Every clan has its golden age.

The golden age of the Baek clan was about 200 years ago when the Immortal Divine Sword was active. At that time, it even became a part of Jianghu’s Seven Great Clans.

However, as time passed, the prestige of the Baek clan declined significantly. It was probably because, compared to other clans, there were fewer members with the surname Baek.

Nevertheless, the clan members who possessed the Immortal Divine Art and the Heaven’s Shadow Sword Technique were very strong.

Especially, the current Clan Head, Iron-blooded Merciless Baek Ryu-san, stood out even more.

Since he became the leader, the fame of the Baek clan regained its shine.

His martial arts prowess had reached the Supreme Peak level in both name and reality, and his deep state of mind was no less than that of the Jegal clan. His pitch-black eyes seemed to pierce through people’s souls. Everyone in the clan was afraid of Baek Ryu-san.

Atop the splendid grand seat, he looked down at his son.

“Yi-gang.”

His son, who seemed to be lost in thought, appeared dissatisfied.

“Is there something on my face?”

Yi-gang daringly stared at the Clan Head’s face.

Specifically, at the spirit of the Immortal Divine Sword, which was wandering in front of the Clan Head.

The Immortal Divine Sword was mumbling and wandering around the Red Dragon Hall, 「Such a lavish decoration.」, 「Why do they all look so upset?」, but only Yi-gang could hear it.

Eventually, it approached right in front of the Clan Head’s nose.

「This guy, has a pretty full beard.」

And then it tried to grab the Clan Head’s beard.

“Ah!”

Yi-gang ended up exclaiming in surprise. Fortunately, the hand of the Immortal Divine Sword just passed through the Clan Head’s beard without touching it.

When Yi-gang screamed, the Immortal Divine Sword smirked and finally shut its mouth, sitting next to the rusty sword.

“Yi-gang!”

The Clan Head eventually shouted with his internal energy.

Yi-gang finally snapped back to reality.

Of course, the Clan Head and all the retainers were staring at Yi-gang as if they found him pitiful.

“I apologize. My body hasn’t fully recovered yet…”

Yi-gang excused himself without even moistening his lips.

“…”

“I came as soon as you summoned me.”

It was not long ago since he was attacked by assassins and barely survived. The Clan Head, who seemed to want to reprimand him, remained silent.

“…Yes, I summoned you.”

“I’m listening.”

“The assassins who attacked the manor. Do you know their identities?”

The Clan Head threw the sudden question. The retainers just waited for Yi-gang’s reply.

Yi-gang lifted his head to meet his father’s eyes directly.

An inscrutable expression, like an aged sturdy tree.

Yi-gang seemed to have caught onto the Clan Head’s intentions.

“I thought they might belong to the Unorthodox Union.”

The Clan Head often posed questions to his children in front of the retainers. Yi-gang, who had survived from the brink of death, was no exception.

“Unorthodox Union, you say.”

“The first group that came to mind were those from the Hidden Hand Gang, since they’re the ones most wary of our clan’s expansion.”

“Hmm…”

The Clan Head’s cold expression remained unchanged.

While not the worst guess, it was simple and lacked evidence.

Had it been the old Yi-gang – the one everyone in the clan would have scoffed at – he might have responded like this.

However, Yi-gang did not want to play the fool regarding this matter.

“…But that’s probably not the case. While they hid their martial arts skills, they definitely weren’t lowly members of the Hidden Hand Gang.”

“Ho.”

“Most importantly, if they were in their right minds, they wouldn’t dare touch the Baek clan, and if they were truly mad enough to draw their swords, they wouldn’t target someone like me, who isn’t even the Young Clan Head.”

“…”

The Clan Head fell silent for a moment.

The retainers sneaked glances at Yi-gang.

“You seem to have changed a bit during the time you spent alone.”

“No, I haven’t.”

“However, despite your plausible words, they lack substance. In the end, you’re saying you don’t know.”

Given that Yi-gang was unconscious, he had no way of knowing the identities of the assassins. He silently nodded.

“Everyone but you died. Are you aware?”

“Yes.”

He was painfully aware. The manor’s servants, the guards, and even his personal maid, Sohwa, who always stood by his side. All of them were dead.

“Aren’t you ashamed?”

“…”

It was another reprimand.

“As a blood relative of our clan. Instead of protecting those you should have, you were protected by them. They gave their lives so you could hide and survive alone. Aren’t you ashamed?”

With a stern reprimand, Yi-gang looked directly into the Clan Head’s eyes.

“Are you saying I should be ashamed for surviving alone?”

“Yes.”

It was a rather harsh thing to say to a son who had returned alive.

The retainers thought Yi-gang would feel wronged or, at the very least, be angry. Because he had been like that until now.

However—

“I’m glad I survived,”

Said Yi-gang without faltering.

“What did you say?”

“I need to live. Don’t I have to avenge those who died for me?”

It was a fearless statement without any shame as a martial artist.

