Chapter 454 : Chapter 454

Vol 2 Chapter 94. Wow, So This is Historical Beautification (2)

Thankfully, ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍due to Isabella, they were able to remove the Gu Poison from the heads of the Hwangbo Clan elders.

Among ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the elders who regained their senses, some didn't know what they had done, but others had faint memories.

And ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍they….

“Ahh… ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍I don’t know how I can ever repay this grace.”

They ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍knelt before Isabella, touched their foreheads to the floor, and expressed their gratitude.

For ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍people of the stature of Hwangbo Clan elders to show such extreme reverence would normally be burdensome.

But….

“As for the price to be paid, ask my husband.”

Isabella simply spoke with extreme composure.

At that sight, Dang Nanok, who was next to her, whispered carefully into Patrick’s ear.

“She seems very used to this.”

“My wife was born a princess, you know.”

“You mean she was the daughter of a noble house?”

“No, a real princess.”

At that, Dang Nanok said with a look of dismay.

“Strong in martial arts, beautiful, and even a perfect background. Isn’t she living a bit too selfishly in this world?”

“One might think so. Plus, her husband is perfect too, right? It’s a life anyone would envy.”

“Ahh….”

I see.

The world was fair after all.

Of course, life is full of ups and downs, how could everything always go so well?

Dang Nanok nodded, accepting reality.

After the treatment of the Hwangbo Clan was finished….

“Squad Leader.”

Someone came looking for Patrick.

It was Jaegal Mun, the son of the Jaegal Clan’s head and also a member of the Twin Dragon Squad.

“Why? What is it?”

“The Family Head wishes to see you, Squad Leader.”

“Only now?”

Patrick said indifferently.

Patrick had now saved the Jaegal Clan, interrogated the disciples of the Heaven Breaking Martial Emperor, and even resolved the Hwangbo Clan’s problem.

Only after all that work was done did the head of the Jaegal Clan summon him.

It was true that he was late.

Jaegal Mun bowed his head and said.

“I apologize. The Family Head had to check on the condition of his family members first.”

“Ugh… alright. Well, I should understand that much.”

Courtesy is good, and gratitude is good, but as a family head, shouldn’t he take care of his own family members first?

Patrick could understand that much.

‘My heart is this generous, Master.’

[Is that what you call generous? Why are you bragging about something so obvious?]

“Tsk, so stingy with compliments….”

Patrick followed Jaegal Mun out, grumbling.

And a short while later.

He was able to enter a building that, although somewhat broken, had not yet collapsed.

There, the head of the Jaegal Clan, the Heavenly Origin Military Strategist Jaegal Gyeom, was waiting for Patrick.

Waiting with a tea set prepared, he spoke politely to Patrick.

“Would you come and sit?”

“Yes. What’s so difficult about that….”

As Patrick sat down, Jaegal Gyeom began to brew tea himself using the tea set.

As befitting the head of a prestigious family, the way he brewed tea looked extremely skillful.

‘Tsk, I’m not really a fan of water steeped with weeds….’

The problem was that the person he was serving had no interest in tea whatsoever.

Anyway, once the tea was brewed, Jaegal Gyeom offered a teacup and said.

“Please drink. It is Pu-erh tea brewed with the finest spring water.”

To Patrick’s ears, this sounded like….

This is water steeped with expensive weeds.

He heard.

‘Tsk, he should have just given me money.’

In any case, refusing something for free was not a virtue.

So he took the tea and downed it in one gulp.

“……!”

For a moment, Family Head Jaegal was slightly flustered.

How could he drink tea in one gulp like that, as if it were liquor?

‘No. Perhaps that is the proper etiquette for drinking tea in the Outer Regions. I shouldn't judge a person based on prejudice….’

“Ah, hot, hot, hot.”

“……”

Patrick shouted with his face contorted in a deep frown.

“Ah, it’s hot, isn't it?”

Did he think it would be cold?

To act like that even after seeing it brewed with boiling water right in front of him.

‘Etiquette my foot.’

The man simply had no connection with the tea ceremony.

Realizing that this would not serve as a proper reception, Jaegal Gyeom quietly pushed the tea set aside and said.

“First, as the head of the Jaegal Clan, on behalf of the family, I express my gratitude to Squad Leader Patrick.”

“You’re telling me this awfully late.”

“Ahem, if possible, I wanted to express my gratitude formally with proper ceremony and etiquette.”

