The laughter of the Grand Elder echoed through the hall, and soon the other members of the Yeop clan joined in, laughing heartily. At this pace, it wouldn't be impossible for the Yeop family to become the greatest clan of their era in the near future.
Yeop Rang turned his gaze toward Yeop Hyun, smiling as he spoke. "By what right do you challenge the Grand Elder? If you wish to challenge him, you must first get past me. Only twenty-one days remain until the day we face each other in the Life-and-Death Arena. You understand that, don't you?"
Yeop Hyun looked at Yeop Rang and replied with a smile. "Thank you for the reminder."
He then turned his attention back to the Grand Elder. "Grand Elder, I apologize for my earlier rudeness. After my duel with your grandson, I will return to seek your guidance. That is all for now."
With that, Yeop Hyun turned and left, taking Yeop Ryoung with him.
"Stop!"
The Grand Elder shouted in a fit of anger. "Yeop Go, your life was taken by this impudent boy! And you would let him walk away as if nothing happened?"
"Grand Elder," Yeop Hyun said, turning to face him. "Shall we fight here and now? Or perhaps your grandson may take your place. From what I see, you fear that Yeop Rang might lose to me in the Life-and-Death Arena, and so you stirred trouble through Yeop Go to use him as an excuse to eliminate me. If that is the case… then stop scheming and come at me all at once!"
"You insolent—!"
The Grand Elder's face turned pale as he shouted.
At that moment, Yeop Rang's expression turned cold as he addressed Yeop Hyun. "Go ahead. In twenty-one days, we will meet in the Life-and-Death Arena."
Yeop Hyun shrugged. "It seems your young grandson is better than you. Is it because you've grown old that your thoughts have become narrow?"
Yeop Hyun led Yeop Ryoung and exited the hall.
The Grand Elder's face had turned a deep shade of blue with fury. He turned to Yeomok and the guards. "Ungrateful! Even seeing the elder beaten and you just watch? Take these vermin and kill them!"
Yeomok's face went pale at the order.
Hearing this from afar, Yeop Hyun turned slightly and spoke. "Grand Elder, just so you know… remember that Yeomok and his men are the Clan Chief's personal guards. No matter how powerful you are, touching the Chief's guard… Are you perhaps going against the Clan Chief? Could it be that you really are?"
"Shut… up!"
The Grand Elder roared, rage distorting his features. "Yeop Hyun… say one more word, and I will personally tear you apart today!"
Yeop Hyun smiled. "Grand Elder, calm yourself. I am merely warning you, just in case. If you collapse from anger, I would not be happy… I mean, sad, would I?"
Yeop Hyun stepped forward, walking away.
Yeomok and the guards were impressed by Yeop Hyun. If not for him, they would all have died today.
No one dared speak to the enraged Grand Elder. Suddenly, he turned to Yeop Rang. "Why did you not fight Yeop Hyun just now? Do you need to live another twenty-one days?"
Yeop Rang answered calmly. "Because there is little time left for me to reach the Eo Gi Gyeong."
The Grand Elder was startled and asked in an anxious voice, "Is that true?"
Yeop Rang nodded lightly. "Almost there. In this situation, it is more important to focus on the greater goal than on vermin like that."
The Grand Elder quickly nodded in agreement. "Indeed! Then we will allow that Yeop Hyun to live a few more days. After all, he is nothing but a mere waste!"
Yeop Rang nodded. "A rat will bite the cat when cornered. Let him be for now. If he dies before entering the Life-and-Death Arena, it will only give people unnecessary cause to talk."
The Grand Elder replied sternly, "I underestimated him this time. Don't worry. I will leave him alone for the next twenty-one days."
Yeop Rang nodded. "Also, I will need a large amount of Spirit Stones for my training."
The Grand Elder's expression turned slightly awkward. Spirit Stones contained spiritual energy and were scarce even within the Yeop clan. Only the Clan Chief and the Crown Prince were permitted to use them. Yeop Hyun had never had the chance to use one due to interference from the elders.
"Is there a problem?" Yeop Rang asked.
The Grand Elder shook his head. "No problem. It's just that there aren't many Spirit Stones left."
Yeop Rang smiled. "Don't worry. I only need enough to reach Eo Gi Gyeong, so it won't take much."
The Grand Elder let out a relieved sigh. "Very well."
Yeop Rang lifted his gaze to the sky, a smirk curling at his lips as though mocking someone. He murmured quietly to himself, "Hmph, this is a trivial place… perfect for a brief use…"
Just as Yeop Hyun and Yeop Ryoung returned home, Yeomok and the guards quickly followed.
