1217 - Childhood Friend of the Zenith

A flicker. The ember glowed brightly. I watched it intently. -Do not react. I was startled by Gu Seong-yeol's voice. I shifted my gaze, surveying my surroundings. It seemed neither Gu Seon nor Soi had noticed anything. 'Can they not see it?' It appeared their view was obstructed. 'So, this can be hidden.' Heeding Gu Seong-yeol's words, I remained still. He had told me not to react, and I was listening. -The former family head will likely make a move to find you. "……." I was already aware of this fact. That's what had been troubling me so far. -Time can be bought, but it won't be long. Given the restrictions, it won't be much time. "……." -Be cautious. Caution. That word silenced my thoughts. I wondered if being cautious would solve anything. '...I need to somehow regain my strength.' Even in a stronger state, I couldn't predict the outcome. In my current situation, it was all the more difficult. It meant I might just end up incinerated in an instant. 'Still, I should be grateful for the time given.' I didn't know how much time he would buy for me or how he intended to do it, but anyway, it was something to be thankful for. -And furthermore. Gu Seong-yeol continued speaking. -I'll take care of the part you asked about. So, don't worry about it. "……." I nodded slightly. I had previously conveyed a message about Do Yoon, and he was telling me he'd take care of it. What a relief. Just as I was about to feel at ease with that thought— -That's all. Now, go. Thud. "Huh?" With a brief reaction, the ember before me went out. "Hmm? What's wrong?" "…No, it's nothing." To think he would just say what he needed and cut it off. I chuckled to myself as Gu Seon looked at me with puzzlement. '……Anyway.' There really is no normalcy in the Gu family. Was that supposed to be considered a greeting? 'Well, it's better this way.' There was no reason for exchanging pleasantries. It wasn't as if there was any bond to be built. At that moment. Creak. The carriage door opened as someone stepped in. It was Father. "Get ready." "Oh, yes." After lightly boarding the spacious carriage, at Father's words, the sound of a whip accompanied by the horses' cries echoed. Neigh-!! The carriage began to move. Indeed. It was time to drag this wretched body back to Hanam. * * * Neigh-!!! Gu Seong-yeol watched as several carriages gradually moved away with the sound ringing out. Then, a thought suddenly came to him, and he smiled faintly. "Oh no... The chief is going to be very upset." At this moment, remembering Gu Ryoon, who happened to be away from home, he realized with a start. With that thought, as he calmly watched the carriage through the gap in the window, someone beside him addressed Gu Seong-yeol. "Master." "……." At the Chief Steward's words, Gu Seong-yeol turned to look at him. "Are you sure it's okay to let him go like this?" "Is there a problem?" "The former family head might not be pleased." "He likely won't be." What kind of severe punishment would he impose on one who defied his will? It intrigued him immensely to see how the master of flames would react. One thing was certain. "I am not afraid." He wasn't afraid. Neither was there any fear. Just curiosity. Why was the former family head so sensitive about this? He didn't concern himself with matters of the central plains. That was the consequence of the prohibition, and affairs here were to be left solely to him. "Was it alright for you to simply let him go?" "What answer are you expecting?" "…Just." Baek Yangcheon. Was it problematic that nothing was done to him? At the Chief Steward's words, Gu Seong-yeol chuckled lightly. "He's one who has been to the underground of the Gu family. Do you not understand what that means?" "……." The Chief Steward closed his mouth at Gu Seong-yeol's words. "Though the one who has passed through may be unaware, at the very least, we know. Especially you, who should understand well." The underground of the Gu family. The requirement needed to go there. "That's not something like an emblem." The emblem received when becoming a Young Master was merely proof. Just a certification of having become a Young Master. The real condition was. "Someone who is a direct lineage of the Gu family and has been validated by the head." Becoming a Young Master meant to inherit the workings of the Gu family as a body, a vessel capable of breaking the prohibition that heaven laid down. Yet, Baek Yangcheon seemed to have already fulfilled that condition. The meaning was simple. "He has already been passed the intent by the family head." Though he might not be the head himself, someone had imparted the legacy of the Young Master onto Baek Yangcheon. The issue was. "However, he's not the Young Master…." He broke through the strenuous part and smashed the prohibition laid by heaven, yet did not ascend to the position of Young Master. What this signified was harsher than expected. "It