Chapter 141
Chapter 141
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: The Yang Patriarch's Proposal
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Good."
Cheonhwi, who had been tilting his glass, wore a pleased smile.
The liquor Yang Jogang had brought was remarkably smooth, gliding effortlessly down his throat.
"I don't know much about liquor, but the steward said he went to great lengths to obtain it."
Yang Jogang, likewise tilting his glass, fixed Cheonhwi with a steady gaze.
"Do you know that the Four Evils have come to our household?"
"I just heard."
"And yet you're so calm about it."
"Should I make a fuss, then?"
Cheonhwi smirked as he spoke.
"At this point?"
Yang Jogang burst into laughter.
A moment passed before he spoke calmly again.
"Do you know why they've come?"
"To find me, I suppose."
"You know well."
"What else could it be? If they wanted war with the Shinchang Yang Clan, they wouldn't have sneaked in like this."
Surprise flickered in Yang Jogang's eyes.
"You're sharper than I thought."
"Isn't it obvious? If I didn't know that much, I'd just bite my tongue and die."
"The world is full of fools who don't grasp the obvious. Some even think they can take on a great sect single-handedly."
Yang Jogang's gaze pierced Cheonhwi.
It was almost like a reprimand.
But Cheonhwi brushed it off lightly, as if it were nothing.
"Because it's a fight I can win."
"So confident."
Yang Jogang let out a hollow chuckle.
"That's not the point, so let's move on..."
He leaned in and whispered softly before slowly tilting his glass again. Then he spoke.
"They demanded we hand you over."
"And you refused?"
"You knew?"
"I sensed them leaving."
"You sensed..."
Yang Jogang's eyes widened briefly, then narrowed.
'He's even stronger than I thought.'
Realizing his worries had been unnecessary, Yang Jogang looked at Cheonhwi.
"There was no need for that."
Cheonhwi spoke with a hint of regret.
He had wanted to fight, if possible.
More precisely, he wanted to deal with those bastards quickly.
'I'm tired of waiting around.'
Waiting for their ambush could only go on for so long.
He had no intention of dragging it out.
Going straight to the Ilwol Sect himself would be even more of a hassle.
Yang Jogang found his attitude absurd but smirked anyway.
"...You're truly one of a kind."
As he spoke, he refilled their glasses.
His face rippled in the clear liquor.
Soon, he asked Cheonhwi.
"...They said you're the true successor of the Four Emperors' Hall. Is that true?"
"The Four Emperors' Hall...?"
Cheonhwi paused to think.
'Four Emperors...? Ah, the Four Blood Emperors!'
Realizing belatedly, he answered.
"I've mastered the Pale White Pale Blood Claw."
"Pale White Pale Blood Claw?"
Yang Jogang furrowed his brow.
"...I see."
Cheonhwi grinned at Yang Jogang's wrinkled forehead.
"Regretting it because it sounds like an unorthodox technique?"
"Regret? I'm just intrigued that a lost martial art has resurfaced."
"Hm. Still, it's an unorthodox technique."
"Whether you're the full successor of the Four Emperors' Hall or some unorthodox figure, what does it matter? Even the Nine Great Sects and Eight Great Families, pillars of the orthodox factions, are torn apart and treat each other like mortal enemies."
Yang Jogang smirked.
"More importantly than all that 'orthodox' or 'unorthodox' nonsense, you saved my daughter."
"Not curious about who I really am?"
"Of course I am."
Yang Jogang squinted one eye.
"So, care to tell me?"
"No."
"Then why bring it up?"
Yang Jogang grumbled but didn't press further.
'Oh ho. I figured he'd at least ask about my identity, but he's letting it slide.'
Surprised by the straightforward response, Cheonhwi gazed at him and smiled just as...
"More importantly, the Ilwol Sect won't give up. They'll keep targeting you. They might even be waiting outside right now for you to emerge."
Yang Jogang said with a serious expression.
"Probably."
