“Master.”

Moyong Do called out to Moyong Danli who had left the room and followed him. After Moyong Sowol’s departure, he had made an exceptional decision that broke tradition. He skipped over numerous candidates and accepted Moyong Do as his disciple.

The Clan Leader’s disciples were usually his direct children or blood relatives. However, Moyong Danli hadn’t accepted any of his grandchildren or children as disciples, and recently, Moyong Do had filled that empty spot.

As a result, Moyong Do’s position within the Moyong Clan had risen considerably.

Even though he sensed Moyong Do following behind him, Moyong Danli didn’t bother to open his mouth. Moyong Do called out to him again.

“Master. Master!”

Despite being called two or three times, Moyong Danli didn’t stop walking. Finally, upon returning to his room, Moyong Danli, who had kept his mouth tightly shut, opened it as soon as Moyong Do followed him inside.

“Do you also resent this old man?”

At his sudden question, Moyong Do flinched. Seeing his reaction, Moyong Danli smiled bitterly.

“Yes, you must resent me. After all, the person responsible for driving your precious sister to her death is right here.”

“Master.”

“But for that person to feel guilt now, how preposterous it must seem.”

He let out a deep sigh and sat down on a chair. Moyong Danli’s eyes sank deeply as he looked up at the ceiling.

Faced with this unfamiliar sight from a man who was always overflowing with strength and integrity, Moyong Do trembled as Moyong Danli opened his mouth again.

“Throughout life, people commit sins both large and small, receive forgiveness, and also forgive others. If the magnitude of those sins could be measured, then the sin I have committed against that child and you is one that cannot be washed away… one that cannot be forgiven.”

Moyong Do silently gazed at Moyong Danli before slowly approaching him. Moyong Danli lowered his gaze from the ceiling and looked at Moyong Do. Glancing at the bundle of papers in Moyong Do’s hand, he continued speaking.

“…A price for her body.”

Moyong Danli pressed his eyelids firmly and muttered a few more words before composing himself. With his head tilted, Moyong Danli looked at Moyong Do and spoke.

“My master, also my father, always told me not to confuse the clan with family. Even after living for over a hundred years, I still get confused and think wrongly about it.”

Moyong Do.

Moyong Danli called out to him in a gentle voice.

In Moyong Do, Moyong Danli saw traces of Sowol. Those serene eyes were enough to remind him of Sowol’s eyes that he had last seen half a year ago.

Moyong Danli met his gaze steadily and opened his mouth.

“I entrust the disposal of the wealth sent by the Demon Cult to you.”

“What?”

“It’s none other than the money obtained by selling your sister. I have no right to casually use it while hypocritically calling it noble. Therefore, I entrust you with deciding how to use it.”

“…”

Moyong Do couldn’t give any answer to Moyong Danli’s words. That was because what Moyong Danli was saying now was what Moyong Do had intended to demand.

Not because he coveted the wealth, but because he didn’t want to sacrifice the money obtained by selling his sister under the pretense of the clan.

That’s why, even if Moyong Danli, his master, were to oppose it, he had planned to strongly push for it, even at the risk of being expelled.

However, Moyong Danli had yielded.

Faced with this incomprehensible behavior, Moyong Do looked at him with a complex expression.

Moyong Danli turned his body away from the chair and gazed outside the window.

As the wind carried the scent of the mountains, the season of autumn was approaching. In other words, it also meant that Moyong Sowol’s life didn’t have much time left.

Moyong Danli quietly watched the fluttering leaves and moved his lips.

“I’m sorry.”

“…”

“I have done terrible things to your family. However, even if I could go back, I would make the same choice. Because that was the path I chose. So, even in the future, the path I choose will not always be one that is good for you. There will be things you dislike. Therefore, for Moyong Sowol… for your sister, it is not I who should act, but you.”

Moyong Danli took out a small box from his bosom and opened it. Inside, the two Shaolin Body Refining Pills he had been looking at earlier were neatly arranged.

Moyong Do’s eyes widened.

Moyong Danli pushed the box forward and handed it to Moyong Do, speaking softly.

“That child… your sister is still alive. She hasn’t died. If there is a chance, she can be saved.”

“This…”

“Also, if you use this, it can greatly help you. It may give you the enlightenment to break through the wall blocking your path. This is your choice.”

Moyong Do accepted the box Moyong Danli handed him.

Complex emotions stirred his mind. As Moyong Do looked down at the box, Moyong Danli’s voice rang out calmly.

“In life, one often faces the dilemma between one’s own desires and devotion to others. Just as teaching you martial arts and martial techniques is not all there is to me, this lesson depends not on me, but on you.”

Moyong Danli closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair, uttering his final words.

“There is still so much to learn.”

I have wasted my years.

* * *

In the room Moyong Do and Moyong Danli had left, the elders remained without dispersing.

The room, which had been lively with discussions about how to use the money, fell silent as if cold water had been poured, all within less than half a moment.

