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Chapter 7: The Heavy Atmosphere

It was just past noon.

Gu Yangcheong was deep in his training inside the cave.

Meanwhile, the matron of the Gu Clan and the owner of a famous upper house in the Central Plains, Mi Hyo-ran, was facing her husband.

Drip drap, thud.

In the quiet atmosphere, the faint sound of the waterwheel could be heard in the background.

Three teacups were placed on the table.

Of those, two cups were releasing a delicate steam.

With a steady hand, Mi Hyo-ran raised her cup.

After silently sipping the tea, she turned to her husband and spoke.

“Did you have a good conversation?”

Her voice, as always, was monotone, but her expression was chillingly cold.

Aware of this, Gu Cheolun avoided her gaze without a proper reply. Mi Hyo-ran pressed on, watching him.

“Judging by the child’s bruised blue eyes, it seems you had quite the discussion.”

“…”

“Do you have anything to say about that?”

Her calm tone, almost too serene, felt even more intimidating.

Mi Hyo-ran, an ordinary person who had no stake in the gambling, radiated an unsettling energy.

Despite Gu Cheolun’s subtle heat, the temperature in the room felt inexplicably cold.

For a rare moment, Gu Cheolun cleared his throat and spoke to Mi Hyo-ran.

“There was a bit of an incident.”

“Of course there had to be. Otherwise, it would have been a disaster.”

“…”

What a disaster it might be, he thought. Whatever it was, it certainly wasn’t anything good.

Mi Hyo-ran sighed at Gu Cheolun’s demeanor.

“Seeing the child’s expression, it seems things worked out well, but… I’m rather disappointed that his precious face ended up like this.”

Precious face?

Gu Cheolun looked at her with a puzzled expression.

Although Gu Yangcheong was his son, he wouldn’t call his looks precious.

“There were unavoidable reasons.”

Unavoidable, indeed.

Gu Cheolun knew well that the energy Gu Yangcheong emitted at the time resembled a bout of reckless gambling.

He immediately recognized the energy reminiscent of the Pejon he once felt.

Gu Yangcheong was not only using two different energies but also contained a power that could explode at any moment, which prompted his instinct to intervene.

He simply couldn’t bear to watch his child meet a grim fate.

However, he felt no need to explain this in detail to Mi Hyo-ran.

Mi Hyo-ran’s piercing gaze landed on Gu Cheolun.

“Is there a reason you couldn’t help it?”

“…This time, it was truly unavoidable.”

At Gu Cheolun’s words, a frown appeared on Mi Hyo-ran’s lovely forehead.

“You promised not to inflict any wounds on him.”

“Since it was a spar, there was no choice…”

“You said you were going to talk, not spar. Was the discussion perhaps a physical one?”

“Ugh.”

Gu Cheolun finally coughed slightly and took another sip of tea.

Watching this, Mi Hyo-ran felt a mix of frustration and a hint of lightness.

She sensed that the heavy atmosphere surrounding Gu Cheolun had slightly lifted.

‘It seems to have lightened a bit.’

Feeling this way held her anger at bay.

Regardless, creating blue bruises on a child’s eyes was something Mi Hyo-ran could hardly overlook.

‘What kind of a place would a child get hit?’

Yet, she refrained from fully expressing her anger.

After all, bringing this up would only remind her of the guilt and fear that had pushed her away from the child, making it hard to face herself.

At least, the attitudes of the women around her, who sprang up in concern for the child, was somewhat reassuring.

Their readiness to draw swords at a moment’s notice didn’t seem so bad in Mi Hyo-ran’s eyes.

The Sword Dance Hero, after all, had already been betrothed to her.

The other nearby women varied in their responses.

Several names came to her mind.

First and foremost among them was the daughter of the Moyong Clan. What was her name again? Seolbong, was it?

Mi Hyo-ran liked how she skillfully navigated the whispers around her without being too conspicuous.

Although it could be dangerous if considered an enemy, Mi Hyo-ran sensed that her actions might benefit her son’s future.

In other words, perhaps it was because she saw a likeness to herself.

Moreover, she was the daughter of the Moyong family.

Among those women who used to follow Gu Cheolun around was a daughter from the Moyong Clan.

Of course, Mi Hyo-ran’s impression of Moyong Hi-ah was quite different from this particular daughter.

If she had to compare, Seolbong seemed similar to her own daughter, Gu Huibi.

‘So many women…’

Mi Hyo-ran chuckled quietly at her own thoughts.

She had worried that Gu Yangcheong was struggling, but it seemed he was doing just fine.

His luck with women didn’t appear to be so bad either.

However…

‘But this aspect… he resembles his father too much.’

That was another concern of hers.

Excessive luck with women could lead to future struggles.

In that regard, Gu Yangcheong was likely headed down a difficult path.

While Gu Cheolun didn’t seem the type to worry about such matters, Gu Yangcheong had a different disposition.

Especially considering that each of these women came with stories that were hard to believe, Mi Hyo-ran could only take small, careful steps behind the scenes.

“So…”

Mi Hyo-ran’s words made Gu Cheolun nod slightly.

“Did the child seem comfortable?”

That was the most important question.

Had the child found even a smidge of comfort?

