Chapter 14

Tak.

I wanted to ask about the internal situation of the Jiegal Family right away, but I thought it would be rude to bring it up abruptly, so I kept my mouth shut and focused on playing Go.

Tak.

“How was the Go record I lent you?”

Tak.

“Ah, that was definitely a great match. Especially the endgame artistry. But the only downside was that the opponent was too polite.”

Tak.

“If I were the opponent, I would have disrupted the early game to prevent you from building a big picture. You lost too easily because you were too reserved.”

Tak.

“Ha! You cheeky brat. But you’re right. Being too reserved means you can’t win even winnable matches. In that sense, I’ll also cause some chaos.”

Tak.

The flow of the game I had been carefully building without getting caught was disrupted by Jiegal Yang’s chaos. The tower I had painstakingly built collapsed with just a few moves from Jiegal Yang.

“Ah?! You darn old man!!”

“If you have the energy to meddle in someone else’s Go game, take care of your own house first, you cheeky brat.”

Suppressing my anger, I checked the situation on the Go board. It’s still okay. The fact that the early strategy was ruined means the damage is minimal. In fact, it’s good. I can start over. I can recover fully.

Lately, while playing Go, I’ve realized something. You definitely improve faster when you play with someone skilled. Situations that used to be overwhelming now seem to have answers.

I looked up at Jiegal Yang’s face.

At first, I thought he was just an eccentric old man shunned by his family. But seeing his exceptional Go skills and the sharp aura he displayed before, he’s not just a grumpy old man.

Judging by his clothes and the atmosphere around him, he seems to hold a high position. But how high? Should I ask him about the Jiegal Family’s situation? Wouldn’t that just complicate things?

While lost in thought, a person dressed in traditional clothing entered the garden, looked around, spotted me, and arrogantly approached the pavilion.

Up close, I recognized him as the person who had previously warned me not to meddle in the Jiegal Family’s affairs.

He glanced at the Go board and me, then smirked.

“Pathetic, getting lost in games since childhood. Someone wants to meet you. Get ready immediately.”

If someone suddenly appeared and asked me to go somewhere, I’d be very inclined to follow.

…But this is the heart of a mafia den, and there’s nowhere to run.

As I reluctantly got up, the air froze. More accurately, it felt oppressive. My lungs felt crushed, and my body stiffened. I couldn’t even blink. I couldn’t exhale.

Jiegal Gak, a branch family member, had served the main family’s direct descendants since childhood, not out of loyalty but to earn favor with future family heads.

A fox running wild with the main family’s backing. That’s how others saw Jiegal Gak, but he didn’t care. This is the Jiegal Family. The main family’s power is supreme.

Those who oppose the main family don’t survive. That mindset was deeply ingrained, making him forget that there’s always a higher sky above.

His usual reckless nature brought not just trouble but disaster.

To make excuses, he never imagined that a crippled kid and the highest sky would be playing Go together. But that was Jiegal Gak’s problem.

Even the main family of the Jiegal Family couldn’t recklessly confront the great elder, one of the Ten Great Masters, Jiegal Gweryong (諸葛怪龍), whose veins bulged on his forehead.

“…Can’t you see I’m playing Go right now?”

Jiegal Gak’s entire body trembled. Fluids, whether sweat or urine, poured out like a waterfall, soaking the floor. His teeth chattered uncontrollably.

No cries for help or screams came out, suppressed by fear. A fish on the chopping block, stripped of the right to life or death by an overwhelming force. That was Jiegal Gak’s current position.

“Do I have to explicitly tell you to leave before you go?”

Tak!

The crisp sound of a Go stone hitting the board shattered the frozen air.

Taking the signal to leave as a chance to survive, Jiegal Gak turned into something between a human and a beast, running on two legs, then four, without looking back.

Stunned by the spectacle, I blinked silently as Jiegal Yang questioned me.

“What’s going on? Why are those pests looking for you?”

I hadn’t planned to explain, but given the situation, I added some details.

“I understand. I’ll be back shortly. Have some tea.”

“Huh? You’re leaving now?”

“It won’t take long. I’ll be back before the tea gets cold.”

Jiegal Yang walked towards the Jiegal Family’s main estate as if going to the restroom. I watched his retreating figure while sipping tea.

“…This is already cold.”

Might be a bit embarrassing when the old man returns.

***

The Jiegal Family’s main estate, distinctively grand compared to other buildings, had its gate, the face of the estate, shattered by a rough kick.

