Chapter 605
"Defeated?"
"Contact… yes."
The old man's gaze, which had been fixed on the garden, began to move slowly. His eyes moved very sluggishly before reaching the one prostrated before him.
Flinch.
Whether sensing the gaze, the prostrated figure trembled slightly.
"Did I mishear?"
"I… I am sorry."
"Wasn't it yesterday that I received a report saying you were defeating the Righteous Martial Alliance forces and pursuing them?"
"That is correct."
"But in just one day, the situation has changed to defeat and retreat?"
"…Forgive me."
The old man's head slowly tilted upward.
Looking at the exceptionally clear sky, the old man quietly opened his mouth.
"Who?"
"..."
"Though Hoe-myeong may still have shortcomings, he is not a child who would be easily defeated. If he were such a child, I would not have entrusted him with such responsibility."
The old man's voice was unwavering.
But that made it sound even more frightening.
"For such a child to be defeated and retreat means that someone beyond his capacity has appeared. There cannot be such a person in the Central Plains where vital energy has declined. Even if it were Kwon-geuk or the Divine Physician, they could not have handled Hoe-myeong. Who? Who faced that child?"
Dry saliva went down his throat involuntarily.
The old man was someone who never showed anger. Though the man had served him for decades, he had never once seen the old man lose his temper.
But now there was definitely a subtle anger seeping into the old man's voice.
The man agonized.
Should he mention this name now?
The agony was brief. No matter what happened, he could not lie before this person.
"It is Wei Yan-ho."
The old man's lips pressed together slightly.
Those clenched lips seemed to indicate how much the old man's inner state was shaking.
Quiet silence descended.
The sound of insects, birds chirping somewhere, the sound of water flowing in a small stream far away…
Countless sounds that would normally go unheard began to flow between them.
How much time had passed?
This heavy silence was taking away even the man's sense of time. A moment felt like an eternity.
"Wei Yan-ho…"
"Yes, that is correct."
"Yes, Wei Yan-ho…"
There was bitterness at the end of the old man's words.
Wei Yan-ho, Wei Yan-ho.
How many times had he heard that name now?
"Even the eldest was defeated by that fellow?"
Given that Heavenly Flow Sword had been broken, it might be unreasonable for Baek Hoe-myeong to face Wei Yan-ho.
But Heavenly Flow Sword had been alone, while Hundred Sword Castle had led the family's warriors. Yet they were still defeated?
'Is that fellow truly sent by Heaven to block us?'
The old man ended up laughing.
Heaven?
Such a thing could not exist. If Heaven existed, it would not have just watched as the situation became like this.
Everything had already gone wrong three hundred years ago. If Heaven existed and looked down upon the world, why did it not move then?
Did the blood they shed have no value to protect?
If so, then Heaven was not qualified to be called Heaven. How could a place that does not help the wronged be called Heaven?
Even if Heaven existed, it was too late now.
"It cannot be undone now."
"No. It is not too late yet."
The old man slowly turned his head.
From one side of the garden, a person was slowly walking in.
Heavenly Flow Sword.
The old man's younger brother and an elder of Hundred Sword Castle was approaching the old man with a stern face. As Heavenly Flow Sword revealed himself, the atmosphere of the garden changed completely.
The garden that had been warm grew cold. Even the trees seemed to feel the chill as they dropped their leaves.
The old man quietly looked at Heavenly Flow.
Heavenly Flow Sword approached and gestured with his chin to the man.
"Withdraw. I have urgent words to share with the family head."
"..."
The man glanced at the family head, saw him nod, and carefully left his position. Then Heavenly Flow Sword took the man's place and sat down.
Looking at Heavenly Flow Sword, the family head opened his mouth.
"Not too late?"
"That is correct. It is not too late yet."
The old man's gaze sank a little deeper.
"Even now, withdraw the forces, Family Head. It is not too late yet."
The old man quietly looked at Heavenly Flow Sword, then reached out to grab the teapot. He placed a cup in front of Heavenly Flow Sword and slowly poured tea.
The cooled tea instantly began to boil, creating a long stream of water as it was drawn into the cup.
The rich tea fragrance mixed with the scent of grass.
"Was the defeat such a shock?"
"…Family Head."
"You are frightened right now."
"Family Head!"
"Drink the tea."
"Right now I am!"
"I told you to drink the tea."
"..."
The family head's gaze pressed down on Heavenly Flow Sword.
"It is not that I will not listen to your words. Nor am I dismissing them. However, shouldn't you also show me that you are not currently agitated?"
Heavenly Flow Sword, who had been quietly looking at the family head, reached out to grab the cup.
The tea that had been steaming hot instantly cooled. As if his heart was not at all excited. As if it was as cold as this tea.
Heavenly Flow Sword drank all the tea in the cup in one gulp and set it down with a thunk.
The family head let out a low sigh, seeming displeased with that sight.
"You have changed."
"Everyone changes."
"Even so, I thought you would not change. Even if I changed, I thought you would not change."
"How could I not change when the Family Head has begun hiding things from me?"
The family head's eyes narrowed.
But he did not argue for or against Heavenly Flow Sword's words. Perhaps that alone was already an answer.
"I have never once pursued my personal gain."
