Chapter 35
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Gaining Recognition
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The next day at noon.
As the sun climbed high in the sky, I stepped out of my dusty old quarters, dressed neatly and properly.
It seemed they hadn't completely abandoned the place. The room I hadn't seen in ages hadn't gotten any worse than before.
By the time I finished preparing, the faint nostalgia I'd felt had completely faded.
A-so had taught me the rules and emphasized them over and over.
I had perfectly adopted the demeanor and mindset befitting a young master of a prestigious clan.
From there, I headed straight to the patriarch's quarters.
Surprisingly, there were no cumbersome procedures.
Bow.
The people passing by silently lowered their heads in greeting.
These were the same folks who used to ignore me on purpose or gossip loudly enough for me to hear.
...A-so would have been thrilled to see this.
Putting aside the commotion of starting to build a foundation in martial arts, reflecting on recent events, it seemed news of my clash with the Plum Sword Gang had spread far and wide.
They didn't show outright courtesy or respect toward the third young master, but the fact they observed basic etiquette was a huge step forward—something encouraging.
I hadn't expected the clan's servants' perceptions to flip overnight anyway.
For now, it felt like I'd finally reached the starting line in unraveling the past seventeen years, and my attitude toward heading to the patriarch's quarters was markedly different from before.
Word was he was known for being curt even with his other sons, so his demeanor the day before had been quite unexpected.
I wasn't in a position to judge others, so probably neither side had been wearing false expressions.
A father was a stranger to me, whether in my past life or this one.
An unfamiliar resonance, an awkward and uncomfortable relationship.
Of course, the old Seo Mun-ha's resentment toward him was something separate from me, so the distance between father and son had been just right up until now.
'No issues here.'
Recalling him—someone with whom I shared many similarities—I felt a sense of kinship as I stood before the iron gate.
An iron wall hidden within the wooden frame.
There were no special mechanisms or formations, but entry was clearly no light matter.
"Come in."
Permission from Seo Mun Jeong-cheon came from beyond the sturdy doorframe.
The voice pierced through the barrier as if spoken right beside me, offering a glimpse of his profound inner energy.
Clunk.
"You summoned me."
"Yes... I have a few questions for you."
For some reason, his uncle's face overlapped with his.
There were differences, but brothers were brothers.
At the patriarch's order—or consideration—to rest, the private meeting and report took half a day.
"Speak."
His nature couldn't be changed.
"You've reached the Third Realm."
As always, one question, one answer.
"Yes."
An utterly official attitude—no father-son chit-chat whatsoever.
"How?"
"I had a fateful encounter."
"The world may not know, but everyone in the clan does. You're no threat."
"What are you suspecting?"
"As I said, just questions. Have you perhaps learned a demonic art?"
"No."
"I thought not. Then."
"Are you here to scold me, Father, or to praise me?"
"It'd be nice if I could purely reprimand you."
I nodded.
"It's the connection with that senior I mentioned before. It synergized with the Mountain Shattering Heavenly Spirit Sword, leading to my current achievement."
A faint smile tugged at Seo Mun Jeong-cheon's lips.
"Mountain Shattering Heavenly Spirit Sword, eh? Did you name it?"
"A temporary name. We need something to call it, don't we?"
"If you master it, make it official."
The suspicion lifted quickly. The simple procedure was just verification—anyone could tell it wasn't a demonic art.
"I shall."
"Tell me if you need anything or face any difficulties."
Seo Mun Jeong-cheon, clear on rewards and punishments, promised various supports to me, who had somewhat upheld the family's prestige.
As I finished my business and turned from the iron gate, his curt voice followed, just as before.
"...No injuries anywhere?"
I infused my reply with energy as well and concluded the meeting with the patriarch.
'No time to rest.'
After leaving the patriarch's quarters, it was time for the Flower Shadow Hall.
The Seo Mun Clan's two madams.
Im So-young and Jo Young-mi were chatting in the annex.
"Greetings to my two mothers."
"Come in, dear."
Im So-young clasped her hands gracefully.
Her gentle demeanor made it hard to read her intentions, but the reason she'd called me was clear.
"Aren't you proud, little sister? To have prodigies from the main house rivaling the Nine Dragons and Seven Phoenixes."
It was surely due to the clan's internal affairs.
With her maternal family being the Chuso Escort Agency in northern Hebei, verifying rumors would be no trouble. Im So-young turned to Jo Young-mi as if seeking agreement.
"Two of them, no less."
Her half-siblings: the younger sister and younger brother.
She meant her son, the fourth young master Seo Mun Jun-sang.
"A blessing for the main house. Their futures look bright."
Jo Young-mi replied stiffly, like a wooden doll.
The situation involved the minor patriarch competition.
The minor patriarch position normally went to the eldest son, but the second and fourth sons' ambitions and talents had left it vacant until now.
The Seo Mun Clan's fourth young master, Seo Mun Jun-sang.
And even Seo Mun Young-ryeong—both siblings under Jo Young-mi were exceptional martial talents.
Strictly speaking, they fell short of the Nine Dragons and Seven Phoenixes, but for siblings still developing, it spoke volumes about the high expectations placed on them.
'The minor patriarch competition.'
