While the family leaders’ waiting room was in the midst of a storm, Gu Yangcheon found himself caught in a rather bothersome situation.

"Look how thin you are. Are you even eating properly?" "Your clothes are in poor condition." "Didn’t I tell you to eat well? If you don’t, you won’t grow any taller." "I’ll order some quality martial attire for you, so make sure to pick it up."

Hearing comments from both sides made his head throb. He had only gone outside to take a stroll since there was some time left before the gathering started, yet he had run into these two people.

"Little brother, why aren’t you saying anything?" "...Why are you even here, sister? Aren’t you busy?"

He’d heard she was coming, but he hadn’t expected her to actually show up.

Someone let out a soft laugh in response to his question. It was his sister, Gu Heebi, also known as the Swordmaster. It had been about a year since he last saw her.

"I am busy. But I took the time to come here, so you should be grateful." "You didn’t need to. You should’ve just kept that precious time to yourself." "You want to die?"

Gu Heebi spoke harshly, messing up his hair. He wondered why she, always busy with her duties as a swordswoman, had come all the way here. She could’ve gone to visit Gu Yeonseo instead, or done something else entirely. Why come this far?

Someone else stepped in to halt her hand, and it wasn’t him. It was Lady Mi.

“With so many people passing by, how can you act so undignified? Is this how your mother raised you?”

Gu Heebi winced at Lady Mi’s scolding.

“…I apologize.” “How can you treat your grown brother so carelessly?” “He just looked so cute…” “No excuses.” “Yes…”

Lady Mi’s words left Gu Heebi utterly speechless.

It was amazing to see that wild spirit of hers being so easily subdued.

Lady Mi then carefully reached for his disheveled hair and began to fix it. He wasn’t sure where she had gotten a comb from, but she started straightening his tangled locks.

“Since it’s an important occasion, you should pay attention to your appearance.” “…Yes.” “Training is good, but as a martial artist, you must also maintain your appearance to suit the occasion.” “I apologize.”

As she tidied his hair, he bit his tongue to suppress the unpleasant feelings stirring within him. Lady Mi was doing this to uphold the Gu family’s reputation and the standing of their commercial empire. He had to push aside such unnecessary thoughts.

“I’ll have someone send you new clothes later, so make sure to wear them.” “I’ll remember.” “Good.”

Lady Mi finished adjusting his hair and tucked the comb away, examining him from head to toe, as if looking for any flaws.

“From what I’ve heard, you’ve been through a lot lately.” “Not that much, just a few things.” “Were you hurt at all?” “Nothing… Nothing serious.”

He was about to speak in his usual manner but caught himself and rephrased it. He found it a bit difficult to use his normal tone around Lady Mi.

“That’s a relief.”

It was a simple remark, but he felt a slight warmth spread inside him.

Perhaps it was because he’d learned that his mother was alive.

Pushing those thoughts aside, he addressed Lady Mi.

“Lady Mi.” “Yes?” “Where is my father?” “He went to the waiting room. He mentioned he had some matters to attend to in advance.” “Matters?”

What would he have to settle here? Perhaps this too was a kind of business.

“Isn’t Lady Mi supposed to be going as well?”

Like his father, Lady Mi had come here as a representative of the merchant guild, and they had their own waiting area. There was no reason for her to remain outside.

Lady Mi’s expression turned slightly colder at his question.

“The only ones there are wealthy pigs bloated with money. Why would I bother associating with them?” “…I see.”

Her response was sharper than he’d expected. He rubbed his arms, feeling a chill, and glanced around.

“Now that I think of it, where’s Elder Il?”

He had thought Elder Il would be accompanying her, but he was nowhere to be seen.

Gu Heebi answered him.

“Elder Il mentioned he had some business to attend to.” “In Hanan?” “He said he was going to meet some friends.” “…?”

He furrowed his brows without thinking. With everything going on, the elder was off to see his friends instead of visiting him?

That old man, he really lives as he pleases.

He could easily picture Elder Il doing just that, though. The thought that Elder Il might indeed be capable of such disregard struck him.

‘Friends in Hanan, huh? Who could he mean…’

The question crossed his mind, and he thought of some people who might be staying in Hanan.

He quickly found the answer.

“…Hmm.”

If his hunch was correct, Elder Il might be on his way to see Paejon. He knew the two shared a certain connection.

‘That could be troublesome.’

When Paejon had asked how he knew his identity, he’d casually thrown Elder Il under the bus. It was something he planned to handle later.

If they met, Paejon might find out.

‘Well, what can I do? Seems I’m screwed.’

Strangely, accepting it brought him a sense of calm. All he could do now was hope Elder Il wouldn’t run into Paejon.

“Little brother, what’s wrong? You don’t look well. Are you hungry?” “…Do you think I’m like you, sister? My mood doesn’t change just because I’m hungry.” “Oh, so you want a fist to the face now? Is that it? Do you want to make your sister angry?” “I just meant you’re honest about your emotions. It’s admirable, really.” “Enough of that. And who’s that over there?”

