Chapter 258: The Discovery of Fire (2)
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The mealtime at the Army-Destroying Pavilion was not as awkward as expected.
Surprisingly, that was thanks to Yeon Wi. Unlike usual, Yeon Wi was talkative, and Yeon Ho-jeong led the atmosphere by reacting to his father as usual.
Muk Bi also occasionally participated in the conversation with a much brighter expression. Gang Ryang, who had awkwardly lifted his spoon at first, gradually became accustomed to the atmosphere and filled his stomach with a comfortable mind.
Thus, the meal that lasted half a shijin ended.
“It is colder than yesterday. It seems winter has truly come.”
As he blew out a light breath, white vapor poured out.
“For people who live busily, time always flows quickly. Furthermore, the older one gets, the faster the speed at which a year passes.”
Yeon Ho-jeong deeply empathized with Yeon Wi’s words.
He had trained the Four Gods Martial Arts, came out to the Murim, and devoted himself to the Unorthodox. Looking back before he knew it, he had established the Dark Emperor Castle, and the people of the Murim feared him, the Lord of the Dark Emperor Castle, calling him by the alias Dark Emperor.
He truly didn’t even know when the time had passed by so quickly. Even from after he regressed to the past up until now, time had once again flowed by frantically.
‘So many things have happened.’
And many things would happen in the future as well.
‘If I don’t die, that is.’
Yeon Wi spoke in his characteristic blunt tone.
“He is a decent young man.”
“Pardon?”
“I’m talking about the child named Gang Ryang.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
“The problem is that he lacks experience, but he is still a steadfast and loyal fellow.”
“He looked that way.”
Yeon Wi looked up at the sky.
Snow had been pouring down like that just yesterday, but today the sky had been clear all day. The twinkling stars were incredibly beautiful.
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“What are you talking about?”
“That the young man was the successor of the Ghost Iron Sword Sect.”
“Did I do that?”
Yeon Wi spoke as if he couldn’t stop him.
“I only heard that the child’s parents and brothers died and his affiliated sect was destroyed. Until he introduced himself directly, I didn’t know that child was from the Unorthodox.”
“It seems I briefly forgot.”
There was no way that was true. He was a son who originally lived a busy life, but there was no way he would make a mistake over something like this.
Yeon Ho-jeong shrugged his shoulders.
“But, what does it matter? He is a decent fellow. Just because they are from the Unorthodox doesn’t mean they are all just wicked human scum, right? You know that too, don’t you, Father?”
“Of course, I also think so. In reality, the Ghost Iron Sword Sect only walked a different path from our Orthodox, but they were highly renowned for their broad-minded nature.”
“I am aware.”
“Did you want to test this father?”
Yeon Ho-jeong waved his hand dismissively.
“Do not say such things. There are other people to test, how could I test my father?”
“Then how about toning it down to saying you wanted to see my reaction?”
Yeon Ho-jeong looked at Yeon Wi.
Yeon Wi chuckled.
“Since you were young, you didn’t reveal yourself well. However, even if a child deceives their parents, what parent wouldn’t know their child’s inner thoughts?”
“Is that so?”
“Although I had the feeling of raising you excessively strictly, it’s not like I ever turned my eyes away from you.”
“…”
“Of course, there was a time I was greatly flustered by your sudden change, though.”
The sudden change likely referred to the moment he regressed.
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled bitterly.
“Hearing that, somehow I also seem like an easy-to-read guy.”
“Anyone to whom you showed your sincerity would think so.”
It was an accurate discernment.
If Yeon Ho-jeong resolved to deceive someone, he could deceive anyone. Didn’t even the Combat King of the world, Yang Cheon, fall completely for Yeon Ho-jeong’s seamless acting?
It was just that it was only in cases of necessity; Yeon Ho-jeong also generally did not try to deceive others.
He’d rather openly smash them to pieces, perhaps.
“Father.”
“Yes.”
“Just as you said before, Father, I am a guy with a hasty temper and a twisted personality.”
