Chapter 66

What Happened at Soho Pavilion (1)

The Sword King lowered his head.

Those who witnessed it were not only the rat-like wretches meant to fill the vacancy left by the shadows, but also those who were informed that contact with them had been cut off.

"W-why would the Sword Emperor lower his head…!"

Several elders turned pale in shock.

Looking at the elders of the Namgung Family, Cheon Muyang mocked them in a tone as if he had deliberately possessed the spirit of a butcher.

"They say rats hear words spoken in the day and birds hear words spoken at night, but are you telling me that while I'm with Elder Sword King, rat brats or bird brats are scurrying around nearby?"

"...!"

Corpses lay strewn around them.

Cheon Muyang was more than capable of cutting them down without getting blood on himself, yet he did not do so.

Drip.

Drip, drip.

Blood fell to the ground.

Cheon Muyang smiled.

"So, I cut them down. They had the audacity to try and pass our conversation outside."

"W-what did you say?"

"That insolent—!"

"Insolent?"

Heh.

The corner of Cheon Muyang's lips curled upward.

He must have misheard something.

If not, then they must have truly been blind to the situation.

"Is it not insolence for you, who eavesdropped on a conversation between clans?"

"W-what did you say!"

"Shall we judge this by the laws of the Jianghu?"

Flinch.

Cheon Muyang cut them down.

And yet, the justification lay entirely with him.

Even if the surveillance here had not been directed at Cheon Muyang, was there anything to gain from letting it become known?

"To think the Namgung Family would treat us like this. Truly absurd."

Cheon Muyang's acting reached its peak.

Had the Wolf King seen it, he would surely have applauded in admiration.

"T-this…!"

"Elder Sword King even lowered his head, yet elders of the clan behave like this… tsk."

"...!"

Had they not seen it as well?

The sight of the Sword King lowering his head.

'Could it be?'

'Because of that?'

Those who knew the reason had all been cut down, so how could anyone know?

Cheon Muyang's intention landed perfectly.

He made them believe that the Sword King had personally apologized for the Namgung Family's discourtesy.

"Do not make this a bigger matter."

"...."

The Sword King, having read Cheon Muyang's inner thoughts, also joined in.

Thus, the elders of the Namgung Family had no choice but to grit their teeth and bow their heads to Cheon Muyang.

"W-we have committed a discourtesy."

The Sword King had lowered his head.

And since that very Sword King had said not to make things bigger, how could they not apologize?

"Well, let's do that. I too was wrong to show no mercy in my actions."

"...."

"Then, we shall be going."

Cheon Muyang paid his respects to the Sword King.

However, Namgung San's expression remained cold.

"I will not forget today's debt."

"The same goes for me."

The Sword King, acting as though rage boiled within him, seemed like a god of acting himself.

"Shall you open the way?"

"Ggh…"

Unable to do this or that, the elders of the Namgung Family had no choice but to clear the path.

Grrrkk!

Then, the Wolf King could be seen dragging his great blade along the ground as he approached with Wolyeong, Neung Ryeo-un, and Cha Myeong-hak.

"You got here fast."

"Wolf King…!"

Exuding his presence, the Wolf King seemed utterly unconcerned that this place belonged to the Namgung Family.

"Is it already over?"

"Can't you tell just by looking?"

"Tsk. I'm a bit late."

The Wolf King smacked his lips in regret, but did not rein in his aura.

"If I'd come a little sooner, I could've flattened the noses of those insolent bastards myself."

Several elders flinched.

They were the very ones who had clearly declared to the Wolf King not to cause trouble before coming here.

"It's already over."

"Hmph."

"Let's go."

"Young Master, are you alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Let's go."

Cheon Muyang walked straight past them without hesitation.

"T-this insolence!"

"Leave it be."

"Sword Emperor!"

"I said leave it."

"...!"

"Where is Sang-hyeok?"

"T-that is…"

"He is attending the gathering."

"I see. Understood. I wish to be alone, so have them withdraw."

"Yes…"

The elders left.

However, the shadows around them did not withdraw.

"Hoo…"

Namgung San remained alone.

Yet, a profound loneliness weighed upon him.

***

After parting ways with the Sword King, Cheon Muyang's group strolled through Soho.

"By the way, what did you talk about with the Sword King? It didn't look ordinary."

"It was about Namgung Seohee. The Namgung Family may look fine on the surface, but inside it's completely rotten."