Mi Hyo-ran looked steadily into Gu Cheolun’s eyes. His gaze, while still heavy, carried a subtle difference.

Gu Cheolun, absorbing her stare, cautiously replied.

“I don’t know.”

His deep and heavy voice contradicted with an undercurrent of concern.

“What has changed with something so trivial? I still don’t know.”

“Didn’t you ask the child?”

Perhaps he was feeling a bit better now? Mi Hyo-ran’s inquiry prompted Gu Cheolun to shake his head.

“I did not ask.”

“Why not?”

“Even I do not know. But…”

As Gu Cheolun trailed off, Mi Hyo-ran listened closely. She sensed hesitation.

“The third child called me ‘Father.’”

“…!”

It should be a natural thing.

It’s only right for a child to call their father ‘Father,’ but that simple truth contained multiple layers of meaning.

Mi Hyo-ran scrutinized Gu Cheolun’s face.

Although his expression showed no change, she recognized the slightest tremble in his eyes.

“…What about you?”

“I don’t know. I’m still unable to grasp it all.”

“…”

He didn’t deny it.

In Mi Hyo-ran’s eyes, while Gu Cheolun was excellent as the clan leader, he fell short as a father.

Of course, she wasn’t much different in that regard.

“It’s hard.”

At Gu Cheolun’s quietly spoken words, Mi Hyo-ran nodded inwardly.

Then, looking at Gu Cheolun, she said.

“It’s too late.”

“…”

“It’s far too late. You should have realized this sooner.”

Not just sooner, but much sooner—it applied to both of them.

That was Mi Hyo-ran’s regret.

If they had realized things a little earlier, it could have been better… but they didn’t, and that was her lament.

“…So, please try to learn from now on.”

“I will make an effort.”

Gu Cheolun hesitated briefly before responding.

At least that much was alright.

He was genuinely expressing his willingness, not just seeking an escape.

Having heard enough, Mi Hyo-ran slowly rose.

If she had one wish—

– He said, “Father.”

Just like Gu Yangcheong, who addressed Gu Cheolun as his father.

‘Someday…’

Someday, she would too…

With that thought, Mi Hyo-ran closed her eyes. A mildly arrogant thought brushed her mind.

Having thoroughly extinguished her lingering sentiments, Mi Hyo-ran discreetly bid farewell to her husband before stepping out of the room.

Left alone, Gu Cheolun sipped his remaining tea and closed his eyes.

Many thoughts swirled within him, but when gathered into one, it boiled down to a single concern.

‘It’s hard.’

This thing called a relationship.

The heavy burden of guilt was so weighty.

In the end, was it not yet another karma he had been avoiding?

Gu Cheolun pondered this as he calmed himself.

– It’s too late.

Just like Mi Hyo-ran’s words, this was far too late to be pondering.

Now, choosing to grapple with something else was imperative.

“…”

Carefully opening his eyes, Gu Cheolun gazed at the door Mi Hyo-ran had just exited.

Swish.

He began to refill the teacups.

First, he filled his own cup, then started on the one across from him.

It was strange.

Mi Hyo-ran had already left the room.

After filling the cups, Gu Cheolun spoke.

“I apologize for making you wait.”

It was rather abrupt to be speaking to what seemed like empty space.

However—

Drip drap.

As soon as Gu Cheolun’s words fell, the door Mi Hyo-ran had exited opened, and someone entered.

A middle-aged man clad in a black martial robe.

Gu Cheolun recognized him.

He was a renowned martial artist from the Seo An Clan, known as Bi Jeok.

As he acknowledged the man, Gu Cheolun stood to greet him.

However, it wasn’t Bi Jeok he was honoring.

Gu Cheolun was waiting.

Waiting for the person who would follow behind.

Recognizing this, Bi Jeok entered with an awkward expression, carefully moving aside.

So another could enter, and just then, the person Gu Cheolun had been waiting for stepped past Bi Jeok and into the room.

Gu Cheolun studied the newcomer.

A young martial artist.

He looked to be around the age of his own child.

Perhaps just beyond his teenage years.

From the martial robe he was wearing, it was evident he belonged to the Bi Clan.

Most likely, he was the child of the Bi Clan leader.

Thus, under normal circumstances, he would have shown his respects to Bi Jeok first.

However, Gu Cheolun inclined his head first to the young man.

That was because this young man was far more significant in status.

“It’s an honor to meet you, sir.”

At this gesture, a strange expression crossed the young man’s eyes.

“How surprising. You haven’t even introduced yourself yet.”

“Thank you for coming despite the sudden request.”

“Oh dear… if we keep this up, there won’t be much fun in teasing you.”

Originally, he intended to make a few jests before delving into the conversation.

With a grin, the Pejon approached Gu Cheolun and plopped down across from him.

“Long time no see, Gu Clan Leader. It’s been a while; I can’t quite remember how long it’s been. But while we’re at it, let me introduce myself again.”

Lifting the teacup that was already ready, the Pejon continued.

“I am Pejon Bi Ju. And…”

The Pejon’s gaze shifted toward Gu Cheolun, who had also been looking at him since before.

“I am your son’s master.”

With those words, a heavy atmosphere began to envelop the room.

 

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