Chapter 78

Tang Sohye (1)

Although the Yongbong Gathering ended in great upheaval, its aftershocks still lingered in Soho.

"There are still a lot of them."

Countless people remained in Soho, savoring the lingering excitement of the Yongbong Gathering.

"No, seriously."

"The Namgung Clan's Sword Peak—"

"Sword Peak? What Sword Peak? Sword Empress, Sword Empress!"

The sword Namgung Seohee had shown that day left a deep impression on countless onlookers.

So much so that people were already calling her the Sword Empress instead of Sword Peak.

Walking through the streets of Soho, Cheon Muyang heard Namgung Seohee's name again and again.

"That's incredible."

But that wasn't all.

"They say Daoist Cheongjin of Wudang acknowledged defeat to that butchered young master of the Cheon Clan."

"As expected of Cheon Hyeop, the great hero."

"Cheon Hyeop?"

Cheon Muyang tilted his head.

It was the first time he'd heard that title.

"Seems that's what they're calling you."

The Wolf King knew better.

If you spent time at martial arenas, rumors reached your ears whether you wanted them to or not.

"Hm…."

From here and there, Cheon Muyang heard people calling him Cheon Hyeop.

He shrugged.

It wasn't bad.

Hadn't he already resolved to uphold a chivalrous blade?

'If I can connect chivalry with the Cheon Clan, that'd be perfect.'

Favor toward Cheon Muyang would naturally extend to the Cheon Clan as well.

Still, it was amusing that everyone seemed to be saying the same things.

"Just how stagnant must it have been…"

"What?"

"How stagnant must the martial world have been, to cheer this much over something like this."

"Hm…."

Understanding what he meant, the Wolf King nodded.

"That's true."

Stagnant.

It might have been the perfect word to describe the current state of the martial world.

"Ten years ago or now, nothing's really changed."

"Ten years?"

Cheon Muyang shook his head.

The Wolf King had been the Wolf King ten years ago, and he still was now, but—

"More like hundreds of years."

The might of the Nine Great Sects like Shaolin and Wudang was the same now as it had been centuries ago.

Their structure had always been solid.

Even if the rise of the so-called Ten Great Clans had once stirred new currents, those too had settled into the framework of the Nine Sects and Ten Clans, letting the waves subside once more.

"You're right. So it'll be different this time. How long has it been since a truly new current flowed?"

"If people are reacting like this over just this much…"

Cheon Muyang smiled.

To the Wolf King, it was a smile befitting a true butcher.

"So what are you planning to do now?"

"..."

This was only the beginning.

Cheon Muyang intended to pierce straight through the stagnant martial world.

"It's going to get very noisy from here on out."

"The martial world will be in chaos."

"Sometimes you need to flip stagnant water over for it to flow again, don't you?"

The Wolf King nodded.

That was precisely why it was called the martial world.

Rivers and lakes.

A lake alone would stagnate and rot, but with a river, it could flow.

"Now is the time for it to flow."

Water that doesn't flow inevitably stagnates and decays.

A new current had to surge forth.

"They say the waves behind drive out the waves ahead."

The Wolf King felt a surge of emotion.

It felt like only yesterday that he himself had rampaged through the martial world like a butcher—yet now he was the setting sun.

"Are you already thinking of being pushed aside?"

"How could that be?"

Still, the time wasn't yet.

The Wolf King believed he still had time left to run wild.

"Ten years is still far off."

"Ten years? You should serve as an instructor for the Cheon Clan for twenty."

"Enough."

With a faint chuckle, Cheon Muyang picked up the pace.

"Let's go."

For some reason, the Wolf King felt a chill run down his spine.

"Don't tell me you're serious…"

He followed behind Cheon Muyang.

Repeating to himself that it couldn't be.

"It can't be."

***

Underground Training Hall.

The stale stench of sweat mixed with the metallic smell of blood, forming an unpleasant odor.

"Hm…."

Yet within it, fierce fighting spirit coiled like a dragon.

"Truly impressive."

"Waaaaaah!"

