He sighs as he touches the finger, the boy hisses as he pulls his hand back. The brother lifts him up in a princess carry, the younger of the two struggles as he wants to be put down, to which Soeng-jin responds. "If you want to be put down, I'll drop you and possibly worsen the wound. It might even become unfixable." Kwang Yeou stops struggling and mumbles under his breath, "It will probably be for the best, I don't want to owe anyone." "Shut up, I don't want to hear your whining, it's no wonder why your finger was never fixed. You're so stubborn!" Yeou sits quietly with a grumpy face, "My legs are fine though." "I know but I'm worried about you. Plus you're so light?! You need to eat more and come training with me so you can gain some mass weight like me!" He grins while walking, "Your swordsmanship is still ordinary though." Soeng-jin pauses as he feels a non-existent dagger stab his heart from hearing such words spoken towards him
After all he was praised for being a genius in the past... however if he was considered a genius then what was his brother since he always got defeated by Kwang Yeou in a matter of seconds in his past life before breathing his final moments. He looks down at his brother whose looking down in embarrassment. They arrive at the physician's place. Luckily he is inside, upon seeing the two boys, one awkward and one embarrassed, thus he ushers the two in when seeing the boy carrying the other. He only shakes his head then resumes to the physician in rushed steps. Soon they reach their destination and the physician fixes his brother's finger in time. Setting it back in place then applying medicine and bandaging it. They're only helping because of the news that spread earlier when the two spoke to the Lord and seemed to have gained his favour from their perspective. Since immediately after that discussion the Lord had taken action with great rage to it. Even scolding his own favoured concubine for bad-mouthing his sons, neglecting taking care of them and even sleeping around with male servants with no sense of having any discretentness.The concubine was then divorced and sent home to her paternal family never to return
Thus she was replaced and the two were rewarded with cultivation medicine and books for cultivation of mid tier level that some could not afford or be able to train under. Due to being able to afford the resources it required to proceed in further training. They were supplied with average looking but strong material training attire. With one line for their so-called father. "Train to be strong enough not let anyone be able to bully you!" In unison the two thought in their hearts, "Even you?" As if he could read his sons' minds he replies with a knowing look, crossing his arm. "Just so you know, you'll never be able to beat me kiddos." The two boys jolt in shock, their faces saying. "How did you know what I was thinking?!" He laughs, covering his face as he speaks. "Your thoughts are literally written on both your faces." He peeks to look at the two boys. Hear the word 'both' instead of 'your', the two turn to look at each other in shock. In this moment they seem to be sharing a single brain cell. It was quite the scene to see. Then they look away in slight embarrassment, their father continues, "Besides I had the same thought when I lived with my father." He looks at Kwang Yeou with kin eyes, "I was just like you, an outcast. The same level as an illegitimate child," he ruffles his son's head for the first time in years. His eyes reveal a red glint to them, "till I built my strength and found a chance to rid myself of all who spoke down on me." He drops his hand to grab the boy's chin, making him look him dead in the eyes
Seong-jin stares at his father in horror, a sudden realisation settles in his mind... His father had purposely antagonist him all those years so as to make his son an exact copy of him - in a way of living forever... Never dying in a way. This sick way of thinking ruined his and many other people's lives!? He glares at his father with great disgust, the man catches the boy's eyes. 'Wait-! What if his father is a victim to that way of thinking?' He remembers this is not the first occurrence in their family. There is quite a long list of repetition of this form of take over... This could be a curse or a deep rooted sickness from way back -. Seong-jin's change of expression is scrutinized under their father's gaze. Soon a tender gaze appears but disappears in seconds. Seong-jin looks at his brother, a determined look appearing on his face. 'Kwang Yeou is the key to change this generational misfortune! And key to my survival!'. The man exhales as he shoves the boy away, the older brother rushes forward to catch him without thinking. Seong-jin helps Kwang Yeou to stand so he can check his face. The hand print evident on his face, the man watches as his oldest son glares at him. His thoughts changing, 'Maybe my oldest will succeed me, it's rare for the first born to be a successor. But then again this is the first time a first-born lost their father's favour, there could be some changes happening in this cursed family... The question is, is it for the best or a far worst future? Maybe putting an end to this family wouldn't be so bad'
He turns to leave but a tug at his clothes has him pause in his steps. Looking back, he sees his son, Seong-jin gripping his clothes with pleading eyes. "Father I wish for that child in the storage shed to be my personal servant." Quite childish if you ask him, his younger brother chipping in. "That's right father, brother has no attendants. Quite pitiful for the son of the great Lord of this mansion." The boy's eyes seemed to be saying, "If you grant us this wish all will be forgiven." The man eyes his son with calculative eyes, causing the boys to feel nervous from his quietness. "I won't invest in anything for the both of you unless it concerns your martial arts, battle training and politics." That statement left a sour taste in their mouths, suddenly another voice interrupts them. "She can assist in all those areas," the trio turn to see the old man slowly approaching them. The Lord's eyes squint, "So that's where the sudden threat of retirement came from." The Lord questions, as if the question had already been answered, yet still looking for confirmation. "I'm old with no offspring. I'd like to take her in as my own granddaughter. Leave a legacy behind." "Out of all the orphans that have come to this family you've only ever adopted one person," the old man bows his head while humming in confirmation. "En," nods the old man, the younger man laughs slightly angered
"Since I owe you for taking me in as your own son, I've lived this long thanks to you. And I did promise you anything that time you got stabbed on my behalf..." The old man coughs walking closer while looking around the room, "I'm not asking this of you as a benefactor, I'm asking you as a father to a son but if using that useless oath will make this easier for you then yes. I'm asking you to forefill that promise, treating her like your beloved daughter. Even after I am to die some day." The man looks at his aid with an expression showing how he couldn't comprehend the motive behind this old man's words and actions. "Why, just tell me why you're going so far for a strange girl that appeared out of thin air?" The old man looks down at the ground as fondness is expressed on his face, he looks up at the younger man. "She reminds me of someone, someone I once loved to the point of dying for or with them. If not for the useless oath he made me promise, which is I can't die till it's my time. Then I'll be selfish too this time, asking you to help forefill a old man's dying wish". He smiles gently then turns to walk away saying, "I'll let you think about it, my boy." The man sighs as he replies in a loud obnoxious way but it somehow seems playful manner, "There's no need since you're committed to do anything for that child. I'll grant your request and theirs," he looks at his sons when he continues speaking. "However, she'll be your daughter and a boy to everyone else starting from the moment she leaves the shed. she'll be my sons' playmate as well as their training partner. So she shall be treated like my precious son from the moment this happened "
The boys release a breath they didn't know they were simultaneously holding when that grandfather had spoke to their father in such a lowly manner which answers a few questions. Once the Lord is out of sight and possibly out of mind, the two jump with joy. The old man rushes to the shed to fetch the girl whose asleep