“I don’t think I ever said you were twisted, though.”
“Well, it’s the same thing.”
“Hoho.”
“But even with my dirty personality, I know this one thing at least.”
“What is it?”
“That while we can distinguish friend and foe by factions and sects, even within the same affiliation, people’s true natures vary wildly.”
A look of satisfaction settled on Yeon Wi’s face.
“Admirable. This father wasted nearly thirty years of time to realize that. You are several years faster than me.”
Yeon Ho-jeong wanted to say that wasn’t true.
If he hadn’t trained the Four Gods Martial Arts, if he hadn’t devoted himself to the Unorthodox.
If he hadn’t established the Dark Emperor Castle and fought a decisive battle with the Orthodox Murim, he would have been forever stuck in his fixed ideas.
‘That is why you are amazing, Father.’
Yeon Ho-jeong forcibly swallowed the inner voice that surged up to his throat.
“Just because they are from the Unorthodox doesn’t mean they are all bad people. Conversely, just because they are from the Orthodox doesn’t mean they are all overflowing with chivalry and righteousness.”
“Of course.”
“It’s just that, as I live in the world from now on, I don’t know what kind of weirdos I might share friendships with. They could be from the Unorthodox, they could be children of a third-rate martial arts hall, or they could be fortune tellers or beggars.”
Yeon Ho-jeong looked straight at Yeon Wi with somewhat trembling eyes.
“Even so, would you be able to treat my friends like that Gang Ryang?”
Yeon Wi, who had been staring blankly at Yeon Ho-jeong, momentarily tilted his head.
“This father has not been able to share a proper friendship with that child named Gang Ryang.”
“…”
“However, I will treat Gang Ryang like Bi-ah (Muk Bi). From what I’ve seen so far, he seems like a child well worth associating with, but one never knows the affairs of the world.”
“…”
“Since I trust my son, I will also consider my son’s friends as my own children. However, for trust to sprout in a relationship, a certain amount of time and conversation is required.”
“I know.”
“Yes, as long as you understand that, it is enough.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled once again.
“That is enough.”
Since he is his son’s friend, he too would treat him like a son.
However, Yeon Wi was also human. It meant that separate from being his son’s friend, his relationship with the person himself was also important.
In other words, he would accept whatever friend he brought, but he also needed time with himself, the father, so he was asking him to understand that part.
Ultimately, it meant not to worry. Yeon Ho-jeong felt his heart become much more reassured by his father’s words.
Yeon Wi rose from the wooden bench.
“I will have to observe more, but I know why you took a liking to that child. Of course, in order to develop together in the future, quite a bit of effort will be needed.”
“It should be.”
“This father will help with the minor parts. Of course, if that child says he will receive teachings, that is.”
“It is the teaching of the number one master in Jiangdong, the Judge Great Hero. Who under heaven would refuse that?”
“Your words are nice, brat.”
Yeon Wi adjusted his collar.
“Since your internal energy is unimpeded and free-flowing, you probably won’t even feel the average cold, but do not expose yourself to the cold wind for too long.”
“Understood.”
“I’ll be going now.”
Yeon Wi headed toward the main gate of the Army-Destroying Pavilion. It seemed he had separate business to attend to with his Honored Guest duties.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who was quietly watching his father’s retreating back, opened his mouth.
“Father.”
“Hmm?”
“Actually…”
Yeon Ho-jeong hesitated for a moment.
In truth, there were many reasons why he hadn’t spoken about his past until now. Even after his bond with his father deepened, due to his father’s personality, it seemed he wouldn’t be able to manage his facial expressions well, so he couldn’t easily bring it up.
But if it were now.
Now, when he not only believed in him just the way he was, but also acknowledged him as a dignified warrior.
If it were his father now, who said he would treat whatever weirdo he brought as a son, and said so with a sincerity lacking even a speck of falsehood.
