As the sun gradually set.
Standing in the middle of the quiet forest, I glared at the figure ahead.
The Gu Clan's characteristic sharp eyes and long black hair.
Along with the reddish eyes that signified scorching heat.
At that all-too-familiar appearance, I had to stiffen my body.
The woman tilted her head and spoke to me.
"Little brother?"
At the address I hadn't heard in a long time, I had to wrinkle my nose.
"...Sister."
As I spat the words out, not only my nose but my entire expression scrunched up.
The woman's identity was precisely Gu Huibi.
Sword Phoenix (劍鳳) Gu Huibi.
The eldest daughter of the Gu Clan, and my older sister.
And.
Stuck firmly to Gu Huibi's back, I saw the Cheonma peeking out.
What should I even call this fucked up situation.
It's a complete disaster.
For me, no other words came to mind.
"Little brother, it's been a while, hasn't it?"
Gu Huibi looked at me and greeted me with a smile.
I couldn't bring myself to smile.
Whoosh.
The Holy Spear I held in my hand was retracted the moment I saw Gu Huibi.
Its energy naturally returned to my heart.
My senses remained completely on edge.
Spread out around me like sharp awls, I steadied my breathing.
Just as I was assessing the situation while wrapped in energy, the Cheonma, who had been peeking out, pointed a finger at me.
"Unnie."
"Hmm?"
"That guy followed me."
At the words spat out full of vigilance, Gu Huibi tilted her head.
At the same time, I had to widen my eyes and glare at the Cheonma.
'...What did she just say?'
What did that Cheonma say to Gu Huibi?
Did she perhaps call her 'Sister'?
'What kind of crazy talk is this.'
I had no idea how the situation had turned out like this.
But.
"No, Yeon-ah, that..."
"Hey."
"...!"
Grrrrrk-!
I erupted with energy from my entire body.
As I fully opened my heart, the energy permeating deep within awakened.
At the suddenly released energy, Gu Huibi widened her eyes and stiffened her body.
"Get out of there."
"..."
As I spoke, radiating hostility, the Cheonma's expression crumpled.
"I said, get out."
"No."
"No?"
Giiiiing-!
Murderous intent seeped into the leaking hostility.
The fear and anxiety I'd felt just moments ago vanished.
I'll kill her.
I'll kill her and remove that thing from Gu Huibi.
Right now, my mind was filled with only that thought.
"Then die."
I had to kill and remove her anyway.
If she was to be removed someday, it wouldn't be too late to do it now.
The anxiety that I might not be able to win had long since disappeared from my mind.
I'll kill her.
With that judgment, I reached out my hand.
Grrrrrk-!
The energy spouting from my heart seeped into my arm. Bound tightly, Gang Qi was formed.
Using this as a net, I thrust it toward the Cheonma.
If my fingertips reach her.
I will tear her throat out.
As I thrust out my hand with that thought.
Crush.
Gu Huibi grabbed my wrist effortlessly.
"Little brother."
I shifted my gaze at the chilling voice. Gu Huibi's red eyes were unmistakably burning.
Unlike the eyes shining with heat, the emotions contained within were somehow cold.
"What are you trying to do right now?"
"..."
Hiss.
I frowned at the heat radiating from my wrist.
Then I looked up at Gu Huibi.
"...Sister."
"Yeah."
"You're in the Hwa Realm, huh?"
"..."
Surprise tinged Gu Huibi's expression at the words I casually spat out.
It was the same for me.
'...How did she reach it?'
Gu Huibi had reached the Hwa Realm.
I was certain of it through the heat I just felt and assessing her energy upon contact.
That my dad's precious daughter had ascended to the Hwa Realm.
Seriously, how did she reach it?
The murderous intent from just moments ago vanished as if dead, and questions sprouted.
'Is this something that's possible all of a sudden?'
Sword Phoenix (劍鳳) Gu Huibi.
Since her days as a late-blooming genius, Gu Huibi had displayed overwhelming talent, earning the title of the foremost late-blooming genius.
