Chapter 387: Have You Eaten?

*

“You seem to be alright.”

“…Yes.”

Facing my father after the sparring session, he looked just the same as ever.

The peculiar thing, though, was that he was making an effort to keep his back turned.

“Why are you turning your back?”

“It’s nothing.”

“Is my face that funny?”

“…No.”

‘He’s really not looking because he finds it funny.’

If even Father can’t bear to look for long, then what on earth must I look like?

‘And despite looking like this, why didn’t that bastard Jamryong say anything?’

He’s the bigger problem.

Gu Huibi burst out laughing the moment she saw me. If even Father finds my face hard to look at for long, it means Woohyeok knew all along but didn’t say a word.

‘This bastard must have done it on purpose, right?’

It was obvious he didn’t say anything just to make me look ridiculous.

There’s no room for doubt with that guy.

First, I needed to focus on Father, so I decided to ask a few questions to break the ice.

“Training in another region? Is something the matter?”

Father normally doesn’t train in other regions. The Gu family even has a separate training ground for the family head, so there’s no overlap, but…

At least I knew Father didn’t usually go to other regions to train.

“I couldn’t sleep, so I just did it for a bit.”

“It seems like more than ‘a bit,’ considering how long you were at it.”

I could tell from the lingering traces of heat around.

That the heat had remained for quite some time.

‘So, he couldn’t sleep.’

‘Did he stay up all night?’ Just as that thought crossed my mind…

“Third son.”

“Yes.”

“Where did you learn that power?”

“…”

Father went straight to the point.

Skipping pleasantries like morning greetings or asking if I’d eaten, and jumping straight to the main topic… I was slightly taken aback, but…

‘That’s so like Father.’

It was actually a very fatherly thing to do.

“The power, you mean?”

“Yes.”

“What power are you referring to?”

I considered playing dumb and denying it, but…

“Tuapa Cheonmu.”

“…”

I had to shut my mouth tight at Father’s nonchalant utterance.

“That was the martial art of the esteemed Paejon.”

“…No.”

I had certainly channeled my internal energy to envelop my body, but I was hit in the face and collapsed before I could even properly unleash it.

How does Father know about this?

Does that mean he noticed the moment he saw me?

“Did you incorporate two types of mind techniques into your body?”

“Well… it sort of happened that way.”

Actually, I have about four or five incorporated, not just two.

But bringing that up would likely lead to a situation that wouldn’t end well, so I didn’t say it.

Only then did Father turn his back, which he had been keeping towards me, around.

“Seeing you unharmed even with two mind techniques in your body, it seems there’s something else going on.”

It felt less like a question of ‘why’ and more like confirming the result and then looking for the reason.

“Yes… well, it just worked when I tried.”

“Did the esteemed Paejon tell you to do that?”

“No. That’s not it. I insisted on learning them together because I couldn’t give up the martial arts of the main family.”

“…Hmm.”

He didn’t seem entirely pleased with my answer, but that was the truth.

It was true that I couldn’t give up the main family’s martial arts, and it was true that I had insisted.

“Family Head-nim.”

“Speak.”

“Then, yesterday, did you knock me unconscious because I tried to use two mind techniques?”

I wondered if you knocked me out to prevent my body from exploding.

“Yes.”

And Father’s answer confirmed it.

After all, seeing someone suddenly unleash a different mind technique right before your eyes might look like they’re trying to commit suicide.

As I sheepishly turned my head, Father brought up another topic.

“When did you start learning it?”

“It hasn’t been more than a few months.”

“That means the esteemed Paejon is also in Hanam right now.”

“…”

‘Oh no, was that a slip of the tongue?’ Just as I started to get a little cautious about potential trouble…

“Since it’s your choice, I won’t say anything else. If learning it causes no problems, then proceed.”

“…Yes.”

“If you happen to meet the elder in the future, please tell him I wish to visit him soon.”

“I understand.”

I expected the esteemed Paejon’s face wouldn’t be too pleased when I relay this message, but what could I do? I was found out.

After sighing inwardly, I spoke to Father.

“Um… Family Head-nim.”

“Yes.”

“So, does that mean the bet is off?”

At my words, Father looked at me with a peculiar gaze.

The sparring match the previous day was held to exchange information about Mother.

Since I couldn’t land a single successful attack, the bet was lost on my side.

I knew that, but I was shamelessly clinging to it one last time.

‘Does bluffing fill my stomach? I have to beg if I need to.’

It’s fortunate I’m not the type to do that, though.

“You’re acting lighter than I expected.”

“…Ahem.”

He meant, why was I dragging out a conversation that was already over.

Even I felt a bit embarrassed, but it wasn’t something I could just let slide. More importantly, bringing this up wasn’t something done without reason.

“Family Head-nim. You clearly said you’d only use one hand yesterday.”

“…”

At my words, Father’s eyebrows twitched significantly.

Seeing that, I could tell.

That Father knew exactly what I was talking about.

I had clearly seen it then.

