Chapter 379

Chapter 379
### Chapter 379. The Overflowing Waves (4)

—

Even after Dam-ak had departed for his own quarters, Zhuge-so-myeong sat motionless in the reception room, lost in a daze for a long time. He had merely been conversing with a novice who possessed no martial cultivation, yet it felt as though every ounce of his vitality had been completely siphoned away. A novel reflection, one that had never crossed his mind until now, suddenly surfaced.

‘Could it be that I too…… have grown old?’

He had encountered all manner of extraordinary individuals throughout his turbulent years amidst the shifting winds of the martial world. In his younger days, crossing paths with such brilliant minds would always make his blood race with fervor. His enduring bond with the current Murim Alliance Leader had blossomed from that very spark—exchanging profound philosophies with exceptional youths, radiating vibrant energy, and forging deep companionships in the crucible of fierce intellectual debate. He had lived such a life, and he had relished every moment of it.

Yet today, despite encountering an undeniable genius like Dam-ak, his passion failed to ignite. With every sentence Dam-ak uttered, with every concept he presented, counterarguments would flash briefly across his mind, only to lose their momentum and vanish like melting mist. Though a scattering of intriguing concepts worthy of deep exploration lingered in his thoughts, his mental exhaustion remained heavy and profound, even as he circulated his internal true qi.

Ultimately, it was Zhuge-so-myeong himself who had cut the discussion short. Closing his eyes tightly, he sank deeper into the embrace of his wooden chair.

“Ah…… so that is how it is. Age has finally caught up with me, haha.”

Time shows no mercy. It felt like a mere heartbeat ago that he had ridden across the *Gangho* with the boundless vigor of youth, yet had the years truly slipped away so quickly as to reduce him to a toothless tiger? For a fleeting moment, a desire to abandon all burdens and simply rest washed over him, but he quickly shook his head to dispel the thought.

The *Gangho* was presently spinning into a state of unprecedented chaos. To shirk his duties and abdicate his position at this critical juncture would be no different from refusing to pay the debt of peace he had enjoyed for so long. Therefore, he was bound to endure and soldier on. He was simply not a man devoid of honor.

Even so, witnessing Dam-ak filled him with a quiet anticipation for his eventual retirement. How would the younger generation navigate the future of the Murim Alliance and the wider *Gangho*? Even if the threat of the Blood Cult were extinguished, their era would not be an easy one. The shadow of the Saheuk-ryeon was steadily anchoring its domain, and the reach of the Green Forest was expanding by the day. Nonetheless, he believed that such formidable challenges would make for a spectacular spectacle to watch unfold.

‘Hmm…… in that case, a counterpart capable of matching Dam-ak will be necessary.’

As his musings drifted down that path, the vivid impression Dam-ak had left moments earlier flashed before him. That sharp, discerning gaze, that resolute voice, and even that unyielding posture. Despite his tender years, the youth exuded an innate authority that kept others at a distance. Within that mind lay a vast expanse that stretched far beyond the ordinary boundaries of the world. Though he could only speculate, whoever was fated to contend with that boy would undoubtedly suffer from unending migraines.

“Hmm…… who would fit the bill?”

The time was fast approaching for him to designate an apprentice of his own. Zhuge-so-myeong felt a sudden surge of curiosity. He wished to see the new generation compete, clash fiercely, and ultimately reshape the realm. Although the Murim Alliance boasted several exceptional minds, he reasoned it would be far more interesting to scan the ranks of the youngest candidates while he was at it. Who could possibly measure up? An amused, satisfied smile curved his lips.

“Jin-so-un is far too young…… and carries too much danger. Il-myeong or Il-gak possess the capability, but they lack the driving ambition. Hmm…… ah! Come to think of it, wasn’t the age of Strategist Dam quite close to that of our Bureau Head of Infinite Information?”

