<2 Ehwa> Cheonro's Bead. (3)
Cheonro's Bead. (3)
Three days since Gu Yang-cheon was imprisoned.
Two days had passed since the Second Elder came to see Gu Yang-cheon.
There was no need to dispatch the sword squads right away, as Gu Yang-cheon had walked into the prison of his own accord.
The Chief Steward didn't say anything about it either.
From the Second Elder's perspective, it was a stifling situation.
‘...That child wouldn't have done it without a reason.’
The Second Elder might not have known in the past, but by now, he didn't think Gu Yang-cheon would have acted so rashly without any
thought.
‘They say there's some suspicious sign in the quarters.’
A report came up saying a strange aura was felt in Cult Leader Gu Seon's quarters.
He couldn't check it himself because his body wasn't fully recovered,
but if the report said so, it clearly meant there was something.
‘Does this mean Yang-cheon knew about this?’
Before asking 'why?'
There was the hope that it was indeed the case.
Also, Gu Yang-cheon had said that his actions had sufficient justification.
Surely, he must have acted knowing something.
And, while recovering the First Elder's corpse, they discovered that the First Elder had been suffering from a chronic
illness.
Hadn't they said that even with the strength of a martial artist who reached the Hwagyeong realm, only a few years remained?
They had faced each other several times, so the First Elder must have been hiding it
thoroughly.
"Hmm."
...
The Second Elder stroked his beard with one hand.
His other hand was wrapped in bandages, making it unusable, so it couldn't be helped.
"So."
The Second Elder opened his mouth as he stretched his stiff body.
"What was this meeting arranged for?"
At the heavy question, the two elders sitting across averted their gazes.
They were faces he had known for decades since taking his position as the Second Elder.
Their relationship wasn't exactly comfortable, but that was that.
"I believe it hasn't even been a month since the last Elder Council."
They were all elders of the Gu Family.
Including the Second Elder, only three remained now.
The Third Elder and the Fourth Elder of the Gu Family.
By now, they were people who wouldn't move from their respective positions.
They were also the type who wouldn't show their faces unless there was a matter concerning the family or a summons from the Family
Head.
The Third Elder coughed falsely, and the Fourth Elder beside him opened his mouth as if to take his place.
"First of all, I'm glad you've regained consciousness, Second Elder."
"Thank you."
"Getting straight to the point, we gathered because of what the First Young Master has
done."
"This matter..."
At the Fourth Elder's words, the Second Elder couldn't help but furrow his brow deeply.
"What's the problem?"
"Why wouldn't there be a problem? The First Elder was killed."
Since when did they care so much about each other?
The Second Elder had to desperately suppress the laughter welling up from the depths of his dantian.
"Right, that is a problem."
"So, shouldn't we discuss what to do about it?"
"Discuss... Alright, let's discuss."
Crrrk.
The Second Elder propped his chin on his hand and took a posture.
At first glance, it looked as if his focus was gathering with his five senses.
But seeing his swollen muscles despite his injured state, that didn't seem to be the case.
"But, before that, let me ask you one thing."
"Go ahead."
"Is this really the right time to be talking about that?"
At the Second Elder's words, the other elders' bodies flinched.
It wasn't because their words were picked apart, but because the hostile aura oozing from the Second Elder's body
was not shallow.
"A family elder returned half-crippled, and the eldest daughter was dragged away by the demonic
bastards. Is this really the right thing to do right now?"
"Well, that's..."
"Moreover, when even the Family Head is absent... Ah, is that what you were aiming for?"
"Second Elder!"
The Third Elder shouted, and the Second Elder let out a snort of laughter.
"Don't raise your voice. I'm barely holding on as it is, what good will raising your voice do?"
"What are you trying to say right now? Even if he is family, after laying hands
on an elder..."
"Isn't that exactly why it's remarkable?"
"What?"
The Third Elder frowned as if he had misheard.
The Second Elder's words were a very dangerous statement.
However, the Second Elder continued speaking as if he didn't care.
"Even if the First Elder's body was ruined, defeating the First Elder alone
at that age, how could it not be remarkable?"