She possessed a somewhat pretty appearance, taking after Madam Mi, but was also infamous for her utterly foul temper.
Foul, and foul again.
Because she was a fierce woman wielding a blade, she was given the perfectly fine moniker of Sword Phoenix, but later she even earned a nickname meaning 'Crazy Bitch'.
Crazy Bitch? Does it mean a crazy, crazy woman?
'Just how foul must her temper be for them to say "crazy" twice?'
Gu Huibi's disposition was exceptionally foul even within the Gu Clan.
'A kind guy like me wouldn't dare be able to withstand it.'
Anyway.
No matter what the rumors about Gu Huibi were, the words that always followed were ultimately just one.
'...A talent that makes even that fucking temper bearable.'
Along with the Huashan's greatest genius, Sword Dragon Yingfeng.
Gu Huibi was called the foremost late-blooming genius, surpassing Wudang's greatest genius, Crouching Dragon Wuhyeok.
A small clan in Shanxi that used to be called a prestigious family but had now lost its power.
Many people questioned how the child of a heroic figure who remained in the ranks of the Top Hundred Masters from such a place could possess such talent.
'...What's there to question? She was just a fucking genius.'
Sometimes, a dragon is born from a tiger. The ways of the world are unpredictable, aren't they?
'If a dog can be born from a tiger, then what's there to say.'
Of course, the dog was me.
Blaming myself like that, a thought suddenly occurred to me.
'No, was a dragon born from a dragon?'
From the perspective of someone who had glimpsed my father's power, Gu Huibi's talent wasn't that great.
She just took after my father a lot.
That was all there was to it.
Yes, Gu Huibi was exactly in that position.
A monstrous woman who was a spitting image of our father's talent.
Given that position, it wouldn't be hard for her to be called a genius.
'Still, reaching the Hwa Realm is weird.'
Her current realm was too weird, absurdly so.
'Where did this come from?'
It's not that I doubt Gu Huibi's talent.
I simply meant it was excessive.
'...It's true that there are many people in the Hwa Realm around me.'
Nangong Bia and Wei Xueya, of course, but also Tang Xiaolie and Wuhyeok.
I knew they were achieving rapid growth compared to my past life.
'That's because of my interventions.'
Although the only one I felt I properly intervened with was Tang Xiaolie, it was true that the flapping of my wings had an influence.
But.
'I haven't done much for Gu Huibi.'
In such a situation, for Gu Huibi to reach the Hwa Realm... She had the talent to reach it eventually, but the speed felt unusually fast.
'Is this also because of me?'
Or.
'Is it because of that thing.'
I saw the Cheonma glaring at me. Did that thing do something to Gu Huibi?
No, why are the two of them together in the first place?
Questions piled up.
So, just as I was about to use force to resolve my questions.
"Little brother. Stop."
Gu Huibi was blocking me.
"Yeon, you stop too."
At Gu Huibi's words, the Cheonma crumpled her expression. I could see a small energy coiling around her hand as well.
The Cheonma was trying to fight me.
But.
"Yeon. I'm telling you."
"..."
"Stop."
When Gu Huibi stopped her with a fierce voice, the Cheonma scrunched her face up and finally retracted the energy she had been coiling.
I couldn't easily react to that crazy situation.
The Cheonma was listening to someone's words. How alien that sight was.
As I watched with bewildered eyes, Gu Huibi let out a shallow sigh and spoke.
"First, we need to change locations. Here..."
"Sister, do you even know what that thing is to be keeping it around?"
"..."
"Why, without even knowing-"
"Follow me."
Gu Huibi cut off my words.
"I'll explain once we get there. Just follow me for now."
Spitting those words out, Gu Huibi turned her back. The Cheonma glared at me, then moved to follow Gu Huibi.
"...Ha."
I quietly watched that sight and suppressed my emotions firmly.
I looked at the backs of the Cheonma and Gu Huibi.
Glaring at them, I bit my lip and eventually took a step to chase after the two.
Even so, my gaze remained fixed solely on the Cheonma's back.
