The Terminally Ill Young Master of the Baek Clan

Baek Ryu-san exhaled a deep, somber breath.

His body had improved significantly compared to when he suffered from tuberculosis.

He originally possessed the martial strength befitting a Baek Noble Clan Head, but after recovering from his illness, his prowess ascended to even greater heights.

He was considered top-tier even among the very few martial artists at the Supreme Peak.

Considering the significant disparities within the category of Supreme Peak, his position as a Vice Alliance Leader within the orthodox Murim Alliance was indeed well-deserved.

“Hoo…”

However, his heart was not at ease. How could it be?

He thought he had already severed ties with his wife’s family, but then a letter arrived from there.

Baek Ryu-san and his wife, Seong Hye-ran, were originally fated not to be together.

The direct descendant of a martial arts clan and the daughter of a Grand Secretary’s family.

It was by chance they met, both seeking treatment from the same famous doctor.

Baek Ryu-san sought help for the tuberculosis that began to plague him, while Seong Hye-ran, due to her frail constitution, sought treatment.

Although Seong Hye-ran did not suffer from meridian blockage disease, her inherently cold constitution was something she hoped to remedy.

Baek Ryu-san fell for her at first sight.

It did not take long for the two young people to fall passionately in love.

However, overcoming the opposition from both families to reap the fruits of their love entailed numerous hardships.

Thus, his wife gave birth to a son.

A firstborn so dear that even if put in the eyes, it wouldn’t hurt. They named him Yi-gang.

However, Yi-gang was born with the Great Yin Meridian Blockage, a heaven’s curse.

Though it was not her fault, Seong Hye-ran wet her pillow with tears every night.

Baek Ryu-san found this deeply heartbreaking.

As a Supreme Peak master and the head of his family, he felt an agonizing helplessness, as if his guts were being torn apart.

She wanted more children.

Baek Ryu-san respected her wishes.

But it should not have been so. It was the worst choice. Irreversible…

After giving birth to Ha-jun, she suffered from hernia and died tragically.

It was then that the ties with her family were severed.

“I wish you hadn’t gone,” Baek Ryu-san quietly said to his son.

Yi-gang was fated to die young, not living past twenty.

Yet, now before Baek Ryu-san stood his son, grown tall and proud.

Thinking that Hye-ran would have been overjoyed to see this, Baek Ryu-san continued, “You may refuse. Your maternal grandfather has risen to the Grand Secretariat, but the rule of non-interference in official affairs is maintained, so there is no need to fear that power.”

“It’s not about fearing the power. It’s that I should respond to the proposal because it’s the right thing to do for the clan.”

“There’s no need for you to go, at least.”

The letter requested that a Supreme Peak martial artist from the clan be sent to Beijing.

The seal of the Senior Grand Secretary, Seong Yeok-ju, was on the letter, making it not something to be taken lightly.

Seong Yeok-ju regarded the Baek Noble Clan, which he believed had harmed his daughter, with disdain. Therefore, this was not a request but a transaction.

If accepted, the clan would receive a reward, and if not, a price would have to be paid.

“Father, you can’t go, can you? It’s not possible to leave Kaifeng at this time.”

However, Baek Ryu-san could not go himself. Naturally, he was in a situation where he was checking the Unorthodox Union, Demon Cult, and Evil Cult all at once.

It was also difficult to send the elders.

The letter explicitly demanded a direct descendant connected to Seong Yeok-ju’s family. It was as if they were asking Baek Ryu-san to come himself.

“There is no one more suitable than me. I will head to Beijing.”

Thus, Yi-gang stepped forward.

Baek Ryu-san looked at Yi-gang once more.

He never expected his son to return as a Supreme Peak master. Such rapid growth was sudden.

The choice was equally surprising.

That Yi-gang volunteered immediately upon hearing about the trouble in the Baek Clan was something Baek Ryu-san could never have guessed.

Ultimately, Baek Ryu-san sighed and nodded, acknowledging that it was the only way.

“All I can offer is advice.”

No matter how ruthless Seong Yeok-ju, the Senior Grand Secretary may be, he couldn’t help but think that he wouldn’t let his grandson die.

“Do not trust your maternal grandfather.”

“…Yes.”

Yi-gang responded with a beat’s delay. The statement was unexpected.

It was rare for the iron-hearted to show emotion, but soon a further intensifying statement followed.

“He has the heart of a snake.”

“The heart of… a snake?”

“When Hye-ran, your mother, died, he said nothing.”

“…”

“Has he ever, even once, ever come to look for you or Ha-jun?”

“No.”

Indeed, it was true. If Yi-gang had died before turning twenty as originally fated, he would never have met him.