Cheonhwi shrugged.
It was a given, without needing to say it.
He and the Ilwol Sect were beyond reconciliation now.
It wouldn't end unless he died or the sect was wiped out.
"So what will you do? If you stay with our household, we can protect you. But if you leave, we could help for a few days, but not every day."
Yang Jogang's face grew grave.
In truth, he wanted to keep helping.
He was the benefactor who saved Yang Seryeong, after all.
But before being a father, he was the patriarch of the Shinchang Yang Clan.
Assigning household guards to a benefactor indefinitely? That was something a patriarch couldn't do.
'...In the end, only that option remains.'
A sharp glint entered Yang Jogang's eyes.
Fortunately, there was one way.
But whether it was accepted was entirely up to the other party.
Soon, he voiced it.
"So how about this instead?"
"What?"
"Why not join our household?"
Cheonhwi doubted his ears.
What? Join where?
"Join the Shinchang Yang Clan?"
"Yes."
As Cheonhwi stared at him in disbelief, Yang Jogang explained.
"If you become one of us, we can assist you anytime you leave the household. The Ilwol Sect wouldn't dare attack you recklessly either... Ah!"
Speaking earnestly, Yang Jogang suddenly added hastily.
"Ah! Of course! Don't misunderstand! I'm asking if you'd become a guest elder of our household. Not... not to marry our Seryeong...!"
Emphasizing certain words, he bellowed with bulging eyes.
"Don't even dream of it!"
"I wasn't thinking that at all."
"What? Not thinking it at all? Are you saying our Seryeong doesn't appeal to you?"
What the hell is this now?
Meanwhile, Yang Jogang kept ranting.
"It's just that Seryeong has been cooped up in the household for years, but if she went out to Gansu now, she'd be hailed as the fairest beauty in Gansu."
Why is he like this?
Cheonhwi lost his composure watching Yang Jogang with veins bulging in his neck.
He'd just said not to dream of it, and now he was upset that she didn't appeal?
Which tune was he supposed to dance to?
"...No! What's so great about the fairest in Gansu? She could be the fairest under heaven right n..."
Cheonhwi shook his head at Yang Jogang's endless boasting about his daughter.
"Anyway, I decline the offer."
Caught off guard by the refusal, Yang Jogang stopped mid-sentence and narrowed his eyes.
"Isn't it a good deal for you?"
His gaze deepened.
"Or do you have somewhere to return to?"
'Somewhere to return to?'
For a moment, images of Mount Hua Sect and its Taoists flashed through Cheonhwi's mind before vanishing quickly.
A chuckle escaped him.
To think Mount Hua came to mind first, not even the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
His gaze turned eastward.
'...It's about time to head there.'
Meanwhile, Yang Jogang's eyes widened.
He had caught the fleeting smile on Cheonhwi's lips.
"Hahaha. What a needless effort."
Laughing heartily, he raised his glass.
"Forget my proposal."
Cheonhwi also raised his glass in response.
"That was the plan."
* * * The next morning, Yang Seryeong knocked on the door of the annex as usual.
"Young hero, breakfast is ready."
"......"
Normally, there would be a reply from inside.
But strangely, today there was only silence.
"Young hero...?"
Tilting her head, she knocked again with a puzzled expression.
Still no answer.
"No way?"
Finally sensing something off, she flung the door open.
And at that moment, she was stunned.
Greeted not by Cheonhwi leisurely sipping tea, but by an empty hall.
"Y-Young hero?!"
Snapping to her senses late, she searched the hall and surroundings.
"It should be over by the time I reach Cheonghae, right?"
The man she desperately sought had already left the Shinchang Yang Clan and was walking the official road toward Cheonghae Castle.
'It's been so long already; it'd be weirder if it wasn't done.'
It had been dozens of days since he parted from his companions.
More than enough time to have arrived at Cheonghae Castle long ago.
Cheonhwi quickened his pace slightly.