********************
I walked, chasing after the two.
I didn't walk for very long, but as I kept walking, the sun had already completely set.
Just when I wondered how far we were going, I finally reached the destination.
A forest, escaped from the city center.
On a hill where there wouldn't be any signs of people for a long time, a small cabin was built.
Don't tell me she lives there?
As soon as that doubt crossed my mind, Gu Huibi went inside.
"Come in."
"..."
As soon as the words left her mouth, the Cheonma quickly entered the cabin.
It was an incredibly familiar action.
In the pitch-black room, Gu Huibi waved her hand.
Whoosh-!
Flames bloomed on the extinguished lamp. A somewhat messy room was revealed.
Seeing this, the Cheonma tilted her head.
"Unnie, today is Unnie's turn to clean."
"...Ahem."
At the remark, Gu Huibi let out a dry cough.
"...I had some things to do today, so I forgot."
"Yeah."
"Really."
"Yeah."
At Gu Huibi's excuse, the Cheonma nodded expressionlessly.
I watched that sight and kept silent.
Just as my patience seemed about to reach its limits.
"Yeon, do you want to go out for a walk for a bit?"
Gu Huibi said to the Cheonma.
"Yeah."
This time too, the Cheonma didn't say much other than her answer and simply obeyed.
She turned around and met my gaze.
Immediately after, she brushed past my shoulder.
I felt my hands stiffen completely.
Creak.
Thud.
The door slowly closed, and the Cheonma's presence disappeared.
Only then did Gu Huibi slowly sit on the floor.
"I don't have anything like tea. Do you need some?"
"What if I say I do?"
"I'll have to send someone on an errand. She does it well when I ask her a few times."
"..."
I didn't need to ask to know who she was talking about.
So, she was saying she'd send the Cheonma on an errand.
"Pass."
I rejected with a sigh.
I didn't need tea in the first place.
"Explain first."
"We haven't seen each other in a while, and no greetings? This sister is disappointed."
"I'm not in the mood for jokes."
As I spoke with a scowl, Gu Huibi let out a smirk.
I didn't like that smile.
"Explain what's going on. Why are you keeping that thing with you, Sister?"
I had only half-believed the words Murong Xie'er said.
Because I thought there was no way it could be true.
But seeing this, I knew those words were true. Gu Huibi really was keeping the Cheonma with her. Just what was going on?
At my question, Gu Huibi's smile turned bitter.
"'That thing'? Little brother. Your way of addressing a person is a bit much, isn't it?"
"Don't change the subject. It's obvious you wouldn't even know what that thing is..."
"How could I not know."
"What?"
My brow furrowed at Gu Huibi's words.
Was she saying she knew the Cheonma's true identity? How on earth?
Just as deep anxiety and questions arose.
"We both met at the Black Night Palace; how could I not know after seeing that sight?"
"..."
Gu Huibi's words gave me relief that wasn't quite relief.
She was referring to the form of the young Cheonma we had seen at the Black Night Palace.
It meant she didn't know the details, at least.
However.
"You know that, and you're still keeping that thing around? Are you crazy?"
Even from just that fragmentary scene, one could tell the Cheonma wasn't a normal existence.
She wasn't human, at least. I could be certain enough of that.
"What are you trying to do by keeping something so dangerous by your side?"
"How would you know whether she's dangerous or not, little brother?"
"...Huh?"
Perhaps her temper was scratched by my words, as Gu Huibi spat out in a somewhat rough tone.
"Whether that child is dangerous or not. How can you be so certain, little brother?"
If I don't know, who would?
I am the only one who knows what the world does not.
The Cheonma is dangerous. It's just hard to prove it.
Because it was something only I knew.
"You can tell just by looking."
"There's nothing you can tell just by looking. Little brother. Especially if it's 'us', it's something we shouldn't say. Don't you understand?"
"..."
My tongue tied at Gu Huibi's words. It wasn't good.
Not only was her momentum unusual, but that stubbornness of hers wouldn't be broken.
Of course.
