The meeting ended quickly.
From the start, since Gang Un and Elder Mok Hyeonhak didn’t know much about the Hwanggeum Family’s affairs, there was no reason for questions, and Gold-necked Hwan had clearly assigned everyone’s tasks.
Only after seeing that did Gang Un truly accept that Gold-necked Hwan was the one leading this operation.
There was no flaw in his words.
Normally, Gwak Jindo should have raised his voice as usual, but every time Gold-necked Hwan spoke, he kept so quiet it was like a mouse had died in the room.
Gwak Jindo wasn’t the same as before, either.
Seeing these martial artists of the same generation change like this wasn’t something that happened overnight.
After the meeting, when they talked about it, Gwak Jindo instead complained that they had gotten slow.
“But it’s a little humiliating, you know. I didn’t build up my martial arts just to relay someone else’s words.”
“We just said we’d ask since we were heading back anyway.”
“Practically just delivering instructions. Said he didn’t need a wrist, just bring this back.”
“Yeah. Why the wrist, though?”
Mok Hyeonhak chuckled as if he found it ridiculous, and Gang Un sighed atop the carriage.
They were on the road, returning to Wuhan with the Murim Alliance’s Cheongmudang warriors.
In the midst of all this, Gang Un received some letters from Gold-necked Hwan.
One was a record of today’s meeting, written exactly as it happened, and one was a personal letter.
“Even so, I never thought I’d be running errands for Ilmyeong Manroe. Now I see why the Maengju is interested in him.”
Mok Hyeonhak spoke.
Ilmyeong Manroe Gang Un, who made great achievements in many battles against the Majyo.
Even now, he had many followers, and yet here he was being sent on errands.
One could call it daring.
Maybe it was only possible because Gold-necked Hwan didn’t know who Gang Un truly was.
Anyway, it was true that the boy was unusual.
He’d heard how Gold-necked Hwan had gained command rights before the Maengju from Cheongmudang’s chief.
“That’s definitely something that would draw the Maengju’s interest. If he even set up a separate meeting.”
“Maybe he wants to introduce him to Shinsan. That’d be a great opportunity for the boy.”
“Right. Who knows, maybe he’ll become the next Murim Alliance strategist. Still, it’s a shame. If that cleverness was put towards martial arts talent…”
Gang Un smacked his lips.
Everyone had their own talents.
Some were good at calculations, some at poetry, some had great strength, and some had sharp understanding.
To be able to command a battlefield at just twelve years old was an incredible talent.
If he’d turned that toward martial arts, he might have been truly remarkable.
“If that were the case, he’d be Yuwol’s Sahyeongje by now.”
“Knowing Yuwol’s temperament, there’s no way he’d sit quietly about that.”
“Enough. It’s just a pointless fantasy, anyway.”
Mok Hyeonhak lay down inside the carriage.
That was as far as his thoughts on Gold-necked Hwan went, and it was the right amount.
Scholars were interested in scholars, warriors in warriors, so it was only natural Mok Hyeonhak wasn’t that interested.
***
The rest of the smaller follow-up matters were left to Gwak Jindo.
For now, it was time to move with some leisure.
Hyeongsanpa only knew that a fight had broken out; they had no idea they were involved at all.
Once investigations started, they’d figure out roughly where Ong Mungyu and Ong So-hu disappeared.
But tracking someone down in this vast Jungwon was harder than finding a needle in the Samak.
Even if the truth was revealed, it would come much too late.
Time was on our side.
ㅡ Get some rest.
That’s what Gwak Jindo said to me, but I was in the middle of training.
There were many things I wanted to test.
During my fight with Ong So-hu, I’d realized something.
He had thrown his sword energy at me indiscriminately, while I calmly observed and let it flow past me.
Gwak Jindo had once said that only those with profound learning could spread their qi.
It required an absolute accumulation of internal energy—no matter how talented, it was difficult.
That’s why I hadn’t paid it much attention, but after seeing Ong So-hu squander so much qi, I felt that maybe I could do it too.
