"Those are the orders you received, correct?" Ak Bi narrowed his eyes skeptically. Straightening from his slouch, he stared intently at Ak Yeonho, his eyes gleaming fiercely. "Your tone makes it sound like you don't want to do it."
Ak Yeonho immediately prostrated himself on the floor. "T-That's not it..."
Absolute loyalty and obedience to the clan was an instinct engraved in his body since childhood. It was the first value one had to prove to climb from the bottom and be acknowledged as part of the group.
His body trembled uncontrollably, but he steeled his nerves and replied, "It's just... the Azure Dragon Hero is eccentric and unpredictable. His martial arts are profound, yet he's also quick-witted and highly distrustful, so he doesn't let anyone get too close. Finding a weakness is nearly impossible..."
"Raise your head."
No sooner had Ak Yeonho lifted his head, a formless fist of wind struck his cheek.
SLAP!
His head snapped to the side. Blood dripped down from his split lip, but he didn't think to wipe it off, only to quickly correct his posture.
"Impossible? Is that really true?"
"......"
"I heard that you have a good reputation amongst the Azure Dragon Academy faculty. They say you're affable, get along well with the instructors, and often socialize with the Azure Dragon Hero."
"...Yes, that's correct."
Cold sweat trickled down Ak Yeonho's back. As expected, the Patriarch didn't trust him. Although it seemed that Ak Bi had completely entrusted the Azure Dragon Academy's affairs to him, he had actually been gathering information behind his back.
"And yet you say it's impossible?"
"......" Ak Yeonho gazed up at the Patriarch of the Shandong Ak Clan in fear.
Ak Bi's eyes flashed dangerously, as if saying, 'Are you trying to ignore the grace the clan has bestowed upon you?'
The Patriarch shot him a disappointed look. "I took in an orphan, fed you, clothed you, and taught you martial arts. Everything you have now came from the clan."
The years of education and regimented upbringing weighed heavily on Ak Yeonho's heart. He had heard these words so often since childhood that his ears ached.
He had brought this beating upon himself with a futile act of rebellion.
"Even a beast knows gratitude. It's only right for a human to think of repaying the grace they've received, right?"
The masters of the Ak Clan sitting on either side of him nodded grimly in approval.
Ak Yeonho opened his mouth with difficulty. "...Not once, until now, have I ever forgotten the grace the clan has given me."
However, his eyes told a different story: I've also never forgotten the pain the clan has given me.
"There is defiance in your gaze." Ak Bi instantly read an emotion in Ak Yeonho's eyes that an adopted son should never show and rose from his seat. The intuition of a supreme master was terrifyingly sharp.
STEP, STEP...
Ak Yeonho watched the slowly approaching Patriarch with hazy eyes. He had brought this beating upon himself with a futile act of rebellion.
"About your family's patriarch... should I give him a good thrashing?"
"The Namgung Clan doesn't flaunt our material wealth, because we have no need to prove ourselves to anyone."
Perhaps because of those two, the Ak Patriarch, who had once seemed so imposing, appeared rather insignificant today.
Nevertheless, he resigned himself to the impending punishment and quietly closed his eyes.
"Hyung-nim!" Ak Jinheon—a man who had never properly learned martial arts and had no business being here—urgently grabbed Ak Bi's trouser leg. He seemed to struggle just to breathe, but he didn't let go. Instead, he smiled meekly at the master of the clan, who scorned him like an insect. "Please forgive my son, he just misspoke. Isn't he still young and energetic? For my sake, please pardon him."
"Move."
Ak Bi swished his clothes.
WHOOSH!
Ak Jinheon was flung backward violently, as if caught in a typhoon.
"Father!" Ak Yeonho jumped up and ran to check on his father. Fortunately, Ak Jinheon didn't seem to be injured.
"...You two don't share a drop of blood, yet here you both are, committing insubordination." The corners of Ak Bi's eyes raised, and a formidable aura radiated from his body, striking fear into the hearts of the Ak Clan vassals. "I'll have to make an example of you two to restore discipline in the clan."
His spear flew into its master's hand from its resting place.
"!" Ak Yeonho hurriedly shoved his stepfather behind him.
"I'm just taking back what the clan gave you, so don't resent me."
"How could you...!"
A vortex swirled at the tip of the Spear King's weapon. With a single gesture, the supreme martial artist could blow the entire residence into oblivion.
"Father." The Young Lady Ak Yeonhwa, the only person here who could stop the Patriarch, rose from her seat. "The Azure Dragon Hero is a supreme master too. If you punish Ak Yeonho here, I'm worried he'll turn against our family."
Her timing was exquisite. At that single, softly spoken word, Ak Bi halted his attack, saving Ak Yeonho from the worst-case scenario. Still, his expression darkened at his daughter's rebuttal. "This is our clan's internal affair. The Azure Dragon Hero has no right to interfere."
However, Ak Yeonhwa's resolve remained firm. "As you saw, the Azure Dragon Hero is not the type to let things slide just because it's a family dispute. He'll surely clash with us."
"Are you telling me to overlook insubordination just because you fear him?"
"Punishments can be postponed, but if an event we meticulously organized is disrupted by such a trivial matter, wouldn't that result in an even greater loss?" Ak Yeonhwa bowed her head slightly, urging her father to reconsider.