Chapter 79

Tang Sohye (2)

Three days passed.

Cheon Muyang faced the Sword King, who had suddenly come to visit.

"I pay my respects to you, Sword King."

"Namgung Sang-hyeok has disappeared."

"...."

It was as expected.

The Sword King must have anticipated it well enough too.

There was nothing surprising about it.

However, the words that followed from the Sword King went beyond expectations.

"Namgung Seo-hee has also disappeared."

"...This is troubling."

"The reason I came to find you is to ask a favor."

It was obvious what that favor would be.

Cheon Muyang waited for the Sword King to continue.

"Please take care of Seo-hee, that child."

"And what about you, Sword King?"

"I plan to leave the family for a while."

"I see. I understand."

The Sword King supported Namgung Seo-hee.

That, however, was the greatest consideration he could offer.

He could not step in beyond that.

Because the family would split in two.

That was why the Sword King could not return to the Namgung family.

"I am placing a heavy burden on you."

"Not at all."

Heh.

Cheon Muyang smiled.

"Have you not already asked me once before?"

The first time they met.

Back then as well, the Sword King had asked Cheon Muyang to look after Namgung Seo-hee.

"I have already received my recompense."

That day, Namgung San had shown him his sword as payment.

Having already received something, how could he refuse?

"Please think of it as a transaction."

"A transaction, you say...."

The Sword King let out a small chuckle.

"A fine transaction indeed."

"Yes, something like that. So please do not worry. As you know, she is strong."

"...."

Namgung San fell silent.

Watching Cheon Muyang, who did not demand anything more despite being able to, filled him with renewed admiration.

"I learn much from you."

"It is an honor."

"Child of the Cheon family."

"Yes."

"Let us meet again someday."

The Sword King rose from his seat.

Cheon Muyang also stood up.

"Are you leaving?"

"Yes. I plan to look around the Jianghu for a change."

"Then please be sure to visit West Lake."

"West Lake. Would it be much different from Lake Xiao?"

"Yes. If you see West Lake as it is now, I am sure you will be satisfied."

"...."

Seeing Cheon Muyang's confident expression, Namgung San nodded.

Since he had not set a destination anyway, going to West Lake did not seem like a bad idea.

"Very well. I will keep it in mind."

"Then please take care on your way."

"Please take care of Seo-hee."

"Yes."

And with that, the Sword King departed.

As the Sword King left Xiaoho Pavilion, the Wolf King exchanged glances with him and then slyly approached.

"Are you planning to become a nanny or something?"

It was the Wolf King's sneer.

He was mocking Cheon Muyang for not taking advantage of the benefits he could have gained.

Cheon Muyang replied as if asking what he meant.

"The Sword King's debt."

"What did you say?"

Though he had called it a transaction, the Sword King would likely consider it a debt.

"What could be better than the Sword King's debt within the Namgung family?"

"Hm...."

It was oddly convincing, leaving the Wolf King unable to refute it.

"Now then, let us get moving."

"Alright."

The Wolf King was already wearing a wicked grin, thinking of tormenting those who would be collapsed in exhaustion by now.

"By the way, where could they have gone?"

Cheon Muyang needed information.

Just then, the very person who handled such information entered Xiaoho Pavilion.

"Speak of the tiger and it appears."

"Did the Sword King just come and leave?"

It was Hougae.

His timing was impeccable.

"Yes. You came at just the right moment."

"Don't tell me, Miss Namgung Seo-hee has disappeared as well?"

It seemed Hougae had already grasped the entire situation.

"Tell me what you know."

"Hehehe. Looks like I came at the perfect time."

"Hurry. We do not have time."

"Ah, yes."

Hougae began his story with how, at dawn, a member of the Beggars' Sect who happened to be relieving himself had witnessed Namgung Seo-hee leaving Lake Xiao.

"Hm."

"So we conducted our own investigation, and...."

Hougae deliberately dragged it out.

Just as Cheon Muyang was about to lose his temper—

Shrrk!

Hougae unfolded a map of Hebei's geography, which he must have prepared in advance.

Then he pointed to a spot.

"Hamsan."

"...."

It was not far from here.

A mountain near Lake Xiao.

"This is the place."

"Hm.... Are you certain?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

Hougae's expression darkened.

"Everyone else who went elsewhere returned... but those who went to Hamsan did not."

Whooosh!

The air grew heavy.

Beneath his smiling face,

Hougae was suppressing his anger.

"I see."

"Will you move?"

"Of course."

"Then please head to Hamsan."

"You are not coming with us?"

"There are some people scheming behind the scenes."

Cheon Muyang shrugged.

He knew nothing about the covert maneuvers unfolding in the shadows.

"So, I would like to ask you a favor."

"Ah, alright."

"According to our intelligence... there are also signs that the Tang Clan has made a move."

"That figures."

"Please be careful."

"I think the ones who need to be careful are the Tang Clan bastards."

Who could have known?

That by cutting down the Tang Clan's poison, he had already achieved immunity to all toxins.

"When will you depart?"

"Right now."

Someone came down the stairs.

At the forefront was the Wolf King, followed by Neung Ryeo-un, Cha Myeong-hak, and Wol-yeong.

"...!"

They looked half-asleep, yawning repeatedly, but upon seeing them, Hougae's eyes sparkled.

"A-amazing."

Though he had seen them just days ago, they had grown incomparably stronger.

Even their very aura was different.

"I suppose this is what they call seeing someone anew."

"Well, we still have a long way to go."

"How far are you aiming?"

"The strongest under heaven."

"...!"

"They are meant to lead the martial force of the strongest family under heaven, so they are still lacking."

Hougae smiled.

"I see."

