“Father?”
Sima Young’s words caused Jin Song-baek to stiffen.
Even I was equally shocked.
I was going to talk to him when we were alone, but there were so many people around us right now.
Short Sword clicked her tongue.
-Father and daughter are so alike. When they are angry, they become fools.
It seems so.
And this proved it too.
But that wasn’t the important thing.
When she realized I hadn’t told the truth to Jin Song-baek, she was unsure of what to do.
[I apologize, young lord. I think that I made a mistake.]
Sima Young sent me a message.
[… it is fine.]
How could I blame her when she was trying to help me?
Jin Song-baek, who seemed a bit flustered, turned to me with shocked eyes.
‘He didn’t realize it?’
Judging from how he was reacting, it seemed like he didn’t know about this at all. Even when he found out that mother’s keepsake was with me, he didn’t seem to think this was possible.
Well, my mother, who knew the entire truth was already dead. This was also something that I only learned after her death.
“Young.”
That was when Sima Chak called to her and frowned as he shook his head.
He had guessed what she would do and told her not to speak further.
Jin Song-baek, who was staring at me with a stiff face, then said,
“… what is all this?”
It seemed like he was asking me to tell him the truth. It was no longer a situation where I could avoid telling him.
“It is as you heard.”
“As I heard?”
“I didn’t know this for a long time either. My mother was pregnant even before she separated from the Lord.”
-You made a good point
Since it was impossible to reveal the entire truth with so many watching, I only told him about the important things. Hearing this, Jin Song-baek’s body began to tremble.
“How can this… how did I not…”
Seeing him, stuttering made me feel odd.
The emotions that I felt after knowing of his existence for the first time were strong emotions, like sadness and anger.
However, when I came to this place and saw him, I realized he was so different from what I had imagined.
Would it be possible for someone with such a strong sense of responsibility to give up on my mother and me? I had such doubts.
But as I saw him struggle with shock, something changed.
“Lord….”
I was trying to talk when someone intervened.
“Lord Jin. What is this?”
“… Lord Guyang?”
The one who intervened was Guyang Gyeong.
Why did he intervene when I didn’t mention anything which could be troubling him?
“Are you saying that this man is your son?”
“That…”
“You need to answer me.”
Those eyes were furious as he pushed.
“What is this?”
At my question, he waved his hand and said,
“No matter how I look at it, this friend seems to have passed the terms. If I am not mistaken, Lord Jin made it clear that he wouldn’t meet anyone from there after that incident.”
“Huh. come to think…”
At those words, Wang Cheo-il looked like he had realized something.
There were a few people who were quite restless, and most of them were older people rather than young ones.
Guyang Gyeong then asked Jin Song-baek, who was shaking in confusion.
“Tell me, Lord. Is that young man the child of Ha-ryeong?”
He spoke my mother’s name like he knew her.
But despite his pushy nature and questions, Jin Song-baek didn’t say a single thing.
“Why are you not speaking!”
“Lord Guyang….”
“You said we didn’t have to worry! Why are you pushing him aside like this!”
Sima Young, who watched this, shouted angrily, making Guyang Gyeong frown and say.
“You are courageous like your father. But this is work which is important to us.”
Because she was Sima Chak’s daughter, he didn’t speak harshly to her but instead shouted for everyone to hear.
“Is it not important to know if Lord Jin knew if this young man was his son or not? If this man was the child of Ha-ryeong, the descendant of the family who inherited the blood of the Blood Sect, then the Lord committed a crime for letting the seed of the Blood Sect survive 20 years ago!”
Ha!
This man was really something.
I wondered if the entire force would unite under the fake that was an impostor among them. Still, this man was simply taking advantage of this situation to drive my father away.
“Even if you are one of the four Lords, this matter cannot be ignored. This is something that needs to be considered a matter of utmost importance!”
Guying Gyeong was trying to drive public opinion against my father.
I looked at Jin Song-baek.
The shock in his eyes was clear.
-At this rate, I don’t know about his state.
The atmosphere around us was quite odd, and it seemed like there were many who hated the ties with the Blood Sect that was within this place.
So they must have committed the act of joining hands with the Murim Alliance to take down my mother’s family.
And this enraged me.
When Jin Song-baek didn’t answer, Guyang Gyeong turned to me and asked,
“You said that Lord Jin is the father of this young man. If so, please reveal who your mother is right now!”
As he asked this, the men of his Order surrounded me. It was clearly to ensure that I didn’t run.
