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Chapter 21
The following day.
The Baek household welcomed a long-awaited guest.
A man with the surname Yeo and given name Hyuk had come forward, claiming to be Rang-rang’s father.
“Welcome, elder. Forgive me, but do you have a way to prove you are Lady Rang’s father?”
In response to Baek Mu-ryang’s question, Yeo Woon-hyuk pulled out a token from his robe.
It was unmistakably one half of a matched pair—identical to the one Rang-rang possessed.
As he channeled his qi into it, the token resonated and began to hum softly.
“I believe this will suffice as proof.”
Everyone present nodded in agreement. Yeo Un-jeok—no, Yeo Woon-hyuk—then slowly turned his head toward Rang-rang.
His eyes, meeting his daughter’s for the first time in decades, shimmered like stormy waves.
“A-Rang... my daughter…”
But Rang-rang only looked on with a confused expression. Understandably so—she had no memory of ever having a father.
And yet, blood ties are divine.
Somewhere deep within, a memory from nearly twenty years ago stirred in her.
Yeo Hyuk’s face matched that of the man who had once given her the token and then vanished.
“F…Father?”
With trembling steps, Rang-rang—no, Yeo A-Rang—approached, clinging tightly to Gu-Ak’s hand.
“A-Rang…”
When Yeo A-Rang’s hand touched Yeo Hyuk’s cheek, his rough, calloused hand gently covered hers.
Tears the size of pearls welled up in Yeo A-Rang’s eyes and rolled down her cheeks.
“Father! Father!”
From where he stood beside Baek Mu-ryang, Yang-hwi quietly observed the heartwarming reunion between father and daughter.
‘This turned out well.’
A short while later…
After regaining his composure, Yeo Woon-hyuk once again clasped his hands together and bowed respectfully.
“I’ve been rude in the presence of such distinguished company. Please forgive this old man.”
“There’s no need for concern, Elder,” replied Baek Mu-ryang. “We understand.”
“Your words are appreciated. Then… might I take this opportunity to request something else from the head of the household?”
“A request…?”
“Before I speak, may I first ask—are there any here who should not be privy to confidential matters?”
Baek Mu-ryang glanced around the room before settling his gaze on Yeo A-Rang and Gu-Ak.
As the woman in question and her husband-to-be, he found no reason to object. He nodded.
“Go ahead.”
Yeo Woon-hyuk carefully retrieved two books from within his robes and handed them to Baek Mu-ryang.
The books were old—easily over two centuries old. As Baek Mu-ryang flipped through the first few pages, his eyes widened.
“This is… Could it be…?!”
They were master-level martial arts texts containing highly advanced techniques.
And astonishingly, their foundations lay in the Baek family’s own martial lineage.
“Elder, an explanation is needed.”
“I shall reveal my sect as proof. Have you heard of The Spirit gate?”
A gasp escaped Baek Mu-ryang’s lips.
“Divine Thief’s Vein!”
Throughout history, certain martial families known as Divine Thieves had occasionally surfaced in the murim.
They were martial artists who inherited supernatural thieving abilities—a legacy known as the Divine Thief’s Vein.
‘This elder is the inheritor of the Divine Thief’s Vein?’
Still wearing a puzzled expression, Yang-hwi heard Yeo Hyuk’s voice in his mind—a sound transmission.
[The Blood Massacre of the Sword King’s Tomb—one of my predecessors from the Divine Thief’s line was involved in it. ]
[Even after I was marked as an enemy of the murim due to that incident, I survived thanks to my master, who granted me a new identity and took me in.]
That explained many of the mysteries.
Like how the man known as Crimson Cloud had possessed such incredibly powerful martial skills—likely on par with a Peak Master.
“The two manuals I’ve given you were compiled by the founder of a branch of the Baek family’s martial lineage.”
Then, Yeo Woon-hyuk lowered himself onto one knee—the most respectful gesture he could offer.
“I understand the kindness you’ve shown my daughter. I return these martial arts to your family in gratitude.”
Baek Mu-ryang trembled with emotion too powerful for words.
There had been a time when the Baek family stood proudly as one of the Five Great Houses. Their decline began when they lost nearly all of their martial arts, save for the most basic techniques.
‘Now… our family once again possesses an advanced martial art!’
It was monumental. A new foundation—a chance to rebuild.
