Episode 74 – Easier to Ask Forgiveness than Permission
Gwak Jeong.
A character clearly inspired by Legend of the Condor Heroes, the classic by Kim X—yes, that series.
He was a genius who, at just sixteen, had already reached the cusp of First-rate and was stepping into the Peak level.
As with most young heirs at that age, he was a bit arrogant, but he held deep affection for his own people.
Though still between boyhood and adulthood, he had the looks of a future heartthrob—a cheat-code level character.
Put simply, he was the wuxia version of a “model son.”
[But why’s he staring so hard?]
Gwak Jeong was staring at me like he was about to shoot laser beams from his eyes.
I had nothing to be ashamed of either.
The Sado Clan might be considered “less established” compared to the Gwak Clan, and yes, I’d lose in a one-on-one fight, but I was still the Clan Head, and he was just the Young Heir.
This was the time to match his gaze with one of my own—enhanced with internal energy.
I infused the aura of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art into my eyes, and then—
Zap.
Gwak Jeong flinched and quickly looked away. The pressure would’ve been enough to shake even seasoned Peak-level masters, so it was only natural.
“Does the Gwak Clan not understand etiquette? Not only does he not offer a proper greeting, but he dares glare like that?”
Tak Horak, standing behind me, sneered.
“You dare speak that way to—!”
A martial artist behind Gwak Jeong turned red with anger and stepped forward.
“Samho. Enough. It’s my fault. Don’t make a scene.”
“But Young Master—”
“I said, enough!”
Gwak Jeong stood and bowed to me.
“I apologize for my rudeness. I am Gwak Jeong, the heir of the Nine Yin Gwak Clan.”
“You have a loyal subordinate.”
Still seated, I turned my gaze to the one called Samho—this time, again infusing my eyes with internal energy.
“But having a dog that barks at a tiger without recognizing it only hastens the master’s death.”
It was an insulting remark. But—
[Very well said.]
To a member of the Demon Cult, this was practically a compliment. Like telling someone, “Brush your teeth for three minutes after every meal.”
Ordinarily, such behavior from a subordinate would’ve warranted immediate decapitation. This was being gracious.
“I apologize for the offense.”
Samho understood the message. Though he grit his teeth, he bowed his head.
Gwak Jeong added a follow-up.
“Do not speak out again without my permission. Especially not in front of my master.”
“...?”
[......?]
Tak Horak made a dumbfounded face.
“Hahaha. Even if you’re the heir of the Gwak Clan, to call me, Tak Horak of the Black Shadow Corps, your master? Such ambition!”
“Not you.”
Gwak Jeong’s gaze locked onto mine.
“I, Gwak Jeong, have come to ask the Clan Head of the Sado Clan to become my master.”
“…What are you saying?”
“Exactly what I said!”
Gwak Jeong shot to his feet.
“I’ve long admired the Sado Clan Head! Supreme martial prowess at the Transcendent Peak! Unrivaled artistry in calligraphy, painting, and poetry! Dignity that doesn’t waver even before the Poison Demon! A mind so deep it turned the Sado Clan upside down in one stroke! Truly, the perfect model of a Demon Cult martial artist!”
Then Tak Horak stepped forward from behind me.
“The Gwak Clan’s heir really does get it. That gaze wasn’t arrogance—it was admiration. Still, you’re not quite there yet.”
“…What?”
“I, Tak Horak, have been by the Clan Head’s side even before he made his name in the Martial World. His most trusted aide!”
“Ooooh!”
“A leader with a big heart, who forgives his subordinates’ mistakes! A mind so calculating it would make even Zhuge Liang cry in awe! His paperwork speed is unmatched! Not just in martial arts, but in civil duties as well—that’s our Clan Head!”
“Truly!!”
And watching all of this, Skybreaker and I thought the same thing—
[……These two are idiots.]
‘Such crude speech from someone so noble?’