With each step, the two swords at his waist swayed heavily.
'But first, deal with those guys.'
Cheonhwi's lips twisted.
He veered off the path into an unnamed mountain trail.
About an hour later.
Thud.
Cheonhwi stopped.
"This distance should be enough..."
He turned his head and spoke.
"Come out already."
As soon as he finished, two figures—a man and a woman—emerged.
They were Do-ol and Gung-gi, who had visited the Shinchang Yang Clan the day before.
The diminutive Do-ol narrowed his eyes and stepped forward.
"You knew we were here and came this way on purpose?"
"With all that killing intent pouring off you, it'd be weirder if I didn't notice."
Gung-gi smiled at his words.
"I like him."
"You like that stupidity?"
"Don't you love that pure innocence untouched by the jianghu?"
"Innocence my ass. It's just idiocy."
Cheonhwi picked at his ear, watching their pointless banter.
"Enough chit-chat and come at me."
Do-ol and Gung-gi smirked.
To them, seasoned in the jianghu, Cheonhwi's behavior seemed like youthful bravado.
"Do you know who I am to spout such nonsense?"
Do-ol grinned fiercely as he asked.
"Hm? Aren't you one of the Four Evils?"
Cheonhwi replied languidly.
"Hahaha! You know we're the Four Evils and still act like this..."
Do-ol roared with laughter.
The 'Four Evils' was a title that ruled the current jianghu with fear.
Yet this reaction?
They had come out of curiosity about the one who felled Hon-don, but he was even more entertaining than expected.
"I didn't expect such an amusing fellow."
Do-ol unleashed his fighting spirit.
Instantly, the surrounding grass trembled.
Birds nesting in the branches fled skyward in panic.
"Let me help t..."
As Gung-gi moved to stand beside him.
"Get lost. This prey is mine."
Do-ol warned, radiating killing intent.
"If you plan to interfere, you'll have to fight me to the death first."
It was a threat bordering on menace.
But.
"He defeated Hon-don."
Gung-gi didn't back down.
"So? Want to team up?"
"Yes."
"I'd rather bite my tongue and die than team up with you."
As the two seriously debated.
"How long are you going to talk?"
Seeing no end, Cheonhwi finally spoke up.
"One or two, doesn't matter. Hurry up. Or should I come to you?"
At his words, veins bulged on their foreheads, faces twisting in anger.
"I'll handle him first, so scram."
"...I'll jump in if it gets dangerous."
"You think I'd be in danger?"
"Who knows."
Do-ol whipped his head around.
Then he boldly drew his sword from the ornate sheath at his waist.
'More for thrusting than slashing.'
Cheonhwi eyed the drawn sword.
It was exceedingly narrow.
Then Do-ol pointed the slender tip at Cheonhwi coldly.
"Draw your sword."
"No real need, but if you insist..."
As he reached for the White Lotus Sword.
Whoosh!
The demon sword, silent until now, erupted with demonic qi as if unable to hold back any longer.
'Oh? Want me to draw you?'
The demonic qi rippled in response.
'Might be better than I thought.'
Cheonhwi's lips twisted.
He had planned to use qi concealment to hide his identity, but adding demonic qi was fine.
Besides, delaying a direct assault on the Ilwol Sect? This would sow perfect confusion.
His hand shifted from the White Lotus Sword, slowly gripping the demon sword's hilt.
He drew it.
Whoosh!
Thick demonic qi poured from the blade.
As if proclaiming its manifestation to the world, the qi spread everywhere, devouring the space.
"...!"
"That!"
Do-ol and Gung-gi, struck head-on by the vicious demonic qi, involuntarily staggered back, eyes wide.
Darkness that seemed to swallow even the pouring sunlight.
The moment they beheld it, their hearts pounded, breaths quickening.
It was inevitable.
The darkness emanating from him now was the most alien and destructive heavenly-defying energy in the world!
"Demonic qi...?!"
"Why is demonic qi in the Central Plains?"