Chapter 787: Control Your Strength.

Some might say.

What is there left for me to fear at this point?

A top-tier master. Or rather, a point where I’ve reached the upper echelons.

If I were to face them purely as a martial artist, including hidden powerhouses above me, there were only about ten left.

Unless they were Samsons, I was confident I could escape without dying, regardless of the situation.

Given that, honestly, what is there really to fear?

‘…Strength isn’t the only thing that causes fear.’

While strategy can be crushed by greater power, there were definitely things that couldn’t be.

People have memories.

Memories recorded so they can’t be forgotten sometimes manifest as nightmares.

Things that are imprinted, so they’re never forgotten.

For example, my father is like that to me.

Ah, of course, even in terms of sheer power, I don’t see any chance of winning yet.

Anyway…

Regardless, it means humans don’t feel fear solely based on strength.

That included my father, of course. And my family members.

More precisely.

‘It wouldn’t be wrong to say that’s pretty much all of it.’

Things I didn’t admit before, but am slowly coming to accept now.

I was still buried in memories.

Becoming a dragon did help with those aspects a little.

Around the time I faced Gu Huibi.

That must be why I was able to resolve myself to face her without fear.

However, it’s clumsy to say I’ve completely escaped.

It’s just become easier to endure.

That would be the right way to put it.

No, that was definitely it.

Knowing that, I tried to escape quickly.

I needed to pack my bags roughly and hide somewhere for now.

As I thought that, I tried to leap, but…

KWAANG-!

Suddenly, the door outside my quarters burst open violently.

At the same time.

“Hahahahahaha–!”

The moment I heard the old man’s rough laughter, I trembled.

“Aigo, who is this! Isn’t this our Holy King’s grandson! Hahahahaha-! Your complexion looks very good!”

“…”

Damn it. Curses.

It seemed it was already too late.

******************

This happened when I was young.

The time was around thirteen in my previous life.

The situation was that I had caused a rather excessive incident, even by my own standards, and it was Elder Il, not my father, who heard about it first. At the time, he was Elder Yi.

Since I was exceptionally ill-mannered, as always, I was only feeling annoyed, not guilty.

The location was the mountain behind the district.

I was dragged there, led by Elder Yi’s hand.

A brightly spread-out plain was visible.

Although it wasn’t very neat due to lack of maintenance, it looked decent enough.

[My grandson. Do you know that.]

Looking at such a scene, Elder Yi asked me.

[You didn’t tell me, so how would I know? And. I am not Elder Yi’s grandson.]

I replied with a deep frown.

Thinking back now, it was truly a crappy answer.

‘Or maybe? I feel like I’d answer the same way even now?’

If I had to make a distinction, it’s that back then, it was filled with deeper malice.

I was always growling and bickering.

It was a time when I didn’t allow anyone to approach me.

That’s why I didn’t look favorably upon Elder Yi, who tried to delve deeper.

[Is that so? That’s truly a shame. Hahaha-!]

The more I acted like that, Elder Yi would just laugh it off as if he didn’t care.

It was the same back then.

[Why did you drag me here? Untie this quickly.]

My body, tightly bound with ropes.

If it were now, I’d untie it without a problem, but back then, I was just a helpless child.

I wailed as if crying out against the confinement, but Elder Yi, while watching me, looked only at the plain before him as if he didn’t care at all.

[…Shit. I told you to untie this!?]

Finally, unable to contain my anger, I let out a curse.

Only after hearing that did Elder Yi look my way.

Elder Yi’s smile remained the same.

However.

I should have realized it even then.

That his smile held a hint of anger.

[Yangcheon-ah.]

[Untie this right now-]

[Why did you do it?]

[Aren’t you going to untie me!? If you don’t, I’ll kill everyone…!]

[Why did you do it, Yangcheon-ah.]

[…Shit…! What did I! What did I even do–!]

[That child almost died.]

Elder Yi’s words shut my mouth for a moment.

Those words were the reason I was dragged to this mountain.

Yes, back then, I had almost killed someone.

The victim was probably my servant.

I don’t remember the details, but she seemed to be a woman a couple of years older than me.

That child was hit on the head by the ceramic vase I threw and fell, and they said she might have died if not properly treated.

[Why did you do it?]

[…]

Elder Yi asks for the reason.

Why did I do it? Yeah, why did I do it?

It’s not that I don’t remember.

I knew the reason.

Simply because the food she brought wasn’t tasty.

That was purely the reason.

