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“…So, is this really about bringing down the family name?”

“Haha.”

What I said sincerely seemed to amuse the Poison King, as he chuckled lightly.

“Even if you step down from a position of honor, it doesn’t mean the family will fall apart.”

“It’s a land full of people who live and die by their honor, isn’t it?”

“That’s true. I was one of them.”

That’s how martial artists were.

Many lived their lives for the sake of honor.

There were plenty who saw achieving a name as the dream of their lives.

That’s why they lived and died by their titles.

I didn’t see it as a bad thing.

What did it matter how others lived?

It only meant there were quite a few like that.

Yet here we were, discussing the need to—

“Do you really have to abandon your honor?”

Is there really any reason for the Poison King to do so?

I couldn’t understand by merely listening to him.

“Gu Gongja.”

“Yes?”

“Do you know how one can correct a rotten old tree?”

I met his gaze.

My mouth lost its words.

As I locked eyes with the Poison King, I found myself at a loss.

He had already made his choice.

“To uproot it and plant a seed again.”

“…So, you intend to rip it out completely and start fresh?”

“Well, it’s not like I’d take the roots, right? Haha.”

If the Tang Clan was said to have conducted human experiments and abducted others for that—

Not only would they face countless repercussions, both for the roots and for their ties to the Four Great Clans, but they could also be branded as demonic.

After all, the Tang Clan had originally stemmed from the Demonic Faction, so it’d be easier for them.

Even if he knew all this, he still wished to carry on?

Why?

“It’s shameful.”

“…Shameful?”

“I can’t bear the shame any longer. Gu Gongja. I apologize to the children. But this is something that must be done.”

Was it because I lacked a conscience, or had my emotions dried up long ago?

I couldn’t tell.

I couldn’t accept his belief.

At that moment—

“Thank you.”

The Poison King suddenly expressed his gratitude towards me.

I widened my eyes in surprise.

“…What are you thanking me for all of a sudden?”

Why was he thanking me out of nowhere?

“I know you’re angry because of my daughter.”

“…!”

His words hit me hard.

I realized something I hadn’t seen before.

Was this the source of my frustration with the Poison King’s words?

I vaguely knew what awaited Tang Soyeol in the wake of the Tang Clan’s downfall.

‘So that’s why it’s been bothering me, leading to this irritation.’

I hadn’t known that before.

“I’m sorry for my son and daughter. My choice is this.”

“…Tang Clan Leader.”

“You’ll likely feel shame moving forward, but I believe this way will somehow make it less shameful. I haven’t abandoned my honor; in fact, this is preserving it.”

So don’t say anything more.

That’s what the Poison King was telling me.

So I sealed my lips.

Because I had no confident words to offer him.

It was always like this.

Those who possessed a firm belief and walked a path they need not tread would inevitably silence others.

As I averted my gaze slightly, the Poison King spoke flatly to me.

“Forgive me for the inconvenience, but please take care of my daughter, Gu Gongja.”

What did he mean by that?

Did he mean to save her once the Tang Clan crumbled?

I didn’t know what else he was implying.

But the only response I could give was one.

“…Don’t worry.”

That’s all I could be sincere about right now.

Hearing my response, the Poison King nodded with a smile.

“Good. That’s all I needed to hear.”

The Poison King subtly relaxed his tone toward me.

I didn’t comment on it at all.

In fact, that tone suggested he had finally acknowledged me.

After leaving the Poison King’s residence, I set out to take my steps.

I couldn’t afford to hold that gentleman up, so it was time for me to do what I had to do.

‘I should start arranging my schedule too.’

I had organized the major events, but—

I hadn’t yet decided what I should tackle first.

‘First off, I need to go home.’

Returning to the Gu Clan.

That was the first order of business.

‘…I wish I could go somewhere else instead of home.’

Like the cave in Guangdong that stored the Evergreen Iron—

I was at the point where I needed to consume the opportunities I had organized one by one, but—

‘It’s too much to do that right now.’

There was a lot to handle before seeking those opportunities.

Including the promise with Shin Yi.

And the jewels to be used for Nahi.

Regardless of that, the most important thing here was—

‘I need power.’

It’s time for serious training.

That’s what I needed most.

‘…I still feel insufficient.’

I had reached the Transformation Realm and gained the strength that came with becoming a dragon, but—

It was still lacking.

To face the Heavenly Demon and the Blood Demon, my personal power and the forces I could gather were insufficient.

I still couldn’t even react to the movements of the King of Demons, and I was far from reaching those who soared high.

Plus—

‘I need to reach composition too.’

Along with training in Tua Pacheonmu, I needed to achieve proficiency in the Technique of the Flame Wheel.

Only then would my father tell me about my mother.

I needed the time to build up strength.

And the only situation where that could happen was—

“…Probably, there’s no time other than now.”

At least now was the most opportune moment.

Within a few more years, incidents would unfold one after another.

Even excluding the events I twisted and manipulated.

I had to build up strength to handle the significant events that were to come.

‘Now the limit of what I gain through opportunities is reaching its end.’