“What is this?”
At my question, he snorted.
“If this young man inherited her blood, do you think we can let you leave this place alive?”
Killing intent rose from his body.
It was as if he was willing to raise his hands against me right now.
Seeing him like that, I sighed.
“Sigh.”
Since there were people like this around them, my mother, grandfather, and their family met such an unhappy fate.
I couldn’t contain the anger rising in me while Guyang Gyeong continued to push me without knowing.
“Come on, reveal it!”
At this demand, I snorted and said.
“I have something I am curious about.”
“Stop asking and talk.”
“No, everyone should hear this.”
“What?”
He was puzzled as I shouted.
“It is said that the Flying Moon Order holds a relationship with the Blood Sect, but did it ever claim to help them or the Blood Sect during the great war 20 years ago?”
The surroundings became silent at my question. Of course, they were silent.
The Flying Moon Order was purged during the war by the Murim Alliance.
All just because they had ties with the Blood Demon. Guyang Gyeong then glared at me and shouted.
“You don’t know how dangerous you are for just being related to that vicious Blood Sect who tried to destroy Murim!”
“You answer when I ask!”
“You cheeky bastard!”
Guying Gyeong was angered and decided to unleash a palm technique at me.
But I already knew what he was doing due to my Golden Eye.
That was why I took steps to avoid it.
Papak!
“You?”
As I avoided it easily, his eyes changed. Even if he was someone with higher skills than me, I also had martial arts that were close to being able to handle him if I used my mid dantian.
If I could react before him, then I would not be hurt.
I distanced myself with footwork and shouted.
“You purged an entire order for the sake of holding hands with the Murim Alliance, and then you spout such ridiculous justifications.”
“You!”
“You made a hundred concessions and said that it was all for the sake of your relationship with your allies. The alliance is broken now, so who committed the crime?”
None of my words were logically wrong, and the crowd who were watching me could only glare.
Such a reaction came from the young ones.
Unlike the Murim Alliance, the Dual Martial Forces weren’t political in nature.
It was a neutral organization created for those who aimed to develop their martial arts.
“You.”
He continued to stare at someone. It was Sima Chak. Sima Chak was making a strange expression while looking at me.
That expression was similar to…
-He seems interested.
It was quite different from the cold treatment he gave me before. Guyang Gyeong was also becoming conscious of the crowd.
“Are you trying to stir up your advantage with that clumsy speaking? Are you trying to survive? After all, you are her child.”
“What is wrong with being her child?”
“It is a serious sin to inherit the blood of Blood Demon!”
“Do not insult my mother!”
As soon as I said it, I rushed for him. I then pulled out Iron Sword and swung it at the man with the intent of cutting his head off.
“Huh!”
Guyang Gyeong tilted his head and avoided it.
I went to stab him twice in the chest, and he stopped it using palm techniques.
Clang!
Guyang Gyeong, who blocked my sword, dug his hand toward my chest.
He then stretched his hand to my face, making me jump back.
Pak!
Someone immediately grabbed his wrist. It was Jin Song-baek.
“Lord Jin!”
When Jin Song-baek grabbed his wrist, Guyang Gyeong asked him.
“What are you doing?”
“Lord Guyang. I will not forgive you if you try to touch this child again.”
“Confessing your sins…”
Pupuak!
Before he could finish those words, Jin Song-baek kicked him in the face, chest, and stomach immediately.
“Kuak!”
Guyang Gyeong was pushed back ten paces, and, despite his skill, he couldn’t hold his ground against Jin Song-baek’s attack.
And being so close, there was no way he could have dodged it.
“Jin Song-baek. How are…”
Guyang Gyeong, who tried to retort, coughed up blood. Jin Song-baek asked me in a low voice as if he no longer cared about everything around us.
“You’re the child of Ha-ryeong and me?”
It was a soft voice that belied the trembling.
In response, I nodded while looking him in the eye. Jin Song-baek then spoke to me.
“I apologize. Even if you resent me, please don’t blame me.”
“Lord….”
“But from now on, this father will protect you.”
The moment I heard that my heart pounded.
Father, those few words he said made my heart pound.
He accepted everything without second-guessing me.
Guyang Gyeong shouted.
“Jin Song-baek! Are you trying to protect the person who inherited the blood of the Blood Demon?”
In response, Jin Song-baek stepped forward and shouted.
“No one will touch my son!”
