༺ On (5) ༻
‘How long has it been, I wonder?’
I hadn’t seen Gu Jeolyub ever since I had killed the First Elder. I didn’t bother searching for him, believing it would be best for to not see him again.
‘It’s not like I could’ve done anything to help him.’
Should I have apologized?
I couldn’t bring myself to do so. It wasn’t an impulsive act, and if I was going to have regrets, I would’ve never killed him in the first place.
I was quite surprised to see Gu Jeolyub. His face had grown much thinner, he seed to be going through a very hard ti.
‘But I didn’t expect him to visit .’
Well, I needed to talk to him about so matters related to Gu Sunmoon anyway.
After the end of the Elder’s eting, I had been thinking of visiting him soon, so it was unexpected for Gu Jeolyub to visit instead.
Step.
Step by step, he slowly approached .
‘…Hmm.’
I didn’t know what Gu Jeolyub would do to in his current state, yet I didn’t react and simply observed him.
Wi Seol-Ah tried to step in front of , as if trying to protect , but I quickly grabbed her shoulder, signaling her not to do so.
“Young Master.”
“Yeah.”
After a mont that seed to stretch on for far longer than usual, Gu Jeolyub finally arrived in front of .
“…I would like to ask you sothing.”
His request piqued my curiosity. It seed he had no intention of attacking —not that I would allow it anyway—Instead, he instead wanted to ask sothing.
“Ask.”
I granted him permission, waiting patiently for him to start speaking. After a while, Gu Jeolyub finally spoke.
“…Why did you do it?”
His lips shook as he uttered those words.
“Hm.”
His words weren’t filled with resentnt, nor was it filled with anger or curses. He simply wanted a reason.
‘I heard that he didn’t leave his room for a while.’
I had heard about his whereabouts from ti to ti. Since the First Elder’s funeral, he had secluded himself in his room.
“Why did I do it?”
“…Yes.”
“Haven’t you already heard? The reason behind my actions?”
“Yes, I have.”
He must have already heard about it from the Second Elder, Muyeon, or other mbers of the clan. It wasn’t a small incident, so I was sure it was often discussed in the clan.
“Then why do you ask? You already know.”
“I felt the need to hear it directly from you.”
It was strange.
Gu Jeolyub’s gaze remained fixed on , his emotions boiling beneath the surface. But even in his agitated situation, he only asked for a reason.
Of course, he likely chose this option because he knew that he couldn’t harm .
‘But he’s choosing not to run away.’
Though I don’t know if it could even be called ‘running away.’ Whichever it was, Gu Jeolyub had co to face directly. With that realization, I responded to him.
“Your grandfather crossed a line that I couldn’t ignore.”
My voice sounded colder than I had expected.
“He not only targeted , but also those around . Moreover, he was becoming poisonous for the clan.”
Without pausing, I spoke calmly, my words harsher than my tone. It wasn’t the ti to be considerate with my choice of words.
“I took matters into my own hands because I couldn’t let him continue unchecked.”
“…”
“If you were expecting a different answer from , I apologize, but there isn’t one.”
I didn’t know what Gu Jeolyub wanted from by seeking out, but this was all I could offer him.
He stared at silently.
“I wasn’t hoping for any response.”
“Then?”
“I only asked because I don’t know.”
“You don’t know? What?”
I frowned slightly, puzzled by his cryptic words. What was it that he didn’t know?
“What I should do from now on… I don’t know the answer to it.”
“So you ca to for an answer?”
“No… not exactly.”
I understood that he was struggling with his own inner turmoil, having his world suddenly turn upside down.
However, if he had co seeking answers from , it was an utterly foolish move.
‘Stupid bastard.’
What closure did he expect from ? What did he want from soone who had killed his grandfather?
It seed that even Gu Jeolyub himself didn’t have the answer to that question.
After all, he was still just a young boy, not even in his twenties, a teenager overwheld by the harsh realities of his circumstances.
I asked him. “Do you resent ?”
“Yes,” he replied without any hesitation.
“Do you seek revenge?”
“…”
He fell silent. It seed that he wanted to spit out the word ‘yes’, but couldn’t bring himself to do so easily.
“No?”
“…I do.”
“Then why did you hesitate?”
