Chapter 305
Chapter 305
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 305
Chapter Title: Grandfather's Resolve
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After a fairly long journey, the two who had returned to Heavenly Mountain walked silently through the inner fortress.
And at the point where the path split, Hyeok Mulin and Cheon Sumyeong paused for a moment.
"Go on in."
"You too."
After exchanging brief greetings, the two turned toward their respective destinations and resumed walking.
Cheon Sumyeong, who had returned to the Cheon Clan manor, strolled through the interior before stopping in front of one of the halls.
He entered promptly and headed to the office.
"Grandfather!"
Cheon Seohee jumped up in surprise and delight, rushing to greet him.
She leaped from her seat and hurried to the desk.
"Any troubles while I was away?"
"Of course not. But Grandfather, are you alright? You left so suddenly without any word, and I was worried."
Worrying about Gu Mujun.
It was the most pointless worry in the world, but hearing it didn't leave a bad taste in Cheon Sumyeong's mouth.
Only blood family could harbor such thoughts.
With that, he faintly lifted the corner of his mouth.
"I took a trip touring the Central Plains."
"Pardon? The Central Plains?"
Her eyes widened in puzzlement at the news that Cheon Sumyeong, who rarely ventured out, had gone all the way to the Central Plains.
"That's right. I toured the world alongside the Cult Leader."
"......!"
At those words, Cheon Seohee's heart pounded fiercely for a moment.
'He really traveled with him.'
She knew Cheon Sumyeong had taken an interest in Hyeok Mulin and followed him.
And since the periods when Hyeok Mulin had vanished from Heavenly Mountain and Cheon Sumyeong had disappeared aligned, she had suspected they were together.
But she hadn't imagined they would journey together for so long.
She knew her grandfather's temperament well.
A cold man who turned away the moment his interest waned, never looking back.
In a way, her father's own ruthless nature might have been inherited from him.
"Then he must have returned to the Divine Cult as well."
"Indeed. He's probably already entered the Heavenly Demon Palace by now."
For her grandfather to accompany him from start to finish like that.
At least, she had never seen him take such prolonged interest in anyone before.
As various complex thoughts filled her mind, Cheon Sumyeong spoke up.
"Seohee."
"Yes, Grandfather."
Cheon Sumyeong gazed at her silently for a moment.
Under that profound stare, she tilted her head in confusion.
"Grandfather...?"
Cheon Sumyeong's gaze soon shifted to the stack of documents behind her.
Step. Step.
He walked to the desk, swept through the documents with his hand to check them, then turned to her.
"What are you working for?"
"......To revive the clan."
Thanks to Cheon Seohee's efforts, much of the Cheon Clan had been rebuilt.
All the manpower, funds, and resources wasted while targeting Hyeok Mulin had been normalized.
To her, everything now seemed to be proceeding smoothly.
"To revive the clan..."
But instead of agreeing, Cheon Sumyeong posed another question.
"Then what lies at the end of the clan's revival?"
"That is......"
Cheon Seohee couldn't provide a proper answer.
In truth, she knew the answer.
As one of the Seven Great Demon Clans representing the Divine Cult, the clan's revival would ultimately connect to the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
And that, in turn, linked to its Leader, Hyeok Mulin.
But right now, neither she nor the Cheon Clan could voice it.
Even if old grudges with Hyeok Mulin had been somewhat resolved, they hadn't joined hands or bowed their heads like the other clans.
In a way, the Cheon Clan occupied the most ambiguous position among the Seven Great Demon Clans.
The Gu Clan hadn't even made contact with Hyeok Mulin, while the rest had pledged loyalty to the Cult Leader.
Ironically, that loyalty had been confirmed through the Cheon Clan's conflict with Hyeok Mulin.
As Cheon Seohee lowered her gaze and pressed her lips tight, Cheon Sumyeong spoke.
"Seohee. Do you still harbor resentment toward the Cult Leader?"
She froze for a moment before replying flatly, hiding her emotions.
"My heart has always been with the clan."
"......I see."
Cheon Sumyeong turned and approached her, leaving the documents behind.
He gazed at her with eyes full of complex emotions.
She had been sharp since childhood.
With exceptional martial talent and a knack for arithmetic, he had no doubt she would grow into a civil and martial prodigy.
And now, as an adult, that belief was confirmed.
Without her, the Cheon Clan might have collapsed entirely during his seclusion.
'She realizes it herself.'
The Cheon Clan could never advance alone indefinitely. Even if it appeared so, it wasn't flawless growth.
On a broader scale, the clan would forever trail behind the Divine Cult's development.
Without realizing that, it would amount to meaningless steps.
He had intended to advise her toward that awakening.
'She already knows.'
Her lingering resentment toward the Cult Leader was simply the obstacle preventing it.
Thus, he had no further advice to give.
It was a problem she had to resolve on her own.
Cheon Sumyeong silently stroked her head.
Then, turning away, he said,
"Now, go see your father."
"Yes. I'll visit again."
Leaving the office, Cheon Sumyeong soon spotted Cheon Jungak.
