Chapter 257
Chapter 257
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 257
Chapter Title: The Sword Sovereign's Return
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Cheon Seohee's words lingered clearly in the room.
But as time passed with no reply, all that filled the space was a profound silence.
As Cheon Seohee began to frown, wondering if he'd shut his ears to her words, Hyeok Mulin slowly parted his lips.
"Flee from this place...."
His voice was emotionless, yet laced with a complex mix of feelings.
"Interesting."
Hyeok Mulin muttered as if intrigued, then let out a scoff.
"To think the Heavenly Demon would hear advice to turn his back on Heavenly Mountain."
From his tone, Cheon Seohee could sense the subtle shift in his mood.
But that much was within her expectations.
She fixed him with a resolute gaze once more and spoke firmly, emphasizing her point.
"If you return to Heavenly Mountain now and face Grandfather, I can't guarantee your safety as Cult Leader. Not after he's learned of our divorce."
Cheon Seohee was certain that the moment Cheon Sumyeong and Hyeok Mulin met, an explosion would erupt.
Regardless of his love for his only granddaughter, there was no reason for Cheon Sumyeong to let Hyeok Mulin live after the man had tarnished the Cheon Clan's prestige.
And she could already see the outcome clearly.
'Even with all the fame you've gained lately...'
She hadn't been able to hide her surprise at the news of his victory over one of the Three Stars and One Sword, the Free Spirit Sword Saint.
But those foes were incomparable to an ancient martial sovereign like her grandfather—two entirely different breeds.
So if Cheon Sumyeong decided to eliminate Hyeok Mulin, the man wouldn't survive.
'I can't even gauge how far he's progressed.'
Of course, Cheon Seohee knew Hyeok Mulin possessed remarkable prowess, but she couldn't fully comprehend his level.
Still, one thing she was absolutely sure of.
Ancient martial sovereigns earned their title for a reason.
If the two clashed, even briefly, Hyeok Mulin wouldn't escape death.
That was why she'd come to warn and advise him.
"That won't happen."
His nonchalant response left her speechless.
He spoke as casually as if picking a lunch dish from a roadside stall.
His tone carried an inexplicable certainty, furrowing her brows.
"Do you have some special plan?"
With Heavenly Mountain—and Cheon Sumyeong—right around the corner, his serene demeanor forced the question from her lips.
But his next words left her incredulous.
"Just facing my own cult's elder—what plan could there be? If there's discontent, we meet and talk it out, don't we?"
No plan...?
Staring silently into his eyes, Cheon Seohee realized he meant it.
He truly intended to just converse with her grandfather, no preparations or schemes.
'Where does that confidence come from?'
Did he really think he could talk her grandfather around?
She stared at him in disbelief.
'I truly can't tell anymore.'
Bold or reckless?
The more she spoke with him, the more she felt swept up in his rhythm.
Shaking her head, she gave up trying to persuade him.
Then.
"But you..."
"...?"
As Cheon Seohee looked at him, Hyeok Mulin continued.
"You came all the way out here just to deliver that warning and wait for me?"
This was clearly outside Heavenly Mountain.
Uncertain when—or if—Hyeok Mulin would arrive, she'd waited solely to pass on those words.
When he pointed it out, her pupils dilated like a startled rabbit's, and she denied it.
"I was just strolling near Heavenly Mountain and happened to spot you, Cult Leader. Knowing what lies ahead, I warned you to ease my conscience, even a little."
Truthfully, she didn't fully understand why she'd come this far to warn him.
Perhaps it was the faint worry for him that stirred when she'd seen her grandfather's fury up close.
It could be a remnant of old feelings, or maybe admiration for his achievements as Cult Leader standing on his own.
Managing the Cheon Clan's businesses had broadened her view, revealing the profound depth of Hyeok Mulin's oversight of the cult's operations.
So perhaps, deep down, she'd come to acknowledge him as the true Heavenly Demon.
Of course, as the Cheon Clan's eldest daughter, it was a thought she shouldn't entertain.
"I see."
As Hyeok Mulin spoke with a faint smile, Cheon Seohee steadied her resolve, adjusted the hairpin in her hair, and bade him farewell.
"Anyway, I've said my piece, so I'll be going."
As she brushed past him toward the door, Hyeok Mulin spoke.
