Chapter 788: PAID

What did I just hear?

‘Did he say he’s banned from entering…?’

Whether it was a ban on entry or just a restriction on approach didn’t matter.

The important part was that Elder Il had been hit with one.

‘If that’s true, then by who?’

Judging from how he worded it, it had to be the Martial Alliance.

But no matter how I thought about it, it didn’t make sense.

‘Why Elder Il?’

Sure, he was fiery, foul-tempered, and one of the most eccentric figures in the Gu family—top two, without question.

“You’re making a strange face. Are you cursing this old man in your head?”

“Of course not.”

And quick-witted, too.

But at least he wasn’t someone who would commit actual crimes.

‘...’

I paused for a moment.

Wasn’t he?

Memories from my childhood began to resurface.

“Urgh…!”

“You okay, Yangcheon?”

A sudden dizziness hit me—probably because I didn’t want to think about those memories.

For a brief second, I wondered if it really was possible.

But—

‘…No, even he wouldn’t go that far.’

Unless someone caused a huge incident, the Martial Alliance wouldn’t hand down such a harsh order.

For an entry ban to be enforced—

‘It’s basically the same as labeling someone a heretic.’

For martial artists, that meant being classified as part of the unorthodox sects.

For anyone else, it meant openly rejecting or defying the Martial Alliance.

If the Martial Alliance went as far as banning him from an entire region—

‘Elder Il...?’

A noble family elder and orthodox master, known as the Flame Serpent Fist, banned from Hanam?

What the hell would someone even have to do to end up like that?

And the strangest part—despite this punishment, he wasn’t declared a heretic.

There hadn’t even been any rumors about it.

“Elder Il… what exactly did you just say?”

“What do you mean?”

“Just now.”

“What about it?”

“You said you were banned from coming to Hanam—”

“What are you talking about?”

“...”

I see.

Watching Elder Il play dumb, I nodded.

‘So that’s how it’s going to be?’

He was trying to pretend it never happened.

Did he think I’d just let it go?

“Oh no, you’re not getting out of this.”

There was no way I’d let him dodge the question.

I grabbed onto his words and refused to let go.