Chapter 249: Return. (2)

Drip…

Cold sweat flowed down the back of his neck.

His tightly clenched fist trembled subtly, filled with strength.

This was proof that his body was extremely tense.

Hwangbo Cheolwi himself was aware that he was tense.

‘…I can’t look them in the eye.’

The eyes of the person sitting across from him, legs crossed, looking at him.

Hwangbo Cheolwi dared not look.

This Hwangbo Cheolwi, a scion of a renowned great family.

As such thoughts brushed past, Hwangbo Cheolwi had to erase the ideas that surfaced in his mind.

‘…Even though it would all be futile now.’

The world was wide, and in that world, the Hwangbo family name was immense, but he realized he was far too small to bear its weight.

Erasing those ingrained thoughts seemed like it would take far too long.

The thick, tense atmosphere pervading the narrow tent.

By the oppressive heat.

Hwangbo Cheolwi wondered how he had ended up here.

‘Why did I come looking…?’

His original purpose was blurry, but coming to see him was no different.

Hwangbo Cheolwi moved his stiff neck, forcing himself to look at the person before him.

The man who had crushed his own brother, Hwangbo Cheok, who had seemed so strong and fierce.

The man he had made kneel.

‘True Dragon….’

Yangcheon Gu, the True Dragon.

This was the name and nickname of the person he faced.

The scene visible through the crack in the door.

Hwangbo Cheolwi knew.

That his eyes had met Gu Yangcheon’s then.

Furthermore, that Gu Yangcheon, having met his gaze, had smiled at him.

‘Did this person really kill the Sixth Elder?’

He knew that Hwangbo Cheok had sent the Sixth Elder to Gu Yangcheon.

If he didn’t like someone.

And if a problem arose in his path.

A person who would remove and eliminate them by any means necessary.

That was Hwangbo Cheok.

Hwangbo Cheolwi thought Gu Yangcheon had simply fallen into that trap unluckily.

‘…Is that really so?’

And the doubt that arose then was.

When Hwangbo Cheok showed the intention to send the Sixth Elder to deal with Gu Yangcheon.

A subtle thought that arose within him.

That was the problem.

‘Could the Sixth Elder really deal with Gu Yangcheon?’

‘…I thought it was a foolish question.’

The Sixth Elder was a martial artist of the Hwagyeong realm.

Having reached Hwagyeong, he would likely rise easily among the top 100 experts of the Central Plains if time permitted.

In fact, it was through such efforts that the clan had granted him the position of Elder.

In comparison, Gu Yangcheon was a young prodigy.

He had received the title of Dragon, but.

He was a rising martial artist who had just begun making a name for himself.

Yet, why had he harbored such thoughts?

It was something he couldn’t understand.

Why he had those thoughts.

As he continued to question himself.

“I thought the Hwangbo clan was mostly full of bears.”

Gu Yangcheon’s voice made Hwangbo Cheolwi’s back stiffen instantly.

“Doesn’t seem to be entirely the case, though.”

“…True Dragon.”

Crash…!

The moment Hwangbo Cheolwi spoke, the table beside him shattered and rolled across the floor.

Watching the debris fall with a crisp sound, Hwangbo Cheolwi swallowed hard.

“I don’t really like being called by my nickname. Call me that again, and next it’s your jaw?”

No matter how narrow the tent was, there was still some distance between Gu Yangcheon and Hwangbo Cheolwi.

It wasn’t a distance they could reach just by staying still.

Clearly, some move must have been performed for this to happen.

Hwangbo Cheolwi couldn’t see how Gu Yangcheon moved at all.

‘…Even though I was watching with my own eyes, such a difference?’

Though I don’t know the details, Gu Yangcheon is probably a couple of years younger than me.

If so, should I attribute that to a difference in talent?

The aura emanating from Gu Yangcheon’s body now.

His gaze looking at him.

Even the faintly felt aura of a loser.

‘To call this talent is too terrifying.’

The level displayed was too insurmountable to comprehend.