Yeop Hyun spoke to them. "If you come after me at a time like this, you will put yourselves in danger!"
Since Yeop Hyun was deposed, his brothers who had fought alongside him on the battlefield no longer appeared. The future head of the Yeop clan was certain to be Yeop Rang, not Yeop Hyun.
Yeomok bowed slightly. "Brother Yeop, thank you for earlier."
Yeop Hyun nodded faintly. "I am grateful that you did not intervene. Now go. If the Grand Elder notices, it will only be trouble for you."
Yeomok hesitated but said, "Brother Yeop, if you need assistance, just command it. We will never refuse."
With that, Yeomok and the guards left.
Yeop Hyun watched their departing figures and shook his head. Yeop Ryoung asked softly, "Brother, you don't trust them?"
Yeop Hyun smiled. "I only need them to think I am strong. If I appeared weak, who knows when they would change their minds."
Yeop Ryoung looked at him innocently. "Then I can trust you. I will always be on your side!"
Hearing this, Yeop Hyun laughed aloud.
Suddenly, Yeop Ryoung's condition worsened. Her body trembled violently and turned ice-cold. Alarmed, Yeop Hyun rushed her to bed and pulled a jade bottle from his arms. Hastily uncorking it, he fed her a single pill.
After a short while, her complexion began to improve. Slowly, Yeop Ryoung opened her eyes, her hand still clutching Yeop Hyun's. She spoke in a tiny voice, like a mosquito's whisper. "Brother… I don't think I can live much longer… If… if I die, please keep my ashes by your side… I always want to be with you…"
"Nonsense!"
Yeop Hyun's eyes widened as he shouted. "Who's dying? You won't die, just trust me. Once you reach Eo Gi Gyeong, I will take you to Hwangseong. There, your illness can be cured. Do you understand?"
He softened his voice. "You are my only family… Promise me you will live, if only for me, alright?"
Tears fell from Yeop Ryoung's eyes, and Yeop Hyun gently wiped them away. "Don't cry, you'll ruin your face. You wouldn't want to stay unmarried, would you?"
Yeop Ryoung shook her head vigorously. "No! I like you the most, Brother!"
She smiled brightly. "Silly! Come here, I'll tell you a story from long ago. Once, on a mountain, there was a hermitage, and in that hermitage…"
About a moment later, Yeop Ryoung fell into a deep sleep.
Yeop Hyun's expression darkened as he watched her. Lately, she had been sleeping more than usual, and there were only three remaining pills.
He carefully stored the jade bottle and tucked the blanket around her. Then he returned to Gyeokok Tower.
Immersed in his training, Yeop Hyun knew he had to raise his skill to reach Eo Gi Gyeong as quickly as possible. Only then could he take Yeop Ryoung to Hwangseong safely.
Moreover, only twenty-one days remained until his life-or-death duel with Yeop Rang. If he lost, even if he survived, the Grand Elder or others would eventually attempt to kill him, putting his sister's life at risk.
As Yeop Hyun was about to summon the shadow for training, the Celestial Woman's voice echoed in his mind.
[You can now enter the hidden realm.]
"The hidden realm? What is that?"
She answered his question.
[The corporeal realms range from First to Sixth Rank. Between the Sixth Rank of Eo Gi Gyeong and Eo Gi Gyeong itself exists the Golden Body Realm. It is a hidden realm unknown to most.]
"The Golden Body Realm? I've never heard of it before."
She continued.
[That is why I said it is hidden. Most people do not know of it. If you reach the Golden Body Realm, your strength will at least double. Do you wish to attempt it?]
Yeop Hyun could barely contain his excitement. "Really? My strength will double?"
[Yes.]
"I will do it!"
[You already possess sword energy within your body. Though you cannot yet use it fully, it can stimulate your meridians and organs. Until now, you have trained the exterior of your body. From now on, you will train the interior. Harmony of the inside and outside is required. It will be slightly painful.]
Yeop Hyun clenched his fists. "A little pain I can endure. Begin at once!"
[Good. Simple. Let your sword energy circulate through your body freely.]
Yeop Hyun sat cross-legged, following her instructions. After a brief moment, he screamed.
"Ahhh!"
It felt as though tens of thousands of needles were pricking his body, making him feel as if he might faint from the pain.
"This is more than a little painful!"
[Is that so? I thought it would only hurt a little…]
"You're not telling me I'm the first to train this realm, are you?"
[Long ago, there was one. He died immediately after beginning, though whether it was from pain, I do not know.]
"Ah…"
[It cannot be helped. I cannot take the pain for you… but I can at least cheer you on. Ha ha ha…]
"Ugh…"