Chapter 13
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: A Unified Family
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A strange light gleamed in Cheon Seonhak's eyes.
He could feel a sky that could not be defined by any single thing.
“Astonishing.”
Cheon Seonhak, too, was one who had attained enlightenment in the Heavenly Dragon Library.
Countless skies existed there, and it was there that Cheon Seonhak had chosen his path.
Unable to contain everything, he had to abandon all else to obtain just one.
“To think I can feel all the skies within you.”
But Cheon Muryang was different.
He could feel a greed that sought to embrace all skies.
“I fear your ambition is excessive.”
“It may be excessive for now…”
Whoosh!
Cheon Muryang sought the sky above the sky.
He sought to contain the Heaven Beyond Heavens.
“One day, I will surpass even the heavens.”
Cheon Seonhak smiled.
What an audacious ambition.
“Right. That is how the Great Young Lord of the Cheon Family should be.”
Two skies.
Their sizes were clearly different.
Cheon Seonhak's sky was vast, while Cheon Muryang's was small.
‘Yet, the small sky seeks to embrace the large one.’
Cheon Seonhak could not even begin to imagine this profound attraction.
Cheon Seonhak wanted to see the limits of Cheon Muryang's sky, which sought to embrace even his own.
‘If he can fully unfurl this sky…’
He could surely embrace the world.
In that moment, Cheon Seonhak realized what Cheon Muryang sought to embrace.
“Could it be…”
The corners of Cheon Muryang's mouth lifted.
He was certain.
“You seek to embrace the world?”
“One day.”
“Your sky is damnably vast.”
“What can I do? I'm greedy.”
“You must become stronger.”
“Yes. I will become stronger than anyone.”
“Good. That's all that matters.”
Shiiik!
Two swords moved.
They shared the same energy, yet two completely different skies clashed.
At their point of contact, a new horizon was opening.
Fwaaa!
With a tremendous flash of light.
The two men sundered each other's skies.
It was the Sword that Sunders Heaven.
Kwwaaaang!
A deafening roar echoed.
Afterward, Cheon Muryang was on his knees, gasping for breath.
“…”
But Cheon Seonhak's expression as he looked down at Cheon Muryang was complex.
“In ten days, you've made another breakthrough?”
“Yes. I've made progress with the Heavenly Sun Divine Art. So, I think I'll soon be able to dissolve the energy of the elixirs in my body.”
“Is that true?”
“Yes.”
The excessive elixir energy in Cheon Muryang's body was a chronic problem.
Why else would Cheon Wigang have brought in the Sichuan Tang Clan?
Cheon Muryang's body was like a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any moment.
“Uncle, I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“Not here.”
Meaning there were ears listening.
Cheon Seonhak nodded and told him to follow.
“So, what is it?”
“Uncle.”
“Speak.”
“It seems there are rats gnawing away at the family's coffers.”
“Rats…”
Cheon Seonhak's expression changed.
Seeing this, Cheon Muryang was certain.
‘As I thought, my uncle already knew.’
But why had he remained silent until now?
“So, we must drive those rats out of the family.”
“What if they are not rats, but tigers?”
“Whether they're rats or tigers, isn't it enough to just cut them down?”
“…”
“You were the one who told me to sunder the heavens, Uncle. So, what could I possibly fear that would stop me from cutting them down?”
Thump!
Cheon Seonhak's heart pounded at Cheon Muryang's spirited declaration.
“Can you do it alone?”
“Not yet. That is why I need your help, Uncle.”
Grin.
Cheon Seonhak smiled.
‘He's truly changed.’
When was it?
When Cheon Muryang was born.
He had secretly harbored expectations.
‘I thought you could change the family.’
But those expectations had acted as a poison.
The elixirs he was forced to take in the hope of making him stronger had instead eaten away at his body from the inside.
Was it because of that?
Cheon Muryang's eccentric behavior began to spiral, growing worse by the day.
‘He's finally come back.’
That Cheon Muryang had come to his senses.
He must have had an awakening through the infinite sky of the Cheon Family he saw in the Heavenly Dragon Library.
‘And he even filled in what was lacking.’
To become the head who would lead the Cheon Family, one needed resolve.
He could feel that resolve and spirit.
“Have you already forgotten? My sword is already yours. How you wield it is up to you.”
“Then, please become my shield.”
“A shield.”
He understood what that meant.
Cheon Seonhak drew his sword.
He immediately plunged it into the ground.
“As long as I live, I will ensure that no one can touch you.”
“Thank you.”
“So, what will you do now?”
“I've thrown some bait to the Lord of the Golden Pavilion. He will probably make a move in some way.”
“The Lord of the Golden Pavilion, you say?”
“Yes.”
Cheon Muryang took out the old paper Geumsan had given him from his robes.
Then, he recounted what had happened in Hangzhou.
“Hmm…”
Cheon Seonhak's expression was not good.
It was because he was a martial artist, far removed from politics.
‘That's why, even in my past life… the Grand Lord was only ever loyal to the family until the very end.’
He must have been worried that if he stepped forward, the family would split in two.
But that could not be allowed to happen now.
“Uncle.”
“?”
“Sometimes, sacrifice is necessary. Even if it is the blood of our own kin.”
“I know.”
Knowing and doing were two entirely different matters.
“Giving you my sword… was also my decision.”
