Chapter 46
Conclusion (1)
The Dao Venerable had left, but the lingering embers he left behind still remained.
Ash-gray smoke rose into the sky like smoldering breath.
Perhaps because the tension had finally eased, the Wolf King dropped his saber onto the ground.
"They say there is another sky above the heavens.... Was I still that far away?"
The Wolf King stood there in a daze.
In the past, when he had wandered the martial world, the Wolf King had once faced the Yama Dao Venerable.
They had crossed bladesβand he had been defeated.
Kadeuk!
"I thought I had closed the gap this time...."
From that day on, grinding his teeth and steeling his resolve, the Wolf King had ascended to the supreme realm known as enlightenment.
Thus, by now, he had secretly believed that even if he met the Yama Dao Venerable again, he would not lose so futilely as before.
"And yet, it's exactly the same as back then."
However, just as the Wolf King had made progressβ
The Dao Venerable had moved forward as well.
The gap he thought had narrowed had not changed in the slightest.
"Damn it."
The Wolf King's pride was crushed.
He realized for himself just how far he still had to go.
"So enlightenment isn't the same enlightenment for everyone. Can it really be this unfair?"
The Wolf King grumbled.
No matter how he thought about it, it felt as though he could never close the gap created by all those years the other had reached enlightenment first.
"Being born early really is a rank in itself. Don't you think?"
"...."
Unlike the grumbling Wolf Kingβ
Cheon Seonhak stood quietly with his eyes closed, continuously recalling the Dao of the Yama Dao Venerable.
'Could I truly receive that saber?'
He asked himself.
However, the answer was no.
All he could imagine was his own sword, and the heavens burning as a result.
'I, too, am endlessly lacking.'
Having reached the realm of enlightenment,
He had inwardly believed he had reached the extreme.
But that, too, was nothing more than an illusion.
Those monsters who had already reached enlightenment decades agoβ
Conversely, did that not mean they had spent decades struggling to advance further even within the realm of enlightenment?
'I must close that gap.'
Only then did it feel like Cheon Seonhak could keep his own vow.
To become Cheon Muyang's sword and shield, how could he afford to be complacent here?
Just as he became aware of his own inadequacyβ
Hwak!
That was when it happened.
The Wolf King's and Cheon Seonhak's heads turned at the same time.
Toward Cheon Muyang.
"...!"
The two of them were outside the wall of flames.
Thus, they had only seen things vaguely.
They had not been able to see clearly.
And because of thatβ
Their confusion only deepened.
"How were you able to receive the Dao Venerable's saber?"
"...."
How could Cheon Muyang have withstood the Dao Venerable's saberβa realm so lofty that even those who had reached enlightenment felt an insurmountable wall?
Noβmore than that, had the Dao Venerable not even spoken as though acknowledging defeat?
"I merely gained some insight."
It seemed Cheon Muyang's legs had given out.
He was sitting there, slumped onto the ground.
An exhaustion so overwhelming that even his reborn body could not bear it wrapped around him.
"Insight?"
"Yes. Just know that such a thing exists."
"You've grown stronger."
Cheon Seonhak smiled and extended his hand toward Cheon Muyang.
"I'm still far from it. I don't yet have the confidence to defeat you in a fight, Uncle."
After all, Cheon Muyang had not yet reached the realm of enlightenment.
At best, he stood only at the threshold of the peak, so there was no way he could be a match.
"In all my life, I've never seen a freak like you."
The Wolf King clicked his tongue.
Yet he was certain.
That Cheon Muyang was a talent worthy of acknowledgment even by that Dao Venerable.
'It wouldn't be so bad to settle down with the Cheon family.'
Wasn't it fortunate, then?
That the Vagabond Pavilion of Hangzhou was nearby.
While the Wolf King was lost in thoughtβ
Cheon Muyang spoke with Cheon Seonhak.
"Do you understand what the Dao Venerable meant?"
"More or less."
"...."
Cheon Muyang recalled the deeper meaning behind the Dao Venerable's cryptic words.
γAre you speaking of one who is already dead? Or one who yet lives?γ
Moreover, through Nameless One's memories, he was able to understand what it meant.
'Clearly....'
A few days before the Cheon family was annihilated.
A great upheaval shook the martial world.
A revelation that someone known as an elder of a prestigious orthodox sect was, in truth, a member of the Demonic Cult.
