Report
Chapter 2: Prodigal Son (Part 1)
"This is nuts."
Yeon Ho-jeong grumbled, confined to the Ancestral Shrine.
"Still no mercy, huh?"
After the rites, his father had come to the family head's office and, with a single sentence, decreed his punishment.
"Spend three days in the Ancestral Shrine atoning to our ancestors."
With those words, his father immediately began working. He hadn't even made eye contact with Yeon Ho-jeong.
Rather, Yeon Ho-jeong was pleased by this. Memories fade or become distorted, but his father was just as he remembered.
That's why he felt a sense of reality and was convinced that he had returned to the past.
…Though, being locked up for three days wasn't exactly enjoyable.
Leaning his head against the wall, a question resurfaced in Yeon Ho-jeong's mind.
‘How is this possible?’
He'd spent the last half-day in the shrine agonizing over that very question.
He didn't know if there was an afterlife, but he was sure that he couldn't return to the past. If everyone who died returned to the past, the world would be in chaos.
Clearly, his return was anything but ordinary.
‘I need to know the reason. Unexplained phenomena will surely cause problems in the future.’
It's the same with martial arts. Unexplained progress always has a cause, and ignoring it can be fatal.
That was why he couldn't just celebrate his return.
He thought for a bit longer, then gave up.
"Damn it, this isn't a problem that can be solved by thinking about it."
He didn't even have enough basic information to make a guess.
"Anyway, there are no suspicious signs, so I should be satisfied with that for now."
Since he had returned to the past, naturally, his body was also his past body.
But his trained soul was still that of the Black Star Lord, the Great Master of the Black Path, Dark Emperor Heugamje [lit. Emperor of Darkness].
His superhuman senses were telling him: It's okay. Worrying won't solve anything, so drop it for now.
As he released his worries, he felt much better.
‘To be able to live a life that has already passed… Does this mean I can finally overcome my past regrets and failures?’
His heart pounded.
He had made many mistakes in his childhood. Actually, they were less mistakes and more like the flailing of a scared child who couldn't fit in.
So he had many regrets.
If only he'd been calmer, more careful, braver.
If he had, his past would have been very different.
A bitter smile twisted Yeon Ho-jeong's lips, then his eyes suddenly widened.
"Hang on, this is a big deal, isn't it?"
It wasn't just because of the question about his regression.
Yeon Ho-jeong unknowingly jumped to his feet.
“How old am I now?”
It had to be at least twenty-six years in the past, since the family was still around and everything was peaceful.
So, I'm not even twenty yet?
‘Yeon Ji-pyeong looked about fifteen or sixteen. Which would make me eighteen or nineteen?’
Even with all his training, that was a long time ago.
He couldn't pinpoint the exact year just by looking at his father and brother.
He'd spent too long focused on the future, forgetting the past.
‘Then…?’
Looking at the weather, it was autumn now.
That meant the family's destruction was between six months and a year and a half away.
‘Damn it!’
Panic flared. This was no time to relax.
Yeon Ho-jeong hurriedly opened the door of the Ancestral Shrine.
Clang!
“Huh?!”
Yeon Ho-jeong stared in surprise at the boy standing outside the door.
Pale skin. He was tall, but his clear eyes and cute face made him look young.
“Ji-pyeong?”
“Brother? Where are you going?”
“Oh? Uh… well…”
He realized he had nowhere to go. He'd just reacted without thinking, spurred by the sudden urgency.
Yeon Ji-pyeong blinked repeatedly.
"You can't leave the Ancestral Shrine, can you? Didn't Father say you had to stay here for three days?"
“……That’s right.”
"Whoa, whoa! You can't do that. The Flying Eagle Unit is patrolling the area. If they catch you, you're going straight to Father."
Yeon Ji-pyeong drew a finger across his throat. It was a pretty gruesome gesture, but his innocent face made Yeon Ho-jeong chuckle.
"Anyway, why are you here?"
"Hehe, there's a shortcut from my place to the woods behind the shrine. I dug a tunnel."
"A tunnel?"
"Yes."
"Why…?"
Yeon Ji-pyeong took out a bulky bundle from his arms and proudly held it out.
"Ta-da!"
“……?”
“…….”
"What is it?"
Yeon Ji-pyeong scratched his head shyly.
"Rice balls."
"Rice balls?"
"Even if you're being punished, starving you is too harsh. Three days on just water? That's not right."
"Won't Father be mad?"
"Nah, he won't get mad about this."
Oh, he totally would.
Well, he couldn't send him away now that he'd brought food.
"Come in."
"Okay!"
Beaming, Yeon Ji-pyeong hurried inside and unwrapped the bundle. Then, three rice balls, emitting faint steam, appeared.
Yeon Ho-jeong picked up a rice ball. It was almost as big as his face.
"Hungry? Eat up. I'll bring more tomorrow."
Yeon Ho-jeong, still staring at the rice ball, looked up at Yeon Ji-pyeong.
Yeon Ji-pyeong was constantly smiling, as if he was very happy about something. But Yeon Ho-jeong sensed a flicker of anxiety beneath his brother's smile.
And he knew exactly what that anxiety was.
“Ji-pyeong.”
“Yes?”
Yeon Ho-jeong paused for a moment.
What should he say first? He hesitated.
Seeing him now, face to face, made his past mistakes feel even more real.
Everyone has regrets, but his biggest one was how he'd treated his brother.