Beneath the quiet streets of Soho—

It was a massive space, hard to believe such a place existed below.

The heat of celebration brought by the Yongbong Gathering burned fiercely here, amid a crowd packed so tightly there was barely room to step.

"There."

"...."

The training halls were divided into several sections, seemingly graded by level.

Naturally, the Wolf King headed for the largest one at the center.

"Oh?"

"What's so surprising?"

"Looks like he's earned some recognition."

"He's usable now."

The Wolf King gestured with his chin.

A match had just ended there, and a new fighter was stepping up.

"Neung Ryeo-un."

It was Neung Ryeo-un.

Cheon Muyang watched him climb onto the platform carefully.

'Oh?'

From his gait, stride, hand position, and center of gravity, it was clear.

'He's grown.'

From the moment he stepped onto the platform, Neung Ryeo-un entered a combat-ready state—his eyes alone were nothing like before.

What surprised Cheon Muyang next was the crowd's reaction.

"Ooooooh!"

As if they'd been waiting, cheers erupted from all sides.

"…?"

Cheon Muyang looked to the Wolf King, seeking an explanation.

The Wolf King merely wore a faint, knowing smile.

"Just showing up gets this kind of reaction?"

"Of course."

"…?"

"Undefeated."

"Hm. That alone wouldn't explain it."

Plenty of people went undefeated.

"True. Exactly three times."

The Wolf King held up three fingers.

"All against fighters judged to be strong."

"And he managed that?"

"It was possible because he fully absorbed the elixir you gave him."

"Hm… Let's see."

Cheon Muyang wanted to see the results for himself.

To gauge the opponent's level, he looked to the fighter facing Neung Ryeo-un on the platform.

"...."

A man with a sharp, honed presence.

That meant experience.

Someone who had brushed against death many times—the scent was unmistakable.

"What do you think?"

"He's decent."

The old Neung Ryeo-un wouldn't have been able to handle someone like that.

"So all three opponents were like this?"

"Yes."

Cheon Muyang nodded.

Neung Ryeo-un looked very different now.

'He must've survived death more than once.'

An elixir alone could never produce this kind of growth.

Which meant there had been bloody effort behind it.

Beneath those clothes, countless scars were surely hidden.

"All three undefeated… not bad."

"I trained them. Isn't that only natural?"

Cheon Muyang smiled.

As expected, the Wolf King was still the Wolf King.

The results exceeded expectations.

"You really are an excellent instructor."

He paused.

The confident smile at the corner of the Wolf King's mouth froze.

"Ah…."

"I look forward to working with you from now on."

For the first time, Cheon Muyang slightly lowered his head to the Wolf King in proper courtesy.

"Kh… ahem."

Even though he knew it was a trap—

the Wolf King had no choice but to step into it.

"L-leave it to me."

"Good."

Cheon Muyang smiled as he carefully checked the swords of Neung Ryeo-un, Cha Myeong-hak, and Wolyeong.

"They've grown stronger."

Their growth was satisfying.

Even more pleasing was the dissatisfied look on their faces, as though they still found themselves lacking.

'They probably do.'

Only those who recognize their own shortcomings can truly grow.

In that sense, the three of them were qualified to become even stronger.

'Desire more. Want more.'

They had grown stronger—

"Only now are you finally usable."

"Yes. You're still far from enough."

Still far.

"But you will become even stronger."

"You must."

Cheon Muyang smiled.

"You'll need to become much stronger if you're going to stand behind me."

And he was certain.

They would become stronger.

"How much more time do you need?"

"If we squeeze everything we can out of this place, three days should be enough."

"Three days… that's reasonable."

"You seem to have something in mind."

"The Tang Clan is involved."

"The Tang Clan…."

"If they start scheming, they won't wait longer than three days."

"Are you that sure the Tang Clan will move?"

"..."

Instead of answering, Cheon Muyang smiled.

It was the same kind of smile—one that showed he was just as certain the Tang Clan would move as he was that the three of them would grow stronger.

