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EP.21 Why Are You Here Again…? (1)

Why are you here again…? (1)

Gu Exemplar Sect of Mount Shan.

It is a branch family of the Gu Clan, led by the elder Gu Changjun, who is a member of the Gu Clan’s elders and a martial artist of shining excellence.

If the Gu Clan is the protector of Mount Shan, another name for the Gu Exemplar Sect is the Gu Clan’s Sword.

This is because most of the disciples from Gu Exemplar Sect are affiliated with the Gu Clan’s Sword Team.

Of course, there are instances like the Gu Dragon Tournament where outsiders are recruited into the Sword Team.

However, the Gu Clan’s Sword Team mostly rises from the Gu Exemplar Sect.

-Creak

A sharp sound resonated throughout the room. Gu Jeolyub’s head jerked sideways.

Drip.

A droplet of blood trickled from Gu Jeolyub’s lips.

Soon after, a cold reprimand fell upon Gu Jeolyub.

“You incompetent fool.”

“…I apologize.”

“Did you just let a mere nobody slip through your fingers and embarrass me?”

This was somewhat unjust for Gu Jeolyub.

He also had no way of knowing that Gu Yangcheong was hiding such strength.

Yet, under Gu Changjun’s reprimand, Gu Jeolyub could say nothing.

“You moron… you got distracted by a mere attendant and made a mistake!?”

Creak! Creak!

Gu Changjun’s hand yanked Gu Jeolyub’s head back and forth. Gu Jeolyub silently bore Gu Changjun’s grip.

“Why did you do that?”

When asked for a reason, Gu Jeolyub couldn’t easily find the words.

However, under Gu Changjun’s icy gaze, he finally opened the mouth he had been holding shut.

“I admit I was momentarily distracted by the attendant, but Gu Yangcheong’s abilities were real. I wasn’t careless.”

Gu Jeolyub clenched his fists so tightly that they trembled.

His pride was wounded.

Having to acknowledge Gu Yangcheong, whom he had despised and looked down upon. But Gu Jeolyub was serious about martial arts.

What he witnessed of Gu Yangcheong’s movements were real. Not mere chance or his own carelessness, but pure skill.

How many exchanges did they have? Just three? Four? It was funny how that was enough to tell.

Though Gu Jeolyub excelled in martial arts and physique compared to Gu Yangcheong, he still couldn’t win.

Gu Jeolyub bit his lip tight enough to hide the quivering.

“Then.”

Gu Changjun spoke.

“Why didn’t you come back with at least a scratch?”

“…Grandfather?”

“This is clearly the Gu Exemplar Sect. Address me correctly.”

“I’m sorry… Master.”

Gu Changjun’s voice was chillingly cold. He examined Gu Jeolyub’s body and spoke.

“Neat and tidy. Not a single internal or external injury. Not a mark to criticize at all.”

Only some faint residual marks from the duel remained.

The bruises on Gu Jeolyub’s face were severe, yet they left no lasting scars.

He had choked quite a bit from the blows he received from Gu Yangcheong, but there were no internal injuries either.

This meant he had simply released the breathing technique he wore around his body and regulated it to that extent.

Yet it still inflicted pain.

‘It’s a technique one would use to torture someone.’

Gu Changjun stroked his long beard, immersed in thought.

According to those watching, at the moment Gu Yangcheong was about to do something to Gu Jeolyub, Elder Lee had intervened.

‘Gu Ryoon… getting in the way again.’

What was he so dissatisfied with?

Elder Lee was always like this.

He always tried to capture Gu Yangcheong and train him, putting aside his duties as an elder to focus on making him a lesser clan leader.

Gu Changjun didn’t like that.

He didn’t like it one bit. The fact that someone of lowly blood could sit in the seat of clan leader simply because of mixing bloodlines.

It was also bothersome that someone with neither talents nor character could sit in the position of clan leader.

No, was bloodline and character all it came down to now?

-Tsk

At the sound of Gu Changjun’s tongue clicking, Gu Jeolyub trembled slightly.

“Something out of line displeases me.”

Gu Yangcheong had conveyed this message through Gu Jeolyub. If this continued, he might actually want to become a clan leader.

‘How dare he.’

Gu Changjun had to hold back his rising anger upon hearing that.

The reason why the clan leader could not recklessly reach for Gu Changjun, knowing his ambitions, was simply because he was the master of the Gu Exemplar Sect.

