Chapter 172

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]

Chapter 172: Time (2)

"When is Father supposed to arrive?"

Kwon Cheon looked around and muttered to himself. Upon hearing this, Lee Da-hae brightened.

"Shall I go ask the others for you?"

"I’d appreciate that, but wouldn’t it be too much trouble?"

Lee Da-hae shook her head firmly. She didn’t want to miss a chance to be of help to Kwon Cheon.

"Cheon oppa!"

A youthful voice called out, followed by the sound of quick footsteps.

Kwon Cheon turned in the direction of the voice. The next moment, someone ran up and jumped into his arms.

Without flinching, Kwon Cheon opened his arms and caught her in an embrace.

"Mi. It’s been a while."

"Yes! I came to say hello!"

Still in his arms, Kwon Mi tilted her head up to respond.

"I feel relieved seeing you looking healthy!"

Kwon Mi’s bright expression still carried a childlike purity.

"Thanks for worrying about me."

"Of course I worry! After all, you're supposed to die by my hand one day!"

But the content of her words was anything but innocent.

Still, Kwon Cheon didn’t even frown. He just playfully pinched her nose as if he found her adorable.

"I told you not to use harsh words. Say you’ll defeat me, not kill me."

"But saying I’ll kill you leaves a stronger impression than just saying I’ll win!"

Kwon Mi wriggled out of his arms and stood on the ground, then declared with a serious look:

"I’m still too young to fight either of you brothers now, but just wait ten years! I’ll be just as strong as both of you!"

"I’ll be looking forward to it."

Kwon Cheon replied with a smile. Kwon Mi beamed as she clung to one of his arms.

"This is why I like you best, Cheon Oppa! Hyuk Oppa always ignores me when I say things like this. Says I’m being ridiculous."

"He says that because he worries about you."

"Worry? No way. Hyuk Oppa would never worry about me."

Her expression soured the moment Kwon Hyuk was mentioned, so different from how she spoke with Kwon Cheon.

"Oh, right! Father’s helicopter is arriving soon!"

Kwon Mi tugged at Kwon Cheon, pulling him along. He let himself be dragged without resistance.

Lee Da-hae followed behind the two.

Kwon Seonwoo arrived at Mount Baekdu with his unit.

The moment his elite force appeared, silence fell over the entire mountain. Each soldier radiated immense magical energy.

The attendants who had arrived earlier stood tense as they awaited the family head’s arrival.

"Are Hyuk and Cheon here?"

As soon as Kwon Seonwoo asked, Kwon Hyuk and Kwon Cheon stepped forward.

Kwon Mi stood behind Kwon Cheon. At that moment, Kwon Seonwoo’s gaze turned to her.

"I didn’t summon you."

"Y-yes? B-but..."

Kwon Mi faltered, clearly shaken. Kwon Hyuk shot her a glance filled with disdain.

"Mi probably just wanted to greet you, Father, since it’s been a while."

Kwon Cheon gently held both her shoulders. Feeling his warmth, her expression relaxed a little.

"So I’d be grateful if you could be lenient."

"Y-yes! Th-that’s right! I just wanted to say hello to Father..."

"Silence."

Kwon Seonwoo’s voice was cold. Without sparing her another glance, he turned away.

"Only Hyuk and Cheon will come with me. The rest of you stay here."

With that, Kwon Seonwoo led only Kwon Hyuk and Kwon Cheon into the forest of Mount Baekdu.

"Father, I’m overjoyed to see you looking so well," said Kwon Hyuk as they walked. "I’ve been training every day with the goal of one day becoming like you."

At first glance, it sounded like flattery. But the deep respect in Kwon Hyuk’s eyes could not be hidden.

"To become a clan head as great as you..."

"You talk too much."

But Kwon Seonwoo seemed disinterested. His curt response left Kwon Hyuk crestfallen.

Eventually, Kwon Seonwoo came to a stop.

He had brought them to an old, weathered cabin deep within the Baekdu forest.

It was far too shabby and filthy a place for the bloodline of Hyukcheon to stay. But neither the patriarch nor the brothers thought that for even a moment.

This was the cabin where Kwon Hyun-moon, the founder of Hyukcheon, had spent his final years.

"One year from now, I will test the two of you to decide the next successor."

Kwon Seonwoo spoke with eyes devoid of emotion—cold enough to make one doubt he was looking at his own sons.

"The one-year delay is to give you time to prove your worth. Understood?"

Kwon Cheon and Kwon Hyuk both bowed their heads in silent acknowledgment.

"Don’t assume anything just because you’re my sons. This is a competition, but that doesn’t guarantee I’ll choose one of you. If neither is worthy, both will be removed from succession."

