Chapter 84

Heading Toward the Namgung Clan

The road leading to the Namgung Clan.

Cheon Muyang felt a gaze fixed upon him.

"What is it? Do you have something to say?"

It was Namgung Seohee.

Approaching Cheon Muyang, she asked gently,

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why are you going all the way to the Namgung Clan?"

"I was asked to."

Cheon Muyang said he had received a request from the Sword King.

"..."

"So I have to see it through to the end."

"And in that process, won't it put you in a difficult position, Young Master?"

Cheon Muyang smiled.

In a situation where she herself had no one to rely on, the fact that Namgung Seohee worried about others was simply too pure.

"You're worried about me too?"

"N-no, that's not it...."

"Don't worry. My clan will support me. And besides, it's already been done—what can I do now? At this point, since I've intervened this far, it'd be more troublesome if you don't become the clan head."

"Thank you."

"What for? From the Cheon Clan's perspective, it's far more advantageous for you to become clan head, so we're backing you for our own sake."

They were political allies, in a sense.

She would think she owed him a debt, and that would later guarantee a favorable position when dealing with the Cheon Clan.

'And on top of that, the Sword King's debt as well.'

In terms of sheer scale, the Namgung Clan was a family comparable to the Tang Clan.

Being able to maintain positive relations with such a clan was, from Cheon Muyang's perspective, nothing short of ideal.

'There's also the geographical advantage.'

Anhui and Zhejiang were close.

Meaning that as the Cheon Clan expanded once more, dealings with the Namgung Clan would be inevitable.

"What about the Tang Clan... what will you do?"

"Ah, I'll have to go to Sichuan soon."

"...."

"And I intend to erase the Tang Clan from the martial world."

That was Cheon Muyang's resolve.

In the process, countless people would have to shed blood.

"...."

Namgung Seohee suddenly felt the weight of that blood press heavily upon her.

Heh.

Seeing this, Cheon Muyang smiled and said,

"But is the Tang Clan really the only thing we need to think about?"

"Huh?"

"The Green Forest might get involved as well."

"...."

By now, what had happened with the Axe King must have spread within the Green Forest.

"They might even be coming to kill me."

"That's true."

"And there's more. The Hebei Paeng Clan."

Paeng Do-hyeok had been humiliated by Cheon Muyang three times already—he would surely be grinding his teeth in fury.

Just as the Wolf King had warned, the Hebei Paeng Clan would not sit idly by either.

Namgung Seohee's brow furrowed.

"This is a complete mess."

"Yeah. A total mess."

"...."

"But what can we do? This is reality."

Though everything was filled with bad omens, the two of them were surprisingly calm.

"No matter what it is...."

"As long as we cut it down, it's fine, right?"

"Yes."

Cheon Muyang smiled.

She was easier to talk to than he had expected.

"So you don't need to feel too burdened about owing debts."

"Yes. I understand."

Namgung Seohee relaxed a little.

"Do I look like someone who makes losing deals? Everything's calculated, so don't you worry!"

"You're awfully energetic."

The passing Wolf King picked a fight for no reason, but seeing Cheon Muyang brush it off casually made her laugh for no reason at all.

Her laughter had a strange effect—it seemed to brighten the surroundings.

"Ah...."

Only then did Namgung Seohee realize she had been smiling so naturally.

Her cheeks flushing red, she hurriedly left the spot.

"Well now, don't tell me the reason you're helping the Namgung Clan is..."

The Wolf King's smile curled strangely upward.

At that, Cheon Muyang shook his head.

"Are you having fun?"

Shaking his head dismissively, Cheon Muyang left without even sparing the Wolf King a glance.

"Hey, you little—!"

Left alone, the Wolf King fumed, but Wolyeong, who had been swinging her sword nearby, clicked her tongue.

"That's why you shouldn't tease the Young Master!"

"Hah, teasing is part of the fun."

"Hmph!"

"Oh? Looks like you've still got energy to spare. Enough to snap back at me, at least."

"Ugh!"

Wolyeong's complexion darkened.