"The Taoist from Wudang, was it Cheongjin?"

"Yes. Taoist Cheongjin."

"Has he left?"

"Yes. He left with a very satisfied smile."

"I see."

"He said he hopes to meet you again someday."

"Ah, so do I."

Cheon Muyang rose from his seat.

Every moment counted.

There was no time to take it easy.

"Let's meet again later."

"Yes, Young Master Cheon."

Hougae bowed his head slightly.

Receiving his send-off, Cheon Muyang left Xiaoho Pavilion and briefly explained the situation to those standing behind him.

"So it'd be best to be fully prepared."

Yet no one wavered.

From the beginning to the end of the Dragon–Phoenix Assembly, and through the additional three days that followed, they had experienced countless real battles.

On top of that, they had been subjected daily to the Wolf King's brutal training.

"We will never hold our lord back."

"Don't worry, Young Master. My body's been itching for a fight."

If anything, they wanted to fight.

It felt as though battle had become a part of life itself.

"That's reassuring."

The fighting spirit coiling around the three of them resembled that of the Wolf King himself.

Nodding, Cheon Muyang headed toward Hamsan, the place Hougae had mentioned.

"...."

Fortunately, it was not too far.

However, the closer Cheon Muyang drew to the place known as Hamsan, the more a strange sense of déjà vu crept over him.

Although the aftermath of the Dragon–Phoenix Assembly still lingered and the main roads were crowded with people, not a single soul was heading toward Hamsan.

"Looks like they've played a trick."

"Seems that way."

It was as though a formation had been laid out.

Unless one was consciously aware of it, the very existence of Hamsan appeared blurred and indistinct.

"Let's go."

They must have known they would come here.

There was no need to waste time.

With Cheon Muyang in the lead, they climbed the foothills of Hamsan.

"They've certainly prepared well."

It was a severing formation.

Past a certain point, it felt as though an entirely different space had unfolded.

"Impressive execution, I suppose."

Cheon Muyang could not help but feel genuine admiration for how thoroughly they had prepared in such a short time.

Though they were enemies, what deserved to be learned should be learned.

Clang, clang!

The sound of weapons colliding rang out.

It seemed to be Namgung Seo-hee.

"Must be over there."

The Wolf King surged ahead.

Hearing the clash of steel seemed to have set his blood boiling.

After all, he had been unable to move freely for the past few days.

"Something's off."

Cheon Muyang, however, felt a sense of suspicion.

That suspicion was simple.

'There's no presence.'

He could not believe Namgung Seo-hee was actually where that sound was coming from.

'It's deception.'

The moment that thought crossed his mind—

"Hm?"

That was when the Wolf King suddenly halted.

Thunk!

Without any particular force applied, the ground caved in.

"...?"

The earth sank down to ankle depth.

As if waiting for it, the ground began to split apart.

Crack, craaack!

Ash-gray smoke billowed up through the fissures.

"Don't tell me...."

The scent was gunpowder.

Which meant explosives were buried beneath the ground, enough to blow this entire area apart.

Rumbleeeee!

The epicenter was where the Wolf King had stepped.

The earth shook violently, as though an earthquake had struck.

"Damn it!"

The Wolf King tried to leap away in haste.

Thunk!

But a hand suddenly shot up from the ground and grabbed him.

The same situation as before.

"These bastards, again?!"

Cursing, the Wolf King swung his greatsword.

Slash!

He severed the hand gripping his ankle, but the ground was already collapsing.

There was nowhere left to step.

"Damn it all."

As he fell into the pit—so deep its bottom could not be seen—the Wolf King met Cheon Muyang's gaze.

Cheon Muyang spoke calmly to him as he fell.

"Let's survive however we can."

"You rotten bastard."

With a final curse, the Wolf King vanished into the abyss.

"We need to hurry."

It would be fortunate if Namgung Seo-hee was still holding out—but there was also the possibility she was not.

There was no time to dwell on it.

Explosions were already rumbling beneath Cheon Muyang's feet.

"Tsk."

Craaaash!

The earth collapsed.

Another abyss-like pit opened up.

It must have been the core of the formation.

Their intentions were clear.

'Predictable.'

Separation, then annihilation.

A trap designed with the Wolf King in mind.

'And they want me to fall as well.'

So Cheon Muyang hesitated.

'Should I pull back first?'

Just as he was considering it—

A shout reached him.

"Lord!"

"Ah."

Eyes turned toward him.

Not Mu-myeong the shadow, but Cheon Muyang—the eldest son of the Cheon family, who was meant to lead from the front.

He had momentarily forgotten that fact.

'Since when did I start hesitating?'

Traps were meant to be broken.

He would move exactly as they wished.

After all, they had to find Namgung Seo-hee—and that meant splitting up.

"Scatter and search for her."

"Yes!"

"You search the mountain."

"Yes!"

"And you, Young Master?"

"I'll go down."

"...."

That abyss-like pit.

If there was something hidden, it was most likely down there.

They wanted to stop him, but the urgency of the situation allowed no such luxury.

Craaaash!

More explosions followed.

Cheon Muyang's group scattered in different directions.

"Well then, shall we?"

Cheon Muyang remained alone.

After staring briefly into the gaping maw of the abyss rushing up from below, he headed down.

Whoosh.

An unfamiliar space.

"As expected, a formation."

He could not help but be impressed once more by their ability to construct such a secretive and elaborate formation.

"Whether it's the Namgung family, the Tang Clan, or the Demonic Cult."

Cheon Muyang walked silently through the formation, which continued to deceive his senses.

'Where are you?'

In the darkness,

Cheon Muyang's sunken eyes pierced straight through the formation beyond.