Chapter 72: Those Who Tie Must Untie (1)
Yi-gang rubbed his eyes.
His eyes were red and swollen from crying too much yesterday. Of course, it wasn’t Yi-gang who had cried.
The Immortal Divine Sword had embraced his granddaughter, Baek Young-ryeong, and they had cried together. It was only natural that Yi-gang’s eyes would swell.
‘I don’t feel any strength in my body.’
Indeed, the aftereffects of possession remained in his body. Yi-gang scrunched up his face and stretched out his stiff muscles.
「Cough, I’m sorry.」
‘You just have to say thank you.’
「Thank you, indeed.」
Actually, this alone was a relief. He had prepared himself for the possibility of not dying thanks to the elixirs he had consumed before attempting the possession.
However, the aftereffects this time were bearable, unlike before.
He thought about why, and it seemed that it was because he had not used martial arts during this possession, unlike the previous times.
He hadn’t forced his Qi or used sword techniques; he had only lent his voice so that he could speak.
Fortunately, Yi-gang was able to participate in the grand meeting held the next day.
The Grand Elder sat in the seat of honor. Today, her face was not hidden behind a curtain. Her expression was, as usual, as cold as ice.
However, her aura had clearly changed a bit.
Previously, stubbornness and cruelty were felt, but now there was a sense of ease.
The knots that had been wrongly tied between the Immortal Divine Sword and her had certainly loosened yesterday. The wounds may not have completely healed, but they would at least be different from before.
“Before the Clan Head speaks, there is one thing I would like to announce.”
The Grand Elder glanced at the Clan Head, then opened her mouth again.
“I, Baek Young-ryeong…”
All eyes turned to her.
This was not the Council of Elders but Red Dragon Hall. It wasn’t an elder council meeting, so various clan vassals, including the general, were also in attendance.
“As of midnight tonight, I will relinquish my position as the Grand Elder.”
It was a declaration as shocking as a bolt from the blue. People’s eyes widened in surprise.
The title of Grand Elder held a position of authority equivalent to the Clan Head when deciding major and minor matters of the clan.
Originally, there was no such position, but it had been exceptionally granted to Baek Young-ryeong because of her significant achievements. The fact that she was relinquishing such authority on her own was unforeseen by everyone.
The Clan Head, Baek Ryu-san, stood up and paid his respects to the Grand Elder.
“I am grateful for the Grand Elder’s hard work.”
It was a show of respect for an elder who had dedicated her life to the Baek Clan well into her hundreds.
“We are grateful for your hard work.”
The other elders and vassals also followed the Clan Head in paying their respects.
Yi-gang also put his hands together and showed his respect.
Next to him, Baek Ha-jun awkwardly tried to mimic his brother’s actions.
“Uh.”
Then, as if his chest pained him, he grimaced.
“Just stand still.”
“Uh-huh.”
Baek Ha-jun’s injuries had almost healed. Was it heavenly luck? Or was it the effect of the elixir that Yi-gang had given him? Fortunately, Ha-jun didn’t experience any aftereffects. Instead, it was said that his internal energy had actually increased.
“Are you nervous?”
“A little.”
“It’s something that should have been done long ago.”
“Is that so…”
Ha-jun was dressed more lavishly than usual.
Moreover, at his waist, he bore a new sword. It was a cold iron sword, recently acquired from Firelight Forge.
It was the sword gifted to the one who was to become the Young Clan Head.
After concluding the salute to the Grand Elder, the Clan Head, Baek Ryu-san, turned his head.
“Baek Ha-jun, come forward.”
The Clan Head called for Ha-jun. Startled, Ha-jun lifted his head, glanced at Yi-gang, and then set his expression firmly.
He walked resolutely to the center and knelt before the Clan Head.
“This son has answered your call.”
Baek Ryu-san looked down at his youngest son.
He had long wished to appoint Ha-jun as the Young Clan Head, but he had been unable to do so due to strong opposition from the Council of Elders. He had almost given up when he heard that the Grand Elder had designated Yi-gang for the position.
However, Grand Elder had changed her mind.
Before relinquishing her position, the Grand Elder gave her support to the Clan Head one last time.
“Under the names of our ancestors, as the 39th Clan Head of the great Baek Noble Clan, I hereby declare.”
The Clan Head was also wearing the splendid ceremonial robe that he wore only for official events.
“Today, I appoint my son, Baek Ha-jun, as the Young Clan Head.”
Since this had already been discussed, the elders were not surprised. They simply clasped their hands together as promised.
The general standing below the Clan Head passed a wine cup wrapped in red cloth.
“Young Master.”
Ha-jun promptly took the cup.
Baek Ryu-san approached and poured the ceremonial white liquor into it.
