It is a layman's sect of the Goo family, where Goo Changjun, the elder of the Goo family and the uncle of the hero, serves as the head.
If the Goo family is the guardian of Shanxi, another name for the Guseonmun is the sword of the Goo family.
This is because most of the members of the Guseonmun join the Goo family's sword regiment.
Of course, there are also methods like the Guryongjeon, which recruits outsiders to become swordsmen.
However, most of the Goo family's swordsmen come from the Guseonmun.
*Crack*
A sharp sound echoed throughout the room. Goo Jeol-yeop's head snapped to the side.
Drip.
A drop of blood trickled from the corner of Goo Jeol-yeop's mouth.
A cold rebuke soon followed.
"Incompetent fool."
"....I apologize."
"Did you make me look bad by failing to capture such a mere person?"
This was a grievance for Goo Jeol-yeop.
He couldn't have known that Goo Yang-cheon was hiding such strength.
However, Goo Jeol-yeop couldn't say a word in response to Goo Changjun's rebuke.
"Stupid fool... You were distracted by a mere servant and made a mistake!?"
*Crack! Crack!*
Goo Changjun's hand twisted Goo Jeol-yeop's head back and forth. Goo Jeol-yeop silently endured Goo Changjun's grip.
"Why did you do that?"
Goo Jeol-yeop couldn't easily explain the reason.
However, under Goo Changjun's cold gaze, he finally opened his tightly shut mouth.
"It's true that I was momentarily distracted by the servant, but Goo Yang-cheon's skills were genuine. I didn't let my guard down."
Goo Jeol-yeop clenched his fists so tightly that they trembled.
His pride was hurt.
He had to acknowledge Goo Yang-cheon, whom he had always looked down upon. But Goo Jeol-yeop was sincere about martial arts.
What he saw in Goo Yang-cheon's movements was genuine. It wasn't a fluke or a moment of carelessness; it was simply skill.
After a few exchanges—perhaps three or four?—it was enough to understand.
Goo Jeol-yeop was superior in both martial arts and physical strength, but he couldn't win.
Goo Jeol-yeop bit his trembling lips to hide them.
"Then."
Goo Changjun said.
"Why didn't you come back with at least one broken bone?"
"....Grandfather?"
"This is the Guseonmun. Use the proper title."
"I apologize.... Sect Master."
Goo Changjun's voice was chillingly cold. After examining Goo Jeol-yeop's body, he said:
"Neat. No internal or external injuries. Not a single flaw to point out."
Only the minor bruises that might remain from a sparring session.
The external injuries on Goo Jeol-yeop's face were painful but left no lasting scars.
Goo Jeol-yeop had struggled with Goo Yang-cheon's punch to the chest, but there were no internal injuries.
It meant that Goo Yang-cheon had only released enough internal energy to neutralize the qi technique Goo Jeol-yeop was using.
Yet, he still caused pain.
'This is a technique used for torture by evil sects.'
Goo Changjun stroked his long beard, lost in thought.
According to the observer, Goo Yang-cheon was about to do something to Goo Jeol-yeop when Elder Lee intervened.
'Goo Lun... interfering again.'
What could be so bothersome?
Elder Lee always did this.
He tried to capture Goo Yang-cheon and train him, neglecting his duties as an elder to focus on making a young master.
Goo Changjun didn't like it.
He didn't like the idea of someone with lowly blood sitting in the position of the family head, even if the Goo family's blood was mixed.
Nor did he like the idea of someone with no talent or character sitting in the position of the family head.
Or, was it just about blood and character now?
*Tsusk*
Goo Changjun's tongue-clicking made Goo Jeol-yeop shudder.
"I don't like it when things go off track."
Goo Yang-cheon had conveyed a message through Goo Jeol-yeop: if he did this again, he might want to become the family head.
'How dare he.'
Goo Changjun had to suppress the anger rising within him upon hearing this.
Knowing his ambition, the reason he couldn't easily reach out to Goo Changjun was that he was the master of the Guseonmun.
The master of Shanxi is the Goo family, but the Goo family's sword is the Guseonmun.
What can a swordsman without a sword do?
The current family head is strong. The hero, now in his forties, is in the prime of his martial career.
However, the hero and the family head, Goo Cheol-yun, are different matters.
He must know this.
Conversely, Goo Changjun also couldn't easily cause a major incident because he was a member of the Goo family.
But a half-blooded brat warning him?
"What should I do?"
Goo Changjun looked at Goo Jeol-yeop.
Even considering that he was his grandson and of his blood, he was a very talented young man.
He was even compared to the best of the younger generation, the sword master.
He also resembled Goo Changjun's deceased son.
So, Goo Yang-cheon had to remain insignificant. It would make it easier for Goo Changjun to achieve his dreams.
When he heard that Goo Yang-cheon had defeated Goo Yeon-seo, he thought it was just a fluke. Goo Yeon-seo is a tiger, but he could make mistakes.
However, a change in people's perception could be a problem.
Especially at a time like this.
So, he did something a bit forced.
If Goo Yang-cheon accepted the sparring with Goo Jeol-yeop, it would expose his foolishness, which would be good. If he refused, there were other ways.
But now, it seemed Goo Yang-cheon had already become an obstacle.
A significant one.
"Jeol-yeop."
"Yes, Sect Master...."
"If a large rock blocks the path you want to take, what would you do?"
"I would look for another way."
"You're wrong. That way, you achieve nothing. It's not the path you wanted to take, and the destination will be different."
Goo Jeol-yeop bowed his head, unable to meet Goo Changjun's gaze.
Goo Changjun's eyes were too cold.
"It would be best to remove it. If that's not possible, you must break it."
Not yet. It's too early. Nothing is prepared.