"Since you're already here, why not join me for a meal?"
Her steps halted.
Truth be told, she'd grown sick of the inn's thin noodles and dumplings during her stay.
She should refuse outright.
"...Very well, just a quick bite then."
Yet she accepted.
And so, she ended up eating the inn's plain thin noodles again.
Why?
Even she didn't know right then.
"Follow me."
Hyeok Mulin led her down the stairs.
Something felt off.
On the first floor, Jeok Mugun and Jeok Igum were there, but all other guests except one were gone.
Even the chef and innkeeper's presences were absent.
Hyeok Mulin stopped, and Cheon Seohee, puzzled, passed him to step forward.
"What's wrong? Why stop so suddenly...?"
But she couldn't finish.
To the left of the stairs.
In a spot that had been empty moments ago sat an old man.
And he was the strongest man in the world, as far as she knew.
"G-Grandfather...!"
Reeling in shock, her legs buckled, nearly toppling her, but she grabbed the railing and barely steadied herself.
How had he come here?
After ending his seclusion, he'd stayed only at the Cheon Clan's main estate.
She could hardly believe her eyes.
But a bigger problem loomed.
'They've met after all!'
Hyeok Mulin and Cheon Sumyeong.
The Cheon Clan's Supreme Clan Patriarch and the Heavenly Demon, face-to-face at last.
"Grandfather, this is...!"
As Cheon Seohee urgently opened her mouth.
"Seohee."
Cheon Sumyeong spoke to her from his silent lips.
"Return to the main house."
"...!"
A short but unmistakable command.
Unable to refuse, she bowed her head.
"...Yes, Grandfather."
Thud.
Descending the stairs, she glanced back at Hyeok Mulin one last time before vanishing from the inn.
Now, only four remained.
Spotting Hyeok Mulin descending, Jeok Mugun and Jeok Igum widened their eyes.
They couldn't even twitch a finger.
Cheon Sumyeong was merely pressing them with his aura, but to them, it felt like an immense weight that made breathing impossible.
Before them sat untouched, cold thin noodles and dumplings.
Whoosh―
But how could they just watch helplessly with their lord present?
Jeok Mugun bit his tongue to jolt his senses awake, reclaim control of his body, and shake off the pressure.
Yet the gap was too vast; even straining until his eyes bloodshot, his fingertips merely trembled faintly.
As he struggled futilely, Hyeok Mulin spoke.
"No need."
Step. Step.
Descending, Hyeok Mulin looked at Cheon Sumyeong.
"How about letting them go?"
At Hyeok Mulin's words, Cheon Sumyeong turned his gaze to them briefly.
The pressure binding them vanished instantly.
"Hah... hah..."
As Jeok Mugun and Jeok Igum caught their ragged breaths, Hyeok Mulin addressed them.
"Leave us."
"...Understood."
With heavy steps, they opened the door and exited the inn.
Now, only two remained inside.
Facing Cheon Sumyeong alone, Hyeok Mulin headed not to his table, but to where his subordinates had sat.
Creak―
Seated with some distance between them, Hyeok Mulin spoke.
"Sword Sovereign, welcome back from your seclusion."
He addressed him not as former father-in-law, but as Heavenly Demon to ancient martial sovereign.
The Sword Sovereign emerging from seclusion was perfect timing to show the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's strength.
'Our cult's ancient martial sovereigns have rarely shown themselves.'
The previous Heavenly Demon's retirement was infamous, and the Cheon Clan's Supreme Clan Patriarch had been in seclusion.
The Gu Clan hadn't appeared publicly either, making it like finding a grain of sand in the sky to spot an ancient martial sovereign of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Thus, Hyeok Mulin welcomed his return.
"... "
But Cheon Sumyeong remained silent.
Not out of disregard or anger.
In truth, from the moment he'd faced Hyeok Mulin here, he'd been gripped by immense shock.
The aura around Hyeok Mulin was worlds apart from what he'd known.
And just now, releasing the pressure.
He'd only lightly pressed a few demonic cultivators, yet hadn't expected Hyeok Mulin to ignore his aura and walk down casually.
Staring intently at Hyeok Mulin, Cheon Sumyeong finally parted his heavy lips.
"You."
It perfectly captured his bewilderment.
"What in the world happened to you all this time?"