Chapter 89

Jongni Cheong (1)

Namgung Gwan's report came to an end.

Its main content was a results report on the incident that had occurred the previous night.

"Thank you for your hard work."

A faint dismissal order.

It was an expression meaning that the report was over and they were free to leave.

"...."

Normally, Namgung Gwan would have left at once—but not today.

"Is there something else?"

"Chief Steward."

"Yes."

"Why did you order me to guard Sang-hyeok's body?"

Thud!

The chief steward, who had been reviewing documents, finally closed them and turned his gaze toward Namgung Gwan.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I'm asking for the basis of that decision."

"...."

"The moment I stepped outside the clan, the estate was left empty. With even the Chang-gung Mu-ae Corps absent, I had no choice but to remain and guard the clan."

As a martial artist, he had followed orders.

But as a martial artist of the Namgung clan—what was it that he truly had to protect?

"Namgung Seohee."

The only one qualified to become clan head.

That child had to be protected.

"She was injured."

No—she had nearly died.

In trying to protect Namgung Sang-hyeok, whom he had failed to protect, he had failed to protect Namgung Seohee, who truly mattered.

"She didn't die, did she."

"...!"

The voice of the Namgung clan's chief steward, Jongni Cheong, was cold.

Even his tone had changed.

It hardly seemed like the same person.

"What do you mean by—!"

Glance.

For an instant, Jongni Cheong's gaze flicked toward Nang-wang and Cheon Muyang.

"The Chang-gung Mu-ae Corps pursued them. They inflicted damage close to annihilation."

The Chang-gung Mu-ae Corps.

They had returned after a fierce battle.

Cheon Muyang had even sensed a faint trace of demonic energy from them.

Not that they were tainted by it—but that they had cut down those who were.

"So that was it."

A chill ran down Cheon Muyang's spine.

At the same time, he felt absurd.

"Then are you saying you used Namgung Seohee's life as bait to draw them out?"

"...."

Jongni Cheong's eyes remained utterly indifferent.

"Unknown individuals were operating within Hebei."

"...."

"Their identities, numbers, objectives—everything was unknown."

With nothing known at all,

Jongni Cheong had been forced to choose.

He could not allow that danger to remain in Anhui.

"Do you know when that was?"

"...?"

"After the day Nang-wang and the Cheon clan's eldest young master entered Anhui together with Namgung Seohee."

"...!"

Namgung Gwan was stunned.

Then Jongni Cheong's calm voice continued.

"That's why I had to know."

"Know what?"

"Whether you were agents of the Demonic Cult or not."

"You dare spout such nonsense to my face?"

Nang-wang erupted in fury.

Crack!

Just from his pressure alone, cracks spread across the desk where Jongni Cheong sat.

Whoosh!

Innocent documents were caught in the vortex of his aura and scattered in all directions.

Yet Jongni Cheong sat calmly, not retreating even a step.

"Nang-wang, no matter who you are, there are no exceptions."

"What did you say?"

"They say the Demonic Cult's methods are exceedingly cunning and bizarre."

"...?"

"The Cheon clan's Supreme Elder—Cheon Jung-ho."

Boom!

Jongni Cheong spoke Cheon Jung-ho's name.

Smirk.

Cheon Muyang laughed.

"So that's it."

He couldn't deny that Jongni Cheong had made an extremely rational judgment.

"Nang-wang, that's enough."

"...."

"What he says is correct."

"What?"

"He did make a rational decision."

Who could have known Cheon Jung-ho was a member of the Demonic Cult?

No one had even imagined it.

'There's no one you can truly trust.'

From that perspective, Jongni Cheong's suspicion was justified.

"I had a duty to verify it."

"So you left the path open?"

"Yes."

"You knew they would target Namgung Seohee, yet you still left the path open just to gain certainty?"

It was a thoroughly rational decision.

And at the same time, a cruel one.

"As expected, they moved."

"...."