Of course, Baek Mu-ryang, being only a second-rate martial artist, would need a long time to learn and pass the techniques on to his family…
His gaze turned to Yang-hwi.
A prodigy who could master both arts in a fraction of the time. His adopted son—one he had taken in but given little to.
“Elder!”
He still had unanswered questions. There were clearly secrets left unspoken.
But upon receiving the martial manuals, none of that mattered anymore.
Leaping to his feet, Baek Mu-ryang rushed forward, knelt on one knee just as Yeo Woon-hyuk had, and grabbed the elder’s hand to lift him up.
“I’ve done nothing extraordinary, yet you’ve bestowed a blessing upon our household that leaves me speechless.”
“It is but a small return for the great kindness you’ve shown my daughter.”
“I, Baek Mu-ryang, do not see it that way. Please allow us the honor of repaying this debt.”
“In that case… might this old man and his daughter take refuge here at the Baek estate, as humble guests?”
To host the sole inheritor of the Divine Thief’s Vein as a guest—
It couldn’t be made public, but for the Baek family, it was an unimaginable stroke of fortune.
It was, in short, a dream come true.
“Of course. I shall have a pavilion prepared for you and Lady A-Rang.”
Smiling warmly, Yeo Hyuk turned his gaze naturally to Yang-hwi.
[I’ve revealed one more secret to you.]
[I didn’t read the manuals’ contents, as promised, but even knowing the truth is a significant weakness.]
To receive such a secret from the last heir of the Divine Thief’s Line—it was indeed a weighty gift.
Baek Mu-ryang knew it had all been orchestrated by Yang-hwi.
Thus, this “secret” served as the perfect excuse to sidestep suspicion about how it had all come to pass.
Yang-hwi curled his lips into a smile and sent a sound transmission back to Yeo Woon-hyuk.
[A brilliant move, Elder.]
Yeo Hyuk’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.
[You can send sound transmissions?]
[Just got the hang of it with some practice.]
Sound transmission was an inner energy technique—difficult to learn without strong internal cultivation.
It was certainly not something a child who hadn’t even trained for a year should be able to use.
[Let’s just say I’ve given you a surprise in return.]
“Hohohoho…”
Yeo Un-jeok—no, Yeo Hyuk—let out a laugh, equal parts exasperated and pleased.
Watching this child grow, he realized, would become the second greatest joy of living in the Baek household.
* * *
At the Baek household, there was a long-standing custom: major decisions were discussed and resolved through the Elders’ Council.
Truthfully, the council had only met once every few months at most.
There simply hadn’t been much to discuss—after all, they hadn’t taken on anything significant in years.
But that had changed.
“These days, our Elders’ Council meets quite frequently. All thanks to Young Master Hwi, of course.”
One of the attending members, General Administrator Han, chuckled warmly as he took a seat next to Yang-hwi.
Soon after, Baek Mu-ryang called the meeting to order and brought forth the main agenda.
“In recent months, our house has experienced great growth, both internally and externally. Or more accurately, we’ve laid the groundwork for it.”
The brutal power struggle among three sects—now infamously dubbed the Dark Path Conflict by the people of Akan-hyeon—had finally reached its end.
As a result, the Baek family had come to possess the business known as Hoyoungru.
Naturally, all members of the household had been thrown into a whirlwind of activity ever since.
“The newly acquired martial arts are also part of that foundation. Hwi, how is your progress with the two manuals?”
“I’ve mastered both to the extent that I can begin passing them on.”
“Truly? It’s only been... what, a week?”
“Yes.”
Baek Mu-ryang let out a breath of genuine admiration.
“Well done. Then from today, begin instructing our family members.”
“Yes, Father!”
“Now, onto the next matter. Lord of Pavilion Baek-ik, how goes the management of Hoyoungru?”
Gu-Ak, overseeing Hoyoungru alongside his beloved Yeo A-Rang, nodded and spoke up as if waiting for the opportunity.
“Recently, members of Gyojin Sect have been picking petty fights. It seems they’ve taken an interest in Hoyoungru.”
Hoyoungru had been the most profitable enterprise under Honggyo Sect’s management.
It was, without doubt, a sizable asset for a household like Baek’s—led by a second-rate master and barely over a dozen members.
“Is it because the power dynamics in Akan-hyeon have now settled into a two-way split between Suhoji Assembly and Gyojin sect?”
