Chapter 62: To Retrieve The Tears (1)
Characteristics of the Baek Noble Clan’s bloodline.
Especially for the Clan Head and his direct lineage, they inherited a similar temperament.
The current Clan Head, known by the nickname Iron-blooded Merciless, and Elder Baek Seo-ok with the nickname Ice Iron Rakshasa, were perfect examples.
They’re not easily swayed emotionally and were cool-headed.
Such traits were necessary for a martial artist, especially for one leading the clan.
The Clan Head Baek Ryu-san’s brother was like that in his youth too.
The day he stormed into Demonic Spire Pavilion, even when a hook pierced his head, and until his body malfunctioned, Baek Jin-tae was a man fit for the nickname Cold Beauty.
In that respect, their deceased younger sister was quite exceptional.
Born beneath the cold brothers, she grew up cheerfully. Perhaps it was because of the significant age gap, but she always felt especially childlike.
During turbulent times, whenever the two brothers returned without even properly cleaning their blood, she always greeted them with a smile.
Whenever he recalled her sunshine-like smile…
Chuckle—
Baek Jin-tae smiled again.
It wasn’t happiness from remembering his younger sister. After all, she was killed by the members of the Demonic Spire Pavilion.
This involuntary smile on his face wasn’t something Baek Jin-tae could control. Whenever his emotions intensified, regardless of their nature, he just smiled.
Even when he tried to hold back, it was in vain. Whenever he tried to suppress the laughter, his body seemed to react adversely.
Once again, blood trickled from his nose.
“Commander.”
Soryu, who was walking beside him, handed him a handkerchief. It was a familiar gesture.
Baek Jin-tae gave a faint smile and wiped the blood from his nose with the handkerchief.
“Thank you.”
“It’s nothing.”
Soryu was one of the orphans that the Baek Noble Clan took in.
Recognized for her talent in martial arts and raised as a warrior, she was personally chosen by Baek Jin-tae for the Red Dragon Corps.
While her exceptional skills were undeniable, her joining the Red Dragon Corps at a young age had much to do with Baek Jin-tae’s influence.
The first time he saw Soryu, Baek Jin-tae thought his deceased younger sister had reincarnated and come back. At least, she looked that way to him.
Considering Baek Ryu-san, his brother, didn’t think the same, it might have just been Baek Jin-tae’s misconception.
Yet, he took Soryu under his wing and trained her in martial arts.
However, at some point, Soryu stopped smiling as much. Specifically, after the death of a maid, whom she regarded as her older sister.
Baek Jin-tae couldn’t comprehend why she’d be so sorrowful for someone who wasn’t even her biological sister.
“Your face seems off. Do you not want to see Yi-gang?”
“I’m fine.”
A maid, who had been serving Yi-gang, died in the manor.
A seemingly insignificant and empty death, wasn’t it? After all, she had followed a young master who had been ousted from the clan and then met her end.
That’s probably why Soryu seemed to harbor resentment towards Baek Yi-gang. At least, that’s what Baek Jin-tae thought.
“Yi-gang isn’t a naive child. Lately, he seems to have matured a lot. He probably understands how dire the current situation is. Ha-ha.”
Baek Jin-tae laughed heartily as he spoke.
He had this conversation with Soryu just a short while ago.
And then, when he met Yi-gang and heard his ‘request.’
Baek Jin-tae couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“Hee-hee, you want to join the Azure Forest to heal yourself?”
“Yes.”
“The Azure Forest Lord suggested this personally? And, what did your father, my brother, say about this?”
“He said to do it.”
“Ha-ha-ha!”
Baek Jin-tae slapped his own cheek as he laughed.
“I’m sorry. You know of my condition, right? Hee-hee. With both my brother and Ha-jun incapacitated, it’s tough for you, and here I am, laughing in front of you…”
He offered Yi-gang an explanation for his laughter. But deep down, it was genuinely a hearty laugh.
“Of course, I understand. As I told you before, I’m not fit to become the Young Clan Head. My health isn’t good. That’s why I’m asking you.”
“True, the words of Grand Elder were quite sudden.”
“I need to convince the elders. With my father incapacitated, my only ally is Uncle.”
What Yi-gang asked of Baek Jin-tae was precisely that.
‘I don’t intend to become the Young Clan Head. The Azure Forest has promised to heal me, so I plan to depart in that direction. Please help me persuade the elders.’
Originally, Baek Jin-tae had advocated for Yi-gang to assume the role of Young Clan Head. But now, he could only feel elation.
Given the situation and the additional words from Yi-gang, “My father’s lung ailment is getting worse. If Ha-jun remains like this, he’ll have severe aftereffects even if he recovers.”