"Heh heh heh. Do you think it's only the Namgung Family?"

"...."

"All those old prestigious righteous sects that boast of their history are the same. Do you think Shaolin is quiet?"

The Wolf King's words subtly pierced the core of the matter.

That was why Cheon Muyang looked at him with new eyes and chuckled.

"I see. That is the way of people living together."

"Exactly."

"Even so, there are lines that must not be crossed, are there not?"

Even if not the entire Namgung Family.

Someone within the Namgung Family had already crossed that line.

"Isn't that the child's burden to bear?"

"That's one way to put it."

Namgung Seohee.

Depending on what answer she arrived at, the fate of the Namgung Family would be decided.

"What should we do?"

Wolyeong, who had just returned from a nearby inn, approached with a dejected expression.

The Yongbong Assembly had not yet begun, so they needed a place to stay until then.

"The prices are no joke."

Any place that seemed decent was fully booked, and the prices were brutal as well.

"Even West Lake isn't this expensive."

"It's all a rip-off."

"What should we do, Young Master? I think we might run short on money."

At Wolyeong's concern, the Wolf King barked loudly.

"You brat! I knew this would happen. I told you to at least take plenty of money—what kind of pitiful state is this?"

"Then, why not stay beside the Sword King?"

"Heh heh heh."

As soon as he was about to retort, the Wolf King shook his head.

"No chance. Compared to that place, this is a paradise."

The Wolf King clicked his tongue.

He could not understand how someone like the Sword King could reside in such a place.

"Tsk. Living among rat brats, honestly."

"Huh? Rats? I didn't notice anything like that."

Neung Ryeo-un and Cha Myeong-hak explained to the clueless Wolyeong.

"He's not talking about those kinds of rats."

"Ah… really?"

"Yes. The ones around us, the ones eavesdropping…"

"Oh, those rat brats?"

"That's not what's important right now."

"Ah, right."

Cheon Muyang, who had been listening to the conversation, laughed.

Then he pointed somewhere and said,

"Let's go there."

"Huh?"

It was the inn with the tallest number of floors in all of Soho.

At a glance, it was clearly an expensive-looking place.

"Young Master? That place is a bit…"

"Don't worry and just follow."

Cheon Muyang took the lead.

Wolyeong tilted her head but had no choice but to follow.

"We're short on money, so what is he planning to do?"

"How would anyone know what's going on in that butcher's head? Tsk."

"Butcher?"

"Oh? Then is he a gentleman?"

"...."

"You can't honestly call him a gentleman either, can you?"

"Ugh!"

The Wolf King smiled triumphantly.

As if to say he'd won this time.

"Hmph!"

With Wolyeong's short pout, they arrived at the inn known as Soho Pavilion.

"Let's go in first."

"We will escort you."

"Mmm."

Neung Ryeo-un and Cha Myeong-hak took the lead.

Following the waiter's guidance, they were able to take their seats.

As expected, there weren't many people here.

"Everything looks high-class."

"It can't be helped."

"So what are you planning to do now?"

"Ah, just trust me. There's a method."

"Huh?"

"You know why I brought the three of you along, right?"

"Yes. I know."

Wasn't it to help us gain diverse experiences?

"That's right. To become stronger."

"Ah, um… r-right?"

The nuance felt strangely different.

Cheon Muyang spoke to the three with his trademark executioner's grin.

"It's also important to know just what level I've reached by now."

Training under the Wolf King was important, but understanding one's own position was just as crucial.

"Don't you want to cross blades with all kinds of people?"

"...!"

"And make some money while we're at it."

"This brat… you've come up with quite an interesting idea."

The Wolf King understood exactly what Cheon Muyang was getting at.

Neung Ryeo-un and Cha Myeong-hak stayed silent, but an unseen fighting spirit flared within them.

The questions fell to Wolyeong.

"Young Master, what is it?"

"An underground martial arena."

"Huh?"

"Think about it. The promising juniors of all the great prestigious righteous sects have gathered."

That was the Yongbong Assembly.

"Then naturally, those accompanying those juniors would have followed as well, wouldn't they?"

They too were martial artists.

Among them would be people like the Wolf King, staying as retainers, and others who were in an awkward position—neither juniors nor qualified to participate in the Yongbong Assembly.

"Ah…!"

There was a separate place where such people would gather.

