Chapter 670
I had to stop with a somewhat blank expression after hearing Gu Hee-bi’s words.
Grandfather?
Because such an unexpected character popped up.
Grandfather.
If I interpret this correctly, it refers to the ancestor of the Gu family, the father of my father.
Who is that…?
Honestly, this is a person I didn’t know.
To be precise, it’s accurate to say I’ve never even heard of him.
In my past life, or even in this life, I’ve never met or heard of my grandfather.
I just know that he died before I was born.
Since the Gu family didn’t perform ancestral rites or ceremonies, unlike other clans, I never gave it much thought, assuming he must have just naturally died.
But now, he suddenly pops up here?
Does that mean he was alive?
I’ve heard that story a few times.
The Dark King has mentioned it directly, but I never really thought deeply about it.
Your grandfather entrusted the horse to Gu Hee-bi?
Even if this is out of the blue, isn’t this a bit too unexpected?
“Suddenly, grandfather? What does that mean?”
When I asked with a questioning look, Gu Hee-bi suddenly slapped my forehead.
I could have dodged it, but I didn’t feel like it.
Thwack!
I looked at Gu Hee-bi while rubbing my throbbing forehead.
“Brother, what does ‘grandfather’ even mean?”
“Then what is a grandfather, if not a grandfather?”
“That’s just rude.”
“I never thought I’d hear the word ‘etiquette’ come from your mouth, sister.”
It was absurd for someone notorious for their bad temper to suddenly discuss manners like that.
“I don’t think it’s possible to be polite to someone whose face and name I don’t even know. Is what you just said true, sister?”
It doesn’t matter if my grandfather is alive or not.
Since he’s a person I’ve never seen in my past life, I couldn’t care less whether he exists or not.
However…
“If Grandfather really left that to you, is it true?”
If he did leave the horse to Gu Hee-bi, that changes everything.
That would truly become a family matter.
“Why would I lie to you?”
“If you search for it, there might be a reason.”
“That’s hurtful. Is that all we have between us? Didn’t I clean up after you and played with you so many times when you were little…?”
“Sister.”
I cut her off because it felt like she was dragging it on.
“I’m not joking.”
“Hmm.”
Time seems to stretch. The more it does, the shorter my patience becomes.
“Did your grandfather really show up and leave it to you?”
When I asked with suspicion, Gu Hee-bi extended her hand instead of replying.
“Hold on.”
I took her hand without hesitation, knowing what she intended to do.
Woosh! Energy surged.
The energy of Gu Hee-bi and my energy intertwined, and the Gu Flame Wheel Technique began to resonate.
“I will now only tell you the truth.”
As Gu Hee-bi spoke, the energy began to move and bind us together.
This is a ban. Gu Hee-bi linked our energies and imposed a ban on herself.
“Let’s start with the question from earlier.”
I didn’t bother with any pointless inquiries about why we were doing things this way. We both knew this was the most convenient approach.
“Right. My grandfather entrusted that child to me.”
There was no movement in the energy. My pulse was normal, and my breathing steady.
That means it was the truth.
“Then… since when—”
“Brother, that’s not the point.”
Just as I was about to ask my next question, Gu Hee-bi laughed and interrupted me.
“It’s only fair that we each ask one question. Why are you being so sneaky and trying to ask all the questions?”
“…”
Did she have something to ask me?
“Hurry.”
I frowned at Gu Hee-bi’s words but spoke without much emotion.
“From now on, I will only answer truthfully to what you say.”
“Good.”
Gu Hee-bi smiled as if satisfied with my answer.
Then she asked me.
“That child. Are you going to kill him?”
I nodded at the sudden question.
It was very direct. So, I answered right away.
“Let’s see.”
It sounds vague, but I’ve already made up my mind long ago.
I think I might’ve spoken without much hesitation.
“… why?”
“Because it’s something that needs to be done.”
My stance on this hasn’t changed.
“Is it your job to kill that child?”
“Sister, stop treating me like a child. He’s not just a child.”
“Little brother.”
“I know you’re trying to protect me, so I’ve put up with this long enough. Stop adding more strange words to this.”
I felt my annoyance rise. I tried to hold it in, but it forced me to lose control.
While trying to suppress my concerns, I looked at Gu Hee-bi.