As Hwangbo Cheolwi continued to swallow nervously and watch his reactions.

Gu Yangcheon asked Hwangbo Cheolwi.

“Why did you come?”

“…That is…”

“Get straight to the point. I’m a bit busy right now.”

Amidst the noisy sounds.

Seeing the people moving busily, it was somewhat expected.

“…You’re leaving?”

“I’m heading back. I can’t stay stuck here forever.”

Even while saying it was for a good cause, he seemed bothered by something.

Gu Yangcheon’s expression wasn’t very good.

“So, why did you come?”

“I didn’t come with that intention.”

“Is it because I beat up your brother?”

“…!”

Hwangbo Cheolwi gasped at the words casually spoken.

He hadn’t expected him to say it so openly.

After speaking, Gu Yangcheon looked Hwangbo Cheolwi up and down.

As if trying to size him up.

“You don’t seem to have come to argue with me out of brotherly loyalty.”

Argue?

Having witnessed with his own eyes how Hwangbo Cheok was defeated.

He couldn’t possibly argue with Gu Yangcheon verbally.

“…I didn’t come with that intention.”

“Of course. If you were going to do that, it would have been faster to report it to the clan long ago.”

Hwangbo Cheok was threatened by Gu Yangcheon of the Gu clan.

Moreover, he seemed to have fallen victim to some unknown scheme.

Sending those two lines to the clan would have been enough.

Then Hwangbo Cheok’s position would be reduced to that of a fool, defeated and even threatened by a young prodigy, but the matter would be easily resolved.

After all, the Hwangbo family was a great family.

But Hwangbo Cheolwi did not do so.

Even while watching his brother being defeated.

Furthermore, even while watching him pathetically captured and threatened by Gu Yangcheon.

He merely watched.

Why was that?

‘…Why.’

Did he feel inwardly triumphant watching Hwangbo Cheok fall?

He couldn’t know.

“Hey. Snap out of it.”

“…!”

“Why do these bastards always space out when I’m in front of them? Do they think I’m easy prey?”

“…Ah, no. You’re not easy prey at all.”

Is there anyone in the world who thinks Gu Yangcheon is easy prey?

In his opinion, it wouldn’t be easy to do so.

“So, why did you come?”

“…Young Master Jin- no, Gu, I came because there’s something I wanted to ask you.”

“You used to speak informally just fine, so why are you suddenly being so polite? It’s giving me goosebumps.”

“…”

‘It’s because I’m afraid you’ll hit me, you bastard….’

Hwangbo Cheolwi couldn’t bring himself to say the words that surfaced in his mind.

He really felt like he’d get beaten up if he did.

Hwangbo Cheolwi, aware of the cold sweat running down his back.

Asked Gu Yangcheon.

“…Why didn’t you capture me?”

That day.

Even though you met my eyes.

You could have easily captured and dealt with me too.

The reason you left me alone until now.

Hwangbo Cheolwi wanted to know why.

Then.

Ha-

Gu Yangcheon let out a short laugh. What was so funny?

“Shouldn’t you be grateful that I let you go peacefully? Did you come here to ask why I let you go?”

“…I felt I needed to know.”

“No, that’s not it.”

“What…?”

Gu Yangcheon leaned forward slightly.

Was he intrigued?

Or perhaps, what did it mean?

To Hwangbo Cheolwi, who was completely flustered.

Gu Yangcheon slowly began to speak.

“You don’t want to know the reason. You came here expecting something, didn’t you?”

“…!”

“Aren’t you?”

The words spoken in a small voice.

Turned into a dagger and pierced deeply into Hwangbo Cheolwi’s heart.

The deeply embedded dagger felt like it reached his heart.

“Stop playing petty games and do it properly. I tend to find that bothersome, and I’m getting a bit annoyed.”

At Gu Yangcheon’s follow-up words, Hwangbo Cheolwi didn’t know what to say.

‘Since when?’

Did I discover the opening?

The Hwangbo lineage, which I had thought so noble and lofty.

The time I realized in reality it wasn’t that precious.

