EP.2 The Young Master of the Gu Family (2)
The Young Master of the Gu Family. 2
Speaking of the Gu Family of Shanxi, they are treated as a somewhat renowned prestigious family.
Although compared to the Four Great Families—
the Nangong Family of Anhui.
the Peng Family of Hebei.
the Tang Sect of Sichuan.
the Murong Family of Liaoning.
—the Gu Family of Shanxi falls a few steps behind.
However, many believe that the Gu Family will surely become a prestigious family to rival them.
The current Patriarch, Hu Xia (Tiger Hero) Gu Tieyun, is none other than one of the Hundred Great Masters of the Central Plains.
He was even selected among the stronger ones within that group.
His convictions and chivalry as a righteous faction martial artist were famous among many.
The martial artists belonging to the Gu Family do not oppress the commoners; rather, they block and defeat threats to them.
It wouldn't be for nothing that they are called the Guardians of Shanxi.
Aside from the family's prestige and the benevolent support of the commoners, Gu Tieyun's children were already showing outstanding prominence as martial artists among the rising stars of the new generation.
The eldest daughter, Gu Xifei, was already being called Jian Feng (Sword Phoenix) by many, proving her status as a rising star representing her generation.
The second daughter, Gu Yanshu, was also showing talent comparable to Gu Xifei, and it was expected she would not have difficulty inheriting Gu Xifei's title in the future.
As a righteous prestigious family passed down for generations, with a formidable patriarch and strong bloodlines continuing the lineage, the Gu Family's foundation would only solidify over time.
Many were convinced it would happen before long.
I, too, believed so myself.
That is, until the Gu Family's only son and young master defected to become a demonic practitioner.
—Young Master.
I came to my senses at the servant's voice announcing the morning.
Gathering my wits and looking around, sunlight was already streaming through the window.
"I'm awake."
A slightly hoarse voice slipped out.
I hadn't slept a wink all night to begin with. I couldn't understand this situation, so sleep simply wouldn't come.
Hah.
Letting out a quiet sigh, I dry-washed my face.
"...So it really isn't a dream."
It's already been three days.
Since I, who died from my heart exploding, returned to my childhood.
"What in the world is going on?"
No matter how much I asked into the empty air, there was no way an answer would return.
How did this happen? Even after thinking about it a hundred times, I still don't know.
The first day was just empty. Dreaming of a time I couldn't return to made my heart feel completely hollow.
In that state of mind, I ate and even slept.
I should have caught on sooner from the fact that I could taste the food when I ate.
Yet I spent the second day just staring blankly like an idiot.
"Idiot."
Only realizing it on the third day—how absurd is that?
I turned my head and looked out the window.
Instead of the damp iron bars of the Wulin League's underground torture chamber, sunlight was shining through a brightly open window.
As the self-reproach for my own insensitivity ended and I grasped the situation, a heat gradually rose in my body from sheer ecstasy.
I had returned to the happiest period of a life that had been ruined, ruined again, and fallen to rock bottom.
I didn't know what caused this to happen, but if this wasn't a dream but reality—
'No, it has to be reality.'
Please, it had to be.
The disbelief that it might not be was barely suppressed by the sense of reality felt throughout my entire body.
If I really returned to the past, what should I do from now on? Where should I start thinking?
I needed to organize the countless events that would unfold in the future inside my head.
There was too much to think about, from one to ten.
When thousands of thoughts were spinning in my head, someone called me from outside the door.
—Young Master.
Because of that, the thoughts I had tried so hard to hold onto were shattered.
—The Patriarch will arrive at the family estate shortly.
At the servant's words, the hair all over my body stood on end. My mind had been saturated for days, so this was something I hadn't even dared to imagine.
"Father is coming..."
My father, who probably left the estate for business, was returning. I didn't know how many days he had been away, but for me, it was the first time seeing him in years, including my past life.
My head was already throbbing.
My feelings toward seeing my father after so long were closer to terror than longing or joy.
The cold gaze and sharp words he directed at me in my past life were still deeply embedded in my chest.
The words that had seeped so deeply still came to mind whenever there was a gap, tormenting my head.
'You good-for-nothing bastard, how long do you plan to live like that? Do you intend to remain the family's shame until the end?'
Those were the words my father said to me around the time I came of age. I don't resent him. I lived such a worthless life that I more than deserved to hear such things.
It could be that way. I understood, but I held onto and lived with every moment I saw back then, bottled up in my heart.
And it was the same even now.
I was still afraid of my father.
—Young Master?
When I didn't answer, the servant called out to me once more from outside.
"I'll get ready and head out, how much time is left?"
—He... he says he will arrive in about one meal's time (approx. 30 minutes).
"I need to wash my face, so please just prepare that for me."
—I will prepare it right away.
I could sense the flustered voice of the servant. He must have been surprised because I said I would get ready, contrary to his expectations.
When I was young, whenever something like this happened, I would complain about being woken up in the morning and throw whatever I could see, throwing violent tantrums.
I couldn't even count how many household items I had smashed.
The reason I constantly made lame excuses and acted unreasonably was none other than because I felt uncomfortable seeing my father.
It was still just as uncomfortable now, but I no longer had the reason or the luxury to run away at this point.
I finished washing up with the water the servant prepared, changed my clothes, and tidied myself up.
It bothered me a little that the servant helping me get ready kept trembling. Was he afraid I might throw something or swing something around?
Would a teenage kid really go that far...?
'...I think I actually did that before.'
So I couldn't bear to think about it anymore.
As I finished preparing and stepped out the door, I felt the gazes of many people.
Not only could I feel their gazes, but their whispering voices could also be clearly heard.
—Why is he going out to greet the Patriarch?