He would have to find out more about how ruined the First Elder's body was, but.
Regardless, it was a fact that Gu Yang-cheon had overpowered and killed the First Elder.
This was a realm no one in the history of the Central Plains had ever reached.
However, to the other elders, this meaning would lean toward something else.
The Third Elder, as if greatly offended, said to the Second Elder.
"Everyone in the family knows that you favor the First Young Master, but
your statement just now..."
"That's exactly why I'm asking."
The Second Elder's voice, as he cut off the Third Elder, still contained a hint
of laughter.
"Knowing full well that I favor the child, I'm asking why you created this meeting."
"...Hah!"
"Are you trying to pressure me? Or do you want to use me to keep the child quiet
for a while?"
"Gu Ryun...! You really!"
Hahaha.
The Second Elder just laughed.
Right now, the situation was so ridiculous that he couldn't stop laughing.
After laughing like that for a while, the Second Elder suddenly stopped and spoke to the
elders.
"Are you afraid?"
"...!"
"Or are you terrified?"
The Second Elder could guess the biggest reason this meeting was arranged.
They were afraid.
"What that child might do, are you afraid that Yang-cheon's hands will be pointed
at you?"
"Watch your words, Second Elder. What are you saying right now?"
"If you're going to play dumb, at least wipe that pathetic emotion from your eyes before you speak."
Before becoming elders, they were martial artists recognized in the Central Plains.
The First Elder was the same.
He himself was the same, so they were no different.
But seeing their current appearance, his heart ached.
'It's like seeing a fallen friend.'
These were people who once moved on the frontlines together, using their bodies.
Should this be called degeneracy?
He didn't dare attach such a word, but to the Second Elder, it didn't look
much different.
"I acknowledge that the First Young Master's talent is outstanding, but."
"It's not just outstanding, Yang-cheon is surely a child sent by the heavens."
"...Yes, I admit he is great. But that's a separate issue."
"Which is?"
"I'm saying that if a young family member committed a wrong, it's right to fix his habits
before it's too late. Especially if he's slated for the position of Young Patriarch."
They would know too.
That the only one to become Family Head was Gu Yang-cheon. So, before the young Gu Yang-cheon, who was now capable of directly eliminating
the First Elder, set his sights on them.
They were saying it was right to take measures in advance to prevent that.
The Second Elder didn't appreciate their posturing.
"Don't smear shit on the words you spout as justification."
"What...?"
"Before it's too late? How grand. Before what? Before the Family Head
returns? Or before the child soars even higher?"
"Second Elder... don't you realize that continuing to look at it that way will only be your loss?"
"Do I look like someone who moves based on profit and loss? If I were, I wouldn't have needed
to see you in the first place."
How filthy.
The Second Elder could once again experience firsthand how filthy a rusted sword could become.
'Truly devastating.'
Was it because he was running around outside on the frontlines, not knowing what was happening
in the family?
It wasn't just the First Elder who needed to be watched.
Reaching this point, the Second Elder was feeling a regret that wasn't quite regret.
"I don't care what you try to do. However."
Crrrk.
His still-unhealed body couldn't fully withstand the internal energy surging up, but...
...
The Second Elder was a man who had many things more important than pain.
Soon, his internal energy took form and erupted out.
"Do not cross the line. If you do this time, it won't be Yang-cheon, but I will step
forward directly."
With those final words, the Second Elder kicked off the ground and left the building.
The Second Elder walked, gently stroking his throbbing chest.
'It's still too much.'
Certainly, just as the divine physician said, it would take a long period of
recuperation for his body to heal.
Right now, even such simple actions were burdensome.
Ah...
More than his exhausted body, his heavy mind concerned him more.
The problem was that since his body had broken down, there was nothing he could do.
"...The child is faced with a difficult situation."
More than his defeat in the battle against the Black Night Palace Master.
His heart ached more over his failure to protect Gu Hui-bi.
The reason the Second Elder, despite such feelings, didn't leave the family to join the Family Head was...
Because he knew that going now would only hold them back.
Just spending time recovering his body.
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Trying to help Gu Yang-cheon as much as he could within that time.