“Most likely. Now that they’ve cleaned house, they’re getting greedy again.”
Baek Mu-ryang stroked his chin in thought, listening to the opinions around the table.
“This is troublesome. We cannot afford any disturbances at the estate for the time being.”
“Why not, Master?”
“My sworn brother has sent a letter. He’ll be visiting soon—says he has business nearby.”
“Is it The Unmatched Sleeping Dragon who’s coming?”
Baek Mu-ryang’s sworn brother was Jegal Seon, heir of the Jegal family, widely known as The Unmatched Sleeping Dragon.
Though famous for their scholarly intellect, Jegal Seon was notorious for being an eccentric obsessed with martial arts.
His famed bond with Baek Mu-ryang—sworn over mutual respect—was well known in the region.
‘Uncle visiting the estate at this time? That never happened in the previous life.’
Come to think of it, in his past life, his father had been bedridden around this time due to Gu-Ak’s earlier rampage.
That must be the difference…
‘Wait a minute. If that’s the case…’
“Master, will Uncle be visiting alone?”
“He is the heir of the Jegal family. Of course, he won’t be traveling without guards. Ah, and he mentioned his daughter will be accompanying him.”
‘His daughter…?’
Jegal Seon had a son and a younger daughter.
Or rather—had.
His daughter, Jegal Seolha, had met a tragic end at a young age.
‘Right… at this point in time, that incident hasn’t happened yet. Wait—could it be…?’
Yang-hwi pushed the thought aside for now. He could see that the others were still deep in worry about more pressing matters.
“If Gyojin sect picking a fight is the issue, then I have a clever idea.”
All eyes turned toward Yang-hwi.
“A clever idea, you say? What is it, Young Master Hwi?”
“Let’s spread word that the heir of the Jegal family will be visiting our estate. Just that much would be enough to keep any of the Dark Path factions from daring to provoke us.”
“…If that’s all, I’m not sure it qualifies as a clever idea.”
And rightly so. What Yang-hwi suggested was merely a short-term patch, not a true solution.
“Of course that’s not all. What we gain is time. In that time, the Baek family must build its power.”
Right now, groups like Gyojin Sect only targeted the Baek family because it lacked strength.
“But now we have a business that generates regular profit. And soon, our collaboration with The White Scroll Merchant House will become a new funding stream. I propose this: let’s begin recruiting new members into the household.”
Baek Mu-ryang rubbed his jaw again.
“You’re right. So then—what kind of people do you think we should recruit?”
“Two kinds. Talented youths for our future… and seasoned warriors we can put to use immediately.”
“So the idea is to spread word about the Jegal heir’s visit to buy time to grow our numbers.”
“Exactly, Master.”
“And how do you propose we bring in new members?”
Naturally, no one would join the Baek household unless there was some sort of benefit. Recruiting loyal fighters would be difficult otherwise.
But Yang-hwi already had the answer.
“Two things: the Heaven-Shrouding 108 Sword… and righteous cause.”
“Hmm? The Heaven-Shrouding 108 Sword is our newly designated family martial art, an advanced technique. We can’t just hand it out to everyone.”
That was true—but Yang-hwi shook his head.
“I’ve analyzed it. The Heaven-Shrouding 108 Sword consists of three sets—early 18, middle 18, and late 18 techniques, totaling 54 forms. The deeper mysteries lie in the latter half.”
In other words, while the complete form was a peerless sword technique, just teaching the early portion would make it a respectable first-rate martial art.
He had designed it that way intentionally in his past life—to pass it on broadly while reserving the most powerful aspects for the direct line.
“We can’t use the sword technique as bait. Those who receive it might run off the moment they learn it.”
“But what you’re suggesting is to pass it on to worthy youths and use it as an investment in our future. Is that correct, Hwi?”
“Exactly. But to bring in fighters for immediate use, we’ll need something more—like a righteous cause.”
“Let’s hear your idea.”
“It’s simple. We need more people like Uncle Gu—that is, Pavilion Lord Baek-Ik.”
In short: bring in members from the Dark Path and make them household warriors.
It was, in Yang-hwi’s view, the most effective way to grow the Baek family’s strength in the short term.
‘Father and the others will surely object, though.’
And sure enough, Baek Mu-ryang and Administrator Han were now looking at him with furrowed brows.
---The End Of The Chapter---
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