When I think back to Paejon (敗尊).
I do not know all that much about him.
From the start, Paejon was a figure who had hidden his traces due to the aftermath of Rejuvenation and lived without any intention of revealing himself.
And even back then, had the Heavenly Demon not caused a Bloody Calamity, he was a man who would not have revealed himself.
So it would be stranger if I knew him in detail.
‘Even so.’
It was not as if I knew nothing at all.
I had encountered him a few times during the war.
I had actually fought against Paejon before.
If I had to sum up my impression of him.
‘A monster….’
When I recall that time.
It was a memory that let me understand why Paejon was called the strongest of the martial world.
Monster.
If you were to find the person who suited that word best, would it not be Paejon?
He was absurdly fearsome.
It was an appearance that made one flinch just by looking.
Those who had received the mark of the Heavenly Demon, and demonic beasts.
In the gaps of the onslaught of demonic humans and demonic beasts pouring down like a surging wave.
I recall a martial artist standing alone, leisurely and composed.
Wearing clothes that had been torn to shreds.
With nothing in either hand.
He was even alone.
I heard later.
That useless tagalongs only got in the way.
I heard he had said going alone was more comfortable.
Truly, those were words that could not have fit his personality more.
The martial artist.
Was calm even as he looked upon the calamity surging forth like a tidal wave.
I do not know what he had been thinking as he saw that.
Likely, it is something I will never know in my lifetime.
The martial artist simply looked straight ahead in silence.
And clenched his fist.
It was not a special movement.
He had truly only clenched his fist, after all.
Then he slightly bent his upper body.
And put strength into his lower body.
It was the simplest and most basic movement.
If you excluded how clean and without excess it was.
There was not a single thing different about it from any other basic stance.
His gaze did not waver.
Shortly after, the fist that extended calmly with a recoil.
Together with a short sound of wind.
‘Created a landscape of hell.’
What had happened?
I could not properly see that moment.
What I could know.
Was that with just one short movement.
The world had been overturned.
When I checked the situation that had unfolded.
Amidst the crushed and torn corpses.
It was that his pitch-black eyes were staring at me with a clear gaze.
—Now, do come down.
Starting with those words he uttered like a whisper.
Paejon and I clashed.
Had the Demon Sword Empress, who had been hunting the righteous faction elsewhere, not intervened.
I would have died right then and there.
That was how strong Paejon was.
Even with weakened blood vessels and flesh due to the aftermath of Rejuvenation.
However he had managed to recover, Paejon had the bearing of a powerhouse for whom the title of Venerable (尊) was not the least bit awkward.
‘He was a madman.’
What kind of lunatic would leap alone into the middle of an enemy division with the thought of killing them all?
What was even more surprising was that he had done so nonchalantly and succeeded.
With a single step, he shattered the earth.
With a single thrust of his fist, a great hill vanished.
To the point that the character for ‘Defeat’ (敗) in Paejon seemed meaningless.
In truth, it was said that he was a man to whom defeat did not suit at all.
Truly a monster.
That was my impression of the Paejon I had seen.
Even if the Heavenly Demon’s forces and the forces under my command had not been there.
The dignity of Paejon, which had grown somewhat faint due to his hidden traces, was no different from having been proven anew that day.
And a man like that.
‘Is coming to find me now, you say?’
And personally, at that?
Dragging his two legs?
Haha.
‘I’m fucked.’
Completely fucked.
How did things come to this?
‘What do you mean, how.’
I had known the cause from the start.
The problem was the human who had given me this letter.
*Click.*
Gritting my teeth, I moved my steps.
My schedule after this had been to go see Namgung Bia and then meet my father.
But now was not the time to concern myself with such things.
In the dense forest behind the Gu Estate.
A large house at its center came into view.
It was my first time coming here in this life.
And in my previous life, it was a place I had been dragged to from time to time.
For the residence of a man belonging to a prestigious family, one who even held the position of an Elder.
It was quite cramped.
He did not even keep any guards or servants.
This was a part that let one know what kind of personality the one residing here possessed.
Passing through the small garden within the residence.
With urgent, thudding footsteps, I hurried up the path.
Entering the building, I found the room where I sensed a presence.
*Creak!*
I flung it wide open.
It was rather rude behavior.
But this time, I could not stand it.
“What the hell is wrong with this letter…!”