"I knew they would target Namgung Seohee. If you were agents of the Demonic Cult, she would have died. If not, I believed you would protect her."

"You're insane."

Nang-wang clicked his tongue.

He hadn't expected such a ruthless decision.

"You crossed the line."

Even under Nang-wang's gaze, Jongni Cheong did not waver.

"...."

"So everything danced in the palm of your hand."

Cheon Muyang stared at Jongni Cheong.

"Then what is your judgment? Do we look like agents of the Demonic Cult?"

"Rest assured. I already know that you are not."

"That's a relief."

Cheon Muyang found Jongni Cheong's ice-cold judgment fascinating.

"Let me ask one thing."

"Go ahead."

"If Namgung Seohee had died."

"...."

"What would you have done then?"

"Root and branch extermination. Including my own head, I would have taken the lives of everyone involved in this affair."

From Jongni Cheong's perspective, it had been a gamble with his own life as well.

"I see."

That was why Cheon Muyang nodded in understanding.

"Now then, let's get to the main point."

"...."

"Do you acknowledge Namgung Seohee as the clan head?"

Jongni Cheong shook his head.

"That is not for me to decide. It must be agreed upon by the Namgung clan as a whole."

As chief steward, Jongni Cheong would simply follow the result.

"I see. Fine, let's set that aside."

"There's still more?"

"Of course."

"What is it?"

"Zhuge Hyeon."

Jongni Cheong's expression changed.

He clearly hadn't expected that name to come up here.

"Why did he come to the Namgung clan?"

"...A matter of the clan. Not something an outsider should involve himself in."

"Is that really so?"

Cheon Muyang wore his characteristic smile.

Ordinarily it would have been rude—but why would a butcher care about such rudeness?

"Wasn't it Zhuge Hyeon who gave you information about the Demonic Cult?"

"...!"

There was no answer.

Not even a change in expression.

But through Jongni Cheong's eyes, Cheon Muyang obtained the answer he wanted.

'As expected….'

It was Zhuge Hyeon.

The one who had given Jongni Cheong information about the Demonic Cult.

"What did he say?"

"...."

"Hm… did he claim that Namgung Seohee was working hand in hand with agents of the Demonic Cult?"

"...."

"If not that, then…"

"Enough."

"Did he say Namgung Sang-hyeok was killed by me?"

Kuuuuung!

The atmosphere shifted abruptly.

That alone made it clear how Zhuge Hyeon had shaken Jongni Cheong.

"I see."

Cheon Muyang shrugged.

Hearing the entire sequence of events, one could easily come to believe that Namgung Seohee had joined hands with the Demonic Cult's agents and killed Namgung Sang-hyeok.

'There was more than enough reason to be suspicious.'

Namgung Seohee, who had once left the clan, suddenly returned and declared she would become clan head—then Namgung Sang-hyeok died at that very moment.

The Sword King still hadn't returned.

And that wasn't all.

From the moment Namgung Seohee entered Anhui, unidentified forces began to move.

'Truth often disguises itself as a lie.'

Namgung Sang-hyeok had been killed by Cheon Muyang.

That was the truth.

But add just a bit of falsehood to that truth—

'And the truth becomes distorted.'

That was why Jongni Cheong trusted neither Namgung Seohee nor Nang-wang and Cheon Muyang, who had come with her.

Still, Jongni Cheong neither fully believed nor fully dismissed Zhuge Hyeon's words.

'So he needed time to verify it….'

At the cost of staking not only his own neck, but Namgung Seohee's life as well.

'Truly a remarkable man.'

Though the Namgung clan lacked a clan head, the reason that absence wasn't felt was surely Jongni Cheong's presence.

"Namgung Sang-hyeok did something he never should have."

Jongni Cheong's cold, sharpened voice echoed in Cheon Muyang's ears.

He had come close to the truth.

That Namgung Sang-hyeok had joined hands with the Demonic Cult.

