Chapter 75

Decision (2)

Cheon Muyang's eyes gleamed.

Namgung Seohee, whom he faced once more, looked firm and unwavering.

'She's made her decision.'

What that decision was, her two eyes spoke clearly enough.

"You've returned, Seohee."

"Yes, Grandfather."

The Sword King was the highest elder of the Namgung Clan.

Yet Seohee, sword in hand, showed no formal courtesy and instead pointed her blade straight at Namgung San.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"I've decided my intent."

"Your intent… and what might that be?"

"Clan Head."

"...."

"I will become the Clan Head of the Namgung Clan."

Kooong!

The air sank heavily.

Her calm eyes did nothing but stare straight at Namgung San.

"You will become the Clan Head?"

"Yes."

"Do you believe that is possible?"

"It's not impossible. At the very least, my older brother is unfit to be Clan Head."

As she coolly judged Namgung Sang-hyeok's qualifications, Namgung San felt—if only for a moment—the bearing of a Sword Empress.

"So you intend to become Clan Head?"

"Yes."

"As a woman? Do you think the martial world would accept that?"

Namgung San rejected it outright.

That a woman could become the head of the Namgung Clan—such a tradition had never existed in their long, unbroken history.

"Acceptance?"

Seohee shook her head.

Who was there to convince, and who to be convinced?

"Why should I need to convince anyone?"

"...."

"Isn't this a matter of our own family?"

Since when had the Namgung Clan concerned itself with the opinions of outsiders?

It was an improper thing to do.

"Even those within the clan will surely resist."

"Of course they will."

"...."

"But I intend to prove it with the sword."

The Namgung Clan was a clan of swords.

To become its Clan Head, one had to wield a sword worthy of that position.

"A sword… do you possess such a blade?"

Whooong!

In place of an answer—

Seohee raised her sword.

A sharp presence coiled around her entire body.

'Has she achieved unity of sword and self?'

Seeing her stance, like that of a single living blade, Cheon Muyang inwardly admired her.

"Yes. I will show you."

"...."

Namgung San's expression as he watched her sword remained stiff, yet it almost seemed as though he were smiling.

Like a grandfather watching his granddaughter show off.

"Then come."

"I already have."

"...!"

The Emperor's Sword Form.

And atop it, another Emperor's Sword Form overlapped.

Rain made of swords clashed against rain made of swords.

Kaang, kaaang!

A piercing sound of blades colliding.

Yet Seohee paid it no mind and steadily closed the distance.

As impressive as Seohee's sword was, how could it be compared to the Sword King's?

Paat!

The overlapping Emperor's Sword Forms slowly began to merge into one.

A single blade grazed past the hem of her clothes.

Blood flowed—but it did not halt Seohee's steps.

That resolve was conveyed directly to Namgung San.

"Do you truly…."

"...."

"Intend to split the clan in two?"

"No."

Seohee shook her head.

What she sought was not to divide the clan.

"Quite the opposite."

A united clan.

A single, unified Namgung Clan.

That was her aim.

"I intend to create a united clan."

A strange light appeared in Cheon Muyang's eyes.

Seohee's resolve mirrored his own.

'No wonder she felt similar to me.'

Cheon Muyang looked at the Sword King.

He was curious how he would respond.

"...."

The Sword King remained silent.

After a moment, he spoke.

"A united clan…."

He saw the will contained within her sword.

Even if her neck were cut, that will would not waver.

In other words, the Sword King realized he could not stop her resolve.

"Do you truly believe you can do it?"

"Yes."

"Heh heh heh."

The Sword King laughed.

The next question was directed not at Seohee, but at Cheon Muyang.

"And what do you think?"

"Does my opinion matter?"

"Surely I can take it into consideration."

"Hmm…."

After a brief moment of thought, Cheon Muyang nodded and spoke.

"I was the same."

"...."

"I wanted to unite the divided Cheon Clan."

Who, back then, had believed Cheon Muyang could succeed?

Everyone had thought it impossible.

Yet Cheon Muyang had done it.

"It was certainly a difficult path."

"...."

"But I succeeded."

Whooong!

Cheongwang resonated.

It was an achievement accomplished with nothing but a single sword.

"Of course, Lady Seohee is not me. So she may succeed—or she may fail."

"...."

"The choice is yours, Elder."

Whom would he trust?

Seohee, or Namgung Sang-hyeok.

It was a simple choice between two.

"That's true."

And the Sword King had already realized the answer long ago.

Perhaps he had merely been waiting for the moment to choose.

'Seohee… if it's you, you'll be able to understand my sword.'

The only reason he had hesitated was the hardship and adversity she would face.

'But it seems even that worry was meddlesome.'

As a swordsman, Seohee would never be broken by such trivial trials.

"Heh heh heh."

With a peculiar smile—

Paaat!

Namgung San withdrew the Emperor's Sword Form.

The invisible swords concealed their presence.

"Splendid."

At last, the Sword King decided who would inherit his sword.

Wooong!

The Emperor's Sword.

The sword that only the Sword King could wield—Namgung San handed it to Seohee.

"Take it. It is your sword now."

"Grandfather…."

Seohee accepted the Emperor's Sword.

The moment her hand closed around the hilt, an exquisite sensation spread from her fingertips throughout her entire body.

"Ah…."

It was a sense of unity incomparable to any other sword.

She felt a confidence as though she could cut down anything.

