Chapter 22

The Goal of Holding the Sword

Within the Elder Council stood an octagonal pavilion called Cheonhakjeong.

Though artificially constructed, the place possessed a refined elegance, and it was a spot the Third Elder frequented in particular.

Drip, pour.

As always, an immaculate table of drinks was laid out before the Third Elder.

Yet, contrary to the tranquil atmosphere—

the Third Elder's expression was stiff and rigid.

"What nonsense is this!"

The Third Elder roared in fury.

Bang!

His right hand slammed down, smashing the innocent drinking table to pieces.

Yet the subordinate kneeling before him did not flinch in the slightest.

"...I reported exactly as it happened."

Crunch!

Even after destroying the table, the Third Elder's anger did not subside, and unlike his usual self, he could not maintain his composure.

He looked nothing like the benevolent Third Elder revered for his virtue.

"You're telling me the Azure Clear Stone Oil is gone?"

"Yes. We investigated everyone who was present at So-Eungbang that day."

"Then who! Who took it?!"

"According to testimony, the Eldest Young Master entered the warehouse first. Most likely, at that time—"

"How dare he!"

Once again, it was Cheon Muyang.

The Eldest Young Master, who repeatedly interfered with him, had become a thorn in the Third Elder's side.

"Do you know how many years of effort that was?!"

The Third Elder had deliberately siphoned off funds circulating through the Cheon Family by manipulating the Cheongeum Pavilion Master and the Head of the Inspection Corps.

Those perfectly laundered funds were used through various channels, but the Third Elder had devoted the greatest effort to securing the Azure Clear Stone Oil.

"That reckless Eldest Young Master ruined everything."

The Azure Clear Stone Oil was an elixir beyond price—an elixir among elixirs.

Even the Third Elder had only managed to secure it after years of effort.

"I had finally obtained it quietly, without drawing attention...."

The Third Elder ground his teeth.

"It irritates me. It truly irritates me."

The Eldest Young Master, once nothing more than a reckless fool, seemed like an entirely different person now.

"What is the Eldest Young Master doing?"

"There has been no movement."

"...."

"He remains holed up in the training grounds, doing nothing but swinging his sword."

Tap.

Tap, tap.

The Third Elder's index finger moved.

Knowing this meant he was deep in thought, the subordinate waited silently.

"What troubles you so?"

Stop.

The Third Elder's finger halted.

Because someone new had appeared.

"Elder...."

The one the Third Elder addressed as Elder—

"Yes. What is it that worries you so?"

He was a man granted the epithet Taesang.

Cheon Jung-ho, the Taesang Elder of the Cheon Family.

The moment he appeared, the Third Elder's subordinate lowered his head and quietly withdrew.

"That is...."

"If it concerns the Eldest Young Master, do not worry yourself."

"Yes? W-What do you mean by that?"

"Come now. You will understand when the time comes. For now, why not enjoy a drink, since it has been so long?"

"Ah—y-yes, of course."

The Third Elder's attitude turned cautious.

He feared that information regarding the Azure Clear Stone Oil might have leaked.

Before long, a new drinking table was laid out once more.

Drip, pour.

The Third Elder respectfully poured the wine.

"However, Third Elder."

Before the cup could even be filled, a chilling pressure swept through the air.

"...!"

The Third Elder's body stiffened completely, unable to take even the slightest action.

Slosh!

The wine overflowed the cup.

Even so, the Third Elder could only watch.

"You aren't harboring any other thoughts, are you?"

The Third Elder's heart sank.

Sensing danger, he was seized by the fear that he might truly die here.

Gulp!

Cheon Jung-ho was more than capable of such a thing.

"T-That is...!"

"Hoho, why so tense? At this rate, you truly do look like someone with other intentions."

Cheon Jung-ho's pressure faded away.

Only then was the Third Elder able to break free of the invisible restraint.

"You're right. Hohoho."

The Third Elder's awkward smile lingered for quite some time afterward.

***

Several days passed.

Cheon Muyang, who had been wholly absorbed in training, suddenly no longer felt the weight of Cheon-gwang.

