CLS-Chapter 261

Chapter 261

Baek Geom-yeong was quietly savoring his tea.

The tea’s fragrance always brought peace to his heart. He preferred tea brewed for a long time with water that wasn’t too hot, enjoying the unstimulating aroma it produced.

Tea brewed with hot water naturally boasted a richer and more concentrated fragrance, but being strong, it was prone to becoming tiresome quickly. Baek Geom-yeong preferred tea that was a bit quieter and more refined.

That’s why he favored Seoljak, with its subtle fragrance, over the intense teas like Yongjeong or Daeyak that those around him enjoyed.

When he sat in a pavilion like this, with the cool breeze blowing, savoring his tea, he felt a comfort as if all the world’s worries disappeared.

“There is a message.”

Of course, the world wouldn’t leave him be.

Baek Geom-yeong’s brow furrowed slightly at the thought that his tranquility had been broken. However, the one who came to deliver the message was someone who fully understood how much he disliked having his tea time disturbed.

Kong-mu, who had served him for over ten years, couldn’t possibly not know this.

“Is it urgent?”

Though there was no need to ask, Baek Geom-yeong slowly inquired. That was his way.

Slowly, and cautiously.

He handled matters without mistakes, advancing step by step. Though it might seem slow for now, it was never truly slow.

“The Young Clan Leader asked me to learn the young master’s intentions.”

“My elder brother?”

“Yes.”

Baek Geom-yeong gently set down the teacup he was holding.

Tak.

The fact that his teacup, which never made a sound, produced even a faint noise was proof that his state of mind was far from peaceful right now.

“What did the Young Clan Leader ask?”

“He first asked whether what you said could be accomplished.”

Baek Geom-yeong quietly spoke.

“My elder brother knows better than anyone that I don’t speak nonsense, so the fact that he asked such a thing means there was something else he wanted to ask, doesn’t it? Am I wrong?”

“…You are not wrong.”

“Listen, Kong-mu.”

“Yes, young master.”

Baek Geom-yeong quietly spoke.

“Right now my mood isn’t too bad, so why don’t you ask the rest without being so cautious? I appreciate your consideration for my feelings, but you know well enough that I don’t particularly welcome dragging such matters out for long.”

After a brief silence, Kong-mu spoke.

“The Young Clan Leader asked whether you could handle Wei Yan-ho.”

“Hmm…”

When Wei Yan-ho’s name came up, Baek Geom-yeong quietly closed his mouth.

Kong-mu glanced at Baek Geom-yeong’s expression. These words undoubtedly touched on Baek Geom-yeong’s pride. Especially for someone as proud as Baek Geom-yeong.

But unexpectedly, Baek Geom-yeong shook his head without any particular change in expression.

“It’s impossible.”

“…Young master.”

“Don’t look at me like that. Having spirit is a good thing, but it’s different from being reckless. With my current skill, it’s impossible to settle a match with Wei Yan-ho.”

Kong-mu lowered his head slightly with an aggrieved expression.

“Really now.”

Seeing Kong-mu’s reaction, Baek Geom-yeong laughed lightly.

“What’s so unfair about it? I’m simply stating facts as facts.”

Kong-mu couldn’t answer.

‘How did such a monster emerge?’

Kong-mu was confident that even Wei San-ho, called the greatest late-stage prodigy under heaven, would pale in comparison to Baek Geom-yeong. But no matter how favorably he looked at it, it was difficult to compare Wei Yan-ho with Baek Geom-yeong.

How could one compare someone who had even captured the King of Darkness to a late-stage prodigy? He was no longer a late-stage prodigy. He was a legitimate powerhouse who had made his name known throughout the world.

“Go and tell him. Even with effort, there are limits, and I cannot handle Wei Yan-ho.”

“…Young master.”

“There’s no need to look at me like that. I’m not one to have my pride hurt just because I still can’t defeat someone I’ve already lost to once. My pride and such things were already shattered to pieces that day.”

“…”

“And, hmm…”

Baek Geom-yeong hesitated slightly before speaking.

“Not being able to handle him now doesn’t mean I won’t be able to handle him in the future. I’ve already grasped the end of the sky.”

Grasped the end of the sky.

At those words, Kong-mu’s eyes widened as if they might tear. The implications of those words were too significant.

“Is it true?”

“I’m not sure, actually. Whether it’s just me feeling that way. We’ll know when a bit more time passes and things become clearer.”

Baek Geom-yeong’s words carried an air of leisure.

“Right. That aside, was there nothing else my brother wanted you to convey?”

“…He said that if you cannot handle Wei Yan-ho, he would advance the plan.”

“It’s probably already been done.”

Baek Geom-yeong brought the tea to his lips. After quietly savoring the aroma, he set the tea down again.

“My brother still treats me like a child. I’d rather he handle me roughly as a disposable card – at least then my heart would be at ease. But this careful treatment, afraid I’ll burst if squeezed, afraid I’ll fly away if blown… this consideration isn’t particularly welcome either.”

Moreover, everyone who knew understood that this consideration didn’t truly come from thoughts for Baek Geom-yeong’s sake. Now that his position as Young Clan Leader was secure, he was probably trying to show magnanimity.

“Understood. Tell him I will move according to the changed plan.”

“Understood. Then please take care of your health.”

In the pavilion after Kong-mu left, Baek Geom-yeong quietly tilted his teacup.

“Wei Yan-ho, Wei Yan-ho…”

After repeating Wei Yan-ho’s name several times, he smiled.

“What a remarkable man.”

The fact that he could make someone who thought he had no rivals under heaven this humble was more than enough explanation of Wei Yan-ho’s greatness.

Normally, one should lament that there was such a person of the same age in the same era, but Baek Geom-yeong didn’t do so. Being called the greatest under heaven in this era was meaningless. What mattered was how far forward one could advance throughout all of history.

