Chapter 398: Power.

About half an hour had passed since the incident. I was surveying the situation, clutching my forehead.

First, I checked the faces of the women sitting lined up on my bed.

Starting from the far left, the woman with brown hair mixed with golden strands.

It was Wi Seol-ah.

Looking at her, I asked.

“What?”

“Huh?”

When I asked, Wi Seol-ah flinched.

Seeing her face, I could tell her pupils were shaking like crazy.

Looking into Wi Seol-ah’s eyes, I asked.

“Why are you guys here?”

“…W-well…”

At my question, Wi Seol-ah glanced sideways. Next to her was Namgung Bi-ah, who was swaying and dozing, perhaps not fully awake yet.

What’s with that look.

As I watched her silently, Wi Seol-ah continued, mumbling.

“…Unni went, so… I followed.”

“…”

At Wi Seol-ah’s words, I looked at Namgung Bi-ah.

Namgung Bi-ah seemed to notice my gaze, rubbing her eyes and mumbling.

“…You weren’t… coming…”

“What does you not coming have to do with you coming into my room?”

“…Huh?”

At my words, Namgung Bi-ah looked at me as if asking why it wouldn’t matter.

What are those eyes?

I could understand Namgung Bi-ah doing it sometimes, sneaking into my bed to sleep; it was a habit, or rather, not a habit.

But it was just as hard to understand Wi Seol-ah following her.

“Why did you follow?”

“…She was going… so I just…”

Hearing the question, Wi Seol-ah averted her gaze, her ears turning red.

Seeing that, I had to let out a deep sigh.

“…Are you becoming like her too? Why are you trying to sleep in someone else’s bed?”

“I’m sorry…”

“You… never mind.”

I considered saying something to Namgung Bi-ah too, but decided against it.

She wasn’t the type to listen even if I spoke to her.

Words were useless, so instead, I made a fist and hit her forehead with a ‘thump’.

“Oof…!”

Namgung Bi-ah let out a short yelp and clutched her forehead.

Her expression as she looked up at me was a mixture of sleepiness and resentment.

“What did you do right to be looking at me like that?”

“…”

“You took my blanket last time too, didn’t you?”

“…!”

Hearing that, Namgung Bi-ah’s eyes widened.

Did she really think I didn’t know?

It wasn’t exactly stealthy; she took it quite openly.

“Why do you keep stealing other people’s bedding?”

“Because I didn’t have enough…”

“What didn’t you have enough of? Pillows? Or blankets? No, if you needed something, you could just ask. Why steal it?”

The Namgung family isn’t exactly lacking money. It’s baffling why she’s acting like a miser all by herself.

Seemingly displeased with my words, Namgung Bi-ah narrowed her eyes.

“…It’s not… like that.”

“Then what?”

“…Never mind…”

Was she sulking? She started avoiding the question.

And she’s sulking like she did something right…

Leaving Namgung Bi-ah aside, I looked at the last person sitting to her right.

The woman with light green hair, looking sullen and watchful.

It was Tang Soyeol, whom I had dinner with last night.

“…Hey.”

At my voice, Tang Soyeol flinched.

She seemed to intuitively realize I was talking to her.

“Wouldn’t people normally enter someone else’s room differently?”

I was referring to how Tang Soyeol had kicked the door open just before.

Normally, one would knock before entering.

Or at least mention asking if they could come in.

I never expected her to just barge into my room.

Upon hearing my criticism, Tang Soyeol looked at me, then quickly turned her head away, puffing out her cheeks considerably.

She looked just like a squirrel with its cheeks stuffed full of acorns.

Seriously, why are they all making such faces?

What did I even do wrong.

“What’s with that face now…”

“Honestly, I did do something wrong, but…”

Just as I was about to ask why she was acting like that, Tang Soyeol squeezed her eyes shut and blurted out.

“This is all Young Master’s fault!”

“…What?”

At that outburst, I stared at Tang Soyeol in disbelief.

Wi Seol-ah and Namgung Bi-ah, standing beside her, nodded as if agreeing with Tang Soyeol.

“What did I do wrong…?”

This feels unfair?

All I did today was wander around, get the cold shoulder, and come back to my room for clothes.

And they’re blaming me out of the blue.

As I stared at Tang Soyeol with an incredulous look, the three of them suddenly stood up simultaneously, as if they had planned it.

Startled by their action, I stepped back.

Then, the three women walked towards my door with heavy footsteps.

Are they seriously planning to leave like this?

Their steps clearly conveyed displeasure, but…

It felt like it would be better to just let them go like that.

Leaving them be felt like it would drain my energy significantly, rather than anything else.

Just as I was about to let the girls leave without stopping them.

“…Wait.”

I stopped Namgung Bi-ah, who was about to leave.

Caught by my hand, Namgung Bi-ah looked at me with an inexplicably expectant expression.

I don’t know what she was expecting.

…But the words coming from my mouth would likely be different from her expectations.

“…Could you ask Namgung family head when I should visit him?”

When I mentioned Namgung Jin, I saw Namgung Bi-ah’s delicate brow furrow sharply.

It wasn’t the best time to ask, but since I needed to train going forward, I had to ask when I could see him.

‘I can’t just let this slide.’

Honestly, I wished I could just ignore it, but knowing Namgung Jin’s personality, that wouldn’t happen.

He’d likely cling to me relentlessly, trying to gain even a shred of knowledge.

Given the current situation, I had a convenient excuse ready.

I thought it would be better to meet him beforehand and resolve this.

Thinking that, I asked Namgung Bi-ah.

Hearing me, Namgung Bi-ah replied without relaxing her furrowed brow.

