Chapter: 570
Coldly falling snow.
I remember the young man, cradling a woman resembling snow, against the background of the pure white ground that began to pile up layer by layer.
Blood was scattered here and there, and there was the young man quietly exhaling over it.
This was a memory of the old man watching it.
[Hey.]
The old man called out to the young man.
At this, the young man slowly raised his head.
As his red hair swayed, his eyes came into view.
They were a deep, dark red.
So red that they resembled the blood soaking the floor.
The old man felt a chill run through him, gazing into those eyes, without realizing it.
However, he concealed such emotions and spoke.
[Wouldn’t this be enough…?]
His words bore a hint of earnestness.
[Enough now…]
[…what…]
The young man asked, interrupting the old man.
[What on earth has happened…]
He spat the words, tightening his grip around the woman.
[Nothing has happened.]
[Hey.]
Hwaruk—!
[…!]
Just as the old man was about to step forward, a fierce flame shot toward him.
But no, the flame didn’t reach the old man.
Someone had grabbed the old man and pulled him back.
[You want to die? Get a grip.]
[… Hwangbo Gaju.]
The man was the head of the Hwangbo family, the contemporary king of power.
He pulled out his spear and yelled at the red-haired young man.
[Shinryong…! You reckless brat. How could you have hidden such power…!]
The shout was thunderous, yet the young man didn’t even flinch.
He simply remained silent.
His eyes scanned the surroundings with a frigid gaze.
From him emanated a wave of heat that felt out of place for winter.
Conversely, his gaze was cold as ice, resembling the harshness of the season.
[Truly amusing.]
[What?]
Hwangbo Gaju frowned at the young man’s words.
[What did you just say…?]
[It’s rather ridiculous that you’ve gathered here for a single woman.]
There was no emotion in his voice.
It was sharp, like a blade.
[And you still call yourselves a righteous faction?]
[This punk…!!]
Hwangbo Gaju’s face contorted as he processed the young man’s words.
[You know well enough she isn’t just any woman!]
His heavy finger pointed at someone.
The tip of his finger was directed toward the woman in the young man’s embrace.
[I can understand being blinded by beauty. But protecting that monster…!]
[Monster?]
[…!]
Chills!
Goosebumps crawled down Hwangbo Gaju’s spine.
At the same time, he took a step back.
When Hwangbo Gaju realized he had been pushed back by the young man’s presence, the veins in his neck bulged.
[This… this wretched brat…]
His pride was hurt.
The very fact that he had been startled by that mass of flesh, even for a moment.
Then, just as Hwangbo Gaju was about to unleash his fury, it was halted by Ubongchuigae.
[Please, stop.]
[Ubongchuigae!]
[You were the one who told me to get a grip. Why are you acting up now?]
Crack.
Hwangbo Gaju gritted his teeth at Ubongchuigae’s caution.
That was the only way to barely suppress his emotions.
Having confirmed this, Ubongchuigae turned his gaze back to the young man.
[Are you really not going to let go of that hand?]
He released his hold on the woman.
That was all it took.
Then, this brutal situation would conclude, and everything would revert back to peace.
Both those present and the young man knew this very well.
Yet the young man’s reply remained unchanged.
[I never had that choice to begin with.]
[Hey…]
[I heard the meaning of Maeng is righteousness and cooperation.]
Contrasting his weary demeanor, the young man’s voice was firm.
It had always been that way from the beginning. And so it remained now.
[I don’t know what that is. So, I can’t infer what Maeng means.]
A young man, who claimed he didn’t understand a genuine faction, despite being part of one.
Ubongchuigae showed no reaction to those words.
Just.
[But.]
He simply waited quietly for the young man to continue speaking.
[Even if I don’t know what the oath signifies, protecting what must be protected is my righteousness and cooperation. That is my justice.]
The wind whistled with the snow, blowing harder still.
Yet, the traces melted away before they reached the young man.
[If I can’t even protect the woman in my arms, that means losing my faith. To me, that is no different from death.]
The air distorted.
The blaze of his heat was so intense, it nearly shimmered.
[If you wish to take away my faith, then try.]
A multitude of forces surrounded them.
Amidst those whose renown spread far and wide across the Central Plains.
The aura radiating from someone who had just reached adulthood felt unusually out of place.
[I am.]
It wouldn’t be strange if fear consumed him, or if exhaustion led him to surrender.
But the young man did not choose that path.
[For nothing shall be taken from me.]
He opted to stand against the world.
Such memories were still vivid to the old man.
Perhaps it was because it was such a shock.
‘What a reckless lad he was.’
Few remembered that day.
Of those who had been present, most were no longer alive today.
And most of those who lived probably did not remember either.
[I hope you can forget these things and live on.]
At the war’s end, drenched in blood, the young man declared.
Ubongchuigae was among the few who still recalled such occurrences.
This also meant that Ubongchuigae had a debt to the young man.
If one were to ask how it constituted a debt, it was simply this logic.
‘No one died.’
Even if a prohibition was imposed at the same moment as the vow.
Everyone there managed to survive.
Even with the delayed intervention of the “Sword Lord,” it remained an unwavering truth.
Moreover, the young man had fulfilled his duties as he said he would.
Following the contract, he diligently executed tasks assigned by the Maeng.
When the contract came to an end, he returned to his clan to take over the duties of the lord.
He concealed his existence.
After that, he never set foot in the Central Plains again.
The young man aged into middle age.
The world soon let go of his name.
