Chapter 794: If you say one more word.

The first leader of the Baekhwa Merchant Guild is a direct blood relative of the Gu family.

At Elder Il’s words, I had to stand still, my body stiffening considerably.

No reaction came easily.

Frankly, I couldn’t even gauge what kind of reaction I should have to that insane statement.

After stammering like that for a long while, I finally managed to speak.

“What kind of nonsensical talk is that?”

“Why is it nonsensical?”

“…Are you calling that talk?”

Does he genuinely not know why it’s nonsensical?

‘How is that even possible?’

If he truly is a direct blood relative of the Gu family… wouldn’t that make his relationship with Madam Mi strange?

‘Madam Mi is a native of the Mi family.’

But if the first leader, who is supposedly the father, is of the Gu family, their surnames would be different.

Of course.

‘Unless he was a live-in son-in-law, then perhaps…’

Seeing as the father-daughter relationship was a mess, there was a chance he took his mother’s surname.

Even that is acceptable. Surnames aren’t that important, after all.

But what’s important is.

‘Then how does that work with Father’s marriage?’

It meant the two were related by blood.

If they were direct blood relatives, he wouldn’t be Father’s brother, meaning they’d be related through Grandfather.

Which means.

‘He’s a cousin, isn’t he?’

Meaning a rather close relationship.

A situation where they could probably even be called family.

In such a situation, if Father married Madam Mi and even had children…

‘Is that… okay?’

It was something my common sense found rather difficult to comprehend.

‘…No wonder.’

The moment I saw the first leader, I thought that old geezer looked ill-tempered.

Was it because he was part of our family?

Could it be that Madam Mi’s cold appearance is also because of that?

This damn family just can’t seem to escape it.

Then again, there’s nothing surprising anymore.

‘It’s already a complete mess of a family, what more could surprise me?’

Since when has our family ever been so normal?

Even as I thought that.

‘…Anyone who isn’t surprised by this would be crazy.’

I immediately recalled the contradiction.

No, does this even make sense?

No matter how I tried to look at it favorably, it just wasn’t possible.

So, just as I was rolling my eyes, trying to figure out how to accept this.

“Your expression is quite something to behold.”

“…”

Elder Il chuckled, and it was truly unpleasant to watch.

“No… are you laughing right now?”

“You’re making a funny face and then complaining about me laughing. You’re nothing but a thug.”

What? What’s wrong with my face?

Though my heart was deeply wounded, what was more important were Elder Il’s next words.

“I know what you’re thinking, but when you think about it, it’s fine, so don’t worry too much about it.”

“When I think about it, it’s fine?”

“Yes.”

“…How so?”

How could it possibly be fine? I asked intently, but.

“Whoa? I don’t think that was part of our bet.”

“…”

Elder Il grinned and shut his mouth.

Damn it.

‘He has no intention of telling me.’

This is truly absurd. It’s my fault for believing him, even for a moment.

Anyway…

‘At least that old man is indeed from the Gu family.’

If Elder Il is telling the truth, the first leader is from the Gu family.

Strictly speaking, he’d probably be Grandfather’s brother.

In that case, it wouldn’t be entirely strange for him to mention the Gu family.

However.

‘The fact that I didn’t know about a living, direct blood relative.’

And the countless oddities, like him being a direct relative yet not learning martial arts-or rather, showing no signs of martial prowess-are still strange, but.

‘You’re saying it’s a situation that’s fine even considering all that?’

Elder Il seemed to know all this yet reacted as if it were nothing.

No matter how carefree Elder Il might be, there must be a reason for such a reaction.

‘Right, if there were problems, the marriage wouldn’t have been possible in the first place….’

Even if the Gu family isn’t exactly reputable, they are still a clan.

Especially since the Elder Council’s power is weak, and Father’s position is quite strong.

‘For that, Father would need strong justification.’

This would be impossible if Father had committed major wrongdoings in his youth.

Marrying the leader of the Baekhwa Merchant Guild? Even if it was helpful.

‘This is rather problematic.’

Consanguineous marriage is quite a difficult topic, yet they were in this state despite it.

‘Just as Elder Il said, there must have been a reason why it was acceptable.’

If not…

‘Either few people knew about this, or…’

There was a possibility they lacked information. However.

‘From my perspective, it’s the former.’

The reason for the former seemed more likely.

Having thought that far, I looked at Elder Il.

“Elder-nim.”

“Yes.”

“Do you know you’re being quite cunning?”

“What, punk?”

Elder Il wore an expression of disbelief at my words, but I could only sigh as I watched him.

‘…Who’s the one who’s truly unbelievable here.’

Reaching this point, I could understand.

The reason Elder Il was telling me this.

Was it truly because he lost the bet and wanted to tell me? It wasn’t solely that.

The old man is one of the Gu family’s direct relatives.

Therefore, it’s not strange that he knows the Gu family’s secrets, and also…

‘…Their side is just as much of a mess as ours, so try to understand.’

Elder Il was explaining the situation under the guise of revealing a secret.

Whatever the first leader did, he wanted me to understand, just a little.

‘Hah.’

In any case, he seemed like an expert at bothering people.

‘…Putting that aside.’

Whether he’s a direct Gu relative or whatever.

I was surprised, but honestly, it didn’t matter.

