… This bastard.
His annoyingly flushed cheeks, his irritatingly flickering eyes, and his vexing gaze that dared not meet mine.
Watching that annoyingly handsome brat’s actions, it was clear he was captivated at first glance.
It made sense; Wi Seol-Ah’s slightly damp hair and her anxious eyes were utterly deadly.
Unless one had spent years entrenched in wisdom, it was all too easy to have one’s defenses broken down and one’s heart invaded at a glance.
If I felt like I was floating, how could that brat endure it? In the end, he was hopelessly besieged by Wi Seol-Ah.
Tsk.
Wi Seol-Ah looked at me with a clueless expression, lost in the situation.
I felt a bit annoyed, so I pulled her a bit closer to me.
Seeing that, Gu Jeolyub hurriedly tried to control his expression, but he could do nothing about those red cheeks.
The Second Elder, standing next to us, couldn’t hide his smirk as he looked at Gu Jeolyub.
‘He wants to tease him but is trying hard to hold back.’
What a mean old man.
“Ahem! Ahem!”
Feeling the awkward atmosphere, Gu Jeolyub cleared his throat multiple times. That wasn’t going to make things any better, I reckoned.
“I-I’ll say it again, I, Gu Jeolyub, request a duel with the direct descendant of the Gu Clan…”
‘At least look me in the eyes when you talk, you bastard…’
I could clearly see his eyes darting toward Wi Seol-Ah. I waved my hands, signaling him to take a hike.
“Duel? Forget it, go back. I’m not interested.”
It was clear that it was an annoying request. Challenging me out of nowhere was hardly respectful.
In fact, it was closer to an act of disregard.
I had plenty of reasons to decline. Not pleased with my response, Gu Jeolyub’s tone shifted.
“Are you scared?”
“Yes, very scared.”
“Still weak, huh? Running away from even this…”
“Right, right, I’m so weak. Of course, of course.”
I let his goofy rant go in one ear and out the other, visibly causing Gu Jeolyub’s eyelids to twitch. His rapid breathing suggested he was quite upset.
But what could he do? I was firm in my decision.
Requesting a duel unexpectedly at the crack of dawn, he had no grounds to be offended when I refused.
As this brat neared his limit, the Second Elder stepped in and asked:
“Jeolyub, why do you want to duel him? Is it because of the First Elder?”
‘The First Elder?’
Gu Jeolyub hesitated at the Second Elder’s question but didn’t provide an answer.
However, his pause told me everything I needed to know.
‘Clan politics.’
No wonder this nonsense was unfolding.
‘I shouldn’t have gone overboard in the duel with Gu Yeonseo.’
Everyone in the Gu Clan knew about the First Elder’s ambitions. Yet they felt stymied to act because of me.
A direct descendant with little going for him.
Obliged to inherit the family head position simply because I was the only male heir, I was lacking, and to top it off, I was the child of a concubine.
Thus, the First Elder’s ambition had been on hold, but he was keen to fulfill it.
However, that ambition was starting to waver.
All because I managed to beat Gu Yeonseo.
Most dismissed it as mere luck, but even the slightest uncertainty was unwelcome news to the First Elder.
“Is that why he resorts to such childish acts?”
Annoyed by the situation, I thought about retreating to the training grounds, but the Second Elder spoke again.
“Since he made the effort to come here, why not accept his request?”
Looking at the Second Elder, I saw ‘interest’ plastered on his face. He was brewing some weird thoughts again.
“Lord Second Elder, you really want me to lie flat on the ground after a beating? Why do you keep pushing me?”
The Second Elder, glancing between me and Gu Jeolyub, grinned.
“This old man doesn’t believe our Yangcheon will go down so easily.”
This crafty old man.
I shot a glance at Gu Jeolyub, realizing how much tougher this was going to be.
‘He’s definitely going to be a bit strong.’
It was obvious. This annoying brat was stronger than Gu Yeonseo.
While I couldn’t gauge the exact amount of Qi he had or his level in martial arts, my instincts told me that he possessed a lower understanding of martial arts and Qi compared to Gu Yeonseo.