“Right, he was stabbed after all. Ha-ha.”
Baek Jin-tae wasn’t aware that Ha-jun had consumed an elixir made from the Twin-Headed Ghost Tiger.
“To be frank… our lineage has been cut.”
Yi-gang uttered words that would have enraged the Clan Head.
But the truth was the truth. The current Clan Head, in his prime as a martial artist, was bedridden. The second son was downed by a sword.
The eldest, who should inherit the lineage as the Young Clan Head, was suffering from meridian blockage and, moreover, was a coward planning to abandon his clan.
“Please, Uncle, protect us.”
‘It’s not “us,” but “me,” isn’t it?’
Baek Jin-tae swallowed those words.
The current situation was playing out entirely in Baek Jin-tae’s favor. Initially, what he hoped for was for Yi-gang to become the Young Clan Head and meet an untimely end.
But if things went as Yi-gang suggested, there would be no one left to assume the Young Clan Head role.
Baek Jin-tae could then become an elder as he had originally planned, seizing real power in the clan. And even though he was a bit lacking, traditionally, his son, Baek Young-il, would become the Clan Head.
Baek Jin-tae laughed so hard that his mouth almost split open.
Being able to use his ailment as an excuse to hide his laughter was satisfying.
“You’ve made a difficult choice. Ha-ha.”
“Having Uncle by my side is reassuring.”
“Yes, I will take full responsibility.”
With a twirling smile, Baek Jin-tae scrutinized Yi-gang.
‘I thought he had matured. Or maybe he has?’
Upon returning to the clan, Yi-gang was no longer naive. He judged the situation with cold precision. However…
‘Just like his father. He’s become cold-hearted.’
He’s sharply focused on his own gain.
To the extent that he could abandon his siblings and parents.
Yi-gang even tightly grasped Baek Jin-tae’s hand.
“Please, I’m counting on you.”
Baek Jin-tae was slightly taken aback but didn’t show it.
“Ha-ha, so, should I convene the Council of Elders?”
“That would be great. Though immediately might be too soon, perhaps in about seven days.”
“Let’s do it that way, hehe. The key will be how your Great Aunt and Great Uncle will react.”
With that, Baek Jin-tae concluded his secret meeting with Yi-gang.
It was an excellent deal that satisfied both parties.
However, Soryu had a displeased look. The reason was obvious. The cowardly brat standing there was the one to whom her sister had sacrificed her life.
Baek Jin-tae sent a message.
-Discard any expectations of people.
Soryu silently bowed her head. Baek Jin-tae, along with Soryu, left the room.
Yi-gang silently stared in the direction where Baek Jin-tae had disappeared.
And when he was entirely out of sight—
Yi-gang’s seemingly servile expression vanished.
He then tilted his head.
「How was it?」 the Immortal Divine Sword quietly asked Yi-gang.
He had remained standing there throughout the transaction between Baek Jin-tae and Yi-gang.
Yi-gang had a perplexed expression.
‘His hands were clean.’
Baek Jin-tae, the Red Dragon Corps Commander, the younger brother of the Clan Head.
Yi-gang had already suspected Baek Jin-tae. This was because it seemed suspicious that the Red Dragon Corps couldn’t find any clues for such a long time.
If it weren’t him, then he would have to suspect all the countless elders in the Council of Elders.
‘Ha-jun mentioned that he had definitely inflicted a wound on the opponent’s hand.’
「If it was a cut from a sword, it shouldn’t have healed so quickly.」
Yet, Baek Jin-tae’s hands were immaculate.
‘I’ll have to look more into it.’
「You should.」
Yi-gang turned and began to walk away.
His destination was not his own residence.
He was heading to the unused Red Jade Training Hall.
「In any case, the only thing you can truly trust till the end is martial arts.」
‘Can I really master it in just seven days?’
The seven-day grace period Yi-gang spoke of to Baek Jin-tae was strongly recommended by the Immortal Divine Sword.
‘The latter three forms of Heaven’s Shadow Sword Technique.’
「It all depends on the efforts of the descendant.」
The ultimate sword technique representing the Baek Clan, Heaven’s Shadow Sword Technique.
And among its nine techniques, the advanced last three.
The Immortal Divine Sword was insistent on passing down those sword techniques to Yi-gang.
「The complete Heaven’s Shadow Sword Technique. The descendant would be the only one left in this world to know them.」
The latter three forms of Heaven’s Shadow Sword Technique, which were now regarded as legends within the clan.
Whether he could really learn them in just seven days was uncertain, but for now, Yi-gang nodded.
