When Jo Cheon-yang flinched at the sight of the Sub-Branch Leader’s grueso corpse, Chwi Dugae spoke.
“He dropped dead from a prohibition seal placed by the power behind him. We were caught off guard as well.”
Jo Cheon-yang nodded.
“I suspected there might have been so kind of seal in place.”
With a face full of rage, Gwaa said:
“That bastard Yang paid for his greed with heaven’s punishnt. What I regret is not being the one to kill him myself.”
“Gwaa, I understand your anger—but you’re in front of your benefactors. Mind your conduct.”
Gwaa bit her lip, then bowed toward Kwak Yeon and Chwi Dugae.
“Daoist Kwak, Rear Beggar-nim, I’m deeply grateful for your imnse grace. I will surely repay it soday.”
Her eyes reddened as she departed.
Jo Cheon-yang let out a low sigh.
“She’s been through more than any child her age should ever face. I hope you can understand.”
A heavy silence settled over the Dragon King Pavilion.
Chwi Dugae, never one to tolerate awkward silence, asked:
“Elder Jo, how did the Council of Elders resolve things?”
“The Head Elder voluntarily stepped down, and I too have resigned my position.”
“Elder Jo, why...?”
Kwak Yeon answered in Jo Cheon-yang’s stead.
“Elder Jo is unwell.”
Startled, Chwi Dugae looked at Jo Cheon-yang. Seeing his pallid complexion and lifeless lips, he felt awkward.
Jo Cheon-yang gave a bitter smile and said:
“I’m not about to die this instant, so don’t look so pitiful.”
“......”
“In any case, Elder Sa has taken charge of the Hao Clan and will reorganize the gates.”
“Elder Sa—that would be Elder No Il-gyeom, who first showed resolve earlier.”
Kwak Yeon recalled the scene vividly: the story of a fly drowning in a jar of honey, which had unified the council through sheer taphorical impact.
Jo Cheon-yang nodded at his remark.
“He’s a friend more than qualified to shoulder the great responsibility. Also...”
Jo Cheon-yang pulled a leather scroll from his sleeve.
“The Hao Clan has decided to present a letter of gratitude to Daoist Kwak. All twelve elders have signed and sealed it—show this anywhere in the Hao Clan’s reach, and it will carry the weight of the Clan Leader’s own authority.”
Having realized through this ordeal just how invaluable the intelligence sect could be, Kwak Yeon accepted it without hesitation.
“I would never dare refuse the assistance of your noble clan. I promise also never to use it in any way that goes against the chivalrous code of the martial world.”
“Having you accept it is an honor for us.”
Jo Cheon-yang then looked to Chwi Dugae.
“As for Rear Beggar-nim, I believe you lack for nothing. So I’ll simply offer my heartfelt thanks.”
Chwi Dugae gave a reluctant nod. Officially, he had not been part of the Hao Clan’s Council of Elders.
“Still... you’re just going to wash your hands of it with a few words? Not even a token?”
As he smacked his dry lips in annoyance, Kwak Yeon turned to Jo Cheon-yang and asked:
“Elder Jo, what about Gwaa?”
“The Hao Clan is not a blood-inheritance sect, so she will live as a regular disciple. For now, I plan to take her under my care, but... I don’t have much ti left, and that worries .”
Kwak Yeon turned abruptly to Chwi Dugae.
“Rear Beggar, do you have a disciple?”
“What kind of question is that...?”
Chwi Dugae imdiately caught the scent of sothing ominous.
“Do you? Or don’t you?”
“I haven’t found the right brat yet. And frankly, I have zero intention of taking one—”
“Then I’ve found what you’re lacking.”
Kwak Yeon cut him off mid-sentence and turned back to Jo Cheon-yang.
“How about the Hao Clan entrusts Gwaa to Rear Beggar as his disciple?”
“That would truly be a blessing. But...”