The master of Mount Shan is the Gu Clan, but the Gu Clan’s Sword belongs to the Gu Exemplar Sect.

What could a sword master do without a sword?

The current clan leader is strong. He had just entered his forties, the prime age for a martial artist.

Yet the martial artist of the forties and the clan leader Gu Cheolun are two separate matters.

He must know that.

Conversely, it was also true that Gu Changjun couldn’t recklessly make big moves because he was a member of the Gu Clan.

But the little brat, with only half-processed blood, dares to give him warnings?

“What should I do?”

Gu Changjun looked at Gu Jeolyub.

His grandson, considering their bloodline, was a truly talented child.

The very reason why he dared to compare Gu Yangcheong with the blade master, who was considered the top late-stage talent.

He reminded him painfully of his deceased son.

Thus, Gu Yangcheong had to remain insignificant. Only then would it be easier for Gu Changjun to realize his dreams.

When he heard that Gu Jeonseo was defeated, he thought it was merely a stroke of luck. Gu Jeonseo was formidable, but a mistake could happen.

However, the perception of people changing could lead to problems.

Especially at a time like this.

Hence, he resorted to somewhat forced measures.

Accepting Gu Jeolyub’s duel would highlight Gu Yangcheong’s stupidity, which would be good. Should he refuse, there would still be ways around it.

But now he saw that Gu Yangcheong had already become a stumbling block.

A very big one.

“Jeolyub.”

“Yes, Master…”

“If there is a large stone blocking your path, what do you think you should do?”

“I would try to find another path.”

“Wrong. You wouldn’t accomplish anything that way. Not only would you not reach the desired path, but your destination would also differ.”

Gu Jeolyub couldn’t bear to meet Gu Changjun’s gaze, bowing his head instead.

Gu Changjun’s eyes were so chilling.

“If you can remove it, great. If not, then you’d have to break through it.”

Not yet. It was still too early. Nothing was prepared.

But…

“If this continues, I’m afraid I’ll have no choice but to destroy it.”

Gu Jeolyub was trying with all his strength to hide his trembling body, fearing Gu Changjun’s killing intent.

“That was excessive.”

After the duel, Elder Lee said to me as I stepped out after cleaning myself up.

“What do you mean?”

“Towards the end, what were you trying to do to Jeolyub?”

“I was going to break one of his arms.”

Just enough that it would heal within a month or so.

The body of a martial artist recovers quickly due to the internal energy, so I figured it would be fine.

At my words, Elder Lee took a deep breath.

“If you had done that, Elder Lee would definitely have brought that up later.”

“So what if I did? I have no intention of becoming a clan leader anyway.”

“Ah! How can you say that!? You are of the clan leader’s bloodline. The only one…”

“Yes, the only son. That’s why I’m able to stand within this branch family.”

I knew better than anyone.

I felt it deeply in my previous life.

No matter what I did, or what kind of life I led, I ultimately became the lesser clan leader.

Would this life be any different? I wish it could be a little different.

“So in the end, you didn’t, did you?”

In my heart, I wanted to hand everything, clan leader or whatever, over to that brat Gu Jeolyub.

Knowing what the position of clan leader entailed, it wasn’t something I welcomed at all.

My father would definitely not hand the position over to Gu Huibi or Gu Yeonseo. I knew that well too.

Not because I was the son. This damn karma dictated it.

It was hilarious how Elder Lee, who knew nothing, was trying to give the position of clan leader to his grandson.

If anyone wanted to escape, it would be none other than me.

But.

‘For now, I still need the name of the clan.’

When could I let it go?

It seemed there were too many twisted things to consider before I could easily think about it.

“Master! Here are your clothes!”

Wi Seol-Ah handed me my outer garments, seemingly having waited for me to return.

As I put on the clothes, I suddenly glanced at Wi Seol-Ah.

‘By the way, when did she start learning to wield a sword?’

The direct disciple of the Sword Sovereign. Since she was called that, she would surely learn from him…

But Wi Seol-Ah was being occupied all day by other attendants to learn how to clean and cook.

Was it right to teach the future world’s number one about household chores…?

“Where did Elder Noya go?”

“He said he was going to make a bear.”

“A bear…? What kind of bear?”

There are bears around us too.

That being Elder Lee.