And he couldn't put it off any longer.
Finally, Yeon Ho-jeong spoke, his voice raw.
"I'm sorry for everything."
The sudden apology startled Yeon Ji-pyeong.
"Yes? What for?"
"I was a terrible brother. A petty jerk who was jealous of you because of my own stupid pride. I should have supported you, but I didn't."
"B-Brother! Why are you suddenly like this?"
"I'm not asking for forgiveness. I just need to own up to what I did and promise you I'll never do it again. That's all."
In the past, before the Yeon family was destroyed.
Yeon Ho-jeong had hated Yeon Ji-pyeong.
It was for no other reason than Ji-pyeong's talent being unmatched in the family's history.
Yeon Ho-jeong's talent was also not lacking, but it was nothing compared to his younger brother's. What took Yeon Ho-jeong five years of grueling effort, Yeon Ji-pyeong could accomplish with ease in less than three.
When they were younger, they'd been close. Closer than most brothers.
However, when Yeon Ho-jeong was fifteen years old.
When talk started about which of them would be named Young Lord.
That's when Yeon Ho-jeong shut down. He became jealous, hateful, and even ignored his brother completely.
Idiot.
What was so damn important about being Young Lord?
Only after the family was gone and his relatives were dead did he realize how meaningless titles were within a family.
And he realized something else: deep down, he'd always loved his father and brother.
He'd realized it too late. Regret always comes too late, and he'd lost his chance to apologize.
It was a truth he'd carried with him ever since.
"I'll keep it short. I'm sorry, truly sorry. Even if you hate me forever, I won't blame you."
"Brother."
Yeon Ji-pyeong's eyes welled up with tears.
He'd dared to bring the rice balls because he'd sensed a change in his brother's eyes during the rites. He'd come hoping, his heart pounding, that his brother might have forgiven him.
Relief washed over him. His brother didn't hate him anymore.
"Sob, sob."
Overwhelmed, Yeon Ji-pyeong burst into tears.
Yeon Ho-jeong felt a pang of sympathy, mixed with awkwardness.
His younger brother was a kind fellow. This level of reaction was natural.
But for Yeon Ho-jeong, hardened by years on the Black Path, this kind of open emotion was alien.
The weak are pitied? Nonsense.
In the Black Path, the weak were prey, to be used and discarded. Pity had no place there.
That vast gulf between his past and present self solidified the reality of his return.
A moment later, Yeon Ji-pyeong composed himself.
"Sorry, Brother. I didn't mean to make a scene."
"Don't be ridiculous. I'm the one who should be sorry."
"No, it's my fault. Why are you apologizing?"
He knew it wasn't just talk. And that made him feel even more guilty and grateful.
Yeon Ji-pyeong, calmer now, grinned. He was just happy they were reconciled, no matter how it had happened.
Yeon Ho-jeong blurted out, without thinking.
"They say if you laugh right after crying, hair will grow on your butt."
"Yes?"
“…….”
“……?”
Yeon Ho-jeong had no talent for jokes.
He really shouldn't try to be funny. He cleared his throat awkwardly, then his face turned serious.
Yeon Ji-pyeong tensed, sensing the shift in his brother's mood.
“Ji-pyeong.”
“Yes?”
"How old are you right now?"
"Why do you ask?"
Confused, he answered.
"Fifteen."
"Then I’m eighteen, right?"
"Yes? Th-that’s right?"
A small wave of relief washed over him. He had a year and a half, not six months.
Not that it was a lot of time.
"How much of the Flying Swallow Heart Method (飛燕心法) have you…."
Just then, he heard someone outside.
"Second Young Master."
The voice was cold and formal. Yeon Ji-pyeong paled.
"I know you're in there. I'm coming in."
Creak.
The door of the Ancestral Shrine opened, and a sturdy man appeared.
He wore a longsword at his left hip and a heavy broadsword on his back. His eyes were sharp, and he radiated a strict, military air.
It was Kang Yoon, the Commander of the Flying Eagle Unit.
"Please come out now."
Kang Yoon didn't even glance at Yeon Ho-jeong.
Yeon Ho-jeong nodded.
"Go."
“…I’ll see you in three days, Brother.”
"Okay."
Yeon Ji-pyeong got up from his seat.
Kang Yoon said.
"You'll have to take everything you brought with you."
"Yes?"
Kang Yoon said nothing, just stared at Yeon Ji-pyeong, his gaze unwavering.
Yeon Ji-pyeong bit his lip.
"I brought these rice balls all this way. You need energy to atone, right?"
"I wouldn't know about that. I only know that the Yeon family's code of conduct applies to everyone, even family. The Lord's orders must be followed."
His voice brooked no argument.
Yeon Ho-jeong wrapped up the rice balls and handed them over. Yeon Ji-pyeong bowed his head.
"I'll... I'll treat you to something good in three days."
"Okay."
Kang Yoon's eyes flashed.
Everyone in the Yeon family knew the brothers hated each other. But something had changed.
"Let’s go.”
"Okay."
Yeon Ji-pyeong dragged his feet, reluctant to leave.
Kang Yoon was about to close the door...
"Commander Kang."
"Do you have something to say?"
"I ordered him to bring the rice balls. Report that, too."
Kang Yoon's eyes flashed again.
"I'll make a note of it."
Thump.
The door of the Ancestral Shrine closed.
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled.
"Who knew such a stuffy, formal atmosphere could be so thrilling?”