"Ah...."

With a short gasp, he realized—

the sword and himself were no longer separate.

It was a sensation he had never felt before, not even in the days when he had once been Mu-myeong.

『Do you know what your greatest problem is? You have no goal for which you hold the sword.』

Cheon Seon-hak had said that in the past.

Indeed, the Mu-myeong of old had taken up the sword to repay the debt he owed to Cheon Wi-gang—but that was all.

'Serving the infamous executioner, the Eldest Young Master Cheon Muyang, that was probably inevitable.'

But now, things were different.

He had found a clear reason to become stronger, and people he wished to protect.

'For myself. And to protect them.'

That was why he raised the sword.

And the sword did not betray Cheon Muyang's will.

Paaaat!

The boundary of the world collapsed.

The sword became Cheon Muyang, and Cheon Muyang became the sword, until it was unclear which was his true self.

Hwoooong!

Only one thing was certain.

Whether it was the sword, or Cheon Muyang—

something was moving forward.

A sword dance aimed at eternity.

Hwoong!

Along with Cheon-gwang's clear and resonant sword cry,

Cheon Muyang completely shattered the wall he had once merely leapt over and advanced forward.

Flash!

Cheon Muyang opened his eyes.

His dantian brimmed with internal energy.

And Cheon Muyang saw the blue sword qi dwelling within Cheon-gwang.

"It resembles the sky."

It was the sword qi of the Blue Heaven .

Even Cheon Muyang had never seen such pure sword qi before.

"Ah."

That wasn't all.

Perhaps because his realization had deepened further, he could feel Cheon-gwang's will.

"I can hear your voice."

A sword was not merely a tool.

Each one was a being with its own will.

"And I can feel your yearning as well."

The desire to grow stronger was not his alone.

Cheon-gwang, too, was a sword that yearned to become a more complete existence.

Hwoooong!

The method was simple.

Defeat countless famed swords.

Through that, Cheon-gwang's standing would rise as well.

"Yes. If there are swords born as famed blades, then there must also be famed blades that begin from the very bottom."

Hwoong!

Cheon-gwang's yearning felt anything but unfamiliar.

Rather, Cheon Muyang felt that the life of Mu-myeong, who had lived without a name, and the life of Cheon-gwang, which had met a reckless Eldest Young Master as its master, were strangely alike.

"I'll make you shine as well."

He would stand taller than any famed sword.

Just as he himself would stand tall in the world.

The will of the sword became Cheon Muyang's will, and the two merged into one.

"So this is Sword–Body Unity ."

Sword–Body Unity was a supreme realm that not even all masters could reach.

It required profound understanding of the sword and deep attachment to it.

Even a master who had reached the realm of transformation could not confidently claim to have achieved Sword–Body Unity.

"To break a wall and achieve Sword–Body Unity at the same time..."

Cheon Muyang felt the internal energy filling his entire body.

By breaking the wall, the size of his dantian had expanded, and the total amount of internal energy he could now wield was on an entirely different level.

"If it's now... I can do it."

Though he had obtained the peerless elixir, the Azure Clear Stone Oil, Cheon Muyang had previously been unable to make use of it—but now it was different.

He could fully dissolve and absorb its power.

"Hm?"

As Cheon Muyang pondered when to consume it, he suddenly sensed a gaze upon him.

It was Wolyeong.

She stopped swinging her sword and approached him.

"What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Y-Young Master? That sword just now..."

Wolyeong was clearly startled.

Cheon Muyang's sword had looked even greater than when it first split the sky.

"Ah... that?"

Cheon Muyang smiled faintly.

He already knew Wolyeong's eyes were special.

"How did it look to you?"

"Well... it looked as if Young Master himself had become a single sword..."

"Yes. That's Sword–Body Unity."

"Sword–Body Unity...."

Since beginning to learn the sword herself, Wolyeong could truly feel just how tremendous Cheon Muyang's efforts had been.

Everything was the result of effort.

"As expected, Young Master, you're amazing."

"Thank you."