It had nothing to do with me, who had no maternal backing.
No supporting maternal clan or separate faction, and my standing in the clan was negligible.
Little legitimacy or room to intervene in the competition.
"My, Da-hyung truly is impressive. Just as Ryeong-ie said."
It was a matter before interest or curiosity, and amid casual talk intertwined with my Sichuan trip, the cold-faced madam broached the topic.
"What are your plans from now on?"
The icy tone belonged unmistakably to Jo Young-mi. Perhaps thanks to Seo Mun Young-ryeong, it was more direct than Im So-young's flowery "my, my"s—and thus more comfortable.
"Didn't you call me son...? Isn't it natural for a mother to ask about her child's future?"
She glanced away slightly.
Her curtness was a spitting image of Seo Mun Jeong-cheon.
Seo Mun Young-ryeong's existence between them was oddly puzzling.
"I have no spare eyes for anything else."
At my firm answer, the two exchanged glances briefly.
Martial artists didn't just eat dirt.
Agriculture was basic, and they ran various businesses, collaborations with murim sects and factions.
For a great clan, the Seo Mun Clan's structure was simple, but one person's prowess wasn't everything.
From martial arts to martial arts lay endless paths.
The clan's affairs offered more directions than one might think.
"Don't worry."
The first and second young masters were already contributing to both civil and military matters.
"I know you resent my late mother."
"..."
"I won't take it out on either of you or my other brothers over that."
Let alone independence—staying unattached anywhere.
I had no intention of meddling in the current lineup or balance over the minor patriarch seat.
...Not yet.
"Young-ryeong feels the same."
"You're truly unbothered?"
Jo Young-mi asked, as if caught off guard.
Despite years of harsh treatment and persecution, I'd never harbored grudges.
Seo Mun-ha—the previous owner of this body—had been the same.
Forgiveness or whatever.
"Eighteen years is enough time for mountains and rivers to change twice."
There was no point in carrying his burdens.
No grudges against them lingered in body or soul. Seo Mun-ha's resentment toward Seo Mun Jeong-cheon stemmed simply from growing up without parental love, or so I surmised.
'The truth might differ.'
I personally uprooted the seeds of their resentment.
For my own sake.
They didn't seem the type to make wrong choices out of mere unease, but how they'd interpret my moderate words was for future me to know.
"If there's nothing more, I'll take my leave."
The day's effects came quicker than expected.
"Big brother!"
Seo Mun Young-ryeong, filling A-so's absence, burst into my quarters at the crack of dawn.
Her footsteps brimming with excitement.
"Mother gave her permission!"
"A grown girl barging into a man's room like that is no good."
"It's big brother. Don't talk like Mother—listen to me!"
The bouncing girl rattled on eagerly.
In summary, her mother Jo Young-mi had acknowledged her wishes.
"Greetings, Young Master. I hope you've been well."
Wirani bowed deeply, as if apologizing for the unannounced intrusion.
"I was fine until now, but not anymore."
"...I'm sorry."
Compared to her former cries of "benefactor," Young-ryeong's maid was much more at ease now, but apologized for failing to stop her lady.
"Don't bully Wirani, big brother."
"I'm not the one doing it?"
Sometimes, rest wasn't optional but essential.
For martial artists who pushed their bodies hard.
And soldiers treated rest like duty too—but I was forcibly dragged into my little sister's joys and sorrows in the dead of night.
"So you held onto the Black Wind Unit vice-commander position."
"Yes!"
"Congratulations."
"That's it?"
"That's it."
The Black Wind Unit consisted of reserves like her.
They could be dispatched to various units in emergencies, but basically served dual roles.
'Or lack talent.'
Like Gu Chil and Yang Jeong, deep in training.
For the two who claimed to be my subordinates despite my lack of rank, enlisting in the Black Wind Unit was a given step.
"She permitted me to focus solely on martial arts."
"Good for you."
Seo Mun Young-ryeong excelled in martial arts but fell short elsewhere.
Normally, it was time to step back. If lacking ability or considering marriage, there'd be much to supplement and learn anew.
"It's thanks to you, big brother."
"Is it?"
"I never planned to marry anyway."
Her talent was beyond reproach. The mother-daughter difference stemmed from Jo Young-mi not being a pure martial artist. And wishing safer lives for children was universal among parents.
"I wanted to thank you!"
"I don't think I did much."
For some reason, my martial uncle at Silent Shadow Pavilion came to mind.
"You'll end up like Uncle then."
"That's fine."
"Can't even marry?"
"The great big brother will look after me then, right? And Uncle isn't avoiding it, is he?"
Seo Mun Young-ryeong tilted her head innocently.
"There are three great lies of the world floating around Shandong."
"What are they?"
"First, a merchant selling at a loss. Second, an old man seeking his grave."
In other words, merchants don't sell at a loss, and people don't easily accept death.
"Third, an unmarried man or woman past marriageable age having no intention to wed."
"Ah..."
"So it wouldn't hurt to listen to Mother and Wirani."
She nodded right away in agreement.
"Oh."
Then, as if suddenly remembering, she added,
"Someone insisted I relay a message to you."
"Who?"
"Sister Eun-ye. There's a gathering of the later generation disciples. In Shandong."