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A fierce expression twisted the face of Pejon as he said,

“…What are you saying right now?”

“I’m stating exactly what I said.”

Leaving the 심공 already within my body as is.

It meant that I was also going to take in Pejon’s 심공.

Hearing this, Pejon furrowed his brows and spoke to me.

“Should I take that to mean you want to die? If you wish, I could kindly assist you in a better way.”

It was more like saying he would rather beat me to death.

What a deadly notion.

To this, I replied,

“It’s not a joke.”

“If it’s not a joke? Are you toying with me?”

“That’s not it either. I am serious.”

“Ha.”

I could understand Pejon’s reaction.

Normally, it’s impossible to contain two different 심공 in one’s body.

Since each 심공 contains different bets.

When two different properties clash, the 혈도 tends to get messed up completely, leading to a high chance of becoming a wreck.

Isn’t there a story about Pejon as well?

About how he threw away all his energy to start anew for the martial arts he created himself.

So much so that he had to give up being Pejon to rebuild from scratch.

This was an unavoidable situation for any martial artist.

In that situation, I was mentioning that I would learn his martial arts as is.

From Pejon’s standpoint, it was entirely absurd.

“Do you even realize what you’re saying?”

“I do.”

“If you realize it, there’s no way you can say that. Unless you’re mocking me.”

Pejon’s voice gradually grew more enraged.

He seemed to think I was really trying to pull a prank on him.

Yet, I was speaking from the heart. Ignoring Pejon’s reaction, I continued speaking.

“I know you have expectations for me.”

Pejon paused at what I said.

Of course, he had his reasons for wanting a disciple this much.

“There’s something I cannot throw away as well.”

“So, you want to contain both? Do you think that makes any sense?”

Pejon’s gaze became increasingly fierce.

“You underestimate the martial way.”

Even if one could hold a few martial arts within the body, just grasping one could barely lead to success.

My determination to try to hold onto both, knowing the chances of failure, was certainly displeasing to him.

Yet still.

“If you think it’ll be impossible, I’ll give up. However,”

I spat my final words without avoiding Pejon’s eyes.

“I won’t become your disciple under these circumstances. Better to kill me instead.”

“…”

After I spoke, Pejon’s expression showed no signs of easing.

However, I didn’t feel any greater reaction.

Was he suppressing his anger inside?

Or was he contemplating whether to break me or not? I could not tell.

While I had spoken boldly, if he truly came at me to break me, I intended to dodge.

I couldn’t die here.

Fortunately, I had been subtly figuring out a route for escape.

After a while of waiting, Pejon finally replied,

“…What do you intend to do if you try and find it doesn’t work?”

Got it.

I nodded inwardly at Pejon’s words without expressing my reaction outwardly.

I said to him,

“If that happens, then I will empty out what’s inside as you wish and refill it anew.”

Pejon seemed to ponder over my words again.

But to me, it felt like he had already made up his mind.

While I had boldly declared I would abandon my previous martial arts and realm.

Naturally, I wasn’t truly willing to think of giving them up.

I had a certain belief.

A belief that I could learn Pejon’s martial arts without discarding the martial arts I currently used.

And thankfully, that belief didn’t turn out different from my expectations.

As the master of the Baekhwa Sect and the matron of the Shan Seong Gu Clan, Mi Hyo-ran held a white fan and gazed at her husband.

He was still buried in paperwork at the table.

His eyes were fierce as always, but he looked somewhat tired.

Though I was concerned about his state, what mattered more right now was the letter in my hands.

“What are you planning to do?”

I was a bit surprised by the harsh tone that slipped out, but I didn’t bother to correct it.

The man who heard Mi Hyo-ran’s voice was Gu Cheolun, the clan leader of the Shan Seong Gu Clan, and a martial artist known as the Ho-hyup. He lifted his head.

His glaring red eyes were unchanged.

“What’s the matter?”

His words came out as if he didn’t understand what was being said.

Mi Hyo-ran furrowed her brow.

“…Didn’t you receive it as well?”

Mi Hyo-ran promptly slapped a letter down on the desk belonging to Gu Cheolun.

The blue seal on it was undoubtedly that of the Martial Alliance.

“They say a meeting will be held. Is it true that you’re planning to decline?”

