〈Episode 200〉The Bead of the Heavenly Road. (2)
The Bead of the Heavenly Road. (2)
The front lines were traces of disaster.
Proof of history that had once unfolded.
They were evidence that the peace so many spoke of—that it had barely taken root—was in truth incomplete.
A Demon Realm Gate that would not close.
Lands scorched and devastated by demonic beasts.
Not only was this a place ordinary humans could not survive, but it was also a perilous zone teeming with countless demonic beasts.
Under the pretext of preventing further damage, the Martial Arts Alliance had been managing the front lines for several years now, collaborating with martial artists of the orthodox sects.
Coincidentally, the front lines were not far from Shanxi.
After receiving Gu Huibi's letter, Elder Lee was able to arrive shortly, without much delay.
“As expected, I can see the cracks.”
Before his eyes stood a massive Demon Realm Gate.
Unlike other places, this was a location managed directly by the key figures of the Gu family.
Moreover, the Gu family alone had been granted management of such a designated area.
“How is it that Elder Lee has come here…?”
A month after Elder Lee arrived at the front lines, where Gu Huibi was stationed, Gu Huibi—who had returned late after handling demonic beasts elsewhere—saw Elder Lee and asked.
Seeing her like that, Elder Lee let out a hearty laugh.
“Huibi, did you not call for this old man? When a pretty granddaughter calls, how could this old man not come at once!”
“…I asked for an expert to be called because abnormal symptoms were visible.”
“That is precisely why this old man is here! Who else would you call an expert but this Guryun!”
It was obvious at a glance that he had used a trick to get out of the main house.
It was simply astounding how a man of his standing as an elder could behave so.
‘I’m terrified my younger brother will see that and learn from it…’
“Hm? What did you say?”
“It’s nothing. Thank you for coming despite your busy schedule, Elder Lee.”
Regardless of the circumstances, someone of Elder Lee's caliber was indeed an expert.
At the very least, he was a martial artist who had reached the Hwagyeong, so if his strength could be of help, that was all that mattered. There was no way he could not be of help.
“By the way…”
Elder Lee looked at the Demon Realm Gate before him and stroked his beard.
“This is the first time I’ve seen a case like this.”
Normally, a Demon Realm Gate would shimmer with mixed colors, making it impossible to see inside.
But the one before him was different.
Not only had its color changed to a deep black, but cracks were visible around it, as though the ground itself had split.
“Are the gates in other regions the same as this?”
“No. Only this one is like this.”
“…Hoo.”
The Gu family managed a total of three separate locations on the front lines.
This was where the smallest Demon Realm Gate among them was located.
“Are there any other problems?”
“Other than the change in color and the cracks around it, there have been none so far.”
Elder Lee nodded after listening to Gu Huibi's explanation.
“I must report this separately to the family head. Perhaps it is because the time for a true Demon Realm Gate to open is near.”
“Have you not received word from the Shaolin side?”
“Even if Cheonan did not mention it, one cannot help but prepare for the unexpected.”
For one could not blindly trust Shaolin or Cheonan.
Elder Lee did not voice the words that followed.
‘Strange.’
Lately, he felt that unexplainable things were happening often.
Just as they say good things and bad things happen simultaneously.
The family's mad dog, who had been the cause of Elder Lee's worries, had awakened his dormant talent and soared.
Before anyone knew it, he had crossed the wall and entered the ranks of experts.
If the boy wished it, he would likely stand out at the martial arts tournament and gain fame as well.
‘I told him to go cause some trouble, but… I do worry.’
It was something that became a sort of regret, yet not quite regret.
To a brat who would cause trouble even if told not to, he had instead told him to go cause trouble.
“Well…”
While Elder Lee was lost in thought, Gu Huibi called out to him in a subtle voice.
Seeing her like that, Elder Lee answered without hesitation.
“Yangcheon is doing well.”
“…!”
At Elder Lee's words, Gu Huibi's expression changed strangely—as if asking how he knew.
“Is this not what you were going to ask?”
“No…”
Elder Lee clicked his tongue as he looked at Gu Huibi making an awkward expression.
That child had a fierce temperament as well.
In the Central Plains, rumors were already rampant that Gu Huibi's nature was quite foul.
But when it came to matters concerning her younger brother, she became a different person.
“Put aside some of that worry as well. You are not his parent. You cannot hold Yangcheon in your embrace forever.”
“You who doted on Yangcheon the most are saying this now?”
“That was when the child could not come to his senses.”
“My brother is still a child.”
That was true.
His recent actions were so un-childlike that he kept forgetting, but Gu Yangcheon was still at an age where it was difficult to even call him a young man.
But Elder Lee did not bend his opinion.
“He is a child who will become the family head someday. Now that he has soared, you must let him go. That is what I mean.”
“ ”
Gu Huibi seemed to have some understanding of this, so she did not say anything further.
It was a settled matter that Gu Yangcheon would become the family head.
The family head’s second daughter, Gu Yeonseo, or the First Elder seemed to think differently, but just because their thoughts differed did not mean things would change.
Even if it was not Gu Yangcheon's own wish.
