I was being crushed by his presence.
I felt as though I finally understood the meaning of those words.
The heat spreading from Gu Cheolun's center made it hard to breathe.
The grasshoppers singing in the forest had all fallen silent. The wild beasts wandering nearby had already fled.
Rustle rustle.
Though it was spring, the aftereffects of winter still lingered.
As the heat spread, the surroundings felt as if they were boiling and sizzling.
In a situation where even breathing in and out had become difficult.
Moyong Tae looked at his opponent and forced out words with difficulty.
“…Tiger Hero.”
When he called that appellation, Gu Cheolun's gaze turned toward Moyong Tae.
Deep crimson eyes and gradually reddening hair.
And even his gradually swelling presence.
Moyong Tae swallowed his shock as he looked upon such a Gu Cheolun.
*Was the Tiger Hero always this strong?*
The Tiger Hero was known to have already passed his prime. Yet here he was with such a presence.
*So he's been hiding his strength all this time.*
The rumor of the Central Plains was that the tiger who once commanded the past had passed his prime and weakened.
If he had truly been living while hiding his strength, even if the reason was unknown—
Moyong Tae thought of Gu Cheolun and found it plausible.
Any martial artist of the same generation as Gu Cheolun couldn't possibly be unaware of the glory he had once possessed.
He was a late-blooming prodigy who had been chosen as the strongest figure among the Divine Dragons of all time.
The youngest Great Lord of the Divine Dragon Legion, the greatest sword force of the Alliance.
Even the Sword Sovereign, who had been the Alliance Lord at the time, had once asserted that the future Number One Under Heaven would be none other than the Tiger Hero.
Number One Under Heaven. A name that every martial artist of the Central Plains had dreamed of bearing.
And since the Sword Sovereign, known to be the closest to that position, had made such an assertion,
people had believed that the Tiger Hero would one day become exactly that.
Until the catastrophe that annihilated the Divine Dragon Legion occurred, the Sword Sovereign departed from the position of Alliance Lord, and the Tiger Hero took up the mantle of Patriarch of the Gu Family and secluded himself in Shanxi.
Time passed.
As several generational shifts took place, the name of the Tiger Hero gradually began to fade.
The Tiger Hero, who had reigned as an object of terror to the Demonic Sects, had reached the point where he was now simply called the Patriarch of the Shanxi Gu Family.
Around the time his own child, Geombong, began to make a name for himself—
it was a time when word circulated that his physical condition, deteriorated by the Demonic Realm incident, had failed to recover and that his prime had completely passed.
After Gu Cheolun laid down the position of Great Lord, save for the single time the True Demon Scripture erupted in Shanxi, he had never displayed martial prowess, so such rumors must have spread even more.
But.
*…It was all baseless rumor.*
Moyong Tae, facing the current Gu Cheolun, was certain.
That the rumors spreading throughout the Central Plains were false.
The Gu Cheolun before his eyes right now was not at the mere level of the lowest seat among the Central Plains' Hundred Great Experts.
White Heaven Sword Lord Moyong Tae was a warrior of the Huajing and moreover, a figure whose name had entered the ranks of the Hundred Great Experts.
Yet such a Moyong Tae was now looking at Gu Cheolun and certain of his own defeat.
Gu Cheolun's radiating heat and presence alone made defeat a certainty.
For such a being to share the lowest seat of the Hundred Great Experts with him?
*That's absurd.*
Grrrrk—!
“…!”
Within the gradually intensifying pressure,
Moyong Tae clutched his tightening chest.
“White Heaven Sword Lord.”
“…Hurk…hahk….”
Gu Cheolun began gradually approaching Moyong Tae, who was breaking out in a cold sweat.
“I asked what you are doing.”
From his deep voice, a thick, dense fury could be felt.
Even though it was a steady voice without the slightest fluctuation in pitch,
the energy contained within it expressed rage.
“Will you not answer?”
“…Huuuh….”
It wasn't that he wouldn't answer, but that he couldn't.
As if he harbored no interest whatsoever in Moyong Tae's situation, Gu Cheolun slowly reached out his hand.
Moyong Tae had to feel death drawing nearer with every inch of Gu Cheolun's massive hand.
Just as Gu Cheolun's hand was about to cover Moyong Tae's face.
“…Father.”
He froze.
At Guyang Cheon's voice, Gu Cheolun's body halted. Then he turned his head toward Guyang Cheon.
The word “Father” was an address Gu Cheolun had not heard from Guyang Cheon in nearly ten years.
In that halted moment, Guyang Cheon approached Gu Cheolun and spoke.
“I am fine.”
It seemed Guyang Cheon also couldn't breathe in the heat.
Though his breathing appeared labored, nevertheless Guyang Cheon continued speaking.
“Patriarch Moyong was merely giving me a lesson. Please clear up this misunderstanding.”
“...”
Having heard the words, Gu Cheolun watched Guyang Cheon silently.
Those crimson eyes were terribly burdensome, but for once, Guyang Cheon did not avert his gaze.