“… Little brother, have you changed?”
Gu Hee-bi said to me with a sad look in her eyes.
That gaze pierced my heart, and it felt bitter.
“It has changed. It had to change.”
Even so, nothing changes.
“You’ve changed too, sister. Why do you keep covering up for that?”
“Well…”
Gu Hee-bi smiled while responding to something she didn’t quite understand.
“But I believe that once you get to know that child, you’ll feel the same. So,”
“I don’t want to know.”
How ridiculous. I didn’t need to hear more.
How much more do I need to know here?
This was something I had sickened by in my past life.
It means there’s no need to know more, nor is there any point in trying to understand.
Cheonma is different from Namgung Bi-ah and Je-gal Hyuk.
People can change.
This is something I’ve felt throughout my life, but Cheonma was on a completely different level.
Could even Cheonma possibly change? Maybe.
But…
How can you believe that?
What if it doesn’t happen? Can I handle the consequences then?
If I lack certainty about this, it’s better to take care of it now before it escalates.
“Do you think that’s the right thing to do, Little Brother?”
“The issue of right and wrong is long gone. I mentioned it earlier. I’m just doing what I need to do. So just tell me.”
I’ve gone beyond my limit.
From here, my emotions started leaking into the energy.
“Why did that guy named grandfather leave that to you?”
“…”
Creek…
The old table began to tremble with energy.
It wasn’t intended as a threat. It was just the uncontrolled energy slipping out.
“…”
Their eyes met, both filled with heat.
Time passed. It was merely a moment, yet that moment felt drawn out. As it did, the first to speak was Gu Hee-bi, who had listened to my question.
Just as I thought she was going to give me an answer.
“I won’t answer.”
… what?
Upon hearing Gu Hee-bi’s statement, I couldn’t help but wrinkle my already bothered face further.
… What kind of nonsense is that?
“It seems like there’s nothing more to discuss with someone who’s already made up their mind. Don’t you think so?”
In simpler terms, it felt like she was telling me to drop dead.
I glared at Gu Hee-bi, but her stance remained unchanged.
There’s only one way forward.
“Do as you like.”
If she refuses to answer, then I won’t press the issue.
The only rule of the ban was simply not to tell lies.
“I’ll just do whatever I want too.”
Family matters? A request from a grandfather?
What does that matter to me?
I’ll just do what I must.
With that thought, I got up.
Swish!
I heard the sound of a sword being drawn.
Whoosh—!
Then a thick, dark presence filled the room.
My gaze turned cold and hostile.
“Sister.”
I said without looking back.
The one who drew the sword was Gu Hee-bi.
She was pointing the tip of her sword at me while my back was turned.
Flare!
The flames that flickered from her hand completely surrounded her sword.
The heat surged forth.
The flames swirled and radiated warmth.
There was no hostility, but I could feel the resistance in the air.
Gu Hee-bi’s stance spoke that.
“What does this mean?”
“It means exactly what you see.”
Gu Hee-bi said with a bitter smile.
“As long as my brother’s intentions are clear, I can’t send him to that child.”
“And? Are you going to fight me?”
“A fight? Do you really think this sister would see you as a threat?”
Flicker—!
The intensity of the flames increased.
“I’ll probably be defeated in one-sided fashion. My little brother is strong after all.”
…
I was left speechless by her casual comment.
Who would’ve believed that the proud Gu Hee-bi would utter something so trivial?
Even amidst all of this, her expression remained steady.
If it were a different situation, I would likely be gnashing my teeth to deny it.
You draw your sword right after putting it down like that?
Did something change after touching Hwagyeong?
I couldn’t tell. I had no clue how much Gu Hee-bi had changed over the years.
But…
“Knowing that, you still won’t let me go? Seriously, sister, have you lost your mind?”
No matter the situation, my anger bubbled to the surface.
“Is that thing really that precious?”
So precious that my sister would point a sword at me?
I didn’t say anything in response.
I remembered it just as I was about to let something slip.
Even though we clearly shared the same father, we never developed a relationship strong enough to be called family.
So I couldn’t express it.
It would be too reckless to refer to my sister as family since I was the one who caused her end.
I’m happy.