Was it because he was scared to state his desire of wanting to kill a direct blood relative of the clan? That was sowhat understandable, if I were in his shoes though, I wouldn’t have been able to hold back.
‘How could I keep my sanity if the person who killed my family stood right in front of ?’
Though I have so semblance of control myself at my age now, if I was Gu Jeolyub’s age, I wouldn’t have been able to contain myself.
As I wondered how he could control himself like that, Gu Jeolyub responded.
“…Because it would go against justice.”
“Justice?”
Justice, you say? It was rather random.
“If everything that the Young Master said about Lord… about my grandfather is true,” his voice trembled ever so slightly, “ resenting the Young Master wouldn’t be justified.”
The First Elder hadn’t hidden his ambitions. Not only had he manipulated events to ensure his grandson beca the Young Lord of the clan, but he had also been scheming behind the scenes.
If all that was true, Gu Jeolyub believed that his resentnt towards wouldn’t be justified.
So, was he having conflicting thoughts because he still harbored resentnt towards ? I couldn’t understand.
“How complicated you are.”
“…”
“I don’t know why you’re suddenly talking about justice, but there’s nothing I can do for you.”
Whether Gu Jeolyub resented or not, whether he wished to take my life, there was nothing I could do to resolve his inner conflicts.
I wouldn’t be concerned even if he resented , and if he truly sought my death…
‘I’ll kill him.’
I would have no choice but to end his life. There would be no second chances.
The best consideration I could offer him was to not lay a finger on him at this mont.
The First Elder had a funeral, but I knew I wouldn’t be allowed near the graves that held the remains of the important figures of the clan.
They couldn’t afford to let a sinner like enter.
If the sins of the First Elder were to be exposed, it could potentially impact Gu Jeolyub as well.
He might have to pay for the sins of his grandfather, inheriting them like a debt.
Even if he had done nothing wrong, that’s just how this wretched world worked, and there was nothing that could be done about it.
All I could hope for was to minimize the damage he would suffer. It was the best I could do for him….
‘Though I have no idea if this bastard would even want that.’
Judging by Gu Jeolyub’s temperant that I saw from this brief encounter, it seed unlikely.
“What have you decided to do for Gu Sunmoon?”
“…The Second Elder said that he would take over temporarily.”
“The Second Elder?”
I was taken aback by his answer.
The Second Elder, who had no connection to swords, would lead Gu Sunmoon?
Would he only be responsible for the administrative tasks while soone else handled the more important matters?
‘Well, it’s certainly better than having it fall into the hands of the Third or Fourth Elder.’
But it seed rather arbitrary.
“And you are okay with that?”
“…I am powerless. I lack both the ability and the qualifications to beco the Lord.”
Gu Jeolyub was the Young Lord of Gu Sunmoon, but that was solely because he was the grandson of the First Elder.
While he did possess talent, only that couldn’t solve everything.
“I don’t know why you ca to , but I can’t show you the right path.”
“…”
“Furthermore, it’s strange that you’re seeking guidance from in the first place.”
It wasn’t my place to tell Gu Jeolyub what to do in his current situation.
It was really odd that he was trying to gain sothing from the person who had killed his grandfather, when he should have resentnt towards instead.
“I do feel so remorse for you, but only to a certain extent.”
No matter how despicable the First Elder may have been, he was still Jeolyub’s family. So, in that regard, I did feel so remorse.
“If you wish to resent and despise , then do so. I will accept it.”
I wouldn’t bear responsibility for it, but I could at least accept it.
However, I had no idea what decision Gu Jeolyub would make after hearing my words.
Upon hearing my response, Gu Jeolyub muttered quietly with a somber expression…
“I… don’t know.”
“So, take your ti to think about it; about what you truly want to do.”
I couldn’t offer any further apologies to Gu Jeolyub. I wasn’t in a position to console him nor give him any advice.
Because even if I were to go back in ti, I would still make the decision to kill the First Elder.
‘Even if I had let him live, I would have only delayed his death. He would have still t his end, just not by my hands.’
Whether I shattered his abdon to let him die slowly or used a different thod, the outco would have been the sa.
Just as my decision would have remained the sa, the First Elder’s decision wouldn’t have been any different.
Gu Jeolyub, with his face cast downward, rubbed his weary eyes with his hand.
I simply watched him, not uttering a word.