Since his reincarnation, Yi-gang had become accustomed to embellishing his words. He would shape himself into what people around him expected, or into the image he wanted to show.

However, the words he just uttered were genuinely heartfelt, to his own surprise.

“Heh.”

Perhaps that was why even the iron-blooded Clan Head was impressed.

“…Come closer.”

“Yes?”

“I said come closer.”

The Clan Head suddenly beckoned Yi-gang, who was kneeling. Yi-gang, with a hesitant face, approached the Clan Head.

“So, how did you fend off those assassins?”

“…!”

The moment had come.

This was not a question he could easily dodge.

Among the warriors guarding the mansion, there were quite a few skilled masters. The assassins killed all of them.

Yet Yi-gang, who could not cultivate internal energy due to the Great Yin Meridian Blockage, killed all those assassins.

An absolutely impossible, unbelievable feat. Telling the whole truth weighed on his heart.

‘I met the spirit of the Immortal Divine Sword, and it possessed me, fighting on my behalf.’

Saying that seemed unbelievable, and even if believed, it would not be a welcome revelation.

“The sword wounds on their bodies were clearly from Heaven’s Shadow Sword Technique.”

“I defeated them.”

Indeed, he analyzed even the injuries on their bodies.

With this, crafting a lie would be difficult. Therefore, Yi-gang decided to tell the truth.

However, by omitting certain details.

“When I found a secret passage in the storeroom. I stumbled upon a strange space.”

“A strange space?”

“Yes, it was lined with gold ropes… and the moment I entered, I felt dizzy.”

He did not mention that an old sword was embedded there.

“Explain in detail.”

“I felt like something had settled in my body. My hands and feet moved on their own, and I was able to face the assassins. And then I lost consciousness.”

“…”

The Clan Head remained silent for a moment.

Yi-gang tried to maintain a confident expression. No matter how absurd the story sounded, it was true.

He had only omitted the part about seeing the spirit of the Immortal Divine Sword, but the rest was all he had experienced.

“A mysterious occurrence.”

Surprisingly, the Clan Head nodded calmly.

“It’s overly mysterious. The place burned down, leaving no trace.”

But, as expected, things would not be that simple.

The Clan Head’s hand lunged out like a hawk.

Crack—!

Before Yi-gang could react, the Clan Head had grabbed his wrist.

“Kuk!”

“Stay still.”

Through the pulse that the Clan Head had grasped, energy surged in. A technique to inspect the body’s condition by infusing energy. It was a method accompanied by excruciating pain.

“Clan Head!”

“Please calm down!”

Even the retainers were taken aback and tried to stop him, but the Clan Head did not care.

And Yi-gang did not even scream.

Surprisingly, the Clan Head’s energy was delicate. The gently refined energy examined and tapped Yi-gang’s meridians.

“Hmm, there’s still no pulse for the severed meridians.”

“…”

“Still, you have no internal energy.”

The Clan Head roughly released Yi-gang. Yi-gang grabbed his wrist and stepped back.

“Leave.”

He then waved his hand dismissively, seemingly uninterested.

“…”

Had it been the original Yi-gang, he would have turned and left, but now he could not.

“… Please return the sword.”

“Hmm.”

The Clan Head briefly glanced at the rusted sword.

He had retrieved it because Yi-gang had been holding it, but it was so terribly rusted that it seemed unusable.

“Are you talking about this old junk? Take it.”

Using Qi Kinesis, the Clan Head pulled the sword towards him. Then, as if tossing trash, he handed it to Yi-gang. Yi-gang struggled to hold it as if he could not bear its weight.

“You imitate a martial artist. Where did you learn that?”

His voice was cold and mocking.

“… Please take care.”

All Yi-gang could do was politely respond and turn away. He felt the cold stares of the Clan Head and the retainers on his back.

His job here was done. Silently, he left the Red Dragon Hall.

The Immortal Divine Sword, which had been quiet until now, finally expressed its anger.

「Ha! These people have eyes as narrow as needle holes.」

The voice came from the sword. Although surprised, Yi-gang managed not to show it.

‘What’s with the needle hole?’

He muttered in his mind, and it seemed the Immortal Divine Sword heard it.

「Shouldn’t a descendant show gratitude to the ancestor who saved his life?」

‘…What about the needle hole?’

「I’m talking about your father and those subordinates. My sword is all rusted out junk? Tsk!」

‘I don’t recall him saying it was completely rusted. It’s just rusted.’

Yi-gang felt a sudden warmth. After all, was the soul of this Immortal Divine Sword not the one that saved him from the assassins?

「Not even recognizing a world-famous sword, what use are those eyes of yours?」

‘A world-famous sword? This one?’

「Indeed, my cherished sword was forged from a meteorite. It’s called the Shooting Star Fang.」

Upon hearing that, Yi-gang was genuinely surprised. The meteorite sword carried by the Immortal Divine Sword was like a legend.