Somehow, the internal energy I gained from the Haemo Pill had become quite a part of me.
So I tried, and it worked.
It felt somewhat anticlimactic, but being able to materialize and wield my qi was meaningful.
If so, I thought I might be able to do the next moves as well.
The next techniques of the Namhae Sibigeom.
The Fifth Form: Suyeonmanbeom.
The Sixth Form: Susegwangdae.
The Seventh Form: Gonghaeil.
Gwak Jindo told me to go slow.
He said that if I ran ahead too quickly, I’d surely miss something.
He also told me only to proceed once I was sure I could execute the moves.
I didn’t think I’d miss anything if I rushed, but I was still putting effort into learning them properly.
If I’d treated Namhae Sibigeom as I had Guhyang Geombeop and Wolseong Sword Technique from Hyeongsanpa, I’d have already used all the forms.
But now, Namhae Sibigeom was the foundation and pillar of my swordsmanship, so I had to build it up carefully.
If I swung carelessly and picked up bad habits, it could be disastrous.
“Let’s give it a try, for now.”
I was different now from when I used to practice with Gwak Jindo.
I had grasped the Sinbeop.
Even if I couldn’t see myself, it felt as if my presence was fading.
A blue glow pulsed through my sword.
The clearer the color of the qi became, the more confident I was that I could unleash it.
***
Jong Ri Un received two letters from Elder Gang Un.
One was a record of the meeting, the other a letter from Gold-necked Hwan.
Between public and private matters, public business came first.
Jong Ri Un opened the meeting record.
“Hmm.”
As expected, the keen insight he’d shown last time was no lie—he once again displayed outstanding discernment during this meeting.
From how Hyeongsanpa was slow on information, to how to deal with Jungwon’s growing attention, to how the Hwanggeum Family should move forward.
But above all, the highlight was the final section: about how the Murim Alliance should act from here on.
In truth, Gold-necked Hwan proposing the Murim Alliance’s future moves could have been overreaching, even earning disfavor.
“…Huhu. Feels like this was written by Shinsan himself.”
Yet the contents within held nothing to provoke discomfort.
Gold-necked Hwan had accurately grasped not only the Murim Alliance’s narrow latitude compared to the Gupailbang, but also Jong Ri Un’s desire for greater influence.
This sensation was something he’d only felt before from the Murim Alliance’s own strategist, Shinsan Jegalheon.
“Interesting.”
Jong Ri Un smiled in satisfaction and opened the next letter.
It was said to be Gold-necked Hwan’s personal correspondence.
Truthfully, Jong Ri Un was more curious about this than the public one.
Breaking the seal in the center, he checked the letter’s contents.
His smile faded as he read.
ㅡ I’ll come find you once the family is settled.
Unlike the earlier letter, it contained only that one line.
Jong Ri Un smiled faintly.
He had to send a reply to this interesting child.
***
While I was training, I’d go check in with Gwak Jindo each day to see how things were going.
The matters were being resolved quickly.
With the people of Cheonjuseong, Hyeongsanpa, and Jusampa all gone, the cleansing process proceeded even faster.
Amidst this rapid current, the minor factions who had kept their distance were mostly fleeing as well.
A few more days passed like that, and Gwak Jindo gathered our siblings.
Come to think of it, I’d barely paid attention to my siblings.
They’d each been busy with their own tasks.
When a family was being purged, it was natural to focus first on protecting one’s direct relatives.
The place we were gathered was a meeting room in the basement of Geumjeong Garden.
When I entered, only Gwak Jindo was there.
“Geumjeong Garden is empty now.”
“All those busy money bugs are gone.”
“Is that so?”
The Elders had been the most prominent threats aiming for the Hwanggeum Family.
Now, almost none remained.
This used to be the most uncomfortable space, but now, paradoxically, it had become the most comfortable.
“It seems the Elder-rank members helped out a lot. We should be grateful.”