Just as he was calculating the ages of the inner circle within the Alliance Leader’s Palace—a matter he typically paid no heed to—the echo of frantic, hurried footsteps resounded from the corridor. Suddenly, the chamber doors flew open with a loud crash.

“Chief Strategist~~!!!”

The figure bursting barefoot into the reception room was none other than the Bureau Head of Infinite Information. His face was intensely crimson as he let loose a wild, ecstatic laugh.

“The number of candidates who passed the entrance examination for the Bureau of Infinite Information is exactly five, five individuals!!! Hahahaha! At long last, my endless nights of overtime are finished!!! It is over, I tell you, completely over!!!”

“…….”

Zhuge-so-myeong scrutinized the man from head to toe, looking at a subordinate who appeared to have completely parted with his sanity, and knitted his eyebrows in profound exasperation.

“Bureau Head…… of Infinite Information.”

“Yes, sir!”

“What exactly are you clutching in your hand?”

“Ah? Oh! This is a piece of candy.”

Zhuge-so-myeong felt a sharp, sudden throb in his temple, as though a needle were piercing his mind. Massaging his temple with pressure, he suppressed the rising exasperation in his chest and questioned him further.

“That…… that is a confection meant for young children, is it not?”

“Indeed! Traditional wheat taffy is far too sweet and leaves a heavy aftertaste, but when evening falls, a piece of candy hits the palate perfectly!”

“…….”

Zhuge-so-myeong genuinely debated whether a swift blow to the man’s skull might restore the senses of a subordinate who seemed to have broken a gear in his mind. As Zhuge-so-myeong battled this internal urge, a sudden, heavy silence descended upon the room. Maeng-ju-won blinked in confusion, glancing back and forth between his sweet treats and his superior. Suddenly striking an expression of revelation, he extended his palm forward.

“Would you care for a piece as well, Chief Strategist?!”

“…….”

Swallowing a bitter curse with great effort, Zhuge-so-myeong continued to take in the disheveled state of his officer…….

“Ah! When on earth did this get onto my clothes??”

His eyes locked onto a noticeable sticky residue staining the fabric over Maeng-ju-won’s chest. Maeng-ju-won was already thoroughly distracted, applying saliva to his fingertip in a desperate bid to rub away the sugary mark.

“……Just how old are you?”

“Me? Why, I am at the precise age where I ought to be wed, raising children, and enduring the affectionate nagging of a clever, fox-like wife……”

“Get out!”

“I beg your pardon? Why so suddenly……”

“I ordered you to cease your ridiculous babbling and remove yourself from my sight! I cannot bear to look at your face for another second!”

“…….”

Ignoring the profoundly wounded expression masking Maeng-ju-won’s features, Zhuge-so-myeong turned and stormed out of the room, making no effort to conceal his boiling fury. For reasons he could not fathom, the prospect of Zhuge-so-myeong’s peaceful retirement seemed to have drifted drastically further into the horizon.

The following morning marked the commencement of the Academy’s open-house event, arranged specifically for the guardians arriving to attend the upcoming graduation ceremony. The Geum, Eun, and Dong brothers proudly escorted their parents to the four-person dormitory they shared alongside Moyong-jae-hwa. Elsewhere, Sa-ryeon was busy giving a grand tour of the institution to her father, Hong-mun-gi, who looked like a completely transformed man. I made an attempt to offer my guidance to Lord Wang-geum-san, but he politely declined the gesture out of respect for my time with my father, opting instead to oversee the operations at the Wuhan headquarters of the Wang Family Manor.

“Is Lord Wang not pushing himself too hard? He only recently arrived in Wuhan.”

For some inexplicable reason, my father’s expression carried a distinct pout.

“To an outsider, one would easily assume Lord Wang was the one who sired you.”

“Hmm? Were you unaware? In my heart, he is a father figure, the very man I wish to adopt as my foster parent……”

“You cheeky brat……”

Predictably, a swift clip to the head came flying my way. Though receiving a blow from my father was a familiar ritual from my youth, it somehow felt notably lighter than it used to. It certainly wasn’t because his physical power had waned. My father remained in the absolute prime of his life, far too vigorous to be considered withered by the passage of time.

