"Isn't it a bit hot?"
As soon as we returned to the Tang Clan, Woo Hyuk spoke up.
I listened to Woo Hyuk's words and looked around.
'Hot?'
Indeed. I could feel a slight heat.
It was only natural that the air would become hot as summer arrived.
'What's going on?'
It seemed like something was different, though I couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was. There was a subtle difference in the air.
Maybe it was because I knew fire arts, but I was more sensitive to temperature changes.
I thought about enhancing my perception, but decided to move on for now.
'It's just the temperature.'
Maybe it was just hotter today. That's what I thought.
There was something more urgent at hand.
[... rotten... rotten....]
The irritable voice that kept ringing in my ears through my chest was the problem.
Throughout the walk back to the Tang Clan, the voice that had been pestering me made me furrow my brow without realizing it.
-[This damn...!]
[Ah, quiet down already.]
Unable to hold it in any longer, Elder Shin spat out a word, and strangely, there was amusement in his voice.
-[Do you really think it's all right now!?]
The owner of the cold voice, Namgung Myung, let out a shout at Elder Shin, but Elder Shin only laughed.
[Hah… I shouldn't be saying this, but Myeong-ah.]
-[What is it?]
[You look rather nice. I like it.]
-[You bastard…!]
'Can you please be quiet! It's driving me crazy.'
Because of the childish fights between the old men all day, I almost wanted to cover my ears.
But even if I did, it wouldn't reduce the noise.
Damn it.
I had to squint my eyes at the painful situation.
Inside my arms was Thunder Fang. The brain child that should have belonged to Gwiseon(Hermit).
I wasn't even bringing it to Namgung Bi-ah.
Why was this in my hands?
I couldn't understand this unexpected situation at all.
... How did this even happen?
Ignoring the nagging old men, I started thinking about the cause of this situation.
The reason was simple.
It was because...
'I picked up the Thunder fang.'
That was probably the problem.
I just picked up the Thunder Fang, intending to give it to Gwiseon(Hermit) with a good (?) heart, not realizing it would become a problem.
When I casually picked up the Thunder Fang, Gwiseon(Hermit) asked me with a shocked expression.
-... How did you pick this up?
-What?
At Gwiseon's words, I was stunned and had to answer in confusion.
How did I pick it up? I just used my hands to grab it, what else would I do?
But it wasn't just Gwiseon(Hermit)who was confused; Namgung Myung was also a problem.
-[What… What is this…!]
Why was he even more shocked than Gwiseon(Hermit)? His reaction was strange.
I just picked up the Thunder Fang. What was the problem?
I tilted my head, thinking about it, when...
-[Why... How can someone who isn't from the Namgung bloodline pick up the Thunder Fang?]
-What did you say?
At Namgung Myung's words, my eyes widened.
He was saying that someone who isn't from the Namgung bloodline couldn't pick up the Thunder Fang?
-What does that mean...?
[You should have been burned by the Thunder flame immediately... Why... is are you fine?]
What was that terrifying phrase? I should have been burned by the Thunder flame?
Then I remembered the shining light from when I picked up the brain child earlier.
Could it be that the light was intentional?
Thinking that, I felt like throwing this damn stick away right now.
But then...
-... Why didn't anything happen?
Unlike the reactions of Namgung Myung and Gwiseon, nothing particularly happened when the Thunder Fang glowed for a brief moment.
It felt nice as it fit perfectly in my hand.
-[Put it down immediately.]
Namgung Myung's cold voice was heard near my ear. For some reason, I didn't know why the Thunder flame didn't trigger, but it was a good thing, so I decided to let it go.
First, I would return it to Gwiseon(Hermit) and think about it.
Thinking that, I started to move toward Gwiseon(Hermit) when suddenly...
Wait…!
-...?
Gwiseon suddenly reached out and stopped me.
"There's no problem even if you hold it?"
No...
It doesn't hurt or anything?
Was he asking about my condition?
"No… it doesn't really hurt or anything..."
