Paejon said, his expression twisting fiercely.
"…What is it you are saying right now?"
"Precisely as I have spoken."
Leaving the simgong already contained within my body as it was, it also meant I would take in Paejon's simgong as well. Upon hearing this, Paejon wrinkled his face fully and spoke to me.
"Am I to take this as a wish to die? If that is your wish, I shall gladly help you in a better manner."
In other words, he was saying he would rather beat me to death.
Truly ruthless.
I answered him.
"I am not joking."
"If not a joke? Are you saying you are toying with me?"
"That is not the case either. I am sincere."
"Ha."
Paejon's reaction was understandable. Originally, it was impossible to contain two simgong within one body. Not only was the internal energy taken in through each simgong completely different, but if internal energies of differing natures were to clash, the meridians would all be ruined, leaving one likely crippled. Was there not a tale of Paejon as well? The tale that, for the sake of the martial art he himself had created, he discarded all the energy he possessed and started anew. To the extent that he had to abandon even his existence as Paejon and build it up again. This was an unavoidable matter for any martial artist. In that situation, I was telling Paejon that I would learn his martial art just as I was. From Paejon's standpoint, it was bound to be absurd.
"Do you properly understand what you are saying right now?"
"I do."
"If you know, how can you speak such words? Unless you are mocking me."
Gradually, fury mixed into Paejon's voice. He seemed to think I was truly playing some kind of joke. But I was serious. Ignoring Paejon's reaction as best I could, I continued.
"I know that you have expectations of me, Elder."
Paejon flinched at my words. Not only the reason he was letting my actions slide right now, but there must also be a good reason for him to want me to become his disciple to this extent.
"I too have something I cannot discard."
"So, you will house both within your body? Do you think that makes sense?"
Paejon's gaze grew gradually fierce.
"You think little of the Martial Way."
For even if one could contain several martial arts within the body, martial art was something where achieving greatness even in a single one was far from guaranteed. The sight of me clamoring to contain both, when it was futile from the start, would hardly be pleasing to him.
Even so.
"If it seems impossible, I will give up. However."
Without avoiding Paejon's eyes, I spat out my final words.
"If it is not done this way, I have no intention of becoming your disciple. You may as well kill me."
"…"
At the words spat out while meeting his eyes, Paejon's expression showed no sign of easing. Yet, I did not feel any reaction intensifying beyond that. Whether he was suppressing his anger inside, or contemplating whether to destroy me, I could not tell. I had said my piece, but if he truly moved to destroy me, I planned to run. I could not die here. I had even quietly identified escape routes. Fortunately, it seemed he had no intention of killing me. After waiting for a long while, Paejon finally gave me an answer.
"…If you try and find it does not work, what do you intend to do?"
That did it.
At Paejon's words, I nodded inwardly. Without revealing my reaction outwardly, I spoke to him.
"If it comes to that, I will empty what is inside and fill it anew, just as you wish."
Paejon seemed to fall into thought again at my words, but from what I could see, he had already made his decision. I too had boldly declared that I would discard my original martial art and realm, but needless to say, I had no real intention of discarding them. It was because I had a certain conviction. The conviction that I could learn Paejon's martial art without throwing away the one I currently used.
And that conviction was, fortunately, no different from what I had expected.
******************
Mihyoran, the lady of Shanxi Guga and the Baekhwaju, who was also the master of the Baekhwa Merchant Guild, held a white fan and gazed at her husband. He was still seated at his desk, buried in documents. His eyes were still fierce, yet a look of fatigue was clearly evident. She was rather concerned by his appearance, but for now, the letter in her hand was more important than her husband's state.
"What do you intend to do?"
Surprised inwardly at the sharp voice that had slipped out before she knew it, she did not bother to correct it. The man who heard Mihyoran's voice—the Patriarch of Shanxi Guga, a martial artist known as the Hohyeop—raised his head. His fierce red gaze was the same as ever. The Patriarch, Gucheolun, looked at Mihyoran and asked back.
"What are you talking about?"
At his words, spat out as if he didn't know what she was talking about, Mihyoran's brow furrowed deeply.
"…Did you not receive it as well?"
