By the time I finished my meeting with the Qinghai Sword and stepped outside, evening had already fallen. There was still some time left until the scheduled meal. However, even if I skipped out partway through, I didn’t have enough leisure to properly train, so I was heading to the appointed place first.
‘If I get caught, the old man will be furious.’
If Paejon found out that a busy guy like me was skipping training, wouldn’t he start another beating disguised as training?
‘That man secretly enjoys beating people up.’
It was probably no delusion.
It was getting to the point where I suspected the “Pae” in Paejon actually came from the word “beating.”
In my opinion, it was clearly built-up frustration from barely sparring due to the aftereffects of the Banro Hwandong.
And of all people, he had to take it out on me.
‘…Damn it. I need to get stronger fast.’
I needed to get strong enough that I wouldn’t be beaten half to death, at least enough to talk back.
Yet, even as I thought that, I could feel there was no easy answer.
‘What kind of dog-shit situation is this, ignoring even the gap in our realms?’
Every time I saw it, it was absurd.
Once, I even drew upon my inner qi in earnest when he told me to go all out.
When even that was smashed to pieces, it was utterly ridiculous.
‘All paths are blocked.’
The reason I blocked inner qi and sparred against Paejon using only my physical body wasn’t because it was disadvantageous for him.
It was simply because it was more helpful for me.
Paejon would cut off every movement I used to attack and dig into the gaps where my inner qi flowed to block it.
Though Paejon remained at the pinnacle of the physical realm, I, who had reached the Hwagyeong, could not win against him in a fight.
Thanks to that, I was getting pummeled every time we sparred.
Regarding this, Paejon pointed out my problems: insufficient close-quarters combat skills, and relying solely on vast inner qi to pour out attacks beyond what was necessary.
‘This is also something the Divine Elder mentioned before.’
Honestly, I had nothing to say regarding close-quarters combat.
I had simply focused on the wide-area attacks and explosive firepower characteristic of fire arts.
Even if I was from the martial faction, I had no memory of devoting myself to close-quarters combat.
Lately, through facing Paejon, I had come to realize it more and more.
Unlike pushing forward based on experience, I was lacking too much to fill in the gaps.
‘…A little more.’
No, not a little—I had to put in a lot more effort.
Fortunately, my temperament was stubborn enough that having an excellent teacher by my side made things somewhat better.
Close-quarters combat too.
I was trying to move while maintaining the Tuapacheongong as much as possible.
Because of this, walking became considerably painful, but the efficiency wasn’t bad.
Paejon couldn’t stand this behavior of mine.
“I didn’t even do such a thing,” he said, looking at me like I was a madman, but since he didn’t stop me, it seemed it was fine to do it.
Of course, from the perspective of someone performing it, it wasn’t a pleasant sensation either.
Naturally, walking itself felt like treading on a path of thorns.
Inside my body, it felt like someone was relentlessly stabbing my internal organs with a knife.
Enduring that while moving, the urge to turn it off right away would arise, but.
‘If I can’t endure even this, how can I move forward?’
It was nothing more than pain.
It wasn’t exactly a problem, and if it was merely painful, there was no issue at all.
Aside from occasionally nearly fainting from the pain, that is.
Stagger.
My posture loosened slightly as I walked.
‘…Ah, I nearly passed out just now.’
I shook my head a few times and came to my senses.
Problems occasionally arose when I couldn’t focus like this, but this much was nothing.
What mattered was that while doing all sorts of things, I had arrived at the inn that Dokwang had prepared.
I looked at the splendid, tall building before me and thought:
‘I should have walked a little slower…’
It was closer than I thought. Damn it.
Once I started having random thoughts like this, time passed too quickly.
‘Tsk.’
I had to go, right? I couldn’t turn back now, right?
Just as hesitation suddenly rose.
‘Nothing will happen. Whatever.’
Taking a deep breath to force myself to find calm, I took a step toward the inn.
Then.
In an instant, countless pieces of information burrowed into my senses.
Without showing any sign of panic, I first organized them in my head.
‘…Three to the left. Two above. Four in front.’
The imposing auras of martial artists surrounding the inn as if guarding it could be felt by my senses.