For that reason alone, I threw a tantrum, and that’s how it happened.

[The child received treatment and has recovered. However, she won’t be able to work as your servant anymore. She probably won’t work for our family either.]

The family covered the incident caused by a clan member and gave her more money than measured.

They said she was given help to live comfortably for the rest of her life after treatment.

This was information I looked up in my later life.

[…So?]

I smirked mockingly.

[Good for her. She couldn’t even do her job properly and got money too. It’s thanks to me.]

Heh heh.

I chuckled as I spoke.

I don’t know how ashamed and pathetic I felt inside back then.

Throwing the vase wasn’t intentional either.

I was throwing a tantrum as usual, but the vase was heavier than I expected. I couldn’t control my strength, and the vase flew off in the wrong direction.

That’s how the incident happened.

Honestly, I thought it was fortunate she survived, but…

[It’s just one servant disappearing. Is that such a big problem?]

The words that came out were different from my inner thoughts.

[If she had done her job properly in the first place, I wouldn’t have done that. How could such a pathetic thing serve me… You can just assign a better one next time, can’t you-!]

I shouted as if possessed.

Louder and fiercer, as if trying to hide my shame.

That was me back then.

[So untie this right now-! Untie me, I said–!!]

I struggled and thrashed, but the ropes were too sturdy, and they didn’t loosen at all.

[Grrrk-!]

Finally, unable to hold myself up, I rolled on the ground.

The ground, full of pebbles, stung terribly.

A situation where I might get hurt.

[Un…Untie me-!]

Even in that situation, Elder Yi remained the same.

[Just a mere servant.]

The old man stroked his beard with a large hand and nodded.

[Right. That can happen. To you, she might be just a mere servant. If that child isn’t of noble blood, then that’s true.]

The so-called aristocratic mindset.

The Gu family was a renowned clan, and no matter how much they tried to hide it, a renowned clan was still a renowned clan.

Thus, Elder Yi also possessed such a mindset to some extent.

However.

[But. Just because she isn’t noble doesn’t mean you have the right to treat her carelessly.]

As if it were a separate reason, Elder Yi looked at me and continued speaking.

[So, you’re saying I should care about that mere servant?]

[Whether you care or not is up to you. At least, don’t create troublesome matters.]

[Troublesome matters?]

[Yes, because you did something unnecessary, the family had to spend excessive money on that child. This is undeniably damage to the clan. If this isn’t damage, what is?]

Don’t cause damage to the clan by causing an incident without justification, rather than the child’s life or death.

That was Elder Yi’s point.

[…Huh?]

At his slightly absurd words, I let out a hollow laugh.

[Yangcheon-ah. Do you know why this old man dragged you here?]

[How would I know that? Untie this first, you damn old man-!]

[It’s simple. To punish you.]

Punishment. Hearing that, my eyes widened like fire.

[What punishment-! I did nothing wrong!! It’s that insignificant bitch’s fault for doing her job poorly….]

[Didn’t I tell you? It’s not that you harmed the child that’s the problem.]

Swish.

Elder Yi moved his thick arm and lifted me up.

My body was lifted lightly, as if picking up an apple.

[While not holding back when you’re upset is one way, Yangcheon, your threshold for that is too low. Furthermore, you’re causing harm to those around you with that shallow temper. This is why you are being punished.]

[What kind of crap is that! I’m a member of the Gu clan-! Why should I be punished!]

As I recall it, my ears grow hot.

Naturally, that wasn’t said out of pride for being a Gu clan member.

Empty words spoken because I had to say something.

Tools used to somehow vent my emotions. That’s exactly how it felt.

[Someone like you punishes me? Why should I accept that-! Let go of me–! Untie me. Untie me now-!]

I spewed words relentlessly, but…

[I’m not interested in your thoughts. This is purely the punishment I am delivering.]

Elder Yi finished speaking and threw me aside like I was nothing.

[Ugh!?]

I flew a considerable distance, hit the ground with a THUD-!, and rolled.

Being tied by ropes, I couldn’t stop myself.

After my body finally stopped rolling.

[Ughhh….]

Dizzy, I lifted my head and looked around.

After rolling for quite some time, I arrived in the middle of the plain.

It was midday in summer, so it was particularly hot. The ground was heated, making my body feel scorching.

At that time, my Nine Flame Wheel Technique was only at the first level, so I had almost no resistance to heat.

[…What is this… this….]

Just as I was bewildered, wondering why I was suddenly thrown here…

[I thought a bit about what kind of punishment to give you.]