Faced with Moyong Danli’s change of heart, the elders wore complex expressions while simultaneously finding Moyong Do’s appearance at the end burdensome.

The elders also had children whom they personally taught and trained. However, Moyong Do possessed talent that surpassed their own children by several fold.

By accepting Moyong Do as his disciple in the position that Moyong Danli had left vacant for so long, Moyong Do had become the nominal successor and next clan leader.

Most people in the Moyong clan were happy about Moyong Do’s exceptional talent, but there were also those who found it burdensome.

“…This is troublesome.”

“Elder Tao.”

“What if Moyong Do heard our conversation?”

At the words of the elderly man called Elder Tao, the bald elder, Elder Hyeon, slowly rolled his eyes. After organizing his thoughts for a moment, he spoke bluntly.

“So what if he heard? What can just one lump of blood do even if he heard us? He’s not in a position to say anything to us. Also, it’s not like we said anything wrong, so why should we be considerate? Don’t you agree?”

“That may be true, but…”

Despite Elder Hyeon’s words, the other elders averted their eyes with troubled expressions. Elder Hyeon clicked his tongue, understanding their feelings to a small extent.

Moyong Do. Throughout the history of the Moyong clan, there had never been a child born with such talent.

To master the Two Celestial Beings technique at a young age and recently achieve the fifth level of attainment. It was a talent capable of entering the Flowering Realm before the age of thirty.

However, no one expected Moyong Do, who had grown up within the clan, to be loyal to the clan.

After all, they had thrown his cherished sister, whom he doted on, as prey to the Demon Cult, so his anger must have pierced the heavens.

When he lacked power, no matter how much Moyong Do cried out, would they have even blinked an eye?

But now, with his achievements growing day by day and Moyong Danli lending him strength, the situation was different.

If Moyong Do were to ascend to the position of clan leader, his course of action was as clear as day.

‘Purge.’

Just as they had killed his sister, he would likely try to expel those directly involved in that matter.

In other words, it meant he would overturn the current elder council.

That’s why the elders were unhappy about the sword that could turn against them growing stronger, while simultaneously having to rejoice at his achievements, leaving them with complex feelings.

“What will you do?”

“About what?”

“About the dowry. Do you really intend to postpone the execution of the funds as Clan Leader Moyong Danli said?”

“…”

Elder Hyeon bit his lip tightly.

That couldn’t be done. What kind of money was it? It was enough to make up for the Moyong clan’s recent deficiencies and still have plenty leftover. They couldn’t give that up.

Elder Hyeon rubbed his bald head and organized his thoughts before rolling his eyes. He quietly assessed the presence of others around him.

The other elders looked at him strangely, wondering why he was acting this way all of a sudden.

Elder Hyeon surveyed the other elders and spoke softly.

“Clan Leader Moyong Danli is currently feeling regret. About his decision to send Moyong Sowol away in the past.”

“Well, we know that. So?”

“So, we just need to erase that regret, don’t we?”

The other elders wore expressions of incomprehension at his words.

Elder Tao quickly opened his mouth.

“What do you mean? Erase his regret? Are you telling him to recite scriptures to escape from afflictions like those Shaolin monks? Or are you saying he should go back to the past and reverse his decision then, which is impossible?”

Elder Hyeon shook his head.

After surveying his surroundings once more, he opened his mouth again with cautious eyes.

“There’s no need to go back to the past or recite scriptures. Erasing regret is something that can be done even now.”

“What do you mean?”

Elder Hyeon tapped the table with his hand that had been rubbing his head, pausing for a moment.

The other elders found his sudden silence frustrating after he had been talking so much, but they waited as patiently as possible.

Just as an impatient elder was about to speak, Elder Hyeon’s mouth opened.

“We just need to eliminate the existence that is causing the regret, don’t we?”

“What… Don’t tell me?”

“That’s probably right.”

“…Elder Hyeon. Even so…”

Elder Tao looked at Elder Hyeon with a perplexed face.

“Or does Elder Tao have a better idea? If not, will you wait idly as the Clan Leader said? The Clan Leader is bound by the past and unable to make proper judgments. Isn’t it our role as elders to help in times like this?”

“But…”

“There’s no need to ask the other elders for help. Just stay quiet. I’ll take care of it myself.”

“…”

The other elders understood his intention from his words but remained silent.

Elder Hyeon inwardly sneered as he surveyed his surroundings.

Pretending to be noble. He slowly lifted the corners of his mouth.

“The sacrifice of the small for the sake of the greater is noble. It’s better to eliminate that which brings affliction. And I alone am sufficient to stain my hands with blood.”

Elder Hyeon folded his arms and calmly closed his eyes.

“Moyong Sowol. If that child in the Demon Cult is an obstacle.”

When he opened his eyes again, only a cruel and cold gaze filled his pupils.

“We just need to kill her.”