Then, Kwon Cheon raised his hand. Kwon Seonwoo frowned.

"Do you have a question?"

"Yes, Father. I’m curious what will happen to Mi."

"I would like to include her too… but she’s too young. She’ll be excluded."

"Thank you for clarifying."

A hint of relief passed over Kwon Cheon’s face. Kwon Seonwoo noticed and snapped.

"Fool! Worry about yourself before your sister! You’ll have to risk your life to pass the successor’s trial!"

His fury was intense.

"To show such weakness before the trial even begins! I’m disappointed!"

Kwon Cheon only lowered his head in silence. Kwon Hyuk glanced sideways at his brother with smug satisfaction.

"Now both of you leave."

At Kwon Seonwoo’s dismissal, the brothers exited the cabin.

Outside, it was quiet. Kwon Seonwoo had ordered everyone else away.

"So, it begins in a year."

Kwon Hyuk looked back at Kwon Cheon.

"I don’t plan on losing. I’ll surpass you and earn Father’s approval with a far better result."

"Hyung, as I said earlier, I have no interest in becoming clan head."

"That again?"

Annoyance crept into Kwon Hyuk’s voice. It was clear he still saw Kwon Cheon’s stance as absurd.

"Then why didn’t you say that in front of Father?"

"That’s..."

"No need to answer. The truth is, you still haven’t let go of your ambition for the clan head position."

His gaze sharpened.

"One year. Until then, I’ll still see you as my brother. But after that—don’t expect any such courtesy. I’ll treat you as a rival, not family."

With that, Kwon Hyuk turned and left.

Kwon Cheon let out a long sigh.

He, too, began descending the mountain, heading back toward where the attendants were waiting.

As he walked the trail, Lee Da-hae stepped out from behind a tree.

"You were waiting all this time?"

She only nodded.

Kwon Cheon looked at her, concerned.

"You didn’t have to do that. I told you to go rest."

"I don’t have anyone I’m close with… it’s actually more uncomfortable being down there."

The truth was, Lee Da-hae had been quietly ostracized within the Hyukcheon household.

Unlike others who had joined formally, she had been brought in by Kwon Cheon himself.

In short, she was treated as an unqualified outsider given a spot through connections.

"I’ve been neglecting you. I’m sorry."

"No, not at all. If anything, I’m the one who should apologize when you say things like that."

To put it bluntly, this was not something Kwon Cheon could change.

Besides, Lee Da-hae preferred spending time with Kwon Cheon like this, rather than mingling with others.

“Let’s head down,” he said.

Just as Kwon Cheon was about to descend the mountain path with Da-hae, he sensed someone nearby.

Before they knew it, Kwon Seonwoo was watching them.

“...Father?”

Startled, Kwon Cheon immediately dropped to his knees. Kwon Seonwoo waved a hand, as if telling him to get up.

“So you were with a maid.”

His gaze shifted to Da-hae. The cold, vacant eyes staring at her didn’t seem to see a person, but an object. A chill ran down Da-hae’s spine.

Kwon Seonwoo wasn’t even acknowledging her as a human being.

“This is the girl you saved from Aeon, yes? This is the first time I’ve seen her in person.”

Then, as if he had lost interest, he turned his gaze away. Da-hae let out a quiet sigh of relief.

“I understand showing affection when someone has nowhere else to go. But it would be wise to keep your distance. Getting too close to something lowly will only spark unpleasant rumors.”

Something lowly.

That word struck Da-hae like a blow to the chest. It was suffocating.

“Never forget. You are of Hyukcheon. Act like it.”

“I understand,” Kwon Cheon replied, lifting his head. “But Father... that girl—Da-hae—is not someone lowly.”

Kwon Seonwoo’s eyes widened. His expression gradually twisted into a scowl.

“Are you disputing my words?”

“I apologize for overstepping.”

Kwon Cheon offered an immediate apology, but he neither bowed his head nor showed any sign of remorse.

“I simply felt I couldn’t let those words go unchallenged.”

Kwon Seonwoo’s face contorted further. Yet, despite his father’s anger, Kwon Cheon stood by what he said.

“...This once, I’ll let it slide.”

Surprisingly, it was Kwon Seonwoo who backed down.

“But there will not be a second time.”

“Thank you, Father!”

Color returned to Kwon Cheon’s face. His sudden shift in tone caught even Kwon Seonwoo off guard.

“As expected, Father is truly generous!”

“Enough. Spare me the flattery.”

“Flattery? What do you mean?”

Kwon Cheon looked genuinely puzzled. His innocent expression left Kwon Seonwoo momentarily speechless.

“More importantly, aren’t you curious why I came looking for you?”

Unable to continue the current topic, Kwon Seonwoo changed the subject.