"Good."
What does he mean by "good"?
Gwiseon's expression was strange as he looked at me after hearing my answer.
It was filled with excitement, like something good had just happened.
Why did he suddenly make that expression?
I wasn't the only one who thought it was strange to see Gwiseon's expression.
-[Wait..., what are you trying to do?]
Namgung Myung must have noticed what Gwiseon(Hermit) was trying to do, and his voice suddenly grew urgent.
What was going on here?
I was still confused, staring at Gwiseon(Hermit), when...
-[Immediately! Grab that bastard!]
Namgung Myeong screamed at the top of his lungs. Ugh, my ears hurt.
I was about to frown as I looked back at Gwiseon(Hermit) when...
Whoooosh-!
Huh?
I felt an enormous pressure coming from Gwiseon(Hermit)
It was to the point where it could be compared to when he tried to fight me seriously just a moment ago.
What was wrong with that man?
Then, suddenly...
"Then, I'll meet after a few days"
What?
Gwiseon said that to me out of the blue.
-[Grab him...!]
Boom-!
The pressure from Gwiseon caused an enormous shockwave, and he vanished in front of me.
Huh...?
After the impact of the shockwave, a deep hole formed. Immediately after Gwiseon(Hermit) disappeared, I stood there, confused, unable to understand the situation.
What is this...?
[You bastard!]
Namgung Myung screamed, and I turned to look at Woo Hyuk, wondering what was going on.
As if expecting an explanation, I stared at Woo Hyuk, and he, strangely, was picking his nose while looking very familiar with the situation.
Is he really picking his nose?
When I looked at him as if I were seeing a crazy person, Woo Hyuk muttered while looking at the space where Gwiseon had disappeared.
"He ran off again."
With his calm words, I finally realized what had just happened.
Looking at the Thunder Fang in my hand, I thought.
Could it be...?
-... Did I pick up the right one?
It seemed that way.
---
After the sequence of events, I returned to my room.
It was just before sunset, and originally, I had planned to go to the training hall and mess around with some practice, but given the current situation, that seemed impossible.
[He kept acting so superior. Heh heh!]
-[Ughhh....]
-[... Damn it...]
Back in the room, I stared at the Thunder Fang on the table, wondering what to do with it.
'What should I do with this?'
It seemed like Gwiseon(Hermit) had passed it off to me.
Should I be happy about this?
Of course, it was something to be happy about.
'It turned out as expected...'
Since I went looking for the Thunder Fang and it ended up in my hands, I should be happy, right?
'But... this isn't right.'
The uneasy feeling wouldn't go away.
I had prepared to say something, but instead, Gwiseon(Hermit) threw this at me and left.
'A few days...? What does that mean?'
He said he'd leave it to me for a few days?
What could he be doing after leaving this with me?
I couldn't quite understand Gwiseon's actions.
From Woo Hyuk's reaction, it seemed like this had happened before, but...
-[That damn guy.... Seriously...?]
Looking at Namgung Myug's reaction, it seemed like this was a first-time thing for him.
-[Return it to him immediately.]
He didn't seem pleased at all, and kept repeating his demand.
"... How should I return it? How could I possibly find him?"
I had no way of catching up with Goe Seon after he ran off at full speed.
-[Find him and return it!]
Namgung Myungg gritted his teeth and began throwing a tantrum.
[Hey! Who are you yelling at in someone else's house!]
Elder Shin, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up.
Someone else's house? If someone didn't know better, they might think Elder Shin was my grandfather.
-[You just picked up a discarded bastard. That's good enough!]
[What? A discarded bastard?]
-[Clearly, your child doesn't seem to like you very much. If he dislikes you that much, you should leave on your own. Tsk tsk, you're so full of regrets.]
[What do you know…!]
Ugh, another argument?
I could already feel the heat rising as the tiresome bickering was about to start again.
[What do you mean, what do I know? Looking at the state of Namgung, it's obvious.]
-[Click.]