As the gentle breeze brushed against my face, Gu Jeolyub, tightly biting his lips, cautiously asked .
“…I heard that you are headed to the battlefield.”
“Where did you hear that?”
This matter was discussed only recently, so how could he have learned about it so quickly?
“The Second Elder told that the Young Master will be going to the battlefield. The frontlines.”
“What?”
What was he talking about? The Second Elder had told him that I would be headed to the battlefield?
Could it be that…
‘…Father and the Second Elder had already discussed this?’
It seed they had already decided beforehand to send to the battlefield as my punishnt.
‘How petty of him, unlike his bear-like body of his.’
He was probably still mad about escaping from jail without listening to him.
And I had been actively avoiding him as well lately.
I asked, staring at Gu Jeolyub.
“So, what’s your point?”
Jeolyub responded with an exhausted expression.
“I want to go too.”
“What? To where?”
“To the sa battlefield that the Young Master is going to.”
“Are you crazy?”
What nonsense was he on about.
He wants to go to the frontlines with ?
“What’s your motive?”
“…Motive? I want to find… that.”
“Did you seriously lose your mind?”
He wished to follow the very person who had killed his grandfather.
‘Is he trying to make an early appointnt to assassinate ?’
If that weren’t the case, I honestly couldn’t understand what emotions were driving Gu Jeolyub to utter such words.
“What I should do… I want to decide that later.”
Whether he would live consud by resentnt or live for the sake of revenge. Or perhaps he would do neither, accepting what had happened, and move on with life.
The young boy, burdened by his conflicting emotions, seed to have chosen to confront his problems…
“Sigh.”
However, I found it difficult to comprehend Gu Jeolyub’s decision. It was a choice I would never have made.
“…Do as you wish. Although I doubt the higher-ups would allow that in the first place.”
Our past might have been different, but now that our relationship was in shambles, it was highly unlikely that they would allow Gu Jeolyub to be by my side, given the possibility of ill intentions.
And even if, by so chance, it was approved…
“I did say that I would accept your resentnt, but I have no intention to accept anything more than that.”
I said this earlier as well. So, if he harbored anything more than just resentnt…
Then I, too, would sever ties.
Having said everything he wanted to, Gu Jeolyub stared at for a mont, slightly lowered his head, and turned around to walk away.
Behind him, I noticed a few martial artists who appeared to be from Gu Sunmoon.
It seed like they had co to protect Gu Jeolyub, or perhaps they were uncertain if he would try to do sothing to .
[You are too soft-hearted.]
As I watched Gu Jeolyub going further away, Elder Shin spoke.
‘Are you saying that I should have killed him then?’
[Well, I wouldn’t have done it personally. But brat, you are different.]
His words pierced my heart.
Indeed, it was true. In the past, I would have killed Gu Jeolyub without a mont’s hesitation. Just as I had done with the First Elder.
However, I didn’t.
Even if it was possible for Gu Jeolyub to turn into a problem due to ill intentions towards , and even if our relationship deteriorated; I didn’t want to resort to killing him, as long as he didn’t cross the line.
There were two reasons for this decision.
Firstly, I desired to live differently from my past.
Secondly, it would be a pitiful for him to be killed solely because of his family background.
After all, I had experienced a similar fate myself.
[That’s why I’m saying that you have beco soft.]
‘You’re not wrong.’
My current actions were leaving a small ember of a fla alive, even in the face of an impending calamity.
However…
“…I wanted to be a bit greedy in this life.”
[Tsk.]
Elder Shin remained silent thereafter.
Grab.
I felt a sensation of sothing wrapping around my hand. When I looked, I saw Wi Seol-Ah gently holding onto my hand.
“Young Master… are you okay?”
“Why? Do I not look okay?”
“Well… you look like you are having a hard ti.”
“Don’t worry, I’m perfectly fine.”
I don’t know why I looked like that to Wi Seol-Ah, but I was fine.
As always, I had to stay perfectly calm. As Wi Seol-Ah looked at with worried eyes, I gently patted her head and spoke to the empty space in the air.
“So, could you please explain to now?”
Although it seed like no one was present, soone was there.
Rustle.
From the tall grass beside a tree, a giant figure erged, making wonder how he managed to hide.
The Second Elder didn’t appear to have fully recovered yet, as he still had bandages wrapped around his body.
“You’ve beco sharper than before.”