“I came to continue the conversation we had the other day.”

The cheerful look on Kwon Cheon’s face vanished, replaced by seriousness as he listened intently.

“That day, you said you had no interest in the position of clan head. Is that still your belief?”

“Yes. I’d still prefer to withdraw from the upcoming succession trials. But you wouldn’t allow that.”

Competitions were necessary to judge someone’s worth.

And the only person who could stand against Kwon Hyuk was Kwon Cheon. Likewise, the only one who could match Kwon Cheon was Kwon Hyuk.

Though they were brothers, they were also rivals. That’s why Kwon Seonwoo couldn’t accept Cheon’s refusal.

“Then why didn’t you say anything today?”

That day, their conversation had been fraught with tension. But now, things felt almost peaceful.

Kwon Seonwoo couldn’t understand his son. And Kwon Cheon had no intention of changing his mind.

“I still don’t wish to be clan head. I believe my brother is far more suited to the role.”

That belief hadn’t changed.

“But no matter how loudly I insist, you wouldn’t allow it.”

“You’re well aware.”

“So I’ve decided to change my approach. If I can’t back down, then I’ll prove it to you.”

“Prove it?”

Kwon Cheon looked straight at his father and spoke.

“You’ve said it yourself—only I can rival my brother. And only I can push him to reach his full potential.”

The Hyukcheon Clan was famous for its talent, yet at present, there was no one who could compare to either of them.

Their talent was peerless.

“I’ll take part in the succession trials, just as you ordered. And I’ll prove to you that my brother is the one who deserves to be clan head.”

Kwon Seonwoo looked dumbfounded.

“So you’re saying... you’ll participate in the trials just to support your brother?”

“Is that how it sounded?”

“How else could it sound?!”

Kwon Seonwoo exploded in frustration, shaking his head as if it physically hurt.

“Why are you so determined to reject the position of clan head?”

“Because my brother is better suited to it.”

Kwon Cheon replied without hesitation.

“In character, ability, and influence... my brother surpasses me in every way. I’m content simply being his support.”

Kwon Seonwoo stared at his son in silence. A long pause followed.

“I see things differently,” he finally said, breaking the quiet.

“I believe you are the one most fit to be clan head.”

“Thank you for thinking so.”

“That’s not an empty compliment.”

“I’m not fit for the position. My abilities, my temperament—everything, my brother handles better—”

“That attitude,” Kwon Seonwoo said firmly.

“Among the Hyukcheon bloodline, you’re the only one who’s ever humbled himself. And you’re the only one who’s ever cared for the weak.”

People had even questioned whether Kwon Cheon truly belonged to the Hyukcheon line.

“Since the founder created this clan, Hyukcheon has continued to thrive. But the day may come when our methods no longer work.”

Times change. Flowers wither. Stone crumbles.

Hyukcheon cannot always be the strongest. That’s simply the way of the world.

“That’s why you are the one I believe should lead.”

Because he was different from the Hyukcheon of old.

“I’m just a small-minded man.”

“There’s a fine line between a small man and a ruler. And I believe you’re much closer to the latter.”

Despite Kwon Seonwoo’s words, Kwon Cheon’s stance did not waver. The elder let out a heavy sigh.

“Let’s end the troublesome talk here. It’s been a while—let’s have a drink. Surely you won’t refuse that request?”

Kwon Cheon turned to look at Da-hae.

She gave a small nod, silently telling him it was okay.

Though she felt a pang of sadness at being left behind, she couldn’t interrupt time between father and son.

“Let’s go, then.”

With that, Kwon Seonwoo disappeared with Kwon Cheon in tow. Da-hae quietly descended the mountain path alone, burying her disappointment.

But suddenly—she saw a man standing in the middle of the trail.

The moment she saw his face, her body froze. Fear took hold of her.

“Lord Kwon Hyuk...?”

Kwon Hyuk was staring daggers in the direction Kwon Seonwoo and Kwon Cheon had gone. The murderous look on his face gave Da-hae a sinking feeling.

“Don’t tell me... you heard everything?”

“Isn’t it funny?”

Kwon Hyuk let out a dry laugh, his voice trembling with rage.

“I worked so damn hard to gain Father’s approval... but in the end, he never cared about me at all.”

Hah.

His hollow laughter echoed through the trees. Da-hae stood frozen like a statue.

“So that’s how it is. Father wants him—Cheon—to be clan head, not me.”

Suddenly, his laughter stopped. He stared at Da-hae with eyes devoid of all light.

“That’s not going to happen.”

Without realizing it, Da-hae collapsed to the ground. By the time she came to her senses... Kwon Hyuk was gone.

[Translator - Helga ]

[Proofreader - Starfall ]