It took some time for the couple to calm down. Hae-Hyuk and others had yet to even tell them about Min-Su and their daughter being here. In fact, the couple didn't seem to realize it. They heard and understood that the powerful man in front of them was their disappeared son's Master. But they hadn't seen their son for dozens of years...same with their daughter...How could they recognize their own kids?

To these two poor souls, it was already hard to believe that their son wasn't dead. What more of recognizing him. And judging from their state, it wasn't the best time to mention it. Hae-Hyuk wanted to wait a bit for them to calm down.

Meanwhile, five elders at the peak of top level of cultivation entered the highest level of a certain palace. At the balcony, turning his back to them, was Ryu Yong-Sik. One of the elder spoke: "Brother, you have to come with us"

Yong-Sik didn't even look back as the hint of a smile appeared on his face. He said: "Since you are here, it means that I taught my son well"

The other elders were puzzled but they did not make a move. Yong-Sik was after all their brother who had lived and fought with them for centuries. They knew they would be bringing him to his death...But they had no choice. Their own survival was at stake.

Yong-Sik finally turned around and, with a smile, said: "Let us go, brothers. I will at least die honorably"

And so, the five elders surrounded Yong-Sik and escorted him to the teleportation array linked with the headquarters.

At the same time, a man of the same cultivation level saw it all happen. It was Ryu Jin-Hwan. As he saw his father being taken away, he had mixed feelings. He knew that he did the right thing since it would have been him otherwise but it didn't feel good either. This was his father after all. Regardless of the hate and envy he had, it remained a fact that his father did love and care for him for all those centuries.

As he watched the back of this man leaving, he whispered: "Good bye Father. Thank you for everything"

He bowed for a few seconds, until the array finished his job. Then, he left and quickly appeared at the entrance of his own palace. Many servants were moving things away. He asked a butler in charge: "How is it going?"

The butler hurriedly answered: "Every valuable have been placed in spatial rings and all your direct descendants have been warned. The time of departure is set in fifteen minutes, esteemed senior"

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

Ryu Jin-Hwan nodded and said: "I will wait at the array. Finish the arrangements"

"Yes, esteemed senior!"

Ryu Jin-Hwan wasn't stupid. He knew that his father's life might not be enough to quell the anger of that mysterious Master. The whole branch was risking extinction. As such, he decided to activate the evacuation plan prepared for such cases. In less than an hour, all the direct members of the branch and their valuables would be able to escape through a teleportation array.

Ryu Jin-Hwan arrived at the array and joined his wives, waiting for the time to leave.

...

The five elders brought Yong-Sik inside the main hall. At that moment, Hae-Hyuk was still speaking with the parents of his disciple. As he saw them enter, he got up and asked Yong-Sik: "I believe you have some answers to give"

Yong-Sik nodded. Then, he spoke: "Their daughter was so talented that she was deemed a threat to the future leadership of my branch if we let her develop. As such, we took her away and locked her at the pillar. Then, we took their other kid in case he would show similar dispositions and we dropped him in the wild, at the mercy of the chaotic space elements. Finally, we told them that their son went to a special training and a year later that he died there. As for their daughter, we said that she was sick and we were doing our best to heal her and used that to place heavy debts onto them"

Hae-Hyuk spoke after a moment while the parents were cursing the man: "...Why go to such lengths?"

Yong-Sik, ignoring the couple, answered him: "Killing within the clan is forbidden. There is an investigation every time a stone tablet cracks and there is one for every clansman with a core. The girl had one like her parents, but not the boy"

Everyone understood everything now. Hae-Hyuk told the man: "Who else was involved?"

At this moment, every single elder in the room gulped. Even the Patriarch was no exception. The truth was that this was something done in every branch. They helped the over-talented ones to disappear quietly since long ago. If Yong-Sik pointed that out...How would this Master react?! Would he annihilate their entire clan?!

However, Yong-Sik didn't answer: "If I answer you, please spare those uninvolved"

Hae-Hyuk's energy began to distort the entire hall as he threatened: "You are in no position to give conditions. If you do not speak, I will just kill everyone"

Yong-Sik sighed. Then, he spoke: "Only my two sons and the subordinates they used"

After he finished answering, he pleaded: "Please, let us die honorably"

However, as his words fell, his entire body disappeared. It turned into a bloody mist that soon evaporated. Hae-Hyuk's cold voice fell, directed to the Patriarch: "Patriarch Ryu. I believe your clan will give me a satisfactory conclusion to this charade"

The Patriarch nodded hurriedly, proclaiming that they would take care of everything else. Hae-Hyuk then told him he wished to retire along with his group and moments later, an elder was guiding them to the best palace of the headquarters, reserved for important guests.

As for the Patriarch himself, he sat with the remaining elders. He told them: "We need to end his direct line"

All elders expressions turned grave.