—After throwing such a tantrum about not wanting to get up...
I could hear them whispering among themselves perfectly well.
People were really kind to call that war-level rampage just a 'tantrum'.
As they were speaking, they made eye contact with me and freaked out, trying to kneel, so I raised my hand to stop them.
What would the past me have done?
Hmm...
'Let's not think about it...'
I probably raised hell, that's for sure.
Those two probably became faces unseen in the family estate from the next day onward.
While walking, vibrant blooming flowers caught my eye. Unlike my incredibly complicated mind, the season was a peaceful spring.
Was the season at the Wulin League winter or autumn right before I died?
I didn't even know which of the four seasons it was.
I don't know if I finally had the leisure to observe the season, or if I was just staring blankly at the flowers like an idiot.
"Probably the latter."
"Pardon?"
The guard guiding me, just like on the first day of my regression, asked back.
"It's nothing."
After walking for about a quarter of an hour, passing through the manor and the garden, I arrived in front of the main gate of the Gu Family.
When I arrived, many people were already gathered.
Most of them were figures I hadn't seen for a few days.
Just like the others, they seemed surprised that I had come here.
The majority bowed their heads and greeted me. It felt awkward experiencing this kind of situation after so long, but I didn't show it.
Passing by many people and stepping forward, I reached those who did not bow their heads to me.
Among them, someone spoke to me.
"...Amazing. I didn't know you would come out."
The one who spoke was a young girl with long hair tied tightly back.
The girl's age seemed to be not even twenty, even if estimated generously.
She would certainly be called a beauty wherever she went, but from her upright eyes and standing posture, the aura of a martial artist peeked through.
There weren't many people in the Gu Family who could refrain from bowing their heads to me.
Especially if it was a girl in this age range, there was essentially only one.
Crimson Flame Sword, Gu Yanshu.
The girl was a blood relative of the Gu Family and my older sister born in the same year.
Gu Yanshu would probably be a highly anticipated rising star by now, and in the future, she would gain fame as an outstanding female swordsman.
Because that's how it was in the future, too.
I looked up at my sister, whom I hadn't seen in a long time, and said.
"Because it's a place I need to be."
At my answer, Gu Yanshu scoffed.
"Did the kid who knew that not even show his face until now?"
Gu Yanshu reprimanded in a cold voice. She was right.
As Gu Yanshu said, I had only run away, putting my own feelings first, instead of appearing at a place I clearly should have been as a blood relative of the Gu Family.
"Right, why did I do that."
"...What?"
"I was wrong. I'll apologize to the Patriarch later, too."
At my clearly enunciated apology, Gu Yanshu made a bizarre expression.
That was brief; Gu Yanshu clicked her tongue shortly and spoke.
"I don't know what kind of act you're putting on this time, but if you're going to play around with people, I'd like you to stop here. I feel like I'm really going to get angry now."
She fired those words and whipped her head around. As expected, it wasn't easy.
I wanted to add at least one more word, but even that didn't come easily.
"The Patriarch has arrived."
Following the servant's words, I shifted my gaze to the entrance and saw a carriage racing toward the main gate in the distance.
The Red Hare, which looked twice as large compared to other horses, ran without rest and crossed the main gate of the Gu Family in a short time, arriving before the people.
While the Red Hare, which had run for a long time, stopped in its tracks and panted, the carriage door opened and someone stepped down.
A middle-aged man wearing a red robe, which was like the symbol of the Gu Family, with a long scar running across half of his face.
Setting aside his fierce gaze, many dared not lift their heads at the red eyes that scanned the gathered crowd.
'...Father.'
He was my father and the Patriarch of the Shanxi Gu Family, Hu Xia Gu Tieyun.
A superhuman who could be counted on one hand even among countless martial artists stood there.
My father's eyes, which were quickly scanning the area, stopped on me.
I also didn't avoid it and exchanged glances with my father.
Those fierce eyes were so terrifying when I was young.
But only for a very fleeting moment, my father moved his gaze again. No further reaction was shown.
It wasn't very surprising. Father was originally that kind of person.
"Patriarch. It is a relief that you have returned without any issues."
"Steward."
"Yes, Patriarch."
"Is there a Sword Squad currently on standby?"
"The First Sword Squad is resting after returning, and the Fourth Sword Squad is currently on standby."
"Then tell the Captain of the Fourth Sword Squad to finish preparations and come see me before the Zi hour."
"Understood. Congratulations on your return, Patriarch."
With the short conversation over, the Patriarch wordlessly began walking, and everyone followed him.
I, too, walked looking at my father's back. His back was still as large and heavy as ever.
Returning was like a miracle, but there were many tangled and complicated problems.
'Still, it's a relief that it isn't too late a period.'
If I had regressed even a few years into the future from now, it would have truly been irreversible. It would have been far too late.
This was definitely good luck.
But even now, it was still difficult to know where to start and what to unravel.
Halt.
My father, who had been walking at a steady pace, stopped.
"The third child is to come to the Patriarch's room separately after the meal."
He spoke, but didn't look back. I was flustered.
The third child was undoubtedly the title calling me.
Why me? Why? A reason for Father to call me separately...
'...There are too many, so I can't predict it at all?'
"Understood."
As my answer followed, my father moved his feet again.
The evening meal that would follow—until then, I first decided on the very first thing I had to do. It was an important task I had to do first after regressing.
"Muyeon."
I whispered the guard's name in a very small voice.
"Yes, Young Master."
"...Guide me to a physician before I eat."
When I said I wanted to go to a physician, Muyeon made a serious expression.
"Ar-are you hurting somewhere?"
"...No, I feel like I'll definitely get indigestion if I eat right now, so I want to get some digestion medicine in advance."
"Ah..."