Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Blood Lord Joins the Clan
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"......"
"......"
"Little Brother."
"Yes, Brother Gu."
"I think I need some time to mentally prepare for this."
"Even a blunt horn must be pulled out while it's fresh if you're going to claim you can do it. Keep dragging your feet, and something precious in your crotch might run off."
"......"
Gu-ak was the type who, even staring death in the face, wouldn't cower in fear but lash out in fury instead.
But right now, he was fidgeting like a puppy desperate to poop.
He had no choice. Gu-ak was heading off to do something he'd never even imagined in his entire life.
'Live as a Baek righteous man? What the hell is this.'
The difference between black and white was simple. It came down to whether you put your own desires above propriety and righteousness.
On a grand scale, it might mean letting greed for wealth blind you into preying on the weak.
On a smaller scale, it could be holding back your temper instead of exploding in rage.
And Gu-ak was confident he could handle the former, but the latter? Not so much.
"By the way, Little Brother. You did give advance word to the Baek Clan Head... your father, right?"
"......"
Watching Yang-hui fall silent, Gu-ak felt a chill crawl down his spine, his unease mounting to the point where his hair stood on end.
This kid couldn't be thinking...?
Intuition always hit truest when heading toward disaster.
And sure enough, when they arrived at Baek Clan Manor,
Gu-ak's gut feeling became reality.
"Hui-ya, what did you say? The Blood Lord wants to become one of our household members?"
Yang-hui answered crisply,
without a care for Gu-ak's feelings.
"Yes, Father!"
"......Is that true, Blood Lord?"
"......"
Gu-ak fell silent and stared at Yang-hui. Then he sent a transmission.
-Little Broooother!
-This isn't what we agreed onnnn!!!
Yang-hui answered crisply once more.
"You said to come join the main house, but I never said I'd gotten anyone else's approval first!"
Gu-ak desperately suppressed the urge to smack the back of that cheeky head.
Meanwhile, Baek Mu-ryang let out a sigh and spoke up.
"It seems true that you, Blood Lord, wish to join our house. What brought on such a change of heart?"
"......"
The silence stretched on. As did the intense deliberation.
Finally, Gu-ak spoke.
"I'll be honest with you, Peerless Righteous Helper. No... Clan Head."
Gu-ak lifted his head, his eyes burning with resolve.
"Born at the very bottom of the black path, I've lived my whole life off the edge of a blade. But even for a wretch like me, something precious enough to throw everything away for has come into my life."
Gu-ak suddenly spotted Rang-rang peeking from behind a pillar in the hall, watching them.
"Rang-rang is the love of this old fool's life. She's the woman worth abandoning everything I've built. So."
Even if he sought refuge in Baek Clan Manor, could he truly escape all grudges and killing intent?
Baek Clan Manor was just a minor martial house whose head had barely reached second-rate.
But.
Gu-ak's gaze fell on a certain youth.
Thud! Gu-ak dropped to his knees.
"I beg you to accept this Gu as one of your household, Clan Head."
"......"
Baek Mu-ryang remained silent for a long while.
He stared at the back of Gu-ak's bowed head, then turned to Yang-hui, and finally looked up at the sky.
"This too is fate. Gu-ak, I accept you as one of our main house."
"I shall serve you to the best of this old ox and horse's ability, Clan Head."
"No. There's no need to slave away like an ox or horse. I know your capabilities well enough, and I intend to show you the respect you deserve. However."
Baek Mu-ryang finished firmly, his expression turning stern as he continued.
"The paramount value our house pursues is righteousness. Blood Lord Gu-ak, you must wash away that infamous title. Thus, as your Clan Head, I command you: Perform one act of chivalry each day and earn the moniker 'One Chivalry Per Day'."
For a moment, bewilderment crossed Gu-ak's face.
Perform acts of chivalry? Every single day?
Gu-ak had always viewed chivalry as a pretty wrapper for tedious nonsense.
But he immediately dropped to one knee and cupped his fists in salute.
"Yes! I shall obey the Clan Head's command!"
Baek Mu-ryang personally took Gu-ak's hand and helped him to his feet.
"I welcome you sincerely. Gu-ak, I grant you Baekik Pavilion among the annexes. From now on, you shall be known as Lord of Baekik Pavilion."
"I offer boundless thanks for your generosity, Clan Head."
Yang-hui watched the scene with a satisfied smile.
Even after weighing every option, he'd judged that bringing Gu-ak into the main house was a net gain, so he'd gone for it—and it had wrapped up nicely.
While the household members' eyes were fixed on Gu-ak, Yang-hui slipped out of the manor unnoticed.
'Let's see, he must be watching from somewhere.'
Cranning his neck around, Yang-hui spotted Yeo Un-jeok standing alone atop the tall hall where they'd first met, and leaped toward him.
"Elder."
"You've come."
"You could come to the main house and see it up close."
The uproar with Yeo Un-jeok had wiped out Blue Serpent Gang, halved Crimson Gang, purged over half the black path forces in Ak-an County, and brought massive profits to Baek Clan.
In short, everything was settled, so bringing Yeo Un-jeok into Baek Clan now posed no issue.
Yang-hui gazed at Yeo Un-jeok—the biggest prize on the table.
"Don't you want to see your daughter? If you wish, I'll escort you there myself."
"......No, not yet."
Yang-hui watched Yeo Un-jeok take a step back and asked,
"There's no need to fear. Sister Rang will welcome you, and for her, you'll be a great blessing."
