Chapter 823: Ilcheonkyo.

Hwarureureuk.

Heat spread from the tips of Gu Cheol-un’s toes. The energy, gradually taking form, transformed into flames.

The flames that began burning the floor soon became heat haze. They burned more fiercely, as if expressing their master’s emotions.

How could he not be furious? He wanted to burn everything right now.

Nevertheless, he endured somehow.

If you were to describe Gu Cheol-un’s life, it’s a life of endless endurance and anguish.

This was the order all blood relatives born into the Gu family had to experience, and the family’s karma.

Gu Cheol-un’s life was particularly so.

A family born for the ancestors’ atonement and the inheritance of karma.

Since the Gu family’s birth until now, there has never been anyone like Gu Cheol-un in history.

Everything was unprecedented.

When his father was still just his father. He often said this to Gu Cheol-un.

‘There has never been anyone like you in the Gu family’s history.’

Yes, as if to prove those words, Gu Cheol-un was special. Not only his considerably large frame, unusual for the Gu family members known for their small stature, but also the fact that he immediately entered the ‘Reason’ stage upon starting to learn the Gu Flame Wheel Technique.

It took him less than a year to reach the ‘Five Stars’ stage, which normally takes five years.

‘He gets stronger just by breathing and sleeping.’

That’s what people said as a joke.

‘A genius bestowed by heaven.’

‘Unparalleled in history. Perhaps a monster comparable to Yeon Il-cheon, who stopped the Blood Calamity.’

Gu Cheol-un was such an existence within the Gu family.

Just Sansa. A being too precious to be buried in the Gu family and lose his light.

That’s why Gu Cheol-un’s father, the Gu family head at the time, made a choice.

For the first time in history, he sent a direct blood relative of the Gu family out into the world.

It was an unprecedented event.

While one could go out after becoming the family head or young master, sending them out completely like this had never happened.

How could he have made such a choice?

He couldn’t understand. He wanted to ask why, but now, he couldn’t.

Because the family head from that time was no longer around.

Even if he called him ‘father’ and referred to him as the previous family head, the man he was back then was gone.

It was because he accepted the karma the Gu family head had to bear, a path Gu Cheol-un would eventually have to follow.

Thus, following the family head’s will, nineteen-year-old Gu Cheol-un came into the world. He had no particular intention of his own.

He had merely accepted his father’s wish to go experience the world.

So, Gu Cheol-un sometimes thinks.

Did the things he experienced back then truly help?

Those times when he saw things he shouldn’t have, experienced things he shouldn’t have… Did they yield the right results, as his father had wished?

The answer that came to mind was no.

The world hadn’t changed in the slightest.

If anything, it had gotten worse, not better in any single way.

Only his own changed self existed.

Then, was that the right result?

No. He couldn’t say that either.

In the first place, he couldn’t judge right or wrong. Because he himself couldn’t determine what was right.

His entire life had been like that.

What was the point of living like this? What meaning existed in a belief without purpose?

He didn’t know, and he didn’t try to find out.

Couldn’t he just live on, quietly and silently, even without anything to call a belief?

The young man who lived with such thoughts.

‘-Nice to meet you.’

One day, meeting a woman caused a crack.

Something began to fill the void within him.

It didn’t take long to realize it was emotion.

At the same time, a belief was born.

It wasn’t anything grand.

At first, it was just about listening to her.

‘-Don’t do that.’

He started thinking twice before doing something, and holding back whenever possible.

‘-Are you eating properly? Be careful, it’s cold.’

‘-Alright.’

‘-And don’t go hitting people again.’

‘-Alright.’

Strangely, these not-so-grand things filled him up completely.

Ironically, this allowed him to endure even his desperate life.

Before he knew it, he stopped thinking about right or wrong.

Because when he realized it, only one thing was important to him.

It wasn’t something grand enough to be called a belief.

It was simply a wish.

A wish to simply protect someone, and the desire to protect them.

A vow that no matter what storm came, he would protect her alone.

Back then, that was enough for Gu Cheol-un.

No, not just back then, it would still be enough now. The difference is, it’s not just her anymore.

He endured the harsh storms.