‘It is undoubtedly due to the residual essence of the Ten-Thousand-Year Earth Bear.’

As my periods of relaxation increased recently, I had conducted various personal assessments and reached a definitive conclusion. I had successfully absorbed the vitality of the Ten-Thousand-Year Earth Bear, and a remarkably potent portion of it at that. The vast majority of my physical injuries vanished entirely within a single day, and my regenerative capabilities were so profound that not even the faintest blemish remained behind. It occasionally felt as though I were drifting away from human limitations, but is a rapid healing factor not the ultimate miraculous blessing for anyone walking the martial path? I chose to simply view it as a fortunate turn of events.

“This is the private quarter where I resided.”

I initially led my father toward the detached pavilion reserved exclusively for the Murim Academy Representative.

“Welcome back, Young Master.”

The head maid along with the assembled staff offered a synchronized bow of welcome, a gesture my father accepted with visible awkwardness.

“Ah, greetings. I am Jin-so-un’s…… well, I am the father of this young man.”

“Your name has preceded you, sir. We have heard a great deal about you.”

“I must apologize for failing to properly greet the people who have looked after my boy all this time.”

Despite having managed numerous servants during his tenure at the Tae-eul Sect, my father seemed strangely intimidated by the presence of the head maid and her attendants.

“The Representative required very little supervision from us. On the contrary, we remain deeply appreciative of how graciously he always treated the staff.”

Upon hearing the attendants heap praise upon his child, the tension in my father’s face dissipated slightly, yet.

“I, I see. That is a comforting thought…… haha.”

Whether he felt constrained by the staff members who trailed closely behind us to display the living chambers and the private courtyard for martial practice, my father cleared his throat repeatedly.

“Father, do you perhaps need to utilize the latrine……”

“You absolute rascal! Control that tongue of yours! Ahem……”

Even so, as he took in the dimensions of the home his son had inhabited, a faint twitch at the corner of his lips betrayed his inner contentment. Let out a quiet chuckle, I guided him out of the pavilion and back toward the main campus. The grounds of the Academy were already bustling with throngs of scholars showing their families around.

“That building over there is the Hall of Learning, and that large structure serves as the Arena of Practice. The main lecture rooms are situated just beyond.”

“…….”

My father, who had appeared quite animated moments earlier, now surveyed the vast expanse of the Academy in a profound, reflective silence, as if wandering through his own internal memories. Loath to break his concentration, I maintained a quiet pace right beside him. We traversed the sprawling grounds of the grand Academy for what felt like an eternity.

“……In truth, I once harbored a deep longing to enroll in the Academy myself.”

His voice carried a serene weight, layered with the accumulated depth of bygone years, as he spoke with measured calm.

“I desired it…… more than anything. But in those days, I firmly believed it was only proper for Kang-chae-seok to take that path instead. He was a youth manifold times more gifted than I ever was.”

It was a fragment of my father’s youth that had never once been shared with me. Before my eyes, an image materialized of a teenage boy from the past—someone who viewed stepping aside and embracing self-sacrifice as his natural duty.

“Yet for some reason, following that decision, all my passion for martial arts evaporated. Even throughout my mandatory period of military enlistment, my sole focus was counting down the days until my service concluded so I could retreat back to our sect.”

That description mirrored the exact pattern of my own early years, and.

“I rationalized that mastery of martial forms held little significance for someone destined to manage the Outer Hall, which fundamentally deals with financial matters anyway.”

It was a narrative that bore an uncanny, haunting resemblance to the choices of my previous life.

“I simply spent my days fleeing from reality in that manner.”

My father looked upon the structures and vistas of the Murim Academy one after the other, as though permanently etching them into his mind.