“The Forbidden City is a fearsome place. The order that prevails in Jianghu will not hold in the imperial city. Always be cautious in your actions and never let your guard down. While your maternal family may be your only support, do not trust them either.”

“Yes.”

“It’s not for no reason that the Forbidden City is called the Ninefold Depths. Be especially wary of the Imperial Guards and the Eastern Depot.”

Baek Ryu-san placed his hand on Yi-gang’s shoulder and said, “Never forget, the most important thing is your life. It’s okay to oppose your maternal family.”

Yi-gang nodded at his father’s fiery gaze.

Thus, Yi-gang headed towards Beijing.

His decision to go to Beijing without much hesitation was largely influenced by Zhang Sanfeng.

It was not long ago that Zhang Sanfeng suggested to Yi-gang that he ‘go and seek his roots.’

Soon after, the opportunity to actually go to Beijing arose.

「Heaven’s Might is guiding fate.」

Zhang Sanfeng merely muttered as if regretting something.

He neither stopped nor urged Yi-gang.

Thus, Yi-gang confronted his maternal grandfather.

---

The Grand Secretariat, where the most exceptional members of the Hanlin Academy are selected.

And the head of that Grand Secretariat, was the Grand Secretary, or the Senior Grand Secretary.

While depth in scholarship was important for excelling in the civil exams, was depth in learning the only important thing in becoming a powerful official?

At least in Baek Ryu-san’s evaluation of the Senior Grand Secretary Seong Yeok-ju, there was nothing incorrect.

He said he had the heart of a snake. It was Baek Ryu-san, who was known for his ruthlessness, saying that his father-in-law’s blood runs cold.

Indeed, that was how Seong Yeok-ju behaved.

The moment he saw Yi-gang, the mask that Seong Yeok-ju had that was shattered quickly returned.

“So, you are Yi-gang.”

“That is correct.”

“I can tell just by looking. You resemble your mother.”

Yi-gang quietly observed his maternal grandfather without any agitation.

His gaze was calm, neither cringing nor arrogant.

However, this caused Seong Yeok-ju’s eyes to furrow.

“But you resemble your father even more.”

He felt Baek Ryu-san in Yi-gang’s composed demeanor.

Through that one statement and expression, Yi-gang deeply felt the longstanding emotions between his father and maternal grandfather.

“Thank you.”

“Thank you?”

“It is gratifying to hear you say I resemble my excellent parents, how could I not be pleased?”

“Tsk!”

At this, Seong Ji-an, who was waiting nearby, was taken aback.

It was a rare emotional disturbance for someone who knew his father well.

“…I heard you had meridian blockage disease, yet you’ve managed to stay alive.”

“I was fortunate.”

“Did your father feed you some kind of elixir?”

“He did.”

He had consumed perpetual ginseng, but it wasn’t that which cured him.

Seong Yeok-ju seemed to recognize the lie immediately.

“…Nonsense. Can an elixir reconnect a severed major meridian?”

“It seems you know quite a bit about meridian blockage disease.”

“…”

Yi-gang’s words had a sharp edge.

If he knew so much about meridian blockage disease, why didn’t he help his grandson who was born with it? Seong Ji-an appeared slightly angry at the impolite remark, while Seong Yeok-ju remained expressionless.

However, he did something only a person in power could do when the conversation turned awkward.

He raised his hand to stop the others from speaking.

“Do you know why you were called here?”

“I don’t know the exact reason, but I heard someone proficient in Qigong is needed. As a descendant, I came immediately.”

“Yes, someone proficient in Qigong was needed, not a child.”

“It’s been a long time since I was a child. I have some understanding of Qigong.”

“Even if your father had come himself, it wouldn’t have been satisfactory. Tsk tsk.”

He had a look of dissatisfaction and contempt as he looked down.

Yi-gang did not get angry. He simply spoke frankly, “My father is the head of our clan and is devoted to the peace of the Central Plains. Unlike me, he is not someone who can come just because he wishes to.”

“…”

“I may be young but not inexperienced, and my internal Qigong has reached the level of the Creation Realm. If you are worried about my competence, I can demonstrate it.”

Yi-gang, being no fool, did not unleash his intangible energy here.

Moreover, Seong Yeok-ju, being no fool either, realized that his grandson in front of him was not speaking nonsense.

Seong Yeok-ju felt both anger and pleasure.

The grandson he had never seen clearly possessed the aura of a hidden dragon.

“Good. I will entrust you with a critical mission that could influence the future of the Great Ming.”

“Thank you for trusting me, Grandfather.”

Seong Yeok-ju’s lips quivered slightly.

“In private, do not call me grandfather.”

“…I will do so.”

Such directives usually had the opposite goal, telling people to avoid personal titles in public places.

But Seong Yeok-ju said the opposite.