"I know, Family Head. If the Family Head wishes to hide something from me, it must be because not knowing would benefit me."
"Do you blame me for even knowing this?"
"However, Family Head."
Heavenly Flow Sword looked at the family head with resolute eyes.
"Just as the Family Head has done, I too have never once lived for my own benefit."
"..."
"The Family Head hiding the truth from me for my sake is rather an insult toward me. How can you turn away from that fact?"
"I am..."
The family head closed his mouth.
Heavenly Flow Sword's eyes looking at such a family head also filled with regret.
'Everything is bound to change.'
There was once a time when they had devoted everything for the revival of Ten Thousand Swords. They understood each other, and each lamented the other's sacrifice.
How did such people end up in this situation?
'How futile.'
Heavenly Flow Sword shook his head.
No matter what words he spoke, they would not reach the family head. If he were a family head who would be swayed by his words, he would not have been able to lead Ten Thousand Sword Hundred Family until now.
Yes, the family head was such a person.
So…
"Family Head."
Heavenly Flow Sword's voice became resolute.
"If you wish to achieve your goal, step forward directly."
The family head's eyes wavered slightly.
"At this rate, the Hundred Family will collapse."
"Hah…"
A hollow sound flowed from the family head's mouth.
"You have changed too much."
"It is not that I have changed. It is that the Family Head is falling behind."
"I am falling behind? Me?"
"Yes."
Heavenly Flow Sword's hand pointed to the garden.
"Do you see the world from here?"
"..."
"Do you try to see the world from this place? Do you try to discuss the world while sitting here? Do you control the world with a single finger while remaining in this place?"
The family head's face became extremely rigid.
"The position of the head of the Hundred Family is not a place for putting on airs. It is a position where one must prove oneself and step forward personally."
"Your words are excessive."
"No. They are not excessive at all."
Heavenly Flow Sword said resolutely.
"If the Family Head continues to play at being immortal like this, the Hundred Family will collapse."
"Who dares to collapse the Hundred Family?"
"Naturally, it would be Wei Yan-ho."
"You fool!"
Anger tinged the family head's voice.
"After being defeated by a green young fellow and returning, you have now become a coward. Does it make sense to say that the Hundred Family, which has been passed down for several hundred years, would collapse to one fellow?"
"Yes! It has been passed down for several hundred years! Several thousand years! Not several ten thousand years but several hundred years! Was the Hundred Family the Hundred Family from the beginning? There is no place that was a prestigious family from the start. There is no place that was a great sect from the beginning! Shaolin began with Dharma alone, and Wudang was established by Zhang Sanfeng by himself!"
"..."
"One person! It is one person who creates the flow of the world. Don't you understand? The flow is already with that child. If we cannot stop that flow, the result is obvious."
Heavenly Flow Sword's voice sounded like he was coughing up blood.
"Why do you not step forward directly and instead have Hoe-myeong lead the family?"
"Because that is correct."
"How can that be correct? If that's the case, then step down from the family head position and retire to the back room!"
"You fool!"
Finally, the old man sprang up from his seat.
"Look at you, there's nothing you won't say. Do you think I cannot punish you just because you are my younger brother?"
"Cut me down."
"What?"
"If you want to punish me, cut off my head. Rather than watching the Family Head with his ears plugged, that would be better."
"You…"
The family head ground his teeth.
Clear anger was visible in him, but Heavenly Flow Sword did not back down at all. A person who has let go of everything has nothing to fear.
"I do not know what the Family Head is thinking."
"..."
"What I know is that if the Family Head guards this place, you will eventually face Wei Yan-ho walking into this place. Even if the Family Head cuts off that fellow's neck then, what would change? There would be nothing left."
"Such a thing will not happen."
"Until just yesterday, you probably could not have predicted that Hoe-myeong would be defeated by Wei Yan-ho and retreat either."
"..."
The family head closed his mouth.
"That fellow is not a child who can be predicted."
Heavenly Flow Sword said, quietly looking at the family head.
"You must know this."
The family head did not answer.
And with just that, Heavenly Flow Sword had heard his answer.
"Family Head."
"..."
Heavenly Flow Sword slowly rose from his seat.
"I will go to help Hoe-myeong. If the Family Head will not step forward, then at least I must. However, do not think this is for the Family Head's sake. I am merely acting for the Hundred Family."
"I am…"
"Nothing…"
Heavenly Flow Sword cut off the family head's words.
"Nothing comes before Ten Thousand Swords and the family. Even if that is the Family Head!"
Low silence.
Low silence where their gazes met.
A voice flies in, breaking that silence.
"Likewise."
That was the end.
Heavenly Flow Sword turned his body and left the garden without even a farewell.
A sound like a groan flowed from the mouth of the family head who was quietly watching that sight.
"Nothing is more important than the family…"
A hollow laugh leaked out.
"…You know nothing."
You know nothing.
Who could understand his heart? Who could know his circumstances?
"Nothing is more important than the family. Yes, that's right."
That was the same even if it were the family head himself.
Until the sun that had risen in mid-heaven slowly fell and darkness arrived, the family head did not move from that spot.
And by the time darkness deepened and a new sun rose, even his figure had disappeared.
Only the garden, broken beyond repair, was chasing his traces.