It was one of the few things the Second Elder could do by now.
"Ah. Second Elder..."
The Second Elder, struggling to walk, raised his head at the call.
"Ah, it's our Ryeong-hwa."
He quickly wiped away the expression consumed by distracting thoughts.
The one who called the Second Elder was none other than the Family Head's youngest daughter, Gu Ryeong-hwa.
"Is your body... alright?"
"Of course! This old man is always healthy. Are you eating your meals well? You've gotten
too thin."
He forced a smile as he spoke, but tears welled up in Gu Ryeong-hwa's eyes.
Her gaze was directed at the Second Elder's wounds.
"Hey now, why are you trying to cry? This old man is really fine, I tell you."
"But..."
She was a tender-hearted child.
Gu Hui-bi was the same; for those born into the Gu Family, who were said to have filthy tempers, their inner
hearts were all quite tender and delicate.
Thinking such thoughts, the Second Elder asked Gu Ryeong-hwa.
"Ryeong-hwa, why are you here?"
"...Ah."
The reason he asked was none other than because this was Gu Yang-cheon's quarters.
"...My older sisters asked me to eat with them."
"Older sisters?"
The Second Elder moved at Gu Ryeong-hwa's words and entered Gu Yang-cheon's quarters.
He happened to have a purpose there as well.
"...Hmm?"
The Second Elder was taken aback by the scene that greeted him as soon as he entered the quarters.
It should have been somewhat quiet since the owner of the quarters was absent.
The atmosphere was quiet, but somehow it felt crowded.
When the Second Elder entered, many people stood up abruptly and took a posture.
"I greet Great Hero Yeom A-kwon."
'The child from the Tang Gate.'
It was a girl with a cute impression and dark green hair.
He thought she was a direct descendant of the Tang Gate.
'Why is she here...?'
There should be quarters for guests. Was this child invited too?
But seeing the way she moved, she looked quite accustomed to
it.
As if she had been staying here since she arrived.
"Ah! Grandpa Gu!"
The one running over from afar was undoubtedly Wi Seol-a.
Judging by the kerchief on her head and her state, she seemed to have been cooking.
'Her eyes are still swollen.'
Wi Seol-a's eyes were swollen red, just like the last time he saw her.
Probably because Gu Yang-cheon caused trouble and went to prison.
'I wish the senior didn't know.'
Since Wi Seol-a was the Sword Saint's granddaughter, it was questionable what the Sword Saint would think
when he saw this.
Since his granddaughter was crying over some dark-hearted man, even he might have
smashed his head in.
'...Sigh. Even so, I can't stop the senior, what can I do.'
He only hoped he wouldn't find out.
"...Where did your grandfather go?"
When he subtly asked about the Sword Saint, Wi Seol-a pointed to the back mountain with her hand.
"He went to pick herbs! He said there's a lot of delicious things because it's spring!"
"...Ah, I see."
The Sword Saint picking herbs on the back mountain.
It felt quite strange.
Because the hands that once cleaved the heavens with a sword would be holding a sickle and
digging the earth.
"Oh right, I'll go call my sister."
"Hmm?"
Just as they were about to continue talking, Wi Seol-a, as if she remembered something, suddenly rushed
into Gu Yang-cheon's room.
-Sister! Wake up! Grandpa Gu is here!
'Sister?'
Right after Wi Seol-a's voice was heard, a slight clatter was heard from Gu
Yang-cheon's room, and then...
Someone burst out, opening the door immediately.
A beautiful woman with blue-white hair.
She was a person the Second Elder knew very well.
"You are..."
"I greet Great Hero Yeom A-kwon. I am Namgung Bi-a of the Namgung Family."
Namgung Bi-a, taking a polite posture, greeted the Second Elder in a
clear voice.
Somehow, a murmuring sound could be faintly heard from the surroundings.
It was roughly along the lines of, why is that sister talking like that?
"Ah, right. It's our Yang-cheon's bride."
"Yes."
Namgung Bi-a answered the Second Elder's words swiftly.
She should have been embarrassed, but she didn't show an inch of hesitation.
