Chapter 93: Return (2)

“I only bowed to Mother because it felt like the right thing to do after returning. Please don’t be too surprised.”

Gi Yooyeon’s hands trembled slightly at Yong Hwarin’s sincere gesture, despite her initial fluster.

The thought that she had finally become a mother recognized by her son made tears surge, and she lowered her head.

“Yes, is your body unharmed?”

“Yes, I… sincerely apologize for my negligence.”

“No, it’s enough that you’re safe.”

“…Mother, let’s go inside.”

Yong Hwarin smiled as he guided his mother, Gi Yooyeon, into the room.

“Yes, alright. Let’s go, my son.”

Gi Yooyeon mustered her courage and called Yong Hwarin her son.

Yong Biyang, watching his wife and son’s affectionate interaction, felt as though a great weight pressing down on his chest had finally been lifted.

“Your alias is Heavenly Sword Hero, is it not?”

As soon as they sat, Yong Biyang asked.

“Yes, Father.”

“It always pained me that no renowned hero had emerged from our clan for so long, but you’ve resolved that regret. In truth, some formidable experts who earned considerable fame have appeared from our family. Yet the martial world never bestowed an alias using our clan’s name. Do you know why?”

It was customary in the martial world for extraordinary talents—dragons and phoenixes—to receive aliases that included the name of their sect.

Wudang Seven Swords, Mount Hua Five Swords, Shaolin Eighteen Arhats—all followed that tradition.

However, until now, no one outside of the Heavenly Central Sect had ever bestowed an alias containing the name ‘Tianzhong’ on any of its warriors.

That was because of the immense value carried by the name ‘Tianzhong’.

‘Tianzhong’ was synonymous with being the best under heaven, so it was never given lightly to just any skilled member of the Heavenly Central Sect.

Receiving such a weighty name as an alias signified that the martial world acknowledged Yong Hwarin’s spirit and martial prowess.

In truth, had the stories of Yong Hwarin not spread from the mouths of noble families, he would never have gained the alias of Heavenly Sword Hero.

The tale of him, alongside Pang Giyok, Seomun Yuwon, Shangguan Joyoung, and Jaegal Byeok, fighting against Blood Demon Castle’s experts in the bamboo forest had spread like wildfire, giving rise to the legend of the Heavenly Sword Hero.

While other sects had countless martial artists bearing aliases that included their sect’s name, the Heavenly Central Sect had never had such a figure—until now.

And it was his own son who broke that curse. How could Yong Biyang not be overwhelmed with emotion?

Truthfully, he wanted to leap up and dance while holding his son’s hands, but for the sake of dignity, he merely maintained a solemn facade.

“You’ve brought quite a number of people with you this time.”

Only then did Yong Biyang notice those standing behind him and ask.

“I have formed a sworn sibling bond on my own. Those two are my sworn siblings.”

Yong Hwarin briefly introduced Jong Seok and Jong Munhye.

He planned to inform them of the two’s secrets quietly at a later time, so he refrained from mentioning it now.

“Is that so?”

Yong Biyang smiled broadly and looked at Jong Seok and Jong Munhye.

“Come closer.”

Jong Seok and Jong Munhye bowed respectfully toward Yong Biyang and Gi Yooyeon.

Receiving their bows, Yong Biyang spoke.

“My son has accepted you as his siblings. From now on, I shall be your father. You must now call me foster father.”

Yong Biyang spoke to Gi Yooyeon.

“Wife, how does it feel? To have gained such a fine son and daughter?”

“These are the ones my son has chosen. I trust my son, and I trust those whom he has placed his trust in. From now on, treat me as your mother.”

As Gi Yooyeon willingly accepted the two, they did not speak, but a storm of emotion surged in their chests.

Yong Kijoong, who was standing next to Gi Yooyeon, spoke.

“Brother, you returned from a single journey and brought back both fame and siblings. I too shall recognize these people as my siblings.”

“Thank you, Kijoong.”

Yong Hwarin beamed at Yong Kijoong as he called his name.

“And the Three Chivalrous Sisters of the Jeong Family Manor also came with us, but due to their serious injuries, I sent them to the medical hall first.”

“The three sisters of the Jeong Family Manor?”

Since Yong Biyang had yet to hear about Black Kill Sword Wonho, Yong Hwarin calmly began to explain everything—from the events involving the Blood Demon of the Self-Transmission to what had taken place in Nampyeong County.

Hearing the story, Yong Biyang’s expression hardened.

“To think such people are in Hayun County… this is troubling.”

It was time to explain the full truth to his father. Only then could he ensure his father’s safety.

“Father, I have something to report.”

Yong Biyang nodded as he looked at his son’s serious demeanor, which differed from before.

“Speak.”

“From what I’ve personally experienced in the murim recently, I feel that something unusual is stirring. It may seem quiet now, but I believe that within a few years, a great storm will sweep through the murim.”

“The martial world has seen peace for some time now… if what you say is true… this is worrying.”

“That is why I believe our family must develop the strength to withstand that great wave. At the very least, we must have the strength to block it if we are to protect our own.”

“Isn’t that thinking too far ahead?”

From Yong Biyang’s perspective, he feared his son had changed after going through hardships in the murim.

