While the Se Family's waiting room was in the midst of a tempest.
Gu Yangcheon was currently going through quite the bothersome situation.
"Look how skinny you are. Do you even eat?"
"Your clothes are in bad shape."
"Your sister told you to eat properly, didn't she? If you don't eat, you won't grow taller."
"I shall order some high-quality martial robes for you separately, so take them with you."
The voices coming from both sides made his head pound.
He had come outside for a walk since there was still some time before the assembly began.
That the very first people he ran into were none other than these two.
"Little brother. Why aren't you saying anything?"
"…Why on earth is my sister here? Aren't you busy?"
He had heard she was coming, but he hadn't thought she'd actually show up.
Someone let out a soft laugh at my question.
The one who laughed was my older sister, Gu Huibi, known as the Sword Peak.
It was a face I hadn't seen in roughly a year.
"I'm busy. I'm busy, but I've carved out precious time to come here, so be grateful."
"You didn't have to. You should've just kept that precious time to yourself instead."
"You wanna die?"
Gu Huibi spat out rough words and ruffled my hair wildly.
Why on earth did this lady, busy with her Sword Alliance duties, come all the way here? If anything, she should be at Gu Yeonseo's side instead of mine.
If not that, she could be doing anything else. I wondered why she came all the way to this distant place.
Someone blocked the arm of Gu Huibi, who had been wrecking my hair to her heart's content.
It wasn't me. The one who stopped her was Lady Mi.
"So many people are passing by. How can you act so crudely? Is this what your mother taught you?"
At Lady Mi's sharp rebuke, Gu Huibi flinched.
"…I'm sorry."
"How could you treat your fully grown brother so carelessly?"
"He's just a little cute, so…"
"Do not make excuses."
"Yes…."
Gu Huibi couldn't move an inch at Lady Mi's words.
It was truly something to marvel at.
That ruffian could actually cower like that.
Then Lady Mi carefully tended to my ruined hair.
She produced a comb from somewhere and was straightening my tangled locks.
"Since it's an important occasion, you should mind your appearance."
"…Yes."
"Training as a martial artist is fine, but I wish you would understand that you must also refine your outward appearance to suit the occasion."
"I'm sorry."
I had to bite my tongue slightly at the cringeworthy feeling that came over me as my hair was being arranged.
Lady Mi was doing this with the Gu Family's standing and the merchant group's standing in mind.
I had to erase such useless thoughts.
"I shall have clothes sent to you later. Do not forget to wear them."
"I will remember."
"Good."
As if the tidying had finally finished, Lady Mi placed the comb back in her bosom and looked me up and down.
Was she checking for any problems?
Lady Mi, having checked meticulously, let out a small sigh and asked me.
"I heard there were many incidents."
"Not many, just a few matters."
"You weren't injured anywhere?"
"As you can s— No, I have none."
I started to speak as usual but reined in my words.
It felt somewhat difficult to use my casual tone with Lady Mi.
"That is a relief."
"…"
It was probably nothing more than a pleasantry.
Yet those words somehow made my chest feel slightly warm.
Was it because I had found out my mother was alive?
Having thought that far, I quelled my emotions and asked Lady Mi.
"…Lady Mi."
"Yes?"
"Where is Father?"
"He went to the waiting room first. He said there was something he needed to arrange beforehand."
"Arrange?"
What did he mean by arrange? Was he trying to work even here?
Well, in a way, this was also work.
"Do you not need to go, Lady Mi?"
Like my father, Lady Mi was attending from the merchant guild's position.
There should be a separate waiting room for the head of the merchant guild.
There was no need for her to insist on staying outside.
Of course, I wasn't going inside the building either.
At my words, Lady Mi's expression turned slightly cold.
"If I went, there would only be pigs bloated with money. I have no wish to force my way in and exchange words with them."
"…Ah, I see."
It was a much scarier statement than expected.
I rubbed my arms, which had grown slightly cold, a few times and looked around.
"Come to think of it, I don't see the First Elder either?"
I was sure he said he'd come together, but the First Elder was nowhere to be seen.
When I expressed my doubt, the one who answered was Gu Huibi.
"The First Elder said he had some business."
"Business in Hanam?"
"They say he went to see friends?"
"…?"
At Gu Huibi's words, my face scrunched up unconsciously.
With the situation like this? Not to see me, but to see friends?
This old man, seriously… He does whatever he pleases.
Yet somehow, the thought crossed my mind that the First Elder was more than capable of doing such a thing.
Because it seemed like something he could easily do.
'Friends in Hanam at a time like this. Who could they mean….'
As soon as that question came to mind.
A few people staying in Hanam happened to come to mind.
Though I thought it couldn't be, I had already found the answer in my heart.
"…Hmm."
If my guess is correct, the First Elder might have gone to see Paejon.
Because I knew the two of them were somewhat connected.
'That could be a bit troublesome.'
When Paejon had asked how he learned of my true identity, I had sold out the First Elder.
I had blurted it out thinking I'd deal with it later.
If things turned out this way, Paejon would find out if I wasn't careful.
'Then what do I do?'
What do you mean 'what do I do'? It's already fucked.
I figured it would come back to bite me later, but I didn't think I'd already be this fucked.
'Hmm… I'm fucked.'
Surprisingly, accepting it calmed me down on its own.
All I could do now was hope the First Elder hadn't met Paejon.
"Little brother. What's wrong? You don't look good. Are you hungry?"
"…Do you think I'm you? Someone whose face sours when they're hungry?"
"Coming at me with that mouth right away. Is our little brother trying to make his sister angry?"
