Chapter 40

Heavenly Reprimand Unit

Several days had passed since that day.

Late at night, Cheon Muyang received a letter that had been sent to him and headed toward Cheonmok Mountain near the Cheon Clan Estate.

There, he saw the Bancheongwi he had encountered some time ago in a back alley of Hangzhou.

Cheon Muyang approached them.

"Have you made your decision?"

Heh.

The one who appeared to be the leader of the Bancheongwi let out a small laugh.

It was clearly a different reaction from back then, when he had been unable to feel any emotion due to rage pushed to its extreme.

"In the past, I did not know."

"What are you talking about?"

"That in truth, I had been yearning for the Cheon Clan Estate, which can be seen from Cheonmok Mountain."

They were those who had devoted their loyalty entirely to the Cheon Clan Estate.

'People with pride….'

In other words, they were people who had lived by pride in themselves, and pride in the Cheon Clan Estate.

'And because they were such people.'

They were likely the ones the Council of Elders should have eliminated first.

Cheon Muyang found himself wondering how the current Cheon Clan Estate must look to those who had been betrayed.

"The Cheon Clan Estate now is…."

"It has rotted. The stench of rot is overwhelming."

Cheon Muyang shrugged his shoulders.

It was not exactly wrong.

The Cheon Clan Estate now was a quagmire.

"However, even in mud, flowers bloom."

"…!"

The leader of the Bancheongwi knelt before Cheon Muyang.

This was the beginning.

Koo-woong!

Everyone knelt.

"You said to use you."

"I did."

Cheon Muyang told them to use him to change the Cheon Clan Estate.

To prove that the Cheon Clan Estate was wrong.

"We shall do so."

"Good."

"But remember this well. There will not be a second betrayal."

Cheon Muyang grinned.

"That is exactly what I hoped for."

"We place ourselves in your hands, my lord."

"My lord, huh. That has a nice ring to it."

Cheon Muyang smiled and sent a signal somewhere.

Step, step.

Two people walked over.

They were Neung Ryeoun and Cha Myeonghak.

They were carrying bundles on their backs.

"You are not affiliated with the Cheon Clan Estate."

"...."

"Therefore, you are free from the laws of the Cheon Clan Estate."

Flap!

Inside the bundles Neung Ryeoun and Cha Myeonghak had brought were black martial uniforms.

They distributed them to everyone.

Then, Cheon Muyang told them what their mission was.

"Hide in the shadows and watch the heavens."

Whooong!

Cheon Muyang raised Cheongwang.

The torrent of light pouring from Cheongwang as it pointed skyward drove away the darkness covering the Cheonmok Mountain region.

"…!"

"And punish the heavens as well."

Cheon Muyang hoped that they would not give absolute loyalty—not even to the Cheon Clan Estate, nor even to himself.

"Cheongyeon (Heavenly Reprimand)."

The character gyeon could mean "to see" .

But it also carried the meaning of "to reprimand" .

"You are to look upon the heavens, and reprimand the heavens."

Whoo-woong!

Cheongwang ultimately cleaved the sky.

Within the shattering heavens, they realized what they were meant to do.

"That is your mission."

"...."

"From now on, you are the Lord of the Heavenly Reprimand Unit."

"I understand."

The leader of the Bancheongwi became the Lord of the Heavenly Reprimand Unit and was the first to don the black martial uniform.

"So, you too must remember this."

The heavens were something that changed.

How could Cheon Muyang claim to know all such heavens himself?

"You as well."

Thus, the heavens they desired were, in the end, merely a part of the heavens.

"Do not be trapped by prejudice."

"Ah…."

The heaven that Cheon Muyang had cut.

That was their prejudice.

Their heaven.

It was a warning to guard against the prejudice that only one's own thoughts were correct.

"We will remember it well."

"Good. Then, shall we go?"

"We will follow."

Had they not wished to follow?

It did not matter where that place was.

A black tide followed behind Cheon Muyang.

Srrrk.

Not to be outdone, Neung Ryeoun and Cha Myeonghak pressed in close behind Cheon Muyang.

Their resolve not to give up that position was evident.

Having been tempered by the Wolf King, they seemed to have grown strong beyond recognition.

So he asked.

"Looks like you're learning well from the Wolf King?"

Crunch.

The moment they heard the name Wolf King, the two ground their teeth at each other.

