Chapter 93
Concern
One day passed.
Fortunately, Namgung Seohee woke up.
“Are you alright?”
“Ah….”
As she rose from the bed, the first person Namgung Seohee saw was Cheon Muyang.
Why did that alone put her at ease?
“What happened?”
“What do you mean what happened? You blocked Cheonsal Mazone’s strike.”
“Ah.”
She vaguely remembered it.
Abandoning everything, she had focused solely on blocking the path to her heart.
“So… it worked.”
“It did.”
Namgung Seohee smiled.
Though she had yet to fully recover from her internal injuries, her body felt strangely light.
“I had a dream.”
“Hm?”
“In the dream, I saw countless swords.”
Namgung Seohee had seen an almost infinite number of swords.
“It looked like a grave.”
A grave of swords—a Sword Tomb.
Namgung Seohee stood there.
“……”
“I kept swinging. Again and again.”
It felt as though time itself had stopped.
But since it was a dream, there was never any flow of time to begin with.
“So what did you see?”
“A sword.”
For Namgung Seohee, there was nothing but the sword.
At the end of that single path, within the Sword Tomb, she faced a sword.
“There… I also saw Young Master Cheon Muyang’s sword.”
“My sword?”
“Yes.”
Namgung Seohee’s eyes shone.
She still remembered it clearly—the single sword thrust straight toward the heavens atop the Sword Tomb.
It was different from the others.
That was why she was curious.
“What do you intend to do with that sword?”
What did he intend to accomplish with such a blade?
“……”
“I want to hear it.”
Perhaps because she sensed his sincerity,
Cheon Muyang spoke calmly.
“The Demonic Cult.”
“The Demonic Cult will soon reveal its ambition toward the Central Plains’ martial world.”
“…….”
“I intend to stop them.”
“Why?”
“Because they will try to erase the Cheon Family.”
He wanted to protect the Cheon Family—
And beyond that, to protect the life of his own that had once ended so meaninglessly.
At first, that had been the reason.
“…….”
That resolve went further.
He wanted to protect even the nameless people who had given their lives for the Cheon Family.
“Is that all? Protecting your clan?”
Namgung Seohee’s question.
At that moment, Cheon Muyang realized something.
“Ah….”
At some point, the reason he moved had gone beyond merely protecting himself and his family.
“No. It’s not.”
“Then what is it?”
“Because I cannot agree with the world the Demonic Cult seeks.”
They denied the orthodox martial order and sought to build a world ruled by demonic paths.
Cheon Muyang did not want that future to come to pass.
“So stopping them with my sword—that is my conviction.”
That was—
‘Probably the reason I was reborn as the eldest son.’
He wanted to believe that.
Namgung Seohee smiled softly.
Her smile was like spring in bloom, brightening everything around her.
“Yes. That’s the sword I saw, Young Master.”
The Sword Tomb.
The sword Cheon Muyang had wielded there looked like a shield protecting the world.
“I want to help as well.”
Namgung Seohee.
Though it was only a dream, she had endlessly contemplated Cheon Muyang’s sword.
There was only one reason.
She resonated with—and was captivated by—his cause.
“Really?”
Cheon Muyang smiled as well.
Namgung Seohee had once ended her life as a bud that never bloomed.
Though he didn’t know everything about her, Cheon Muyang—who had seen her shattered soul—wanted to see her bloom properly this time.
“Then first, make the Namgung Family your own.”
That was the first step.
Namgung Seohee nodded.
“Yes.”
“After that, become stronger.”
“…….”
“Hone your sword until you can truly be called a Sword Empress. That’s how you’ll help me.”
Namgung Seohee said nothing, only nodding softly.
She reaffirmed her resolve.
‘I want to stand beside Young Master Cheon Muyang’s sword.’
The path Cheon Muyang intended to walk—
She wanted to follow it.
“Are you leaving?”
“Yes. Now that I’ve seen you stand on your own, there’s no reason to stay.”
“…….”
“I’ve cleared away most of what might hinder you, so do your best.”