[If that didn’t deserve swearing, nothing does. Why is it that only weirdos gather around you?]
The reason was obvious.
‘Let’s just accept it. We’re the main characters.’
[……That line again? Everyone’s the main character of their own life. Are you going to spew that nonsense now?]
“No, not that—forget it.”
If there’s a main character in this version of Return of the Murim, which has already gone completely off-script,
it’s probably me and Skybreaker.
And with that comes the iron law of genre fiction: “All main characters have nerfed companions.”
It’s not just these two—Yun Yeopja, Tang Siyuk, and even Paeng Soso were all like that.
The only good thing is…Even though they’ve got nerfed intelligence, none of them are openly hostile. Yet.
They might stab me in the back someday, but thankfully, neither Gwak Jeong nor Tak Horak has the “narrow-eyed traitor” look. They’re more like wide-eyed madmen.
Characters with half-lidded eyes always stab you in the back. Always.
Anyway—
“Master! I mean, Clan Head! Please accept me as your disciple!”
“I agree! Only someone of the Gwak heir’s caliber is worthy of learning from the Clan Head!”
Both of them turned and glanced subtly at Samho. Among the three, Samho was the only one with any sense—and he looked utterly humiliated.
“…I ask the same.”
Even he gave in under the pressure of their stupid enthusiasm.
The real problem was, no matter what they said, I couldn’t actually teach the guy.
Sure, I could bluff.
With my acting skills and silver tongue, sharpened through my past sales job at a mid-sized company, I had even fooled the elders and senior figures of the clan.
I could totally wrap a kid like Gwak Jeong around my finger.
But—
If we actually sparred, my cover would be blown instantly.
Sure, I could win. I did defeat Sado Muyul in one move.
But that was a life-or-death duel, and I ended it in a single breath.
If we actually crossed fists several times in a spar, my lack of real skill would be completely exposed.
And then everything would fall apart.
“The Nine Yin Gwak Clan’s Nine Yin Divine Fist is a renowned and refined martial art. And yet, a fist practitioner wishes to learn from someone like me, who wields a sword?”
“All things become one at the end of the path, do they not?”
“You speak of ‘All Paths Return To One’)?”
“Yes, exactly!”
“Then let’s talk about a more fundamental issue.”
I set down my teacup.
“The Sado and Gwak Clans are members of the Six Demon Families. And the Gwak Clan is one of the top families among them. If you become my disciple, it would disgrace the Gwak Clan’s name.”
“I don’t mind!”
“…You don’t mind?”
Gwak Jeong’s eyes sparkled.
“A true member of the Demon Cult should follow the strong! If so, I have no reason not to follow you!”
“Did you get your Clan Head’s permission?”
“I’ll get it now. They say it’s easier to ask forgiveness than permission.”
In summary: absolute nonsense.
The Six Demon Families represent the Demon Cult and maintain balance by keeping each other in check. And among them, the Gwak Clan is one of the two strongest.
Their heir becoming the disciple of another clan?
This wasn’t just a matter of a teacher-student bond—it was a political issue.
Like handing over the heir as a hostage.
‘Gwak Jeong alone is already a handful. Now you want to drag in the entire Gwak Clan??’
Just thinking about it gave me a headache. Even ten lives wouldn’t be enough.
“Denied.”
“If you accept me as your disciple, I will give you the Nine Yin Gwak Clan’s seal.”
“That’s… not a small thing.”
Skybreaker clicked his tongue.
[Can you stop being such an embarrassing man in my body?]
I was embarrassed too. But I couldn’t help it.
The Gwak Clan’s seal could instantly solve my current problem.
‘If I have that seal, I might actually have a chance.’
The Red Dragon Hyuk Clan was out of the question—they were too full of themselves.
The Chu Clan? Likely the ones who plotted this whole scheme.
The Yin Blood Jin Clan? Psychopaths by birth. No way they’d support the Sado Clan.
The only real option left was the Iron Mountain Cheol Clan.