“…”

Mi Hyo-ran’s eyes were chillingly devoid of warmth.

She had wanted to move the moment she received the letter, but she was holding herself back as much as possible.

“The meeting with the Moyong Clan that was supposed to occur at the Baekhwa Sect was initiated by them first.”

“…”

“It seems likely they heard about this beforehand.”

That was more of an assumption than a certainty. Moreover, Mi Hyo-ran had another reason for voicing this.

While they were abandoning everything to head to Hanam, what on earth was he doing here?

Gu Cheolun’s gaze also fell upon the letter.

Though his expression stayed the same while reading, Mi Hyo-ran vaguely sensed that he wasn’t in a good mood.

“I know you didn’t attend the last meeting either.”

He hadn’t gone to the last Righteous Faction Gathering that took place over a decade ago.

“I also know that Gu Clan’s standing has diminished because of it.”

Whether or not one chose to attend a gathering when it was held was up to them.

However, not attending a Righteous Faction Gathering meant that their clan would fall behind in relation to others.

Of course, this aspect didn’t matter much to Mi Hyo-ran.

While the standing of the clan was quite important from the perspective of the clan leader, what Mi Hyo-ran was viewing was solely from the standpoint of being a ‘parent.’

“I’m not blaming you because I understand the reasons.”

“What are you trying to say?”

Gu Cheolun finally revealed an uncomfortable demeanor due to Mi Hyo-ran’s repeated statements.

However, Mi Hyo-ran remained unflinching despite Gu Cheolun’s growing anger.

“I heard you’ll be sending the first princess, Elder Lee, and the head of the sword team as substitutes.”

This was a matter that Gu Cheolun had conveyed to the clan through the head officer.

It was a delegation set to head to Hanam on behalf of the clan leader, including two elders and relatives.

Though it was a strategy to show maximum propriety, even without the clan leader.

Mi Hyo-ran didn’t find it satisfactory.

“Are you really okay with this?”

“…”

Seeing his expression, Mi Hyo-ran sighed as if exhausted.

“I won’t tell you to always be a good father. I wasn’t a good mother myself.”

Saying this, Mi Hyo-ran turned her back.

There were many things that left her dissatisfied.

“However, this can’t go on forever.”

While she felt pity for the man stuck in the mountain,

Children were naturally on her mind.

“Even if you don’t go, I intend to attend as the Baekhwa Sect leader.”

Though she wasn’t the top sect leader, the Baekhwa Sect held a significant position, and she had contributed considerable resources to the alliance, including the Hwasan Sect.

Mi Hyo-ran was more than qualified to attend the gathering.

“If you wish, I can go and bring the children back myself.”

Even after saying that, Gu Cheolun still showed little reaction.

It was only that the heated air in the room had become a little more uncomfortable, indicating his displeasure.

Realizing this, Mi Hyo-ran added one more comment.

“I heard the child was quite injured.”

Thud.

The hand of Gu Cheolun, who was inspecting the letter, abruptly stopped, and his gaze shifted towards Mi Hyo-ran.

“There was no mention of that in the delivery.”

“You read it all, I see.”

“…”

The messenger had stated that two relatives, including one collateral line, were safe and unharmed.

Yet.

“That does not give you a reason not to go. You know that well.”

“…”

“I won’t speak any further. Excuse me.”

After that, Mi Hyo-ran closed the door and vanished.

Left alone in the room, Gu Cheolun slowly rubbed his face with his hand.

Then suddenly, he glanced at the letter placed on the table.

Gu Cheolun quietly stared at the letter sent from the alliance and called out,

“Head Officer.”

The door opened quietly, and the head officer paid his respects to the clan leader.

“Clan Leader, you called for me?”

Gu Cheolun looked intently at the head officer and gave a heavy command.

“I will change the personnel heading to Hanam. I will also attend myself.”

“…!”

The head officer’s shoulders shuddered at Gu Cheolun’s words as he bowed his head.

Yet, without showing any reaction, he raised his head and answered Gu Cheolun.

“Understood.”

He didn’t ask for reasons or express any doubts.

Upon hearing the head officer’s response, Gu Cheolun issued the guest arrival orders and quietly closed his eyes after confirming his departure.

Thus.

Two months passed.

By the time countless people began to arrive in Hanam.

 

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