「Haha… it looks like a love-hate relationship.」

Zhang Sanfeng quickly realized the reason.

He intended to introduce Yi-gang into the royal family as his grandson, but it seemed uncomfortable for him that Yi-gang was the child of a son-in-law he despised.

Seong Yeok-ju suppressed those human emotions once again.

He gestured to Seong Ji-an.

“She’s your aunt.”

“It’s nice to meet you. I am Yi-gang.”

No matter how one looked, Seong Ji-an appeared not to be more than ten years older than Yi-gang.

However, Yi-gang greeted her respectfully, and she nodded without a smile in return.

“Follow me.”

Seong Yeok-ju left, and Yi-gang quietly walked, following Seong Ji-an.

In the quiet garden where no servants were seen, Seong Ji-an finally spoke, “You have the Great Yin Meridian Blockage, right?”

Expecting her to ask immediately about official matters, Yi-gang slightly furrowed his brow and replied, “Yes.”

“Good to see you look healthy.”

“Thank you.”

“I also suffer from meridian blockage. Not as severe as yours though… Three Yin Meridian Blockage.”

“…!”

Three Yin Meridian Blockage meant being born with three major meridians severed, a unique constitution.

Unlike Yi-gang’s Great Yin Meridian Blockage, it’s not as extreme, allowing the cultivation of martial arts and enabling a normal life, though lifespan was similarly shortened.

“Your brother’s name, was it Ha-jun?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Is he healthy?”

“Yes, fortunately.”

“Hmm, that’s good…”

Seong Ji-an quietly looked at the surface of the pond, then spoke as if she had made a decision.

Her demeanor quickly returned to being stern.

“Let’s get to the main point. Your task will be to guard the Honorable County Princess and the Crown Prince.”

“Guard… Do you mean an escort?”

Yi-gang was aware of the Honorable County Princess and the Crown Prince.

Both were children of King Gye-yeong, a daughter and a son.

The reason he knew of them, despite there being many kings in the Ming Dynasty, was because King Gye-yeong was the eldest son of a deceased prince.

Such was King Sohyeon, akin to Yi-gang’s distant grandfather, so strictly speaking, the Honorable County Princess and the Crown Prince could be considered Yi-gang’s relatives.

“Isn’t the Imperial Guard supposed to protect the imperial family residing in the Forbidden City?”

“That’s right. There’s already an officer from the Imperial Guard assigned.”

“Then why…”

“It’s because the Imperial Guard can’t be trusted right now that you are needed.”

That made sense.

Yet, there was something he still couldn’t understand.

“There are surely more suitable people for guarding duties than myself.”

Was this just a way to complain to the Baek Clan, which had severed ties with him?

“…Dark clouds hang over the imperial family.”

“…”

“A master of Qigong who can be trusted is needed. I’ll tell you more details later.”

Yi-gang silently nodded. It was clear that what Seong Yeok-ju wanted from Yi-gang was more than just guarding.

She took Yi-gang towards the Forbidden City.

Since Yi-gang, an outsider, was accompanying them, even with Seong Ji-an there, the security checks were rigorous.

Until the permit for carrying a sword was issued, he had no choice but to entrust them with the Shooting Star Fang.

Feeling a sense of emptiness, the place Yi-gang and Seong Ji-an arrived at was called the Yongzhao Palace.

It’s a palace where King Gye-yeong’s family resided.

Among the many royals, only a limited number could live beside the Emperor within the Forbidden City.

Since the Emperor’s favor was tantamount to power, King Gye-yeong’s status was no ordinary royal’s.

“Do you know the etiquette required around the imperial family?”

“I am familiar with it.”

And Seong Ji-an was about to lead Yi-gang to the Honorable County Princess.

From the alley ahead, a member of the Imperial Guard emerged.

Following him, a girl in splendid attire appeared.

Her hair was neatly tied up, adorned with elaborate ornaments.

She wore blue clothes close to navy. The smooth silk was embroidered with dragon patterns.

Only the imperial family could wear such garments here.

Her gaze and expression were supremely confident, yet there was a strangely androgynous air about her.

“Your Highness.”

Seong Ji-an quickly bowed, and Yi-gang did the same.

Thinking this girl must be the Honorable County Princess, a strange voice called out from behind.

“Oh. Ji-an.”

Someone recognized Seong Ji-an and spoke to her.

And when Yi-gang turned his gaze, he was momentarily startled.

“It’s been a while.”

There indeed stood a girl dressed in royal attire.

The problem was… she looked exactly like the royal standing in front of Yi-gang.

Her face, hair, ornaments, and clothes were identical.

-They are twins.

Seong Ji-an hinted to him through a whisper.

-They are a bit… special. Make sure to manage your expression well.