I had more than enough bets.

My physical body was in excellent shape, so ultimately I was left with the necessity to train myself.

Yeah, let’s do it.

It’s time to get it done.

Since I needed to return to the clan anyway for a while, it was the right moment to build up strength.

As I organized my plans and returned to my residence—

“Hmm?”

I saw my father, who hadn’t appeared all night, standing in the yard.

And who was with him…?

‘Is that Wi Seol-Ah?’

What could she be doing there, holding my clothes in her hands?

What the…?

As I stepped in, both their gazes turned towards me.

“Ah, Gu Gongja.”

“What are you doing?”

“…Uh….”

Wi Seol-Ah, hesitant, hid the clothes behind her back and continued to speak.

“I was… doing laundry a bit…”

“Laundry? What? You mean those?”

“Yes….”

Pointing to the clothes revealed that was indeed the case.

She had washed my clothes?

“…Why?”

Why would you go and wash my clothes?

As I questioned her with that intention, her face gradually turned red.

Her skin was so pale that it was noticeable.

“W-well, it’s been a while…. I remembered for a moment…. And I just ended up doing it without thinking.”

Her awkward smile made me groan involuntarily.

So you saw my clothes and instinctively decided to wash them? What kind of nonsensical instinct is that? But—

Finding a cause left a peculiar discomfort in my gut.

‘…This somehow feels like it’s my fault.’

Was it because I had brought Wi Seol-Ah on as a servant?

It seemed I left behind quite a strange behavior.

‘…Now that I think about it, there have been many times the laundry was done lately.’

After returning from training or outings, I’d find my room cleaned or felt a pleasant fragrance in the air.

“Did you… secretly clean while I was away?”

“…!”

When I asked that out of curiosity, Wi Seol-Ah flinched and turned red.

I thought perhaps it was a servant of the Tang Clan doing that, but turns out it was Wi Seol-Ah herself.

“Why did you do it?”

“…I just had some free time….”

“If you’re going to do it, at least say so. Not like I needed someone to play housekeeper.”

The important thing is, why do it secretly?

I blurted that out in disbelief, and Wi Seol-Ah lowered her head.

“I’m sorry…”

While sneaking in might be a problem, I didn’t think she owed me an apology from my perspective.

“You don’t need to apologize. It’s what I should be saying. Just… if you do something nice, let me know. So I can say thank you.”

I smiled at her reaction and reached up to ruffle her hair, but then I realized my father was right next to us, so I stopped my hand.

Seeing that, Wi Seol-Ah looked at my hand with disappointment.

I barely ignored that and turned to ask my father.

“Are you leaving?”

At my question, my father’s eyebrows arched slightly.

“How did you know?”

“What do you mean?”

“Meaning I’m intending to leave.”

“…Well, it’s just a feeling.”

I had been observing my father more often lately, so I could sense a slight change in his behavior.

“I just had a hunch that you would.”

“…Hmph.”

“But what were you and her talking about?”

“It wasn’t anything important.”

He basically meant he wasn’t going to tell me.

I glanced at Wi Seol-Ah immediately.

“…Ugh…”

She too seemed to cast her gaze away as if she wished to ignore my inquiry.

What’s this…? This feels unsettling.

I wanted to press further, but for now, I decided to hold off.

“…Let’s drop that. Are you really leaving now?”

“I have no reason to stay since my request is complete.”

That meant he had finished the Poison King’s commission.

In other words, this indicated he had settled everything involving the elders during the night.

“Then why not go together? I’ll be leaving tomorrow at the latest.”

After I blurted that out, I was shocked internally.

Normally, I would have felt ecstatic at the prospect of him leaving.

But here I was, suggesting we go together.

I was completely flustered.

Perhaps my father was surprised too, as his eyes widened momentarily.

“No…. I was just trying to be courteous. After all, I need to go anyway.”

I made up excuses as if I had to say it.

Hearing that, my father replied to me.

“That’s unreasonable.”

A clear rejection.

“I figured you would say that.”

Feeling a bit awkward, I scratched the back of my head.

“Under different circumstances, it might have been possible.”

For reasons that seem out of character, my father began explaining as well.

“If you delay any longer, you will probably face a lot of anger.”

“Who?”

“…”

He didn’t respond, but looking into his eyes told me he seemed to be in quite the difficult spot.

Amidst all that, I faintly heard—

-It’s been three days…

What did that mean?

Anyway, it seemed he couldn’t accompany me.

“…Then, it seems there’s nothing else to be done. I’ll see you at the clan…?”

As I was casually preparing to say goodbye, my father presented something before my eyes.

It was his hand.

My father’s large hand.

“…?”

What’s this about?

I peered up at him, but he merely stared silently back at me.

As we engaged in a stalemate, he was finally the one to speak.

“Hold it.”

“Ah.”

Only then did I grasp my father’s intention.

I immediately grabbed his hand.

The size difference was so stark that my hand could barely wrap around his.

Now that I think about it.

‘Is this our first time?’

