Chapter 924: So in the end.

“You’ve arrived.”

“I pay my respects to the Sect Leader…”

Upon arriving at the Hwasan Sect, Elder Shin was waiting for me.

Seeing the Elder, the disciples quickly paid their respects.

“You’ve had a hard time.”

“Ugh.”

At the sight, the Elder chuckled slightly and nodded his head.

I didn’t like it because he seemed to be acting all benevolent.

“It’s late, so finish up tomorrow and rest comfortably.”

“…Sect Leader…”

At the command to rest, Gu Bong stepped forward slightly. He seemed to have something to say, but…

“Rest. You’ll hear the explanation from that guy back there anyway.”

Elder Shin said, pointing at me.

Hearing that, Gu Bong’s eyes widened.

“Sect Leader. However, I still have a report to give.”

“Hearing the report tomorrow is more than enough. Go on in.”

“But…”

“Now.”

“…”

At Elder Shin’s words, Gu Bong bit his lip.

He seemed to want to say more, but…

“…Understood.”

He simply bowed his head, swallowing his words.

“Disperse.”

As the order was given, the disciples bowed respectfully and slowly scattered.

Gu Bong stared at the Elder and me until he left.

His expression, especially when looking at me, was vivid.

He seemed to want something. If I had to guess, it was probably…

‘Please don’t talk about what happened.’ That’s probably it.

It was obvious. He was probably trying to convey, ‘Please stay quiet if possible,’ with a glance.

‘What do you want me to do about it?’

No matter how much a guy makes that kind of face, it wouldn’t work on me.

Of course.

I fully intended to spill everything.

“Let’s go.”

The Elder said that and went into his quarters.

Watching him, I spoke to Cheonma.

“Go wait.”

He didn’t specify where to wait, but Cheonma gave a short nod and disappeared.

---

It was a room where nothing was turned on. There wasn’t even a trace of a light being on.

Furthermore, the room felt somehow cold and chilly.

This meant nothing else.

‘This guy was outside the whole time.’

It meant Elder Shin hadn’t waited inside but had stayed outside.

I snapped my fingers.

Ttak-!

Hwaruk-! Sparks immediately flew, igniting a flame on my back.

“What are you doing without even turning on a light? Are you that stingy?”

As I spoke pretending ignorance, Elder Shin let out a short cough.

“It was just because I was lazy.”

His expression was full of the feeling of being caught, but I ignored that too.

We both knew, but we pretended not to.

I immediately hopped onto the desk.

The funny thing was, tea was already prepared.

It was as if he had expected the two of us to come in.

As I sat there quietly drinking tea.

“Right.”

The Elder said.

“How was it?”

What was it like? What was he talking about all of a sudden?

Of course, that wasn’t necessary.

This cunning old man believed I knew what his intentions were.

Annoyingly, he was right.

“It fucking sucked.”

So I told him honestly.

Hearing that, Elder Shin contorted his face ridiculously.

“What a shitty way to report.”

“Sorry. I went through a lot today, so I couldn’t help but curse.”

“…”

At my words, the Elder looked embarrassed.

That guy seemed to know his own guilt.

“Still… wasn’t the effect certain?”

“Don’t talk to me about ‘certain.’ If it gets any more certain, I’ll pass out.”

“…Ho ho ho.”

Normally, a fist would have flown by now, but the Elder just laughed.

After laughing for a moment like that, the Elder…

“I’m sorry.”

He said, his expression suddenly sobering.

Hearing that, my eyes widened. I never thought that guy would apologize.

It was slightly surprising.

And a little awkward.

“…It’s fine.”

I replied lukewarmly. For some reason, I didn’t feel good.

“Why are you apologizing? It doesn’t suit you.”

“As I said, I thought this was the fastest method.”

At the Elder’s words, I slightly pursed my lips. I could roughly understand.

Having gone through it, I understand, but…

‘Even so.’

The thought that the Elder made a rather hasty decision wouldn’t disappear.

To be precise.

‘That’s not like the Elder.’