The pungent scent brushing the tip of my nose and their unique energy allowed me to guess they were martial artists belonging to the Dang Clan.
‘Guards, huh.’
Their gazes were definitely directed at me, but I didn’t feel any offensive killing intent or anything belligerent.
‘But being watched constantly is annoying.’
Wondering what to do, I applied the Tuapacheongong to draw up a full surge of aura.
Fwoosh-!
After using it a few times, I realized this was possible too.
A feeling of making my aura rougher and more ferocious, you could say.
In an instant, aura spread from my body. Not in all directions, but concentrated and fired only at those watching me.
Then, flinching movements could be felt here and there.
The presences they had hidden were shaken by being swept up in my aura.
Did they not think they would be discovered? I sensed faint hostility as they realized I had stirred this up knowingly.
Feeling that, I thought:
‘What should I do?’
Should I mess with them a little more?
Since I hated being secretly watched, I was tempted to do a little more, but.
Since this was Dang Clan territory, I decided to stop here for now.
When I retracted my aura, the gazes watching me seemed to lessen somewhat. I raised my head and looked somewhere.
Among those hiding, I looked at the figure who seemed to be the leader and flashed a brief smile.
The masked man widened his eyes upon seeing my smile.
He seemed quite flustered; I could even sense the surrounding energies becoming disturbed.
I glanced at that for a moment before turning back and stepping toward the inn. There was nothing more to gain by staying.
Upon entering the inn, the first thing I saw was the splendid interior.
The inside was much cleaner and had a more luxurious atmosphere than I had expected.
I had already checked out several inns, but this one, rented by the Dang Clan, felt the most splendid.
As I was furtively looking around, someone approached and greeted me.
“Thank you for coming.”
Judging by her clothes, she seemed to be a servant of the Dang Clan.
‘Hmm?’
Upon checking the servant, I immediately felt a strange air.
After discerning what was out of place, I unknowingly let out a hollow laugh.
‘Dear heavens.’
Even this woman who appeared to be a maid was a martial artist.
She had hidden it so well that I wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t looked this closely.
‘The man outside wasn’t the leader.’
Rather, this woman felt stronger.
“The Clan Head is waiting inside. I shall guide you.”
Just as the woman turned her back to guide me.
I couldn’t help but ask her:
“May I ask you something?”
At my question, she paused and turned her head.
“What is it?”
“Is it always like this?”
“…Pardon?”
“Is the Dang Clan always like this? You don’t seem like someone who would do maid work.”
“…!”
Since I had indirectly asked why an assassin was doing maid work, the woman’s eyes grew as wide as lanterns.
Looking at that, I spoke slyly.
“Ah, should I have pretended not to know? Then let’s say I don’t know. Just guide me.”
The woman looked at me with slightly trembling pupils, then without giving an answer, slightly bowed her head and walked ahead again.
It seemed she had indeed been trying to hide it.
Having faced assassins sent from all directions in my previous life, I had now mastered the art of distinguishing them.
Unless it was an exceptional assassin, I could more or less figure them out.
Setting that aside.
‘They’re all really martial artists. What the hell?’
Not just the maid walking ahead, but all the Dang Clan servants visible nearby were martial artists.
The original inn staff were nowhere to be seen; only Dang Clan members were visible.
They had rented the whole place, so that much was given.
‘But all of them being martial artists…’
I wondered if there was any need to go that far.
‘Ah.’
Then, recalling why the Dang Clan had come here, I thought I could vaguely understand the reason.
‘Is it because of the prisoner transport?’
Since they had to take the demonic faction members to Sichuan at the Meng’s request, they must have come with a certain level of reinforcements.
If not, there wouldn’t be much reason to bring this much force.
Feeling the subtle gazes around me, I passed through the corridor and arrived before a splendid entrance. The maid carefully opened the door for me.
“Oh! You’ve arrived.”
As soon as the door opened, a good-natured-looking middle-aged man rose to greet me.
It was Dokwang, the master of the Dang Clan whom I had met the other day.
Looking at him, I likewise hid my tension and greeted him first.
“I am Gu Yangcheon, a bloodline of the Gu Clan. I greet the Clan Head of the Dang Clan.”