“Father, I’ve realized this time that speaking of chivalry and righteousness is meaningless if we don’t have the strength to protect.”

To awaken his father’s instincts, Yong Hwarin deliberately touched on an old wound.

“If I have no power, I cannot protect the woman I love, nor my family. How could such a person call himself a man or a true hero!”

Yong Hwarin’s words pierced a corner of Yong Biyang’s heart like a needle, reminding him of the time he had helplessly lost the woman he loved, Ha Yanggyo, to Shangguan Byeokin.

The memory of losing his beloved without resistance was seared into Yong Biyang’s heart like a branding iron.

With that, strength involuntarily surged into his clenched fists.

“Of course! A man who cannot protect those he loves has no right to wield a sword. So, what is it that you want?”

“I have seen and learned much in the murim. I wish to discuss with you a plan to nurture and strengthen our family’s martial artists. I believe it’s now the time for our household to accept retainers and even recruit guest warriors.”

Yong Hwarin’s suggestion was not something to be decided on the spot.

“Very well. Let us speak in depth later and draw up a plan.”

Gi Yooyeon, upon seeing the sudden change in her husband’s demeanor, felt both joy and sorrow.

From a woman’s standpoint, Yong Biyang was a gentle man and a good husband, but as the head of a sect, he had shown weakness—so his sudden transformation left her uneasy.

But Gi Yooyeon was the matron of a clan.

She knew well that a strong household would not be shaken by fierce winds and storms.

That was how strong of a woman she was.

Once everyone had left and only Father and I remained, I revealed the fact that there was an assassination threat.

“What are you talking about? Why would they try to kill me?”

I once again brought up the story involving the Blood Demon of the Self-Transmission and shared the secretly overheard conversation between the Middle-aged Demonic Master and Deung Hwaun.

“They say you possess a divine item. They’ve already gathered the White Tiger Demon-Subduing Sword from the Shaolin Temple, the Black Silk Celestial Silkworm from the Jeong Family Manor, and the Blue Dragon Three Marbles from the Blood Demon of the Self-Transmission. The only item they haven’t obtained yet is the one here at our household. That’s why the assassins have entered Hayun County. The appearance of the Reverend Arhat from Shaolin and the Three Chivalrous Sisters of the Jeong Family Manor are all connected to this matter.”

Yong Biyang fell into thought, then let out a long sigh as he spoke.

“No matter how I think about it, I’ve never heard from our ancestors that there’s a divine item in this household. I don’t recall any of our clan’s founding ancestors saying such a thing either.”

“They wouldn’t say such things without certainty. I’m sure they’ve already done their investigation. We need to operate under the premise that the divine item they’re looking for is indeed here.”

“I’ve never seen anything that could be called a divine item in our house. At most, we have a few paintings and ceramics passed down through the generations. Those couldn’t be considered divine items, could they?”

In that moment, I felt like I finally understood why Father had been assassinated in my previous life.

‘Those bastards searched our household for the divine item and, when they couldn’t find it, assumed Father was hiding it on him and killed him. That means they knew exactly what the divine item was. It’s just us who don’t know and are stumbling around blindly.’

I suspected that either the Middle-aged Demonic Master or Deung Hwaun knew exactly what the item was.

‘At the very least, Black Kill Sword Wonho, who was supposed to steal the divine item, must know what it is. Capturing him is the top priority.’

I decided to keep this information just between the two of us and left.

Yong Biyang was inwardly delighted to see his son, just past the age of majority, handle everything so prudently and wisely.

‘To think I have such a son… and yet I ignored him all this time just because he stayed inside. What a disgrace I’ve been.’

Though there were times when he resented his son’s aloofness, he now realized that it was he who owed his son forgiveness.

Afterward, I discussed the martial techniques and cultivation methods obtained through Jong Seok with Father Yong Biyang and my younger brother Yong Kijoong, and we began planning to strengthen the clan’s martial arts.

“Kijoong, I can’t devote myself fully to our household’s affairs. There are things only I can do, so everything I’ve mentioned must be directly overseen and handled by you. If we don’t reinforce our foundation, the household won’t be able to withstand what’s to come. Your role is to make this family as strong as steel.”

Seeing how much I trusted him and entrusted him, courage welled up within Yong Kijoong.

To be honest, he had been uneasy, thinking that he would lose his position once I returned and be left without a place.

Yong Kijoong, too, was born a man of ambition.

But now, he realized that I was already envisioning a future far beyond the scope of his own ambition.

“Brother, I have a dream of establishing our household above the murim. Can you help me protect that dream?”

It was a statement filled with layered meaning.

I understood what he meant.

“Of course. You will see our household rise to overlook the entire murim. And you will stand at the peak of our clan. I guarantee it. If the two of us work together, it is possible. I’ll take charge of the external matters, so you focus on the internal affairs. I’ve already spoken with Instructor Mo—keep her by your side and seek her advice. There’s no better man in our household than her.”

“Yes, Brother!”

Yong Kijoong now believed that I would be the one to realize his ambition.

Had it been anyone else saying these things, he would have dismissed it as youthful arrogance. But strangely, when the words came from me, they felt truly possible.

It was indeed a strange thing.

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