From the very beginning, Wolyeong had been the only one who looked at him without prejudice.

"It's all thanks to you."

"Me? I didn't do anything."

"Learning the sword."

"Pardon?"

"Isn't it hard?"

"It was hard at first. But now it's fun. It feels like... something is surging up from deep inside me."

He was certain.

Wolyeong was fated to hold a sword.

"That's a relief."

"Young Master."

"Yes?"

"At least for today, you should rest."

Wolyeong always worried about Cheon Muyang.

The one who watched him most closely—always the first to arrive at the training grounds and the last to leave—had always been Wolyeong.

"Hm... well, that works out. I was planning to head back early today anyway."

"Really? Then should I make that for you, since it's been a while?"

"That?"

"Stir-fried mushrooms."

Gurgle.

Coincidence?

The moment he heard that, thunder rumbled from Cheon Muyang's stomach.

It seemed his body still remembered the taste.

"That sounds perfect."

"Yes! Then I'll head back first. Make sure you don't come too late!"

"Ah, sure. I'll be there soon."

Watching Wolyeong's back as she ran far ahead, Cheon Muyang merely shrugged once.

"Shall I get going too."

Taking a day off wasn't such a bad idea.

After all, he would need time to absorb the Azure Clear Stone Oil anyway.

'When I have gathered enough strength.'

Only then did Cheon Muyang intend to move.

When that time came—

'Not the Cheongeum Pavilion Master or the Head of the Inspection Corps....'

But the hidden mastermind behind them.

That was, he would uncover the true face of the Elder Council.

Just then, someone approached Cheon Muyang.

"Eldest Young Master."

It was Cha Myeong-hak.

The reason he had come was obvious.

He must have heard it from Neung Ryeo-un.

"What is it?"

Still, Cheon Muyang pretended not to know.

Cha Myeong-hak drove his sword straight into the ground.

Boom!

"I offer my sword to you, Eldest Young Master. Please accept it."

"Are you prepared for that kind of resolve?"

"Yes."

"Good. I'll accept it."

He was genuinely curious.

What kind of sky Cha Myeong-hak possessed.

So Cheon Muyang grasped Cheon-gwang with a faint smile.

"There's only one thing I can give you. You've probably heard roughly from Neung Ryeo-un, haven't you?"

"Yes."

"Good. That makes things easy. I have an appointment, you see. Let's finish this quickly."

Cheon Muyang immediately raised Cheon-gwang.

Perhaps because he had achieved Sword–Body Unity, its sharpness shone all the more vividly.

Hwoooong!

A single cry.

Along with it, Cha Myeong-hak faced the infinite sky that Neung Ryeo-un had once encountered.

"Ah...."

"Whatever you see, you must work tirelessly to make it truly yours. If you offer your sword to me, you should at least be able to do this."

Watching Cha Myeong-hak fall into a trance, Cheon Muyang smiled.

"So that makes two."

Neung Ryeo-un and Cha Myeong-hak.

He had gained two swords.

"No—if I include Uncle and Wolyeong as well...."

Including himself, that made five swords.

Yet, it was by no means lacking.

It was enough.

"A beginning far beyond my station."

Rather than one, two were better.

Rather than two, three.

And rather than three, five.

Cheon Muyang thought of the four people who had offered their swords to him.

"I won't let you regret it."

Cheon Muyang had to grow even stronger.

But even that came after a proper meal, didn't it?

"I should get going. I'll be late."

Wolyeong's food would be waiting.

So, without waiting for Cha Myeong-hak, Cheon Muyang left the training grounds at once.

How much time had passed?

Cha Myeong-hak came back to his senses.

"M-My sky is...."

There was no one there.

"Huh?"

Cha Myeong-hak looked around.

Cheon Muyang was nowhere to be seen.

"I was going to say it was a sky filled with thunder...."

He would have to put that off for next time.

After all, Cha Myeong-hak too was now seized by the urge to swing his sword.

"Wait for me, Neung Ryeo-un."

Cha Myeong-hak set off in search of him.

Just so he could boast to his heart's content.