Not that it made Gu Yeonseo stronger by default.
After all, the reason I had managed to dodge Gu Yeonseo’s attacks and win was tied to that.
“Anyway, I won’t duel. I don’t want to get tangled up in this political nonsense.”
Seeing my stance, the Second Elder looked disappointed, his face casting an odd aura for someone of his stature.
Gu Jeolyub frowned, frustration etched on his annoyingly handsome face.
Then he suddenly directed a question at Wi Seol-Ah.
“You there, are you a servant of the clan?”
He didn’t stutter, but his voice trembled ever so slightly. Wi Seol-Ah, wrapped in her blanket, tilted her head, confused.
Then she seemed to throw him off balance with her gaze.
‘What the hell is this bastard doing, having a duel with himself?’
“Yes! I’m a servant!”
Stabilizing his posture after her reply, Gu Jeolyub spoke while looking at me.
“Young Lady, rather than serving this weakling, wouldn’t you prefer to come to me? I can provide you with a much better environment.”
What kind of ridiculous offer was that?
What exactly would he do for her? His reddening face only added to my irritation.
I felt I needed to step in to interrupt this ridiculousness.
“What kind of—”
“I like the Young Master.”
That was the first time in my new life I’d heard Wi Seol-Ah speak so adamantly. Not just me, but even the Second Elder and Gu Jeolyub were taken aback.
“I won’t go to anyone else but the Young Master.”
Her words struck me like lightning.
‘… This isn’t good.’
A dire situation indeed. I rubbed my chest as a knot formed in my stomach. This was absolutely not good.
This was a curse worse than the one cast upon me by the Heavenly Demon.
I thought death had set me free from that curse, but rerouting back into this mess was definitely not the plan.
Wi Seol-Ah was looking at me. What emotions swirled in those eyes? I knew one thing for certain—I couldn’t afford to hold her gaze for long.
I shifted my attention to Gu Jeolyub. The shock seemed to have shaken him to the point where he couldn’t maintain his expression.
He looked sour.
After a deep sigh, I stood up and walked past Gu Jeolyub.
“Follow me; I’ll take on your duel, or whatever.”
From behind, I heard an odd “Ohhh!” Surely that was the Second Elder.
Gu Jeolyub clenched his teeth and trailed after me. Was he happy to have a victim to unleash his frustrations on?
‘Why am I always dragged into these annoying situations?’
Why? Because I was the one causing this ruckus. Of course! That was it.
… Damn it.
…
“Maybe I shouldn’t have taken this on.”
That thought struck me the moment I stepped into the training area. Why do I always blow things out of proportion only to regret them later?
I really disliked this part of myself.
Crack crack—
As I stretched my body, rhythmic cracking sounds echoed through me. I looked at the Second Elder, who was watching me with a dubious glance.
“Why did you push me to accept this duel?”
“This old man didn’t; you did that on your own, Yangcheon.”
“You made the suggestion first, and it’s partly your fault for not stopping me but instead enjoying this whole situation.”
I tossed back the same retort I had given the Second Elder during the Nine Dragons Ceremony when he whipped a certain Peng Woojin.
The Second Elder chuckled at my quip.
“Right! I guess this old man shares some blame.”
“So why did you suggest I duel him?”
‘Because of the First Elder.’
He spoke to me using telepathy since our conversation was a tad sensitive. It felt strange hearing his voice in my head after such a long time.
“What does that mean?”
I responded more plainly than telepathically. The Second Elder appeared bewildered at my answer.
‘Uh, shouldn’t you at least be a bit cautious when replying to me telepathically?’
“It doesn’t really matter, does it?”
… Sigh.
The Second Elder exhaled in resignation.
‘The First Elder carries lofty ambitions. You already know this, right? A touch of ambition isn’t bad, but using kin to advance one’s goals doesn’t exactly reflect well on the clan.’
Just as the Second Elder opined, this duel was undeniably a political gambit.
If I lost, Gu Jeolyub’s standing within the clan would undoubtedly rise. Conversely, if Gu Jeolyub lost to me…
‘That would spell disaster for him.’