“Who, who is it?! Who dares to break the main family’s gate?!”

“It’s me.”

“Ah, Elder?!”

Jiegal Gweryong (諸葛怪龍)

The title “Dragon” (龍) is a good sign. It’s a title given only to those with exceptional talent in a family or sect.

Jiegal Yang, known as a once-in-a-century genius in the Jiegal Family, earned the title “Dragon” in his youth.

Conversely, the title “Gweryong” (怪龍) isn’t favorable. The character “Gwe” (怪) means strange or bizarre, often given to those with eccentric personalities or martial arts, usually from the Evil Faction.

Given the Righteous Faction’s emphasis on honor, even those with slightly odd personalities are respected enough not to have “Gwe” in their titles.

Thus, if someone from the Righteous Faction has “Gwe” in their title, it means their personality is truly outrageous.

In other words, the title “Jiegal Gweryong” means the Jiegal Family’s outrageous dragon.

Each step he took pressed down with such force that people fainted and furniture broke. It was no longer a human’s stride.

It was as if a giant dragon had forced its way into the house, wreaking havoc.

At this rate, not only would the house be destroyed, but people would also be killed. Acting as the temporary family head in place of his ailing father, Jiegal So-Bong rushed out and took a defensive stance.

He wanted to scream, asking why the elder was causing such a scene, but in the martial world, being weak and low-ranking is a sin.

“Acting Family Head Jiegal So-Bong greets the Elder!”

Jiegal Yang indifferently struck with a palm technique towards Jiegal So-Bong, who had bowed respectfully.

“Enough. Take this first.”

Having grown up witnessing Jiegal Yang’s outrageous behavior, Jiegal So-Bong knew that if the elder said he would hit, he really would. Blood relations meant nothing.

Once, a younger uncle who acted up in front of Jiegal Yang had six ribs broken and soiled himself, which Jiegal So-Bong witnessed and decided.

If such a situation ever came to him, he would dodge at all costs. Survival comes first.

Quickly making a decision, Jiegal So-Bong, fearing for his life, used the Heavenly Mystery Drifting Step (天機迷離步) to hastily evade the palm technique.

Heavenly Mystery Drifting Step (天機迷離步) – A footwork technique that reads the future, predicting the opponent’s movements and executing the best possible action.

Though the Jiegal Family is known to be weaker in martial arts compared to the Five Great Families or the Nine Great Clans, the Heavenly Mystery Drifting Step is recognized as the most outstanding footwork in the entire martial world, both Righteous and Evil Factions.

It’s the pride of the Jiegal Family. There’s no such thing as an unavoidable basic form with the Heavenly Mystery Drifting Step. But of course, Jiegal Yang is also from the Jiegal Family. Naturally, he has mastered the Heavenly Mystery Drifting Step.

A Heavenly Mystery Drifting Step that reads the Heavenly Mystery Drifting Step.

“!!!!!”

Jiegal So-Bong gritted his teeth and used the Heavenly Mystery Drifting Step again as Jiegal Yang, with an indifferent expression, preemptively placed his palm where Jiegal So-Bong would evade.

Again, the Heavenly Mystery Drifting Step.

Again, the Heavenly Mystery Drifting Step.

Again, the Heavenly Mystery Drifting Step.

Again, the Heavenly Mystery Drifting Step.

Again, the Heavenly Mystery Drifting Step.

Again, the Heavenly Mystery Drifting Step.

Each read the other’s future, seeking a favorable timeline. Futures collided and tangled like a knotted thread.

“Ugh!”

Eventually, Jiegal So-Bong was the first to release the Heavenly Mystery Drifting Step and kneel. Overloading his brain by excessively reading the future.

“Only able to read two-digit futures… Pathetic. Don’t go around calling yourself the Acting Family Head of the Jiegal Family.”

“…Yes.”

He had no choice but to bow his head in submission. Jiegal Yang had his hands behind his back. He hadn’t used any palm techniques from the start. He had used the characteristics of the Heavenly Mystery Drifting Step against itself, a feint.

Overwhelmed by the sheer difference in skill, Jiegal So-Bong felt both fear and respect as he bowed his head.

***

Sip~

I waited for Jiegal Yang, admiring the fully cooled tea and the flowers starting to bloom beautifully. It’s almost snack time; I hope he comes back soon.

“Jiegal Yang, you’re late~ At this rate, you’ll become an old man.”