"It means I'm just honest with my feelings, that's all."
"Whatever. Who's that?"
Gu Huibi pointed at someone with her finger.
I looked over; it was Cheol Jiseon, standing some distance away and watching nervously.
When Gu Huibi pointed at him, Cheol Jiseon flinched.
"Who are you? Why are you standing there sneaking glances?"
"Eek…!"
"Come here… Kyaak!"
As Gu Huibi tried to call someone over as she normally would, Lady Mi stomped on the top of her foot.
While Gu Huibi groaned at the sudden pain, Lady Mi looked at Cheol Jiseon and smiled gently.
"I'm sorry. My daughter hasn't been fully educated yet."
"Ah, it's fine…."
"Yes. I heard you are my son's friend?"
"Ah… yes. I am Cheol Jiseon of the Cheol family. I have heard much about you."
"Hey, what do you mean heard? When did I say anything…"
"It's nice to meet you."
Lady Mi cut in while I was speaking.
"You are Young Master Cheol, yes? Please continue to befriend my child."
"Y-yes… ma'am…"
Cheol Jiseon answered, not knowing what to do at Lady Mi's words.
Whether pleased by that reaction, Lady Mi nodded her head.
Seeing that reaction.
A thought suddenly flashed through my mind: if my mother were here, wouldn't it truly be like this?
It was a truly unnecessary and uncomfortable sentiment.
'…As expected, when the assembly ends, I'll have to ask Father.'
I was going to ask when I returned to the Gu Family, but since Father had come to Hanam, I would ask him this opportunity.
Including Mother's whereabouts. And also about the Gu Yeomhwaryun Gong to come.
Thinking so, just as Gu Huibi was playing a few more pranks on me, someone from the Maeng side appeared and delivered a message.
"They say the assembly will begin shortly."
Hearing those words, I rose to my feet.
Cheol Jiseon's shoulders trembled; perhaps his carefully loosened tension had risen again.
I just grabbed him and pulled him along.
Just as we were heading toward the assembly hall like that.
"Yangcheon."
Lady Mi called out to me, stopping me.
I had to flinch in surprise at that call.
Because it had been years since she called my name.
"Yes…?"
"When this matter is over. Do you intend to return to the Se Family?"
I pondered for a moment.
In the current situation, it would be better in many ways to return to the Se Family.
Yet there were many things to do going forward.
"No."
At my refusal, a wrinkle formed between Lady Mi's eyebrows.
Seeing that expression made me flinch, but I had things to do as well.
I had to receive training from Paejon, and at the same time, there was something else I had to do.
This part was already something I had discussed with Paejon.
"I don't think I'll be returning to the Se Family."
"…It seems there is somewhere else you are headed."
"Yes."
Recalling the destination in my head, I spoke to Lady Mi.
"Sichuan. I have some business there."
Along with Baek Maseok.
Sichuan, where the secret vault of Geumcheon Yeonga was.
I intended to head there immediately after the schedule ended.
Ah, right, there was something I hadn't mentioned yet.
"Friend. Did you hear what I just said?"
"Hmm? That you're going to Sichuan?"
"That's right. I haven't told you yet, but you're going too."
"…Hmm… Huh? Wait, what?"
"You said okay? Got it."
Cheol Jiseon answered as if he had misheard my words, but it was already far too late.
****************
The back mountain of Hanam.
Gu Ryun, the First Elder of the Gu Family and one called the Flame Demon Fist in the Central Plains, was currently climbing the mountain.
"…These crazy bastards."
He said this through gritted teeth.
A huge old man wearing an expression like a yaksha, so wild animals frequently flinched and fled.
Leaving aside why he was climbing a mountain.
Gu Ryun's hands were full of food.
"Making an old man run food errands."
If he were just a bit younger, he would have caught them and snapped them in half.
Gu Ryun thought so and felt his situation was truly pitiful.
All because he had made the mistake of befriending the wrong people.
After climbing for a while, Gu Ryun finally spotted what seemed to be his destination, a cave.
"…What is this place now?"
The moment Gu Ryun surveyed the cave's surroundings, he couldn't help but flinch.
It was clearly an artificially created cave.
Traces of savage fighting spirit were left everywhere.
Moreover, the energy felt somewhat familiar.
This is….
'Did that crazy bastard Biju do this?'
Biju, called Paejon.
His energy could be felt throughout the cave.
To dig out a cave with bare hands.
'So he got younger, did his brain regress too?'
That might be the case.
Seeing this, Gu Ryun was certain.
Even if he died, he would never do something like the Return to Youth.
He would sooner live until he was senile and incontinent than undergo a Return to Youth.
Recently, he had considered living longer since he enjoyed watching that grandson-like brat's antics.
But recalling the sight of his friend doing such nonsense, he shook his head.
Gu Ryun didn't realize.
That this cave was not made by Paejon, but by Gu Yangcheon, whom he thought of like a grandson.
Following the torches embedded here and there without realizing it, he saw in the distance those rotten bastards who had already started drinking.
Unlike himself, completely old, one was in the form of a middle-aged man.
One looked to have just reached the age of majority.
"You're late. Gu Ryun."
Paejon, spotting Gu Ryun approaching, welcomed him with a smirk.
A wine cup was already in his hand.
And there was one more person welcoming Gu Ryun. Having confirmed the additional person, Gu Ryun immediately threw all the food as if telling them to catch it.
The man likewise caught the food nonchalantly and spread it on the floor.
After spreading out all the food.
"Long time no see."
The man extended his greeting to Gu Ryun as well.
A white-haired, white-eyed man.
It was the Dark King.