“Haha! Welcome, Young Master Gu. Thank you for accepting my invitation.”
His welcoming appearance with a cheerful voice was uniquely different from the other clan heads I had met until now.
Nevertheless, I didn’t let my guard down.
Personal impressions aside, among the Four Great Clans’ heads, I considered Dokwang the most difficult person to let my guard down around.
And.
Sure enough, Dokwang looked at me and asked in a subtle voice.
“I heard you experienced some discomfort on your way here.”
Referring to the guards spread around the inn.
And what just happened with the maid who guided me.
He had been listening after all. Or perhaps the maid had reported it.
Confirming that, I put on a shallow smile and spoke to Dokwang.
“I apologize. I committed a discourtesy unknowingly out of petty curiosity.”
“Oh… no. Discourtesy! You’re young, it happens. Moreover, I don’t consider it your fault, so don’t mind it.”
Dokwang smiled, telling me not to worry.
Amidst that situation, I surveyed the room.
Inside the room were only Dokwang and me. Dang Soyeol was not to be seen.
Perhaps noticing my gaze, Dokwang spoke as if explaining.
“Our daughter is scheduled to arrive a little late.”
“Ah, I see something must have come up.”
“Mm, it’s not that. I informed her of the time a bit late.”
“Pardon?”
When I asked what he meant.
Dokwang spoke with his characteristic smile.
“It’s because there is something I’d like to discuss privately with you, Young Master Gu.”
“…”
At those words, something pungent could be felt within.
Since it meant he had intentionally created a setting for just the two of us, it couldn’t be helped.
What is he trying to do?
“If it displeases you, I can call my daughter right now.”
“No. It’s fine.”
He said he would call her if I disliked it, but how many people could frankly say they disliked it in this situation?
No… normally I might have snapped, but my opponent was not only the martial artist called Dokwang but also Dang Soyeol’s father.
That obvious yet subtle difference was forcibly keeping my mouth shut.
Pleased with my answer, Dokwang grinned.
“You must be hungry. We ought to eat first.”
“…Ah, yes.”
The dishes laid out on the table all looked delicious, but my hand didn’t move toward them easily.
While I was staring at the food, debating whether to eat or not.
Dokwang swallowed a bite of food and asked me.
“Mm? What’s wrong? Please eat without restraint.”
“Haha… my stomach is a bit upset.”
“Dear me. A young person shouldn’t already be like that.”
I nodded at Dokwang’s words.
I said that while thinking inwardly.
Fortunately, it didn’t feel like poison had been added.
Wasn’t that obvious? Dokwang wasn’t a madman; would he really put poison in the food outright?
‘Right, come to think of it, I haven’t really done anything wrong, have I?’
There wasn’t much reason for Dokwang to hate me, so why had I been so intimidated?
I had no memory of having done anything significant to Dokwang, unlike others.
‘Can I relax a bit?’
As I was entertaining such thoughts and cautiously trying to take a bite, Dokwang spoke.
“Ah, Young Master Gu. There’s something I’d like to ask.”
“Yes?”
“When do you intend to take our daughter?”
“…Pardon?”
The chopsticks that had reached for the food froze stiffly in midair.
What had Dokwang just said? Wondering if I had misheard, I shifted my gaze.
Dokwang was quietly staring at me with deep green pupils.
The slightly drooping corners of his eyes, like Dang Soyeol’s, somehow looked as if he were smiling.
Yet the eyes contained within somehow felt cold.
What did this man just say?
As I looked at Dokwang with a blank expression, he spoke again.
“I’ll ask again, Young Master Gu.”
Along with Dokwang’s words, the air in the room somehow felt heavy.
“Do you have the intention to take our Soyeol?”
“…What do you mean by that all of a sudden?”
The utterly out-of-the-blue remark left me breathless.
We were at the point where we should be talking about the trip to Sichuan; why was Dang Soyeol suddenly coming up?
And “intention to take her”?
“…Take your daughter?”
When I asked what he meant, Dokwang slightly furrowed his brows.
“Young Master Gu. You are more cunning than I thought.”
“…No.”
“Does that mean you’ve been playing with my daughter with no intention of taking her?”
“Me, playing with Lady Dang? That’s absurd.”
