Chapter 634
Translator: Ace
Chapter: 634
Chapter Title: So That Person Was There
A moment later, Ha Seol-ran slipped out of Ha Mu-baek's embrace.
"Does Yeon Ha-min know what you're thinking?"
It was the most important question.
Because the one who truly mattered wasn't Ha Seol-ran or Ha Mu-baek—it was Yeon Ha-min.
"I'll tell her if my brother gives his permission. I've already talked it over with Ha-min, but if you say no, I'd just feel empty inside."
There was no way Ha Mu-baek could refuse such a request from his sister.
But Ha Seol-ran was being cautious. She didn't want to burden her brother with her own thoughtless actions.
That was why she'd checked with him first.
"I'm fine with it. Do as you wish and talk it over with Yeon Ha-min."
At her brother's approval, a bright smile bloomed on Ha Seol-ran's face.
Ha Mu-baek felt pity even at that sight, but he suppressed it, lest she notice his true feelings.
"Go rest now. Training must have been tough today."
Ha Seol-ran nodded at his words.
"Oh, the junior disciples were so pretty. I think we'll get along great from now on."
She left those words behind with a beaming smile and departed the rear garden.
Ha Mu-baek remained alone in the garden.
He gazed up at the dark night sky.
His heart was just as pitch-black as that sky right now.
The deficiency in his sister Seol-ran.
He agonized over how to fill it.
This was one thing that neither he nor his master could resolve, no matter how hard they tried.
The stars twinkling faintly in the night sky offered a bit of light amid the darkness.
Ha Mu-baek's heart needed a small light like that to pierce its own gloom, however faintly.
'How can I...'
As he pondered a solution, one person suddenly came to mind.
'My benefactor.'
Ha Mu-baek thought of U Mun Ga-yul, with her refined, compassionate, and noble beauty.
'Come to think of it.'
When he'd rescued Gong Ya Hwi-yeon and parted ways with her, she'd asked him to visit Sa Hye-ryeon at least once.
Ha Mu-baek had promised to do so if he brought Ran along.
He was only now remembering that.
It was a request from the one who had saved his life, yet he'd forgotten all about it.
"You idiot..."
How could he forget something so important?
True, many urgent and busy matters had arisen in the meantime, but this was no ordinary person—it was his benefactor U Mun Ga-yul.
Moreover, he'd just been to Sa Hye-ryeon recently.
He'd only met briefly with Mun In Baek-song before leaving right away.
There was no excuse for going all that way without even thinking of his benefactor.
At the same time, the image of his benefactor's warm and kind demeanor surfaced in his mind.
If anyone could give Seol-ran what he couldn't, it would be her.
After all, on that unforgettable day, she'd held and cared for Seol-ran in her arms.
She'd mentioned having a child around Seol-ran's age back then. That child had been Gong Ya Hwi-yeon.
'I suppose I owe Mun In Baek-song for this.'
This recent event had resolved Gong Ya Jang-cheon's great worry.
It had started with Mun In Baek-song's request, but Gong Ya Jang-cheon was ultimately U Mun Ga-yul's father-in-law.
Thinking of her, Ha Mu-baek had no choice but to help Gong Ya Jang-cheon.
Thanks to Mun In Baek-song's message, he'd acted swiftly and even saved Gong Ya Ha-rang.
In doing so, he'd resolved one of U Mun Ga-yul's worries.
Ha Mu-baek's gaze turned toward the building where Ha Seol-ran's room was located.
"I should head to the Hubei Yeon Clan first, right?"
It was the natural course of action.
If he went straight to Sa Hye-ryeon, Yeon Ha-min would have to come along, and he'd only meet U Mun Ga-yul briefly before parting again.
As he sorted out his future plans, Wi Ji-gun made his appearance.
The expression on his face mirrored Ha Mu-baek's.
He had overheard the conversation between Ha Mu-baek and Ha Seol-ran.
He'd been at quite a distance, but by channeling his internal energy into his hearing, there was no difficulty in listening.
Above all, Ha Mu-baek hadn't blocked the sound with a barrier.
He'd confirmed no one was nearby, so there'd been no need to erect one.
Judging by the auras he sensed, his master was the only one who could have overheard even with internal energy.
"Poor child..."
A voice filled with pity and bitterness escaped Wi Ji-gun's lips.
Ha Mu-baek said nothing.
