Chapter 965: Lost Soul.

The words about changing the General.

Hearing that, Yarang had to stiffen his body, an unusual sight.

Change the General? There was no need to figure out what that meant.

It was literal.

Because it meant replacing someone from the current General.

“…”

Hearing the words, someone came to Yarang’s mind.

He was one of the Generals, and if what the woman just said was true, the probability of him being chosen seemed the highest.

However, this was just Yarang’s guess. He knew well that ultimately, what mattered was the master’s heart.

“Hmmph.”

Whether she knew Yarang’s thoughts or not, the woman was merely humming continuously and looking around.

Is she happy? Yarang thought, looking at her back.

No.

She wasn’t happy. That woman wasn’t happy at all.

She was merely acting that way.

The scenery she saw now held no meaning whatsoever to her.

“The flowers are really pretty. Aren’t they?”

She was smiling brightly, holding a single, nameless red flower.

It was a beautiful smile. If the cloth covering her face wasn’t there, it would have been a face that captivated everyone around.

Could a smile without sincerity possess such power?

Yarang felt deeply afraid of that.

“Daughter?”

“…”

At the woman’s call, Yarang nodded.

“Come here.”

He approached slowly.

Then the woman reached into the bushes and pulled something out. It was a flower again.

Unlike the red flower she had picked herself, it was a light blue flower.

Was it okay to just pick this freely? Such questions were unnecessary.

As Yusa had said.

There was nothing she couldn’t do in this land.

“How about this one? Is it pretty?”

Yarang simply nodded at her speaking while looking at the flower.

“Hmm. It seems you don’t like it.”

Although he shook his head at those words, the woman didn’t seem convinced.

She immediately reached into the bushes again.

Should I stop her? Yarang pondered deeply.

There was no need to stop her, really, but there was also no need for her to be so obsessed with flowers.

Let’s stop her first and think later. Deciding so, Yarang approached the woman.

“Ah. This one.”

The woman picked up a flower again. This time it was neither red nor blue.

A pure white flower. It was a white and beautiful flower, like freshly fallen snow.

Seeing it, Yarang momentarily stopped his fingertips.

“…”

It was a familiar flower.

Why was it familiar? Seeing it, his gaze involuntarily wavered.

“Daughter. Why are you-.”

Seeing that, the woman looked at Yarang as if asking what was wrong.

At that moment.

Thwack-!

“…?”

Someone appeared and grabbed the woman’s hand.

At the sudden touch, both Yarang and the woman widened their eyes in surprise.

“…”

In the situation, the woman turned her head and looked at the one holding her arm.

There.

“…”

A young man, his body stiff, his face grimacing.

Gu Yangcheon was there.

---

On top of a tall building in Yaewol.

Gubong and Sincheol, dressed in red martial attire, were watching below.

“…Ah, that guy. He finally did it.”

Confirming the situation, Sincheol let out a low sigh.

Even though he had strongly advised against it, he ended up in that state. It was truly impossible not to sigh.

“Sigh…”

Breathing out as if exhausted, he brushed his face with an old hand.

This breath was not only for that reckless punk, but also a sigh directed at himself.

“…Sect Leader….”

Gubong called Sincheol. With an awkward expression at his words, he looked at Gubong.

“Are you alright? The wind is cold.”

“Hoho.”

At Gubong’s words, Sincheol let out a hollow laugh.

“Who’s worrying about whom? Do you think I’d be swayed by mere wind like this?”

“But…”

“Don’t worry. I won’t budge even if a gale blows.”

He waved his hands dismissively, telling him not to worry, but Gubong’s expression didn’t improve.

Knowing why he looked so worried, Sincheol didn’t say anything further either.

Right now, more than such words.

“Hmm…”

What is that incompetent brat trying to do?

‘Yangcheon-ah.’

I understand being swept up in emotion.

It wasn’t just anything; he saw the mother he had missed so dearly, so it’s understandable.

The problem is.

‘…That is not your mother.’

That thing.

Or rather, that being.

Something bizarre and powerful, indescribable.

If he approaches thinking that’s his mother and receives the full impact of it.

Sincheol was worried about that.

‘Please.’

I hope it’s not too deep a wound.

Thinking so, as Sincheol kept looking towards Gu Yangcheon.

“Sect Leader.”

“Yes.”

Gubong asked Sincheol from behind.

“May I ask something?”

“What if I say no?”

“…Then I’ll just stay quiet.”

“Tsk tsk…. Just kidding. Go ahead.”

He said this without looking at Gubong.

Hearing that, Gubong immediately asked Sincheol.

“Is that person. The one you’ve been waiting for all this time, Sect Leader?”

