Chapter v19c1

## A Hundred Years of Longing

– Gaze

The time had finally come!

“Sword Heart Exhibition.” The young man stood beneath the imposing calligraphy that adorned the plaque in his father’s office, his heart filled with anticipation. As he opened the door, a deep voice greeted him.

“Leaving today?”

“Yes, Father!”

The young man replied curtly.

Their exchange was brief, suggesting a lack of warmth in their father-son relationship.

“Are you prepared?”

Despite his faith in his son, the man felt it necessary to confirm and deliberate. His son didn’t seem to resent him for it.

“Of course. I’ve been preparing both physically and mentally for a long time. My resolve is unwavering, and my sword is sharper than ever.”

His father looked into his son’s eyes. A fierce determination, unusual for a nineteen-year-old, blazed within them. It was a flame that had never wavered or dimmed, only intensified over ten years of rigorous training. That was why the man’s father, the young man’s grandfather, whom he deeply respected, had placed such high hopes on this child. He was their greatest hope, the one who could fulfill their century-long dream.

‘A hundred years of longing…’

A burden they had carried for a hundred years! A wall they couldn’t overcome, a dream they couldn’t achieve!

The thought weighed heavily on his heart. It was a feeling that would haunt him forever, like a water ghost. He looked at his son again, his heart heavy.

“I failed!”

The bitterness and regret in his father’s voice made the young man flinch.

It was only natural for him to feel conflicted, having to pass on his unfinished task to his son.

“I couldn’t overcome that wall. That was my limit.”

The longing he had failed to fulfill, the “Peony” wall he couldn’t surpass! Whenever he thought of it, his heart sank into a swamp of regret.

“But…”

He paused, overwhelmed by emotion.

“But I believe you will succeed!”

It was a longing that had spanned a hundred years, defying the flow of time. This child was their only hope. He believed that too. That was why he, or rather, the family, had invested everything they had in him.

The best environment, the best teachers, and rigorous training to hone his talent. His son was a genius, as the world acknowledged, and his talent had blossomed under the best conditions.

He could say it without hesitation.

This child was the Gongsun Family’s greatest masterpiece! He was the next family leader!

“Don’t worry, Father! The world will soon realize that the Gongsun Family’s ‘Supreme Sword Technique’ is no less than the Mo Yong Family’s. The Peony’s sword will fall before mine!”

A terrifying aura, like a heat haze, emanated from the young man.

An overwhelming presence, unusual for his age! Gongsun Gyeong-Un, the current leader of the Gongsun Family, trembled as he felt his son’s surging energy. His heart, once filled with despair, was now overflowing with hope.

He approached his son and grasped his hands tightly.

“Jeol-Hwi! You will lead the Gongsun Family to become the greatest family in the world!”

His eyes blazed with passion.

“I believe in you! Remember, the future of the Gongsun Family rests on your shoulders!”

Gongson Jeol-Hwi’s eyes also burned with determination.

“Leave it to me, Father! The world will hear of the Peony’s successor falling before the Supreme Sword at this Ascending Martial Arts Competition!”

And Jianghu would have to re-evaluate the Gongsun Family.

“Take this sword!”

Gongsun Gyeong-Un said, holding out a sword.

“Th-this sword is…?”

Gongson Jeol-Hwi’s eyes widened in recognition.

“I’m not worthy!”

He bowed hastily, refusing the sword. His father had offered him the “Ultimate Sharpness,” a treasured sword that only the leader of the Gongsun Family could wield. It was an unprecedented act to give such a valuable treasure to a young man who had just come of age.

But Gongsun Gyeong-Un was determined. He wouldn’t withdraw his offer.

“What are you waiting for? I’m entrusting the future of the Gongsun Family to you! This sword is a symbol of that trust! Even your grandfather would agree with me! Take the future of the Gongsun Family! And forge your own path! How can you achieve great things without such resolve?”

He declared in a firm voice.

“This is my resolve! What is yours?”

The young man finally knelt and received the sword with both hands raised above his head. He bowed to the sword and said,

“I will… I will succeed.”

I will… I will…

He choked back tears, unable to continue.

“Then go!”

Gongsun Gyeong-Un said, turning away. His voice trembled, but he tried to maintain his composure.

“I won’t see you off!”

Gongson Jeol-Hwi bowed deeply to his father’s back and left the room without a word. Sometimes, silence spoke louder than words.

This happened fifteen days before the Middle Heaven Merchant Guild’s escort arrived in Nanchang.

* * *

“Again?”

Mo Yong Hwi sighed inwardly. A man had appeared before him, chattering incessantly.

“Blah blah blah…”

But he couldn’t hear what the man was saying. He was too tired to bother. Besides, he already knew what the man was going to say. He was probably introducing himself, followed by a desperate attempt to prove that he was the talent Cheonmu Academy needed. It had become a daily occurrence.

‘At least hold your sword properly…’

Whether it was due to lack of skill or nervousness, the man’s sword was trembling slightly. It was a common sight these days, words not matching actions. It was just a little pathetic.

‘At least look your opponent in the eye.’

His gaze was slightly averted, a sign of poor posture and numerous openings.

‘This is the fifth one today…’

He took a step forward.

‘I have places to be.’

Wasting time on these pointless fights was ridiculous.

‘I can’t keep Master Yeomdo waiting!’

That was something any sane person would avoid.

“Ugh!”

He heard the familiar sound of surprise. Why did they always react verbally but not physically? He wondered as he delivered a punch to the man’s solar plexus, the most efficient way to knock him down.

Thud!

The man doubled over with a loud thud. He should probably call him “Number Five,” since this was the fifth one today. The previous challengers were all nameless faces in his mind. They had all introduced themselves, stating their sects and names, but he couldn’t remember any of them. He had too much on his mind to waste space on insignificant people.

“Good, it’s over in one blow.”

At least he had avoided wasting a second blow.

He flinched, surprised by his own words. He looked at his fist, still embedded in the man’s solar plexus, and then at the challenger, who was writhing on the ground like an overturned cockroach.

“Is this what it means to be influenced?”

They say people change through experience. Experience was synonymous with encounters, and encounters, whether pleasant or unpleasant, exposed you to the countless possibilities of the world. To avoid all experience and encounters was to imprison yourself, to give up on your future…

“This must be what they call a bad connection…”

He murmured, his voice filled with regret. Bi Ryu-Yeon… That strange guy… He had a strange power, one you could ignore but not deny.

Few people believed that the world revolved around them. But he did. And what was even more surprising was that he could sometimes make those around him doubt their own perceptions. It was a dangerous sign.

He was like the eye of a storm, a calm center surrounded by chaos.

“That’s why he doesn’t move much…”

“Have you ever seen the eye of a storm move? The center always stays still.”

That was his usual saying.

‘Well, in reality, he’s just lazy…’

That was probably true.

‘Maybe this isn’t so bad…’

But it was still a universal truth that you had to choose your friends wisely. It was something to think about.

His sword remained sheathed.

‘Should I go now? Master Yeomdo will be angry if I’m late.’

He thought, adjusting his slightly disheveled clothes. He hadn’t even finished the basic training for the legendary secret technique.