The one emanating the hottest aura within the clan compound.
Heading to the training ground where he was, he saw Cheon Jungak drenched in sweat, swinging his sword.
"Supreme Clan Patriarch!"
Spotting Cheon Sumyeong after his long absence, Cheon Jungak called out and halted his movements.
However.
"Continue."
At Cheon Sumyeong's command, he gripped his sword again and resumed training.
But his nerves were already fully focused on Cheon Sumyeong.
How could he ignore someone staring right beside him?
Especially when it was one of the world's strongest Gu Mujuns and his swordmaster.
Thus, though Cheon Jungak tried his utmost to concentrate, he couldn't prevent his sword path from wavering slightly.
Observing this, Cheon Sumyeong spoke.
"Enough with the sword demonstration."
Halting, Cheon Jungak looked at him.
"Then shall we end training and serve you inside..."
"No. Draw your sword."
"......Pardon?"
Before he could ask further, his eyes widened.
Cheon Sumyeong had drawn his sword from the front and aimed it at him.
"Let's see how much you've improved after so long."
At those words, tension and excitement surged through Cheon Jungak.
It had been well over a decade since he last sparred with his father.
"It won't be as easy as before."
Cheon Jungak didn't back down.
He pointed his sword at Cheon Sumyeong as well, and soon the spar began with his advance.
Clang! Clang clang! Clang!
Their swords whirled chaotically.
At a glance, the two warriors' movements seemed similar.
Their foundation was the same Cheon Clan swordsmanship, after all.
Moreover, Cheon Sumyeong was engaging leisurely, using only half his power.
In contrast, Cheon Jungak poured out his internal energy with full commitment, making the exchange appear evenly matched on the surface.
Of course, a closer look revealed clear differences.
And it wasn't strange for Cheon Jungak to exert himself like this.
A rare spar with his father, who might never return—or whose return was uncertain.
Naturally, he had to give his all.
As Cheon Sumyeong parried his son's earnest sword strikes, a faint smile touched his lips.
'He's grown again.'
In truth, though Cheon Jungak was his son, Cheon Sumyeong had always judged his potential coldly.
And his conclusion had been that the growth would eventually hit a wall.
'He broke through it.'
Cheon Jungak had shown growth beyond expectations.
The trigger was obvious without needing words.
Hyeok Mulin.
Without him, his son's growth would have stalled long ago.
The goal of Hyeok Mulin—and the obsession with him—had propelled that progress.
Through their sword exchange, Cheon Sumyeong could tell.
How diligently and intently he had trained lately.
'I should thank the Cult Leader.'
Originally, his son had a talent with visible limits as a warrior, unlikely to reach the Gu Mujun realm.
But at this rate, in a few decades, he might glimpse its edge.
Envisioning that future, Cheon Sumyeong suddenly shook his sword and unleashed a lightning-fast thrust.
Cheon Jungak's pupils trembled as he deflected it with full power and threw himself sideways.
Boom!
Cheon Sumyeong's thrust struck the wall, crumbling the sturdy structure with a roar.
Gazing at the debris, feeling his flowing sweat, Cheon Jungak faced forward again.
"Supreme Clan Patriarch, didn't you say this was a spar?"
"Heh. And that's why you're still in one piece."
Cheon Jungak had no retort.
As he said—if full power, he'd be shattered rubble like that wall.
Yet, he also felt a bit pleased.
It was the first time he'd drawn such an attack from him.
Meaning his father believed he could withstand or evade it.
Unspoken acknowledgment of his growth.
"Let's rest for a bit."
After the long-overdue guidance spar with his son, Cheon Sumyeong took a break with him.
Standing side by side, they gulped down water.
As memories of learning the sword from his father surfaced, a faint smile formed on Cheon Jungak's lips.
"I will side with the Cult Leader."
Cough!
At the utterly unexpected declaration, Cheon Jungak spat out his water.
Did I hear that right?
Doubting his ears, he slowly raised his head and asked,
"Father—no, Supreme Clan Patriarch. What did you say...?"
"I will side with the Cult Leader."
Cheon Jungak could only stare blankly.
He knew his father had vanished following Hyeok Mulin.
But to return and declare this immediately.
'What on earth happened during that time?'
Cheon Jungak's face stiffened.
"However, this is neither representing the Cheon Clan nor as its Supreme Patriarch. It is solely my will as the Sword Venerable."
Cheon Jungak glimpsed his consideration.
This declaration would ripple enormously—not just through the clan, but the entire Divine Cult and the world.
By separating himself and the clan beforehand, he aimed to minimize its impact on the clan.
After all, the one at the clan's forefront was Patriarch Cheon Jungak.
Thus, Cheon Sumyeong had entrusted the clan's will entirely to him.
The weighty burden pressed down on Cheon Jungak's shoulders.
At that moment, Cheon Sumyeong gazed intently at him.
Locking eyes directly, he posed the question.
"Then."
At this final crossroads deciding the Cheon Clan's fate.
The unavoidable query.
"What will you do?"