'The one who exposed it was someone from the Beggars' Sect.'
However, before any conclusion could be reachedβ
The Cheon family suffered the calamity of total annihilation.
'In other words, does that mean the supreme elder could also be a member of the Demonic Cult?'
By common sense, how could such a thing be possibleβbut the opponent was the Demonic Cult.
Were they not a group that freely employed all manner of bizarre, insidious, and utterly unorthodox methods?
'If anything, that explanation fits better.'
Supreme Elder Cheon Jungho.
He appeared to be coveting power within the Cheon family, yet in truth, he was merely driving the family toward ruin.
'He said "one who is already dead." That means....'
Did that not imply that the original Cheon Jungho was already dead?
Crunch.
Cheon Muyang clenched his teeth tightly.
From the very beginning, the annihilation of the Cheon family had been the Demonic Cult's scheme.
"Thirty years' grand plan...."
Only now did he understand what that meant.
"Uncle."
"Yes."
"It seems our family has been dancing in their palm from the very start."
"...."
"The true supreme elder was likely ambushed... and the one now claiming to be the supreme elder appears to be a Demonic Cult operative."
Cheon Seonhak remained silent.
Yet within that silence lay decades of simmering rage.
"How ridiculous."
"...."
"That I was so foolish as to never even realize the enemy's true nature."
How could he have known?
Supreme Elder Cheon Jungho had been a pillar supporting the family since the previous generation.
Thus, even if he manipulated the family according to his own will, it was assumed he sought power.
After all, did not their power depend on the Cheon family's continued existence?
"To think he truly desired the annihilation of the Cheon family."
Yet, that was wrong.
Cheon Jungho had deliberately guided the Cheon family toward destruction.
"However, since he was a Demonic Cult spy wearing the mask of the supreme elder, strictly speaking, it was not truly the supreme elder's will."
"Yes. At least that much is fortunate."
It was no comfort.
Had they realized this earlierβ
The Cheon family would not have collapsed to this extent.
"It seems we should return to the family estate."
"Yes. We should."
"Please take care of the children."
"Aren't you coming with us?"
"He told me to examine the third elder's corpse. It shouldn't take long."
There had been no corpse to begin with.
Had it not been reduced to ashes?
He wanted to point this out, but Cheon Seonhak merely nodded.
"...."
The Dao Venerable had clearly shown goodwill.
At the very least, he would not have mixed falsehood into his words.
Thus, there must be something within the pile of ashes.
"Alright. I'll go on ahead."
"Yes. Please."
"Don't be late."
"Yes, Uncle."
The two exchanged farewells.
Then, Cheon Muyang turned his back.
Glance.
In the process, he clearly met the Wolf King's eyes.
'Alright. At least say goodbye. Basic courtesy, no?'
He inwardly expected a greeting.
After all, had he not stepped forward for the Cheon family?
Hwak!
However, contrary to expectationβ
Cheon Muyang passed straight by the Wolf King.
As though the Wolf King did not exist at all.
"W-wait a second!"
"...."
Without realizing it, the Wolf King stopped Cheon Muyang.
He did not know why, but an inexplicable surge of resentment rose within him.
"IβI'm the one who nearly got myself killed! That fellow barely did anything!"
"So?"
Cheon Muyang looked at him as if asking what he wanted.
The Wolf King's brow furrowed.
"Y-you brat! It's not 'so'! I bled for this, and you can't even say thank you?!"
"Oh, so you wanted to hear me say thanks?"
Pisik.
Cheon Muyang spoke with a grin.
"Much obliged."
Having delivered a perfunctory thanks, Cheon Muyang left the dumbfounded Wolf King behind and headed toward the ashes left behind by the third elder.
"Y-you brat!"
"Let's go."
"Damn it!"
The Wolf King exploded in fury.
At that moment, Cheon Muyang's voice slipped in as a transmission.
γThe Vagabond Pavilion of HangzhouβI've already sent Geumsan there. If needed, move them.γ
γThe Heaven Hound Division...? You mean the shadows that were circling around you?γ
γThat's right. If Cheon Jungho made a move, they would notice.γ
γWhy didn't you tell your uncle?γ
γDidn't you meet the family head alone yesterday? He should have already mobilized Neung Ryeoun, Cha Myeonghak, and Wolyeong.γ
γDid the Heaven Hound Division inform you?γ
γYou could say that. I'm counting on you.γ
At Cheon Muyang's brief farewell, the Wolf King puffed out his chest for no particular reason.