Perhaps he had learned it through Zhuge Hyeon.

"However—"

Chill!

Cheon Muyang sensed killing intent.

Whip!

Nang-wang's head snapped in the same direction.

Outside the window.

"—that does not justify killing Namgung Sang-hyeok."

Screee!

Something surged in.

The window had already shattered.

Toward Cheon Muyang, dozens—hundreds—thousands of swords flew.

"We meet again."

"Ah…"

The Chang-gung Mu-ae Corps.

Their swords bristled with murderous intent.

As if it had been foretold when they first met, they faced each other like this once more.

Whirr!

Amid countless documents rising into the air again, an almost infinite barrage of sword strikes poured in.

Every one of them sharp—every one at a high level of attainment.

'Fine swords.'

And yet, Cheon Muyang felt no fear.

"You bastards!"

The enraged Nang-wang surged forward with a roar like a raging beast.

"Elder Nang-wang, please step back. I have no wish to cut you."

"The hell you don't. You're the ones swinging swords."

If Nang-wang went on a rampage, the situation would spiral out of control.

"Nang-wang."

"...."

"Leave this to me."

"You intend to face all of them?"

"Leave it to me."

"...."

"Let's not hold grudges afterward."

Cheon Muyang drew Cheon-gwang.

Each of them was a powerhouse comparable to Namgung Gwan, yet for some reason, Cheon Muyang felt he would not lose.

'The Sword King's sword, the Yama Exalted's blade, the Heavenly Slaughter Demon Venerable's short dao, Nang-wang's saber, my father's and uncle's swords.'

Compared to those swords and blades—

'Theirs are lacking.'

Their swords were excellent.

But Cheon Muyang had seen swords beyond them.

And so, he saw openings.

'I haven't crossed the wall myself yet.'

But he knew the sword beyond that wall.

In that moment, the swords beyond the wall gathered around Cheon-gwang.

'Ah….'

Those realizations began to converge into one.

Perhaps because of that—

"...!"

The Heavenly Sword Cheon Muyang sought opened.

'The scent of the Immortal Peach….'

It was the same distinctive fragrance from when he had blocked the Yama Exalted's blade.

Following the scent of the immortal peach, a single sword path appeared.

"Th-this!"

As the fragrance deepened,

all the swords surging toward Cheon Muyang lost their power.

Hwoong!

It was an act that ran counter to the very will of those wielding the swords.

A sword that had lost its force could never threaten Cheon Muyang.

"...."

As if they had never intended to cut in the first place, countless swords froze in midair.

The only thing shining was Cheon-gwang.

"That sword…?"

Namgung Pil, leader of the Chang-gung Mu-ae Corps, asked.

Cheon Muyang smiled as he replied.

"I haven't given it a name yet. Someone called it the Nameless Sword."

"The Nameless Sword…"

The Chang-gung Mu-ae Corps.

After cutting down members of the Demonic Cult, they had unknowingly become steeped in demonic nature, carrying excessive killing intent.

Yet even that killing intent came to nothing.

"I feel… refreshed somehow."

"Then I'm glad."

"Chief Steward."

"...."

"This man cannot be cut—even by the Chang-gung Mu-ae Corps."

"Cannot be cut?"

"That's right."

Namgung Pil smiled faintly as he spoke.

"To cut this man, the Sword King himself would have to come."

"...!"

Jongni Cheong's expression stiffened.

The implication of those words was immense.

Beside them, Nang-wang burst into laughter.

"Hah! You've earned recognition from that picky bastard."

Cheon Muyang shrugged.

"You're mistaken."

"Hm?"

"Namgung Seohee."

"...?"

"She, too, could cut me."

Everyone except Nang-wang and Cheon Muyang turned pale in shock.

Yet Cheon Muyang merely looked calmly at Jongni Cheong.

"Now then, let's talk again."

The conversation was not yet over.

Cheon Muyang smiled as he sheathed Cheon-gwang.