Chapter 570: To Hanam.

The coldly falling snow.

I remember the young man holding a woman who resembled snow, upon the white ground that had begun to pile up layer by layer.

The bloodstains scattered here and there, and the young man quietly breathing above them.

It was a memory of the old man watching it all.

[Child.]

The old man called out to the young man.

At this, the young man slowly lifted his head.

His red hair swayed, revealing the young man’s eyes.

They were a deep, deep red.

So red, they resembled the bloodstains that soaked the ground.

Looking at those eyes, the old man felt an involuntary shiver.

However, hiding such feelings, he spoke.

[Isn’t this enough….]

A hint of desperation mixed in his words.

[Stop now….]

[…What….]

Cutting off the old man’s words, the young man asked.

[What in the world has it become….]

As the young man spoke, he tightened his grip on the woman he held.

[It has become nothing.]

[Child.]

Hwaruk-!

[…!]

Just as the old man was about to take a step.

A fierce flame shot towards the old man.

However, the flame did not reach the old man.

Because someone had grabbed the old man and pulled him back.

[Are you trying to die? Get a grip.]

[…Family Head Hwangbo.]

The man was the Family Head of the Hwangbo family, the Power King of the era.

He drew out his Woobong Chwigae and shouted towards the red-haired young man.

[Divine Dragon…! You audacious brat. How could you have hidden such power…!]

A booming shout, yet the young man before him didn’t even react.

Just silently.

He merely surveyed his surroundings with a coldly settled gaze.

A heat unfitting for winter could be felt from the young man.

Conversely, his gaze was chillingly cold, resembling the season.

[It’s truly laughable.]

[What did you say?]

At the young man’s words, Family Head Hwangbo frowned.

[What did you just say….]

[The sight of you all gathering here, claiming you’ll snatch away one woman. It’s truly laughable.]

His voice held no emotion whatsoever.

That, rather, felt like a blade.

[And you call yourselves righteous sects after this?]

[This bastard…!!]

Hearing the young man’s words, Family Head Hwangbo’s face contorted.

[You know damn well she isn’t just any woman!]

His thick finger pointed at someone.

The tip of his finger was aimed at the woman the young man held.

[I can understand losing your mind over her beauty.]

[But embracing that monster…!]

[Monster?]

[…!]

Ooh-!

Goosebumps rose on Family Head Hwangbo’s spine.

At the same time, he took a step back.

When Family Head Hwangbo realized he had been pushed back by the young man’s aura.

The veins on his neck stood out fully.

[Damn…. That bastard…. ]

His pride was hurt.

The fact that he was startled, even for a moment, by such a mere whelp.

Just as Family Head Hwangbo was about to unleash his killing intent.

Woobong Chwigae blocked it.

[Stop that.]

[Woobong Chwigae!]

[You were the one who told me to get a grip, so why are you getting so angry and stepping forward?]

[Grrr.]

At Woobong Chwigae’s warning, Family Head Hwangbo ground his teeth.

He was barely managing to suppress his emotions with that.

Confirming this, Woobong Chwigae looked back at the young man.

[Are you truly not going to let go of that hand?]

Let go of the hand holding the woman.

That was all it took.

If he did, this cruel situation would end, and everything would return to peace.

Both those standing here and that young man knew that very well, but…

The young man’s answer was the same as before.

[Such an option never existed for me in the first place.]

[Child….]

[I heard the meaning of the alliance is righteousness and cooperation.]

Unlike his weary posture, the young man’s voice was firm.

It had been that way from the start, and it was the same now.

[I don’t know what that is. Therefore, I cannot fathom the meaning of the alliance.]

The young man’s words, saying he didn’t know what righteousness was despite being part of the righteous sects.

Woobong Chwigae showed no reaction to those words.

He merely.

[However.]

Quietly awaited the young man’s words.

[Even if I don’t know the meaning of the alliance, protecting what must be protected is righteousness and cooperation to me. That is my justice.]

The wind mixed with snow blew even more fiercely, but…

Its traces melted and disappeared before reaching the young man.

[To be unable to protect even the woman in my arms means losing my conviction. That is no different from death to me.]

The air distorts.

It was because the burning heat was so intense that it appeared so.

[If you intend to snatch away my conviction, try it.]

The numerous troops.

With those possessing widespread fame throughout the Central Plains gathered.

It was an aura that felt alien coming from someone who had barely reached the age of fifteen.

[I.]

It wouldn’t have been strange if he were scared; it wouldn’t have been strange if he gave up out of exhaustion.

However, the young man did not choose such a path.

[Because I won’t let anything be taken from me.]

He chose to stand against the world.

These memories are still vivid for the old man.

Perhaps it was because it was such a shock.

‘He was quite the audacious brat.’

Few remember what happened back then.

Most of the many people present at the time were no longer alive by now.

And most of those who were alive probably couldn’t remember.

[I hope you will live forgetting these events.]

At the end of the brutal melee, the blood-soaked young man declared thus.

Woobong Chwigae was one of the few who remembered such events.

This also remained as a debt Woobong Chwigae owed the young man.

If you ask why it was a debt, it was a simple principle.

‘Because no one died.’

Even though a pact and a restriction were imposed simultaneously.

Everyone present could keep their lives.

Even if the ‘Sword Master (劍尊)’ intervened on the young man’s side later.

This would remain an undeniable truth.

Moreover, the young man, just as he had said, fulfilled his responsibilities.

He diligently handled matters according to the alliance’s orders, as per the contract.

Around the time the contract ended, he returned to his family and took over the duties of the Family Head.

He concealed his existence.

Afterward, he did not unnecessarily set foot in the Central Plains.

