Reunion with the Wisdom Phoenix
“Ryong came by?”
“Yes. He left after saying he had something to deliver to you, my lord.”
“Hmm.”
Baekri Hyeok felt a faint bitterness at hearing his son speak the name of his former subordinate. Gongson Ryong, once the vice-commander of the Cheoksagun and known as Goebu, had been the man Baekri Hyeok trusted most without question.
When he returned from the Northern Sea to the Murim, he gathered the scattered remnants of the Cheoksagun and apologized. His reckless decision had, in effect, ruined their futures. Yet they had chosen to follow him anyway. During the three years he was gone, they had been treated as nothing more than mediocre martial artists. They wanted to remain under his command as his subordinates. In the end, Baekri Hyeok accepted them into the Baekri Clan. The name Cheoksagun was discarded; instead, they took on a new identity that reflected their role in the shadows—the Amyongdae.
The only regret had been Gongson Ryong’s absence. Staying at the Murim Alliance headquarters had indeed been the right choice.
“I’ll be stepping out for a while. You stay put, Hyeong. Don’t even think about going anywhere.”
“Pardon?”
“You’d best prepare a convincing excuse.”
With those words, Baekri Hyeok vanished without another sound. Baekri Hyeong, however, felt only despair. The demand for an excuse meant his father intended to interrogate him about where he had learned the Four Guardian Deities Sword. He had no idea how to explain it.
“Well… there was never any chance he wouldn’t notice.”
His father was one of the Five Sovereigns of Murim, an absolute master whose sword had no equal under heaven. Showing him a sword art he had never seen before naturally invited questions about its origin.
“I can’t tell him the truth. Not yet… I have to keep it secret from everyone.”
Once enough time had passed, he planned to reveal the truth of his regression. Keeping such a secret from his family would be the same as saying he did not trust them. The immediate problem was crafting an excuse that would satisfy his father right now.
Time slipped by. Still kneeling, Baekri Hyeong was lost in thought when his father returned, his presence unmistakable. He met the man’s gaze awkwardly—guilt made it impossible to appear composed.
“So, did you come up with an excuse?”
“…I have no intention of making excuses.”
“Oh?”
After long deliberation, Baekri Hyeong had decided to weave in fragments of future knowledge to carve out a path forward.
“The sword art I used in the spar is not one of the Baekri Clan’s techniques.”
“I know. Yet you claim you won’t offer excuses? Even if it costs you your position as young lord?”
“Father, there is a traitor within the clan.”
“..!”
“And whether you believe me or not, in a few years at most… the Demonic Cult will make its move.”
Baekri Hyeok frowned at his son’s words. He had expected excuses, not claims of a spy in the clan and an impending invasion by the Demonic Cult. The troubling part was that the information about the Demonic Cult’s imminent activity was something Baekri Hyeok himself already knew.
“How can you be so certain? What is your basis?”
Baekri Hyeok released his internal energy, determined to press the matter properly. Sensing it, Baekri Hyeong once again marveled at his father’s strength and began reciting the excuse he had prepared. From here on, performance was everything.
“Three years ago, I told you I had a dream.”
“Yes. You changed after that.”
“At the time, I was rambling. But if everything from that dream has come true so far… would you believe me, Father?”
“What?”
“The alliance with the Jegal Clan, the reconciliation with Mother’s family, the formation of the Hubei Alliance with the Wudang Sect, and… even your secret meeting with the Celestial Sovereign a few days ago. I saw it all.”
“..!”
Baekri Hyeok’s eyebrows twitched. His meeting with the Celestial Sovereign had been among the most closely guarded secrets. The Celestial Sovereign stayed in a place no one knew. How could Baekri Hyeong possibly know about it?
“I can tell you more. About what will happen from now on.”
“Enough. If you don’t wish to speak, so be it.”
Baekri Hyeok held back his many questions. Seeing how desperately his son clung to the dream excuse to keep the origin of his sword art hidden, he had no desire to press further.
“More importantly… you said there’s a spy in the clan?”
