Chapter 369: Orthodox Sect Gathering. (10)

White Heaven Sword Master (白天劍主) Moyong Tae.

A figure who once vied for the position of Sword King against the current Azure Sky Sword King, Namgung Jin.

Of course, he wasn’t the only one vying for the Sword King title.

This simply means that Moyong Tae was indeed that great of a martial artist.

Although he’s now considered the weakest among the heads of the Four Great Families,

it’s likely due to his focus on the merchant guild rather than the martial arts sect, coupled with matters concerning Moyong Hi-ah.

A figure closer to a family head than a martial artist, and even closer to a father.

That was the White Heaven Sword Master I knew.

Up to this point, it’s fine.

Even if the White Heaven Sword Master focused more on other things than the path of martial arts,

what business is that of mine?

The problem now is.

Why this man is here right now. That’s the question.

Kkuuuuk.

The pressure from the White Heaven Sword Master’s hand gripping my shoulder steadily increases.

“…”

The White Heaven Sword Master’s gaze, when I glanced up, was nothing short of murderous.

If he had reached the realm of ‘Mind Sword,’ wouldn’t my head have been severed right here, right now?

‘This is troublesome….’

What should I call this situation? I ponder for a moment,

but the answer was already clear.

‘What situation? It’s a fucked situation.’

I couldn’t think of a cleaner answer.

“Fa…mily Head?”

Moyong Hi-ah, standing before him with wide, surprised eyes, speaks to the White Heaven Sword Master.

Then, the White Heaven Sword Master shifts his gaze from glaring at me to Moyong Hi-ah.

His eyes changed instantly.

From eyes that seemed to have killed me several times over the moment he looked at Moyong Hi-ah,

they transformed into the kindest, softest gaze imaginable.

“Have you been well?”

“How… did you get here…..”

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

Moyong Hi-ah, though flustered,

the White Heaven Sword Master was busy examining her body.

“Have you eaten? No, I told you not to skip meals, so you must have kept it up.”

“…”

Kkuuk.

Even during this exchange, the grip on my hand tightens further.

It’s starting to hurt, really.

Watching the White Heaven Sword Master, Moyong Hi-ah asks,

“…Ah, there are still seven days until the gathering, why have you come now?”

“How could a father not know how his daughter is doing?”

I felt a strange sense of novelty in the White Heaven Sword Master’s words.

A normal father might say that, but considering the White Heaven Sword Master’s position, it was difficult.

As if realizing something from the White Heaven Sword Master’s words,

Moyong Hi-ah’s eyes widened as she asked,

“Then, did you perhaps come alone?”

“The elders and the sword guards will likely be a bit delayed.”

That meant he came alone. A head of a great family, no less, without his guards or servants.

No wonder the head of such a prominent family looked so out of sorts.

‘Does this mean he threw away all pretense and came?’

He was quite something, in many ways.

Moyong Hi-ah seemed the most shocked, her eyebrows furrowing visibly.

“Why would you do that…! There are people watching, and the family’s reputation…!”

Moyong Hi-ah spoke somewhat accusingly, and the White Heaven Sword Master replied with a peculiar expression,

“That reputation isn’t more important than your child, you know.”

The White Heaven Sword Master said it so casually that Moyong Hi-ah paused and fell silent.

Ah, she’s weak to this kind of thing.

Seeing Moyong Hi-ah like that, the White Heaven Sword Master chuckled,

“Besides.”

He turned his gaze back to me and said.

“How could I care about reputation when I don’t know what kind of scoundrel has captured my precious daughter…. Why would that trivial reputation matter so much?”

“…”

Sweat trickled down my face.

This guy definitely figured it out. Who I am.

Or rather, it would be stranger if he hadn’t.

The conversation we had just moments ago flashed through my mind.

-He has a fiancée but is seducing another woman.

-He’s breaking off his engagement to meet with his daughter.

-Turns out, he has other women besides his daughter.

“…”

Hearing that, I thought, ‘What a psycho,’ but…

It was me.

It was me.

‘…So it was me.’

The menacing words the White Heaven Sword Master had uttered flashed by.

He said something about crushing limbs, didn’t he?

I also remembered myself agreeing, saying I hoped it would happen exactly like that.

‘Hmm….’

Recalling all that, I nodded and thought,

What a crazy bastard.

He really dug his own grave, didn’t he?

‘Could these memories surfacing now be my life flashing before my eyes?’

That’s possible.

My life didn’t flash before my eyes when I died in my past life, so why the hell is it showing up now?

“So. Young Hero, I still haven’t received an answer to my question.”

“Th…at…”

“What is your name, Young Hero?”

Even though his eyes already held certainty. Was he asking again for confirmation?

What a thorough personality he has.

What should I do? It seems I can’t get out of this without answering.

‘…Should I use the name Gujeolyeop?’

The name that immediately came to mind was Gujeolyeop.

