Our table was still laid out with the finest delicacies from the Central Plains.
The moment I confirmed there was no poison, I ate heartily, but the other brothers just nibbled at their food.
It seemed to be because of the incident where poison was found in the food before.
Of course, that had nothing to do with me. In fact, it was better that way. The more the brothers left behind, the faster I moved my chopsticks.
Since I’d been training continuously these days, my body was constantly craving food.
“…You’re eating well.”
As I picked meat off the tail of the catfish, Geumsurin said absentmindedly.
“I don’t have much appetite. That’s enough for me.”
“Me too.”
“…Hmm, I’ll head in first.”
As Geumsurin stood up first, Geumhwacheong and Geumwolsang glanced at each other nervously and stood up together.
Our rules had become somewhat freer. In the past, after finishing a meal, everyone had to wait for each other, but now we could eat and leave freely.
Also, if someone didn’t want to come out again, they didn’t have to. Although everyone was so accustomed to it that no one ever missed coming out.
Geumhwacheong suggested abolishing the rules altogether, but I opposed it.
The rules were cumbersome, but they were made for a definite reason.
There wasn’t as much space for the family to talk among themselves as one might think. If we gathered in places outside Daejeon, eavesdroppers would be lurking.
I took out the petition myself and began speaking. Although it was a pity to leave some food uneaten, that wasn’t the important thing now.
“I have finished eating. Also, I have something to say for a moment, so please take a seat.”
The moment I said that, Geumhwacheong’s expression grew uneasy.
From his point of view, my words must have looked like an opening to a crisis. But the order was wrong. I was the hornblower who knew about the crisis first and was telling others.
Geumwolsang and Geumsurin showed expressions closer to curiosity than fear.
“What is it?”
“Curious, huh?”
Geumsurin sat down first, followed by Geumwolsang. Geumhwacheong hesitated before pulling his chair closer and sitting down, even crossing his legs outward.
That was a signal that he wanted to leave immediately, but that couldn’t happen.
“The story I’m about to tell is a bit long.”
“…What is it?”
“I will explain the current situation of our family.”
The brothers’ expressions became similar—both curiosity and fear coexisted.
I began immediately, starting with Lee Cheongmyeong’s case. To explain the current situation, it was necessary to go that deep.
Lee Cheongmyeong was someone appointed by the Cheonjuseong’s Four Pillars, but Cheonjuseong had retreated, and now the remaining forces, excluding numerous minor sects, were divided into the Hyeongsanpa and Jusampa.
I briefly explained what had happened during that process.
Of course, I omitted details like whether I had returned, allied with the Murim Alliance, or how Myung Jaehee had driven away the spies.
As I tried to organize the explanation clearly, I hit a wall here.
The brothers’ reactions varied.
“So this is what’s been going on.”
After hearing everything, Geumwolsang spoke first, biting his words.
“How do you know all this?”
Geumsurin looked at me with surprised eyes like a startled rabbit.
“So, what do we do?”
The most meaningful response came from Geumhwacheong.
In any previous life, it had been Geumhwacheong who had secured the role of family head. You could call his the most progressive spirit in this oppressed bloodline.
Until now, it had only been background explanation. Now the main topic began.
“The heir to Hyeongsanpa will arrive soon.”
At my words, the three expressions became serious. Naturally so, since I had already explained that Hyeongsanpa was currently the greatest threat to the Hwanggeum Family.
“They’re coming all of a sudden? What?”
“Those bastards don’t know we’re prepared?”
Geumwolsang and Geumsurin shouted, but Geumhwacheong slammed the desk.
“What does that matter? The important thing is that they’re coming, isn’t it?”
For the first time, Geumhwacheong met my eyes. I returned his gaze and nodded.
“That’s right. And I’ll tell you how they will come out and how we will respond.”
Too much information seemed to flood in at once, and the brothers’ eyes flickered, but they still focused.
Even Geumhwacheong, who usually looked down on me, was concentrating.
It was a determination I had never imagined in a previous life.
***
Geumwolsang was slightly nervous. After Gold-necked Hwan’s story ended, Geumwolsang suggested going to the Yeongongbu together.
Since Gold-necked Hwan was handling so many matters, as the eldest son, Geumwolsang felt he should show something.
His only confident martial art was what he intended to display. Without a word, Gold-necked Hwan followed him to the Yeongongbu.
Geumwolsang asked hesitantly, trying to dispel his tension.
“But will they really move as you said?”
“They don’t have much choice.”
“If that’s the case…”
At Gold-necked Hwan’s firm words, Geumwolsang relented.
Not even a few months had passed since Gold-necked Hwan’s transformation, but by now he was accustomed to such bluntness.
The image of the silent troublemaker from before no longer came to mind.
I thought we had grown somewhat closer after that, but Gold-necked Hwan still had many questions for Geumwolsang.
“But how did you know Hyeongsan was coming?”
“I developed my own intelligence network.”
Gold-necked Hwan said nonchalantly.
While Geumwolsang had struggled for years to establish external information links, this younger brother achieved everything in a few months and even did what Geumwolsang could not.
It made Geumwolsang feel slightly embarrassed. The eldest son being outpaced by a younger brother barely seventeen years old. Honestly, he couldn’t be the eldest son anymore.
Rather, recently, Geumwolsang showed an even younger side to Gold-necked Hwan. He was excited about playing with Lee Cheongmyeong’s fate.