“…”

At Gubong’s words, Sincheol slightly turned his head and looked at him.

How should I answer? A moment’s thought flickered.

“Yes.”

Sincheol ultimately chose to answer honestly.

Because there was nothing to hide anyway.

“That guy is the one.”

“…”

“Why. Are you disappointed?”

“…No.”

It would be a lie to say he wasn’t disappointed. But Gubong wasn’t simply buried in such emotions.

It was also because he already knew this fact.

But it was more complex and vast than that.

Jealousy. Disappointment, sadness.

Amidst those overwhelming emotions.

The greatest emotion among them.

“Sect Leader….”

“Speak.”

“If so, do you intend to return now?”

“What?”

At Gubong’s words, Sincheol’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.

He had a look of ‘What are you talking about?’, but nevertheless, Gubong continued.

“If you found what you were looking for…. Weren’t you planning to return then….”

“…”

What was funny was that Sincheol gave no answer at all to Gubong’s words.

Watching that, Gubong thought.

Is he choosing not to speak? Or is he unable to speak?

The uncomfortable air filled only with silence. What else could this be but an answer?

Just as Gubong tried to change the subject, biting his lip.

“Don’t worry.”

Sincheol said.

“I have no intention of going anywhere.”

“…But…!”

“The reason I couldn’t speak just now, Gubong. Is because I needed time to consider what you meant when you spoke to me.”

“…”

“If it were up to me, I’d want to have a more thorough conversation with you about this, but.”

Swish. Sincheol stopped looking down and stood up.

“Unfortunately, the situation has become unfavorable.”

“…Sect Leader? What do you mean?”

“Come out now.”

Ignoring Gubong’s words, Sincheol spoke, looking at the empty air.

Then.

“Anyway.”

Something appeared out of thin air and landed on the building.

“Gasp…!”

Seeing that, Gubong shuddered in shock.

“You’re still quick to notice.”

A young man with light green hair.

The master of Yaewol, and one of only four Generals currently existing in Mangye.

It was Yusa.

“G-General…!”

Gubong was so surprised he couldn’t even blink his wide eyes and had to stare at Yusa.

Yusa looked at Gubong like that and had to slightly furrow his brow.

“Child of Wolya. What does that rude attitude mean, even after seeing me?”

“…!”

At Yusa’s words, Gubong’s heart lurched.

Instinctive loyalty towards a greater predator.

Remembering that, Gubong’s body involuntarily tried to kneel.

“Where do you think you’re going.”

Sincheol blocked Yusa’s path.

Then, he felt Gubong’s trembling body calm down.

“Hey. Don’t you know that bullying a child is a despicable act?”

“Bullying? I was merely trying to instill some manners.”

“…Tsk tsk.”

Sincheol chuckled, finding the remark amusing.

Hearing that, Yusa’s expression soured.

“You’re laughing?”

“Well, isn’t it funny?”

“As expected, you have an irritating way of speaking.”

“We’re not exactly on friendly terms for pleasantries. Why have you come?”

“Who are you to say that?”

Yusa glared at Sincheol, grinding his teeth.

“If I hadn’t been focused, I might have missed it. What are you doing here?”

“Can’t you tell? I came out for a stroll with my disciple.”

“A stroll, you say.”

Grrr-!

Rough cracks spread across the floor where Yusa stood.

“Have you forgotten the pact?”

Grrrrrrr.

From Yusa’s body came the sound of a beast roaring.

“No. I haven’t forgotten.”

“If you haven’t forgotten, how dare you set foot here?”

As anger built up, veins bulged on Yusa’s forehead.

“The Hwasan you created. The reason those pathetic fools can come and go is purely due to the pact the Master made with you. And for that, there’s something you should have prioritized protecting, right?”

The thing to protect above all else.

That is.

“You must never leave the domain you created.”

Sincheol being bound to Hwasan.

“You barely gained peace through that pact, and you’ve already broken it twice?”

Yusa clenched his fist. His arm expanded, transforming into a massive size.

“Perfect. I had something to settle with you anyway. Might as well do it now…!”

Just as he was about to charge and start a fight.

KABOOM-!

“Gah.”

Yusa suddenly collapsed.

Thump-!

Sincheol had approached unnoticed and punched Yusa square in the face.

Yusa’s body, as if losing consciousness, fell to the floor.

“Geez. Stop barking. You’re not a dog, and I’m really busy right now. Tsk.”

Sincheol, as if unbothered, grabbed the collapsed Yusa and tossed him aside before returning to his spot.

“…”

The situation that unfolded in an instant. Within it, Gubong was dumbfounded.

A General knocked unconscious by a single blow.

And Sincheol, who acted as if it was nothing.

And between them, only the stunned Gubong remained.