How could such a renowned name fade so easily?
It was because it was what he desired, and Ubongchuigae had been discreetly facilitating it.
So much time had passed, leading to the present moment.
“Hol hol… .”
Ubongchuigae stepped out, allowing a slight chuckle to escape.
“They truly look alike.”
It was because the conversation they had was rather intriguing.
The child looked exactly like the young man from his memories.
They shared much in resemblance, but resemblance is still resemblance.
Of course, as he is his son, it’s expected.
Of course.
“I don’t think my daughter looks much like me, though.”
The girl said to be Geom Hu’s disciple appeared rather different.
If one had to claim likeness:
‘From the mother’s side.’
She would resemble the woman who had been cradled at that time.
Hiss.
Ubongchuigae stroked his belly with his hand.
It felt as though a massive lock was embedded within his danjeon.
This was due to the chain tied around him in the room.
‘Hmm.’
It might seem excessive, yet Ubongchuigae didn’t mind.
After all, there wasn’t much life left to preserve.
He simply found joy in it.
‘He’s got the looks, seems to have inherited talent as well. But he’s wound up with cleverness he didn’t possess.’
Unlike the father, who would break anything obstructing him without hesitation.
It appeared the child had learned to navigate around obstacles without shattering them.
Holol.
‘That’s an intimidating thought.’
It’s already overwhelming to possess astounding talent. How much more frightening would it be if one had sharp wit too?
With that thought, Ubongchuigae smiled.
He recalled the child’s expression as he reacted to his words.
Even while dodging, he boldly displayed his pointedness.
An awl so sharp it could stab at any moment.
With that memory, Ubongchuigae found a smile creeping onto his face.
‘I don’t know what that child is hiding, but…’
I sincerely hope it serves as a wake-up call for him.
That was Ubongchuigae’s desire.
‘But now, it seems unlikely…’
No longer.
There’s no way I can conceal the child’s story.
The scale of it exceeds what I could hide, regardless of my efforts.
Especially if it involves the unknown.
With the task entrusted by the clan leader merging with this, Ubongchuigae could no longer spare time for personal matters.
As the head of the Gu family, in accordance with his request, he had been ensuring the existence of Gu Yangcheon remained hidden.
But going any further would likely prove to be a burden.
Thus, Ubongchuigae felt inclined to issue a warning to Gu Yangcheon.
Be vigilant.
This meant to handle your actions with care and tread lightly.
In addition.
‘Was it a Heavenly Demon?’
The mysterious figure that had attacked the shaman.
Recalling him, Ubongchuigae glanced back.
It was where Gu Yangcheon was.
Having gazed at it for a moment, Ubongchuigae shook his head.
‘Unlikely.’
Given that Gu Yangcheon had committed some act through the dawn.
There was a fleeting thought that the child might be connected to the Heavenly Demon.
But Ubongchuigae immediately dismissed that idea.
Didn’t the inspector mention?
That the entity known as the Heavenly Demon had undoubtedly reached a transcendent realm?
‘The physique doesn’t match either.’
He was said to have stood close to seven feet tall.
Although the situation was unfolding peculiarly, Ubongchuigae concluded that Gu Yangcheon was disconnected from it.
Even if there were any ties,
‘It’s bound to reveal itself in the process. Hahaha…’
Understanding would naturally surface through the process. Ubongchuigae was aware of the information power of openness.
Therefore, he simply wished.
Please let it be.
I hope that this matter and the child have nothing to do with one another.
Right after Ubongchuigae left.
I had to sit there for a moment, taken aback, staring blankly.
In my hand, I held the snack that Ubongchuigae had given me.
“… Tsk.”
I had to look twice before cautiously placing it on the table.
“What is this?”
What is it, really?
Ubongchuigae, who had been interrogating me, ended up just handing me a snack and vanishing.
I thought he would say something more, but he truly disappeared just like that.
What on earth did he want?
I couldn’t figure it out.
“Is it safe to say I handled this well? This?”
That wasn’t quite right.
It wouldn’t be accurate to say it went smoothly.
‘I guess I was let off the hook.’
It feels correct to see that Ubongchuigae merely let it slide.
Or…
‘Is it a warning?’
That could also be a possibility.
He knows you’ve done something. So behave yourself.
That could have been his intention.
If this isn’t it either.
‘What on earth does he mean?’
No matter how I think it over, I still can’t grasp Ubongchuigae’s intent.
Did he genuinely let it slide just because he owed my father?
‘If it’s about showing me a weighty gold bar, then maybe.’
This is a point where I can’t afford to let my guard down.
Not with the Arch of Openness.
The crux here is that I’ve now caught his attention.
This could complicate my actions.
‘I don’t think he caught wind of anything else.’
Fortunately, he seemed unaware that I was the one who attacked the shaman.
‘… Though, I can’t be entirely sure about that either.’
It’s a scenario where he might pretend not to know even if he does.
I ought to jot down some plans beforehand.
‘The spell was well executed.’
Though the amount was modest and shallow since I slipped it in unnoticed, I could probably make use of it.
As for the rest,
‘I’ll need to mobilize them.’
I must employ individuals who are much more adept in this field than I am.
Slowly, things are becoming more convoluted, and my head is starting to ache.
But reasoning isn’t part of my duties anyway.
‘He’ll be there too.’
With that thought, I stood up.
It was pointless to mull over it any further.
“… Phew.”
First and foremost, I needed to move swiftly.
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