No matter how outstanding Gu Huibi's talent or abilities were, she could not take Gu Yangcheon's place.
She surely knew that as well.
From the beginning, Gu Huibi herself had no greed for the position of family head.
Rather than live weighed down by such cumbersome things, Gu Huibi intended to run away from home someday.
“I only wish for that child not to bear a heavy burden.”
“I feel the same, but it is not something I can carry in his stead.”
That is the karma of the family head.
One may stand beside him, but one cannot carry the load together.
Even the current family head, Gu Cheol-un, was like that.
He silently accepted the burden on his shoulders.
“What you are doing now will, in the end, eventually become that child’s work.”
“I know.”
Just until then.
She only wanted her younger brother to be comfortable.
As if reading Gu Huibi's thoughts, Elder Lee spoke to her in a hollow voice.
“…Why don't you share some of that heart with Yeonseo as well?”
“Huh? I cherish them all the same.”
Gu Yangcheon, Gu Yeonseo, and Gu Ryeong-hwa.
Gu Huibi was giving her love rather ordinarily in her own way.
When Gu Huibi made an expression asking why he would say such a thing, Elder Lee could only shake his head.
‘No matter how I look at it, that doesn't seem to be the case.’
Elder Lee knew all too well from the difference in Gu Huibi's usual attitude toward Gu Yangcheon and Gu Yeonseo.
Since Gu Yeonseo also knew that all too well, perhaps she looked at Gu Yangcheon with wicked eyes.
“We exchange letters often. She seemed to be doing well.”
“…That, no. She used to.”
Any further conversation would obviously go in circles, so Elder Lee decided to let it go.
While observing the state of the Demon Realm Gate a while longer, Gu Huibi added, “He’s so childish. I just hope he doesn’t cause any accidents in Hanam.”
At her words, spat out as if worried, Elder Lee spoke as if dumbfounded.
“…Huibi, haven't you caused plenty of accidents yourself?”
He had been so shocked when he heard the news that she had nearly turned the Dragon-Phoenix Gathering into a sea of fire.
It was astounding that the stoic Gu family head had taken Gu Huibi away to scold her.
To this, Gu Huibi protested as if wronged.
“…He was fawning over me without knowing his place, so I simply taught him a lesson.”
“When I heard you burned off all his hair, this old man's heart sank, you know?”
“If I burned it all off, I should have sent him to Shaolin while I was at it.”
“…Who in the world did you take after to have such a temper… Wait.”
Elder Lee, who had been sighing and lamenting, felt something strange in the conversation and cut his words short.
He soon looked at Gu Huibi and asked.
“But how did you know Yangcheon went to Hanam?”
“…!”
“I shouldn't have told you such news yet?”
At Elder Lee's sharp words, Gu Huibi made a rare, flustered expression.
She averted her gaze, which had been holding steady, and a streak of cold sweat could be seen trickling down her cheek.
“…Huibi?”
“That's not it. I just thought perhaps…!”
Gu Huibi began to speak as if trying to explain in a hurry, but had to close her mouth.
Because she had to roll across the floor from Elder Lee's sudden hand.
Thud!
“Elder Lee…! What is the meaning of this…!”
Gu Huibi, who had landed far away and barely regained her stance, looked toward Elder Lee and froze on the spot.
Because darkness had descended upon the barren ground.
Its appearance was truly sudden, as if asking if it had been there all along.
Moreover, such an ominous presence—
Gu Huibi had not been able to sense its presence until the moment it appeared.
To think she only now noticed such an immense presence.
What would have happened if Elder Lee had not pushed her away and protected her?
A chilling shiver ran across her shoulders and down her spine.
Gu Huibi tried to draw her sword immediately, but her frozen body would not obey.
Within that distant darkness, light was visible.
It was Elder Lee, radiating heat.
His flesh, dyed red by the heat, gave the illusion of being wreathed in flames.
The presence that had oppressed even Gu Huibi's breathing was finally suppressed by Elder Lee's aura, allowing her to barely draw breath.
As Elder Lee ignited his heat and raised his fighting spirit, a voice rang out.
“It has been a long time, Yeoma Gwon.”
These were the words of a man shrouded in darkness to Elder Lee.
Elder Lee looked at the man and gnashed his teeth with a crack!
“…Why are you here?”
“I didn't expect you to be here.”
“You bastard!”
Elder Lee's roar echoed in all directions.
The still ground cracked and split open.
Elder Lee's steel-like body swelled, and heat began to fill the surroundings so intensely that even Gu Huibi, who had mastered fire arts, felt the sweltering temperature.
“Did you not promise that you would never show that disgusting face again?”
At Elder Lee's words, the man fell silent briefly before soon wearing a smile.
“Ah, that filthy promise. I've decided to break it now, as I have far too much to do.”
“…What?”
Despite Elder Lee's repeated question, the man looked around as if unconcerned.
As he surveyed the surroundings, the man's eyes turned toward Gu Huibi.
Discovering Gu Huibi, the man broke into a wide smile.
“There you are.”
Not a single shade of light could be seen in his black eyes.
Like the darkness surrounding him, the man's pupils were bizarre.
