Duty (5)

While waiting for Gyeong Hang to wake, Jin-hyeon had Han Cheol-sang stand guard and went into circulation.

Songhyeonja stood some distance from the hut and only looked out at Mount Qingcheng.

How long did they wait like that?

Before the morning sun rose, a rustling sound came from inside the hut.

Jin-hyeon stopped his circulation and rose. Songhyeonja, who had been looking at the mountain from afar, also walked back to the hut.

“Supreme Patriarch.”

“Se-hwi?”

“I brought the Daoist and the Incomplete Strange Sword.”

“Come in.”

Han Cheol-sang leaned against the hut’s outer wall and scanned the surroundings. It was in case something happened.

Jin-hyeon and Songhyeonja went inside.

“You are…?”

Gyeong Hang’s eyes churned.

Songhyeonja bowed his head.

“Today, we meet a bit sooner than expected.”

“So you came instead of Songpungja.”

“My sahyung had something to attend to. He entrusted the Incomplete Strange Sword to me.”

Gyeong Hang nodded. It meant it didn’t matter.

“Sit.”

Songhyeonja naturally sat across from Gyeong Hang. Gyeong Hang looked at Jin-hyeon.

“You too…”

“I’ll stand. Please speak.”

Gyeong Hang nodded and looked to Songhyeonja. Songhyeonja smiled.

“You look much better than half a day ago.”

“The grandson I thought was dead came back alive. Of course my strength would return.”

Gyeong Hang spoke with a smile, then seemed to realize something and looked at Jin-hyeon.

Jin-hyeon spoke in an even voice, as if telling him not to worry.

“I already said it. I’m fine.”

“Right. My mind was in a mess. I didn’t think of you.”

“Once Divine Iron’s matter is resolved, it won’t be a secret worth hiding anyway.”

“As it should.”

Gyeong Hang said to Songhyeonja.

“No matter what anyone says, that boy is my grandson. And it’s true that I told my grandson to bring the Patriarch’s Treasure.”

“Even so, I thought it was something I had to confirm in person. All kinds of things happen in this world.”

“You’re right.”

Songhyeonja spoke with a bitter smile.

“You felt wronged, didn’t you? That we didn’t step in.”

“I did.”

Gyeong Hang was honest. There was no reason not to be.

Songhyeonja bowed his head.

“Our limit was being someone you could talk to. There were circumstances that made it so we could not rashly involve ourselves in worldly affairs, but because our ties with you run deep, there was an opinion that we should send people so Divine Iron’s First Young Master couldn’t act rashly.”

“…”

“I have no face. On behalf of Daoling Palace, I offer my apology.”

Unadorned sincerity showed in Songhyeonja’s expression and voice.

Gyeong Hang sighed.

“What could I say? Circumstances were such that I wished for what I shouldn’t have. I showed an ugly side in old age.”

“…”

“You worked hard, dealing with an old man shut away in a back room.”

Songhyeonja closed his eyes.

He could respond sharply to Jin-hyeon, but he couldn’t do that to Gyeong Hang.

He was a man once called a giant of Sichuan. He had his share of scandal, but at the very least, he had never committed some great evil or acted against righteousness.

Just living at that level without major blemish was worthy of respect.

“However.”

Gyeong Hang spoke with a calm face.

“We can’t know what will become of Divine Iron. If Divine Iron falls into that bastard Do-cheon’s hands, we may end up at odds with Daoling Palace, and even if I remain alive, both sides will carry hurt feelings. Wouldn’t it be hard to maintain the relationship?”

“…”

“Daoling Palace should also cut ties with Divine Iron, so there’s no reason to redden faces in the future. So let our relationship end here.”

“…”

“You’ve worked hard all this time.”

When Songhyeonja opened his eyes again, only bitterness filled his face.

“You’re the one who endured the hardship, Elder Patriarch.”

Then Jin-hyeon spoke.

“I’m curious what those circumstances are.”