Seeing that, the Wolf King approached with a grotesquely twisted grin.

"Shall I increase the weight? Or extend the time? Choose."

"...."

The three of them were practicing horse stance while carrying boulders as large as their own bodies.

It was the Wolf King's firm belief that one must first hone the basics.

Tremble.

And it had already been going on for over three shijin, so their bodies were screaming in protest.

"Kgh!"

"Alright, let's do this. Put the rocks down right now and we'll have a free spar."

Thud!

Three boulders hit the ground, followed by the sound of ragged breathing.

Facing them, the Wolf King grinned.

"The goal is to touch me."

Normally, the three would have been terrified, and the Wolf King had expected them to erupt in protest—

But the atmosphere was oddly different.

"Huh?"

"You mean that for real?"

The tone sounded as though they had been waiting for this.

"W-well, yes."

"Then let's start right now!"

Wolyeong moved.

Her motion was so fleeting that even the Wolf King felt a moment of admiration.

Flinch!

A single thrust, fast and precise.

"You've gotten stronger, have you?"

After the bloody battle at Hamsan, the three of them had fought through life-and-death struggles as well—no wonder they had grown stronger.

Kaang!

Thus, from the very start, the Wolf King raised his great saber.

"Let's see what you've really got."

"Alright!"

Even against the Wolf King's overwhelming presence, the three no longer collapsed outright—they resisted fiercely.

"Don't complain if you get hurt."

With eyes filled with a strange pride, the Wolf King swung his massive blade mercilessly at them.

"That's way too strong!"

"And why should I care?"

Boom!

Kwaaang!

The surrounding area began to be utterly devastated.

It was an episode that took place somewhere along the road to the Namgung Clan.

***

The heart of Anhui Province was none other than Hebei.

It was where the Namgung Clan's main house stood, and a place of great historical significance.

"As expected...."

A clan that embodied such tradition and history was precisely the Namgung Clan.

"Impressive."

Upon entering Hebei, Cheon Muyang could only marvel in admiration.

It was a city completely different in nature from Hangzhou in Zhejiang.

The roads were broad and well maintained, and compared to Hangzhou, it was undeniably far more developed.

"There's a lot to learn."

Hangzhou itself was only now undergoing a new round of restructuring, so it wouldn't be a bad idea to take Hebei's layout as a reference.

'I should be getting word soon.'

By now, what had happened at the Yongbong Gathering would have reached the Cheon Clan as well.

Most likely, the Cheon Sword Unit Leader—who had recovered from the Tang Clan's poison—would move personally.

'They must have figured out that I'm heading to the Namgung Clan.'

Though Namgung Sang-hyeok had been cut down, persuading the Namgung Clan was a different matter altogether.

'We might need the Cheon Sword Unit's help.'

There was no guarantee that no one within the Namgung Clan had colluded with the Demonic Cult.

'The Sword King vouched for them, but… it never hurts to be cautious.'

The Sword King seemed confident there were no traitors, but the world was never that simple.

'It might not be inside the clan… it could be outside influences as well.'

Just as Tang So-hye had formed certain ties with Namgung Sang-hyeok.

Even if members of the Demonic Cult hadn't infiltrated the Namgung Clan directly, there would surely be those secretly in league with them.

Uprooting them was a task Namgung Seohee absolutely had to resolve in order to become clan head.

Glance.

Cheon Muyang looked at Namgung Seohee.

Her face didn't look particularly bright, as though lost in thought.

"..."

"Are you still bothered by it?"

"Ah."

Namgung Sang-hyeok was dead.

They were returning to the clan with his corpse—how could she possibly feel happy?

"It's not your fault."

Whose fault could it be?

Namgung Sang-hyeok made his choice and merely paid the price for it.

"Steel your heart."

Boom!

The Namgung Clan came into view before Cheon Muyang.

Behind it rose massive halls that felt overwhelming just to look at.

Buildings steeped in long tradition towered so high they seemed to pierce the clouds.

"From here on out, you'll have to face the Namgung Clan itself."

Namgung Sang-hyeok was dead.

