Chapter 669: My name is.

The time when the sun was gradually setting.

Standing in the middle of a quiet forest, I glared at the figure before me.

The sharp eyes and long black hair characteristic of the Gu family.

And on top of that, crimson eyes indicating heat.

With a face that was all too familiar, I had to stiffen my body.

The woman tilted her head and spoke to me.

“Little brother?”

I had to wrinkle my nose at the title I hadn’t heard in so long.

“…Noonim.”

As I spoke, not just my nose but my expression crumpled too.

The woman’s identity was none other than Gu Huibi.

Sword Phoenix (劍鳳) Gu Huibi.

She was the eldest daughter of the Gu family, my sister.

And.

I saw Cheonma, clinging tightly to Gu Huibi’s back and poking her head out.

What should I call this fucked up situation?

It’s dogshit.

I couldn’t think of any other word.

“Little brother, it’s been a while?”

Gu Huibi greeted me with a smile.

I couldn’t bring myself to smile.

Hwarureuk.

The holy spear I held in my hand was recalled the moment I saw Gu Huibi.

Its energy naturally returned to my heart.

My ki sense was still on high alert.

I spread it out like sharp awls around me and took a breath.

As I surveyed the situation enveloped in my energy, Cheonma, who had been poking her head out, pointed a finger at me.

“Unni.”

“Hm?”

“She followed me.”

Gu Huibi tilted her head at the words spoken with great caution.

At the same time, I had to stare at Cheonma, my eyes wide.

‘…What did she just say?’

What did that Cheonma say to Gu Huibi?

Did she perhaps call her ‘Unni’?

‘What kind of crazy talk is this?’

I had no idea how the situation was unfolding.

But.

“No, Yeonah, that…”

“Hey.”

“…!”

Gugeugeugeuk-!

I unleashed my energy throughout my body.

Opening my heart completely awakened the energy that had permeated deep within.

Gu Huibi’s eyes widened and her body stiffened at the sudden release of energy.

“Come out from there.”

“…”

As I spoke, radiating killing intent, Cheonma’s expression crumpled.

“I said, come out.”

“No.”

“No?”

Giiiiing-!

Killing intent seeped into the escaping aura.

The fear and anxiety I felt moments before vanished.

I’ll kill.

I’ll kill them and get them away from Gu Huibi.

That was the only thought filling my mind.

“Then die.”

I had to kill them and get rid of them anyway.

If I had to get rid of them someday, it wasn’t too late to do it now.

The anxiety that I might not be able to win had long since disappeared from my mind.

I’ll kill.

Deciding that, I reached out my hand.

Geugeugeuk-!

The energy surging from my heart permeated my arm.

It bound tightly, forming qi energy.

Using it as a weapon, I lunged at Cheonma.

My fingertips touched.

I intended to grab their neck and tear it apart.

As I thought that, my outstretched wrist was.

Kkwaak.

Casually grabbed by Gu Huibi.

“Little brother.”

I shifted my gaze to her chilling voice.

Gu Huibi’s crimson eyes were clearly blazing.

Unlike her heat-filled eyes, the emotion contained within them felt strangely cold.

“What are you trying to do right now?”

“…”

Chiiiiiiik.

I frowned at the heat felt from my wrist.

Then I looked at Gu Huibi.

“…Noonim.”

“Yes.”

“You’re at Hwagyeong?”

“…”

Gu Huibi’s expression showed surprise at my blunt remark.

I felt the same way.

‘…How did she reach it?’

Gu Huibi had reached Hwagyeong.

I was certain from the heat I just felt and my assessment of her energy through contact.

That she, the daughter of the same father, had reached Hwagyeong.

Seriously, how did she reach it?

The killing intent vanished as if dead, and questions sprang up.

‘Is this suddenly possible?’

Sword Phoenix (劍鳳) Gu Huibi.

Even as a late-stage disciple, Gu Huibi was called the top late-stage disciple, showcasing overwhelming talent.