But.
"If this continues, I'll have no choice but to break it."
Goo Jeol-yeop tried his best to hide his trembling body from Goo Changjun's killing intent.
******************
"Too much."
After the sparring, Elder Lee said to me as I came out of the bath.
"What do you mean?"
"At the end, what were you trying to do to Jeol-yeop?"
"I was trying to break one of his arms."
Just enough to heal in about a month.
A martial artist's body, filled with internal energy, regenerates quickly. I judged it would be fine.
Elder Lee gasped at my words.
"If you had done that, Elder Lee would have surely made a fuss over it."
"So what? I have no intention of becoming the family head anyway."
"Ah! How can you say such things? You are of the family head's blood. The only one...."
"Yes, the only son. That's why I can still stay in this mansion."
I know better than anyone.
It was a bone-chilling realization from my previous life.
No matter what I did or what life I led, I eventually became the young master.
Would this life be any different? I wanted it to be.
"So, in the end, you didn't do it, right?"
In my heart, I wanted to give everything to Goo Jeol-yeop.
The position of the Goo family head was not something I found appealing, knowing what it entailed.
Father would never give the position to Goo Hee-bee or Goo Yeon-seo. He knew this well.
It wasn't because I was his son. This cursed legacy was just like that.
It was truly amusing to see Elder Lee, who knew nothing, trying to give the family head's position to his grandson.
The one who wanted to run away the most was me.
But.
'I still need the family name.'
When will I be able to let it go?
It was a difficult question, given how much had gone wrong.
"Master! Here's your clothes!"
Wiseol-a handed me the outer robe as if she had been waiting for me. I put it on and suddenly looked at her.
'Now that I think about it, when did she start learning the sword?'
A direct disciple of the Sword Sage. She would definitely learn the sword from the Sword Sage...
Wiseol-a spent her days learning how to clean and cook from other servants.
Is it right to teach household chores to someone who will become the best in the world one day?
"Where did Grandfather go?"
"He's making a bear."
"A bear...? What kind of bear?"
There are bears around us.
Elder Lee.
When I glanced at Elder Lee, he seemed to notice something in my gaze and raised an eyebrow.
I quickly averted my eyes.
"He's making a bear, an eagle, and a chick."
"...Are you talking about those wooden statues outside?"
"Yes!"
I had noticed the animal-shaped wooden statues appearing outside one by one.
The Sword Sage carved them...?
And he did such a good job that I thought they were bought.
The future best in the world is learning household chores in my quarters, and the current best in the world, who I don't know, is carving statues in my quarters.
Is this right?
...It doesn't seem right at all.
"Grandfather did a great job!"
Wiseol-a pointed to a horse-shaped statue in the distance and laughed.
Then, a thought struck me.
'Was she always like this?'
The words and actions of a ten-year-old were very different from the future her I had seen.
It was strange, even though I told myself she was young.
What was the Wiseol-a of the past like?
'Why can't I remember?'
I don't know. What is this vague memory?
At the very least, the future Wiseol-a was very different.
If she were a sharp sword, she would be this one.
A person who could cut you just by getting close.
A person who pushed everyone away with cold eyes.
"Master, are you crying?"
Startled by Wiseol-a's words, I rubbed my eyes.
No tears were flowing.
"What are you talking about? You scared me."
"No, you were crying."
"No, I wasn't. Go eat some sweets."
I tapped her head with my fist, and she let out a short scream and ran away.
Watching her back, I sighed deeply. Elder Lee chuckled.
"You're having fun, aren't you?"
"Does it look like I'm having fun?"
"Isn't it?"
"...It does seem that way."
Elder Lee, who watched us like a proud grandfather, slightly annoyed me.
"Elder Lee, will you keep your promise and grant my request?"
Elder Lee made a dubious face at my words.
"...Since I promised, I'll do it. What do you want to ask for?"
I had only one request.
I need to go to Sichuan within a month and need his help to do so.
'If anyone can find a way, it would be an elder.'
Of course, I need an excuse, but this is the fastest way, right?
But Elder Lee's face was strange after hearing my request. It was as if he didn't understand.
Is it because of the reason I need to go to Sichuan?
"The reason I need to go to Sichuan is a bit difficult to explain...."
"That's not the issue...."
"Really? It's not an issue?"
Isn't it a big deal? Why isn't he curious...?
I was momentarily shocked, but Elder Lee continued.
"Hmm.... I can't understand what you're saying."
The next words were even more shocking.
"Why don't you just run away? Why are you looking for a way...?"
"....."
This made me wonder how this old man lived when he was young.
******************
*Scrape, Scrape*
A small old man was carving a log.
None other than the Sword Sage, whose hobby was carving.
"You're here, Goo family head."
"Are you well, Elder Wei?"
The one who sought out the Sword Sage was none other than the Goo family head, Goo Cheol-yun.
"I've found a clue from the Kai Bang regarding what you asked for."
At Goo Cheol-yun's words, the Sword Sage's hands stopped. It should have been a joyful message for the Sword Sage, but...
The Sword Sage looked at Goo Cheol-yun's face and spoke.
"...What's the matter, family head?"
Goo Cheol-yun's expression didn't seem good. He continued.
"The Immortal Doctor... is said to be in Anhui Province."
*Crack*
At Goo Cheol-yun's words, the carving knife in the Sword Sage's hand broke.
Suddenly, the internal energy surging from the Sword Sage's body escaped.
To avoid being detected, Goo Cheol-yun quickly covered the area with his own internal energy.
"Finally...."
The Sword Sage's voice was trembling severely.
"Is it really necessary to go to such lengths, Heaven Sage?"
Goo Cheol-yun closed his eyes. The Sword Sage was crying.