Heaven’s Shadow Sword Technique.
No matter how fast a human could move, they remained under the sky.
There wasn’t anyone who could escape the shadow cast by the heavens.
Hence, they incorporated the sky’s shadow into the sword.
「It’s a swordsmanship I realized and crafted when I turned twenty,」 the Immortal Divine Sword said, as he smoothly passed through the walls of the Red Jade Training Hall.
Yi-gang was in a stance, raising his sword towards the sky.
‘You realized and crafted it?’
「Indeed. Back then, the unique sword technique of the clan was a martial art called Rising True Fire Sword.」
From what Yi-gang had never heard before, it seemed like a sword technique that had been discarded.
‘Even then, wasn’t the Baek Clan a well-renowned swordsmanship clan?’
「It was.」
The Immortal Divine Sword not only passed through the walls but also momentarily buried into the ground, later sprouting out from a distance.
‘So, when a twenty-year-old novice suddenly created a sword technique and announced he would use it, did the clan elders just stand by?’
「At that time, I was already the greatest martial master not only in the clan but in the whole Xi’an. Who would dare tell me what to do?」
‘What did you say? It’s too distant, I couldn’t hear.’
The Immortal Divine Sword, seemingly irritated, swiftly flew back to Yi-gang.
「If you’re more than twenty steps away from the sword, you can’t hear the voice.」
‘Because you’re bound to the sword.’
「Regardless, it’s true that I crafted Heaven’s Shadow Sword Technique when I was twenty.」
Such a sword technique became the greatest in the Baek Clan for 200 years and was also renowned as the ultimate sword technique in the martial world.
It was an almost unbelievable feat.
「That’s the quality of a Great Ancestor and what one might call genius.」
It might really be so.
Yi-gang nodded his head and shifted his stance.
What he would attempt next was the second of the latter three forms, the eighth form.
Yi-gang’s sword smoothly rose from below to above.
「The descendant who cannot use the inner Qi. Don’t try to understand all the intricacies of the sword.」
“…”
「First, focus on mastering the form.」
Yi-gang was already deep in the state of selflessness. The Immortal Divine Sword looked at him with satisfaction.
Ziiiing—
The tip of Yi-gang’s sword began to tremble. It wasn’t because he lacked strength.
On the contrary, he was removing unnecessary force from the muscles, maintaining a state of relaxed power.
The name of Heaven’s Shadow Sword Technique eighth form was…
「Heaven’s Net White Light」
It means a net made of sword light spread across the sky.
Shadows began to form on Yi-gang’s descending sword. It seemed as if dozens of swords were falling simultaneously.
He achieved this feat using only the sword form, without the use of internal energy.
However, just as Heaven’s Net White Light was about to be completed…
Unable to withstand the vibration of the sword, Yi-gang’s grip loosened.
The sword, Shooting Star Fang, twirled around and clinked as it rolled on the ground.
“Huu…”
Yi-gang broke out in a cold sweat. Since he couldn’t normally muster up his energy, he relied on the aid of the Great Yin Flow. However, even with that, it was hard for him to perform the latter three forms of Heaven’s Shadow Sword.
The Immortal Divine Sword spoke to the disheartened Yi-gang, 「Do not worry. The descendant surely has talent.」
“I couldn’t even swing the sword properly.”
「Did you think it was easy? Except for me, among the young ones I’ve seen, you possess the second-best swordsmanship talent.」
This was a higher appraisal than Yi-gang had thought.
‘Is the first one Ha-jun?’
「What? Puhahaha.」
The Immortal Divine Sword laughed as if something was hilarious.
「That fellow isn’t bad either. Well, he might make it into the top ten.」
Ha-jun was bearing the expectations of the clan. Yet, the Immortal Divine Sword was judging Yi-gang’s talent to be greater.
However, then who was he referring to as the most talented? Just as Yi-gang was about to ask, he suddenly froze in place.
He stared intently at his own palm.
There were numerous calluses spread all over. Despite that, his palm was again torn.
Staring at his blood-streaked palm, Yi-gang hurriedly put on his clothes.
「Whoa, where are you off to? There’s still much to learn.」
‘I overlooked something.’
「What? What did you miss?」
Yi-gang met Baek Jin-tae to check his hands.
However, he couldn’t find the wound on Baek Jin-tae’s hand that Ha-jun supposedly left. For the time being, he set aside his suspicions.
‘Uncle’s hands were too clean.’
However, even if Baek Jin-tae’s hands were clean, they were too immaculate.
There were no traces or scars on his hands that swordsmen usually had from continuous practice.
Yi-gang’s gaze grew cold.
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