It’s the name I always used in situations like this. It was the same with Namgung Bi-ah and Tang Soyeol.

It was a convenient name to use in a pinch, but…

‘I don’t think he’s the type to believe it, though.’

Gujeolyeop’s name was starting to become known, after all,

making it quite difficult to use.

Ultimately, I’m in a situation where I have no choice but to reveal my name.

“…I am…”

I wondered what would happen if I revealed my name and he actually drew his sword.

The killing intent prickling my back wasn’t fake.

This wasn’t a matter of winning or losing. It was the fact that the White Heaven Sword Master, Moyong Hi-ah’s father,

was pointing a sword at me.

I didn’t want to fight if I could help it.

I suppressed a sigh threatening to escape, swallowed once, and opened my mouth.

“Greetings, Family Head of the Moyong family…. I am from the Gu family’s….”

“Dad.”

Just as I was about to say my name. Moyong Hi-ah ran over and wrapped her arms around the White Heaven Sword Master’s arm.

Wait….. why did her address change like that? Dad?

“P-please, let’s not do this here…. Let’s find your lodging first. You must be very tired, right?”

“Daughter. I apologize, but your father still has words for this damned bastard….”

The White Heaven Sword Master’s fingertips pointed towards me. I clearly heard my address change from ‘Young Hero’ to ‘damned bastard’.

This really seemed like a dangerous situation….

“Eeeeng!”

…Huh?

My eyes widened like saucers at the ear-piercing whine.

Did I hear that wrong? It definitely sounded like it came from Moyong Hi-ah’s direction.

As if the voice I just heard wasn’t a lie. Moyong Hi-ah continued speaking,

“Aiiing…. Daaad…. Hi-ah wants something! Can’t we go for now?”

Pfft.

I saw Peng Ah-hee, who had been watching with amusement, spurt water from her mouth.

Was that goosebumps rising on my arms and neck? It was definitely goosebumps.

What was that syrupy voice?

‘…’

I couldn’t think straight.

It was surprising enough that ‘that’ Moyong Hi-ah had such a voice,

but I couldn’t understand her tone.

Was I still seeing my life flash before my eyes? Or had I moved past that into hallucinations?

If not, it was an incomprehensible situation.

With Moyong Hi-ah twisting her body and uttering those words,

the atmosphere instantly turned cold.

It was astonishing how an atmosphere that felt ready to explode could suddenly cool down so drastically.

It was truly surprising.

Glancing towards Moyong Hi-ah, I saw her ears were flushed bright red.

She seemed quite embarrassed by her own actions.

‘Of course. If I had done that to my own father, I would have bitten my tongue and died right there.’

And on top of that.

Although I knew Moyong Hi-ah’s intentions,

I didn’t think someone like the White Heaven Sword Master, who held such a high position, would just overlook such blatant affection.

“Haha. Is that so? If my daughter wants something, then that comes first, naturally.”

But I was wrong.

Where was the sharp man who looked ready to tear me limb from limb? All that remained was a doting father grinning foolishly.

Seeing his reaction, Moyong Hi-ah quickly tried to pull the White Heaven Sword Master away.

The White Heaven Sword Master didn’t seem to mind, his feet shuffling along,

As the two left the inn with heavy footsteps.

A voice reached my ears.

-See you later.

“…”

It was the White Heaven Sword Master’s telepathic message. His intent was clear: he wouldn’t give up.

For some reason, his words sounded like, ‘Wash your neck and wait for me.’

It must be my imagination, right?

‘…Imagination my ass.’

There’s no way it’s my imagination. From my perspective, Moyong Hi-ah saved me with all her might.

Otherwise,

‘Eeeeng and Aiiing….’

there’s no way the cold, rational Moyong Hi-ah would have uttered those sounds so casually.

She must have done it with considerable resolve.

What now? Even though Moyong Hi-ah took the White Heaven Sword Master away for now,

she’ll surely return.

Should I really run?

‘There’s no way I can just run.’

Where could I possibly run? I have to attend the gathering myself in seven days.

As I worried anxiously about what to do,

“…Hey, Soyeol.”

I overheard the conversation of my companions sitting at the table.

“Yeah?”

Tang Soyeol replied to Peng Ah-hee’s words. The recent situation seemed quite shocking,

as Tang Soyeol still hadn’t recovered from the shock.

Looking at Tang Soyeol like that, Peng Ah-hee asked with a very serious expression,

“…Later, in front of Miss Moyong….”

“Yeah.”

“If I tease her, calling her Miss Eeeng…. Will I get in trouble?”

“…”

Peng Ah-hee’s words chilled the atmosphere once more.

Will I get in trouble if I tease her…?

‘She’ll die before I do, won’t she?’

It was clear.

If Peng Ah-hee did that in front of Moyong Hi-ah, she’d be ground into powder right then and there.