[I understand that you're trying to help your descendants, but as I said earlier, we're already dead. Trying to intervene now is just greed...]
-[What do you know to say such things?] Namgung Myung's voice suddenly changed as he interrupted.
A moment ago, he had sounded full of anger, but now his voice was calmer.
However.
The anger that lingered in that calm tone made me flinch involuntarily.
-[The plum blossoms still brilliantly bloom in the volcano, so you're able to say such things.]
[Myung.]
-[After several centuries, what do you know to say such things? You know nothing about the long years during which I and 'we' existed. Can you understand that?]
[…]
At Namgung Myung's icy words, Elder Shin momentarily fell silent.
The resentment in his voice was so intense, it was suffocating to listen to.
-[We all worked toward the same goal. You, too, and us. But...]
[Myung...]
-[While your volcano slept peacefully, those of us who sacrificed everything have fallen. You ask whether stopping it is greed?]
[…]
I swallowed hard after hearing Namgung Myung's words.
It wasn't exactly wrong.
The Namgung family had forgotten the essence of martial arts and was slowly decaying.
The Tang family, whom she personally asked to be removed, had rotted away.
What about the Shaolin of Hwangaburyeong? I didn't think it was any different.
The Yeonilcheon family had already fallen, their legacy now only recorded in history.
Then what about the volcano?
Even just before the Heavenly Demon and I annihilated it in my past life, it had been a solid, prestigious family guarding Shanxi.
The plum blossoms that bloomed from their swords were still beautiful.
Perhaps that's why Elder Shin couldn't say anything further.
-[You woke up and want to criticize me, still holding onto your original beliefs? If that's the case, you should have shown up sooner.]
His sharp, mocking words were laced with the anger of Namgung Myung.
[… So, did you choose not to meet me because of this?]
-[I've forgotten. I no longer remember why I endured all this. All I want now is to set Namgung's twisted sword right.]
The things that were left undone from the Blood Demon War, passed on to the future...
...the traces that weee left behind and their convictions.
Namgung Myung had already forgotten all of this.
Hearing those words, I thought.
Could I dare call him selfish? No, I couldn't.
He said he wouldn't sacrifice without reward. Now, even if it's late, he's fixing his own broken household with his own hands. How could I curse him for that?
If it were me, I wouldn't have made any sacrifices in the first place.
But.
'What about Elder Shin?'
I thought Elder Shin might have a different stance.
The Elder Shin I had seen until now, if you set aside that annoying personality, was someone who could be called a hero.
I waited anxiously for Elder Shin's response.
[… I see.]
Finally, Noya spoke.
That meant he was acknowledging Namgung Myung's will.
I waited for Elder Shin to continue, expecting him to do so.
[As expected, you are not Myung.]
-[…!]
'… What?'
The revered Elder Shin suddenly said something. It seemed like it was the same thing he had said last time.
What could that mean?
_Knock knock_
Just as I was about to ask Elder Shin with a confused expression, a knock sounded.
Had I been so focused on the conversation that I didn't notice someone approaching?
I squinted my eyes and looked towards the door.
"Who's there?"
'...'
I called out, but there was no answer. It definitely felt like someone was outside.
'What is it?'
Since there was no answer, could it be Nahi?
I had planned to ask Nahi something today, and I had called her earlier.
If it were her, she wouldn't have remained silent when I called.
Then, who could it be? I stood up.
I could see a shadow outside. It's quite large, so it can't be Nahi.
Could it be Tang Deok?
Creeeak.
With that question in mind, I opened the door.
"... Huh...?"
I froze in place as I looked at the figure standing outside the door.
A massive figure wearing red armor adorned with golden patterns.
It looked like they had come in a hurry, with dust on their clothes and a black horse that seemed a bit disheveled.
And those sharp red eyes... I could never mistake those features.
As I looked up at his calm eyes, I blurted out without thinking.
"Patriarch...?"
"..."
Yes.
The person standing at the door was, surprisingly, my father.