Both men looked at Jin-hyeon.

Jin-hyeon spoke evenly.

“No matter the intent, if you meant to stir things using my nicknames, doesn’t that mean Daoling Palace intends to step into the secular world?”

“…”

“If you were fully prepared to step into the secular world, I don’t understand why you alone showed a lukewarm response in this matter.”

Songhyeonja shook his head.

“I told you earlier. Everyone has their circumstances.”

“I’m asking what those circumstances are.”

“…”

“This is a place where decades of ties are being cut. I think it’s the minimum courtesy to share at least one side of those circumstances.”

Gyeong Hang turned his gaze to Songhyeonja.

Songhyeonja gave another bitter smile.

‘Truly, I can’t handle him.’

If it were just the two of them, he could respond however. But Gyeong Hang was here. For the sake of their long ties, he couldn’t brush it off.

Jin-hyeon knew that too, which was why he asked so openly.

After thinking for a moment, Songhyeonja sighed and said.

“It’s because of the Heavenly Will Alliance.”

“?!”

It was an answer he hadn’t expected.

Gyeong Hang widened his eyes and asked.

“You’re saying the Heavenly Will Alliance pressured Daoling Palace?”

“It is the same for Golden Summit Temple.”

“!!”

“I told you some time ago, didn’t I? That even if you had donated to Golden Summit Temple instead of Daoling Palace, they wouldn’t have stepped in.”

“…You did.”

“Daoling of Qingcheng and Golden Summit of Emei are not in a position to step out easily. So we communicate with the world in our own way.”

Songhyeonja bowed his head.

“It’s difficult to say more than this. Please understand.”

Gyeong Hang nodded.

“That’s enough.”

In truth, it wouldn’t have mattered even without a frank answer. Gyeong Hang had already decided to cut ties with Daoling Palace, and what had already passed could be anything.

But Jin-hyeon was different.

‘Restriction by the Heavenly Will Alliance.’

And bringing up Golden Summit Temple along with it, he couldn’t tell whether to call it clever or sly.

At the least, Daoling Palace and Golden Summit Temple didn’t seem to be on friendly terms.

“By the way, using my grandson’s nicknames, what does that mean?”

Jin-hyeon said.

“I’ll tell you later.”

Gyeong Hang’s eyes sharpened.

“If you cause any trouble for my grandson…”

“Ah, it’s nothing like that. Absolutely not.”

“I will make you regret it, even if I have to burn away the rest of my life.”

Whatever Songhyeonja said didn’t matter. Gyeong Hang simply spoke his own words.

It was a seat far more difficult than expected. If he reported today’s conversation to his sahyung, it felt like he’d get an earful.

‘This is troublesome.’

Songhyeonja carefully rose from his seat.

“In any case, I’ve conveyed what I needed to, and we’ve talked enough. I’ll take my leave.”

Gyeong Hang relaxed his expression.

“Go carefully.”

“Please always take care of your health.”

Songhyeonja looked at Jin-hyeon. Jin-hyeon smiled faintly.

“I look forward to the day we meet again.”

“Somehow, I can’t look forward to that day at all…”

And with that, Songhyeonja left the hut.

Gyeong Hang sighed.

“Meet and part. I didn’t think I’d end my ties with Daoling Palace like this.”

“You did well.”

“It feels like my whole life was for nothing. What did I live so desperately for?”

Jin-hyeon said to Gyeong Hang as he sighed.

“Some say life is futile. But I think differently. Even if everything you built collapses, isn’t the fact that you lived pouring out your soul what matters?”

“…”

“You lived well. And you’ll live even better from here.”

“Heh heh heh.”

“And there’s one more to meet and part with.”

A faint anger rose on Gyeong Hang’s face, which had been full of emptiness.

“That’s right. There’s still work left.”

“I have one question.”

Jin-hyeon’s voice turned indifferent.

“Is it all right if Gyeong Do-cheon dies by my hand?”