"Sister, I clearly told you not to change the subject."
When it comes to that stubbornness, I don't lose either.
"What I asked was why you are keeping that thing with you. If you keep annoyingly changing the subject, whether it's a conversation or whatever, I'll do things my way too."
I am holding back right now.
At this point, what Gu Huibi thought didn't matter.
There was a goal right before my eyes.
And I had decided not to avoid it anymore. There was only one thing to do.
"Explain. Before I stand up."
If I stand up, it's over. I said that with that meaning implied.
"..."
A deep sigh flowed from Gu Huibi's mouth.
"If you stand up...? Will you harm that child?"
I didn't answer. I had expressed myself enough.
Now was just the time to wait for an answer.
"Hmm."
At my reaction, Gu Huibi settled her fierce eyes and displayed a calm attitude.
Contrary to my angry feelings, I looked at her as if she was unexpected.
To be able to become so calm here rather than getting angry.
Considering it had been a few years since I last saw Gu Huibi, it was an incredible change, just like her martial arts.
And, such a thing.
'If the Cheonma created it.'
It was even more displeasing.
"Little brother."
Gu Huibi, having calmly finished her thoughts, looked at me and spat out her words.
"You can't do that."
Force entered my eyes at the following words.
"Are you looking down on me right now?"
"No, if it were someone else, maybe. But if it's you, little brother, you can't. I mean this sincerely."
Gu Huibi smiled.
It was a fresh smile resembling Madam Mi.
It just didn't reach me.
"Sister, I don't have the mental leeway to listen to nonsense right no-"
"The reason I am keeping that child with me is. Because this is a matter of the clan."
"...!"
I faltered at Gu Huibi's continued words.
Not only the words I was spitting out, but also the energy I was raising.
'A matter of the clan?'
It was a word from none other than Gu Huibi's mouth.
Matter of the clan.
This meant that the reason Gu Huibi was keeping the Cheonma with her right now was a matter of the Gu Clan.
"Bullshit."
I spat it out exactly as I felt, reflecting my uncomfortable feelings.
It was a nonsensical statement.
"Bullshit? Is there anything you won't say to your sister now?"
"If this isn't bullshit, then what is it. Sister. Have you really lost your mind?"
Gu Huibi wouldn't be stupid enough to bring up a matter of the clan.
It was a word I didn't even utter during my scoundrel days in the past.
That was how much weight the phrase 'matter of the clan' carried for blood relatives—an absurd amount of weight.
"How could you attach that to a matter of the clan?"
"Because it means exactly what it says."
"Sister."
"If you know who 'sent' that child to me. You'll also know that my words are true, little brother."
I had to feel a subtle nuance at Gu Huibi's words.
The person who sent the Cheonma to Gu Huibi?
'Don't tell me, it's a blood relative of the Gu Clan?'
Was that why Gu Huibi deliberately called it a matter of the clan?
'Who is it?'
I racked my brain, but no one came to mind.
Who in the Gu Clan could be a presence significant enough to label something as a matter of the clan just by sending it?
'Aside from Father, isn't there no one?'
Even if there are Elders and the Sword Brigade Leader.
The Gu Clan ultimately makes most of its decisions through the Patriarch.
Then, is it Father?
'No, that can't be.'
I denied it immediately. There was no way Father would do that.
It meant he, of all people, wouldn't send something like that to Gu Huibi.
Then, is it the First Elder?
Looking just at influence, the First Elder could make sense to some extent.
'Actually, if it were the First Elder, he wouldn't have done so.'
Then the remaining ones are the other Elders...
'Those old men are better off not existing.'
The remaining ones are just old men in the back rooms, holding on simply because they bear the Gu surname.
Meaning they aren't the kind of people who would meddle in the clan's matters.
'No matter how I think about it, there's no one.'
Just as my questions only deepened with absolutely no one coming to mind.
Gu Huibi looked at me and gave me the answer.
"Grandfather."
"...Excuse me?"
What?
"The one who sent that child to me was Grandfather."
A completely unexpected figure popped up.