‘They’re troublesome too, but compared to the others…’
If I could get support from the Gwak and Cheol Clans, that’d be two of the Six Demon Families backing me, and the plot set in motion by the Chu Clan and First Elder would collapse before it could even begin.
I looked at Gwak Jeong.
Teaching that bright-eyed kid made no sense, but—
‘He is a genius.’
Geniuses level up just by being thrown a few words. Yun Yeopja, Paeng Soso, and even Saweol were like that.
‘Then this guy probably will too…’
The real issue was persuading the head of the Gwak Clan—Gwak Riyeon, wielder of the Overwhelming Sky-Shaking Fist.
[But the Gwak Clan Head is different from most Demon Cult members.]
I nodded inwardly at Skybreaker’s words.
Demon Cult members worship power above all, but deep down, they’re all sly and cunning by nature. Always hiding their strength and their intentions.
It’s the only way for the weak to survive among the strong.
But the Gwak Clan is different.
If you dropped their whole family into the martial world, they’d be called a righteous orthodox clan.
And not the usual “hypocritical righteous sect” cliché—
they’d actually be one of the few genuine righteous sects.
That meant no underhanded tricks. Though they had other annoying traits instead. Still, they were better than the rest.
“Go back and get your Clan Head’s permission.”
I needed to see how he’d respond first.
Gwak Jeong left, and a day passed. Still no word.
According to Saweol’s report, the Gwak Clan hadn’t shown any unusual activity.
[What if... they just rejected it outright?]
“Yeah, that’s the concern.”
[Then how are you staying so calm?]
I put down the documents I was reviewing and replied,
“You’re naive, my friend. No news is good news.”
[What are you, a monk now?]
“Think about it. You have a son, and he suddenly says he wants to be the disciple of another clan’s head. What would you say?”
[I’d lock him up in a punishment cell.]
“Exactly. That’s the normal reaction. But right now?”
[Nothing’s happened.]
“Right. That means one of two things: either they’re completely ignoring me, or—they want something too.”
But I’m the head of one of the Six Demon Families,
a “rising powerhouse” (allegedly), and said to be talented at nurturing subordinates (also allegedly).
I wasn’t someone they could just ignore.
[You’re a weird one. Mostly an idiot, but sometimes strangely wise.]
“This kind of stuff—anyone who’s worked in sales has been through it all. You noble types wouldn’t understand.”
Anyway—
Regardless of how it played out, there wasn’t anything I could do at the moment.
Rather than waste energy worrying, it was better to focus on what I could do.
[We’ve got company.]
As I continued reviewing paperwork, Saweol appeared.
“What is it?”
“A message has arrived from the Gwak Clan.”
“I see.”
Feigning composure, I accepted the letter she handed over.
It was written on elegant paper gilded in gold, the opening full of elaborate pleasantries.
To summarize:
[Since you're not officially recognized as the head of a Six Demon Family, get the approval of two other clans first. Then we'll let Gwak Jeong become your disciple. And if you do that, the Gwak Clan will also acknowledge you.]
‘Ah. The classic move.’
[...Classic?]
“It’s like trying to get a job that requires experience,
but no one gives you the chance to gain experience. When asked where you’re supposed to get it, they just say, ‘Should’ve figured it out somehow.’ It’s basically a polite rejection.”
But did they think I’d give up?
I, Kim Dong-yun, am basically a walking bundle of scheming and persistence.
“There’s still a way.”
“What??”
“Saweol, can you bring Gwak Jeong here? Willingly, of course.”
“...”.
Saweol gave a confident nod and disappeared.
[What are you planning now?]
“There’s a famous strategy from my world.”
[And that is?]
“The Bill Gates' Son-in-Law Strategy.”
[...Bill who?]
“It’s a plan where lie stacks upon lie until it becomes the truth.”
I rose from my seat.
“First things first—prepare to visit the Iron Mountain Cheol Clan.”