“And yet, my own son has traversed a path entirely counter to the one I chose.”

Having absorbed the sights of the campus to carve them deep within his soul, my father slowly shifted his gaze toward me. A gentle, subtle smile graced his features as he regarded me with an incredibly complex expression. It was a countenance I had never witnessed across either my past existence or my current lifetime. A sudden wave of self-consciousness washed over me, preventing me from looking directly into that warm smile. My father could never comprehend it, but in reality…… I too had fled from my burdens countless times.

Placing a firm, comforting hand upon my shoulder, my father spoke.

“You have endured a tremendous burden.”

“……What do you mean by—”

“And…… I am deeply sorry.”

A faint sheen of moisture began to pool within my father’s eyes. Unsteady droplets hung at the edge of his lashes, threatening to spill over at any moment.

“Had I been a stronger patriarch, a father upon whom you could have securely rested your weights, you would never have been forced to endure such immense trials.”

“……Please, do not speak of such things.”

That gaze, filled with a profound sense of validation as though I were a treasure beyond any earthly value, stirred a sudden pang of remorse deep within my soul. The version of myself that existed in my previous life was entirely unworthy of a father’s pride. I had been a coward who constantly evaded conflict, ultimately becoming a pathetic being incapable of granting myself absolution. It was only now, blessed with a second chance at life, that I had finally mustered the resolve to forge ahead.

“I am truly not the exemplary son you believe me to be.”

“Do not diminish yourself. The mere fact that you blossomed into such a magnificent individual under my guidance is an extraordinary feat.”

“Well, that much is undeniably tru—”

“You arrogant whelp!”

I swiftly pivoted my stance, easily dodging my father as he lunged playfully toward me. What thoughts had occupied my father’s mind during his final moments as he faced death at the Tae-eul Sect in my past life? Had he harbored resentment toward me, a son who did nothing but catalog ledgers within the Bureau of Infinite Information? Had his passing been filled with agonizing sorrow? Or perhaps…….

The moment that old nightmare crept back into my thoughts, my chest tightened, and my heart felt as though it were plummeting into an abyss. Right then, as if pulling me back from the brink of damnation, my father’s voice pierced through the darkness.

“Even if…… you had chosen to flee from it all just as I did, I would never have held a shred of resentment against you.”

Those words fell like a direct, miraculous response to the unspoken anxieties of my soul.

“……What did you say?”

“Even if you had sought to evade the horrors of the world and turned your gaze away, I would have been there to offer you solace.”

My father offered a gentle, warm smile, an expression that looked entirely uncharacteristic on his naturally stern and rugged face. It was a truly anomalous look for him.

“I have long wished to convey this to you. No matter what occurs, I am eternally standing by your side.”

“…….”

“Therefore, do not push your limits past the breaking point.”

There was no possible way for my father to possess knowledge of the harrowing journey I endured in my previous life. Even so, his words provided an unexpected balm to the long, grueling years I had barely managed to survive. Just as I was completely immersed in this tender, emotional atmosphere.

“However…… I absolutely cannot turn a blind eye to your persistent habit of cultivating relationships with those notorious figures of the underworld.”

He immediately doused the warmth with a bucket of icy water.

“Whatever do you mean by that?”

“Why is it that with every dawning day, your *notoriety* manages to echo further across the land?”

“How on earth should I know the reason for that!”

“It can only be a direct consequence of your own questionable behavior!”

I felt a sudden sensation akin to being struck from behind by the person I trusted most in the world. Turning abruptly on my heel, I faced my father and voiced my indignation.

“I am deeply wounded! How can you harbor such doubt toward your only offspring!! Are you truly choosing to believe the fabrications of those unorthodox scoundrels who thrive on deception!”

“Are you genuinely attempting to claim that you bear zero responsibility for the fact that your moniker grows more infamous by the hour?”