He felt the same way.
"This is one thing you and I can't do anything about."
His voice brimmed with self-reproach.
Reproach for his own inability to help his disciple.
"That's why I'm thinking of stopping by Sa Hye-ryeon on the way back from the Hubei Yeon Clan."
"Sa Hye-ryeon?"
His disciple had just returned from there not long ago.
During today's catch-up, he'd heard all about Ha Mu-baek's journey.
"Yes. My benefactor is there."
At Ha Mu-baek's response,
"Ah!"
Wi Ji-gun let out an exclamation.
He knew who his disciple meant by "benefactor."
The senior expert who had helped Ha Mu-baek survive a life-threatening crisis before he himself had met his disciple.
She was the wife of Sa Hye-ryeon Lord Gong Ya Jang-cheon.
Last time, during the Hyun Hwang incident, hadn't he said he'd reunited with her after more than a decade?
"So that person was there."
Wi Ji-gun nodded and murmured to himself.
"But won't that impose on her?"
To Wi Ji-gun's question, Ha Mu-baek replied uncertainly.
"That's what worries me too. Especially since I forgot and failed to honor the request she made of me."
"Request?"
"She asked me to visit Sa Hye-ryeon at least once."
Wi Ji-gun looked at Ha Mu-baek with a peculiar expression.
"Lately, you've been acting out of character."
Forgetting about his disciples, and now even his benefactor's request.
Wi Ji-gun's smiling face actually showed relief.
"But I like it. It means you have some leisure. You've shed that tense, razor-sharp edge and gained some ease, so it's natural to forget things without realizing it."
"My apologies."
Ha Mu-baek bowed his head, his face flushing red.
"But forgetting your benefactor's request... She might feel a bit slighted."
"I have no excuse."
"Well, there wasn't a set date, and you'll visit with Seol-ran, so she probably won't mind much. Though it is a bit awkward that you passed through Sa Hye-ryeon recently. Heh heh."
Ha Mu-baek averted his gaze slightly.
"Take your time with this, no matter how long it takes. Don't worry about things here—go at your leisure. I'll cover for you as needed."
Wi Ji-gun made this request because Ha Mu-baek was going to meet someone who might fill the deficiency in Seol-ran that even she herself didn't know about.
The warriors of Sa Hye-ryeon had recently felt the atmosphere in the ryun grow remarkably brighter.
They weren't letting their guard down, but they struggled to adapt to what was the softest mood in years.
Everyone knew the reason.
The ryun lord's sister, Gong Ya Ha-rang—who hadn't shown herself for so long that all sorts of rumors had swirled—had appeared in perfect health.
Thanks to that, the ryun lord was always in a good mood, which naturally put Mun In Baek-song in a good mood as well.
With the elders and protectors in high spirits, the leaders of the various combat units were happy too.
How could the atmosphere be anything but good?
The area where the ryun lord's family resided was even more warm and harmonious.
Having fully recovered, Gong Ya Ha-rang began sharing news with her family.
"Great-aunt! This is wonderful!"
Gong Ya Hwi-yeon threw herself into Gong Ya Ha-rang's arms, eyes brimming with tears.
"Ho ho. When did my granddaughter grow so tall?"
Gong Ya Ha-rang patted Gong Ya Hwi-yeon's back with a pleased smile.
"Greetings, Aunt."
"It's been a while for you too, daughter-in-law."
Gong Ya Ha-rang smiled warmly at U Mun Ga-yul.
The two, exchanging smiles, didn't look like aunt and daughter-in-law based on appearances alone.
That was only natural.
They were actually the same age, more or less.
That was why Gong Ya Hwi-yeon used "great-aunt" instead of "grandmother."
Both meant the same, but with Gong Ya Ha-rang looking just like her mother, "grandmother" simply wouldn't come out.
"What on earth happened?"
Gong Ya Hwi-yeon pulled away, wiping her tears as she asked.
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity.
She knew her youngest great-aunt had mastered the forbidden Myeong-gong despite everyone's warnings and gone into secluded training somewhere.
"Come, sit down and talk. I've prepared some fine tea."
Following Gong Ya Ha-rang's lead, the three sat around the low table.
"Hwi-yeon, you must never pull something like I did. Understand?"
Before beginning, Gong Ya Ha-rang issued her warning, to which Gong Ya Hwi-yeon pouted.
"I've already caused trouble."