He lived focusing on only one thing, without caring about right or wrong.

A life for someone wasn’t entirely bad either.

He wanted to give her anything she wished for.

That’s why.

‘-…Please.’

At the end of the time he painstakingly created, sending away the one more precious than his life with his own hands… it was all his fault, wasn’t it?

‘-Take care of the children.’

He repeats her last words.

Those were truly cruel words. How could he do that without you? Gu Cheol-un swallowed the words he couldn’t bring himself to say.

It was just like the words said. Gu Cheol-un was nothing without her.

An incompetent fool watching his children crumble and break, unable to do anything.

Only then did Gu Cheol-un realize he had never truly lived as a father.

There’s nothing he can’t do. If he wanted to, he could do anything.

But being a father… he couldn’t do that.

His daughters, who had started fearing him.

His son, who looked at him filled with fear and resentment, he didn’t know what to do. The void left behind was enough to break something.

He turned away. Not because it was the only option.

He simply chose the cowardly way out and turned away.

Covering the eyes that could see.

Closing the ears that could hear.

He chose not to act, even when he could.

Wouldn’t it be fine if he just became numb like this?

Wouldn’t it be okay to just be swept away, diluted, and broken?

Before he knew it, such thoughts crossed his mind. He didn’t even know how many years had passed.

He was slowly buried. Nothing became important anymore.

As he lived another day, and another.

‘-…You… it wouldn’t be okay if you didn’t do it, right?’

He looked up at a sudden voice.

‘-Yes, it wouldn’t be okay if you didn’t. I will do it.’

His blurry vision returned slightly. It was because something was different from usual.

‘-But… do I really have to do this…?’

‘-…?’

‘-Yes. I’ll be going out now….’

It was his son. As Gu Cheol-un looked, his son flinched and left, muttering.

Watching him, Gu Cheol-un tilted his head.

What is it?

Something is different. But he didn’t know what was different.

At first glance, he seemed the same as usual. His son, broken somewhere just like himself since that day.

Knowing that, he couldn’t do anything. Something holding his ankles like shackles.

By the time he realized it was fear, it was already too late.

Yes, he had thought that. ‘It’s far too late.’ ‘Everything is already over, beyond repair.’

He thought that, but then…

‘-It is said that the First Young Master had a martial arts duel with the Thunder Dragon.’

Surprisingly, a change had occurred.

‘-Thunder Dragon?’

‘-Yes. Moreover, he achieved victory….’

‘-….’

His child was changing. Fortunately, it didn’t take long to realize this.

‘-The First Young Master, in Seomseo this time-.’

‘-The First Young Master, at this Dragon Phoenix Gathering….’

‘-The First Young Master, at this Divine Dragon Pavilion….’

It was truly instantaneous. From the moment he recognized that his child had changed, until now. While he remained frozen in place. His child prepared to stand up alone.

There must surely be scars and resentment. Whether trying to endure or overcome, his son tried to change.

What mental changes or processes occurred? Was it because he accepted the Sword Master and his granddaughter? Gu Cheol-un didn’t know. Because he wasn’t in a position to know that, and one thing was important to him. Yet, his child, who might have suffered more than himself, was struggling to rise like that. What was he doing?

‘-Take care of the children.’

The voice he tried to forget echoed again. He thought there would be nothing left after sending away what he had to protect, but he saw that wasn’t the case. There were so many things he should have cherished long ago, so much to protect. But he did nothing.

It was ten years like that, ten years where he did nothing. Time spent doing nothing while his child changed.

‘-Father.’

One day, his son called him ‘Father’. It was a word he thought he’d never hear and didn’t wish for. Because he was far too lacking to be called ‘Father’. Yet, that word resonated particularly deeply within him. It was the moment he truly felt what he needed to protect.

‘-Take care of them.’

The words that came to mind every day were always the same yet different each time, and this was no different. What is a father? He didn’t know. He himself had never properly experienced it. Would it be alright to try and understand it now, so belatedly?

Doubt brushed past, but it wasn’t the time to hesitate. Hesitating meant it was already too late. It couldn’t possibly be later than this, so why hesitate?

“Speak.”