It’s quite different from how Shin Cheol would act, if I can say that. That’s been bothering me.

Perhaps because of that, I kept wanting to change the subject.

“It’s fine… You have something you’re curious about anyway, don’t you?”

At my words, the Elder nodded.

The reason he sent me away.

It might have been because he wanted me to know more about this world, but if you think about it, I knew there was another reason.

So.

“When I first went to a place called Yawoel.”

I slowly began to recount the story Elder Shin was curious about.

---

The story wasn’t that long.

I had condensed it as much as possible, so it was over by the time a cup of plum tea was finished.

“…”

Having heard the story, the Elder sat quietly, lost in thought.

Perhaps it was because it wasn’t different from his expectations.

Or perhaps because it was a bit more complicated than expected.

Or maybe it was for some other reason, I don’t know.

I quietly watched the Elder like that.

His appearance, lost in thought, somehow resembled me.

It wasn’t about looks. Unconsciously, I felt that way.

‘…Or maybe not.’

Perhaps I’m recalling it because I unconsciously want to resemble him.

“I see.”

The silent Elder opened his mouth.

“So it was like that after all.”

His face showed both acceptance and a complex mix of emotions.

Even then, I didn’t say anything.

I quietly waited for the Elder to continue.

After all.

‘I already know.’

I already knew what the Elder was going to say.

Having come this far, there was only one thing he’d say to me.

After waiting briefly after that.

“Yangcheon-ah.”

The Elder called me.

My ears perked up. And I frowned.

-Yangcheon-ah.

The title Elder Shin usually calls me is ‘brat’.

He rarely calls me by my name.

The fact that the Elder specifically called me by my name meant several things.

“You have a request-“

“Don’t.”

I cut off the Elder’s words.

As I said earlier, I already knew what the Elder was going to say.

It was like that from the moment I entered Yawoel and grasped the situation.

If that’s the case.

“Don’t say you’re sorry, and don’t make a request.”

Would the Elder really be different?

After coming this far, could he really not know what I’m going to say?

I didn’t think so.

“I don’t need that. Just do as you’ve been doing.”

“…”

I hated seeing that guy, who clearly knew that, use words like ‘sorry’ or ‘request’.

I said with a smirk.

“Why is the world’s number one grumpy old man acting so embarrassed?”

“…What, punk?”

At my words, the Elder wore an incredulous expression. Seeing that, I got up.

“I’ll handle it myself. I wasn’t happy about it anyway… And looking at it, it seems like something necessary to return.”

The first part is true, the latter part is bullshit.

Something necessary to return? I didn’t think so.

It might not be entirely unrelated, but even then, it would only be a little.

But.

“So, put some strength back into your eyes. I hate seeing you like this.”

I really hated seeing that old man pretend to be weak.

“I’m leaving.”

Without saying anything more, I reached for the door to leave.

As I grabbed it and headed outside.

“Thank you.”

The Elder’s voice brushed past me.

Again, I didn’t answer.

---

Whenever I sleep, I remember that time.

Once, decades ago, on a night when it rained heavily.

It was around the time I hid in a gap between trees, barely escaping the rain, hiding my tears in the wetness on my face.

-Hoo… hoo…

I sat curled up, clutching my stomach.

My body ached and I was exhausted.

I was so starved and struggling that I couldn’t even sob anymore.

“What should I do now?”

Nothing came to mind.

-Hoo…

“Will I die like this?”

“Will I be abandoned and die just like this?”

The child grew terrified yet increasingly resigned.

Ah.

“It probably doesn’t matter if I die like this anyway.”

“Even if I die like this, no one will remember me.”

Not my father, let alone my siblings.

Anyone who knew the child would be the same.

“I’ll crumble like that and be buried in the earth.”

“Because I’m useless.”

“So it’ll be okay.”

The child thought that, killing their own spirit.

-I want to live…

Soon after, I crumpled my face and cried.

-Please save me…

“Still, I want to live.”

“I wanted to live somehow.”

The child trembled violently, crying like that before death.

-Tsk.

Just then, a voice was heard from the front.