“Drink.”
Ha-jun respectfully drained the cup. After he emptied one cup, the Grand Elder poured another. It signified the support of the Council of Elders. That too, he drank down.
His insides burned, and his face was hot.
But Ha-jun couldn’t afford to stand idly by. It was a moment to regain his composure.
“Offer the incense and liquor to the ancestors.”
At his father’s quiet command, he placed the incense in the censer. Before him, the statues of the ancestors looked down upon Ha-jun.
Ha-jun turned to the statues, and in front of the statue of the Immortal Divine Sword, he raised his liquor cup.
Looking back, all eyes were on him. Among them, Ha-jun found his brother, Yi-gang.
“May the name of Baek continue for a thousand generations.”
The vassals responded to the Clan Head’s succinct declaration.
Amid the cheers and blessings, Ha-jun locked eyes with Yi-gang. Yi-gang smiled faintly, and at last, Ha-jun was able to smile broadly.
Ha-jun became the Young Clan Head today.
And that meant Yi-gang had finally cast off the duties of being the eldest grandson.
“Phew. Now, that’s a weight off my shoulders.”
The reason Ha-jun could become the Young Clan Head was because Yi-gang was going to the Azure Forest.
Even before the sudden appointment ceremony for the Young Clan Head, Yi-gang’s journey to the Azure Forest had been permitted.
「You do you realize how respected it is to be the Clan Head, and yet you are so reluctant?」
Although he knew he had to go to the Azure Forest to heal his body, the Immortal Divine Sword taunted him thus.
Yi-gang responded by shrugging his shoulders, an answer in itself.
A sword was tied to his waist.
Of course, it was the Shooting Star Fang. Even though it was revealed that the one hanging in the Council of Elders was a fake, the Grand Elder and the Clan Head had permitted Yi-gang to take charge of the Shooting Star Fang.
Exposing that the one in the Council of Elders was a counterfeit would be a disgrace, so a gag order was issued to those who knew about this affair.
Thanks to that, the Immortal Divine Sword, having resolved its long-standing grievance, could accompany Yi-gang.
「To think I would see that child smile again, haha.」
The Immortal Divine Sword wiped the corners of its eyes, watching the Grand Elder smile. Like the Grand Elder, who seemed to have shed her venom, the Immortal Divine Sword’s nature became more benign.
He looked at his granddaughter lovingly and said, 「Ha-ha-ha, look at that. Isn’t her smile innocent and cute?」
‘To me, she’s my great-grandmother.’
「Ha-ha-ha-ha!」
Seeing her so happy, Yi-gang couldn’t feel bad either.
Only, there had been a problem lately.
「Yes, after living a life like death, such a day has come… Ah.」
‘Ah.’
「I have many regrets, but looking back, my life was always filled with gratitude. Yes…」
The form of the Immortal Divine Sword began to shine and gradually became transparent.
Yi-gang hastily tapped the scabbard at his waist.
‘Stop ascending!’
「Oops, that’s right.」
The problem was that the Immortal Divine Sword, having resolved its long-standing grievance, tried to attain Nirvana once or twice a day.
‘You have to endure until I go to Azure Forest and heal my own body. You still have to teach me the entire Heaven’s Shadow Sword Technique.’
「I know. I’m sorry, really sorry.」
Even if the Immortal Divine Sword achieved Nirvana and left behind its spiritual energy, Yi-gang alone couldn’t do anything.
The Immortal Divine Sword needed to remain on earth until the time came for Yi-gang to go to the Azure Forest.
The Immortal Divine Sword, who had been smacking its lips, quickly changed the subject.
「Anyway, it’s going to be a bit sad to just leave for the Azure Forest like this.」
‘What will be?’
「Baek Jin-tae, that guy.」
Yi-gang quietly observed the ceremony appointing the new Young Clan Head.
His uncle, Baek Jin-tae, had been sentenced to death.
There were talks about sparing his life by crippling him, sealing his dantian, and severing the muscles of both arms to reform him.
However, since Baek Jin-tae himself refused, the execution was inevitable.
「The ending should have been by your hand.」
There was a cruelty in the Immortal Divine Sword’s voice.
However, Yi-gang did not deny it. He had heard plenty about the emptiness of revenge but never empathized with it. The grudge for the murdered maidservants and servants was still valid.
‘That’s true.’
When Yi-gang agreed readily, the Immortal Divine Sword wore an enigmatic expression.
「Hoo.」
Yi-gang was not known to be soft, yet his expression was more relaxed than expected.
The outer garden of the Baek Clan.
Among the least visited places, it would certainly be the prison.
