â Omen (5) â
âHow long has it been, I wonder?â
I hadnât seen Gu Jeolyub ever since I had killed the First Elder. I didnât bother searching for him, believing it would be best for me to not see him again.
âItâs not like I couldâve done anything to help him.â
Should I have apologized?
I couldnât bring myself to do so. It wasnât an impulsive act, and if I was going to have regrets, I wouldâve never killed him in the first place.
I was quite surprised to see Gu Jeolyub. His face had grown much thinner, he seemed to be going through a very hard time.
âBut I didnât expect him to visit me.â
Well, I needed to talk to him about some matters related to Gu Sunmoon anyway.
After the end of the Elderâs Meeting, I had been thinking of visiting him soon, so it was unexpected for Gu Jeolyub to visit me instead.
Step.
Step by step, he slowly approached me.
ââŠHmm.â
I didnât know what Gu Jeolyub would do to me in his current state, yet I didnât react and simply observed him.
Wi Seol-Ah tried to step in front of me, as if trying to protect me, but I quickly grabbed her shoulder, signaling her not to do so.
âYoung Master.â
âYeah.â
After a moment that seemed to stretch on for far longer than usual, Gu Jeolyub finally arrived in front of me.
ââŠI would like to ask you something.â
His request piqued my curiosity. It seemed he had no intention of attacking meânot that I would allow it anywayâInstead, he instead wanted to ask me something.
âAsk.â
I granted him permission, waiting patiently for him to start speaking. After a while, Gu Jeolyub finally spoke.
ââŠWhy did you do it?â
His lips shook as he uttered those words.
âHm.â
His words werenât filled with resentment, nor was it filled with anger or curses. He simply wanted a reason.
âI heard that he didnât leave his room for a while.â
I had heard about his whereabouts from time to time. Since the First Elderâs funeral, he had secluded himself in his room.
âWhy did I do it?â
ââŠYes.â
âHavenât you already heard? The reason behind my actions?â
âYes, I have.â
He must have already heard about it from the Second Elder, Muyeon, or other members of the clan. It wasnât a small incident, so I was sure it was often discussed in the clan.
âThen why do you ask? You already know.â
âI felt the need to hear it directly from you.â
It was strange.
Gu Jeolyubâs gaze remained fixed on me, his emotions boiling beneath the surface. But even in his agitated situation, he only asked me for a reason.
Of course, he likely chose this option because he knew that he couldnât harm me.
âBut heâs choosing not to run away.â
Though I donât know if it could even be called ârunning away.â Whichever it was, Gu Jeolyub had come to face me directly. With that realization, I responded to him.
âYour grandfather crossed a line that I couldnât ignore.â
My voice sounded colder than I had expected.
âHe not only targeted me, but also those around me. Moreover, he was becoming poisonous for the clan.â
Without pausing, I spoke calmly, my words harsher than my tone. It wasnât the time to be considerate with my choice of words.
âI took matters into my own hands because I couldnât let him continue unchecked.â
ââŠâ
âIf you were expecting a different answer from me, I apologize, but there isnât one.â
I didnât know what Gu Jeolyub wanted from me by seeking me out, but this was all I could offer him.
He stared at me silently.
âI wasnât hoping for any response.â
âThen?â
âI only asked because I donât know.â
âYou donât know? What?â
I frowned slightly, puzzled by his cryptic words. What was it that he didnât know?
âWhat I should do from now on⊠I donât know the answer to it.â
âSo you came to me for an answer?â
âNo⊠not exactly.â
I understood that he was struggling with his own inner turmoil, having his world suddenly turn upside down.
However, if he had come seeking answers from me, it was an utterly foolish move.
âStupid bastard.â
What closure did he expect from me? What did he want from someone who had killed his grandfather?
It seemed that even Gu Jeolyub himself didnât have the answer to that question.
After all, he was still just a young boy, not even in his twenties, a teenager overwhelmed by the harsh realities of his circumstances.
I asked him. âDo you resent me?â
âYes,â he replied without any hesitation.
âDo you seek revenge?â
ââŠâ
He fell silent. It seemed that he wanted to spit out the word âyesâ, but couldnât bring himself to do so easily.
âNo?â
ââŠI do.â
âThen why did you hesitate?â
Was it because he was scared to state his desire of wanting to kill a direct blood relative of the clan? That was somewhat understandable, if I were in his shoes though, I wouldnât have been able to hold back.