“Yes. I’m not certain, but I suspect the Finance Hall, the First Elder, and the Chief Steward. Since the Finance Hall has already fallen, it must be one of the other two.”
“I’ll have to investigate as soon as I return.”
Baekri Hyeong lowered his head, avoiding his father’s gaze. The man was furious. He had never imagined a spy would dare infiltrate the clan he led.
Meanwhile, Baekri Hyeong breathed a quiet sigh of relief that the matter of the Four Guardian Deities Sword had been set aside.
Is he letting it go? He doesn’t seem to believe the dream story.
Given the circumstances, it was reasonable to assume he was overlooking it. No matter how he looked at it, Baekri Hyeok’s attention was clearly focused elsewhere. What conversation had he had with Gongson Ryong? Curious though he was, Baekri Hyeong knew better than to ask. He remained still, waiting for his father to speak again.
“Go back and rest. I have things I need to think about alone.”
“Yes. I’ll take my leave.”
Baekri Hyeong offered a brief bow and left his father’s room. Judging by the atmosphere, it wouldn’t be long before he was moved out of the guest quarters. Having heard about the spy from his son, Baekri Hyeok would naturally grow suspicious. Honestly, every sect and clan had spies. But who would be bold enough to plant one in the Baekri Clan, home to one of the Five Sovereigns? Still, since Baekri Hyeong had mentioned the Demonic Cult, his father would likely connect the spy to them. That was now Baekri Hyeok’s concern. Baekri Hyeong needed to focus on refining his skills for next year’s Dragon-Phoenix Gathering.
Even recalling his past life, the upcoming gathering would be a gathering of monsters. Of course, Baekri Hyeong, already eyeing the Transcendent Peak Realm, had long surpassed the level of a mere late-stage genius. No matter how strong the young talents at the gathering were, the chance of any surpassing him was less than ten percent. Yet when he considered the enemies he would eventually face, he knew he had to break through the wall of the Transcendent Peak Realm before the gathering.
Baekri Hyang would call it nonsense if she heard, but it didn’t matter. He had already reached the Hyeongyeong realm in his previous life. The nature of his enlightenment might differ, but he would adapt quickly.
As Baekri Hyeong headed back to his room, he spotted someone standing at the door and swallowed a chuckle.
“It’s been a while.”
“..! Young Lord!”
“You’ve grown so much I barely recognize you. Last time I saw you, you were just a little kid.”
“...”
The woman at the door was Jegal Yujin. It had been about a year since he last saw her face. After that, they had only exchanged letters, so this was indeed a long-awaited reunion.
“What brings you here? The spar?”
“Ah, no…”
“Want some tea? Come in first.”
“Y-yes…”
Jegal Yujin muttered in a voice that sounded as if she wanted to crawl into a mouse hole. Baekri Hyeong’s sharp ears caught every word, though he couldn’t quite understand why her face was turning red.
Anyway, he ushered her inside.
“…Hmm.”
Namgung Suryeon, who had been on her way to find Baekri Hyeong, let out a dry laugh at the sight. It seemed she did have a rival after all.
“Jegal Yujin of the Jegal Clan… I heard she possesses greater martial talent than even Jegal Jinho?”
The Jegal Clan generally produced brilliant strategists. Even if their martial prowess was weaker than other clans, their mastery of formations, strategy, and mechanisms made them formidable in group battles compared to the other Five Great Clans. Yet from that clan had emerged the anomaly known as Jegal Yujin. At only eleven years old, she was already on the verge of the Peak Realm. If she participated in next year’s Dragon-Phoenix Gathering, she would likely have reached it by then—a future rival.
“Bringing her here and telling her to live in his house, only to turn around and let another woman in… isn’t that a bit much?”
Namgung Suryeon muttered under her breath, too quietly for anyone to hear, and turned away. Baekri Hyeong might not notice, but Jegal Yujin’s feelings were plain as day. She looked like a woman hopelessly in love. Whether Baekri Hyeong was oblivious or deliberately ignoring it, he remained composed. Thanks to that, Namgung Suryeon found some small comfort. There was still plenty of time left for her.