And…

“Perhaps you might bring me good fortune.”

Baek Geom-yeong smiled gently. No matter how he thought about it, his connection with Wei Yan-ho was no ordinary fate. Only heaven knew whether that connection would end as mere fate or as bitter enmity.

Baek Geom-yeong picked up his teacup again.

***

Wei Jeong-han looked at Cheong-yeong-ja sitting before him and hung his head low.

He thought he would receive a harsh scolding. Actually, from Wei Jeong-han’s position of leading the Righteous Alliance, there wasn’t really any nagging he needed to hear. Even if there was, it wasn’t something Mount Hua could easily speak up about if there was any respect for the Righteous Alliance.

But as Wei Yan-ho’s father, even if he got cursed out by Cheong-yeong-ja, who was a senior in the martial world, he had no room for excuses.

If the situation were reversed and the Guangdong Wei Family hosted a tournament where someone like Wei Yan-ho participated as a Mount Hua representative, Wei Jeong-han would have gone to set Mount Hua on fire.

Glancing up slightly to observe Cheong-yeong-ja, Wei Jeong-han noticed that his expression wasn’t as bad as expected.

“Well then, would it be alright to continue the tournament tomorrow?”

“Please do as the Sect Leader wishes.”

“If those who were going to compete once try to compete again, there will be many variables, won’t there?”

“That too would be my son’s fortune, wouldn’t it?”

Though he spoke of variables, there really weren’t any variables to speak of. It was just consideration that it might look somewhat ridiculous for the older brother to compete with Cheol Jo-hwi when the younger brother had just beaten up the King of Darkness yesterday.

“Then we’ll finish the tournament tomorrow. And I’m sorry to Wei San-ho, but since the tournament has gone on too long, we’ll hold the finals the day right after. Would that be alright?”

“Of course.”

Wei Jeong-han nodded decisively.

Right now, even if Cheong-yeong-ja rushed at him saying he’d take his head, he was in a position where he couldn’t resist and could only flee. How could he raise any objections?

“Thank you for understanding.”

“I should be more grateful. Hehe.”

Looking at Wei Jeong-han grinning, Cheong-yeong-ja gripped his thigh.

‘I must not get angry.’

He too had sense and brains, and his calculations were working. The moment Wei Yan-ho beat up the King of Darkness, he couldn’t help but know that the martial world had begun to change dramatically.

The phrase “future greatest under heaven” was a very impressive-sounding expression, but it could also be dismissed as merely having a promising young fellow.

But Wei Yan-ho, by showing himself toying with the King of Darkness, transcended the name of late-stage prodigy and stepped up to become a powerhouse who could discuss the present world immediately.

The difference was stark.

Mount Hua, with the Plum Blossom Sword Saint, had nothing to be intimidated by. But it had become a situation where they had to use the expression of having nothing to be intimidated by regarding the Guangdong Wei Family, who until yesterday weren’t even worthy of comparison.

‘Right now I’d like to throw a punch at this bastard’s face!’

Strangely, those who experienced Wei Yan-ho tended to vent their anger not at Wei Yan-ho but at Wei Jeong-han. This tendency was especially severe among those older than Wei Jeong-han.

Just look at how Cho Hyeon from the Divine Beggar Temple had assaulted Wei Jeong-han.

‘I must maintain good relations. For Mount Hua’s sake!’

Cheong-yeong-ja forced the corners of his mouth upward. It was an awkward smile beyond measure.

“Right, then I’ll understand it that way.”

“Sect Leader… there’s something I’d like to ask…”

“What is it?”

Wei Jeong-han scratched his head vigorously as he spoke.

“That… how is Master King of Darkness doing?”

Wei Jeong-han asked carefully. He had seen the King of Darkness getting beaten to a pulp by Wei Yan-ho and being carried away that day, but he hadn’t heard what happened afterward.

No matter how thick-skinned Wei Jeong-han was, he couldn’t go to the Tang Family and ask about such things.

“You mean Master Dang Cheon-gun?”

“…Yes.”

Cheong-yeong-ja smacked his lips and then spoke.

“I hear he’s still unconscious.”

“Ah, still?”

“After taking such a beating, it would be fortunate if there are no aftereffects.”

“…True enough.”

The sound of Wei Yan-ho’s sword striking Dang Cheon-gun still rang clearly in his ears. If someone took such a beating and was fine, that would be stranger.

“You must have quite a headache too.”

“Yes. Somewhat.”

Now the Tang Family and Guangdong Wei Family should be considered to have an irreversible relationship. With so many people watching, the Tang Family’s supreme master, the King of Darkness, was literally beaten like a dog by Wei Yan-ho, so from the Tang Family’s perspective, they would see them as mortal enemies.

“It can’t be helped.”

“Having too outstanding a child leads to such things.”

“He is outstanding, but…”

Wei Jeong-han sighed.

If he had to choose, Wei Jeong-han’s honest feeling was that he’d rather have a son outstanding in character than one outstanding in martial arts.

Being proud that Wei Yan-ho had returned with strong martial arts was only for the beginning, and after that, just managing that Wei Yan-ho felt like his back was breaking.

“But you, shouldn’t you be watching your son right now instead of being here?”

“Pardon?”

Looking at Wei Jeong-han, who stared at him as if asking what he meant, Cheong-yeong-ja shook his head.

‘This guy is completely hopeless when it comes to managing his child.’

If he had any sense at all, shouldn’t he know what kind of situation Wei Yan-ho might be in right now? This wasn’t the time to be killing time here.

Probably right now, Wei Yan-ho was…

Cheong-yeong-ja turned his head to look toward the main hall where Wei Yan-ho would be.