“So why did you use your right arm?”

“…”

The arm Father used to hit my face last night was his right arm.

“Right?”

Father remained silent.

His stern expression was quite intimidating, but I could vaguely tell that face was a sign of his embarrassment.

“So, I won the bet, right?”

“…”

There was still no answer. Father might have been trying to subtly play dumb, but there was no way I’d miss something like this.

I’m better than anyone at finding fault with others’ actions, so would I really miss this?

Before the bet sparring began, Father had sealed one hand.

The sealed hand was definitely his right hand.

The fact that he used it, even at the very end, meant I had won, didn’t it?

I watched Father, wondering how he would react.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Wow.”

I couldn’t help but express my admiration at Father’s response.

I never thought I’d live to see the day Father tried to deny something so blatantly.

“Are you really going to play it like this?”

“However, since you seem quite disappointed, I’ll give you one more chance.”

“What are you talking about? What am I disappointed about?”

‘He’s trying to slip away subtly?’

‘Disappointed about what?’

I stared blankly at Father, dumbfounded. Then I let out a hollow laugh inwardly.

‘The fact that Father is acting like this, even now…’

“…It seems you really don’t want me to go to that place, no matter what.”

“I told you from the beginning.”

“But I still have to go. I will go, no matter what.”

“…”

“It means I’ll stubbornly break through, even if you try to stop me.”

I must go.

By any means necessary.

I couldn’t just send the divine sword within my body away like this, and I absolutely had to break through to understand the things happening to me.

This means, no matter how Father tries to stop me, nothing will change.

As I spoke with such determination, Father fell silent for a moment before speaking to me.

“Fine.”

“Huh?”

‘Fine?’ At the unexpected answer, my hopes suddenly soared.

“If you desire to go to that place so badly, I will set one condition.”

I had to frown at Father’s subsequent words.

“Is it a spar? Again?”

It’s a fight I can’t possibly win right now.

I was certain after confirming the gap between us during yesterday’s match.

Unless I regained all the realms I reached in my past life…

In my current state, I wouldn’t be able to reach Father.

More than anything, the time it would take to regain all my past life’s strength was also an issue.

“It’s not a spar.”

“Then what?”

“What is the current realm of your mind technique?”

“Seven Stars.”

To be precise, it’s the initial stage of Seven Stars.

It was thanks to reaching the Hwagyeong realm, which allowed the rings of the Guyeom Hwaryugong to grow as well.

“Reach the Nine Structures. If you do, I will tell you.”

“…Nine Structures?”

“Yes.”

‘Nine Structures…’ that was the realm I had reached in my past life.

So, does that mean he’ll tell me once I regain all my past life’s strength?

‘Though it’s a bit different from that.’

It will be different from my past life.

Back then, I was focused on increasing my demonic energy rather than the main family’s martial arts.

If I aim for it now, I should reach it much sooner.

‘That part isn’t bad, but…’

“May I ask why it has to be… Nine Structures?”

I was a bit puzzled because the condition seemed quite specific.

Hearing my question, Father answered without hesitation.

“Because you’ll need at least that much to survive.”

“…”

I was speechless at Father’s answer.

I didn’t know what kind of tremendous place it was that required such a condition, but seeing Father’s face, I knew there was no room for further negotiation.

‘Is this the extent of what I can get by bringing up the arm issue?’

Even if I tried to harp on about him using both arms…

I knew the sparring itself was conducted out of Father’s consideration, so pushing further wouldn’t yield anything more than this.

‘Nine Structures….’

It’s just two stars away in name, but the gap only widens as you progress.

“…Alright. I’ll ask again once I reach Nine Structures.”

But for now, I had no choice but to accept.

Even though I agreed, I planned to find another way while advancing my cultivation.

Father nodded at my words.

And then.

“…”

“…”

A long silence ensued.

It was a rather uncomfortable silence.

As I was agonizing over whether to run or say more…

“Third son.”

Surprisingly, Father spoke first.

“Yes.”

“Did you eat?”

“…”

I was quite taken aback by Father’s words. It was because I had heard them somewhere before.

‘Where did I hear that?’

After a moment’s thought, I immediately remembered.

‘It sounds like something I always say.’

It was a gruff way of asking if everything was alright, if I was starving or not, without any specific questions.

“No… I haven’t.”

“I see.”

Hearing my answer, Father immediately walked past me.

And then, he uttered a few brief words as he left.

“Then let’s go eat. Follow me.”

“…”

I quietly watched Father’s retreating back. It somehow felt like the first time I’d heard him say that.

‘He means for us to eat breakfast together, right?’

After pondering the meaning for a moment…

I too cautiously started to walk.

“…Yes. Father.”

At the abrupt words, Father’s shoulders twitched slightly.

I wondered if I’d made it awkward by saying it, but…

Father didn’t say anything.

What followed was the same silence as before.

However.

Unlike before, this silence wasn’t uncomfortable at all.

It felt strangely comforting.