Chapter 24
Chapter 24
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Clear Autumn Vista
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The next day.
Namgung Yeol, who had returned ahead of the others, came to the Bloodline Pavilion.
Cheongun gave a rough explanation of the situation.
He'd just happened to end up here, and after quietly observing, realized it was a den of trash. So since he was already there, he'd done some cleaning.
That was all there was to it, but somehow...
He'd ended up becoming the Pavilion Lord.
That was the full explanation.
"…"
Namgung Yeol was flustered by the wildly erratic flow of the story, but recalling Cheongun's usual temperament, she realized it was entirely plausible. She nodded.
If anything, Cheongun's calm indifference struck her as cool.
He'd simply swung his sword wherever his heart led him, and in doing so saved countless people. It was the very epitome of a hero's journey.
And Namgung Yeol herself would have met her end without Cheongun.
Perhaps because of that, she raised no objections to his words.
Cheongun's master, the Crimson Night Sword Sovereign, saw things differently.
Jin Mu-seong came looking for Cheongun, suggesting they share a drink.
"Disciple, you've climbed the ranks already."
"Brings back memories."
Jin Mu-seong poured Cheongun a drink.
Then he filled his own cup to the brim and tossed it back in one gulp.
"The Bloodline Pavilion is a force of the unorthodox paths. You know that, right?"
"Yes, I'm aware."
"And you've become its Pavilion Lord. Do you understand what that means?"
"It's a heavy responsibility."
"I've heard the Bloodline Pavilion is tangled up with the Heavenly Demon God Cult. Disciple, did your assault on the pavilion have something to do with that?"
Cheongun felt a slight headache coming on.
His master was sharp as ever.
If it were just perceptiveness, that'd be one thing—but for him to call Cheongun over and speak so gravely meant he had a lot to say.
The Crimson Night Sword Sovereign was ruthless in battle, but if one had to classify his affiliation, he leaned toward the orthodox sects.
It was only natural he wouldn't welcome his disciple getting mixed up with the unorthodox rabble.
Cheongun fell silent for a moment.
Their eyes met.
Jin Mu-seong stared at Cheongun for a long while before taking a sip of his drink.
"I still remember the day we first met. You fearlessly stood before this old man, determined to kill a single demon."
"That's right."
"When I asked why you'd come, you answered that just as the jianghu turns on fateful ties, you'd come to kill because of one. Now it seems that tie runs to the entire Heavenly Demon God Cult. Am I right?"
How was he supposed to answer such an obvious question?
Cheongun simply nodded.
"Disciple, how old are you this year?"
"Not sure."
"Do you remember your parents' faces?"
"No."
"How did you come to learn martial arts?"
Cheongun pondered.
How to even answer that?
He couldn't very well say skill manuals just floated in front of him as system windows.
No choice.
When no good answer came to mind, silence was the way to go.
"You don't remember?"
"Yeah. Just by chance."
"Well, considering your talent, it's not impossible."
Jin Mu-seong refilled Cheongun's empty cup.
"It's remarkable. To not lose yourself amid such a past."
"…"
"Turning down the Namgung family's offer, outright killing the Pavilion Lord, and now taking on the entire Demonic Cult without regard for consequences... You're like a moth to the flame. Charging straight toward that one goal."
"Worried?"
Jin Mu-seong chuckled.
"Blood is thicker than water. Ideology thicker than blood. And thicker than ideology is the bond between master and disciple."
His steady voice continued.
"I don't care what path you walk, disciple. Even if everyone around you tries to stop you—even your enemies—it's a true master who harbors not a shred of doubt. You're the one sword I've claimed, so how could I, as a swordsman, fail to trust my own blade?"
"…"
"A real man doesn't bend to anyone else's will. Choosing your path is a weighty matter, but once chosen, don't look back. Just as you don't regret making this place your base, I don't regret taking you as my disciple. Even if you suddenly went mad and declared you'd walk the demonic path—that's your choice, and as your master, I must respect it."
Jin Mu-seong laughed heartily and shot to his feet.
He tossed a sheathed sword Cheongun's way.
Cheongun caught it hastily, and Jin Mu-seong waved it off casually.
"Take it."
"What's this?"
"The Crimson Night Sword."
The Crimson Night Sword.
A famed blade forged by Gujin-cheol, the greatest artisan of the Central Plains, who hammered profound iron a thousand times in flames. Its blade glowed with a distinctive red aura.
"No, why give me your treasured sword, Master?"
"Hah, how can a master keep face when his disciple tosses aside the sword for a fishing rod? At my level, I can roam the world on a single horse, so handing down one sword to my inept disciple is only right."
Cheongun was at a loss for words.