Elder Yi spoke to me from afar.

[I thought it would be best to keep it simple.]

[What do you mean! W-Will you untie this right now!?]

[At your age, shouldn’t you be doing things autonomously now? Try to untie it yourself.]

[What do you mean–!]

[Well then, I’ll return in three days. Take care.]

[What?]

Having finished speaking, Elder Yi immediately turned his back and walked away.

I shouted in panic as I watched him go.

[U-Untie this-! N-No! Take me with you! What am I supposed to do here-!]

My tightly bound body.

The scorching sun.

The mountain peak.

No matter how you look at it, it was a state far removed from survival.

He’s going to leave me like this and come back in three days? That must be a lie, right?

Even though I stared, unable to believe it, Elder Yi was already gone.

[Hey, shit! You damn old man!! Come back right now–!!]

The words I shouted immediately after echoed back.

Elder Yi truly never reappeared.

And exactly three days later.

Just as I was slowly dying from deep thirst and hunger, hiding to avoid wild animals, Elder Yi picked me up from the bushes and said.

[If the same situation happens next time. It won’t be three days, but seven days and nights.]

I couldn’t say anything to his words spoken with a smile.

I wanted to curse him thoroughly, but unfortunately, I didn’t even have the strength to do so.

It was closer to abuse than punishment.

How could a clan elder do such a thing to a clan member?

I heard about this later; Elder Yi was punished for this incident afterward.

Although he didn’t step down from his elder position, his standing was pushed back behind Elder Sam and Elder Sa.

It meant that even Elder Yi couldn’t treat me so carelessly under normal circumstances.

Elder Yi must have known that clearly.

That old man’s attitude towards me didn’t change, regardless of whether he was punished or not.

If I cause too much trouble, he punishes me.

And he gets punished too.

I cause trouble.

He comes, punishes me, and gets punished himself.

That was the cycle, and having endured it countless times, I was busy avoiding Elder Yi back then.

He would often drag me to train. If I caused trouble, he’d come and scold me.

Perhaps he was even more excessive than Gu Huibi, that Elder Yi.

“You rascal-! You punk-! Not even a single call! You really have a knack for surprising this old man, hahahahaha–!”

That old man hasn’t really changed even now.

“…My head… my head is shaking.”

Elder Il ruffled my hair with all his might, and my head swayed from the momentum.

“Hahahahaha–!! Your height seems particularly great? I knew it. You’re your father’s child, so how could you not grow tall? You were just saving it for later-! Though, you were too small!”

“…”

My height, increased due to shedding my horns.

I was still shorter than Elder Il, who was close to eight feet tall.

But as if that alone made him happy, Elder Il was beaming.

Seeing this made my chest ache a little.

‘…It’s because I shed my horns.’

If I hadn’t, my height would have been much smaller than this.

Hearing about my bulky father made it hurt even more.

“Have you eaten?”

“…I was going to, but I didn’t have an appetite.”

“Oh dear. A young fellow like you shouldn’t skip meals. You’re at the age where you should be growing, so you must eat!”

“…”

Who do you think made me lose my appetite?

Seeing Elder Il patting my shoulder without knowing my inner turmoil made my insides twist even more.

‘I couldn’t escape after all.’

Damn it.

As soon as I heard the news, I tried to escape quickly. Unfortunately, I couldn’t.

“This place is nice too.”

It’s because Elder Il, like a ghost, burst into my quarters the moment I tried to escape.

Thanks to that, I ended up in this state.

“I guess I can stay here too.”

Elder Il’s words made me involuntarily make a disgusted face.

“What kind of terrifying thing is that to say? I don’t like it.”

“What do you mean you don’t like it? How about taking a bath with this old man after so long, hmm?”

“I dislike it even more. What kind of creepy, goosebump-inducing thing is that to say?”

“You punk? Getting all huffy because you’re grown up. This is how we build bonds… Ah.”

Elder Il, who was spouting nonsense… no, rubbish, suddenly looked at me as if he realized something.

Then he smiled.

‘…Ah, fuck.’

A smile full of intention.

I could guess what he was going to say.

“I see. Since you’re the great Holy King, you don’t want to bathe with an old man like me. That’s understandable.”

‘Damn it.’

As expected. He brought up the nickname.

“Mhmm, mhmm. After all, you are the great Holy King.”

“…It’s not like that.”

“A superior and great Holy King cannot do such things with this insignificant old man.”

“I told you it’s not like that?”