A few seconds passed like that.
Swish.
Gu Cheolun withdrew the hand that had been about to grab Moyong Tae and straightened himself.
“Hurk.”
Only then could Moyong Tae release the breath he had been holding.
Thanks to the presence and heat that had been suffocating him vanishing in an instant.
Looking at Moyong Tae gasping for breath, Gu Cheolun opened his mouth.
“White Heaven Sword Lord.”
At that call, Moyong Tae wiped the streaming cold sweat and raised his head.
“Are those words true?”
“...”
He pondered how he should answer.
He wondered if he should accept Guyang Cheon's help here, but
if he answered according to his pride, there was no telling what Gu Cheolun might do.
He didn't think Gu Cheolun would kill him, but the actions he had just shown were not so different from that.
Having thought that far, Moyong Tae squeezed his eyes shut and gave his answer.
“…They are true.”
“...”
Hearing Moyong Tae's answer, Gu Cheolun made a peculiar expression and took a step back.
It felt as though he was widening the distance to make it easier for Moyong Tae to stand.
And then.
“I apologize. It seems I failed to properly grasp the situation and committed a fault.”
He offered an apology to Moyong Tae in a flat voice.
The important thing was that his voice didn't sound the least bit apologetic.
He must have known the situation as well.
That Guyang Cheon was shielding Moyong Tae.
The fact that he still offered an apology meant he had chosen to let the matter go. Knowing this, Moyong Tae subtly bit his lip and rose to his feet.
“…I too was at fault for creating a misunderstanding. Please do not trouble yourself over it.”
“I thank you for your understanding.”
Fake apologies and thanks were exchanged for the sake of appearances.
Moyong Tae directed his gaze to Guyang Cheon, who was behind Gu Cheolun.
Guyang Cheon was looking at Moyong Tae with a subtle expression.
Just as Moyong Tae wondered what the expression meant,
*…I am sorry. You will not be pleased, so if you wish, I will formally visit you next time.*
*...*
Guyang Cheon's voice transmission brushed past Moyong Tae's ear.
The words saying he would formally visit next time.
How could he say such a thing, not knowing how Moyong Tae would react when he arrived?
Moyong Tae still did not like Guyang Cheon, but no matter how he looked at it, this was not the situation to reproach him.
*Very well.*
*...!*
Guyang Cheon widened his eyes upon hearing Moyong Tae's voice transmission.
Because Moyong Tae's tone had completely changed to that of a subordinate.
He wondered if he should view this negatively, but for some reason, Guyang Cheon didn't particularly dislike Moyong Tae's humble speech.
*There is no need to trouble yourself by coming.*
*But…*
*I will come to you again next time.*
*...*
Did that mean he would fight with real killing intent next time?
Just as the corners of Guyang Cheon's lips began to tremble,
*I shall come with my daughter then. Be prepared.*
*...*
*I'm telling you this so you don't misunderstand on your own—I have not acknowledged you.*
*Yes.*
*That will not change going forward.*
*I understand.*
The words that he would come with Moyong Hee-a meant that at least he wouldn't draw blades as he had today. Could it be that things had passed over somewhat?
As he was thinking this, Moyong Tae cupped his hands in a martial salute toward Gu Cheolun.
“…As the night has grown late, if you permit, I should like to take my leave first.”
“Do so.”
“Even if it was unexpected, the fact that I committed a harsh act toward your son—I shall visit you personally next time to convey my apologies once more.”
Gu Cheolun nodded upon hearing Moyong Tae's words.
Having confirmed this, Moyong Tae let out a weary sigh and vanished.
When a fair distance had opened and Moyong Tae's presence could no longer be felt,
Huuung—
Guyang Cheon felt a barrier being erected in the surroundings, whether he was aware of it or not.
It was surely a qi barrier created by Gu Cheolun.
“...”
Guyang Cheon had to make an ambiguous expression, looking back and forth between the qi barrier and Gu Cheolun.
Guyang Cheon scratched the back of his head for a moment.
“Patriarch.”
He finally posed a question to Gu Cheolun.
“Yes.”
“Why did you do that?”
A question filled with doubt.
Just as Gu Cheolun was about to speak his intentions to Guyang Cheon, Guyang Cheon added.
“You were already watching everything, weren't you?”
At Guyang Cheon's words, Gu Cheolun's eyes widened slightly.
******************
Father had been watching from the very beginning.
I was certain of it.
“What was the reason for deliberately oppressing Patriarch Moyong?”
Both the conversation I was having with Patriarch Moyong, and the martial contest that began with me requesting him to teach me a move.
Father must have been watching everything from the very beginning.
As proof, Father looked at me with slightly surprised eyes and said.
“How did you know?”
It meant he was right.
And the reason I, who hadn't even sensed his presence, was so certain was none other than this.
“Because it's something the Patriarch would do.”
“...”
“At the very least, you are not someone who would be late or forget a promise.”
I had suggested having a conversation about Mother and Father.
Since we had agreed to meet here after the meal, I had thought that if Father came first, he would come early, not late.