Namgung Seohee felt puzzled.
What had he cleared away?
Before she could ask—
Tap, tap.
Cheon Muyang patted her shoulder.
“See you later.”
“Ah… yes.”
“You can do it.”
The Wolf King also left, wishing her good fortune.
“…….”
Watching Cheon Muyang and his group depart, Namgung Seohee made a vow.
“I’ll become stronger. No matter what.”
She closed her eyes.
And entered a state of breathing meditation.
She had to recover as quickly as possible.
From that day on, it took Namgung Seohee less than two months to seize full control of the Namgung Family.
***
On the road from Anhui to Zhejiang.
For no reason at all, Cheon Muyang felt light on his feet.
“It feels like I’m finally heading home.”
“Enjoy it while you can. You won’t be able to rest soon.”
“Please, spare me the bad omens.”
As the two bickered—
The main road soon grew crowded with people.
Buzz, buzz.
So many that there was barely room to step.
Most of them looked like merchants.
“Was it always this crowded?”
“I… don’t think so?”
There had been plenty of merchants traveling between Zhejiang and Anhui before—but never this many.
“It’s definitely cleaner. Just getting rid of those Green Forest bastards made this much difference.”
“Right? I should’ve gone to Zhejiang earlier. Thinking about all the fake tolls I paid them still makes my blood boil.”
From the merchants’ chatter, the situation became clear.
This road had once been plagued by Green Forest strongholds and their tyranny.
“Ah.”
And Cheon Muyang had wiped them out.
Hadn’t Cheon Muyang himself negotiated directly with the Green Forest Fighting King?
“Just removing the Green Forest changes this much.”
It was astonishingly pleasant.
It almost felt like a completely different road.
“Look over there.”
“Hm?”
Cheon Muyang turned toward where the Wolf King gestured.
Flap!
A flag fluttered in the distance.
It bore the emblem of the Cheon Family.
He felt gazes fixed upon him from not far away.
“Good.”
Cheon Muyang smiled.
Those watching him—
Were the Cheon Hound Unit.
They were maintaining order in the area from places unseen.
“It’s all thanks to the Cheon Family!”
“Exactly! Didn’t the Heavenly Hero personally negotiate with the Green Forest Fighting King?”
“Hey now! I was there at the time! I heard it with my own ears! Young Master Cheon said—wherever the Cheon Family’s flag flies, the Green Forest will not be tolerated! Hah!”
“Ooooooh!”
People gathered around the excited merchant, erupting into cheers.
“How did he know that?”
The place where Cheon Muyang had clashed with the Green Forest Fighting King was a mountain stronghold.
There was no way that merchant could have been there.
‘Not a single word is different.’
Hearing the merchant repeat his exact words from back then sent a chill down Cheon Muyang’s spine.
The vividness of it was insane—so real it felt as though the man had truly been present.
“Looks like your exploits are spreading everywhere. Heh heh heh.”
“How did you know…?”
The Wolf King kept chuckling.
Perhaps because his laughter was so hearty—
It drew everyone’s attention.
“Huh!”
The merchant who claimed to have been there seemed to recognize the Wolf King and Cheon Muyang beside him.
He was probably one of the merchants present when the Green Forest bandits first demanded tolls.
“Th-the Heavenly Hero!”
“What…?”
Whoosh!
Countless gazes poured toward Cheon Muyang all at once.
“Ghk!”
“A-are you really the Heavenly Hero?”
“Ah, yes. I’m Cheon Muyang.”
“Waaaaaaaah!”
An explosive cheer erupted.
Cheon Muyang scratched the back of his head awkwardly at the reaction.
“Hello.”
“Waaaaaah!”
“I’m Cheon Muyang, the eldest son of the Cheon Family.”
Another roar of cheers followed.
Cheon Muyang raised both hands to calm them.
They said winning the people’s hearts was always a gain.
So, suppressing his embarrassment, Cheon Muyang spoke as if making a declaration.
“This is the Cheon Family’s chivalry.”