When I mentioned the bear, Elder Lee glanced at me, perhaps catching onto something in my gaze, and his eyebrows slightly raised.

He quickly averted his eyes.

“I think he’s making an eagle and a chick as well, along with the bear.”

“…Are you referring to the wooden statues outside?”

“Exactly!”

I had started noticing animal-shaped wooden statues appearing outside one by one.

Did the Sword Sovereign carve them…?

In fact, they were carved so well that I initially thought they were bought from somewhere.

The future world number one is learning household chores in my residence, and the current number one, who doesn’t even know he’s the best, is carving statues in my place.

Is this right?

…It doesn’t seem so at all, no matter how I look at it.

“Grandfather carves really well!”

I looked at Wi Seol-Ah, who was smiling widely while pointing at a horse-shaped statue in the distance.

Then a sudden thought crossed my mind.

‘Was she originally this kind of person?’

The words and actions of a ten-year-old child were distinctly different from how I had seen her in the future.

It might just be her youthful innocence, yet the sense of discomfort was quite peculiar.

The last time I faced Wi Seol-Ah in my past life was during this winter.

What was she like back then?

Was she the same as now?

‘Why can’t I remember?’

I don’t know. What is this vague memory?

At the very least, it was vastly different from the future Wi Seol-Ah.

If anyone could transform a sharp sword into a human, it would likely be her.

A person that seemed like they’d cut you just by getting near.

A figure from my memory who pushed everyone away with her icy gaze.

“Master, are you crying?”

I was startled by Wi Seol-Ah’s words and rubbed my eyes.

No tears fell.

“What do you mean? I’m just surprised.”

“You seem like you’re crying…”

“No, I’m not. Go eat some rice cakes instead.”

As I tapped her head lightly with my fist, Wi Seol-Ah squealed and ran away.

Watching her retreating figure, I let out a deep sigh. Elder Lee chuckled at the sight.

“Looks like you’re having fun.”

“Does it seem like we’re having fun?”

“Isn’t it?”

“…If you say so, I guess it does.”

Elder Lee, watching over his grandchildren with a contented expression, slightly annoyed me.

“Elder Lee, are you going to fulfill my request as promised?”

Elder Lee made a sour expression at my words.

“…I promised, so I have to do it. What exactly are you planning to ask for?”

The request I had was simple.

I needed to go to Sichuan within a month, and I wanted help to be able to do that.

‘If it’s someone like an elder level individual, there should be a way.’

Of course, I’d have to come up with an excuse, but this seemed like the fastest way.

But when Elder Lee heard my words, his expression turned strange, as if he didn’t quite understand.

Was it because of my reason for needing to go to Sichuan?

“I find it a bit difficult to explain the reason for my trip…”

“No, that’s not what I meant…”

“Yes? Isn’t that relevant?”

Isn’t it very relevant? Why wouldn’t he be curious…?

While I was in shock, Elder Lee continued.

“Hmm… I can’t quite understand your reasoning, Yangcheon.”

The following statement was even more shocking.

“Why not just run away? Why look for a way…?”

“…..”

Suddenly, I could imagine how this old man must have lived in his younger years.

Snap, snap.

A small old man is carving a statue with a log.

It was none other than the Sword Sovereign, and carving was merely a small hobby of his.

“Have you come, Clan Leader Gu?”

“Have you been well, Elder?”

And the one who visited the Sword Sovereign was none other than Gu Cheolun, the clan leader of the Gu Clan.

“I’ve heard you found some clues regarding your request from the Beggar Clan.”

At Gu Cheolun’s words, the Sword Sovereign’s hands stopped. Normally, he should have been overjoyed.

However, the Sword Sovereign checked Gu Cheolun’s expression and spoke.

“…What is it, Clan Leader?”

Gu Cheolun’s expression didn’t seem to be one of good tidings. He continued.

“The Physician Sage is… reported to be in Anhui at the moment.”

Snap.

At Gu Cheolun’s words, the carving knife that the Sword Sovereign held broke.

In an instant, internal energy, which threatened to boil over, burst forth from the Sword Sovereign’s body.

Fearing that he might be detected, Gu Cheolun hurriedly placed a barrier around them using internal energy.

“Ultimately…”

The Sword Sovereign’s voice trembled greatly.

“…Do we have to go that far, Heavenly Lord?”

Gu Cheolun closed his eyes. The Sword Sovereign was crying.

 

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