Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Yeah, Let's Charge Ahead
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Byeon Ryeo-gun reported to the Volcanic Divine Sword Yi Jo-yang about the incident at the Clear Dawn Escort Agency involving the Healing Chamber.
"They said they'd bring it up at the council, so they're definitely not going to let it slide."
After delivering her report, Byeon Ryeo-gun watched Yi Jo-yang's reaction closely. In this era, he was the face of the Volcanic Sword Sect. The sect had its own leader, but when people thought of the sect, Yi Jo-yang was the first name that came to mind. If such a man were stripped of his position as alliance leader in the Great Righteous Alliance, it wouldn't just be a personal disgrace—it would harm the entire sect. And yet, his response was somewhat unexpected.
"Young Master Do's anger seems to have cooled a bit?"
It wasn't just a casual question; there was a hint of genuine concern. It meant he was more worried about Do Cheon's fury turning toward the righteous factions than his own humiliation.
"He knows where to draw the line."
"True. Knowing his temperament puts my mind somewhat at ease, but everyone has their reverse scale—something you must never touch. It might mean nothing to others, but to him, it's sacred."
"You mean he wants to protect those around him?"
"That's always been his concern."
"Master Man was injured, but this incident has only strengthened the trust between them. Neither Young Master Do nor Master Man will dwell on it anymore."
"Good."
Only now did Yi Jo-yang nod. His expression said that was all that mattered. Byeon Ryeo-gun swallowed the urge to ask if he wasn't worried about being dismissed and wrapped up her report.
"If there's nothing else, I'll conclude my report."
"Ah, thank you for your efforts."
As Byeon Ryeo-gun stepped outside after finishing, the cold air pierced her nostrils. Winter had fully arrived. Ever since her master passed, winters always felt especially lonely. But this winter felt different somehow. They say a person's absence is filled by another person, and it seemed her master's void would be somewhat eased.
'By now... he's probably watching Little Sparrow's training.'
Byeon Ryeo-gun quickly oriented herself and set off.
"Hello. Is there anything you need? Just let me know."
A passing maid greeted her. Normally, servants would bow and hurry away, but the Iron Lion Sect's maids were different. They approached, bowed politely, and eagerly asked if there was work to be done. It didn't feel forced; they genuinely seemed to want any task. Once, Byeon Ryeo-gun had asked why they were so proactive. The maid had looked sheepish and explained.
The Iron Lion Sect was wonderful—the elders were all great people, they paid double wages, shared meals that were always feasts, making mealtimes something to look forward to. But compared to that generosity, she felt like she wasn't doing enough, so it nagged at her. That maid, Hyang-a, was the one standing before her now.
"Could you guide me to Young Master Do Cheon?"
"Yes!"
Hyang-a's face lit up even brighter as she led the way. Byeon Ryeo-gun found herself smiling unconsciously and followed.
"Lady Byeok, right?"
A bright voice suddenly blocked her path. It belonged to a handsome man with refined features and a subtle smile—anyone would find him likable.
"Young Master Nam."
"Oh? You recognize me."
"I've seen you before..."
"Well, I am better-looking than Brother Do, aren't I? He's got that rugged manliness, but his face doesn't hold a candle to mine. You've seen him up close plenty, so you know. Plus, his personality is so reckless—hard to hang around with."
Byeon Ryeo-gun fell silent at Nam Myeong's playful banter.
"Where are you headed? If it's alright, why not chat with me a bit? You seem knowledgeable; we'd have plenty to talk about."
"I'm not that bright."
"...!"
"I'm pretty clueless, so I tend to deal with people bluntly. Heard about that waterway stronghold on the Yangtze getting smashed? That wasn't Young Master Do—that was me. Those rude bastards were mouthing off, so I taught them a lesson. If Young Master Do hadn't stopped me, I'd have crushed their groins... I just get so mad at guys who think they can talk down to women like that."
"Ah... I see."
"If you don't mind, could you step aside? I have business with Young Master Do."
"Ah, go ahead."
Nam Myeong stepped aside, clearing the path. Byeon Ryeo-gun, led by Hyang-a, passed without a glance. Nam Myeong chuckled softly.
"Building walls like that to avoid misunderstandings and keep things clean... but against his junior sister, it's impenetrable."