“Is it not glaringly obvious that this is an elaborate conspiracy cooked up by envious knaves seeking to tarnish the reputation of a peerless champion of the Orthodox Path like myself! How can you be so incredibly gullible, Father!”

I emptied the full measure of my grievances with absolute sincerity.

“I am completely heartbroken! My feelings are so thoroughly crushed (*Seo-un*) that I am tempted to rename myself Jin-seo-un instead of Jin-so-un, yes, Jin-seo-un!!”

As I voiced my passionate objection, the sternness in my father’s expression finally began to soften.

“Can I truly place my faith in your words then?”

“Even if every single wanderer in the *Gangho* views me with suspicion, my own sire ought to believe in me! Did I not go so far as to present you with the Seven-Colored Treasure Pearl!”

“…….”

Despite my fervent declaration, his skeptical gaze remained firmly locked in place, showing no immediate signs of fading. Only after I maintained an unblinking, intense stare of absolute innocence did my father finally relax his guarded posture.

“I shall be observing your future conduct with great scrutiny.”

“Then keep your eyes wide open and bear witness, Father. Watch closely to see if even a single speck of the underworld taints the path I walk hereafter. You will find your answer soon enough if you simply wait.”

I declared this with absolute, unshakeable confidence.

“……Was this the grand display you insisted I witness with my own eyes?”

I found myself utterly unable to raise my countenance to meet my father’s burning gaze.

$$Heartfelt congratulations on the graduation of the Young Hero Jin-so-un, the brilliant rising star of the unorthodox Murim. -From the entire collective of the Saheuk-ryeon-$$

$$We celebrate the official descent of the Black Flame Dragon into the turbulent waters of the Gangho. -The Union Leader of the Saheuk-ryeon and 10 affiliated sects-$$

Enormous fabric banners, featuring congratulations brushed in bold, commanding calligraphy, flapped prominently in the wind. Under normal circumstances, save for the bizarre identities of the senders, these were exactly the types of celebratory decorations one would expect to see at a standard commencement ceremony. Naturally, the display did not conclude with just those two.

$$Congratulations on the graduation of the Young Hero Jin-so-un, who has illuminated a brand-new path within the shadow of the martial world. -The Man-dok-mun-$$

Sent directly from the Man-dok-mun, an organization with which I had only recently established a mutual acquaintance.

$$The Savior of the Maryeong Plateau. We offer our congratulations on the graduation of the Young Hero Jin-so-un. -The Gu-ryong-bang-$$

Extending all the way to an underworld faction that had clearly refused to forget our historical interaction. I mean, why on earth is the unorthodox community harboring such a profound sense of ‘undying appreciation’ toward me? They are supposed to be villains who live entirely for their own chaotic desires! It appeared as though the entire underworld was locked in a fierce rivalry to hang up banners, visibly anxious at the prospect of failing to commemorate my achievements. Truly, what kind of absurdity is this…….

“Just what in the name of the heavens is the meaning of this!”

Ugh…… how could I have ever anticipated that such catastrophic displays would be erected here? Furthermore, if anyone possessed a modicum of logical reasoning, they would typically never dream of raising giant banners directly inside the sovereign territory of their sworn adversaries, would they? On top of that, why is it that despite the Saheuk-ryeon and various unorthodox clans planting these banners right in the heart of the Murim Academy’s formal graduation grounds, not a single authority figure is stepping forward to tear them down? Where has the Alliance Leader vanished to! Where is the Chief Strategist hiding……!

“……If you possess a working tongue, start explaining this instant!”

“Ahem, Father, the truth of the matter is……”

The distinct, unmistakable sound of grinding teeth echoed forcefully from my father’s jaw.

“You see, what happened was……”

“Do you still intend to look me in the eyes and claim these are malicious actions designed to frame your character?! Do you honestly expect me to swallow that ridiculous excuse now!”

I was utterly suffocated by the profound injustice of it all, yet even if I were blessed with ten mouths, I lacked a single word to defend myself.