Trust no one, suspect everything, scrape by—that had been the homework of his possession.
After years of that life, such blind faith was new even for Cheongun.
That was when it happened.
Jin Mu-seong chuckled and spoke.
"Our Pavilion Lord of the Bloodline... no, my disciple."
"Yes."
"That golden plum I gave you—it showed up at auction."
"...Is that so?"
Damn it.
Found out already?
"Do you know how much that sword you just received is worth?"
"No idea."
"Expensive. Very expensive."
"Got it."
Jin Mu-seong's calm voice went on.
"Cherish it like your life."
"Yes."
Jin Mu-seong met Cheongun's eyes, then added one more thing.
"Sell it, and you're dead."
"…"
Cheongun sat in the head seat once occupied by the Pavilion Lord, watching the executives file in.
Each one, knowing Cheongun's prickly temper, crept in cautiously, eyes darting.
The only two who barged in laughing carefree were a pair of women.
Hong So-yeon and Baek Seol.
Assassins from the Shadow Flight Gate who'd been captured by Cheongun at the Justice Alliance's Qingcheng Mountain branch and thrown in the golden prison.
The one who'd brought these two—who should have been locked up—was none other than Cheongun's master, Jin Mu-seong.
"Oh, and take these two as well. The prison warden was begging me to do something about them. So damn stubborn, won't listen to a word, but they devour wall-grain pills like candy. You insisted on sparing them, so it's on you to take responsibility, right?"
And so Hong So-yeon and Baek Seol became members of the Bloodline Pavilion.
Ah, of course, he'd made them swallow solitude pills too.
They strode in boldly and took seats to Cheongun's right.
"You're here, Pavilion Lord?"
Jeok Hwa-ryeon approached his left.
But someone was already seated there.
Jin Cheon-u.
"My spot."
Jin Cheon-u snapped sternly.
Jeok Hwa-ryeon eyed him up and down.
Realizing he was small fry, one corner of her mouth curled up.
"Who?"
"Jin Cheon-u of the Black Fiend Sword."
"Black Man Sword?"
"You son of a bitch!!"
Oh, got him.
Jin Cheon-u leaped to his feet.
Fight? Cheongun watched with keen interest.
Jeok Hwa-ryeon was a demon, one who'd cultivated demonic arts at that.
No way Jin Cheon-u didn't know.
True to unorthodox form, her guts were impressive.
Jin Cheon-u stood tall, glaring daggers at her.
And then...
"Fuck, I'll let it slide this time!"
With that, he slunk off to a corner on his own.
Cheongun's expression soured at the sight.
Cheongun said,
"Cut off your dick."
"…"
Jin Cheon-u pretended not to hear.
Cheongun clicked his tongue and addressed the group.
"Everyone assembled?"
Hong So-yeon, to his right, replied.
"All here."
Cheongun nodded.
"Guess why I called you all again?"
Hong So-yeon shot back.
"To fucking chew us out?"
"Not a bad idea. Start with you?"
"I misspoke."
Hah, already exhausting.
Stuck with unorthodox demons, and it was suffocating already.
Cheongun barely suppressed his rising irritation and got to the point.
"I told you last time: tighten internal security like iron, keep everything from leaking out. Seal those lips tight."
All seated replied in unison.
"Yes."
Cheongun smiled brightly and continued.
"But I heard some news. Someone's skulking like a rat, leaking internal info straight to the Justice Alliance."
The Crimson Night Sword Sovereign, Jin Mu-seong.
Before leaving, Cheongun's master had warned him: there's a hidden rat. Catch it first.
"Who is it?"
At Cheongun's question, those seated eyed each other sideways.
"Come forward now, and I'll spare you."
Silence persisted despite his follow-up.
Then, Hong So-yeon, watching quietly from his right, spoke cautiously.
"Um, Pavilion Lord?"
"What."
"Leave it to me?"
Hong So-yeon fluttered her eyes seductively.
Not the most trustworthy, but curiosity won out. Cheongun nodded.
Hong So-yeon laughed hoho! and addressed the room.
"You know what?"
Tilt.
All eyes turned to her.
"The Justice Alliance Lord? That old geezer's actually an orphan."
Gasp.
Mouths dropped open.
"Eunuch too, bald as a cue ball. No hair, no dick, no parents, doesn't bathe, toothless tiger, with that foul white gunk on his tongue..."
That was when it happened.
"What the...!"
One guy was the only one to flare up.
—Paat!
A shadow needle dart sliced through the air toward his brow.
"!!!"
He crossed index and middle fingers, snatching the dart in an instant.
Hong So-yeon laughed hoho! at the sight.
"Found you."
Clap clap clap!
Cheongun gave a standing ovation.