“Absurd, my foot!”
At my words, Dokwang sprang to his feet.
“It’s obvious our daughter likes you and is following you around! Even with strange rumors spreading everywhere, you’re saying you won’t take responsibility?”
“…”
I couldn’t say much regarding the strange rumors either.
After all, I had heard them too.
What was it they said?
Was it that I was so crazed with lust that I had seduced many young ladies of prestigious families?
How absurd had I felt hearing such rumor-like nonsense.
‘Seduced, my ass. Who seduced anyone?’
When did I ever seduce anyone?
These guys are crazy.
I had been utterly dumbfounded hearing the rumors.
The problem with this was that while it was a problem for me, it would also cause problems for my companions.
Especially for those called ladies of prestigious families, like Dang Soyeol or Moyong Huia, such rumors could be quite damaging, as Dokwang said.
That was why Dokwang was so angry.
It could cause problems when marrying someone else later….
‘Wait a minute.’
Now that I thought about it, neither Moyong Huia nor Dang Soyeol had married in my previous life, had they?
Moyong Huia had been engaged to the Namgung Clan, but ultimately hadn’t married.
Considering Dok Bi had remained alone until death….
Wasn’t this somewhat unjust for me too?
Of course… that didn’t mean I could argue with Dokwang right now.
“Lord Dang. I truly had no such intention….”
“Are you saying you kept my daughter by your side without any such intention?”
“…”
“You know what a despicable act that is?”
At Dokwang’s words, I clamped my mouth shut.
Honestly, I didn’t have much to say.
Since I was aware to some extent of the fondness Dang Soyeol harbored for me, I knew that keeping her by my side without doing anything was not a good thing.
“…I apologize.”
I didn’t make any excuses for this matter.
At my answer, one of Dokwang’s eyebrows twitched.
“Leaving aside the apology. You still haven’t answered me. Regarding whether you will take our Soyeol or not.”
Did those words mean I should take responsibility for Dang Soyeol immediately?
I didn’t know what answer he wanted, but his words had holes everywhere.
“It is presumptuous of me to say, but as you know, I am already engaged. It is not a situation where I can take Lady Dang…”
I was engaged to Namgung Bia, and Dang Soyeol was unmistakably a bloodline of the Four Great Clans.
Even in a world where the concept of concubines existed.
Where was the person who would send a direct daughter of a high-ranking Great Clan as a concubine?
Dokwang would be the same.
“Then, if you were not engaged, you would have taken responsibility?”
“That is…”
“If that is also not the case, may I take it to mean you are saying you cannot take responsibility?”
“There are too many problems with the situation….”
“If the problem is the Namgung Clan, I can step in and resolve it for you.”
“…!”
At Dokwang’s shocking remark, my body flinched.
Those words meant Dokwang would step in and resolve the engagement with the Namgung Clan.
This was something that would cause friction between the Namgung Clan and the Dang Clan, yet Dokwang was stepping forward to do it without a care.
He was saying he would do that much if I wished.
So, what was he going to do about it?
I wondered if Dokwang wanted to tie Dang Soyeol and me together that badly, but…
Even if he came out like that.
“I apologize.”
My answer wouldn’t change.
Breaking off the engagement with the Namgung Clan meant ending my relationship with Namgung Bia.
I had no desire to do that.
Dokwang’s face contorted at my answer.
The pressure of inner qi felt in the room was also growing somewhat heavier.
“In the end, you are saying you have no intention of taking responsibility.”
“That is not what I am saying.”
“Or else? Are you saying you would dare take my daughter as a concubine?”
“…”
“Be clear, Young Master Gu. What do you intend to do with my daughter? I know my child harbors feelings for you. However, since the end is uncertain, I do not wish for my precious daughter to remain by your side any longer.”
Dokwang’s words were reasonable.
Rather than letting her stay by his side without taking responsibility, he wouldn’t allow it for the sake of a better future.
“Once this matter is concluded, my daughter will be engaged to another clan.”
“…!”
My eyes widened at Dokwang’s declaration.
Dang Soyeol, engaged?
‘Has the future changed this time too?’
Though there had been many futures that somehow differed from my previous life, for some reason, this matter weighed particularly heavily on me.