‘So what?’

Like I said before, I’ve known our family was a mess since I was young.

The only difference is.

‘That Madam Mi and I might be related by blood.’

Our distance has become a little closer(?).

That’s about the only difference.

Nothing more.

Besides, what’s important right now is ultimately.

“So, what’s the reason that person sought me out? Do you know?”

“Ah-!”

Why that old man sought me out.

Hearing Elder Il’s words makes it even stranger.

He wouldn’t have summoned me out of the blue just to tell me the Gu family’s secrets.

‘If that were the case, we should have met in a past life.’

Appearing now doesn’t give him a reason to look for me.

It must be related to my growing influence and my name spreading through the Central Plains.

And the fact that this influence reached the first leader’s ears must be related.

‘If the first leader acted upon hearing this, there must be a connection.’

The connection between my rise in influence and the first leader’s subsequent actions.

I needed to know that.

So, I asked Elder Il about it.

“Hmm.”

“Why? Is this another question you don’t want to answer?”

“No, it’s not exactly that.”

Elder Il stroked his beard continuously as he answered.

“It happens to be related to the secret I was going to tell you.”

“…Yes?”

The secret he was going to tell me.

I wondered what he meant, but soon remembered.

‘Ah, right. There was that too.’

He had said he would reveal the first leader’s identity and one other secret.

And that secret is linked to this matter?

Just as I was pondering this with confusion.

“The reason that old man summoned you, and the secret, is this.”

“Yes.”

“It’s because he dotes on his daughter too much.”

“What?”

Elder Il’s words made me frown. What was he talking about?

“That guy. He’s an incredible doting father.”

“…?”

Afterwards, I returned to my quarters.

There was more to discuss, but Elder Il refused to answer any further, suddenly disappearing because he had to meet someone.

As always, he was truly a man as fleeting as the wind.

I was even a little envious. Living so willfully might be something to emulate.

Elder Il said he’d be staying at the Gu family’s quarters but would visit often, and of course, I told him not to.

He wasn’t the type to listen, but I still didn’t want to see him, even like this.

Inside my quarters upon my return.

I sat alone in the empty room, lost in thought.

The conversation I just had with the first leader? The role of the Gu family head? Or the questions surrounding the Heavenly Demon?

I wasn’t thinking about things like that.

Of course, that’s not to say it isn’t important, but the thought that immediately came to mind wasn’t that.

‘What was that sensation from earlier?’

The sensation I felt during the sparring match with Elder Il earlier.

The countless phenomena felt within my body amidst that floating sensation.

I was trying hard to recall that fleeting feeling commonly referred to as enlightenment.

Martial artists often say that if you don’t seize enlightenment when it comes, it becomes a lifelong regret.

Meaning it’s a precious and significant thing.

‘…Hmm.’

I missed it.

Why it came at that moment, so suddenly.

I don’t know if it was truly enlightenment, but I thought it was.

No, I’m certain.

My instincts confirmed it.

It was definitely enlightenment. Not just my thoughts, but even my energy spoke of it.

That’s why it’s even more regrettable.

‘If only I had grasped it.’

If I hadn’t missed it and had grasped the enlightenment, what would have happened?

Wouldn’t something have changed?

Wouldn’t it have shown me a new world, worthy of the name enlightenment?

I doubt such a miracle exists, but then again, you never know.

Why did enlightenment even come so suddenly in the first place?

‘I don’t know the reason.’

Even if enlightenment can come without warning, it wouldn’t truly come for no reason at all.

Especially enlightenment during sparring?

‘This is the first time I’ve experienced this.’

It was something I had almost never experienced.

So, I tried to guess.

‘…Was the White Horse Stone the reason?’

The White Horse Stone I had wolfed down.

The increased energy sense and firepower resulting from it. Could that have been the cause?

Perhaps.

No, if we’re talking about the cause, that’s the only thing it could be.

‘…Though it’s useless now.’

As I said, it’s too late.

If I had swung my arm properly then, trying to seize enlightenment.

‘Elder Il would probably have been seriously injured.’

Thinking about that, it was enlightenment I couldn’t have obtained anyway.

So, this is purely a lament of regret.

‘Tsk.’

I clicked my tongue and looked out the window.

The sun was already setting.

I hadn’t accomplished a single thing I’d planned for the day, and the day was coming to an end.

‘This will make tomorrow a bit troublesome.’

One snag leads to another, tangling up instantly-that’s my life.

While that worries me on one hand.

“It’ll work out somehow….”

When too much piles up, eventually it all just becomes bothersome.

It’ll work out somehow. If it’s something I can’t handle right now, my future self will take care of it.

So for now.

“I guess I’ll go see the kids first.”

When tired and weary, let’s distract ourselves with something pleasant, I thought, moving my body and heading straight out of my quarters.

I had relieved my frustration through sparring with Elder Il, so now I just needed to clear away the lingering unease with something happy. Thinking thus, I got up.

I walked with a tired, frowning expression.

Perhaps because I was exhausted, my concentration had waned.

So I didn’t notice.

Hwaruruuk.

That my back, as I moved, was somehow flickering with flames.

And furthermore.

“Talk.”

“Kkeueu… euhk…”

That tomorrow, I.

“Bark more. You son of a bitch.”

Would destroy one of the Great Masters.