In Gu Jeolyub’s position, it was unfathomable for him to entertain losing against me.
The First Elder believed Gu Jeolyub would win against me, thus sending him here.
‘Seems a bit desperate, doesn’t it?’
I couldn’t fathom why the First Elder was pushing for this.
What had him in such a hurry? I silently mulled over the Second Elder’s words before finally speaking.
“… Hmm, since I’m dealing with this annoying task, shouldn’t I get something out of it?”
‘Huh…?’
“If I defeat that kid, please grant me a favor.”
‘Why should I do you a favor if you win…?’
“If you refuse, I’ll just roll around on the floor and lose right away.”
‘What a peculiar statement. If that happens, everything you hope for as the future family head—’
“Lord Second Elder, you keep expecting me to desire the role of head.”
I approached Gu Jeolyub, fingers loosening as I prepared for the duel.
“But I have no wish to become the head.”
‘…!’
The shock apparent, the Second Elder sucked in a breath. Did everyone think I harbored ambitions of becoming family head?
‘I left all that greed behind in my last life.’
I reflected internally. Was that indeed greed? Or was it considering myself unworthy of such ambition? No, it was simply something I had no use for.
“Do you understand what being a head entails, what responsibilities come with it?”
I was now all too familiar with it to the point of feeling disgust.
“Are you finished stretching?”
“Almost.”
Gu Jeolyub brandished a wooden sword, and standing directly across from him, it felt undeniable.
He was significantly stronger than Gu Yeonseo.
As I geared up for our duel, Gu Jeolyub suddenly bowed his head.
“I apologize to the Young Master.”
“What’s this about?”
“Last year’s duel got a bit out of hand.”
“We fought before?”
“Yes, and you were bedridden for a month because of it.”
‘That’s quite a long time… but why can’t I recall it?’
“You’re too weak, Young Master.”
“Now you’re simply insulting me.”
“I heard you managed to beat the Second Young Lady, but even that was likely just luck.”
“Agreed, I think so too.”
Gu Jeolyub was staring at me, a look of disbelief crossing his face. Did I slip up and fail to pay close attention to our interaction?
Now shaking his head, Gu Jeolyub continued.
“I don’t want to bully the weak, but lamenting over the prospect of such a one becoming the head is even more troubling.”
“You’re aware you’re speaking like that in front of the direct descendant, right?”
It was a risky statement to make outright.
Whoosh!
Heat whipped past my cheek. The warmth originated from Gu Jeolyub. This was a different aura than the traditional flame art that was specifically passed down to the clan’s main line.
Gu Jeolyub had inherited the Swift Flame Art.
While both practiced producing heat, instead of sheer explosive power from the Destructive Flame Art, this sought after speed and intensity.
‘Is he perhaps… in the third realm?’
At a comparable level as Gu Yeonseo, the searing heat he emanated made that quite evident. Ugh, maybe forfeiting right now wouldn’t be so bad.
‘What was said earlier.’
I was interrupted by the Second Elder’s telepathic voice as if he had been anticipating this moment.
‘If you win this duel, then I swear by my name to fulfill your request.’
‘It makes it hard to forfeit now.’
… My luck always stinks.
I resigned myself to the situation, beginning to circulate the Swift Flame Art within my body.
The energy swirling around began to push against Gu Jeolyub’s pressure bit by bit.
Gu Jeolyub’s expression shifted, realizing something.
“Lord Second Elder.”
Gu Jeolyub called for the Second Elder.
“What do you need?”
“If I win this duel, I want something as well.”
This brat had been eavesdropping all along.
‘What a schemer he is!’
The Second Elder shot me a glance before nodding at Gu Jeolyub.
“Well, the conditions need to be equal. What do you desire, Jeolyub?”
At that moment, Gu Jeolyub pointed somewhere.
Where he indicated stood Wi Seol-Ah, casually munching on a yakgwa.
“I want that servant.”
Desire flickered in Gu Jeolyub’s eyes—not just desire, but something bordering on lust.
And that?
“Haha.”
I couldn’t contain my frustration.
“You bastard.”
I reached a breaking point.
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