She inherited a rather pretty appearance from Madam Mi, but was also famous for her incredibly foul disposition.

Foul and even fouler.

Because she was a formidable woman who wielded a sword, she was given the respectable epithet ‘Sword Phoenix’, but later also acquired the nickname meaning ‘Crazy Bitch’.

‘Crazy Bitch’? Does that mean a crazy, crazy woman?

‘How foul must she be to use two words for crazy?’

Gu Huibi’s temper was particularly foul, even within the Gu family.

‘Someone as nice as me couldn’t possibly endure it.’

Anyway.

No matter how notorious Gu Huibi’s reputation was, the words that ultimately followed were always just one.

‘…Talent that makes you endure even that damn temper.’

Geomryong Yeongpung, hailed as the top genius of Mount Hua.

And Gu Huibi, who was called the top late-stage disciple, surpassing Jamryong Woo Hyuk, the top genius of Mudang.

A small family from Shanxi, once called a prestigious house but now weakened.

Many questioned how the child of a chivalrous man, who ranked among the top hundred masters, could possess such talent.

‘…What’s there to question? She was just damn talented.’

Sometimes, a dragon is born from a tiger. You never know how things work in this world.

‘When even a dog can be born from a tiger.’

Naturally, I was the dog.

As I blamed myself, something suddenly occurred to me.

‘No, maybe a dragon was born from a dragon?’

Having glimpsed my father’s power, Gu Huibi’s talent wasn’t that extraordinary.

She simply resembled my father a lot.

That was enough to describe it.

Yes, Gu Huibi was exactly in that position.

A monstrous woman who had inherited her father’s talent.

Given that, it wouldn’t be hard to call her a genius, but…

‘Still, reaching Hwagyeong is weird.’

Her current level was weird, incredibly weird.

‘How did she get here?’

I wasn’t doubting Gu Huibi’s talent.

I simply meant it was excessive.

‘…It’s true there are many Hwagyeong cultivators around me.’

Not to mention Namgung Bi-ah or Wi Seol-ah, but also Tang Soyeol or Woo Hyuk.

I knew they were achieving rapid growth unlike in my past life, but…

‘That’s because I intervened.’

Though I felt I properly intervened only with Tang Soyeol, it’s true that my actions had an effect.

However.

‘I didn’t do much for Gu Huibi.’

For Gu Huibi to reach Hwagyeong in that situation.

She had the talent to reach it someday, but the speed felt inexplicably fast.

‘Is this also because of me?’

Or perhaps.

‘Because of that.’

I saw Cheonma staring at me.

Did that thing do something to Gu Huibi?

No, why are they even together in the first place?

Questions piled up.

As I was about to use my strength to resolve the questions…

“Little brother. Stop.”

Gu Huibi stood blocking me.

“Yeonah, you stop too.”

Cheonma frowned at Gu Huibi’s words.

I could see a small amount of energy swirling around her hand too.

Cheonma intended to fight me.

But.

“Yeonah. Unni is talking to you.”

“…”

“Stop it.”

When Gu Huibi stopped her with a fierce voice, Cheonma scrunched up her face and finally withdrew the energy she had been gathering.

I couldn’t easily react to that insane situation.

Cheonma was listening to someone.

How alien that sight was.

As I watched this with bewildered eyes, Gu Huibi let out a shallow sigh and said.

“First, we need to move. Here…”

“Noonim, do you even know what that thing is, yet you’re keeping it?”

“…”

“Why are you- without even knowing-“

“Follow me.”

Gu Huibi cut off my words.

“I’ll explain once we get there. For now, just follow.”

As she spoke, Gu Huibi turned her back.

Cheonma glared at me, then followed Gu Huibi.

“…Ha.”

I watched them go, suppressing my emotions.

I looked at the backs of Cheonma and Gu Huibi.

I glared, biting my lip, and finally took a step to follow the two.