As I opened the door, I had intended to demand what this was.
But upon seeing another figure inside, words momentarily failed me.
“Oh, Yangcheon. What brings you here?”
*Click.*
As he spoke, First Elder casually placed the stone he held in his hand onto the board.
“…*Groan.*”
From the other side, a pained sound could be heard from the figure, as if things were not going well for him.
The problem.
Was who the figure making that pained sound was.
‘Why is this man here again?’
He was a man I had been trying to find, having wondered where he went.
I had never imagined that, rather than finding him, he would be playing Go in First Elder’s residence out of nowhere.
The identity of the old man.
Was the Haomunju, who had been in the Heukya Palace prison with Gu Huibi.
Since I had placed him in the Gu family’s prison right before leaving for the front lines.
I had been intending to ask my father later how things had turned out.
…Why is this man playing Go in First Elder’s residence?
The old man, who had been groaning for a long while.
Finally spoke to First Elder, as if there was truly no answer.
“…Please let me take back a move, just once.”
His voice even trembled; it was an utterly pitiful and wretched voice.
Furthermore, upon hearing this, the corner of First Elder’s mouth could be seen rising vertically.
He seemed to be enjoying himself immensely.
“…If that is what you wish, should we not fulfill the promise we made?”
Despite his expression, it was a heavy tone unlike First Elder.
Was there any need to speak of taking back a single move in Go with such a serious voice?
The atmosphere was enough to make even me, who had barged in to pick a fight, hesitate for a moment.
Upon hearing this, the old man as well.
Began to tremble all over.
Just what kind of promise was this….
“…I… can’t… do it.”
‘…Hm?’
Wait, what just now.
I felt like I had heard something strange.
Without even a moment to think, First Elder shouted.
“Louder!”
“I… cannot… play Go… better than Gu-ryun…!”
“Tsk! Your voice is too soft!”
“Urk…! I! Cannot play Go better than Yeom-a Gwon Daehyeop!”
Only after Haomunju finally spat it out as if shouting.
Did First Elder nod in satisfaction.
“Good. Seeing your passion, I shall let you take back a move.”
“…You damned bastard, you actually made me do it…! Just you wait…!”
What the hell….
What the hell are these people doing…?
Whether they didn't care that I was there or not.
The two old men began their game of Go again.
Only after I, who had belatedly come to my senses, cut in.
Could the heated intensity of the Go board cool down.
After roughly settling the situation and sitting in First Elder’s room.
First Elder brought tea and sat across from me.
“Unfortunately, I have no refreshments.”
“Why don’t you have servants see to that?”
“I have nothing but spare time and this body; why would I do such a thing.”
First Elder spoke as if it were no big deal.
But though it was not large, it was a residence somewhat big for one person.
So it was rather too much for First Elder to manage alone….
“Ah.”
Just as I thought that, I saw a figure diligently sweeping the wooden floor.
It was Haomunju, who had been playing Go just earlier.
“You there! Sweep it clean!”
“You madman…! Look at my body! Do I look like I have any strength to spare!”
Indeed….
If I were to exaggerate, the old man’s body had a waist the size of First Elder’s forearm and arms the size of fingers.
It did not seem like he could muster any strength.
‘No. That’s not the issue here.’
I came to my senses and asked First Elder.
“Why is the old man in First Elder’s residence?”
“Hm? Ah, Yangcheon, you must not have heard.”
“Is there some other reason….”
“I simply told the Patriarch that I would become First Elder, so give me that man.”
“What?”
“It was lonely being alone anyway, and that man said he had nowhere to go, so I said I would take him in.”
“…Are you speaking as if you brought home a puppy?”
He was the leader of Haomun, a demonic faction said to rival the Beggar Sect in terms of information.
The fact that First Elder took such a man out and kept him in his residence was one thing.
That my father really sent him just because he was asked was another.
And the old man from Haomun, who was quietly sweeping the yard just because he was sent, was also strange.
‘…This truly is a madhouse.’
The more I dug, the more there was not a single normal person.
“No… that is… never mind.”
There seemed to be dozens of things to nitpick over.
But if I made an issue of each one, I felt I would die of frustration, so I decided to let it go.
First Elder must have had some thought in doing so.
Surely…
“…More importantly. Elder, what in the world is this?”
“Hm? What are you talking about.”