The young man reached middle age.

The world soon forgot his name.

If you ask how such a famous name was so easily forgotten.

It was because that was what he wanted, and Woobong Chwigae had continued to pull strings.

Time flowed on like that until the present.

“Holhol…”

Woobong Chwigae, stepping out of his quarters, let out a soft chuckle.

“He really resembles him quite a lot.”

It was because the conversation they had was rather interesting.

The child looked exactly like the young man etched in his memory.

Though it seemed like a somewhat disappointing resemblance, a resemblance is a resemblance.

Since he’s his son, it’s only natural.

Of course.

“The daughter doesn’t seem to resemble him much, though.”

The young girl, said to be the disciple of the Sword Empress, didn’t seem to resemble him much.

If anything resembles him.

‘It’s from the mother’s side.’

The woman held in his arms back then.

She must resemble that child.

Sssseu.

Woobong Chwigae stroked his own belly with his hand.

He could feel a large lock placed deep within his dantian.

It was because of the restriction he had placed and bound upon himself inside the room.

‘Hmm.’

He wondered if it was excessive, but Woobong Chwigae didn’t mind.

His remaining lifespan was short anyway; there was nothing to save or hoard.

He was simply enjoying himself.

‘His appearance is a perfect copy. He seems to have inherited the talent well, too. But he’s developed cunning that wasn’t there.’

Unlike his father, who would break through any obstacle without hesitation.

This child seems to know how to go around obstacles instead of breaking them.

Holhol.

‘Thinking about it is terrifying.’

Overwhelming talent alone is daunting enough, but how much more terrifying would he be if he possessed strategic cunning as well?

Thinking thus, Woobong Chwigae chuckled.

He recalled the child’s expression when reacting to his words.

While evading, when pressed further, he unhesitatingly revealed his fangs.

Fangs sharp enough to pierce at any moment.

Recalling that, Woobong Chwigae suppressed a smile.

‘I don’t know what that child is hiding, but…’

I hope this incident serves as a warning.

That was Woobong Chwigae’s wish.

‘Because I don’t think I can keep it up anymore.’

Any longer.

He won’t be able to hide that child’s story.

No matter how much Woobong Chwigae tried, it had surpassed the scale he could conceal.

Especially.

‘If unknown matters are mixed in, even more so….’

With the task entrusted by the Alliance Leader overlapping with this current matter, Woobong Chwigae could no longer afford personal time.

He had been hiding the existence of Gu Yangcheon, following the request of the Family Head of Gu family, but…

Seeing as it would be too much from this point onward.

Woobong Chwigae deliberately issued a warning to Gu Yangcheon.

To be vigilant.

Meaning to act cautiously and be sensitive.

Furthermore.

‘Was it the Heavenly Demon?’

The mysterious figure who attacked the Wudang sect.

Recalling him, Woobong Chwigae glanced back.

It was the quarters where Gu Yangcheon resided.

After briefly looking at the place, Woobong Chwigae soon shook his head.

‘It couldn’t be.’

Given that Gu Yangcheon had caused trouble through Yeomyeong.

A thought flashed by – perhaps this child was connected to the Heavenly Demon?

Woobong Chwigae immediately dismissed the thought.

Didn’t the Sword Empress say it?

She said the Heavenly Demon must have reached the Transcendent realm.

‘The physique doesn’t match either.’

She said he had a height close to seven feet.

Although the situation was developing strangely, Woobong Chwigae judged that Gu Yangcheon was not related to him.

If, by any chance, there was a connection.

‘It will be revealed during the investigation. Holhol….’

He would naturally find out during the process of figuring it out. Woobong Chwigae knew the information network of the Beggar’s Sect.

So, he could only hope.

That this matter and…

…that child are unrelated.

---

Shortly after Woobong Chwigae left.

I was left momentarily stunned, my expression blank.

In my hand was the snack Woobong Chwigae had given me.

“…Sssip.”

I looked at it, then carefully placed it on the table.

“What is this?”

What could it possibly be?

Woobong Chwigae, who had interrogated me relentlessly, just handed me the snack like that and disappeared.

I thought he’d say something more, but he really just vanished.

What on earth did he want?

I couldn’t figure it out.

“…Should I consider this a close call?”

That wasn’t it.

Rather than getting through it well.

‘He let it slide.’

It would be more accurate to say Woobong Chwigae just let it pass.

Or perhaps.

‘Was it a warning?’

That was possible too.

I know you did something. So, stay put.

That could have been the intention.

If it wasn’t that either.

‘Then what the hell is it?’

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t grasp Woobong Chwigae’s intention.

Did he really let it slide because he owed my father?

‘If he showed that much effort, even putting a restriction on himself, maybe.’

This is not the time to let my guard down, no matter what.

It’s not just anyone; it’s the Sect Leader of the Beggar’s Sect.

The important thing here is that I’ve been recognized by him.

And this might make it somewhat difficult to act.

‘It seems he didn’t notice anything else, though.’

It’s fortunate that he doesn’t seem to know I was the one who attacked the Wudang sect.

‘…Though I’m not entirely sure about that either.’

It’s possible he knows but is pretending not to.

I needed to prepare countermeasures in advance.

‘I managed to subtly inject the demonic energy.’

It was a small and shallow amount to avoid detection, but I could use it.

The rest…

‘I need to get those guys moving.’

I need to utilize people who are far more specialized in this field than I am.

It’s getting complicated, and my head is starting to hurt.

But thinking hard isn’t really my job anyway.

‘Because that guy should be here too.’

Thinking that far, I got up.

There was no point thinking about it any further.

“…Hoo.”

First, I needed to move quickly.