And that prediction was correct.
“So I am wondering. I mean, why you did that.”
Why had Father intervened so late in the midst of all that?
He could have intervened whenever he wanted.
Given the martial prowess Father had just displayed, it would have been more than enough.
*Just how strong is he?*
Even now, having reached the Huajing, I still couldn't feel how strong Father was.
What I could be certain of was that Father was overwhelmingly stronger than the White Heaven Sword Lord just now.
It was something I could tell even through my previous life.
But I hadn't seen many moments where Father displayed his martial prowess directly.
In this life, this was the second time.
The display at the Black Night Palace.
And the presence he had shown now.
I had only seen it at most twice, but even that was enough to be certain.
Father was strong.
So strong that I couldn't even dare to imagine it.
“…I am curious why you came late and oppressed the White Heaven Sword Lord.”
At the same time as my question, Father's hair began returning to its original color.
The remaining heat in the air was also being withdrawn.
As I was finally able to catch my breath thanks to this, Father spoke to me.
“It was simply something that had to be done.”
“Something that had to be done?”
“Yes.”
What did that mean.
“I hadn't intended to intervene, to begin with.”
“Then why….”
“Because he intended to point his sword at you in earnest.”
“…!”
“Is any more reason needed?”
Because Moyong Tae had intended to fight me seriously.
If it had simply been a matter of giving me a pointer, he would have overlooked it.
It meant he had intervened because Moyong Tae had tried to cross the line.
“…Does that mean you truly intended to kill him?”
I remembered the heat gathered in Father's hand.
Had it covered the White Heaven Sword Lord's face as it was, something truly terrible would have occurred.
But fortunately, to this question, Father slightly shook his head and denied it.
“I merely secured justification. Even if you hadn't stopped me, I would have chosen a similar method.”
“...”
Whether by showing signs of anger and sweeping away the immediate matter,
or by securing various justifications so that the Moyong Clan side could take a lower stance.
Did this mean he had acted while calculating all of this even in the midst of it?
Thinking that far, Father felt somewhat frightening.
“…I understand, but was this really alright?”
“What do you mean?”
“You must have been hiding your strength. I am asking if it was alright to reveal it to Patriarch Moyong like this.”
If he had deliberately hidden his strength until now, there must have been a reason.
I wondered if it was alright to so casually reveal his true power.
Then Father spoke as if puzzled.
“Third.”
“Yes.”
“It seems you are mistaken about something.”
“Yes?”
Father looked at me with his characteristic sharp gaze.
And sweeping his hair back with his large hand, he spoke to me.
“This Patriarch has never once hidden himself.”
“…!”
At Father's words, I inwardly gasped.
He had never hidden it to begin with?
“There was simply no need to reveal it.”
“But the rumors….”
“Do you think the words others spout are so important?”
“They are not.”
“This Patriarch feels the same. In this matter, I simply used it where it needed to be used. Nothing more.”
This was a story I hadn't known.
To think Father had never been hiding his strength from the start.
He simply neither denied nor affirmed the rumors that had spread far and wide across the Central Plains.
The statement that he didn't use his strength because there was no occasion to use it—
was quite a shock to me.
*…This was unexpected.*
This was truly a fact I hadn't known.
Though thinking of Father's personality, it was certainly plausible.
But I never imagined it would really be so.
While I was feeling a sense of emptiness,
“Third.”
Father called out to me.
“Yes, Patriarch.”
“You have crossed the wall.”
“...”
I swallowed a groan at the sudden words.
Father was pointedly telling me that I had surpassed the Huajing.
“…That is correct.”
“When did you cross the wall?”
“It has been a little over two months.”
“I see.”
Gu Cheolun nodded at my words.
There was no further reaction.
For his son to have reached the Huajing before even coming of age, yet that was his only reaction.
Truly a consistent man….
“You've worked hard. Well done.”
“Yes. Thank…yes?”
I widened my eyes at Father's words and looked at him.
When I looked at Father again, he was not looking at me.
Should I say his gaze was strangely averted?
“Patriarch…?”
“You said you had something to ask this Patriarch.”
“Ah. Yes.”
I tried to ask what he was looking at,
but Father dragged the conversation straight to the main point.
It seemed he meant for me not to ask.
Only then did I swallow dryly.
Because I had recalled the reason I had come here alone with Father.
Yes, there was the main point.
I had to ask Father the question I had wanted to ask.
“Patriarch.”
At my call, Father turned his gaze back to me once more.
Facing the red eyes there, I opened my mouth.
“I have heard that my mother is alive.”
“...”
At my question, Father's shoulder moved faintly.
Reading that reaction, I continued.
“…Do you know where Mother is, Patriarch?”
“...”
To the carefully asked question, Father looked at me and fell into a long silence.
How did I know? Why was I suddenly asking this?
Was he contemplating sending such questions to me?
As I was thinking so, also pondering an answer,
Father's mouth opened.
“Yes.”
“…!”
“I know.”
At Father's answer, my heart began to pound furiously.