Hearing the sound, the child flinched.

“I urgently became wary.”

“Could it be the people who came to kill me?”

The child froze stiff with fear, but…

-What rotten luck.

What appeared before me was an old man wearing somewhat ragged clothes.

A white-haired old man with reddish-pink eyes.

His eyes were fierce, and he held some unknown object in his arms.

It was round, with a purplish-red light shimmering.

At first glance, it looked like a bead.

-I came because I saw black hair and thought maybe… I shouldn’t have.

Tsk.

The old man clicked his tongue and looked at the child.

The child had to stare at the old man, bewildered.

“Aren’t they here to kill me?”

As the question sprouted.

-Hey, didn’t you tell me to come because you saw something? You crazy bastard. Do you think everyone with black hair is that guy? You acted like such a big shot, but you’re useless.

The old man suddenly started talking to the empty air.

Seeing that, the child became extremely terrified.

“Ah, I see.”

“He’s a crazy old man.”

Thinking that, I started seeing things I couldn’t see before.

‘…Ears.’

The old man’s head didn’t show the distinctive ears and tail.

What is that? It was a race I’d never seen before.

‘Ah, perhaps….’

Could it be the monster mother talked about, the one that comes to take me when I’m close to death?

“Is it because I’m really going to die now?”

The child recalled that and reached out a small hand.

A tiny hand grabbed the old man’s pant leg.

-Hm?

The old man reacted in surprise, but…

-Please save me…

-What?

-Save… save me… I want to live… please…

I sobbed.

I couldn’t hold it in anymore, tears flowed even though I thought I had none left.

-Ho ho…

Seeing that, the old man let out a hollow laugh.

-It’s not really a situation where I can look after someone.

The annoyed voice was clear. But.

-Of all things, black hair. It’s not common.

The old man soon patted the child’s head and said.

-…Is this all fate? Or is there something you’re aiming for?

The old man, speaking as if he didn’t know.

Soon sighed and asked the child.

-Child, what is your name?

-…

Name.

Hearing those words, the crying child shut their mouth.

Because I was afraid I’d be abandoned if I spoke it.

That’s why I kept quiet.

-…I don’t know.

That was the only answer I could barely manage.

It was a strange thing to say by anyone’s standards, but…

-Really?

The old man didn’t seem to mind much and said something else.

-Then, shall I give you one?

-…

The child nodded.

The child had no right to refuse.

-Hmm… Right, let’s see.

The old man pondered for a moment.

-…I ended up like this looking for that guy. His surname was… Ah.

Then, as if remembering, he clapped his hands and said.

-It was Gu. And for the name… shall I call you Gu Bong, so you don’t become a fool? Yes, from now on, you are Gu Bong.

That was the moment the child’s name became Gu Bong.

And the moment Gu Bong was saved by the old man.

“…”

I opened my eyes at the end of that memory.

Gu Bong immediately sat up.

“…Hoo.”

A sigh escaped naturally. Maybe because there was a lot yesterday, I dreamed a dream about the past that I don’t usually have.

It’s a memory I shouldn’t forget, but it wasn’t good that I dreamed it right now.

Because this was also a story about someone the Sect Leader waited for every day.

Because of this, Gu Bong frowned.

“…Damn it.”

Someone currently staying at Hwasan flashed through my mind, even without this.

Just as Gu Bong scrunched up his face and cursed because of it.

“Why the harsh words right after waking up? Did you have a nightmare?”

“Not a nightmare. Just… huh?”

At the interjecting voice, Gu Bong’s eyes widened.

A voice that shouldn’t be heard was heard.

I quickly turned my head.

There.

“Hello?”

The Sect Leader’s guest, and the person Gu Bong was already paying attention to.

“You’re awake?”

Gu Yangcheon was smiling, looking at Gu Bong.

“…What?”

Gu Bong was flustered by the strange situation.

Just then.

“Now then, let’s go do some work together.”

“Gasp!?”

Gu Yangcheon suddenly grabbed Gu Bong by the collar and roughly lifted him up.

It happened in an instant.