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Chapter 8: The Unexpected Visit

“The talk of changing the general.”

Upon hearing that, Yarang had to stiffen her body for a moment, an unusual reaction for her.

Changing the general? There was no need to search for its meaning.

It was as straightforward as it sounded.

It meant replacing someone among the current generals.

“…”

As those words echoed in her mind, someone came to Yarang’s thoughts.

One of the generals. If what the woman said was true, he seemed to be the most likely candidate.

However, Yarang knew well that this was merely her speculation. Ultimately, the important thing was the master’s heart.

“Hmm.”

The woman, whether she knew Yarang’s feelings or not, simply hummed a tune, surveying the surroundings.

Is she enjoying herself? Yarang pondered while looking at her back.

No.

She wasn’t enjoying herself at all. The woman only pretended to appear that way.

The scenery visible to her must hold no significance whatsoever.

“The flowers are really beautiful, aren’t they?”

She smiled brightly, holding a single nameless red flower.

A beautiful smile. Without the veil covering her face, it would have captivated everyone around.

Could such power exist behind a smile devoid of sincerity?

Yarang felt an unsettling fear creeping in.

“Daughter?”

“…”

At the woman’s call, Yarang nodded her head.

“Come here.”

Slowly, she approached.

Then, the woman reached into the bushes and pulled something out. Again, it was a flower.

Unlike the red flower she had picked, this time it was a light blue flower.

Could she pick this freely? That question was unnecessary.

As Yusa had said.

In this land, there was nothing she couldn’t do.

“How about this? Isn’t it pretty?”

Yarang simply nodded as she looked at the flower.

“Hmmm. You don’t seem to like it, do you?”

She shook her head at that comment, but the woman didn’t believe her.

Once more, she stretched her hand into the bushes.

Should I stop her? Yarang worried deeply.

There was no need to stop her, but there was no reason to obsess over flowers so much.

Let’s at least try to stop her first. With that decision, Yarang approached the woman.

“Ah. This is it.”

The woman grabbed another flower. This time, neither red nor blue.

A snow white flower.

A flower so white and beautiful, it resembled fallen snow.

Seeing it, Yarang paused for a moment, her fingertips stilled.

“…”

It was a familiar flower.

Why was it familiar? Her gaze trembled unknowingly at the sight.

“Daughter. Why—”

The woman looked at Yarang as if asking what was wrong.

At that moment.

Tap—!

“…?”

Someone suddenly appeared and grabbed the woman’s hand.

Both Yarang and the woman widened their eyes in shock at the unexpected touch.

“…”

In response to the situation, the woman turned to look at the person holding her arm.

There stood—

“…”

A young man, his body stiffly rigid, with a face scrunched up in displeasure.

Gu Yangcheong was there.

*

On top of the high building in Yawol.

Gu Bong and Shin Cheol, clad in red martial robes, were watching below.

“…Ah, that guy. He finally went through with it.”

Shin Cheol sighed softly as he confirmed the situation.

Despite his constant urging to avoid such courses of action, here it was. It was truly impossible not to feel exasperated.

“Ugh…”

Exhaling wearily, he ran his aged hands over his face.

This was a breath meant for that reckless fool, but also a sigh directed at himself.

“…Sect Leader…”

Gu Bong called for Shin Cheol. At those words, Shin Cheol looked back at him with an awkward expression.

“Are you alright? The wind feels sharp.”

“Haha.”

At Gu Bong’s words, Shin Cheol chuckled lightly.

“Who would worry about whom? Am I really going to falter because of a mere breeze?”

“Even so…”

“Don’t worry. Even if a tempest were to blow, I wouldn’t budge.”

While he waved his hand dismissively, Gu Bong’s expression didn’t improve.

Knowing full well how deeply he was worried, Shin Cheol refrained from saying anything further.

Right now, that wasn’t the concern.

“Hmm…”

What on earth was that foolish kid trying to accomplish?

That was what puzzled him.

‘Yangcheon.’

He understood the emotions surging within him.

It was not that he was seeing something trivial; he had come upon the mother he yearned for so much.

But therein lay the problem.

‘…That’s not your mother.’

That thing—or that being—was something beyond description, grotesque and fearsome.

He worried that if Yangcheon approached, thinking of it as a mother, he would take the brunt of its repercussions.

‘I hope…’

That it wouldn’t leave too deep a wound.

As he continued to gaze toward Gu Yangcheong, lost in those thoughts—

“Sect Leader.”

“Yeah.”

Gu Bong inquired from behind Shin Cheol.

“May I ask a question?”

“What if I say no?”

“…Then I’ll just remain silent.”

“Heh, just kidding. Go ahead.”

Without directing his gaze toward Gu Bong, he replied.

Upon hearing that, Gu Bong immediately asked Shin Cheol.

“Is that being the one you’ve been waiting for all this time, Sect Leader?”