That meant the only remaining direct heir was Namgung Seohee.

"I know."

In other words, if Namgung Seohee were to die in this situation as well, the direct bloodline of the Namgung Clan would be cut off entirely.

And then, a new bloodline would take its place.

Namgung Sang-hyeok's death would unexpectedly stir their ambitions.

"Good. As long as you understand."

Shrugging his shoulders, Cheon Muyang approached the Namgung Clan's gatekeeper.

"What business do you have?"

"Please inform them that Namgung Seohee, the Namgung Clan's Sword Phoenix, has returned."

"...!"

The gatekeeper, who had been standing with a bored expression, finally noticed Namgung Seohee.

"M-Miss!"

"...."

"You're safe!"

Namgung Seohee seemed to enjoy deeper trust than expected.

As the treasured jewel of the Namgung Clan, it made sense.

"Yes."

"P-Please, this way!"

The main gates of the Namgung Clan opened.

"Gasp!"

The gatekeepers flinched in shock.

Despite no signal having been sent yet, the Azure Sky Sword Corps and the Wu-ae Sword Corps were already lined up in formation.

Whoooong!

Every single one of them was a sword.

So unified they looked almost like a single being.

Prickle.

Cheon Muyang felt the hostility directed at him wash over his entire body.

Rustle, rustle.

That wasn't all.

Outside the Namgung Clan, an invisible encirclement had already been formed.

'Impressive. So this is the Namgung Clan.'

Cheon Muyang admired them inwardly.

But the Wolf King clicked his tongue.

"Tsk tsk tsk. This is even more suffocating. How did he live in a place like this? Tsk."

He couldn't even imagine how stifled the Sword King must have felt staying here.

For even the Wolf King to find it suffocating meant their security net was so dense that it allowed no external intrusion whatsoever.

Conversely, it also meant no one could leave Hebei either.

'Did they notice the moment I entered Hebei?'

Heh.

Smiling calmly, Cheon Muyang casually asked Namgung Seohee,

"Was the security always this tight?"

"Ah… no?"

Namgung Seohee shook her head.

Now he understood how she had managed to successfully run away despite such an encirclement.

'They allowed it.'

Meaning they either supported Namgung Sang-hyeok—

'Or they wanted the direct line to disappear.'

It had to be one of the two.

And somehow, it felt far more likely to be the latter.

Not a single one of them looked at Namgung Seohee with concern.

Their ranks parted all at once.

Someone walked forward along the path they opened.

"Seohee! Where on earth have you been, coming back only now?!"

"Ah, Uncle."

It was Namgung Gwan, Namgung Seohee's uncle.

Glance.

With unseen scrutiny, he swept his gaze over those who had come with her.

The Wolf King, having already reached the Returning to Simplicity Realm, looked no different from an ordinary old man.

"Where is Sang-hyeok?"

"..."

"Did he not come with you?"

Namgung Seohee remained silent.

In that strange silence, Namgung Gwan's eyes trembled faintly.

"N-No way…."

"Namgung Sang-hyeok, my elder brother, colluded with the Demonic Cult and attempted to kill me."

"T-That's impossible!"

"And so, I cut him down."

"Cut him down? Th-Then! Are you saying you killed Sang-hyeok?!"

Strictly speaking, it was Cheon Muyang who delivered the cut—but it was also Namgung Seohee's will.

So she nodded.

"Yes."

"Do you truly not understand what you've done, to be able to stand there so boldly?!"

Namgung Gwan erupted in rage.

The entire Namgung Clan, having lost its heir overnight, burned with fury.

Gooooo—!

That fury was directed at Namgung Seohee.

At the Namgung Clan's precious jewel.

"N-Now, let's all calm down a bit."

At that moment, Cheon Muyang stepped forward.

Whoosh!

Their fury briefly turned toward Cheon Muyang, but he accepted it with nothing more than a calm smile.

"Who are you?"

Whoong!

Namgung Gwan's sword pointed at Cheon Muyang in an instant.

"Just call me Cheon, someone or other."