“Since you are a great, superior, and magnificent Holy King, you can’t eat or bathe…”

“…”

He wasn’t listening at all.

Seeing that, I covered my forehead with my hand.

‘This is why I…’

This is exactly why I tried to escape.

‘Damn it all.’

It was obvious he’d tease me the moment he saw me.

Especially since he’s the type to tease relentlessly all day, I wanted to escape even more.

Even Paejon is like that.

Seeing him smirk every time I see him lately infuriates me to no end.

Now that another person who teases just as much has arrived, how can the world be peaceful?

‘Huuu….’

Suppressing the rough sigh escaping me, I asked Elder Il, who was still teasing me.

“…So, why did you come?”

“Hmm? Well, it’s because the great and brilliant…”

“Ah, please stop that.”

As I said that, wrinkling my face, Elder Il finally stopped talking.

He looked disappointed, but fortunately, he didn’t continue.

“I heard you weren’t coming. Why did you come all the way here?”

Although there were members of the Gu family who had arrived in Hanam earlier…

There was no news of Elder Il coming among them.

Elder Il originally didn’t go out much from the clan’s territory, and he especially didn’t go towards Hanam.

Unless it was a particularly major event, like the incident involving the Dragon God Pavilion a few years ago, he was someone who wouldn’t move unnecessarily.

Why did he come this time?

Asking him for that reason…

“Why? Because I heard Yangcheon, you experienced a major incident, so I came.”

At the answer that followed, I had to stare blankly for a moment.

“I heard you fought fiercely. Are you feeling alright?”

“…Ah.”

Was the reason really me?

“Seeing you, you don’t seem injured. I can’t tell if you’re hurt or not. If you are hurt, are you receiving treatment well? I heard there’s a divine physician nearby… Don’t trust that person too much. Honestly, they’re a bit of a quack.”

“…”

The words pouring out endlessly.

While it was bothersome that he called the number one physician in the Central Plains a quack, even setting that aside…

“…I’m fine.”

Knowing that most of those numerous words were out of concern made me feel incredibly awkward.

Could it really be that he came right after hearing the news about me?

‘Hanam isn’t that close to Shanxi.’

How many days had passed since the incident? If he came after hearing the news, it would have been barely enough time even if he rushed frantically.

Surely that must be the case, but even if Elder Il was vigorous for his age, could an old man like him have rushed here in one go?

If that were truly the case, an unsettling feeling stirred within me.

“…Why did you do that, being an old man? You should have just stayed home.”

“Hoho. You could have just said you went through hardship. Your way of speaking hasn’t changed at all.”

“It’s not like that.”

“Yes, yes.”

Thump.

Nodding, Elder Il ruffled my hair once again.

The rough touch was still uncomfortable, but I didn’t resist unnecessarily.

“Ah, right. I heard on the way, Yangcheon-ah.”

“…Yes.”

“I heard you became the Grand Leader of the Alliance. Is that true?”

“…It happened somehow.”

Although I haven’t properly attended any meetings yet and caused a huge incident on the first day.

“Hmmmm.”

“Why are you making that sound?”

Elder Il hummed after hearing my words.

I wondered why he was acting like that. It didn’t seem like he asked just to tease me?

‘…Ah, perhaps.’

Is it a problem that I accepted the Grand Leader position without asking the Gu family?

‘Indeed.’

That was indeed a problem.

I accepted the conditions head-on and became the Grand Leader, but there were still issues tied to me.

If I accept the Grand Leader position here, it creates problems when I return to the clan to receive the Young Master position.

Because of that, I should have asked my father, let alone elders, separately.

‘…I forgot.’

I was so busy lately that I momentarily forgot.

As such, it’s possible Elder Il might express his difficulty here and order me not to become the Grand Leader.

‘Since I’ve already caused the incident, I need to finish what I started.’

Half a year.

Since these things require about half a year to unfold according to plan, I pondered how I should persuade him.

As I was deep in thought, Elder Il cautiously opened his mouth.

“This is quite troublesome.”

It seemed my guess was correct.

“The thing is… Elder Il-nim.”

“If it comes to this… it means I’ll be exposed for being banned from entering Hanam because of the trouble I caused.”

“I also have my circumstances… What did you say?”

“Hmm?”

“Yes?”

I stopped mid-sentence and looked at Elder Il.

A brief silence followed.

“Aigoo. Such a slip of the tongue-!”

Thump!

Elder Il tapped his head with his fist, pretending to be cute as he said it.

“…”

It wasn’t cute at all.