When Gu Huibi vaguely realized that she was the man's objective, Elder Lee threw a punch.
Kuwung!
The surroundings were swept away by a single punch from Elder Lee.
It was a force strong enough to alter the terrain's shape with a mere strike.
The heavy internal energy of a martial artist who had reached the Hwagyeong erupted along with the heat and attacked the man, but—
Before the punch could land, the man's darkness engulfed both him and Elder Lee.
Thus, the disaster that burst forth was all too sudden.
—And in the end, he couldn't protect Huibi.
These were the words Elder Lee left me with at the end of his explanation.
The expression Elder Lee wore as he finished speaking was so despairing that no words could describe it.
‘…The Palace Lord appeared at the front lines?’
The Dark Night Palace Lord, who was famous for never moving from the main palace.
A martial art that seemed to be wreathed in darkness was unmistakably a characteristic used by the Lord of the Dark Night Palace.
He had only heard of it, so he had never actually seen it.
‘Putting that aside, why Gu Huibi?’
It was said that the Dark Night Palace Lord had taken Gu Huibi away, even appearing in person to do so.
Setting aside that this was something that had never happened in my previous life, because of that, Elder Lee had nearly died, and my father had ended up leaving the main house at the head of a group of swordsmen.
‘I don't even know the reason…’
It was a truly unfavorable situation.
Because there was nothing I could know.
[So that is why you could not ask anything.]
‘…It wasn't a situation where I could ask questions.’
What had become of the recommendation letter from the Defeated Lord, and what was that ring?
There was so much I wanted to ask—what on earth were those things—but thinking of the expression and atmosphere Elder Lee had shown just before, there was nothing I could ask.
‘And about Gu Jeol-yeop as well…’
I wanted to know how the situation outside was unfolding, but that was impossible for now.
‘Even if the other elders moved, it wouldn't be too dangerous, but…’
The current situation where I had to stay put was the problem.
[Why don't you just go out?]
As Shin Noya said, I could break out right away if I wanted.
My internal energy was not blocked, nor was my body bound with restraints.
Under the head steward's orders, it was merely for show.
After all, I had indeed killed an elder.
Until the justification for having done so was clearly revealed, or until my father returned, I had to remain like this.
The formation array the First Elder had planted underground was incredibly sturdy, and since the Gu family's current strength was relatively low, it would not be easy.
But it didn't seem like it would take too long.
‘I wonder if the kids are doing well.’
The incident had blown up as soon as we returned to the main house together, so I hadn't even been able to see their faces properly.
Wi Seol-a was apparently crying every day, according to Elder Lee.
Wi Seol-a seemed to laugh easily and cry easily, but since she wasn't usually one to cry much, I was even more worried.
Wouldn't Namgung Bia and Dang Soyeol just be behaving quietly?
I hoped so.
“But more than anything, the problem is…”
Father had gone out with his men, but whether they could find them was questionable.
The information I currently had on the Dark Night Palace was limited.
Even that included almost nothing about its location.
What little I knew was not the main stronghold called the Main Palace.
Moreover, it was information that was largely useless now.
In my past life, I had only heard that the Dark Night Palace had fallen by the hand of the Martial Arts Alliance.
‘What should I do…’
I tossed and turned, wondering what to do about this.
It was already dawn, and rather than sleep, I thought it better to practice mental cultivation.
But I was already in no state to concentrate.
Perhaps because I had been tossing and turning and groaning for a while, the pouch tied at my waist fell to the floor with a soft thud.
It seemed the string had worn out with age rather than come loose from my tossing.
As I reached to pick up the pouch, a bead came rolling out from inside.
It was a small bead with a reddish hue.
“Ah, this is.”
I remembered as soon as I saw the bead.
Gu Huibi had definitely told me to keep this tied at my waist and carry it with me at all times.
I had unknowingly kept it on me because she said I'd die if I left it behind.
By now, I had even forgotten that I had attached such a thing to my belt.
I reached to grab the rolling bead, but my hand flinched and stopped.
“…Tch.”
Blood was flowing from a stinging pain in my hand.
It was likely a wound from the fight with the First Elder, which I only noticed after everything was over.
It wasn't too deep, so I ignored it and picked up the bead.
“It looks expensive for something bought from a peddler.”
[Indeed. It does not seem to be a cheap one.]
It was far too brilliant to be called a cheap raw gemstone.
I examined the bead briefly and tried to put it back in the pouch.
Oong—
“Hm?”
[Huh?]
A strange sound came from the bead, and it began vibrating rapidly.
Jiiing!
“Why is it acting up again…?”
Thinking it might explode, I hurriedly considered throwing it far away, but the bead emitted a faint light briefly before stopping its movement as if nothing had happened.
I looked at that bead and spoke in a dumbfounded voice.
“…What the hell did that crazy person buy.”
She said it was something like a good luck charm, but it turned out to be a vibrating bead? What kind of bizarre item is this?
It was subtly creepy.
I clicked my tongue and tried to put the bead back into the pouch. But as I turned my eyes, I froze on the spot.
“Huh?”
Because the scenery before my eyes had clearly changed.