eyes of the others turned toward me.
Father Mok Taehyeon glared at me as if urging me to bow quickly, while Mok Jicheon, mid-salute, poked my side with his elbow.
With no choice, I awkwardly lowered my head.
"I'm Mok Jimyeong."
I could feel Father's burning gaze, but I held my head high.
'They're nothing special anyway...'
The Mount Hua Sect might be something in the Shanxi region, but viewed across the entire Central Plains martial world, they were utterly unremarkable.
There were ten sects of similar caliber in the orthodox faction alone.
That's why they were called the Nine Great Sects.
If you factored in the unorthodox Four Black Alliance, the Demonic Cult, and the Outer Frontier Martial World, they couldn't even crack the top ten single powers in the Central Plains.
I, who had never bowed to the Murim Alliance Leader, the Four Black Alliance Chief, or even the Heavenly Demon...
For me to bow to a mere elder of the Mount Hua Sect—not even their sect leader—was utterly humiliating.
At that moment, the Mount Hua Sect elder who would become Yeon-i's master smiled and spoke.
"Hehe, including Jiyeon, whom I've accepted as my disciple, the Mok Family Clan's children are all exceptional talents. The eldest son is gentle and broad-minded, while the third son has such high spirits."
High spirits.
In other words, a brat.
She couldn't outright insult a much younger junior after becoming a Daoist, so she phrased it politely.
"Haha, is that so? Thank you for the kind words."
Father, oblivious as ever, laughed and expressed his gratitude.
The Mount Hua Sect's female Daoist looked slightly bewildered.
But Father didn't stop there and pressed on.
"I'm grateful for such praise from a renowned Daoist of the Mount Hua Sect. Ah, would you like to meet our second child as well?"
The female Daoist wore a reluctant expression.
Probably much like mine earlier.
Yet she couldn't refuse outright and nodded faintly.
"Ahem, yes. Let's see them. Where is the second child?"
With her permission granted, Father looked around.
Then he called over a nearby servant.
"Jangsan. Go fetch Eun-i."
My second sister, Mok Jieun, apparently wasn't at the banquet either.
Then again, given her personality, that made sense.
But the female Daoist's expression soured further at having to wait for a much younger junior.
'This is piling on the bad impressions a bit much.'
I'd inwardly dismissed her plenty earlier, but this was getting awkward.
Not that I feared the Mount Hua Sect or anything, but she was going to be Yeon-i's master.
If she took a dislike to us over this and mistreated Yeon-i, what then?
'I'd wipe out the whole Mount Hua Sect.'
As I silently vowed over something that hadn't even happened, the awaited Mok Jieun arrived.
All my concerns evaporated in an instant.
"Oh ho... so the true prodigy was elsewhere."
The female Daoist's surprised face held none of the negativity from before.
She seemed purely impressed.
'At least she has an eye for talent.'
A woman who would soon join the Five Dragons and Five Phoenixes and later earn the title Sword Queen.
She might not make the Ten Strongest Under Heaven, but she'd rank just below them as a supreme expert.
That was my second sister, Mok Jieun.
"Eun-a, come say hello. This is Elder Baek Soeun from the Mount Hua Sect."
At Father's words, Mok Jieun walked over.
She'd apparently been training until moments ago—her training robes disheveled, sweat dripping—but...
"Greetings. I'm Mok Jieun."
Her radiant beauty shone undimmed.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Baek Soeun of the Mount Hua Sect. Meeting an unexpected prodigy in a place like this puts me in high spirits."
The female Daoist's expression was worlds apart from how she'd looked at me.
And even,
"I want to take you back to Mount Hua and show you off to my disciples."
A faint glint of greed peeked from her transparent gaze.
But Mok Jieun was currently 23 years old.
Too old to formally accept as a sect disciple.
It could be forced if she really wanted, but...
'Take Yeon-i and my second sister too?'
Taking two children from one clan at once was poor etiquette.
That would mean giving up on Yeon-i, but backing out after already agreeing looked bad.
In the end, as the greed faded from her eyes, I thought, 'Daoists are Daoists, after all.'
"Thank you."
Mok Jieun replied curtly.
It might resemble my earlier demeanor, but that was just her personality.
'Anyway, it's been a while since I last saw Second Sis.'
The Sword Queen, Mok Jieun.
Our sibling relationship was a bit unique—hardly what you'd call close.
Somewhat distant, you might say.
From childhood, she'd been obsessed with the sword, devoting most of her time to training.
Even during my days as the Flowery Playboy, she paid me no attention.
Live your life your way, and I'll live mine.
That was her stance exactly.
Then she became the Sword Queen's disciple of that era, and we lost touch.
'I figured we'd never cross paths again.'
But that was before I'd fully earned the name Lecherous Demon.
—You've had it rough too.
Already the Sword Queen by then, she'd subdued me when the warrant went out... then let me go.
She even gave me plenty of money and herbs,
—Don't get caught from now on. You should see the end of the path you've chosen.
Encouraging me on my path as the Lecherous Demon.
Her words and actions that day still baffled me.
And that was the last time.
Until today, our first meeting since.
So I felt gratitude, but no longing.
'Still, seeing her face brings a smile.'
Was blood truly thicker than water?
As I unwittingly smiled, Father spoke to the female Daoist.
"What do you think, Daoist? Our second daughter, Eun-i."
"A prodigy among prodigies. Had she been born male, she could have raised our clan's name across the world. With the right martial arts, she'll become a female supreme expert whose name echoes through the heavens."
Regret tinged the female Daoist's praising gaze.
The "right martial arts" she mentioned didn't exist in the Mok Family Clan.
Of course, the clan had its own martial arts... but if they were truly excellent, there'd be no need to send Yeon-i to the Mount Hua Sect.
That's why she felt regret, but
'Second Sis is going to be the Sword Queen of this era anyway.'
It didn't faze me, knowing the future.
I'd already been thoroughly defeated by her swordsmanship once.
'That was the real deal.'
Even the Mount Hua Sect's famed Plum Blossom Swordsmanship paled against her blade.
Later, as the Lecherous Demon, I could have beaten her—but that was just inner energy disparity.
"Haha, thank you for the blessings."
Father, still clueless, beamed and replied without grasping her meaning.
Watching them, Mok Jieun spoke curtly.
"Father, may I go now? I haven't finished my training..."
"Yes, yes. Go on ahead."
Having his children praised one after another by the Mount Hua Sect elder clearly pleased him, so he let her go readily.
Seizing the moment, I chimed in.
"Father, I have some business too..."
"Oh? Hm... alright, you can go too, Myeong."
He looked reluctant, but gave permission.
He didn't want to let me go, but couldn't say, "She's fine, but not you."
I bowed my head and slipped out of the banquet hall.
'Phew, escape successful.'
I didn't have any pressing business, but the banquet hall had been suffocating.
Seeing my family after so long was nice, but everything else felt uncomfortable.
Watching my father—who was younger than me pre-regression—was taxing, and seeing him fawn over a mere Mount Hua Sect elder was worse.
I just wanted the celebration to end so I could hit the brothel with Jeong Mutae.
'First, though... let's visit the shrine.'
Better to shake off this nagging feeling quickly.
I left the clan grounds and retraced my memories slowly.
I'd worried since it was so long ago, but being such a pivotal event, the shrine's location came back clearly.
Channeling my meager inner energy into my legs, I unleashed lightness skill.
About fifteen minutes later,
A dilapidated shrine appeared, its origins unknown, overgrown with grass and trees, untended by anyone.
The Blissful Creation Art was hidden here.