“You were going to do something so troublesome? Really?”

“Do they not say to take the long way around when in a hurry?”

“That’s the forty-first thing I hate hearing.”

“……”

I hate this man.

Jaegal Gyeom was frustrated.

Nothing was going right from one to ten, but since he was the family’s benefactor, he couldn’t even get angry.

What was he to do?

“Hooo….”

Jaegal Gyeom took a deep breath and collected himself again.

“Although it is late, I, Jaegal Mo, offer my deepest gratitude for the Squad Leader's grace.”

“Ahem!”

“If not for the Squad Leader’s help, our family would have suffered a great disaster.”

“Ahehehem!”

There was surely no concept of modesty in the Outer Regions.

So I must be the one to understand.

Jaegal Gyeom painstakingly held his faltering body and mind together and continued speaking.

“The Jaegal Clan never forgets a favor. I promise that we will surely repay this debt of gratitude.”

“Kuh, right. This is the main point. When? How? With how much are you going to repay me?”

“……”

No, I didn’t mean right now.

“That….”

“Surely you’re not about to say that you didn't mean you’d repay it right now, are you?”

“…That is….”

“For your information, saying you’ll repay a favor and then wiping your mouth clean is the twenty-first thing I hate.”

“Why in the world do you hate so many things!”

“Because I am a sensitive and delicate man.”

“Ughh….”

This won’t do.

It’s impossible to maintain composure in front of this man.

[I understand.]

Huh? What was that?

It felt like I heard a phantom voice.

“Hey? What are you doing?”

“Ah… ahh….”

“Repay the favor. The favor. Quickly. Right now.”

Is this some kind of debt-collecting gang from the Unorthodox Faction?

Jaegal Gyeom let out a deep sigh and said.

“Ahem, very well. In that case, I will provide you with information that I believe will be of help to you.”

“Information… well, depending on its value, it might not be bad. Let’s hear it.”

At Patrick’s words, Jaegal Gyeom said with a cautious expression.

“I will tell you the identities of the two disciples of the Heaven Breaking Martial Emperor whom you subdued.”

“Huh?”

“One of them, as is already known, is Hwangbo Wicheon, but you likely do not know the identity of the other.”

“……”

“Do not be surprised. He is none other than….”

“Isn’t it Dang Gyegwang?”

“Huh?”

Jaegal Gyeom said with an awkward gaze.

“You knew?”

“I found out through interrogation. But is that information worthy of repaying a favor?”

“……”

“Wow. Look at this shameless old man. He’s really trying to get a free ride….”

“Wait. Just a moment. I will give you different information.”

“……”

Patrick looked at Jaegal Gyeom with an expression of disbelief.

And Jaegal Gyeom said….

“This is my deduction, but if the identity of the vicious beast is indeed Dang Gyegwang, I have a guess as to what might have happened in the process of him seizing control of the Hwangbo Clan.”

“He used Gu Poison, didn’t he?”

“That’s right, Gu Poison… you knew?”

“I’ve already cured it all.”

“Uh… already?”

“Already.”

“……”

“……”

Patrick’s expression crumpled.

“This old man is really no help at all, and he keeps trying to get a free ride….”

“No, that’s not it.”

“What do you mean that’s not it? Are you trying to pick a fight with me right now? Huh?”

Jaegal Gyeom was greatly flustered.

This was the first time he had a benefactor who so openly demanded repayment.

But if his trump card information didn't work, what was he supposed to repay with?

Could it be money?

‘No. There’s no way money would work on such a big shot. It would only provoke his anger.’

That would have been fine….

Jaegal Gyeom desperately wracked his brain to find an answer.

And something suddenly came to mind….

“The… Radiant Dragon Great Master.”

“Huh?”

“Evil-Breaking Swordsman, you are a successor of the Radiant Dragon Great Master, are you not? Is that not so?”

“It wouldn't be incorrect to say so.”

Strictly speaking, he wasn't a successor but the man himself, but wasn't that the same thing?

As he acknowledged it, Jaegal Gyeom let out a sigh of relief and said.

“In that case, our Jaegal Clan has a great legacy that we can bestow upon you.”

“And what is that?”

“It is the legacy of our ancestor, the Heavenly Secret Wise King, Jaegal Hyeon.”

“…Huh?”

What was this now?

* * *

In the basement of the Jaegal Clan’s main residence.

There was a secret space here that was only passed down discreetly to the current and next family heads.