âHow could I keep my sanity if the person who killed my family stood right in front of me?â
Though I have some semblance of control myself at my age now, if I was Gu Jeolyubâs age, I wouldnât have been able to contain myself.
As I wondered how he could control himself like that, Gu Jeolyub responded.
ââŠBecause it would go against justice.â
âJustice?â
Justice, you say? It was rather random.
âIf everything that the Young Master said about Lord⊠about my grandfather is true,â his voice trembled ever so slightly, âme resenting the Young Master wouldnât be justified.â
The First Elder hadnât hidden his ambitions. Not only had he manipulated events to ensure his grandson became the Young Lord of the clan, but he had also been scheming behind the scenes.
If all that was true, Gu Jeolyub believed that his resentment towards me wouldnât be justified.
So, was he having conflicting thoughts because he still harbored resentment towards me? I couldnât understand.
âHow complicated you are.â
ââŠâ
âI donât know why youâre suddenly talking about justice, but thereâs nothing I can do for you.â
Whether Gu Jeolyub resented me or not, whether he wished to take my life, there was nothing I could do to resolve his inner conflicts.
I wouldnât be concerned even if he resented me, and if he truly sought my deathâŠ
âIâll kill him.â
I would have no choice but to end his life. There would be no second chances.
The best consideration I could offer him was to not lay a finger on him at this moment.
The First Elder had a funeral, but I knew I wouldnât be allowed near the graves that held the remains of the important figures of the clan.
They couldnât afford to let a sinner like me enter.
If the sins of the First Elder were to be exposed, it could potentially impact Gu Jeolyub as well.
He might have to pay for the sins of his grandfather, inheriting them like a debt.
Even if he had done nothing wrong, thatâs just how this wretched world worked, and there was nothing that could be done about it.
All I could hope for was to minimize the damage he would suffer. It was the best I could do for himâŠ.
âThough I have no idea if this bastard would even want that.â
Judging by Gu Jeolyubâs temperament that I saw from this brief encounter, it seemed unlikely.
âWhat have you decided to do for Gu Sunmoon?â
ââŠThe Second Elder said that he would take over temporarily.â
âThe Second Elder?â
I was taken aback by his answer.
The Second Elder, who had no connection to swords, would lead Gu Sunmoon?
Would he only be responsible for the administrative tasks while someone else handled the more important matters?
âWell, itâs certainly better than having it fall into the hands of the Third or Fourth Elder.â
But it seemed rather arbitrary.
âAnd you are okay with that?â
ââŠI am powerless. I lack both the ability and the qualifications to become the Lord.â
Gu Jeolyub was the Young Lord of Gu Sunmoon, but that was solely because he was the grandson of the First Elder.
While he did possess talent, only that couldnât solve everything.
âI donât know why you came to me, but I canât show you the right path.â
ââŠâ
âFurthermore, itâs strange that youâre seeking guidance from me in the first place.â
It wasnât my place to tell Gu Jeolyub what to do in his current situation.
It was really odd that he was trying to gain something from the person who had killed his grandfather, when he should have resentment towards me instead.
âI do feel some remorse for you, but only to a certain extent.â
No matter how despicable the First Elder may have been, he was still Jeolyubâs family. So, in that regard, I did feel some remorse.
âIf you wish to resent and despise me, then do so. I will accept it.â
I wouldnât bear responsibility for it, but I could at least accept it.
However, I had no idea what decision Gu Jeolyub would make after hearing my words.
Upon hearing my response, Gu Jeolyub muttered quietly with a somber expressionâŠ
âI⊠donât know.â
âSo, take your time to think about it; about what you truly want to do.â
I couldnât offer any further apologies to Gu Jeolyub. I wasnât in a position to console him nor give him any advice.
Because even if I were to go back in time, I would still make the decision to kill the First Elder.
âEven if I had let him live, I would have only delayed his death. He would have still met his end, just not by my hands.â
Whether I shattered his abdomen to let him die slowly or used a different method, the outcome would have been the same.
Just as my decision would have remained the same, the First Elderâs decision wouldnât have been any different.
Gu Jeolyub, with his face cast downward, rubbed his weary eyes with his hand.
I simply watched him, not uttering a word.
As the gentle breeze brushed against my face, Gu Jeolyub, tightly biting his lips, cautiously asked me.