"It seems even the Emperor's Sword has acknowledged you as its new master."

Though he had wielded the Emperor's Sword his entire life, the Sword King felt no regret at all.

He had lost the need for it long ago.

"However, there is one thing you must always remember."

"Please instruct me."

"You must always remain the master of the sword. Be careful that the sword does not end up wielding you."

"Yes, Grandfather."

"This advice applies to you as well, child of the Cheon Clan."

The Emperor's Sword.

And Cheongwang.

Both were famed blades.

At the same time, they were demonic swords that could devour their owners.

Should one forget their mastery over the sword, they would become a madman intoxicated by the blade—something every swordsman had to guard against.

"I will keep it in mind."

"Good. Very good. They say the waves behind push aside the waves before… it seems I've already become one of the earlier waves."

Namgung San felt a fresh sense of reflection, remembering that he too had once been a later wave that pushed aside those before him.

"But if you give me this sword, then what will you use, Grandfather…?"

Seohee suddenly worried.

No sword could truly replace the Emperor's Sword, and Namgung San's absence from its side would surely feel profound.

"Heh heh heh. How amusing. When we crossed swords you showed no hesitation, and now you worry for me?"

Namgung San understood her feelings.

Smiling, he snapped off a nearby tree branch.

"This branch will suffice for me."

"...."

At those words, Cheon Muyang felt genuine admiration.

It was proof that Namgung San had reached a realm where a sword was no longer necessary—the realm of no-sword.

'So this is the Sword King….'

Once again sensing the lofty heights of a king's position, Cheon Muyang calmed Cheongwang, which was resonating in all directions.

Whooong!

Cheongwang was angry.

It was likely reacting to Namgung San abandoning the Emperor's Sword.

'Don't worry. I'm not going to discard you.'

As if by magic, Cheongwang's cries subsided.

Then Cheon Muyang murmured softly toward Cheongwang, almost like a warning.

'At least not yet.'

Cheongwang immediately began resonating again.

"Hm?"

That was when it happened.

"You damn old bastard!"

Crack!

Nearby trees collapsed with a thunderous roar.

A massive cleaving strike came flying in.

"Who do you think you're messing with!"

It was the Wolf King, a man granted the title of king alongside the Sword King.

His enormous blade traced an unstoppable arc as it flew toward the Sword King.

"As expected… a fine saber."

Namgung San sincerely admired it as he swung the branch in his hand.

"How dare you!"

To the Wolf King, it felt like a provocation, and his muscles swelled instantly.

Kwaaang!

The saber—charging in with enough force to utterly shatter a mere branch—stopped dead.

"...!"

The saber had stopped.

More precisely, it had been blocked by that slender branch.

Kreeek, kreeeek!

The Wolf King poured in more strength, but he felt the unyielding hardness of steel that would not break.

"You're still focusing only on force. Without softness—"

"...!"

The Wolf King's saber collapsed away.

At the same time, the Sword King's branch darted forward, targeting the Wolf King's opening.

"You will suffer for it one day."

The branch stopped.

Right before the Wolf King's heart.

"You would do well to remember that."

Crunch!

The Wolf King ground his teeth.

"I already know that much."

The theme of softness.

It was something he had been contemplating ever since facing the Lord of Yama.

"But what had you so frantic that you came running like this?"

"I came because I thought you might kill that bastard."

"Heh heh heh. You seem attached."

"Attached? I just keep him around because he's interesting."

"Catch your breath."

"…Damn it."

You couldn't lie about being out of breath.

Seeing this, Cheon Muyang approached the Wolf King with a grin.

"Did you really hurry that much?"

"I told you I didn't."

"Oh come on, it's obvious you're out of breath."

"Khmm."

The Wolf King discreetly steadied his breathing.

It seemed he had rushed over after sensing the Sword King's aura.

"But I felt killing intent thick enough to cut flesh—how did it turn into such a warm atmosphere?"

"A misunderstanding was cleared up."

"...."

The Wolf King felt deflated.

"If I'd known this would happen, I wouldn't have come! Why didn't you say so earlier?!"

"What do you mean? We were talking."

"Gnh."

"I greet the Wolf King."

Seohee approached and bowed.

"Good."

The Wolf King smiled as he looked at Seohee.

"You've made up your mind?"

"Yes. I have."

"I hope that decision proves to be the right one."

"I'll show you."

Listening to their exchange, the Sword King nodded.

He could roughly guess what had transpired.

"It seems you've done me a favor."

"Well, something like that."

"So then, what do you intend to do now?"

Seohee smiled.

It was a smile befitting a madwoman—one that oddly resembled Cheon Muyang's.

"The Yongbong Gathering is still ongoing, isn't it?"

"...?"

"Isn't it the perfect place to declare my will?"

"What?"

"So there's something I need you to do, Grandfather."

"And what might that be?"

"What you intended to do today."

"...."

"My older brother asked you, didn't he?"

"Yes."

"Just say that you've done it."

"...."

"I'll take care of the rest."

"Very well. I'll do that."

The Sword King smiled and patted Seohee's shoulder.

"Walk that path."

"Yes, Grandfather."

"Child of the Cheon Clan."

"Yes, Elder."

"I seem to owe you another debt."

"I'll be collecting the interest properly."

"Heh. I'll do whatever you ask."

Cheon Muyang smiled.

"You'll want to remember those words."

Sword King, Namgung San.

For no clear reason at all—

A chill ran down his spine.