means someone is holding the legacy of the Young Master." Most likely, it was the former family head himself who broke the prohibition. "…How can that be?" Gu Seong-yeol narrowed his forehead. The legacy even he couldn’t handle and passed onto his own child. To bear all of it at once? '…What on earth.' What kind of being could it be? Gu Seong-yeol pondered this question as he watched the fading carriage. * * * Time passed. Days flew by, and as many days passed, we came closer to our destination, Hanam, from Shanxi. "Ugh, I'm so bored." Gu Seon was grumbling endlessly, sticking his face out of the carriage window. "It's seriously boring. How can this be so boring? Shouldn't something interesting happen? How can it be like this…." "Quiet." I interrupted him mid-sentence. "Just keep it down." "Oh, whyyyy." Gu Seon whined as he approached. I pushed him away with my foot to keep some distance. Normally, I might have entertained him, but he had been like this for days on end, so how could I possibly indulge him further? "We'll arrive soon. Just stay put for a bit longer." "That 'soon' has been several days already." "Did you expect to cover this distance in an instant?" If I had my strength, we would have arrived in a day, but riding a carriage was different. It was obviously boring. "Aaah, I'm telling you, it's boring! Play with me!" "Ugh! Get lost!" I forcibly removed the clinging Gu Seon. Despite casting a pleading glance for help, both Soi and Father ignored us. 'These unfair people?' It had been several days of being plagued by Gu Seon, and as soon as the target changed to me, everyone else conveniently ignored it. Damn it. There isn't a single reliable person in this world. “Why are you so strong?” Pushing her away was no easy task. Even though I was exhausted, why was it so challenging? She was absurdly strong. “Get away!” I barely managed to push her off, catching my breath. She was a formidable opponent, indeed. “How can you keep clinging even though I keep pushing you away? Are you crazy?” “In our family, perseverance is in our blood.” “That's ridiculous.” I had never heard such nonsense before. Where did the Gu family ever value perseverance? “Just stay still. We still have at least a day of travel left.” “A daaay!?” Gu Seon shouted. “You said it was just a little bit left!” “By now, this is a little bit. What more do you want?” She seemed to lack any patience whatsoever. “Grrr.” She was beginning to sound like a dog, even barking now. “……Deputy Chief.” “Yes?” “Could you possibly manage your sister?” Why was I always the one to suffer? That's the look I gave, but... “It's alright. If you think about it, she's your sister too.” “…….” The guy knew how to weasel his way out of things. “Grr!” “Oh, just go away...!” Gu Seon locked onto me and was about to pounce again. Just as I was bracing myself to deal with him— “……!” Suddenly, Soi drew her sword, and Father leapt out of the carriage. Upon seeing this, I pulled Gu Seon close to me. “Whoa!?” I positioned myself defensively, placing him behind me. Even though I couldn't sense it, their reactions were enough to understand. Moments later. Neigh-!!! The carriage abruptly halted along with the sound of the horses. 'What's happening?' I narrowed my eyes. “Move, let me see.” Gu Seon tried to push me away, but I didn't budge. Suddenly, the noise ceased. It was then that I gradually leaned my head out of the window. '...A person?' A figure stood before us. It was a woman who had stopped the carriage. She appeared to be in her late thirties. 'Who is she?' I stared at the woman, puzzled. She wasn't a face I recognized—someone completely new to me. With a sword hanging at her hip, it was clear she was a martial artist. '...She's strong.' Even without sensing energy, I could tell. Her presence indicated she was a formidable force. Moreover— “Well, look who it is.” Paejon, who had been lounging on top of the carriage for several days, finally got down and greeted her with apparent excitement. “A familiar face after so long.” At Paejon's words, the woman smiled. “It's been a while, Bijuu.” She addressed Paejon by name without hesitation. Seeing this took me aback. Who was she, speaking like that to the world-renowned Paejon? Such familiarity indicated a certain level and age were involved. Who in the world was she? No female figure like that came to mind from history. I wracked my brain thinking of notable heroines, but none fit. Then— “It really has been a while,” Paejon addressed her directly. “Sword Empress.” “……!” My eyes widened in disbelief. '...Did he say Sword Empress?' Sword Empress. He had referred to that woman, not Soi, as the Sword Empress. This meant... 'Could it be...?' Before Soi, there was another Sword Empress, a figure well-known in history. 'The Fallen Sword Empress?' The one known as the Fallen Sword Empress, historically infamous as the worst Sword Empress, was now standing before my very eyes.