"I'll be going first."

Left alone, the Wolf King slowly shook his head.

"Your scheming has grown deeper as well."

The Wolf King chuckled.

Normally, he would have warned him to be careful of the Tang Clan.

But this time was different.

"It's the Tang Clan who should be careful."

The Tang Clan would have to be careful.

He was tempted to stay and watch how Cheon Muyang would deal with them—but the Wolf King had other priorities.

Watching the three of them climb down from the training arena after fighting exactly three strong opponents again today, the Wolf King clicked his tongue as if nothing were unusual.

"Tsk."

But Wolyeong, already used to that reaction, ignored him and searched for Cheon Muyang instead.

"Young Master was here just now, wasn't he?"

"He was."

"What did he say?"

"He said you're still far from enough."

"Tch. That's a lie."

"Heh. I told you—you're still far."

"I know that myself. Still, I wanted to hear at least one compliment."

Wolyeong felt a little disappointed.

"What did you realize today?"

"Ah… my judgment was poor."

"Judgment, huh."

The Wolf King smiled in satisfaction.

Their growth rate, now steadily entering maturity, was astonishing.

Watching them was a daily pleasure for him.

"Interesting. Then today's training will focus on that."

"Yes."

"..."

Unlike Wolyeong,

Neung Ryeo-un and Cha Myeong-hak both had deeply sunken eyes.

"Please guide us."

Looking at the two who seemed to have hit a wall, the Wolf King nodded.

"Good. Don't rush. When the time comes, you'll cross it naturally."

A wall.

The moment they crossed that wall—

Neung Ryeo-un and Cha Myeong-hak would become peak masters acknowledged by all.

"Yes."

"Let's go."

The three who had appeared like comets—

the three who had not recorded a single defeat so far—

were writing yet another legend in the underground arena.

"Three skies. The Three Heavens."

Each of them possessed a different sky.

"The Three-Heaven Swordsmen… the Three-Heaven Guests."

Those who witnessed their swords saw three entirely different skies.

Yet because there was one central sky among them, they were bound together under the name of the Three-Heaven Guests.

"Do not grow arrogant."

"We know. We know our road is still long."

Even now, Wolyeong thirsted and yearned to become stronger.

"Good."

The Wolf King smiled in satisfaction.

***

A dark cavern.

A damp, metallic scent unique to caves seeped through the air.

"Namgung Young Master."

Deep inside, a man and a woman could be seen.

"Miss Tang…."

Once, he had shone brilliantly as the Sword Dragon—Namgung Sang-hyeok.

But now, he was nothing more than a fallen king.

Thud!

He dropped to his knees.

It was a pitiful sight.

Tang Sohye's cold eyes looked down at him.

"Why did you call me here?"

"Miss Tang…."

Her icy tone pierced Namgung Sang-hyeok's heart.

"I… I…."

"..."

"For you…."

"I admired the young master who was to become the head of the Namgung Clan."

But the Namgung Sang-hyeok who had fallen so low and become so unsightly was no more than a pebble on the ground to Tang Sohye.

"But… the current you… is nothing."

Since the Sword King, Namgung San, had officially supported Namgung Seohee, Namgung Sang-hyeok would never become the clan head.

Which meant—

to Tang Sohye, he had no value left.

"Wh-what should I do…?"

Namgung Sang-hyeok, who had fallen into the abyss, had nothing left to cling to.

Only Tang Sohye remained.

'It's over.'

Tang Sohye licked her lips.

"Take this."

She handed him something.

It was a pill.

"Th-this is…?"

"Defeat Namgung Seohee and reclaim your rightful place. And then…."

Tang Sohye smiled coldly.

She recalled a man who would still be in Soho.

"Cheon Muyang. Kill him."

"...!"

"You can do it, right?"

Namgung Sang-hyeok fell silent.

Watching him, Tang Sohye turned and walked toward the entrance of the cave.

Step. Step.

"You have to."

Her voice was bewitching.

"If you want to have me."

She stirred Namgung Sang-hyeok's desire.