"There's no time."
Unaware of any of this, Cheon Seonhak urged the Wolf King onward.
Thus, pretending they had not spoken at allβ
The Wolf King exploded in anger.
"Just you wait until you come back!"
"...."
"That insolent brat! If you're his uncle, you should be scolding him for acting like that!"
"Before I am that child's uncle, I am his sword and shield."
"What?"
Cheon Seonhak shrugged his shoulders.
Somehow, he looked similar to Cheon Muyang.
"That child's will is my will. So accept it."
With those words, Cheon Seonhak headed down Mount Putuo without another glance back.
"Hah. This one, that oneβthere's not a single person I can reason with."
"...."
Still, the Wolf King slung the child over his back and followed after Cheon Seonhak.
"Hey, wait up!"
And so, the two of them departed.
Before approaching the third elder's remains, Cheon Muyang swept his gaze around the surroundings.
"So this is it."
Scattered nearby were the corpses of the Black Merchants who had likely brought items left behind by Heuksangju to the third elder.
Naturally, around them lay medicinal elixirs and various other items that the third elder had not yet fully absorbed.
"No need to search for them separately. That's a relief."
Under normal circumstances, they would have been scattered all across Zhejiang.
But since everything had been gathered in one place, there was no need for the trouble of searching.
"I should have the Heaven Hound Division retrieve these."
However, that was a matter for later.
The task at hand was not yet complete.
"Before that... let's see."
Cheon Muyang approached the pile of ashes and examined it closely.
"Hm?"
There, something he had seen before lay conspicuously among the ashes.
"This is...?"
The aura of the bead emitting an enigmatic crimson glow was similar to that of the pill once swallowed by So Eungbang.
However, the demonic energy it contained was far denser and more concentratedβon an entirely different level.
"The source...."
It was the source of demonic energy.
The demonic energy held by So Eungbang and by the third elder had ultimately been degraded offshoots of this very source.
Wuuung!
He grasped the bead in his hand.
At once, a cunning will could be felt invading Cheon Muyang's consciousness.
Sssss.
It felt like hundreds of snakes crawling up his body.
That insidious whisper sought to dominate his mind.
"Begone."
Cheon Muyang did not allow the intrusion of that cunning will in the slightest.
Rather, he sought to peer back into the source of the demonic energy itself.
'As expected....'
Hatred, rage, killing intent, sorrow, screams, despairβ
Countless negative emotions were conveyed.
Yet beneath them all, at the deepest layer, lay chaos.
'Chaos.'
His hypothesis became certainty.
The fundamental principle behind the Demonic Cult's actions was chaos itself.
Kadeuk!
Cheon Muyang clenched his teeth.
Their hostility was not directed solely at the Cheon family.
It was aimed at the entirety of the Central Plains martial world.
'Noβbeyond that... they intend to eradicate all life that exists in this world.'
If chaos were to arrive, the world would return to a state before heaven and earth were divided.
There would be no life, no orderβanywhere.
"How pure."
It was not personal greed.
It was a grand cause, not a petty one.
Because of that, the source of demonic energy might even be considered pure in its own way.
"Who truly understands the danger of this?"
The Central Plains martial world was complacent.
They were trapped in the illusion that the golden tower of the orthodox martial world would last forever.
"They don't realize they're frogs in a boiling pot."
If a frog were thrown into boiling water, it would struggle and leap out at once.
But if the water were lukewarm and slowly heated, the frog would be cooked alive without ever realizing it.
The Central Plains martial world was already that frog.
"No. There must be someone."
There had to be people who suspected the Demonic Cult.
"Someone who uncovered the Demonic Cult's infiltration a few days before the Cheon family's annihilation. I need to meet that person."
There was no information.
Only that the person belonged to the Beggars' Sect.
Even so, that was enough.
"Once this is over...."
He would step fully into the martial world.
To warn others about the Demonic Cultβ
And to raise the sword of the Cheon family high once more in the martial world.
"It's time to enter the martial world."
A suitable stage immediately came to mind.
"When was the Yongbong Gathering again?"
It felt like it was around this time.