The Big Elder Has Arrived (1)

A month had passed since the Defeating Blade Clan had relocated.

Laughter filled the air, creating a vibrant atmosphere unlike any seen before.

“You go by the name Mandu,¹ right?”

“Yes, Seol bestowed it upon me.”

The bald warrior, seated and taking a break, clutched his stomach as if anticipating Seol’s reaction.

“Haha, Seol, why give him such a name?”

“Still, I like it more than my original name, 387.”

“I witnessed your martial skills earlier; they were truly impressive. I’ve been a member of this clan for years, yet I never imagined being matched by a youngster.”

“Hehe.”

The warrior affectionately ruffled the kid’s hair beside him, beaming with joy.

“I am Hwang Gyun. It’s been a decade since I wed, but due to the side effects of martial arts, we’re still childless. If things had gone as planned, I’d have a son as big as you by now.”

“Ahh…”

“Mandu.”

When Hwang Gyun called his name, Mandu turned to him.

“Yes?”

“Would you like to visit my home today? My wife is an excellent cook.”

“I-Is that okay?”

“Of course! It’s just around the corner. Let’s have dinner at my place tonight. I’ve already informed my wife. She’ll be delighted to have you over.”

“Yes, I’d love to.”

Yu Jinsan observed the two with a content expression from a distance.

It wasn’t just Hwang Gyun and Mandu.

The bonds within the clan were strengthening, whether as uncles and nephews, elders and younger siblings, or fathers and sons.

The atmosphere was exactly as he had hoped.

‘If you’re fated to remain in the martial world, it’s fine to find joy in it. I needn’t worry anymore.’

He began to walk.

In the training hall on the left, a scene similar to the previous day unfolded.

“How is this possible…?”

“How did you become so powerful?”

Standing at the center was a familiar figure, Yu Seol.

Around a hundred clan warriors and children encircled her.

“Hehe. Come on. I will only use one hand this time.”

Yu Seol set aside the two spears she had been holding.

Then, Hong-gi, the leader of the assault troops, exclaimed.

“You really want to use just one hand?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. Then, today, we pray for Seol! Guys! Let’s go!!”

At Hong-gi’s command, the warriors and children wielding wooden swords charged forward.

“Woahhh!”

“Woahhh!!”

Watching the outcome was unnecessary.

How could he not be proud of his granddaughter, who had mastered the techniques of Shaolin and attained the level of a Grandmaster?

Despite it being a losing battle, it was natural for the challengers to eagerly participate, as each of Yu Seol’s movements provided them with valuable insights.

Oddly enough, the more they were defeated by Yu Seol, the stronger they became.

‘In at least 10 years, this place will become the best clan in the world.’

Yu Jinsan was certain of it.

The children he had escaped with were strong enough to challenge the clan warriors. If these highly skilled children were to grow up, each would become a formidable warrior.

But that wasn’t his intention.

‘It would be better if these innocent children could live normal lives.’

Yu Jinsan knew that wasn’t possible.

Leaving Ho County meant risking the children being recaptured. Therefore, their best course of action for now is to live and develop the strength to protect themselves.

A little while later, Yu Jinsan arrived at the Clan Leader’s office.

Upon his arrival, the warriors opened the door.

“Please enter, Elder. The Clan Leader is waiting for you.”

“Right. Thank you.”

Despite the bulky warrior bowing to the child, who was only about waist-high, no one found it awkward.

Upon entering, Baek Gyu was waiting with a teapot.

“You arrived just in time, Hyung. Even if not, the tea was ready.”

Yu Jinsan nodded, took a seat, and sat down.

“It’s nice because it smells fragrant.”

“I thought you would like it. This is hawthorn tea, brewed by Baek Gyu himself.”

This tea, brewed from hawthorn fruit—an ingredient in Tanghulu—had a sweet taste. Therefore, it became famous as a drink that kids enjoyed.

“Isn’t that tea only for kids?”

“Haha. I know very well that my hyung’s appetite has diminished since you came home. So, I prepared it specifically for you. Try it.”

Since Baek Gyu was saying this, Yu Jinsan couldn’t refuse.

He grabbed the teacup, took a sip, and found it better than he expected.

“A lot tastier than I thought. But why is one of your eyes like that?”

There was a bruise under Baek Gyu’s right eye. Who would beat the Clan Leader like that?

“It’s no big deal, so don’t worry. I ended up like this because my niece hit me last night.”

Baek Gyu also sparred with Seol every once in 2-3 days. It must have been something that significantly improved his skills.

“That… should I have stopped it? But what kind of news did you want to see me for?”

Baek Gyu handed him the letter he had prepared in advance.

“Hyung. The information we’ve been waiting for has finally arrived.”

“About the Blue Dragon Troops?”

The Evil Way Alliance had mobilized all their intelligence forces to find out their whereabouts. As long as they existed, the Evil Faction had no future.

Moreover, knowing the Yin Yang Twin Monsters were helping, they would risk their lives to obtain anything valuable.

“Right. After investigation, we identified one person suspected to be a member.”

“Just one?”

“Don’t look so disappointed. Because he is a significant one.”

Yu Jinsan looked at the letter Baek Gyu gave him and appeared surprised.

“You mean it? A member of the troops who was in charge of the role of a Clan Leader for a mid-level sect?”

“The only confirmed information is the tattoo, so it cannot be considered entirely reliable. However, there are several suspicious aspects based on the circumstances. The Clan Leader of the Justice Faction died mysteriously ten years ago, and the individual who seemed unrelated to it ended up becoming the Clan Leader.”