Let alone calling her Miss Eeeng. The nuance is just too…

Puhuhk.

My head snapped around at the sound.

Everyone was barely holding back their laughter when someone finally burst.

What was strange was that when I looked back, everyone else seemed unfazed.

But I could see the others looking strangely at one person among them.

Namgung Bi-ah was the one pretending not to notice those gazes and turning her head away.

---

Several days have passed since the storm at the inn.

For days, I spent my nights on high alert.

I thought assassins might come.

Assassins, you ask?

Considering the White Heaven Sword Master’s gaze back then, it seemed entirely possible, so I was wary,

but amusingly, my worries proved unfounded.

Since the day the White Heaven Sword Master left the inn with Moyong Hi-ah,

he hadn’t shown his face for days.

The same applied to Moyong Hi-ah.

It seems…

‘Moyong Hi-ah is keeping him occupied?’

Using that ‘Eeeng’ or ‘Aiiing’ thing…?

‘If so, that must take considerable effort.’

Thinking about it, I couldn’t help but nod. I felt a sense of gratitude towards Moyong Hi-ah that I hadn’t felt before.

However, I pondered it deeply.

‘Could it be that Moyong Hi-ah actually speaks like that at home?’

This has been on my mind lately.

Her words had come out so naturally, it felt familiar.

Perhaps…. maybe she acts and sounds like that at home – it was a wild thought, but…

‘That’s impossible.’

I immediately dismissed the idea.

Surely, the great Moyong Hi-ah wouldn’t be like that, right?

“Are your thoughts finished?”

“…Yes.”

As I caught my breath, someone spoke to me.

It was Pacyeon. He often appeared like this when I was training.

I don’t know what he usually does,

but I was currently punching inside a cave, as always,

and Pacyeon, after checking my condition, chuckled and asked,

“Is it manageable?”

“No. I feel like I’m dying.”

Manageable my ass.

Today alone, I nearly passed out from the pain more than five times.

Even so, Pacyeon just smiled as if pleased.

“…I’m just throwing punches. Is this really okay?”

It’s a fundamental question.

I realized long ago how incredible the inner cultivation of ‘Two Waves Breaking Heaven Martial Arts’ was.

The fact that I can still feel myself getting stronger now means the efficiency is truly absurd.

But I still couldn’t understand why he insisted I dig caves with this.

What could his intention possibly be?

Pacyeon looked at me with a strange expression in response to my question.

“That means you still don’t understand the significance of what you’re doing.”

“Huh?”

“Didn’t you just say yourself that it’s painful?”

“Well, that’s just how it feels…”

“Do you think an ordinary human could endure that pain and keep throwing punches?”

“…”

“I was certain on the first day. You truly must become my disciple.”

Never mind mastering the inner cultivation.

He must be referring to how I kept punching the cave from the very first day I learned it, just as instructed.

“Just for that?”

“One day is possible. Two days would be difficult, and beyond that, ordinary minds cannot endure it.”

It made sense.

The inner cultivation of ‘Two Waves Breaking Heaven Martial Arts’.

The pain from ‘Two Waves Breaking Heaven Technique’ was beyond imagination.

Still, as long as I endured the pain, I could grow stronger.

The pain was nothing.

It was better than the helplessness and self-loathing that came from being unable to do anything.

Seeing my expression, as if I still didn’t quite understand,

Pacyeon simply grinned.

“While your twisted nature worries me, as a teacher, it makes me feel quite secure.”

“Calling me twisted? That’s harsh…”

“I mean I’m anticipating it. Finish up quickly. Only then can I teach you how to throw a single punch (一拳).”

Hearing that, I felt a sense of emptiness.

“All this effort just to learn how to throw a single punch?”

“Of course, that’s what the hardship is for.”

It was absurd. Even thinking that, I continued to throw punches.

“A-hae.”

As I kept throwing punches,

Pacyeon’s call made me stop and turn my head.

“Isn’t it about time we got going?”

“…”

Pacyeon’s words made me frown.

I was already trying to pretend I’d forgotten and sneak away,

and Pacyeon pointedly brought it up.

“…I guess I have to.”

Finally, I let out a deep sigh and put on the outer clothes I’d tossed aside in a corner of the cave.

The reason was simple.

Today was the day of the Orthodox Gathering,

and I was required to attend, albeit unwillingly.

The White Heaven Sword Master I saw last time would likely be there,

and furthermore,

all the heads of the Four Great Families, including the White Heaven Sword Master Moyong Tae, would be attending.

Recalling that, I swallowed nervously.

It was a situation that promised nothing but chaos.

I looked at Pacyeon and asked,

“Are you going too, Elder?”

Given Pacyeon’s current status as a relative of the Bi family,

I wondered if he might attend as well,

but Pacyeon smiled brightly and said to me,

“Why would I?”

“…”

It was the most infuriatingly smug expression in the world.