Even then, my gaze was fixed solely on Cheonma’s back.

---

I walked, following the two.

We didn’t walk for long, but as we kept going, the sun had completely set.

Just as I wondered how much further we were going, we finally reached our destination.

Deep in a forest, far from the city.

On a hill where there should have been no people for miles, a small cabin stood.

Could they possibly live there?

Before the doubt could even settle, Gu Huibi went inside.

“Come in.”

“…”

Before the words were even out, Cheonma quickly entered the cabin.

It was an overly familiar action.

Inside the pitch-dark room, Gu Huibi waved her hand.

Hwarik-!

Flames ignited on her back, which had been extinguished.

The somewhat messy room became visible.

Seeing this, Cheonma tilted her head.

“Unni, are you the cleaning Unni today?”

“…Ahem.”

At the remark, Gu Huibi let out a cough.

“…I got caught up with some things today, so I forgot.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“Really.”

“Mm-hmm.”

To Gu Huibi’s excuse, Cheonma nodded expressionlessly.

I watched the scene unfold in silence.

Just as my patience was about to reach its limit…

“Yeonah, wanna go out for a little walk?”

Gu Huibi asked Cheonma.

“Okay.”

This time too, Cheonma simply obeyed without saying anything other than ‘Okay’.

I turned and met Cheonma’s gaze.

Then, she brushed past my shoulder.

I felt my hand clench tightly.

Kkiiik.

Kung.

The door slowly closed, and Cheonma’s presence disappeared.

Only then did Gu Huibi slowly sit down on the floor.

“I don’t have anything like tea. Do you need some?”

“What if I say I do?”

“I’d have to send someone to fetch it. She does it well enough after a few tries.”

“…”

I knew without asking who she was referring to.

So, she meant sending Cheonma on an errand?

“Never mind.”

I refused with a sigh.

I didn’t need tea in the first place.

“Explain first.”

“We meet after so long, and not even a greeting? This Noonim is hurt, you know.”

“I’m not in the mood for jokes.”

As I said that with a frown, Gu Huibi chuckled.

I didn’t like that smile.

“Explain what’s going on. Why are you keeping that thing, Noonim?”

I had only half-believed what Moyong Hi-ah had said.

Because I thought there was no way that could be true.

But seeing this, I knew her words were true.

Gu Huibi really had Cheonma with her.

What on earth was going on?

At my question, Gu Huibi’s smile turned bitter.

“‘That thing’? Little brother, that’s a rather poor way to address someone?”

“Stop changing the subject. It’s obvious you don’t know what that is, Noonim…”

“How could I not know?”

“What?”

Gu Huibi’s words made my brow furrow.

Does she mean she knows Cheonma’s identity?

How, exactly?

As deep anxiety and questions arose…

“We both met at Heukya Palace, how could we not know after seeing that scene?”

“…”

Gu Huibi’s words brought a sense of relief, though not quite relief.

What she was referring to was the form of the young Cheonma I had seen at Heukya Palace.

It meant she didn’t know the details, at least.

However.

“Knowing that, you still keep it around? Are you crazy?”

Even from that brief glimpse, one could tell Cheonma wasn’t a normal being.

At the very least, not human. I could be quite certain of that.

“What are you trying to achieve by keeping something so dangerous nearby?”

“How would you know if it’s dangerous or not, little brother?”

“…Huh?”

Gu Huibi, perhaps provoked by my words, let out a somewhat rough tone.

“Whether that child is dangerous or not. How can you be so sure, little brother?”

If I don’t know, who would?

I alone know what the world doesn’t.

Cheonma is dangerous. It’s just difficult to prove.

Because it was something only I knew.

“You can tell just by looking.”

“You can’t tell just by looking, little brother. Especially not ‘us’. Don’t you understand?”

“…”

Gu Huibi’s words left me speechless.

It didn’t feel good.

Her momentum was unusual, and I knew that stubbornness couldn’t be broken.