Gu Heebi pointed at someone. It was Cheoljiseon, who had been watching from a distance.

Seeing Gu Heebi point at him, Cheoljiseon flinched.

“Who are you, and why are you spying on us like that?” “Ah…!” “Come here—ouch!”

Just as she was about to call him over, Lady Mi stomped on her foot.

While Gu Heebi winced in sudden pain, Lady Mi smiled warmly at Cheoljiseon.

“I’m sorry about that. My daughter still has a lot to learn.” “N-No, it’s fine…” “So, you’re a friend of my son’s?” “Yes. I’m Cheoljiseon of the Cheol family. I’ve heard a lot about you.” “Wait, when did I ever say—” “It’s nice to meet you.”

Lady Mi spoke over him.

“You’re the young master of the Cheol family, correct? Please stay close friends with my son.” “Y-Yes…”

Cheoljiseon looked flustered as he replied, which seemed to satisfy Lady Mi, who nodded in approval.

Watching this, he couldn’t help but wonder if things would have been like this if his mother had been around. It was a troubling and uncomfortable thought.

‘…I’ll have to ask Father when this gathering ends.’

He’d planned to ask once they returned home, but since his father was here, now was as good a time as any. He needed to know about his mother’s whereabouts and the future of the Gu family’s legacy.

Having settled his thoughts, he turned back to teasing Gu Heebi when someone from the Murim Alliance appeared to deliver a message.

“The gathering will begin shortly.”

With that, he rose to his feet. Cheoljiseon’s shoulders trembled as if he hadn’t managed to shake off the tension yet.

He grabbed him by the arm and pulled him along, heading toward the meeting hall.

“Yangcheon.”

Lady Mi called out to him. He was startled by the call.

It had been years since she had addressed him by name.

“Yes…?” “After this is over, are you planning to return to the family?”

This event.

She was asking if he would return to the family after the gathering ended. He hesitated, weighing his options.

Going back would be the practical choice in many ways, but he had things to do.

“No.”

Lady Mi’s brow furrowed at his refusal. The look made him flinch a bit, but he had his reasons.

He still had training to complete under Paejon, and there were other matters he needed to address. He’d already discussed it with Paejon.

“I won’t be returning to the family.” “…It seems you have somewhere else to go.” “Yes.”

He pictured his destination and told Lady Mi.

“I have some business in Sichuan.”

In Sichuan, where the legendary White Horse Stone and the Golden Thousand Year’s Hiding Place awaited.

After the gathering, he would head there.

“Oh, right, I forgot to mention something..”

- “Hey, buddy, did you hear what I just told you?”
- “Huh? That you're going to Sichuan?”
- “That's right. I didn't tell you yet. You're going too.”
- “...Uhhh.... Huh? Wait, what?”
- “Okay? Okay.”

“You’re excited? Good to hear.”

As he spoke, Cheoljiseon seemed confused, but it was already too late.

 
   ****************
   

On a mountain behind Hanan,

Elder Gu Ryun, known in the martial world as the Dark Tooth, was currently climbing the mountain.

“Damn fools…”

He gritted his teeth as he spoke, his massive frame and fierce expression causing the nearby wildlife to flee in fear.

Why he was scaling the mountain was secondary; what mattered was that his hands were full of food.

“They’ve got an old man like me running food errands.”

If he were just a bit younger, he’d have twisted those young ones into pretzels. He thought bitterly about his predicament, cursing his choice of friends that led him here.

After a while, Gu Ryun finally spotted his destination: a cave.

“What is this now…”

As he examined the area, he shuddered instinctively. The cave was clearly man-made, and there were remnants of a fierce energy all around it. Even more troubling was the familiarity of that energy.

Could it be…

‘Paejon, that damned lunatic.’

The notorious Paejon.

Gu Ryun could sense his energy lingering all over the cave. It seemed he had even dug it out with his bare hands.

‘I heard he’d gotten younger, but has his brain regressed too?’

That might well be the case.

Looking around, Gu Ryun resolved then and there never to take any youth-restoring measures for himself. He’d live with the aches and pains of old age before he’d ever turn back the clock.

He’d recently considered prolonging his life, as watching his grandson’s antics brought him joy. But seeing his friend’s folly reminded him why he should avoid such nonsense.

What Gu Ryun didn’t realize was that this cave wasn’t created by Paejon but by his own grandson, Gu Yangcheon.

Following the torches lined along the cave walls, he proceeded deeper, until he spotted some familiar faces far ahead, already drinking.

Unlike his aged self, one of them appeared middle-aged, while the other looked no older than twenty.

“You’re late, Gu Ryun.”

Paejon greeted him with a smirk, a cup of wine already in hand.

There was another man there to welcome Gu Ryun, and upon seeing him, Gu Ryun tossed the food his way.

The man easily caught the food and spread it out on the ground, preparing for their impromptu gathering.

After laying out the food, he greeted Gu Ryun as well.

“It’s been a while.”

The man with snow-white hair and eyes as pale as ice was none other than the Dark King.