The Flying Blade Clan was a potent, neutral force specializing in assassination.

Yu Jinsan was familiar with them. Not only did they have a great reputation, but they were also located not too far from Jinyang County, where the Yu family resided.

There was a high likelihood that other members of the troops were plotting something by concealing their identities. This was a matter that definitely required investigation.

“They are already reaching out to neutral forces to sway them towards the Justice Faction. I don’t know what’s going on.”

“The more we delve into this, the more I realize we may not be able to handle it. What do you think, Hyung?”

“It’s becoming frustrating, but nothing has changed. Ultimately, we will dismantle everything they have.”

As the eldest and the head of the family, he had made a promise to the deceased members of his family.

Wasn’t he the one who had to flee without being able to bury his cold, dead children?

Even if the opponent was as formidable as the sky itself, he had no intention of backing down.

“If that is your decision, we will fight back with all our might. It’s not far from here, so I intend to launch an attack on the Flying Blade Clan with the Killing Blood Clan in four days.”

The Killing Blood Clan was the second-largest clan in Ho County. Regardless of how powerful the Flying Blade Clan was, it wouldn’t withstand the combined assault of two major clans.

However, Yu Jinsan restrained him as if there was nothing to contemplate.

“Those individuals won’t yield, so you stay put. Ho County’s strength cannot be mobilized at this time.”

As the civil war intensified, even the children of the Emei Sect were being abducted. The Murim Alliance would surely come here.

The Evil Way Alliance was also assembling its elite as a precaution.

Hence, withdrawing two clans from here now would be perilous.

“Are you sure you will be fine? From what I found out, they are not ordinary people, so be careful. I am not worried for Seol…”

“I am not that weak either.”

It was just that his granddaughter seemed so strong in comparison. Yu Jinsan’s martial arts level was at a point where even he wouldn’t be easily defeated.

At least he was confident he wouldn’t lose in a one-on-one spar unless the opponent were a Grandmaster.

“If there is anything I can help you with, please let me know. We will not spare any support.”

“Right. Anyway, please continue to look into the whereabouts of the others.”

The only member they had encountered so far was the leader of Mount Emei.

Considering the situations revealed, each one of them would not be an easy opponent.

If they wouldn’t be defeated first, capturing the Murim Alliance leader would be a daunting task.

Yu Jinsan, who had finished preparing to leave, was tying a round bundle of luggage on his granddaughter’s back.

“Stay still. It’s almost done.”

Next, two spears wrapped in cloth were secured at an angle.

“Grandpa.”

“Uh, what?”

“Why do you always tie your luggage on my back?”

The baggage was also for Yu Seol, so she couldn’t help but wonder why.

“Grandpa’s back has been hurting these days. And our Seol is taller. I have short legs, too, so when I hang a spear, it drags on the ground.”

“Ah…”

Yu Seol nodded with a serious face, as if she understood.

Yu Jinsan suppressed his laughter at the sight and quickly changed the subject.

“Now. It is done, so let’s go.”

“Uh? But where are we going?”

“To catch the bad people.”

“Who?”

“I will let you know later, when you’re older, why we had to catch them.”

He couldn’t bring himself to tell his granddaughter that they were the ones who had killed her parents…

And who was Yu Seol?

“I am curious, curious~ And I am taller than Grandpa!”

Yu Jinsan, flustered, turned around and gave a vague answer.

“Hmm… they are ruthless individuals with no mercy. When you were a baby, your grandpa was also attacked by those people.”

“Grandpa, too?”

“Right. I can’t give you all the details now, but if we’re not careful, we could both end up dead.”

There were only two survivors from his family.

Even now, Yu Jinsan still struggles to sleep at night as he recalls what happened back then.

“Is that so? Then I should scold them!”

He couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of Yu Seol raising her arms.

Yu Jinsan smiled and tapped her on the shoulder.

“Let’s go and see what kind of people they are.”

Their destination was the Flying Blade Clan, not far from their current location.

It was a neutral force that stayed out of the Justice Faction, but that was just a facade, according to information from the Evil Way Alliance.

The two of them decided to travel on foot.

They reached Mayang County and began searching for a village.

The Flying Blade Clan, their target, was located here, but a direct attack was out of the question.

He planned to gather information first before considering any action.

“Let’s just wait…”

Yu Jinsan, scanning the area, started searching for something, lost in memories.

“Is the clan here?”

“No, there’s a small clan called the White Flower Clan here.”

“Uh? White Flower?”

Yu Seol asked, puzzled.

What was this White Flower Clan?

“You’ll find out when we get there.”

Upon arrival, they found a clan large enough to rival the Defeating Blade Clan.

Yu Seol pointed at the sign after reading it.

“White Flower Clan!”

“Right. The leader of this clan is a distant relative of ours.”

“I have a relative too?”

“How can it be just one or two? From our side, he is the great-grandson of my great-grandfather’s 8th cousin, so we are very close.”

“Wahh…”

Looking at the Yu family’s lineage, Yu Jinsan was now the eldest.

There were quite a few distant relatives who visited the Yu family, and the owner of the clan was one of them.

“Then, let us enter.”

Yu Jinsan put on a smile and took the lead.

As he entered the clan, the simple warriors in the front yard tilted their heads in confusion.

“Who are you?”

“Why are kids here?”