“Isn’t it weirder for you to hide there with your body?”
Despite saying this, the Second Elder’s ability to conceal himself was quite impressive. I wouldn’t have noticed him if my senses hadn’t picked up on him just now.
“Is there a reason why you inford that bastard about going to the battlefield?”
“I told him because he asked.”
“Even though you didn’t tell ?”
“Why would I tell you when you don’t even listen to your grandfather?”
“…”
As expected. The Second Elder was still mad about escape.
Feeling guilty, I scratched my cheek, and the Second Elder continued speaking.
“I know that you requested for Gu Jeolyub’s well-being.”
“…Ahem.”
How did he know? I only secretly told Father.
“Is that why you chose to take care of Gu Sunmoon?”
“I only did it because it’s better than the Third or the Fourth Elder doing it. I’m only managing it. Training the martial artists and their martial arts is a responsibility given to the captain of the First Army.”
“The First Army’s captain?”
When it ca to swords, the strongest man of Gu Clan, was the First Army’s captain.
I didn’t know who would win if he was compared to the First Elder in his pri, but at least in the current point of ti, he was the strongest.
‘I guess if it’s the First Army’s captain… it’ll be fine.’
If I thought about him, he was certainly better than anyone else I could compare to. He at the very least wasn’t soone that would plan sothing behind the scenes.
“Are you feeling better?”
“Jeez, how fast of you to ask.”
“It’s better than not asking at a- …Put your fist down please. You know you are a patient, right?”
An old man that wasn’t even in his best shape, still had his violent personality.
“I’m fine, a wound like this is healed if I put my saliva over it.”
“…Is your saliva a dicine that heals anything?”
Why would the Immortal Healer exist in the world if such a thing existed.
“Anyways, it seed like you brought a special guest as well.”
“Oh.”
After hearing the Second Elder, I thought about the old man that would be in Gu Clan’s jail right now.
‘I totally forgot about Hao Clan’s Lord.’
I forgot about the Lord of Hao Clan that I brought from the Black Palace.
“What happened.”
“Is it perhaps, soone that the Second Elder also knows?”
The Second Elder let out a fake cough while brushing his beard after hearing my question.
“It’s soone that I barely t for a mont. I knew that he would end up that way with the way he acts.”
‘So the Second Elder also knows about the Lord of Hao Clan.’
I wonder how so many people knew about Hao Clan’s Lord when not many things are known about him.
‘Anyway, this really isn’t a normal household.’
It beca certain to .
“It was an old man I found in the Black Palace, and father told to bring him with us.”
In tis like these, it was wise for to use Father as an excuse.
As expected, the Second Elder nodded his head without saying anything when I brought up Father.
“…If that’s the case, then I guess the Lord himself would take care of it.”
I didn’t know whether he would make relations with the Hao Clan, or use him for a different purpose, but since the Hao Clan’s Lord already got caught by father’s gaze, it was hard for to reach him.
“Putting aside the guest…”
After cutting off the conversation, the Second Elder took a letter out of his pocket and handed it to .
“I didn’t know that you had so sort of relationship with the Beggar’s Sect.”
“Beggar’s Sect?”
Beggar’s Sect all of a sudden?
I took the letter from him wondering what he ant. On the letter that the Second Elder gave , a stamp of the Beggar’s Sect was on it.
‘This is…’
Judging by the small na that was written underneath the stamp, I was able to know who sent the letter.
Chuwong.
It was a letter sent to by the future Beggar King.
‘I knew that a letter would be coming to .’
But it ca faster than I expected. I wonder what information is written in it.
If it’s the information on the Silent Fist or the Dishonored Venerable that I asked for back in Hanam…
‘I hope that it’s the Dishonored Venerable if possible.’
If I had to choose one, I hoped that it was information on the Dishonored Venerable. Because he was the one that I was more urgent for.
‘I also hope that there aren’t any problems.’
In the letter that Chuwong sent, there was a short sentence written inside.
-True Dragon… Save m…
-There is no problem.
“…”
Putting aside the line that looked like it was erased in the middle of writing, after reading the second line, I carefully folded the letter and put it in my pocket.
I then nodded my head and whispered.
“Seems like he got caught.”
I think I could forget about Chuwong for a bit.
He’ll be fine. He is the Beggar King after all.
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