“…Does Lady Dang know of this as well?”
“Do you think that is important? As it is a matter between clans, my daughter’s opinion is not of great importance.”
Engagements between clans were indeed like that.
It was not strange for clans to forge relations to expand their respective influence.
Moreover, Dang Soyeol was a daughter of the Four Great Clans.
In that regard, her value was more than sufficient.
Rather, it was strange that she hadn’t married in my previous life.
“Therefore, if that is Young Master Gu’s position, I hope you will step away from my daughter’s side from now on.”
“…”
At Dokwang’s firm words, I felt something overflowing inside.
Not a single word was wrong.
So why did it feel so heavy?
‘Dang Soyeol, engaged.’
Was that the problem?
It felt like waves were churning inside.
Clearly, there was nothing wrong.
If I couldn’t take responsibility, it was right to let her go.
Furthermore, if I wished for Dang Soyeol to live a different life from her previous one, it would be right to let her leave me, marry another, and live a peaceful life.
The rational calculations should have concluded the moment Dokwang finished speaking.
Yet for some reason, an uncomfortable feeling was tightening around my throat.
“Answer me, Young Master Gu. Will you do so?”
At Dokwang’s urging, my gaze wavered.
Why couldn’t I answer?
As he said, even if Dang Soyeol harbored feelings for me.
I was in a situation where I couldn’t accept them.
Ridiculously, I.
‘…Why don’t I want to let her go?’
I didn’t want to send Dang Soyeol away like that.
‘Crazy.’
It wasn’t just Dang Soyeol.
Whether Moyong Huia, Wi Seol-a, or Namgung Bia.
I didn’t want to let anyone by my side go.
Upon realizing that, cold sweat flowed in my heart.
Moreover, a single clear word flashed through my mind.
‘I’m fucked.’
It was too late.
The moment I realized this, I instinctively knew it was too late.
I had deliberately ignored this because I hadn’t wanted it to happen.
A cold sensation began to creep over my whole body.
This was not good.
Not wanting to let anyone go meant they had become precious to me, and that they had become a weakness.
It was heavy and frightening.
I had endured desperately because I hated this sensation, but a single word from Dokwang caused cracks to form here and there inside.
“Young Master Gu.”
At Dokwang’s prompting, I turned my gaze. I had to struggle to come to my senses.
What had he said?
Had he told me to send Dang Soyeol away from my side?
What should I answer?
My mind was in chaos.
For now, I should ask for some time….
“I don’t like that.”
Ah.
Contrary to my confused mind, my mouth had already spit out the words.
After speaking, surprised at myself, I covered my mouth with my hand.
Am I really crazy?
Not only me, but Dokwang, who heard the words, made a surprised expression before his brows furrowed in an instant.
I’m screwed.
Just as I was wondering how to handle this.
Bang-!
The door burst open roughly and someone came in.
At the unexpected sound, I turned my head.
“Really!?”
And there was Dang Soyeol, making her already large eyes even wider.
The red flush coloring her cheeks and her exceedingly high-pitched voice were impressive.
“My lord! You really don’t like it!?”
“…You?”
She was supposed to come late; how did she suddenly pop out?
Even though I had my senses spread, I hadn’t detected Dang Soyeol’s presence.
“It’s not a lie, right? You said you didn’t like it, right?”
Beaming for some reason, Dang Soyeol approached and grasped my hand.
Flustered by that reaction, I looked at Dokwang.
“…!”
Checking Dokwang’s complexion, I could tell.
Dokwang’s expression, which had been on the verge of exploding, had changed.
Dokwang looked at his daughter with a dumbfounded face.
He sighed hollowly and spoke to Dang Soyeol.
“…Didn’t your father clearly tell you not to come in yet?”
Despite Dokwang’s voice full of sighs, Dang Soyeol didn’t seem to care, speaking with a face that looked like she might fly away at any moment.
“Father! Did you hear him? My lord said he doesn’t like the idea of me going!”
“…Yes. I heard. I heard very well.”
At Dang Soyeol’s excited words, Dokwang rubbed his face.
Watching that, I belatedly realized.
“Damn.”
That the current situation had all been a play orchestrated by the two of them.