“…”

At Gu Bong’s words, Shin Cheol slightly turned his head to glance at him.

How should he respond? For a moment, a look of contemplation crossed his face.

“Yeah.”

In the end, Shin Cheol chose to answer honestly.

There was no point in hiding it anyway.

“That brat is that brat.”

“…”

“Why? Are you upset?”

“…No, I’m not.”

If he claimed to be unbothered, it would be a lie. Gu Bong was not simply stuck in that emotion.

Undeniably, he already knew the fact, but—

It was more complex and vast than that.

Jealousy. Discontent. Sadness.

Amid the surging emotions, the one that loomed largest was—

“Sect Leader…”

“Speak.”

“Are you planning to return now that you’ve found what you were looking for?”

It was anxiety.

“What?”

Gu Bong’s words surprised Shin Cheol, and his eyes widened slightly.

What’s he talking about? His expression seemed to say, yet still, Gu Bong continued.

“If you obtained what you seek… were you not thinking of returning?”

“…”

Ironically, Shin Cheol remained silent in response to Gu Bong’s remark.

Seeing that, Gu Bong reflected.

Was he truly not speaking, or was he unable to?

An uncomfortable silence filled the air. What could this silence indicate?

Just as Gu Bong was about to clench his lips and shift the conversation—

“Don’t worry.”

Shin Cheol spoke up.

“I have no intention of going anywhere.”

“…However…!”

“The reason I couldn’t speak just now was that I needed time to understand the feelings with which you addressed me, Gu Bong.”

“…”

“If it were up to me, I would like to have a deeper conversation about this with you.”

With that, Shin Cheol ceased looking down at the ground and straightened up.

“Unfortunately, the situation has turned unfavorable.”

“…Sect Leader? What do you mean?”

“Come out now.”

Ignoring Gu Bong’s words, Shin Cheol stared into the void.

At that moment.

“Regardless.”

Something descended from the air and landed on top of the building.

“Gah…!”

Seeing it, Gu Bong trembled in astonishment.

“He’s still perceptive as ever.”

The young man with verdant hair.

One of the four generals said to exist in the current Mankye, the master of Yawol.

Yusa stood there.

“G…General…!”

Gu Bong was so shocked that he couldn’t even close his gaping eyes, staring at Yusa.

And Yusa narrowed his brows slightly as he observed Gu Bong.

“Child of Worya. What does that rude demeanor you’re displaying while gazing at me mean?”

“…!”

Yusa’s words made Gu Bong’s heart skip a beat.

An instinctive loyalty toward a mightier predator stirred within him.

Remembering that, Gu Bong’s body wanted to kneel automatically, but—

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Shin Cheol stood in front of Yusa.

At that, Gu Bong felt his trembling body settle down.

“Do you not realize that tormenting children is a despicable act?”

“Tormenting? I only intended to instill courtesy.”

“…Ha ha.”

Shin Cheol found it amusing and chuckled, while Yusa’s expression grew even grimmer.

“You find it funny?”

“Then, is it not amusing?”

“Your tone is incredibly annoying.”

“This isn’t the time for trivial banter. What brings you here?”

“Who has something to say to whom?”

Clenching his teeth, Yusa glared at Shin Cheol.

“If I hadn’t been focused, I might have missed this. But you, what are you doing here?”

“Can’t you tell? I’m just taking a stroll with my disciple.”

“Don’t spout nonsense.”

Crash—!

A harsh crack erupted from the ground where Yusa stood.

“Have you forgotten about the pact?”

Growl…

The sound of a beast howling emanated from within Yusa’s body.

“No, I haven’t forgotten.”

“You haven’t forgotten? And yet you dare set foot here?”

Anger mounted, veins bulged in Yusa’s forehead.

“The Hwasan you created, the fools wandering there, exist purely because of the pact made with the master. Surely, there must be something paramount to uphold, yes?”

What must be upheld above all else is—

“Absolutely, you must never leave the realm you’ve forged.”

Asserting hotly.

“The pact allows me to barely maintain peace, and yet you’ve already violated it twice?”

Yusa clenched his fist, his arms expanding into colossal form.

“Good. It’s about time to settle your score with me…!”

The moment he was about to charge in and engage in battle.

KABOOM—!!

“Gah.”

Yusa suddenly crumpled to the ground.

Shin Cheol had approached and struck Yusa’s face with a punch.

Thud!

Yusa collapsed as if losing consciousness, crumpling to the floor.

“Ugh. It’s so noisy. Like a dog barking, when I’m too busy. Tsk.”

Shin Cheol casually tossed Yusa aside and returned to his position.

“…”

In that instant, the unfolding scene left Gu Bong in a daze.

The general knocked out cold by a single strike, while Shin Cheol remained unbothered.

And it was only Gu Bong, caught in bewilderment, who remained.

 

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