ââŠI heard that you are headed to the battlefield.â
âWhere did you hear that?â
This matter was discussed only recently, so how could he have learned about it so quickly?
âThe Second Elder told me that the Young Master will be going to the battlefield. The frontlines.â
âWhat?â
What was he talking about? The Second Elder had told him that I would be headed to the battlefield?
Could it be thatâŠ
ââŠFather and the Second Elder had already discussed this?â
It seemed they had already decided beforehand to send me to the battlefield as my punishment.
âHow petty of him, unlike his bear-like body of his.â
He was probably still mad about me escaping from jail without listening to him.
And I had been actively avoiding him as well lately.
I asked, staring at Gu Jeolyub.
âSo, whatâs your point?â
Jeolyub responded with an exhausted expression.
âI want to go too.â
âWhat? To where?â
âTo the same battlefield that the Young Master is going to.â
âAre you crazy?â
What nonsense was he on about.
He wants to go to the frontlines with me?
âWhatâs your motive?â
ââŠMotive? I want to find⊠that.â
âDid you seriously lose your mind?â
He wished to follow the very person who had killed his grandfather.
âIs he trying to make an early appointment to assassinate me?â
If that werenât the case, I honestly couldnât understand what emotions were driving Gu Jeolyub to utter such words.
âWhat I should do⊠I want to decide that later.â
Whether he would live consumed by resentment or live for the sake of revenge. Or perhaps he would do neither, accepting what had happened, and move on with life.
The young boy, burdened by his conflicting emotions, seemed to have chosen to confront his problemsâŠ
âSigh.â
However, I found it difficult to comprehend Gu Jeolyubâs decision. It was a choice I would never have made.
ââŠDo as you wish. Although I doubt the higher-ups would allow that in the first place.â
Our past might have been different, but now that our relationship was in shambles, it was highly unlikely that they would allow Gu Jeolyub to be by my side, given the possibility of ill intentions.
And even if, by some chance, it was approvedâŠ
âI did say that I would accept your resentment, but I have no intention to accept anything more than that.â
I said this earlier as well. So, if he harbored anything more than just resentmentâŠ
Then I, too, would sever ties.
Having said everything he wanted to, Gu Jeolyub stared at me for a moment, slightly lowered his head, and turned around to walk away.
Behind him, I noticed a few martial artists who appeared to be from Gu Sunmoon.
It seemed like they had come to protect Gu Jeolyub, or perhaps they were uncertain if he would try to do something to me.
[You are too soft-hearted.]
As I watched Gu Jeolyub going further away, Elder Shin spoke.
âAre you saying that I should have killed him then?â
[Well, I wouldnât have done it personally. But brat, you are different.]
His words pierced my heart.
Indeed, it was true. In the past, I would have killed Gu Jeolyub without a momentâs hesitation. Just as I had done with the First Elder.
However, I didnât.
Even if it was possible for Gu Jeolyub to turn into a problem due to ill intentions towards me, and even if our relationship deteriorated; I didnât want to resort to killing him, as long as he didnât cross the line.
There were two reasons for this decision.
Firstly, I desired to live differently from my past.
Secondly, it would be a pitiful for him to be killed solely because of his family background.
After all, I had experienced a similar fate myself.
[Thatâs why Iâm saying that you have become soft.]
âYouâre not wrong.â
My current actions were leaving a small ember of a flame alive, even in the face of an impending calamity.
HoweverâŠ
ââŠI wanted to be a bit greedy in this life.â
[Tsk.]
Elder Shin remained silent thereafter.
Grab.
I felt a sensation of something wrapping around my hand. When I looked, I saw Wi Seol-Ah gently holding onto my hand.
âYoung Master⊠are you okay?â
âWhy? Do I not look okay?â
âWell⊠you look like you are having a hard time.â
âDonât worry, Iâm perfectly fine.â
I donât know why I looked like that to Wi Seol-Ah, but I was fine.
As always, I had to stay perfectly calm. As Wi Seol-Ah looked at me with worried eyes, I gently patted her head and spoke to the empty space in the air.
âSo, could you please explain to me now?â
Although it seemed like no one was present, someone was there.
Rustle.
From the tall grass beside a tree, a giant figure emerged, making me wonder how he managed to hide.
The Second Elder didnât appear to have fully recovered yet, as he still had bandages wrapped around his body.