The image of Gu Hee-bi, who bled and closed her eyes while asking me for happiness, surfaced in my mind.
Recalling this instantly soured my mood.
Shit.
Hah.
I cursed internally and sighed.
Whoosh.
I redirected my energy to cool myself down. I shouldn’t allow my emotions to overtake me.
It’s a time when I need to be more cautious.
In that moment…
“Sister, you keep misunderstanding something. It’s not about who wins or loses.”
Gu Hee-bi is something else.
No idea how she got there, but she finally reached Hwagyeong at such a young age, so I can confidently say she could easily become a candidate for Sword Master someday.
Still…
“I can just finish it before it gets to that point.”
Considering my current level, I was barely hitting three phases of intellect.
So, the idea was, just take her down and leave.
Thud.
I leaped off the ground and charged toward Gu Hee-bi.
It was to end this quickly and get out.
“…!”
As I got close, Gu Hee-bi’s eyes widened in surprise.
At that moment…
Crack—!!!
The roof of the hut caved in, and something shot out.
Crash!
Boom!
Energy clashed, and the pressure exploded outward.
A wave of destruction swept across the area.
Standing amidst the chaos where the old hut had vanished without a trace, I gazed straight ahead.
Someone was blocking my path through the swirling dust.
The hazy energy was a dark color that wouldn’t allow any light through.
It forcefully controlled the energy, blocking mine, and glared at me.
“…You. Who are you?”
“…”
“Why are you bothering my sister?”
I felt my heart gradually chill as I faced that figure.
It was Cheonma.
Cheonma stood before Gu Hee-bi, glaring at me with sharpened eyes.
Her purple eyes shone more brightly than the moon.
Her black hair radiated a purple hue that was more beautiful than a star-filled night.
Aside from her unique aura, she resembled the Cheonma I had seen in my previous life.
“Don’t bother my sister.”
…haha.
I couldn’t help but burst into laughter at her words.
How could anyone not laugh?
No, this isn’t right.
But isn’t that going a bit too far?
“At the very least, you shouldn’t be doing that from there.”
“…”
She changed, oh how much she changed.
I never imagined I’d see such a sight in my life.
Cheonma stood there, blocking me from a shocked Gu Hee-bi.
How could it be so contradictory?
Seeing that, the pent-up feelings inside me began to tremble.
The anxiety faded away.
The creeping fear vanished.
So the remaining guilt turned cold and morphed into rage.
“That position shouldn’t have been mine. It shouldn’t be yours either.”
A position meant to protect Gu Hee-bi.
Anyone could take it, but it couldn’t be either you or me.
It should have always been that way.
“Especially not for someone who knows nothing.”
Hearing my words, Cheonma frowned and tilted her head.
“I don’t understand what you mean. Anyway, don’t bother my sister.”
“Yeon-ah. Just a moment…”
“If you hurt my sister.”
Cheonma nodded and spoke to me.
“I won’t forgive you either.”
“…”
Her words echoed, shaking my insides.
Forgiveness?
Did Cheonma just say that to me?
“How dare you say such a thing?”
Unbelievable.
Both of us.
No matter what happens, we’re in no position to receive forgiveness. How can she casually say such a thing?
As I watched Cheonma, a saying came to mind.
Forgetting is a blessing.
I can’t quite recall when or who said it.
But it strangely fits the current situation.
Yes, forgetting truly is a blessing.
Because you can’t remember anything, that’s why you can speak like that.
No, even if you remembered, you would be the same.
That’s why she is Cheonma.
She won’t feel a shred of guilt and will only bring about madness, staining the world with blood.
The being before my eyes was exactly that kind of being.
It had to be.
Alright!
I released my energy and let it flow into my body.
The energy that began from my heart infiltrated my veins, controlling my entire body.
Hisssss!
My hair darkened, and veins surged in my eyes.
At that moment, the silk around my hand also darkened.
“Yeah, I’ve thought about this too hard. I could just end things here.”
“Brother…!”
Gu Hee-bi attempted to say something to stop me.
Boom!
But my body had already arrived in front of Cheonma.
Crack!
“!”
I seized Cheonma by the neck.
I triggered my energy and lunged forward.
From the moment I resolved to put an end to this bloodshed.
I would kill Cheonma—somehow.
This moment is it.
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