"You get it now, right?"

"Yes, yes…!"

"No need to be nervous. Just unfold your sword as far as you can."

Wolyeong was already tense.

She lacked that much real combat experience.

Sparring with the Wolf King had certainly felt like real combat, but it was proof that even that was not enough.

"Tsk. I personally trained you—what are you trembling for?"

"I-I'm not trembling!"

"You're trembling right now."

"I-it's because I'm cold!"

"Oh? Is that so?"

The Wolf King snorted with a laugh and asked Cheon Muyang,

"But is that place really here?"

"Didn't you feel it when we came in?"

"...?"

"The faint scent of blood lingering in this place."

"Ah, so that's what it was? I thought someone had caused a mess."

"Huh? What do you mean by that?"

Wolyeong looked completely lost.

Clicking his tongue, the Wolf King continued.

"This is something you lot should know too. In the Jianghu, the place you must be most careful of is an inn like this. Just glaring at each other can lead to—"

Crash!

Crunch!

A commotion broke out on the opposite side.

"That's how blood ends up spilling."

"Ah…."

"Now's the perfect timing."

With a meaningful smile, Cheon Muyang called over a nearby waiter.

Despite furniture being smashed, the staff looked completely unfazed—clearly used to such things.

"Here. Take an order."

"Yes! Coming right up!"

Soon, the waiter arrived.

Looking at the waiter smiling brightly as he prepared to take their order, Cheon Muyang casually asked,

"I heard there's something fun to snack on here."

"...."

Slip.

Cheon Muyang took out a single silver coin.

"Aah!"

Wolyeong gasped as she watched a precious silver coin—like blood and sweat itself—disappear into the waiter's pouch.

Still, how could one let small greed ruin greater gain?

Holding back tears, Wolyeong pinched her thigh.

"Ah, so that's what you're here for?"

"That's right."

"Please wait just a moment."

"Nice when people understand each other."

The waiter hurried off somewhere and returned with something in hand.

A brush and a register of names.

The register was already filled with names and sobriquets.

"Please write here."

"Alright."

"We'll need something to guarantee your identity as well…"

Cheon Muyang took out a bronze-colored invitation from his robes.

"Will this do?"

"Yes. That's more than sufficient. Do you plan to stay at our inn?"

"Yes."

"Then we'll hold onto this and deliver it to your room once you're finished."

"I'd appreciate that."

"Hehe. When you're ready, just follow that gentleman over there."

"Hoo…!"

Wolyeong's tension reached its peak.

Seeing this, Cheon Muyang smiled.

"No need to be nervous. I'll go with you."

"Ah, y-yes…"

"No, that won't be necessary."

"What do you mean?"

"Everyone should do what they need to do."

"...?"

"You came all the way to the Yongbong Assembly—you should see the dragon and the phoenix. Though what's waiting might be worms instead of dragons."

"...."

"Go see the dragon and phoenix."

"Right now?"

"Then should I go instead?"

A strange gaze could be felt.

The three of them seemed to want this as well.

『If you're there, you'll just get in the way.』

Cheon Muyang smacked his lips.

Well, what could he do?

"Tsk."

"Young Master! We'll be back!"

"...."

"We will return victorious."

The three left briskly.

As the Wolf King was about to leave as well, Cheon Muyang handed him something from his robes.

"It's a medicinal pill."

"...."

"Use it if you think it's necessary."

"Don't you have one for me?"

"Sorry, but there are only three."

"Figures."

Grumbling about seniority and age, the Wolf King left his seat.

Left alone, Cheon Muyang scratched the back of his head.

"Young Master, you're not going?"

"It just turned out this way."

"Shall I bring out something to snack on?"

"You've got a good sense for business. Sure."

"Yes!"

The waiter left.

Feeling a soft breeze brush past him, Cheon Muyang turned his head and faced Soho.

"Nice."

The charm of Soho was palpable.

It couldn't be compared to West Lake of Zhejiang, but it had more than enough appeal of its own.

"Hahahaha!"

"Hohoho!"

But that mood was shattered in an instant.

The doors of Soho Pavilion burst open as a group barged in, laughing boisterously.

Cheon Muyang lost interest.

"Truly, Young Master Namgung is remarkable."

—right up until he heard that voice.

'Yongbong… Yongbong, huh….'

Just as the Wolf King had said.

There were no dragons or phoenixes.