“I’m talking about this letter.”
I first asked First Elder about the letter that Paejon had sent.
This was what I had come to ask in the first place.
“What about it?”
“What do you mean, what about it…?”
What do you mean, you old man.
First Elder tilted his head as if asking what the problem was.
Seeing that reaction, I wondered if perhaps it was really nothing serious.
“Is this… not a letter sent by Paejon?”
At my words, First Elder took the letter.
“Ah, this?”
“Is it not?”
“It is.”
Haha.
It really is, damn it.
As if checking my expression. First Elder added.
“What are you so worried about? He just says he will come see your face.”
“…Is it not strange not to be worried?”
“What is there to be worried about?”
“If Paejon comes to see me, will there really be no trouble?”
“What trouble could there be….”
The Elder, who had been speaking, suddenly clamped his mouth shut and subtly averted his gaze.
“Elder, why are you avoiding my eyes?”
“Did dust get in my eye?”
“Why are you changing the subject?”
This old man…!
As I clung persistently, First Elder put a little distance between us and continued.
“Anyway, Yangcheon, you worry too much. Others would be beside themselves wanting to see his face even once, to receive his teachings.”
As First Elder said.
The position of the Three Venerables of the World in the current Central Plains held overwhelming dignity.
As it was said that they were martial artists who had reached the highest position attainable by human flesh and talent.
The Three Venerables (三尊) were existences representing the current martial world of the Central Plains.
They were figures who could demolish a great force with their strength alone.
Of course, none of that was any help to me.
“How in the world do you know such a figure, Elder?”
“Living a long life broadens one’s feet, so to speak.”
Including the Huashan Sect Leader.
The Haomunju.
And even Paejon.
I could not fathom how this man’s network had come to be.
‘Could it be true that he had joked about having played around in his youth?’
What kind of playing around did he do to form such connections?
“My, do not worry. It should not mean he is coming immediately. He likely said it lightly. *Cackle cackle!*”
It certainly did not seem like a situation where he could come immediately.
Paejon himself would not want to show his current appearance.
However, Paejon was a man who kept his words no matter what.
At least, that was what I knew.
The one thing he had failed to keep, to my knowledge, was just one.
‘The words that he would kill the Heavenly Demon.’
Apart from that, he kept every word that left his lips.
So, if he said he would come to see my face.
‘…It means he will come to see me someday.’
Though inwardly I wondered if he would really just look at my face and go.
The premonition that he would not do so was greater.
In truth, my bad premonitions had never been wrong.
Just my damned luck, truly.
“Getting entangled with Elder… nothing good ever comes of it.”
“You rascal…? I cleaned your poop, dressed you, and raised you, and now you have no filter in front of your grandfather!”
“When did you ever clean my poop! You probably tormented me until I was about to soil myself.”
*Whoosh!*
In an instant, a fist flew toward the top of my head.
If I had not dodged quickly, I would have been hit and staggered like before.
“Again! Again with the fist the moment we meet, you really have a vicious heart!”
“You’ve grown big, so your words should have gentled, but you’ve only gotten quicker!”
As First Elder rose and tried to move properly.
I quickly distanced myself.
This time, I had no intention of taking the hit like before.
I had come to pick a fight; I could not just get beaten.
“Hmph! I went out of my way to deliver it to you, yet you know not gratitude.”
“If it was going to be like this, I would rather you had not given it to me…!”
“Judging by your reaction, it seems you have not seen the other one.”
“Huh?”
“I went through all that trouble to place it in your hand.”
At First Elder’s words, I stopped speaking and expressed my doubt.
The other one?
What kind of…
‘Now that I think about it. It seemed like there were two letters.’
The letter First Elder handed me was not just one sheet.
Seeing the first sheet had made me lose my mind, so I had not thought to look at the other.
‘What could the other one be…’
I carefully folded Paejon’s letter and put it in my breast.
Honestly, I wanted to just burn it, but if I burned it out of anger, I truly would not be able to handle the aftermath.
Following First Elder’s mention, I took out the other letter and unfolded it.
Full of worry that this too might contain something strange.
“Huh… Huh?”
The moment I unfolded the letter, a gasp flowed from within me.
—To the Young Master.
The words written in still-clumsy handwriting made me feel strength drain from me in an instant.
The other letter.
Was none other than one sent by Wi Seol-a.