Mihyoran promptly placed a letter onto Gucheolun's desk with a smack! The blue seal stamped on it clearly belonged to the Wulin Alliance.
"They said an assembly is being held. Is it true? That you will not go."
"…"
Mihyoran's pupils were chillingly cold. She had tried to act immediately after receiving the letter, but was holding herself back as much as possible.
"The meeting with the Murong family that took place recently at the Baekhwa Merchant Guild, they ended it first on their side."
"…"
"They probably heard of this matter first."
It was a prediction, but a certainty. Moreover, the reason Mihyoran brought this up was none other than this. They were heading to Henan, abandoning everything even while suffering losses. What exactly are you doing here, she meant.
Gucheolun's gaze also fell upon the letter. Though his gaze remained the same while reading, Mihyoran could faintly tell that he was not in a very good mood.
"I know you did not attend the previous assembly either."
The previous Righteous Faction Assembly that had taken place over a decade ago. At that time, Gucheolun had not gone to that gathering either.
"I also know that the Guga's standing has narrowed because of that."
When an assembly was held, attending or not was a choice. But a family that did not attend despite the Righteous Faction Assembly being held had to bear being somewhat left behind. Of course, Mihyoran was not someone who cared much about such aspects. One's standing in the world was an important matter from a merchant guild master's standpoint, but what Mihyoran was looking at here was solely her position as a 'parent'.
"I know the reason, so I do not blame you."
"What is it you wish to say?"
At Mihyoran's repeated words, Gucheolun finally had to reveal his discomfort. However, Mihyoran did not so much as flinch at Gucheolun's anger.
"I heard you plan to send the First Young Lady, the First Elder, and the First Sword Lord in your stead."
This was something the Patriarch Gucheolun had relayed to the family through the Steward. A group had been organized to head to Henan in place of the Patriarch. They were sending blood kin including two elders. One could say they had shown as much courtesy as possible despite the Patriarch not going, but Mihyoran was not pleased with that.
"Are you… truly fine with that?"
"…"
Seeing his appearance, Mihyoran spoke tiredly.
"As always, I will not tell you to be a good father. For I too have failed to be a good mother."
Saying so, Mihyoran turned her back. Everything was unsatisfactory.
"Even so. You cannot go on like this forever."
That man bound to Shanxi was pitiful, and yet the children beneath him were bound to be a thorn in her eye.
"Even if you do not go, I intend to attend by the title of Baekhwa Guild Master."
Even if it was not the greatest of merchant guilds, it was a guild of considerable standing, and the amount they had sponsored to the Alliance including the Huashan Sect was substantial. Mihyoran had ample qualifications to attend the assembly.
"If you wish, I shall bring the children with me when I go."
Even after she spoke to that extent, Gucheolun's reaction was still minimal. Only the air in the room, which seemed to have grown somewhat hotter, allowed her to realize that his mood had soured. Feeling that, Mihyoran added a word.
"I heard the child was badly injured."
Thud.
Gucheolun's hand, which had been examining the letter, stopped dead, and his gaze turned to Mihyoran.
"The report contained no such words."
"So you have finished reading it, then."
"…"
The actual message received had stated that two blood kin and one collateral member were safe without major issue. But.
"That is no reason not to go. You know that as well."
"…"
"I will say no more. Excuse me."
Afterward, Mihyoran closed the door and left. Left alone in the room, Gucheolun slowly ran his hand down his face. Then suddenly, the letter on the desk caught his eye. Gucheolun quietly gazed at the letter sent by the Alliance, and then called out.
"Steward."
He quietly called for the steward waiting outside. The door opened, and the steward paid his respects to the Patriarch.
"My lord. Did you call for me?"
Gucheolun, who had been looking intently at the steward, gave an order in a heavy voice.
"I will revise the personnel heading to Henan. Deliver word that the Patriarch himself will attend as well."
"…!"
The steward, who had been bowing his head, flinched. But without revealing his reaction, he raised his head and answered Gucheolun.
"Understood."
He neither asked for the reason nor expressed doubt. Having heard the steward's answer, Gucheolun dismissed him. After confirming he had left, Gucheolun quietly closed his eyes.
And so, two months passed. It was around the time that countless people began arriving in Henan.