Gyeong Hang looked at Jin-hyeon.

“Se-hwi.”

“Speak.”

“After that bastard committed filial impiety, I never once thought of him as my grandson.”

“…”

“Now my blood kin are only In-geol, and you. Do-cheon only received Gyeong blood. He isn’t a Gyeong. He’s a thief.”

“I see.”

“And…”

Gyeong Hang sighed.

“Even if my heart feels ill about it, you won’t give up your revenge, will you.”

“That’s right.”

“Don’t worry. He already died in my heart. If he dies once more, do you think a speck of vexation will rise in me? Never.”

He was firm now, but who could know.

And Jin-hyeon had no intention of considering how much Gyeong Hang might waver. Blood kin feelings remained, but what must be done would be done.

“Now that you have the Patriarch’s Treasure, what should we do next? If this side gives no report, that bastard Do-cheon will sense something went wrong.”

“He’ll learn within the day.”

Worry rose on Gyeong Hang’s face.

“There are formidable masters around him. Just looking at the masters who surrounded this place, they weren’t ordinary.”

That was true. Leaving everything else aside, the fact he mobilized the Northland Twin Demons from the Maoshan Sect showed how formidable Gyeong Do-cheon’s connections were.

But.

“I’m confident I won’t be outmatched by force, but this must become a fight of legitimacy, not a fight of strength.”

“Hm.”

“Legitimacy is on our side. Force will only support it after.”

Jin-hyeon’s eyes flashed.

“I have a plan.”

“Hoo.”

After finishing his morning work and coming out to take in the noon sunlight, the youth’s face was full of satisfaction.

‘It’s gotten faster.’

His work speed had clearly improved.

His increased internal energy didn’t just increase stamina. It even sped up his mind. Work that would normally take more than half a day was finished in four hours, and the freshness was beyond words.

“The sunlight is really nice.”

Then, from far away, a servant approached.

“First Young Master.”

“Hm? What is it?”

“The madam sent word. She wishes to invite you to this evening’s dinner.”

“Of course I should go. Tell her I will attend.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Ah, before that.”

The youth cleared his throat and asked casually.

“Will the First Young Lady be there as well?”

“Of course.”

“Ha ha. All right. Good.”

A faint smile rose at the youth’s mouth as he pictured the First Young Lady.

The eldest daughter of the Fragrant Brocade Merchant Guild was famous for beauty as outstanding as her merchant talent.

Even to the youth, who had seen his share of beauties, the First Young Lady’s looks were exceptional. Not merely pretty, but with a seductive charm that drew people in.

As a woman, and in status, she passed. The youth vowed he would make her his.

Fortunately, the mistress of Fragrant Brocade seemed to view him favorably as well.

‘There isn’t a match like this elsewhere. The mistress has quite the eye.’

After he let those pleasant imaginings run for a while.

“First Young Master.”

From a shadowed spot in the distance, Ho Il-gwang revealed himself.

“Did you find out?”

“It’s serious.”

The subordinate’s voice trembled slightly.

The youth felt his heart drop.

“What is it?”

“We’ve lost contact with those who were guarding Elder Patriarch.”

“What?!”

The youth turned to Ho Il-gwang.

In that instant, Ho Il-gwang bowed without meaning to. His heart trembled under his lord’s terrifying gaze.

The youth asked in a low voice.

“Don’t tell me it was Daoling Palace?”

“Nothing is confirmed yet, but it doesn’t seem to be Daoling Palace. Judging by traces of a fierce battle, it appears an unknown master intervened.”

“An unknown master? What kind of bullshit is that!”

His voice rose without meaning to.

Ho Il-gwang swallowed.

“And…”

“And what!”

“We… we received word from the gate-guard captain. He says he received a handwritten letter from Elder Patriarch, saying he will soon return to the clan.”

Hwaaak!

From the youth, Gyeong Do-cheon’s body, a chilling killing intent burst forth.