“They were always people who cared for the family. Now that things are this settled, the Wonju don’t need to hold back, either.”
“That’s true.”
The Elder-rank members, including those who helped resolve Elder Lee Cheongmyeong’s disciplinary case, the Chongpyodu, and our family’s mainstays.
Looking back, I could understand why they had withdrawn.
Not just because of Lee Cheongmyeong’s martial level, but also because there was no focal point for unity.
But now, the forces that had directly threatened us were gone, and with Gwak Jindo as the new center, they could move proactively.
As we discussed the family’s aftermath, one by one, the others came into the meeting room.
First was Geumhwacheong, then Geumwolsang, and Geumsurin.
“You’re here. Brothers, sister.”
“Yes. It’s been a long time.”
Surprisingly, the first to reply was Geumhwacheong, though he immediately turned his face away.
After that, Geumwolsang and Geumsurin also exchanged greetings.
It really had been a long time since I’d seen them.
A lot had happened, but it had been so long since I’d seen them face to face.
I’d been too busy to pay attention.
Later, I found out Geumwolsang had been leading a unit made up of Samga bodyguards and escort warriors overseeing the northwest, and Geumhwacheong and Geumsurin had filled the administrative gaps while Gwak Jindo commanded the martial artists.
From what Gwak Jindo said, they’d handled things more cleanly than even he had.
Come to think of it, no one was as prepared administratively as us.
We’d been raised studying nothing but that since childhood.
“Everyone’s here now.”
Gwak Jindo spoke, and all of our gazes turned to him.
He paused for a moment, looking at each of us in turn.
“You all worked hard.”
I knew exactly what he meant.
And my siblings must have sensed it as well, albeit vaguely.
They seemed eager to clarify the source of that uncertainty.
Geumwolsang was the one who raised the flag.
“Has the family been liberated?”
Gwak Jindo paused to catch his breath, then replied.
“Yes.”
The expressions on my siblings’ faces were a little different from what I’d expected when they heard that.
I thought everyone would be overjoyed and happy, but instead, they all bowed their heads and stared blankly.
Geumsurin even began to cry.
I felt the same.
None of us could have imagined this day would come.
Just as I had in my previous life, they must have lived on in resignation.
But now everything had changed.
We no longer had to see those eyes watching, belittling, and despising us.
They still couldn’t seem to grasp the reality of it.
“I really did something incredible, didn’t I?”
Geumwolsang’s voice was slightly choked as well.
Gwak Jindo nodded.
“There were probably a lot of things you didn’t even realize you were doing. If I’d known things would be resolved this quickly, I would’ve returned to the family sooner myself.”
Gwak Jindo paused again before continuing.
“I, too, have some responsibility for having neglected you until now. In that sense, I owe you an apology.”
I shook my head.
Gwak Jindo had nothing to apologize for.
I just had knowledge of the future.
In truth, the beginning of all this was using Lee Cheongmyeong’s knowledge to escape Cheonjuseong.
If I hadn’t known about Cheonjuseong, I’d never have even attempted it.
The only choice left for Gwak Jindo would have been to wander outside.
He was a loyal servant of the family, and from my position, someone I was deeply grateful to.
“This is the Outer General’s accomplishment.”
“No. This is yours, no matter what anyone says. Denying that would only embarrass me further.”
In my previous life, Gwak Jindo had always worked for our family.
To be recognized by such a person meant a lot.
We were silent for a moment.
We needed time to collect ourselves.
But still, it wasn’t as if we had no tasks remaining.
To be realistic, we’d only climbed a single mountain.
Now that this news would spread across Jungwon, the Gupailbang and others would put even more pressure on the Hwanggeum Family.
To stop that, I had much to do.
After some time had passed, I spoke up.
“Master.”
“Yes?”
“Can I ask now?”
Gwak Jindo pursed his lips, seeming to know instinctively what I was about to ask.
“Go ahead.”
I looked Gwak Jindo directly in the eyes.
“Where is Father now?”