Hyang-a, who was guiding her, suddenly grumbled.
"I don't like Young Master Nam."
"Because he badmouths Young Master Do?"
"Yeah. Our eldest senior is such a good person. He always greets us properly, never yells at us. And he's so handsome. I keep wanting to look at him. I can't stare openly, so I sneak glances, and just doing that calms my heart and lifts my mood."
"...!"
Byeon Ryeo-gun flinched.
It wasn't just her. She felt drawn to Do Cheon too. From the start, despite the unfamiliarity, he'd felt comfortable and reassuring. She'd chalked it up to their fated connection across generations. No—that wasn't it. He had power. A magnetic pull, an overwhelming presence beyond mere charm that drew people in.
Absolute masters carried absolute dignity. An irresistible authority that subdued and commanded the weak. Heaven-Rending Legion Kang Yi-wi had it; Volcanic Divine Sword Yi Jo-yang had it. Yi Jo-yang deliberately restrained his, so it was subtler, but Kang Yi-wi, true to his unorthodox roots, didn't hide it—exerting strong pressure.
Do Cheon had fought Kang Yi-wi on equal footing.
Yet no such absolute dignity emanated from him. Was it like Yi Jo-yang, restrained out of consideration? That would explain it.
But what if it wasn't?
How else to explain it?
Even absolute realms had stages, they said.
The realm where all is burned away by martial prowess—the Martial Flame Realm; the pinnacle of strength through martial arts—the Martial Extreme Realm; and the Divine Path Realm, glimpsing the divine.
The so-called absolute masters were typically in the Martial Flame Realm.
No known masters had reached the Martial Extreme or Divine Path Realms. There was talk that the Heavenly Demon of the Demonic Cult had attained the Martial Extreme, but it was unconfirmed. If so, then the Iron Lion King, said to have clashed with that Heavenly Demon long ago, must have too.
The key point wasn't the distinction—it was that no absolute dignity was felt from him. Even without deliberate concealment, that was a paradox.
The phenomenon where all internal energy and power harmonized with nature, making one appear ordinary—that was the Return to Truth. Assimilating with great nature made blending with people effortless, putting them at ease. And this Return to Truth manifested at one of the absolute realm's stages.
"Divine Path Realm...!"
The words slipped from Byeon Ryeo-gun's lips like a groan.
"We're here."
"..."
"Lady Byeok?"
"Uh, yeah?"
"Eldest Senior is over there."
"Ah, thanks."
"No problem. Call me if you need anything else."
"I will."
"Okay."
Hyang-a smiled brightly and left. Byeon Ryeo-gun returned a smile with her eyes and turned toward Do Cheon.
There he was.
Sitting, gazing quietly at Little Sparrow practicing her sword forms. He looked like a leisurely playboy watching a dancer's performance. But Little Sparrow wasn't a dancer, and Do Cheon wasn't a playboy. He was a man with a clear goal: to rebuild the Iron Lion Sect. Viewing him that way made him look like a stern senior brother overseeing his junior sister's training.
"...!"
—Yeah, Eldest Senior has two faces. Or maybe two personalities.
That's what Little Sparrow had said.
She'd described how he'd struck acupoints on the juniors to aid their training, making him seem that way. But was that all? Had she only glimpsed that side and assumed he was scary?
"Lady Byeok."
"...Yes?"
Do Cheon had approached right in front of her without notice.
"What had you so deep in thought?"
"Ah, Young Master Do, you're a bad person."
"Pardon?"
Byeon Ryeo-gun stared straight at Do Cheon. He couldn't look bad. Despite her words, her heart didn't see him that way.
"Give me a chance too."
"What...?"
"I told you. The Eight Gates Gathering."
"Ah!"
"You'll come with me, right?"
"I asked you first."
"Does it matter who asked?"
"Got it."
Do Cheon grinned. It wasn't a scheming smile—just a natural, easy one. That's why he seemed so approachable.
"Thank you."
"No trouble. Compared to the help you've given me, I'm still far behind."
"Anyway... how's Little Sparrow doing?"
"I was such a fool."
"...?"
"I thought I could just teach her martial arts without really thinking it through."
"...!"
"Yi Yeol told me not to bother teaching anyone outside."