And, if it were the Clan Head of the Yeon Clan who had begun to skillfully use the wisdom he possessed through the political strife thus far.
If so, wouldn’t it be okay to tell him now?
“It seems you have something separate to tell me.”
“…Yes.”
Yeon Wi, who had been quietly examining his son’s face, smiled.
“I’ve known since a long time ago. That you were hiding something from me. That secret might perhaps be the biggest secret you possess.”
“Did you know?”
“As I said a little while ago, you are an easier guy to read than you think.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
Yeon Wi shook his head.
“A secret is over once it is spat out. You must have had your own agonies, but if that secret is truly your biggest secret, I think you should exercise extreme caution even if the subject is your parents.”
“…”
“I will not listen today. Think about it once more, and when you are certain that it is truly okay to confide in this father, tell me right then.”
With those words, Yeon Wi left the Army-Destroying Pavilion.
Yeon Ho-jeong, who had been looking at the main gate his father exited through, sat down on the wooden bench again.
“Tell me when you are certain that it is truly okay to confide in me…”
Yeon Ho-jeong looked up at the sky.
The stars his father liked were shining exceptionally beautifully today.
“Actually, such certainty is not needed. I know you will believe me no matter what nonsense I say.”
Yeon Ho-jeong closed his eyes.
“It’s just that I only realized that now.”
Parents knew everything about their children, but children wanted certainty from their parents.
‘I still have a long way to go.’
He had grown up by breaking through a blood-reeking pandemonium, but in the end, that was all.
He had reigned as the Emperor of the Unorthodox, but he was still young. At least in front of his father, god-like martial arts, a tactical eye that saw through weaknesses, and amazing schemes were not needed.
Perhaps most of the appearances he had shown his father so far might have been the childish heart of a child wanting to brag that he had grown this much.
‘An opportunity.’
He had continuously wondered how he had regressed, and if the heavens had sent him back to the past, why they had done so.
Up until now, he thought it was to prevent the Central Plains from becoming a sea of fire. He didn’t know if the heavens truly desired that, but thinking that way at least put his mind at ease.
But now he decided to think differently.
That him returning to the past was not solely to stop the Three Cults of Fanaticism or the Nine States Myeong Clan.
It was to build the trust he couldn’t share with his family he had found again, which was the greatest value to him personally.
“Ahem!”
Yeon Ho-jeong turned his head.
Before he knew it, Gang Ryang had come out.
“Did you finish eating?”
“I did.”
“What about Muk Bi?”
“Big Sister said she would clean up herself. She told me to just come out…”
Yeon Ho-jeong spoke with an appalled face.
“Big Sister?”
“That’s right.”
“Why is Muk Bi your big sister?”
Gang Ryang tilted his head.
“She is someone who is much older than me. Then isn’t it natural to call her big sister?”
…That guy has more nerve than I thought? He wasn’t like that in the past, right?
“So what I’m saying is.”
“Don’t do it.”
“Young Master Yeon is my benefactor, and you’re also one year older than me.”
“I said don’t do it.”
“So I just plan to call you Elder Brother.”
Yeon Ho-jeong scratched both his arms vigorously. Because he had gotten goosebumps.
Of course, even during his days as the Dark Emperor, Gang Ryang had called him Elder Brother, but he thought this kind of process was a bit off.
“I don’t know when it will be, but please take good care of me until I leave.”
“I got it, so drop the title Elder Brother.”
“I don’t want to.”
He looked like he would call him Elder Brother even if the sky collapsed tomorrow. He was a guy who would do what he decided to do even if he died.
Yeon Ho-jeong stood up with a sigh.
“Rest well here for the time being.”
“Huh? Where are you going?”
“I have places to go here and there with Muk Bi.”
“Here and there? Within the Murim Alliance?”
“Yeah.”
Yeon Ho-jeong looked toward the west.
At the look in his eyes that had cooled coldly before he knew it, Gang Ryang felt his lower back become damp.
“…Because it’s about time the crazy mad dog started moving.”