Acting like someone important and looking down on others foolishly, believing in this blood.

When it became embarrassing.

Since when?

I couldn’t remember well.

And when I thought my brother was shameful.

When I wondered if this was okay.

As my wavering reason gradually broke down, its fragments piling up on one side.

“So, say it clearly.”

Gu Yangcheon drove the final dagger into Hwangbo Cheolwi.

“Because your brother’s actions are shit, and since it’s come to this, please help me take over.”

The casually spat words, dripping with implied meaning, were impossibly heavy.

“It’s strange that you’re saying that to me, but isn’t that what you want to say?”

He wanted to deny it right away.

The struggle for the Young Master position among the blood relatives had been ongoing for years.

Hwangbo Cheolwi had withdrawn from the struggle long ago.

He had talent, but he wasn’t particularly outstanding compared to other relatives.

Moreover, he lacked the justification of being the firstborn.

He had no supporting faction either, so his situation wasn’t good.

In such a situation, how could he harbor such thoughts?

But as soon as he thought it.

Hwangbo Cheolwi opened his mouth to Gu Yangcheon.

“…Can you help me?”

His voice trembled as he spoke, but the words were clear.

“Hmm…”

Hearing this, Gu Yangcheon looked at Hwangbo Cheolwi with a strange expression.

As Hwangbo Cheolwi perceived it.

He felt as if he were on a scale.

On the other side of the scale.

It felt as if Hwangbo Cheok was placed there, looking down at him, but he had no regrets about the words he spoke.

He didn’t know why.

In Gu Yangcheon’s gaze towards him.

There was at least no hostility, unlike when he looked at his brother.

---

Is it bean paste that tastes like shit, or shit that tastes like bean paste?

That is the question.

Though it sounds like a dirty story.

That was the thought that came to mind after sending Hwangbo Cheolwi away.

Hwangbo Cheolwi is the bean paste that tastes like shit.

And Hwangbo Cheok is the shit that tastes like bean paste.

Meaning neither choice was particularly good.

‘If anything, bean paste is better, even if it tastes like shit.’

If you had to choose, Hwangbo Cheolwi was the better option.

From the start, I intended to use Hwangbo Cheok and then discard him.

That’s why I sealed his demonic energy inside him.

So he could be disposed of anytime.

‘That Hwangbo Cheolwi fellow was a bit different than expected, but.’

I don’t know much about him.

Just that he’s a Hwangbo clan member.

Seeing as I don’t recall him specifically from my past life, it means he didn’t make a name for himself.

This means he didn’t stand out.

He probably wasn’t a particularly great figure.

‘Family Head.’

Both that guy and the other guy.

I don’t know why they’re so obsessed with the position of Family Head.

How heavy and troublesome it is.

And how annoying it is.

‘They don’t know how to be grateful for being able to choose.’

How fortunate it is to have the option to choose.

They wouldn’t know.

‘For now, I’ll have to think about those Hwangbo guys separately later.’

He acted as if I could do something for Hwangbo Cheolwi, but in reality, I don’t have any great abilities, so there wasn’t much I could do.

To place a blood relative in the Family Head position just by deciding to.

One would need that much backing.

‘If they were like the Three Venerables, maybe.’

The Five Dukes of Sama, masters of their factions and centers of the Demonic Path, or the Three Venerables, known as ‘Beyond Heaven’. It would be another story then.

This means it’s impossible now.

‘I could offer some help, though.’

This too was something for later.

‘I hope that fat Hwangbo guy takes good care of Mukgwon.’

To both Hwangbo Cheok and Hwangbo Cheolwi.

I’ve vaguely mentioned Mukgwon to both of them, so they should accommodate him.

It’s funny that I’m looking after an old subordinate now.

It’s also unnecessary generosity that makes my stomach churn, but.

‘I should do it while I remember, because I’ll forget later.’

I can’t go around visiting everyone one by one to help them.

I only do it when I see them like this.

Otherwise, it’s a bit much for me too… It was hard.