Of course.

“Noonim, I clearly told you not to change the subject.”

I wouldn’t lose when it came to stubbornness either.

“What I asked was why you are keeping that thing, Noonim. If you keep annoyingly changing the subject, forget conversation, I’ll do things my way.”

I was holding back right now.

It was meaningless to dwell on Gu Huibi’s thoughts now.

I had a goal right in front of me.

And I had decided not to avoid it any longer. There was only one thing to do.

“Explain. Before I get up.”

If I get up, it’s over.

Saying that with implied meaning.

“…”

A deep sigh escaped Gu Huibi’s lips.

“If you get up…? Are you going to harm that child?”

I didn’t answer.

My expression said enough.

Now, I just had to wait for the answer.

“Hmm.”

To my reaction, Gu Huibi composed her fierce eyes and adopted a calm demeanor.

Contrary to my angry feelings, I looked at her, surprised.

To be able to calm down like that instead of getting angry here.

Considering the last time I saw Gu Huibi was years ago, it was a tremendous change, like her martial arts.

And if something like that…

‘If Cheonma caused it.’

It was even more displeasing.

“Little brother.”

Gu Huibi, having finished her thoughts calmly, looked at me and spoke.

“You can’t do that, little brother.”

My eyes sharpened at her words.

“Are you trying to ignore me right now?”

“No, maybe if it were someone else. But you, little brother, you can’t. I mean it.”

Gu Huibi smiled.

It was a refreshing smile, reminiscent of Madam Mi.

It just didn’t resonate with me.

“Noonim, I don’t have the emotional capacity right now to listen to nonsense-“

“The reason I’m keeping that child with me is because this is a family matter.”

“…!”

Gu Huibi’s following words made me freeze.

Not just the words I was about to say, but even the energy I was gathering.

‘A family matter?’

Those were words coming from Gu Huibi herself, not someone else.

A family matter.

This meant that the reason Gu Huibi had Cheonma with her was a Gu family affair.

“Bullshit.”

I spat it out directly, conveying my discomfort.

It was ridiculous talk.

“Bullshit? You can’t say anything you want to your sister now?”

“If this isn’t bullshit, then what is it? Noonim. Have you really lost your mind?”

Gu Huibi wouldn’t be foolish enough to bring up family matters.

It was a word I wouldn’t have used even in my degenerate days.

Family matters carry an unbelievable weight for blood relatives, yet…

“How can you add that to a family matter?”

“Because that’s exactly what it means.”

“Noonim.”

“If you knew who ‘sent’ that child to me, you’d realize I’m telling the truth, little brother.”

I sensed a subtle shift in Gu Huibi’s words.

The person who sent Cheonma to Gu Huibi?

‘Could it be… a member of the Gu family?’

Is that why Gu Huibi specifically called it a family matter?

‘Who could it be?’

I racked my brain, but no one came to mind.

Who in the Gu family could claim something as a family matter simply by sending it?

‘Besides Father, isn’t there anyone?’

Even if the Elders and the Sword Master were present.

Ultimately, the family head decides most things in the Gu family.

So, is it Father?

‘No, that’s impossible.’

I immediately denied it.

Father wouldn’t do that.

He wouldn’t have sent something like that to Gu Huibi, of all people.

Then maybe the First Elder?

Considering influence alone, the First Elder might possibly do something like that, but…

‘If anything, the First Elder would be even less likely to do so.’

That leaves the other Elders…

‘Those guys are useless anyway.’

The remaining ones are just old men in the back rooms, clinging on because they bear the Gu surname.

Meaning they wouldn’t interfere in family matters.

‘No matter how I think about it, there’s no one.’

As my doubts deepened because no one came to mind…

Gu Huibi looked at me and provided the answer.

“Grandfather-nim.”

“…Hm?”

What?

“The one who sent that child to me was none other than Grandfather-nim.”

An entirely unexpected person popped out.