U Mun Ga-yul smiled faintly at her daughter as she spoke.
"M-Mom!"
Gong Ya Hwi-yeon cried out in surprise.
Shocked as she was, "Mom" slipped out instead of "Mother."
Her face turned bright red.
"Come to think of it."
It had been so long she'd forgotten, but U Mun Ga-yul's confinement had been lifted.
It was before Gong Ya Ha-rang had learned Myeong-gong, so she remembered clearly.
"Gr-Great-aunt, what happened with the Myeong-gong?"
Gong Ya Hwi-yeon hurriedly changed the subject.
At that question, Gong Ya Ha-rang recalled the past.
Only Gong Ya Jang-cheon and Mun In Baek-song knew everything that had happened to her.
Gong Ya Hwi-yeon and U Mun Ga-yul, as family, knew she'd mastered Myeong-gong and was resisting its curse.
"I suppose that's what you're more curious about?"
Gong Ya Ha-rang looked at Gong Ya Hwi-yeon and slowly unraveled the tale from the past.
Hiding what needed to be hidden, sharing only what could be told.
The two listeners were stunned by her story.
Not just the content, but the name that slipped from her lips.
"Ha Mu-baek... you say?"
Gong Ya Hwi-yeon asked in disbelief.
"Yes. My benefactor. Do you know him too, Hwi-yeon?"
"Know him? That's an understatement..."
As she said that, Gong Ya Hwi-yeon glanced at her mother.
Gong Ya Ha-rang's face clouded with puzzlement at the sight.
"The man Grandfather acknowledged as the world's greatest... was the cause of Mother's sin."
"Huh?"
Now it was Gong Ya Hwi-yeon and U Mun Ga-yul's turn to share their story.
After hearing it all,
The three stared at each other in utter disbelief.
"Ha. No matter how wondrous the world's connections are, this is..."
Gong Ya Ha-rang murmured in astonishment.
Her life benefactor Ha Mu-baek, and his life benefactor was her own daughter-in-law right before her eyes.
"Wow. The instructor came to Sa Hye-ryeon and just left...?"
Gong Ya Hwi-yeon said, sounding genuinely miffed.
She'd been waiting for him to visit someday, and even U Mun Ga-yul had been completely unaware he'd come and gone.
"He met Strategist Mun In secretly for a short time and rushed off to find my brother."
Gong Ya Ha-rang quickly explained on Ha Mu-baek's behalf.
She felt guilty, as if she'd committed a sin herself, at her granddaughter feeling slighted over actions taken for her brother's sake.
"Master went too far. He knows how much I've been waiting for the instructor..."
Gong Ya Hwi-yeon vented a bit of her resentment toward Mun In Baek-song too.
U Mun Ga-yul gently stroked her daughter's hair.
"He had to do that. You shouldn't feel slighted over something like this. You're still too young."
Her words contrasted with her gentle touch and caring tone.
Gong Ya Hwi-yeon flinched at her mother's words.
"S-Sorry."
"No need. With connections like that, it's natural to feel that way."
Gong Ya Ha-rang brushed it off with a light laugh.
After chatting about other things for a while, U Mun Ga-yul and Gong Ya Hwi-yeon left Gong Ya Ha-rang's residence once some time had passed.
How long had they walked?
Confirming no one else was around, Gong Ya Hwi-yeon suddenly asked U Mun Ga-yul out of curiosity.
"But why didn't Master ask for Mother's help and instead collect on the instructor's debt? If he'd asked you, the debt would still be there. What a waste."
She looked utterly baffled.
Ha Mu-baek's debt.
In the current martial world, it was priceless.
If he'd resolved things with her mother's help, Mun In Baek-song could have held onto that debt.
Then, for Sa Hye-ryeon matters or even his personal ones, he could have asked Ha Mu-baek for help.
It felt like such a shame, even if Gong Ya Hwi-yeon herself wouldn't benefit.
"Strategist Mun In is the ryun lord's loyal retainer."
It was a well-known fact.
"A loyal retainer doesn't carelessly expose his lord's flaws to outsiders, even if it's family."
"Ah..."
Gong Ya Hwi-yeon let out a small gasp of realization at U Mun Ga-yul's explanation.
"It's a bit regrettable that he came and went without us knowing, but at least he's doing well. That's a relief."
U Mun Ga-yul said this as she headed back to her own residence.