“Young Master, preparations are complete.”

“Got it.”

After a day passed and I was stretching.

A servant approached and told me.

“Should we leave right away?”

“Yes. I’ve contacted the Alliance, so you can transfer to their carriage there.”

“We should just go. Why do they always make things so complicated?”

I had to stop by the Martial Arts Alliance’s frontline branch for confirmation procedures.

Annoyingly, I had to do it since I’m affiliated with the Orthodox faction for now.

Tsk tsk.

Disliking the inconvenience, I clicked my tongue and asked the person next to me.

“Do you guys have to do it too?”

“We already did.”

It was Moyong Hi-ah, her face veiled.

“Already did?”

“For us, it’s just a matter of relaying the message.”

“…This dirty world.”

The Moyong family was one of the Four Great Clans, so they had status.

Unlike myself from the Gu clan, Moyong Hi-ah only needed her name and a letter.

They say connections are everything.

Truly a dirty world.

“Then does that one not have to do it either?”

I asked, referring to Namgung Bi-ah, who was walking this way half-asleep.

As Namgung Bi-ah walked over, Moyong Hi-ah shuddered and trembled upon seeing her.

“…Sword Dancer doesn’t have assigned personnel, so she’ll have to go herself.”

“This is annoying again. They always do things weirdly.”

As I grumbled.

Namgung Bi-ah came over and rested her chin on my shoulder.

If it were before, I was slightly shorter, so it would have been easier for her to rest it there, but.

Now, since I’m a bit taller than Namgung Bi-ah, it must be somewhat uncomfortable.

Namgung Bi-ah seemed not to care about that, occasionally resting her chin like this.

“Did you sleep badly?”

Namgung Bi-ah answered by turning her head back and forth to my question.

“But why do you look so sleepy.”

“…Tired…”

“What do you mean you’re tired after sleeping well? If you’re sleepy, go sleep then.”

“…Yeah.”

Namgung Bi-ah moved at my words, then.

Suddenly shifted her gaze towards Moyong Hi-ah.

Moyong Hi-ah, whose eyes met Namgung Bi-ah’s, stared blankly at her.

Then Moyong Hi-ah also exchanged glances without looking away.

As I wondered what they were doing, given they were staring at each other for longer than expected.

“…”

Moyong Hi-ah snorted and turned towards the other Moyong clan members.

Namgung Bi-ah, watching that, clenched her fist slightly and whispered to me.

“…I won.”

“…Huh?”

Won what.

A staring contest…?

They seemed to have had some strange fight, but.

Namgung Bi-ah’s reaction was unusual, so I decided not to ask.

Besides, there were more important things to worry about.

“I didn’t plan on taking a vacation…!”

It’s because of Gu Huibi, who was being seen off among the other Sword Cadets over there.

Her incessant complaining while being seen off was giving me a headache.

Seeing that, I sighed deeply, approached her, and said.

“Stop complaining. You said you wanted to come along.”

“Only my sister needs to go… Why are you dragging me along!”

“Did I ask you to come? Father summoned you. And how could you, the eldest daughter, try to get out of it?”

Gu Huibi, who hadn’t received a recall order.

The reason she had to return to the Gu clan with me was none other than.

Me finding Gu Huibi’s recall order among the letters in the flowerbed.

‘Trying to run off somewhere.’

I wondered if she hated going to the clan that much, to the point of not even obeying a recall order.

Considering Madam Mi’s personality, I thought it was possible.

Even so, her dithering like that was incredibly frustrating.

“Ah, let’s go faster!”

Finally, after I approached and physically dragged Gu Huibi.

We could set off for the Gu clan.

For reference, Gu Jeolyub was in charge of this carriage too.

Gu Jeolyub, now preparing to drive the carriage on his own without needing words, looked reliable for the first time in a while.

‘How great it would be if he were that quick with other things too. I’ll have to put him through the wringer later.’

“Nngh…!?”

Gu Jeolyub, suddenly feeling a chill, looked around.

Anyway, he had good intuition in this regard.