Activating a mechanism would open a door leading to the basement, and if one went deep inside through this door, there lay dormant the legacy left by the greatest genius in the history of the Jaegal Clan.

That was….

“Our clan's pride, the Heavenly Secret Wise King, ancestor Jaegal Hyeon, who led the war against the Blood Cult to victory 200 years ago.”

“The Heavenly Secret Wise King…”

Patrick wore a strange expression.

Well, it wasn't strange for a title to change.

It was common for Murim warriors' titles from their youth to change as they aged and accumulated experience and achievements.

‘Still. From the Ugly Dragon Scholar to the Heavenly Secret Wise King?’

[What? What, you punk? What’s your problem?]

‘No, well, it’s just that he’s really made it big.’

Indeed, at that time, there was no one more talented in the Jaegal Clan than the Ugly Dragon Scholar.

Jaegal Hyeon was discriminated against even by his own family due to his extremely ugly appearance, but his ability was second to none.

So it was understandable that he would be given a grand title like Heavenly Secret Wise King….

“Pfft!”

In the end, he failed to hold it in.

[You wanna die?]

“No, it’s just funny, isn’t it?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

“…Follow me carefully.”

Jaegal Gyeom walked ahead and said.

“According to the stories passed down in the family, the Heavenly Secret Wise King had a few close friends he associated with in his youth.”

“He did.”

“……?”

“No, I mean, he must have.”

“……”

“Ahem, please continue.”

At Patrick’s words, Jaegal Gyeom continued speaking.

“The most famous was the number one sword under the heavens of his time, the Azure Sky Sword King, Namgung Cheon, who was highly active in the war against the Blood Cult.”

“…Pfft!”

“……”

“Continue. Continue. And stop paying attention to me.”

Jaegal Gyeom let out a sigh and continued speaking.

“And there was the young prodigy of the Hebei Peng Clan, the Iron-Blooded Saber Dragon Peng Mujong, and the heroine of the Sichuan Tang Clan, the Divine Doctor Saintess Dang Suryeon.”

“……”

“And though it is not a well-known fact, your ancestor, the Radiant Dragon Great Master Jin Cheon, was also a friend who shared the same aspirations as ancestor Jaegal Hyeon at the time.”

It was a nostalgic memory.

Jaegal Hyeon, Peng Mujong, Namgung Cheon, Dang Suryeon, Jin Cheon….

Four troublemakers abandoned by their families and one super-sized bomb abandoned by all of Murim had roamed Murim together.

A faint longing flickered in Patrick’s eyes.

They were friends whose mere presence gave him strength.

With those friends, he feared nothing, even if the whole world were his enemy.

“Among those who associated with him at the time, Great Master Peng Mujong and Great Master Jin Cheon met an untimely end in their youth, and the Divine Doctor Saintess was said to have half-retired from Murim.”

“……..”

“But our ancestor did not forget the memories of those friends. It seems his affection for your sect’s Radiant Dragon Great Master was particularly special.”

“Why is that?”

“The reason is unknown. Perhaps they were closer, or maybe, unlike the others, he felt sympathy for the position of the Radiant Dragon Great Master and the Twin Dragon Sect, who were the only ones not from the Five Great Families…”

“……”

“So he left behind one legacy. He said to pass it on if a successor of the Radiant Dragon Great Master came, leaving his legacy and personally installing mechanisms to prevent others from approaching it carelessly. That is where we are heading now.”

“Hmph, who’s worrying about whom.”

That ugly bastard was always meddling….

Patrick moved his feet, grumbling without reason.

He felt both embarrassed and grateful, as well as sorry, for his friend’s thoughtfulness.

While lost in these complex thoughts, the group arrived in front of a large door.

Looking at the massive iron door and the statue of a figure carved in front of it, Jaegal Gyeom bowed to the statue with a solemn expression.

“This is the Heavenly Secret Wise King, ancestor Jaegal Hyeon.”

“……”

“You should also pay your respects.”

“Just a moment. Before that….”

Patrick stared blankly at the statue.

A statue of a handsome middle-aged man with the face of a well-featured scholar, a neat beard, and wearing a dignified scholar's robe, holding a white feather fan in one hand.

And to confirm once more, he asked.

“Who did you say this was again?”

“This is the statue of our family’s ancestor, the Heavenly Secret Wise King, Jaegal Hyeon.”

“……”

Wow, so this is historical beautification.