However, the problem was that Shooting Star Fang was believed to be on display at the Council of Elders. Explaining that, the Immortal Divine Sword seemed puzzled.

「I don’t know why they did it, but that one is definitely a counterfeit.」

‘So… this is the real one?’

This rusted sword was the very meteorite sword.

It was hard to believe. But if the Immortal Divine Sword himself said it, it must be the truth.

「It’s fortunate that your father is naive. It would be impossible to hand over the Shooting Star Fang to someone who doesn’t understand its value.」

‘Hmm, don’t insult my father. It looks just like a rusty piece of metal. How would he know it’s made from a meteorite?’

「Huh? I didn’t know you were so filial.」

Though the sword did not have a visible expression, Yi-gang somehow felt the Immortal Divine Sword was mocking him.

「Tsk, tsk, all relatives in the clan should be harmonious, especially family. The current Clan Head is as cold as a snake, even to his own son.」

‘That’s how the martial world is.’

「Ha, ha, ha, on top of that, he seems to really despise you. Why does he hate you so much?」

Yi-gang remained silent for a moment.

He pondered over what answer to give but decided to be honest.

‘Maybe he doesn’t?’

「Hmm? What do you mean?」

‘He probably doesn’t hate me.’

The son who was neglected by the Clan Head — Almost everyone believed that, but at least Yi-gang knew the truth.

「You’re in deep denial. Hmm, maybe it’s because you grew up unloved?」

‘Where do you think I got the Ten Thousand Year Snow Ginseng? My father secretly procured it for me.’

「…」

The Immortal Divine Sword was left speechless, and Yi-gang relaxed his body.

His pain had lessened considerably from earlier. It was from when the Clan Head secretly infused energy into Yi-gang to heal him.

“Ah, I feel a bit lighter now.”

The delicately infused energy helped heal Yi-gang’s damaged Qi and blood points and realigned his energy pathways without the retainers knowing. It wasn’t the first time this had happened.

「Really…」

The Immortal Divine Sword seemed to notice as Yi-gang relaxed.

「…A father too shy to express his feelings, is that it?」

“I wonder.”

Yi-gang gave a hollow laugh.

Even after Yi-gang left, the discussion continued.

However, the atmosphere turned even colder. Baek Ryu-san, leaning against the grand seat, barely responded.

After meeting Yi-gang, the Clan Head’s mood seemed to have been soured. The retainers could only speculate.

“Leave.”

After the discussion, the retainers hurriedly exited the Red Dragon Hall, sweating coldly. Only the Clan Head and his most trusted elders of the clan remained.

The Clan Head sat silently for a while. At some point, he leaned back and let out a groan.

“Ugh…”

It was not just because he was feeling upset that he kept silent. It was due to a rapid consumption of his internal energy, leading to fatigue.

Boosting the energy of Yi-gang, whose body was a mess, and realigning his energy pathways without the retainers knowing.

Even for Baek Ryu-san, a Supreme Peak martial artist, it was not an easy task.

“You’ve worked hard, Clan Head.”

The only one who sensed the situation, the general, had a faint smile.

Only a very few, including the general, knew that the Clan Head truly cherished and felt sorry for his son, Yi-gang.

“I’m not the one who suffered; it’s Yi-gang. His body was in terrible shape. Thankfully, the physician treated him well, so I could at least touch him.”

“I will reward the physician handsomely.”

“Do that. Sigh… General.”

The Clan Head, who was at the top of the clan, could not warmly approach his son suffering from a meridian blockage due to the complicated circumstances surrounding the Council of Elders and the matter of the Clan Head’s succession.

But the sadness remained unchanged.

“Yes, Clan Head.”

“Was I too harsh on him?”

“…”

“It’s been a while since we met. This time, he even got mad at me. He didn’t use to do that.”

“It’s all for Young Master Yi-gang, isn’t it?”

“Yes, the poor child. I just wanted him to live freely. But…”

Even though the Clan Head was an iron-blooded man, he was so human when it came to Yi-gang and his deceased wife.

“Someday, Young Master Yi-gang will understand your heart.”

“Ha, I don’t even hope for that.”

“You procured that precious Ten Thousand Year Snow Ginseng and realigned his energy pathways like today. Thanks to that, Young Master Yi-gang has been healthy. He will realize its meaning when he matures.”

“No, I’d rather he never knew. Wouldn’t it be easier for him to resent me?”

The Clan Head finally let out a faint smile.

“Hehe.”

“Hohoho.”

The general also reciprocated with a smile. A warm atmosphere flowed in the Red Dragon Hall.

They never dreamt that Yi-gang, who always seemed carefree, was fully aware of everything.

“By the way, about what Young Master Yi-gang said earlier…”

“About some strange entity possessing him, causing his body to move? I thought it was absurd.”

The Clan Head dismissed it, but the general seemed to take it seriously.

“That’s the thing…”

A gleam shone in the general’s eyes.