Therefore, he had to do what he could. He couldn’t before. Now, he had to succeed.

Kkwak.

“Kkeuk!”

The old man’s neck, which he could break at any moment. Grasping it, he spoke.

“If you’re thinking of making excuses, erase that thought. Do you think I wouldn’t know that was also your intention?”

He wanted to burn everything right now but barely held himself back. The habit of holding back before doing something had formed decades ago.

He slightly loosened his grip.

“Hoo… Hook.”

It was to hear the answer.

“Speak.”

Depending on the answer, Gu Cheol-un would make a choice. Whether to erase the Murim Alliance from this world right now, or to endure it.

As he recalled that and looked at Mook-yeon.

“…Gu Daeju.”

Mook-yeon speaks to him. Hearing that, Gu Cheol-un’s brow twitched as he replied.

“Correct your address. Do I still seem like the Daeju?”

“I apologize….”

“I’m not looking for an apology. I told you to give an explanation, didn’t I?”

Mook-yeon fell silent for a moment at Gu Cheol-un’s resolute attitude. After pondering how to start, a moment passed, and he began to speak.

“…Because Young Master Gu was needed by the Murim Alliance. This is something he chose, knowing that as well.”

“Are you ultimately trying to make an excuse that it was the child’s choice?”

“Young Master Gu had desires regarding the Alliance. And the Alliance also had expectations of him. So, purely for a transaction-“

“I see.”

Mook-yeon tried hard to explain, but Gu Cheol-un nodded as he listened.

“You haven’t changed. I mean, shifting the blame elsewhere.”

Seeing that, Mook-yeon’s eyes widened.

“I’ve confirmed it.”

Because he realized what Gu Cheol-un’s choice was.

“I don’t need you. It was like that back then, and it’s like this now.”

Hwaruk.

Embers burst forth. Gu Cheol-un’s body was engulfed in flames. He had made his choice. Today, he would erase the Murim Alliance from the world. Whatever consequences arise from that, he would bear them. As a failed father, he could do at least that much.

Furthermore.

‘The karma I carry is the same.’

He would sever all the karma and shackles the Gu family bore. He wouldn’t pass on that unnecessary atonement to his son.

Thinking thus, Gu Cheol-un unleashed his aura.

The Sword Master moved his body. His damaged sword was imbued with sword energy. Seeing that, Gu Cheol-un moved his hand first. The Fiery Fear moved at his touch. Before the Sword Master could move his arm, Gu Cheol-un’s hand had already reached for his face.

Just then.

Chyareureureuk-!!

A gust of wind suddenly blew from somewhere, separating Gu Cheol-un and the Sword Master.

“…!”

Seeing that, Gu Cheol-un retracted his hand. He then pulled back, frowning. He didn’t necessarily have to dodge. Normally, he would have ignored the gust and ripped off the Sword Master’s head. However, he retreated. The reason was that the owner of the gust had been caught. The gust that separated Gu Cheol-un and the Sword Master was definitely a brilliant golden hue. As if imbued with moonlight.

Seuk-seuk.

Wiping his hands with a cloth, he came outside. His hands were covered in blood, so he had to wipe them, even if roughly.

“Tsk.”

He clicked his tongue briefly. He didn’t feel great either. It wasn’t that he felt squeamish about killing people now.

“The information isn’t satisfactory.”

The information obtained wasn’t much. That was disappointing. He had killed quite a number of people, but none of them spat out any words even as they died. To be precise, it’s less that they didn’t speak…

‘Should I assume they knew nothing?’

These guys knew nothing. What they were doing this for. Why they were involved with the Gyecheon Gate. He kept asking what kind of bastards they were, but the only answer was ‘I don’t know.’ Was it because they were low-level grunts? Their intelligence network is this poor. Just in case, he even used Mind Control to ask, but the answer was still the same.

Ah, there was one thing he could find out. It was the name of their organization. It wasn’t anything significant, just the organization’s name? He’d have to dig deeper for the rest, but that was the only thing he could know right now. That name was probably….

“Ilcheonkyo.”

Ilcheonkyo (One Heaven Cult).

It was a group he’d never heard of, even in his past life.