“Waaaaaaaah!”
Whooom!
Cheon Muyang then drew Cheon-gwang and pointed it toward the sky.
“No one will commit injustice where the Cheon Family’s flag flies.”
The air grew heavy under Cheon Muyang’s presence.
“I—”
“And the Cheon Family—”
Kuuung!
“Will not stand by and watch.”
“……!”
With those words, Cheon Muyang swung Cheon-gwang once.
Fwaaash!
In that instant—
Everyone saw it.
The blue sky itself splitting apart.
“The heavens cannot be deceived.”
“Gasp!”
“So I look forward to your continued support.”
Cheon Muyang clasped his fists in salute to the stunned crowd and began walking.
No one blocked his path.
As if a river were parting, a road opened before him.
“Well then…”
All they could do was stare in awe at the divine might Cheon Muyang had displayed.
The sky, still split in two, had yet to close.
“That should have made an impression.”
“If it wins the people’s hearts, it’s a cheap price to pay.”
The people’s will was invisible—but nothing was more important.
If such a small act could earn it, there was nothing better.
“Let’s go quickly, before they swarm us again.”
“For once, we agree.”
Worried they might be surrounded again, Cheon Muyang’s group subtly increased their pace and quickly left the area.
After some time—
Cheon Muyang fell into thought.
“What are you thinking about?”
“The Demonic Cult. I was thinking about how they’ll move next.”
“They’ll surely continue to undermine and assimilate the Central Plains’ martial unity.”
The Wolf King was right.
Even the Zhuge Family—counted among the Ten Great Families—had already joined hands with the Demonic Cult, according to Zhuge Hyeon.
“Despite having ample strength, they hide and wait patiently. That patience is what makes them truly terrifying.”
“You’re right. It seems they don’t intend to fail this time.”
Throughout the long history of the Central Plains’ martial world, the rise of the Demonic Cult had happened time and again.
Each time, the divided orthodox martial world united and crushed the Demonic Cult’s ambitions.
“So that’s how it looks.”
Because of that history, the orthodox factions had grown complacent.
Never once had they been defeated.
The Demonic Cult was exploiting that blind spot thoroughly.
“That’s why everyone’s gone blind.”
Otherwise, how could anyone choose to join hands with the Demonic Cult?
“They don’t even realize they’re being used.”
They thought they were the ones using others—unaware that they themselves were the tools.
The Wolf King nodded.
“Indeed. At this rate, it won’t end well.”
The Wolf King belonged to neither orthodoxy nor demonic paths.
But he firmly opposed a world ruled by the demonic way.
“It means the hidden strength of the Central Plains’ martial world is slowly disappearing.”
In other words, had the Demonic Cult openly risen, the Wolf King would have stood with the orthodox side.
‘And there are countless people like that in the martial world.’
Were there really only the Nine Great Sects and Ten Great Families?
There were wanderers bound to no faction, and others who had gone into complete seclusion.
‘They are the true hidden backbone of the orthodox martial world… the very reason its order endured.’
They turned away from the world, sick of the orthodox factions’ corruption—
Yet they also knew it was still the best available choice.
Not the best—but the lesser evil.
“We have to stop it.”
“That’s right. If it’s even possible.”
They had secluded themselves from the world.
Where could one even find them?
“Do you know of any way?”
“Heh heh heh. You should’ve asked that sooner.”
Fortunately, it seemed the Wolf King knew at least part of the answer.
“Tell me.”
“Don’t want to.”
“……?”
The Wolf King sneered at Cheon Muyang with a crooked smile.
“I said I don’t want to.”
“Really… how childish. If you won’t, then don’t.”
Cheon Muyang shook his head, sighed, and continued walking.
“Ugh! Sir! Why are you being so petty!”
Wol-yeong scolded the Wolf King from the side.
“Y-you little brat!”
The Wolf King erupted in indignation.
“So he acts arrogant the whole time, and I’m the bad guy? Huh?”
“Geez!”
Wol-yeong clicked her tongue loudly.