He had said it to tease her a bit, but with such a calm reaction, it was rather the Second Elder
who felt awkward.
"Sister, it's not like that yet."
Wi Seol-a, with a slightly pouting expression, poked Namgung Bi-a's side
repeatedly.
"...Right, were you sleeping over?"
"...N...no."
It seems like she was.
Although her posture was straight, her somewhat disheveled hair...
And her eyes full of exhaustion proved it.
"My sister hasn't been able to sleep for days. So she was sleeping in the young master's room even
if it's like this... mmph."
As Wi Seol-a added words as if defending her, Namgung Bi-a covered Wi Seol-a's mouth
with her hand.
'What a peculiar child...'
He wondered if she was tired enough to sleep in Gu Yang-cheon's room, but...
Sleeping in the owner's empty room, he briefly wondered if he should scold her.
Regarding this, the Second Elder decided not to bring it up.
Not only did it not seem like she did it with bad intentions...
But also because this wasn't the right state for that.
"Grandpa Gu."
"Hmm?"
Wi Seol-a approached the Second Elder and asked quietly.
"...When... will the young master come out?"
Her cautious appearance, as if reading the room, looked pitiful.
At Wi Seol-a's question, the surroundings instantly fell silent.
Not only Namgung Bi-a, but also Tang So-yeol remained silent, as if curious
about the answer.
'...It seems Yang-cheon has an overflowing amount of luck with women.'
The emotions they each harbored were so vividly visible.
Let alone the Sword Saint's granddaughter, the children of the Namgung Family Head and the Tang Family.
What was he doing to have such girls entangled with him? The Second Elder was proud but also
bewildered.
"He will be out soon."
"Really...?"
"Of course."
For now, this was all he could say.
Gu Yang-cheon himself had said he would be out soon, and...
Somehow, the Second Elder also believed those words.
"Thank goodness..."
As if relieved by the Second Elder's words, Wi Seol-a smiled brightly.
'Oh.'
Seeing that, the Second Elder let out an admiration that wasn't quite admiration.
Now that he looked, Wi Seol-a, who had lost all her plump fat and even the flesh on her cheeks...
Had grown much more beautifully than before.
'She seems to have grown taller, and her features have changed.'
She was gradually becoming a woman. Would Gu Yang-cheon know of this
change?
It was highly likely he would just pick his nose and not think much of it.
"Perhaps, if you haven't eaten... would you like to eat with us?"
These were the words Namgung Bi-a brought up.
He had already heard Gu Ryeong-hwa say she came to eat earlier.
It was a grateful offer, but the Second Elder had to decline.
"The words are appreciated, but this old man has business to attend to, so I cannot eat with you."
"Ah..."
Leaving behind the children making somewhat disappointed expressions, Hong Wa appeared as if she
had been waiting and handed him an object wrapped in cloth.
"Thank you."
This was the food for Gu Yang-cheon and the food he would eat himself.
There was no need for an elder to do such chores, and...
As a patient, he needed to rest even more.
The Second Elder had asserted his authority, saying he would do this himself, and received it.
"Work hard. Yes, don't come out."
At the sight of them trying to follow and see him off, the Second Elder hurried his steps.
'...Come to think of it, I forgot to ask why the children are in Yang-cheon's quarters.'
Perhaps because the situation had rushed by so quickly, it felt like he failed to ask the most important thing.
Like that, the Second Elder approached the underground, received confirmation from the guard, and went
down to where Gu Yang-cheon was.
Walking a little along the torches...
Gu Yang-cheon was visible in the distance... but he shouldn't be visible?
"...Hmm?"
Gu Yang-cheon, who should clearly be in prison, was somehow outside the prison.
Gu Yang-cheon, who was hesitating over something, also noticed the approaching Second Elder, and
their eyes met.
"Ah."
Gu Yang-cheon made an expression of 'oops', and the Second Elder asked.
"...What are you doing?"
Gu Yang-cheon, looking alternately at the basket the Second Elder was holding and the Second Elder himself, answered.
"...First of all, it's not a prison break, so please don't misunderstand."
It was a very awkward expression.