Holding my father’s hand like this must certainly be a first.

I couldn’t remember ever doing this before.

Maybe just a brief few seconds—neither sentiment nor anything like that—quickly passed before our handshake ended right after.

“I’ll be leaving first. Be careful on your return.”

“…Yes?”

My father’s words made me pause.

Wait, wasn’t he trying to confirm something?

I naturally assumed he would.

“Father…?”

Thud!

Before I could call out his name, my father transformed into a flickering ember and vanished.

“…He’s really leaving just like that?”

So he just shakes hands and disappears?

This is ridiculous. He just appeared out of nowhere and left without a care.

My father was still a complicated character.

“Haha.”

I chuckled as I looked at my hand.

His hand was hotter than I expected.

Must be the influence of the Fire Technique.

A wry smile escaped me.

All that was left was the warmth and an indescribable feeling.

<Tap, tap.>

I shook my hands and looked over at Wi Seol-Ah.

She was gazing at me with her typical large eyes.

Somehow, it felt like her eyes were smiling.

It was pretty, but somehow…

‘Annoying.’

Without thinking, I messed up her hair.

“Eek!”

It was the first time I heard Wi Seol-Ah’s cute scream in a long while.

“G-Gu Gongja, wait a moment…!”

“Who’s looking at you anyway?”

As I ruffled her beautiful hair a few times, I saw her scrunching her nose.

Realizing that, I immediately pulled my hand back, knowing she’d sulk if I continued.

I stepped back slightly and then said to Wi Seol-Ah.

“Let’s go eat. I’m hungry.”

“Yes.”

I felt like it had been ages since we last had a meal together.

Wi Seol-Ah appeared relieved and happy.

Then—

“I should call the kids too. It’s more fun to eat together.”

“…Yes.”

Did she dislike that?

Her expression seemed dark suddenly.

‘It must be my misunderstanding.’

There’s no way Wi Seol-Ah would dislike food.

I merely nodded and set off.

The mealtime we had after so long wasn’t particularly lengthy.

Given the situation in the Tang Clan, it couldn’t be a fun or vibrant meal.

Especially, the entire time we ate, Tang Soyeol’s face looked especially gloomy.

‘It was a deathly pale look….’

While the Poison King was likely trying to conceal the events at the Tang Clan—

He couldn’t hide everything, and it seemed Tang Soyeol had somehow found out.

Honestly, I thought she would slowly piece it together; but—

I felt she couldn’t be left alone during this time, so I had insisted she join us.

Nangong Bi-ah and Wi Seol-Ah stuck closely to Tang Soyeol, taking care of her—

But that wouldn’t solve everything.

It was valuable time, for the sake of merely seeing each other again.

“So, what’s the plan?”

“What do you mean?”

After having a decent meal, I walked along a quiet path and asked Moyong Hi-ah.

It was convenient that we were headed in the same direction, and I had questions for her.

“You knew the Poison King would make that choice, didn’t you?”

“I did.”

Moyong Hi-ah responded nonchalantly to that.

Hence, I was even more curious.

“How did you know?”

“Hm? Didn’t Gu Gongja know?”

“I didn’t. That’s why I’m asking now.”

How on earth could I have anticipated he would engage in such actions, which would drastically damage his own clan?

In response to my question, Moyong Hi-ah elegantly tucked her hair behind her ear and replied.

“I wasn’t sure either. It was merely a hunch.”

“But you still went after him quickly?”

She had moved rapidly, as if she had realized something, yet claimed it was just a hunch.

Moyong Hi-ah’s face slightly reddened, perhaps feeling a bit embarrassed by her own impulsiveness.

“…It wasn’t certainty, but there was a probability.”

“What probability?”

“The probability that the Tang Clan Leader would choose righteousness.”

“…”

I flinched a little at her words.

“I had considered many possibilities. Given the situation back then, there were many better methods available, but ultimately, the only outcome that seemed clear was that of the Tang Clan Leader’s actions.”

Better methods.

Those were her thoughts.

While it would be impossible to conceal the Tang Clan’s disgrace entirely, some degree of managing the information would be necessary to keep it from leaking.

Before executing the elders that caused the incident, he had to have had time to absorb and control their forces.

That would have been, in Moyong Hi-ah’s view—

No, in both Moyong Hi-ah’s and my view, the optimal approach.

But the Poison King had chosen none of that.

What was the reason he gave?

‘It’s shameful.’

As a martial artist, as a clan leader.

Also, as one belonging to the righteous faction, he claimed it was shameful.

That he couldn’t do it.

It was utterly incomprehensible.

‘It’s a difficult matter.’

Some might label it as an incompetent choice.

And they might even call it a foolish decision.

Yet, I couldn’t say anything.

The reason was none other than—

‘Belief.’

I believed it to be the Poison King’s belief.

Something I dared not do… or rather, something I had no personal resolve to undertake.

To the Poison King, that was just an entirely correct course of action, and I found I couldn’t refute him, simply because—

I lacked the same kind of belief to trust in myself and act as he did.

 

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