The gaze fixed on Baek Clan Manor shifted. Soon, Yeo Un-jeok let out an admiring chuckle.
"Heh. Young Master, you're far beyond your years. You see right through this worn-out old man's heart without even trying."
"I hear that a lot."
Yang-hui understood Yeo Un-jeok's feelings. He must want to see his daughter right away, talk with her, hold her hand.
But when something—or someone—is too beloved, too precious, approaching becomes that much harder.
'Especially since the elder's a wanted man in the martial world.'
The moment his identity came out, not just him but Rang-rang too would suffer.
He hadn't done anything like a fiend from the unorthodox paths or a madman from the demonic cults, and he'd evaded capture all this time, so it probably wouldn't be a huge issue.
Yang-hui stared quietly at Yeo Un-jeok before speaking.
"Elder, why not become a guest of our house?"
"Hm? You know I'm a wanted criminal in the martial world."
"Enter claiming to be Sister Rang's father under a new identity. Can't you manage that?"
"At least you know my true identity."
A exposed secret could cease being a secret at any moment, handing your weakness to the enemy.
"That stops mattering the instant Sister Rang and Brother Gu become part of the house."
"......True enough."
"Chatting with Sister Rang whenever time allows, I've realized something. She's a very lonely woman. She needs family, Elder."
Taking Yeo Un-jeok into the house was far riskier than with Gu-ak.
But they had to accept him anyway.
Because he was the key to accelerating the house's growth.
"When you visit the house, please use the alias Yeo Un-hyeok. Sister Rang will live as Yeo Ah-rang from now on, but you must live as Yeo Un-hyeok. Abide by that, and I'll accept you as a guest."
Finishing his words, Yang-hui read the conflict blooming in Yeo Un-jeok's chest.
"A peaceful life with your daughter. Don't you want that?"
"......I do. Desperately so—enough to give everything for it. So I must ask: What do you want in return, Young Master?"
"Simple. Forge two books for me."
Yeo Un-jeok's eyes widened instantly.
"Young Master, you must have some idea of my skills."
"More or less."
He'd pieced it together from hunches, context, and circumstances—quite accurately.
He had no idea how Yeo Un-jeok, the Fake Deer for Horse, had acquired such skill, but.
"And two books are enough?"
"Yes."
"......"
For a moment, peace settled in Yeo Un-jeok's weary eyes.
"Come to think of it, I haven't thanked you yet."
"I haven't done anything worth thanks."
"You saved my daughter from poison before she died. You lent your wits for a wanted man like me. Ultimately, you even provided an environment where she can live happily with her love. And now, even for a sinner like me."
Hm, hearing it laid out, yeah, he'd done plenty worth thanks.
But he hadn't done it for thanks.
Yang-hui had simply pursued the values he'd learned in his past life, now his life's creed.
With a bit of self-interest mixed in for the house's revival, of course.
"If you're offering thanks, I'll have to accept. Then, as a token of gratitude, I request: Forge two books. But with one condition."
"Speak."
"Make them look like ancient tomes from about two hundred years ago. And do it blindfolded, without seeing the contents."
"......Hm."
Yeo Un-jeok immediately grasped what Yang-hui wanted.
"Martial arts manuals, eh."
Yang-hui nodded readily, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"One way or another, I hold your weakness. So in turn, I'm giving you one of mine."
With decades in the jianghu, Yeo Un-jeok understood instantly.
"I swear on my daughter: I absolutely won't peek at the contents."
"Thank you. So, when will you visit the house?"
"Let's settle accounts first. The two books are payment for what you've done so far. So, what do you want for accepting this old man as a guest?"
Yeo Un-jeok's main role was forging the two books. Honestly, he didn't expect much else.
After all, treating people as tools for exploitation as your life's goal was pretty ridiculous.
"Hm, if you're insisting on settling up. Lend a hand now and then when I need it."
"That enough?"
"Isn't that the guest's role? Lounging around, stepping up occasionally."
Surprisingly, that really was the full duty of guest elders even in great clans.
"Heh heh heh. Heh heh heh heh."
Yeo Un-hyeok let out a laugh laced with complex emotions.
Yang-hui pulled two books from his bosom.
Each titled Heaven-Covering Sword Record and Harmonious Heaven Principle Origin Art.
The manuals for the two new arts he'd prepared in advance.
"If you're coming to the house, make these two look like ancient tomes and bring them with you. It'll serve as an excuse for accepting you as a guest."
Yeo Un-jeok asked with eyes closed.
"You've set the guidelines. If I do the work, how far can I look? What condition for the preservation?"
"You can see the titles, so open your eyes. Preservation... fairly good should do."
Taking the books, Yeo Un-jeok read the titles.
'Heaven-Covering Sword Record. And Harmonious Heaven Principle Origin Art.'
Wanting them as ancient tomes meant he intended to pass them on in the house—a situation needing excuse and cover.
Had this kid created them himself, or learned from a separate master?
No way to know.
But.
'He has my weakness. I've received even greater grace. Now he's handing me his own.'
Judging from decades of experience, the young master before him was trustworthy.
And a once-in-a-millennium prodigy whose presence promised no harm for the future.
"Young Master."
"Yes, Elder."
Yeo Un-jeok bowed to the scion of the house he'd soon join.
"I'll carry out your orders perfectly and visit Baek Clan Manor in seven days."
And so, Yang-hui had gained Blood Lord Gu-ak and Fake Deer for Horse Yeo Un-jeok for the Baek Clan.