And this was not a simple shout. For a moment, the crowd was stilled by the sense of intimidation.
Even Guyang Gyeong fell silent at this. However, he soon came to his senses and said,
“Are you making the entire forces here your enemy?”
“I will if I have to! My people!”
“Yes!! Lord!”
Rumble!
All his men began to come forward.
And each member stood proudly behind Jin Song-baek.
It was the form of those ready to fight against anyone who would step up against their Lord.
Guyang Gyeong looked around as the situation escalated and shouted at Wang Cheo-il.
“Lord Wang. You see this, help.”
At his words, Wang Cheo-il shook his head and said,
“I will not be involved in this.”
This shocked Guyang Gyeong. Actually, I was probably more shocked.
Even if the Lords were at odds here, I thought they would unite against a problem like me.
But he drew the line.
-Must be because of your father.
I wasn’t sure if that was the case. It was a situation where I would have to deal with these lords if things went wrong. Instead, seeing this, it seemed like what I did was the right choice.
“Kuak.”
Guyang Gyeong felt embarrassed at the sight of no strong person siding with him.
And then he looked for Sima Chak.
“Sima hyung.”
He was asking for help from here.
“Help me. This younger brother’s martial arts aren’t strong enough to deal with them.”
“I don’t think that is something in which an outsider should intervene.”
“How are you an outsider? Just subdue that one person. Aren’t you and I going to be in-laws soon?”
Sima Chak’s eyes looked disappointed at his words, which were made clear on his face.
Sima Chak, who just stared blankly, shook his head.
“I said I wouldn’t intervene.”
“Sima hyung! Do you intend to forsake the marriage?”
Guying Gyeong cried out.
It seemed like he wanted Jin Song-baek to be pushed out at all costs. The situation would have escalated if even one of them had sided with him.
“If my father wants to help him, I will side with the young lord.”
At Sima Young’s words, Sima Chak frowned.
And he sighed.
“I pushed for this marriage before your birth. If you do something else, I will disown you immediately.”
“For the things that adults decide amongst….”
“If I disown you, you will no longer be my child. What about that?”
At those words, Guyang Gyeong’s face softened. He didn’t have a single thing going his way until now.
“Are you abandoning me? Didn’t you say you would follow your morals?”
Hearing her words, Sima Chak told Sima Young.
“Guyang is who I decided. Even if you like someone, how do you expect me to break a pact I made?”
“You want me to marry someone I don’t like?”
“Yes. Then, let’s do it. Guyang San was it?”
Sima Chak first called out Guyang San, who was behind his father.
“Ye… yes!”
“One who I promised before the birth and the other who my daughter loves. No father can win over his daughter. I cannot decide everything on my own.”
“W-what?”
“I will give both of you a chance. However, this isn’t the time, so come back to Fu’an in three days, and I will test who is suitable.”
“Ah….”
“You don’t want to be family?”
“N-No!”
When Guyang San responded lazily, Sima Chak looked at me.
“I am disappointed in you, but this is the last chance I will give you. Come there in three days.”
Fu’an County was the village where my grandfather was. His voice also seemed softer to me. I bowed to him.
“I understand.”
“Huh. Done now?”
“I like it.”
At Sima Chak’s words, Sima Young stepped back. He looked at Guyang Gyeong, and then Sima Chak shook his head.
“No one is my son-in-law yet, so I will not take sides. I hope this matter is resolved in a nice manner. Let’s go.”
“Ah, father!”
Path!
With that, Sima Chak took Sima Young in his arms and used light footwork.
It seemed like he didn’t want to get involved in this. That was the correct response as well.
On the other hand, Guyang Gyeong looked in shock as Sima Chak left.
And my father stepped forward.
“Should we end this now?”
At those words, Guyang Gyeong, who was filled with anger, calmed himself and said,
“Lord Jin. This will not be overlooked.”
“Sure.”
Swish!
He gritted his teeth and shouted.
“Back to the tower!”
“Yes!”
Guyang Gyeong led his warriors and retreated at once. Everyone was relieved as the threat of war passed.
This could have easily turned into a battle.
When the warriors retreated, Jin Song-baek turned his head.
‘Ah!’
His face was sad as he looked at me. The heartless expression he had until now had disappeared.
It was then.
Rumble!
Warriors from my father’s order surrounded us. I wondered what was about to happen, but they all bowed their heads and shouted.
“We greet the young lord of Storm Shadow Eight Classes!”