Finally catching on, Byeon Ryeo-gun smiled with her eyes.
"They say knowing and teaching are different. But I doubt you're that bad at it..."
"I don't know. Yi Yeol, Little Sparrow... I don't know everything about the sword, but I understand most of what's in the manuals. Performing the forms isn't hard either. But when I try to explain it, the words just don't come out right."
Do Cheon scratched his head sheepishly, then shook it as if truly puzzled.
"Maybe..."
"...?"
"Maybe it's because I skipped steps—jumped straight ahead without going through them gradually."
"...!"
"Someone who crawled skipped walking and suddenly flew. How could they explain walking when they've never done it? They'd just say, 'Use your two legs!' without knowing which muscles to use how."
"Ah! That makes sense. Sounds right."
Do Cheon nodded vigorously. It was a serious issue for him. He wasn't just teaching Little Sparrow and Yi Yeol—he was also instructing Iron Mountain and Young Ki. Thinking back, he hadn't faced the same hurdles with them, which puzzled him. Now it clicked: with Iron Mountain, he taught the Iron Lion King's ultimate arts step by step as he'd learned them; with Young Ki, only the breathing method.
"If you don't mind my meddling, I think I can help Little Sparrow."
Byeon Ryeo-gun had learned the sword too. Chain sword, but not far from standard sword principles, and she'd started with basic forms before that.
"Would you? That'd be great!"
Do Cheon brightened.
"But I'd need to learn the sword forms. That okay?"
"If they leak, I'll drag you back to headquarters and lock you up."
"Guess I'll have to keep it secret, even out of fear."
She played along with the joke.
Do Cheon smiled warmly.
"Thank you."
"Thank you for letting me help... for the chance."
Byeon Ryeo-gun smiled too. Looking at him while smiling, he exuded a pleasant aura. Her heart felt at ease. Maybe because she was more aware now, other aspects stood out.
'Hyang-a was right. He does look handsome.'
Golden Flower Money House.
Yoo Geon visited Elder Sang's quarters.
"They wouldn't sell even one ship."
"Not even one?"
"Yes."
"Even after raising the price?"
"Even when we offered more, they refused. It seems money isn't the issue."
"The Golden Emperor House's influence runs that deep."
"Looks like it."
"This is trouble."
"How long to build our own ships?"
"Several months."
"That long?"
"We need large vessels, so yes."
"Doesn't make financial sense."
"Even if it did, we couldn't."
"...?"
"You think the Golden Emperor House would leave the shipyards alone?"
"Ah!"
"That's the power of wealth. When wielded properly, it chokes you out completely. That's why they say against money, only force works. Smash and cut—that's the answer."
"Hm..."
"Are you listening to me?"
"Let's hold off finding Cheon-i for now."
"You have a plan?"
"If large ships are out, we'll use small ones."
"What transport with small ships?"
"I'll buy up as many small ships as possible."
"They can't compete with large ones!"
"If the large ones can't move, they can."
"You planning to burn them?"
"That's a last resort. Better to give up cleanly."
"Then?"
"I'll head to the Yangtze."
"You?"
"Yes. Need to see for myself."
"Then let's go together."
"It's a long way. Won't it be tough on you?"
"Brat, I'm still spry."
"If you're worried about me..."
"No. It's been ages since I traveled. You're out here scheming solutions while I just fret about disasters. Guess I'm getting old. Time to soak up some Yangtze vigor."
"Understood. I'll escort you."
Yoo Geon stood. Preparations for the Yangtze trip were needed, especially with Elder Sang—thorough ones, so he'd have to hustle.
"Plenty of time yet, no need to rush. And don't forget—more important than ships are the Eighteen Yangtze Strongholds."
"Cheon-i will handle that."
"Worried the Golden Emperor House reached there too."
"Cheon-i's already declared war. I'd just watch the fight."
"Hm, true enough."
Elder Sang nodded, but his face still held worry.
"Elder."
"Yes?"
"We're charging ahead full of confidence, but it's absurd, isn't it?"
"...!"
"Even if we stumble, barreling forward blindly sounds thrilling."
In the past, he'd have yelled and chased him out. But nearing life's end, pursuing something to shock the world by charging straight ahead? It lifted his spirits naturally.
"Yeah, let's charge ahead."