Soon, Geumwolsang and Gold-necked Hwan arrived at the Yeongongbu. Gold-necked Hwan’s transformed fiancée had already arrived.
“…Y-yeah… You’re here, Your Highness?”
Pretty but with a sharp expression, the attendant hurriedly lowered her hand as if about to speak informally to Gold-necked Hwan.
But Gold-necked Hwan ignored such trivial things and paid no mind.
“Let’s go inside, brother.”
Geumwolsang followed Gold-necked Hwan through the door.
Inside, the building was quite spacious. There was a wooden dummy room where one could test basics against a person, empty spaces, and a thick door that was presumably a room for cultivation exercises.
While touring, Geumwolsang suddenly realized something.
Every place where training was possible had soil dug up and sword marks deeply etched.
Everyone in the Hwanggeum Family knew that only Gold-necked Hwan used the Yeongongbu. But it hadn’t been long since he started using it—barely since the arrival of the Outer Relative.
So what explained all these numerous marks? Geumwolsang glanced at the small back of Gold-necked Hwan, who was standing at the front, reluctant to show the inside.
Where before his martial arts clothes had sagged uselessly, now the edges were sharp. His muscles had settled in, and his frame had grown larger.
Watching Gold-necked Hwan’s earnest effort, Geumwolsang couldn’t help but say,
“You’ve been training hard.”
“Is that so.”
His answer had no cuteness, the opposite of his appearance. If he trained this hard, he could have shown it a bit, sought praise a little.
“Right. I’ve worked hard at martial arts training too.”
Geumwolsang thought so. Gold-necked Hwan told him what he was supposed to do and that he wanted to see his martial arts.
He had some confidence. After absorbing Dokgakhawang’s Inner Pill that Goldbok Hwan gave him, his sword aura could now produce a much deeper color.
“This is the Igungcheonroe Sword Technique, right?”
“That’s right.”
Geumwolsang gripped the sword stance. He held the sword vertically in the middle. The Yeongongbu was said to prevent energy from leaking outside no matter how much qi was unleashed.
From the lower dantian, he drew up his internal energy. He felt the power fill his whole body. But that wasn’t all.
A blue essence flowed out from Geumwolsang’s body. It was the level of Hyun-gi that materializes and projects energy.
Hyun-gi was the dividing point between third and second level warriors.
At Geumwolsang’s age, second-level martial artist status meant being the third best disciple in a prestigious sect. That was an incredible talent.
Famous martial sects gathered talented individuals from all over the Central Plains and made tremendous investments to produce such results.
Geumwolsang had not undergone systematic education or physical conditioning like in a martial family. Yet, despite that, he self-studied and reached this level.
Of course, Geumwolsang knew the truth as well: his current attainment was far better than before.
As he reached this level, his comprehension of Igungcheonroe Heart Method and Sword Technique had matured to the third stage.
Geumwolsang glanced at Gold-necked Hwan, expecting surprise from the cold, blunt younger brother, but disappointingly, Gold-necked Hwan’s expression remained unchanged.
“Hmph.”
Geumwolsang pushed himself harder, making the color of his energy even denser. The sword gathered blue energy beads, and soon the entire blade was sheathed in blue light.
Then, the basics of the Igungcheonroe Sword Technique began to unfold. Thunder rolled within clouds as the first basic form was displayed.
Perhaps because he poured out energy freely, Geumwolsang had never wielded his sword so fast or powerfully before.
After finishing all the basics of the technique, Geumwolsang felt a deep satisfaction. He had shown his absolute best.
“Finished.”
Geumwolsang looked at Gold-necked Hwan, but it wasn’t the reaction he expected. Gold-necked Hwan, who had been sitting quietly watching, propped his chin on his hand.
Breaking the long silence, Gold-necked Hwan spoke.
“It’s a slightly disappointing achievement.”
At those words, Geumwolsang’s heart sank.
***
Though Geumwolsang did not appear to be able to accept it, he had been watching me out of the corner of his eye for some time.
At first, I thought it might be frustration from defeat, but every time our eyes met, he would lower his gaze, so it seemed more like embarrassment.
Geumwolsang’s swordsmanship was definitely more aggressive and stronger than before. However, the delicacy had fallen far behind.
“Too much force was applied.”
I diagnosed immediately.
Separately from how I used martial arts, I had an eye for judging martial skill.
Right now, Geumwolsang was simply trying to push through with the power of his qi. So, while it was flashy, his swordwork was clumsy.
But even so, he was a capable warrior who could challenge a Tiger-class warrior, and he was undoubtedly better than before.
However, that was not enough. Geumwolsang needed to grow faster. He was the best weapon I could think of against the Hyeongsanpa.
In that regard, the embarrassment was perfectly timed. Embarrassment is when one feels one’s own insufficiency, and that becomes a stepping stone for great growth.
I planned to amplify that embarrassment rather than suppress it.
Soon after Geumwolsang finished his sword dance, he asked me. I answered as calmly as possible.
“It’s a slightly disappointing achievement.”
Geumwolsang’s expression changed instantly. It was filled with disappointment, regret, guilt, and other negative emotions.
Of course, if he suffered a deep emotional wound, he might never recover.
But I was confident in my gamble. I already saw the thread to resolve Geumwolsang’s mental troubles.
There, the key was the energy of the Dokgakhwamang Spirit Pill twisting around Geumwolsang’s energy meridians.