“…My father… has left.”

“What?”

I paused for a moment upon hearing Namgung Bi-ah’s words.

Left…? Where?

Where on earth did that old man go?

As I asked Namgung Bi-ah back with a strange expression.

Namgung Bi-ah finally gave a proper answer this time.

“…Anhui.”

She meant Namgung Jin had returned to Anhui, where his main family residence was.

---

After finishing the conversation.

I sent the girls away first, then asked a servant to get me changed before heading to the cave.

Afterward, I began my usual routine of wrestling with the cave by performing the Two-Dragon Heaven Technique, but…

My mind was filled with organizing my thoughts about recent events.

‘Namgung Jin returned to Hanam.’

Namgung Bi-ah had clearly said so just before.

The first thought that crossed my mind upon hearing that was the question, ‘Why?’

Going back is understandable. It’s not strange for the head of the Namgung family to return to his home.

However, it was somewhat puzzling that Namgung Jin, who so desperately desired to improve his martial arts, left without seeking any enlightenment from me.

Of course, from my perspective, him leaving without asking anything is a good thing, but…

‘…I didn’t have anything to teach him right now anyway.’

The first time, I relayed information through Old Man Shin.

The second time, I shared information I’d vaguely heard from the Sword Marquis in my past life.

By now, I had absolutely nothing left to tell him.

So, Namgung Jin’s disappearance now wasn’t necessarily bad for me, but… the fact that Namgung Jin left so hastily for his Hanam home weighed on my mind.

‘Is something happening with the Namgung family?’

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have just left so abruptly.

I tried to recall if anything had happened with the Namgung family around this time.

But nothing came to mind immediately.

Kwaduduk-

I pondered while smashing the cave walls.

There was one reason I was reacting so sensitively to Namgung Jin’s departure.

I worried that I might have changed something again.

That possibility was bothering me, causing me to worry like this.

‘It’s not just Namgung Jin.’

There are more than one or two things that have already changed.

The attack on the Dragon Pavilion, the descent of the Falling Sword, and the rise of a new Alliance Leader-those were all examples.

The Alliance Leader after the Falling Sword should have originally been Wi Seol-ah’s position.

But that time has been advanced by a good ten years.

And all because of negative repercussions.

‘If it’s like this, who will become the next Alliance Leader?’

I couldn’t know.

If candidates were to run, there would be many from the Nine Great Sects and Four Great Families, of course.

Just like the Falling Sword incident, there would be many martial artists from renowned families as candidates.

But the situation had changed so drastically that it was difficult to grasp.

‘This is really confusing.’

I’ve been running around trying my best, but…

…I was still lacking in these aspects.

Am I really managing this well?

I’m pushing myself harder in training, determined to do something.

But I knew myself that training alone wasn’t enough.

‘Besides… the changes extend to the main family too.’

The numerous changes couldn’t be avoided by the Nine Provinces either.

The problems that arose from my execution of the previous First Elder.

The changes and reforms within the Nine Immortals Sect were the issue.

The current Sect Leader of the Nine Immortals Sect was temporarily held by the First Sword Master, wasn’t it?

That person is from that faction, so they’d probably do well, but…

‘Come to think of it. Where did the First Sword Master go?’

The First Sword Master is strictly my father’s bodyguard, so I heard they came along on this Hanam trip.

But I hadn’t seen the First Sword Master.

‘Are they doing something separately?’

That’s highly possible, but it’s not certain.

‘Mu-yeon didn’t come either.’

Mu-yeon, my escort whom I naturally assumed would come along, was said to have been absent from this Hanam trip.

Seeing this, I could sense a slight intention from the Nine Immortals Sect to manage Mu-yeon.

They must have realized Mu-yeon’s talent was extraordinary when he reached his peak.

And since he’s from the Nine Immortals Sect, I assume it’s to properly nurture Mu-yeon.

‘Are they planning to use him as the Young Sect Master?’

Thinking about their intentions, that’s all I could come up with for now.

Gu Jeolyub, upon hearing this, seemed to have had the same thought as me, as his expression turned grim for a while.

Seeing that, the only thing I could tell him was to work his ass off if he didn’t want to fall behind.

If, by chance, Mu-yeon were to fully establish himself within the Nine Immortals Sect…

‘It could actually be okay.’

From my perspective, I didn’t think that would be bad.

Because right after facing the Heavenly Demon, I had a clear realization.

‘I need power.’

Not just my own strength, but a suitable force was necessary.

I realized that no matter how I looked at it, fighting enemies alone was overwhelming.

It was something I already knew, but perhaps it became even more certain from that point on.

If I truly intend to take the place of the Divine Sword.

Then, accordingly, I needed my own force.

So, if Mu-yeon were to settle within the Nine Immortals Sect…

…I was considering putting in more effort to fully secure that faction.

At first, I considered joining a specific organization like the Murim Alliance, but…

‘There’s nowhere trustworthy.’

There truly wasn’t a single group I could trust.

Seeing it this way, I could really feel how rotten the Central Plains were.

So, rather than joining untrustworthy places.

‘…I’ll make my own.’

I concluded it would be better to gather people myself and create something.

That’s why, no matter how shitty the nickname ‘So Yeomra’ is.

And no matter how much I grit my teeth at the rumors spreading accordingly.

The reason I endure it all is because I’m thinking of the reputation that comes with it.

Not only that.

I had also been sorting out potential personnel to absorb or include, one by one, in advance.

If there’s one thing that bothers me about this aspect.

‘What if… the people I’m thinking of are gathered in one place.’

Then, in the Central Plains, these individuals…

…would have absolutely no chance of being called righteous sects.