Jo Cheon-yang hesitated, glancing at Chwi Dugae. At that, Kwak Yeon said:
“All of my achievents have co from fortunate encounters. I’ve co to believe there’s truth in the saying that even a brush of sleeves is destiny. By that standard, the bond between Gwaa and Rear Beggar must be heaven-ordained.”
Chwi Dugae recoiled.
“Kwak-youngster—no, Cave Daoist—are you out of your mind? What bond do I have with that kid? If anything, it’s a bad one. I’ve never even brushed sleeves with her!”
“Are you sure of that?”
The mont he saw the aningful glint in Kwak Yeon’s eyes, Chwi Dugae’s face turned red. He rembered the yellow ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) mutt at the Guardian Temple.
And the absurd thing this Cave Daoist had said back then:
“A heaven-sent blessing is about to fall upon Rear Beggar.”
“Son of a—so that’s why he made stew that mutt! The damn Cave Daoist knew I’d end up forming a bond with my master because of that mutt—he did it on purpose!”
Chwi Dugae realized he’d been thoroughly ensnared in Kwak Yeon’s sche.
“So what? Like hell I’ll do it just because of that. I can still say no. It’s just a damn mutt—I'll bring him a whole litter if he wants.”
As Chwi Dugae was smirking to himself, Kwak Yeon spoke in a firm voice.
“Gwaa has outstanding martial talent and quick wit. Even after enduring a tragedy at her age, she composed herself wisely and resolved a crisis. That kind of resilience—most people won’t encounter such a test even once in a lifeti.”
“......”
“Failing to recognize such a disciple would be a lifelong regret.”
And honestly... it was true.
If you looked at her without bias, Gwaa was undeniably gifted.
“Still, no need to go tossing around talk of ‘lifelong regret.’”
Chwi Dugae was beginning to waver when Jo Cheon-yang added:
“If Rear Beggar-nim agrees to take her in, it would be a great celebration for the Hao Clan. Gwaa, being the forr Clan Leader’s daughter, holds the trust of our clan’s mbers. This could be the foundation of unity between our two factions.”
“That may be so, but I don’t like being guilt-tripped into bowing down like this.”
As Chwi Dugae continued to hold his tongue stubbornly, Kwak Yeon said:
“Though I am lacking, I intend to beco Gwaa’s sworn older brother.”
“......!”
Chwi Dugae’s eyes flew wide open at that.
For the Beggars’ Guild to have a sworn sibling tie—even indirectly—with a Wudang Transformation Realm master was monuntal.
They would, in effect, be holding a link to a supre martial force.
Gulp.
Kwak Yeon added calmly:
“And I cannot beco her sworn brother in words alone. I plan to teach her one martial art. It is not from Wudang, but depending on how it’s used, it may be considered a supre art.”
Chwi Dugae’s eyes snapped toward him.
He knew all too well just how miraculous Kwak Yeon’s martial arts were.
The idea of one of them being passed down to a disciple of the Beggars’ Guild was nothing short of a miracle.
This was sothing the entire guild would welco with open arms.
Gulp.
“But...”
Chwi Dugae didn’t feel quite right accepting so easily—he had the distinct sensation of being utterly played by Kwak Yeon’s scheming.
“I have so pride, don’t I? I need to land a punch back, at least one.”
As he busied himself with spinning the gears in his head, Kwak Yeon spoke.
“Of course, if Rear Beggar isn’t comfortable with it, we can treat all of this as if it never happened.”
Chwi Dugae hurriedly said:
“A man’s word is worth its weight in gold. That wouldn’t be right.”
“Ah! So you’re willing to take Gwaa as your disciple. Then why were you hesitating so much? Was it perhaps because you disliked the idea of acting as her sworn elder brother—?”
“That’s exactly it!”
Chwi Dugae clapped his hands with a loud smack.
“You’ve been urging so sincerely—how could I coldly refuse? So yes, I’ll take Gwaa as my disciple.”
“......?”
“But only if we first settle our sworn brotherhood. I an, it’s not official yet, but we already share that kind of bond in spirit, don’t we? If you’re going to be my disciple’s sworn older brother, it’ll ss up the genealogy. So let’s go with sworn uncle instead.”