âYouâve become sharper than before.â
âIsnât it weirder for you to hide there with your body?â
Despite me saying this, the Second Elderâs ability to conceal himself was quite impressive. I wouldnât have noticed him if my senses hadnât picked up on him just now.
âIs there a reason why you informed that bastard about me going to the battlefield?â
âI told him because he asked.â
âEven though you didnât tell me?â
âWhy would I tell you when you donât even listen to your grandfather?â
ââŠâ
As expected. The Second Elder was still mad about escape.
Feeling guilty, I scratched my cheek, and the Second Elder continued speaking.
âI know that you requested for Gu Jeolyubâs well-being.â
ââŠAhem.â
How did he know? I only secretly told Father.
âIs that why you chose to take care of Gu Sunmoon?â
âI only did it because itâs better than the Third or the Fourth Elder doing it. Iâm only managing it. Training the martial artists and their martial arts is a responsibility given to the captain of the First Army.â
âThe First Armyâs captain?â
When it came to swords, the strongest man of Gu Clan, was the First Armyâs captain.
I didnât know who would win if he was compared to the First Elder in his prime, but at least in the current point of time, he was the strongest.
âI guess if itâs the First Armyâs captain⊠itâll be fine.â
If I thought about him, he was certainly better than anyone else I could compare to. He at the very least wasnât someone that would plan something behind the scenes.
âAre you feeling better?â
âJeez, how fast of you to ask.â
âItâs better than me not asking at a- âŠPut your fist down please. You know you are a patient, right?â
An old man that wasnât even in his best shape, still had his violent personality.
âIâm fine, a wound like this is healed if I put my saliva over it.â
ââŠIs your saliva a medicine that heals anything?â
Why would the Immortal Healer exist in the world if such a thing existed.
âAnyways, it seemed like you brought a special guest as well.â
âOh.â
After hearing the Second Elder, I thought about the old man that would be in Gu Clanâs jail right now.
âI totally forgot about Hao Clanâs Lord.â
I forgot about the Lord of Hao Clan that I brought from the Black Palace.
âWhat happened.â
âIs it perhaps, someone that the Second Elder also knows?â
The Second Elder let out a fake cough while brushing his beard after hearing my question.
âItâs someone that I barely met for a moment. I knew that he would end up that way with the way he acts.â
âSo the Second Elder also knows about the Lord of Hao Clan.â
I wonder how so many people knew about Hao Clanâs Lord when not many things are known about him.
âAnyway, this really isnât a normal household.â
It became certain to me.
âIt was an old man I found in the Black Palace, and father told me to bring him with us.â
In times like these, it was wise for me to use Father as an excuse.
As expected, the Second Elder nodded his head without saying anything when I brought up Father.
ââŠIf thatâs the case, then I guess the Lord himself would take care of it.â
I didnât know whether he would make relations with the Hao Clan, or use him for a different purpose, but since the Hao Clanâs Lord already got caught by fatherâs gaze, it was hard for me to reach him.
âPutting aside the guestâŠâ
After cutting off the conversation, the Second Elder took a letter out of his pocket and handed it to me.
âI didnât know that you had some sort of relationship with the Beggarâs Sect.â
âBeggarâs Sect?â
Beggarâs Sect all of a sudden?
I took the letter from him wondering what he meant. On the letter that the Second Elder gave me, a stamp of the Beggarâs Sect was on it.
âThis isâŠâ
Judging by the small name that was written underneath the stamp, I was able to know who sent the letter.
Chuwong.
It was a letter sent to me by the future Beggar King.
âI knew that a letter would be coming to me.â
But it came faster than I expected. I wonder what information is written in it.
If itâs the information on the Silent Fist or the Dishonored Venerable that I asked for back in HanamâŠ
âI hope that itâs the Dishonored Venerable if possible.â
If I had to choose one, I hoped that it was information on the Dishonored Venerable. Because he was the one that I was more urgent for.
âI also hope that there arenât any problems.â
In the letter that Chuwong sent, there was a short sentence written inside.
-True Dragon⊠Save mâŠ
-There is no problem.
ââŠâ
Putting aside the line that looked like it was erased in the middle of writing, after reading the second line, I carefully folded the letter and put it in my pocket.
I then nodded my head and whispered.
âSeems like he got caught.â
I think I could forget about Chuwong for a bit.
Heâll be fine. He is the Beggar King after all.
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