Just hearing that name seemed to make the bruises still covering their bodies ache.

Still, they had no choice but to admit it.

A bout with such a master was an incredible stroke of fortune.

"I don't want to admit it, but it was helpful."

"Yeah. There's a lot to learn. Stick to him and be more of a nuisance. You two might lose your spot if you let your guard down."

"…!"

"I'm joking."

Even if it was said as a joke.

The expressions of the two men grew serious.

Wasn't it a rule that one must protect one's own place oneself?

"I wonder what Wolyeong is doing."

Cheon Muyang deliberately mentioned Wolyeong.

After all, the one climbing up the fastest—and the most frighteningly—was undoubtedly Wolyeong.

"Maybe She's sparring with the Wolf King even now?"

"...."

Wolyeong had not come here.

It was because even this time felt too precious, and She wished to devote herself wholly to training.

[When I can stand without shame. Then I will stand beside you, young master.]

Those words were still vividly remembered.

"Tell her to work hard."

"...."

At those words, the two men made up their minds about something.

"My lord."

"This may be presumptuous, but…."

"Hm?"

"I believe we need to train. May we have your permission?"

It seemed they had realized that now was not the time to follow Cheon Muyang.

"Of course."

"Thank you."

The moment permission was given, the two moved at once.

From their retreating figures, their will to grow stronger could be felt.

The Lord of the Heavenly Reprimand Unit approached quietly.

"You have fine subordinates."

"Those two will grow strong. One day, they'll become pillars of the Cheon Clan Estate."

"Then, what should we do?"

"Ah, nothing special. Now that we've cut off the peripheral branches, shouldn't we trim the branches that lead to the roots?"

"I see."

The Lord of the Heavenly Reprimand Unit understood Cheon Muyang's words.

Branches came in many kinds.

"Heuk Sang. And the Bancheongwi."

"...."

"We strike them."

The Lord of the Heavenly Reprimand Unit smiled.

"A fine idea."

"Show me what you can do."

"As you wish."

They hid themselves within the darkness.

To watch the heavens, was it not fitting to hide behind the clouds?

"They have walked a path that violates the laws of the Cheon Clan Estate…."

A chilling voice echoed from a place devoid of any human presence.

"They will pay the price."

Cheon Muyang walked slowly.

His hands clasped behind his back, his steps seemed utterly relaxed.

***

A back alley in Hangzhou.

In a place devoid of any presence, the Lord of Heuk Sang sat alone.

"So this is the end."

A place where even moonlight could not settle.

This was where the darkness that would lead the Cheon Clan Estate to ruin resided.

Sitting at its center, the Lord of Heuk Sang sensed the encroaching encirclement tightening by the moment.

"A pity. If only I had a few more years… I could have erased the Cheon Clan Estate."

Clink.

He filled his cup with liquor.

Yet the regret did not fade.

Having filled his own cup, the Lord of Heuk Sang poured a second cup as well, despite having no one to share it with.

Step, step.

That was when it happened.

Cheon Muyang walked in.

"Ah, so you were here."

"You've come at the right time. Come, sit."

"That sounds good."

As if it were planned, Cheon Muyang sat opposite the Lord of Heuk Sang.

"Have a drink."

"I won't refuse."

Cheon Muyang downed the liquor in one go.

"Ah. The aroma is nice."

"It's cheap hua-ju."

"Doesn't it taste different depending on who you drink it with?"

"I suppose it does."

The two faced each other.

Between the softly spread darkness, a thick scent of blood lingered.

Drip.

Blood gathered and soaked into the ground.

The ground was likely drenched in blood by now.

It had been a one-sided slaughter.

The Lord of Heuk Sang asked casually.

"Did they pledge their loyalty to the Cheon Clan Estate once more?"

"Not to the Cheon Clan Estate. And it's not loyalty either."

"Then?"

"I use them, and they use me. It's closer to a contract."

The Lord of Heuk Sang laughed.

Because he understood what was meant.

"I see."

"Seems you have something to say?"

"I'll be blunt."

"I'm listening."

"Come to our sect."

"...."

"It would be a shame to let a talent like you die."

"Shouldn't you be worrying more about your own life than mine?"

"Khuhuhuhuhuhu."

The Lord of Heuk Sang laughed.

Then he continued.