The fact that the clan had a prison spoke volumes about the Baek Clan’s immense power, as it was unusual for a clan to have such a facility.
The guards of the prison stood tense and vigilant.
The prisoner was none other than Baek Jin-tae, the brother of the Clan Head and commander of the Red Dragon Corps.
Such a significant figure being locked up in the prison was an event not seen in nearly a hundred years.
After being subjected to brutal torture, his death by decapitation had been decided.
The guards were inevitably living through days of tension.
“Heh, heh-heh…”
Laughter echoed from the depths of the prison used solely by Baek Jin-tae.
Now, seemingly having lost his sanity, he laughed without any appropriate occasion.
Every time that eerie laughter was heard, the guards shuddered with chills.
After shaking his head once, the guard turned to the servant who had come to visit and asked,
“A meal? It’s someone different this time?”
It was the servant who had brought the prisoner’s meal.
“Yes, the usual guy fell ill. Seems like he caught a cold.”
“Got it, I’ll take it from here. You can go back.”
After sending the servant away, the guard entered the prison with a grim expression.
The smell of blood grew stronger, and the figure of Baek Jin-tae, shackled at the wrists and ankles, appeared.
“I’ve brought your meal…”
Despite being a prisoner, the guard couldn’t bring himself to use informal language to the Clan Head’s own brother. He placed a bowl of rice porridge topped with pickled vegetables in front of Baek Jin-tae and stepped back.
Baek Jin-tae chuckled at the lukewarm porridge.
With shackles on his hands, he couldn’t eat properly. The guards should have unlocked them during mealtime, but they were too frightened to do so.
Even though it was said his energy center was destroyed, the sheer presence of Baek Jin-tae, a Supreme Peak martial master, was still intimidating.
“On the day before my execution, they should at least serve me meat.”
With only one day left until his beheading, hunger still gnawed at Baek Jin-tae.
He had accepted the approaching death. Given the chance, he would have liked to wield his sword again and perform a spirited sword dance… but now, his head was about to fall.
He awkwardly moved and used his legs to pull the bowl of porridge towards him. Then, with a practiced motion, he lifted the bowl onto his hand, bent over, and lapped up the porridge directly from the bowl.
It was as if he was drinking the pickled vegetables and porridge.
The porridge splattered on his clothes, but Baek Jin-tae chewed and swallowed as if possessed.
Then, at that moment, he felt an intense pain in his molar.
Crack!
Had he bitten into a stone?
No, it wasn’t just a stone. Something as hard as a plum pit had been bitten into. He almost cracked a tooth.
Baek Jin-tae chuckled as he fished it out with his finger.
It was a bead with a reddish hue. It hadn’t cracked despite biting down hard. It appeared to be made of jade.
A curious expression crossed Baek Jin-tae’s face.
When he sniffed at it with his nose, it emitted a clear fragrance, and when he tasted it with his tongue, he perceived a bitter taste. It wasn’t jade.
Soon, he realized what the bead was.
‘Poison Resistance Bead!’
He had seen the martial artists from the Tang Clan use them. It was an item that could be held in the mouth to resist poison or narcotic gases.
Such an item had been smuggled in, mixed with the porridge.
‘Who. And why.’
There was no way to know for sure, but Baek Jin-tae had his suspicions.
He laughed with a wide-open mouth, his missing front teeth making his smile look ghastly.
He left the porridge he had been eating as if possessed, untouched.
Now that his body was in a weakened state, having too full a stomach would only make it harder to move.
Instead, he sucked on the Poison Resistance Bead as if it were a piece of rock sugar.
Then, he sat quietly and began to loosen up his body.
He stretched his stiff muscles, which had become rigid from being confined for so long, preparing to run as soon as the shackles were removed.
He didn’t have to wait long.
It was when the waning moon was high in the sky.
A sweet smell began to drift through the air.
‘Is it a sedative gas?’
It was not unusual for the guards to doze off, but for one to suddenly collapse was a first.
Thud.
The guard who had fallen to the ground did not wake up.
The moment Baek Jin-tae detected the sweet smell, he bit down on the Poison Resistance Bead and began to breathe only through his mouth.
Aside from feeling a bit light-headed, he could resist the effects of the sedative gas.
Soon, someone came walking steadily toward him.
The person was dressed in black with a mask covering their face.
Baek Jin-tae couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
“Keuheuheu, which number are you?”
“Yuk-ho.”
“Number Six? Seems like there’s a new addition.”
It was unexpected, even for an outsider, to penetrate the defenses of the Baek Clan estate and infiltrate this far.
“Heuk-am has sent me. Rise.”
The masked man who opened the door of the prison cell swung his sword.
Click—
Baek Jin-tae’s shackles were cut off all too easily.
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