“Rear Beggar, I’m not even close to the age of thirty.”
In other words, he was far too young to be acting as soone’s sworn uncle.
Chwi Dugae shook his head.
“You’re not giving birth to her, so what does age have to do with it? There are plenty of three-year-old uncles in this world.”
“......”
“If not, then I won’t accept.”
“...Very well. If it must be so, I’ll agree.”
Chwi Dugae’s face brightened.
“You really an it?”
“Would I speak twice with one mouth?”
“Then say it. Call ‘Elder Brother.’”
“......”
“If you’re Gwaa’s sworn uncle, then you’re my sworn younger brother, aren’t you? So go on—say it. Unless, of course, you’re soone who says one thing and does another.”
Kwak Yeon smiled slightly and said to Chwi Dugae:
“I don’t know how you always seem to anticipate and understand my wishes one step ahead of .”
“Hm? You an to say you’ve been wanting to beco sworn brothers with from the beginning?”
“It was only that I dared not ask, considering your status.”
Once again, Chwi Dugae felt like he’d been bested—and thoroughly at that.
At first, he felt irritated and wronged... but before long, warmth began to rise in one corner of his chest, until his whole heart felt flushed with heat.
Kwak Yeon quickly stepped outside the Dragon King Pavilion.
The claim that he wanted to speak to Gwaa right away was just an excuse.
The mont he called Chwi Dugae “Elder Brother,” his chest had swelled with emotion.
He had spent several days now with soone whose thoughts and heart truly aligned with his own.
Perhaps he’d been starved for that kind of brotherly bond.
He found himself treating Chwi Dugae like an actual older brother.
Still, when the words left his mouth—when he truly called him “Elder Brother”—his heart trembled.
Gwaa was sitting on a rock behind the Dragon King Pavilion, gazing out at Dongting Lake as the sun set.
“It’s been a long day, hasn’t it?”
When Kwak Yeon stepped up beside her and asked, Gwaa nodded.
“You feel so empty now you don’t know what to do?”
“I just wanted revenge. But now that it’s over... I feel hollow, like there’s nothing left inside.”
“......”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t even get to properly thank you.”
“It’s fine. What matters most is that you endured it all. You overca a terrible ordeal—that’s what’s truly important. From now on, no hardship will be able to break you.”
“Thank you.”
As tears welled up in her eyes and she bowed her head, Kwak Yeon gently stroked her hair.
“Rear Beggar asked Elder Jo if he could take you as his disciple.”
“Rear Beggar... wants to take as his disciple?”
“Maybe he plans to raise you up just to get revenge later.”
“......!”
Gwaa’s face turned pale.
“That was a joke.”
“You have a terrifying sense of humor.”
“Must be from living on a mountain too long.”
And half of that ti, he had spent alone in a cave.
Back then, he hadn’t even realized he was lonely.
But clearly, that loneliness had built up deep inside over ti.
“Either way, it seems Rear Beggar has taken a liking to you. Thanks to that, Elder Jo seed quite relieved.”
At those words, Gwaa buried her face in her knees and began to sob.
Kwak Yeon said nothing as he gently stroked her hair and watched the sun sink below the surface of Dongting Lake.
After a while, when her sobs had quieted, Kwak Yeon asked:
“When did you first know?”
“I heard from my father that Grandpa Jo was very sick and thinking of retiring into seclusion. But I had no one else to trust... and because of , he had to go through all this with such a frail body...”
“He couldn’t play his beloved zither anymore, but what he did was still aningful. In any case, if you’re planning to beco Rear Beggar’s disciple, follow .”
“Huh? Where are we going?”
“Your soon-to-be master is incredibly petty and clingy. He was pestering endlessly to teach you sothing, and I couldn’t take it anymore.”
“Ah!”
“He’s probably hiding sowhere watching us even now. But we can’t exactly train you here, can we?”
Tears began to flow again down Gwaa’s cheeks. She wiped them with her sleeve.
“Let’s go, then!”
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