"Do you truly intend to die for the Cheon Clan Estate?"

"Of course not. If someone tries to kill me, I'll kill that bastard first. Even if it's the Demonic Cult."

It was a firm rejection—and a warning.

At that, the Lord of Heuk Sang smacked his lips regretfully.

"What a pity."

"There's no need for that."

"Then let us end this."

Cheon Muyang nodded.

"Any last words?"

"The grand design has already been completed."

"The grand design, you say."

"Before long, the Calamity Flames will rise. When that time comes, you'll understand—why death is a blessing."

Smiling, the Lord of Heuk Sang drained his cup.

"That's it?"

"...."

Instead of answering.

The Lord of Heuk Sang closed his eyes.

Whooong!

Cheonggwang flew in.

And then, the Lord of Heuk Sang's head fell.

"...."

Whether that was the final death or not.

From within the darkness, the Lord of the Heavenly Reprimand Unit and the others revealed themselves.

Every one of them was drenched in blood—but none of it was theirs.

"Is it over?"

"Yes. All of them have been cut down."

"...I see. You've done well."

A bitter feeling lingered.

Those who had joined hands with the Demonic Cult for the sake of revenge had walked a path from which there was no return.

Had Cheon Muyang not already seen how, in that process, they had become monsters?

"It couldn't be helped."

To save everyone—to persuade everyone—was a contradiction in terms.

"Their revenge was justified. But once they crossed the line… cutting them down was the only option."

Revenge was always justified.

However, if one walked the path of heresy and demonic ways for the sake of revenge, even that justification would be tainted.

"...."

Still, their resentment was karma Cheon Muyang himself would bear, and so he mourned those who had died in the darkness without completing their revenge.

"What about the evidence?"

"It has vanished without a trace."

The Lord of Heuk Sang was someone who had put everything in order before meeting his death.

Thus, he would have left no traces behind.

Cheon Muyang nodded, his expression one of someone who hadn't expected anything to begin with.

"We're leaving."

"Yes."

There was nothing left here.

So, they meant to depart.

'The future has completely changed. How will it move now?'

It had shifted in a direction entirely different from the future he knew.

That only made him more curious.

'You can't just stay hidden forever.'

With this, every branch had been cut away.

All that remained were the roots.

Roots so rotten they would have to be torn out completely.

As he sank into such thoughts—

Halt.

Cheon Muyang stopped walking.

Whip!

He turned his head sharply.

There was nothing there but the corpse of the dead Lord of Heuk Sang.

And yet, something felt unsettling.

"...."

"What is it?"

"Ah, it's nothing."

Tilting his head slightly, Cheon Muyang left the back alley of Hangzhou.

Squirm!

Not long after, the corpse of the Lord of Heuk Sang—completely devoid of vitality—twitched.

And that wasn't all.

"Heh heh. You've got good instincts. But you didn't notice this, did you?"

The severed head.

Yet suddenly, its eyes snapped open, and its mouth moved.

Squirm!

The writhing corpse of the Lord of Heuk Sang rejoined itself.

"I should return to the sect like this."

"Tsk. I can't let that happen."

"W-what?!"

Screee!

Something cut across the night sky.

"Huh?"

Once again, the Lord of Heuk Sang's head was severed.

"Disgusting."

"...W-who are you?!"

"The one who will put an end to the grand design."

The one who cut down the Lord of Heuk Sang was the Supreme Elder, Cheon Jungho.

Shock filled the Lord of Heuk Sang's eyes.

"S-Supreme Elder? W-why are you here? T-the grand design?! What do you mean—?!"

Because he was someone who should never have been here.

"I received quite a nice gift from the sect."

"Th-the sect? D-don't tell me…! D-don't tell me you too?! Of the sect?!"

Cheon Jungho curled his lips into a sinister smile.

"That's right. You must've thought you were the one approaching me all this time. But I infiltrated the Cheon Clan Estate long before you did. Decades ago, in fact."

"N-no!"

"Everything is for the sake of the grand design."

With those words—

The Lord of Heuk Sang's body began to twist violently, then started compressing.

"Guaaaargh!"

The compressed body of the Lord of Heuk Sang took the form of a single, complete orb.

That orb overflowed with vitality.

"The completion of the grand design begins now."

Cheon Jungho looked at the orb with a satisfied smile.

Then, he swallowed it whole.

.