The Cheon Seonhak of his past life must have been waiting.
For Cheon Muryang to come to his senses.
He must have supported the family, believing that one day it would happen.
“I will not disappoint you.”
“…”
Cheon Seonhak fell silent.
Even though he had made his decision, he did not want to see the family split in two.
“This must be the natural course of things. I am ashamed to entrust you with what our generation should have finished.”
It should have been done long ago.
They should have united around Cheon Wigang.
But they couldn't.
It was because of the so-called issue of legitimacy.
“What should I do?”
“Please investigate the Head of the Inspection Corps.”
“The Head of the Inspection Corps?”
“Yes. Isn't the best way to embezzle and betray to bring in the very people who are supposed to be watching?”
The Golden Pavilion managed almost all of the Cheon Family's funds.
Thus, a system was established where it was inspected annually, and a detailed report was delivered directly to the Family Head.
‘But if he didn't notice…’
It was one of two things.
“Either he's incompetent, or he's in league with them. It means the current Head of the Inspection Corps is not someone who should be in that position.”
“The Head of the Inspection Corps is an appointee of the Council of Elders.”
“…I thought as much.”
Cheon Wigang was the head of the Cheon Family.
Among the three pillars that supported the Cheon Family, he stood at the center.
Everyone respected and admired Cheon Wigang and never doubted his qualifications as the head, but in reality, the head's power was limited.
‘The prime example of that would be me.’
Cheon Muryang, though a scoundrel, was the legitimate heir of the Cheon Family.
And yet, until Cheon Muryang was to become the head, Nameless was his only guard.
And that was five years in the future.
‘Was the situation that bad?’
The Nameless of the past, much like Cheon Seonhak, was far removed from politics.
So, there was no way Nameless, who was merely the guard of the scoundrel Great Young Lord, would know the family's internal affairs.
“I will change the tide.”
“Good. I will do as you wish.”
“I'm counting on you.”
Cheon Seonhak nodded.
With that, Cheon Muryang headed back to the training grounds.
“Young Master!”
There, as always.
Woryeong was waiting with a bright smile.
Thud.
Cheon Muryang stopped in his tracks.
“…”
A thought suddenly occurred to him.
He had to protect Woryeong.
But he couldn't always be there to protect her.
“Young Master? What's wrong?”
Woryeong approached him.
Looking at her, Cheon Muryang asked casually.
“Woryeong.”
“Yes.”
“Would you like to learn martial arts?”
Woryeong's eyes widened.
Her eyes were already large, so her expression alone showed just how startled she was.
“M-Martial arts? M-Me?”
“Yes, Woryeong. You.”
“H-How can I learn martial arts? I'm just a mere servant girl.”
Cheon Muryang shook his head.
“You're not a mere servant girl. You are my person, and I don't want my person to be in danger.”
“Huh? I'm in danger?”
“Yes. You will be in danger from now on.”
Cheon Muryang had one concern.
If they couldn't sway him, they would surely target those around him.
How could they possibly touch Cheon Seonhak?
‘They'll probably go after Woryeong.’
Other than Woryeong, there was no card they could play to shake Cheon Muryang.
“W-Why will I be in danger?”
“Because they will try to use you to get to me.”
“Are you saying I could hold you back, Young Master?”
“Yes.”
“Then I'll do it. I'll learn martial arts.”
“Thank you.”
“No, it's fine. You're only saying this because you're thinking of me, right?”
“It'll probably be incredibly difficult.”
Gulp!
Woryeong tensed up.
Watching her, Cheon Muryang turned to Cheon Seonhak, who had returned to the training grounds with him, and spoke.
“Uncle, please teach Woryeong the sword.”
“…Do you think this child can learn the sword?”
“Yes. She is the one who saw through the true meaning of my sword at a single glance.”
“What?”
“You won't be disappointed.”
Cheon Muryang was certain.
Woryeong's talent might just exceed his wildest imagination.
“Hmm…”
“Since you're doing it, I hope you'll work hard.”
“If I become strong.”
Woryeong's eyes shone.
“?”
“That means I can be that much more helpful to you, Young Master, right?”
He could see the zeal in her eyes.
So, Cheon Muryang smiled and said.
“Yes.”
“I'll work hard.”
“Good. You don't need to look after me anymore. Just focus on your training. Understood?”
“Yes. I will.”
“Then, go change your clothes first and come back.”
“Yes. Please take good care of me.”
Woryeong hurriedly left the training grounds.
Watching her leave, Cheon Seonhak asked casually.
“Are you that worried about the child?”
“Yes. Because she is my first person.”
“That's good.”
“Try teaching her. You won't find another talent like her.”
“We'll see about that.”
“Care to make a bet?”
“A bet?”
Cheon Muryang's gaze fell on Lee Seok-gi, who was training half-heartedly.
“One year.”
“…”
“Within the next year, she will defeat that head disciple.”
Cheon Seonhak also grew interested.
“Oh? One year, you say?”
“Yes.”
“Fine. I accept your bet.”
“I guarantee you, even a year is being generous. It might not even take three months.”
“We'll see.”
“Ah, but you can't deliberately not teach her the sword!”
“Who do you take me for?”
“Then, what will you wager, Uncle?”
“Hmm… Is there something you want?”
“Yes.”
Glance.
Cheon Muryang's gaze shifted somewhere.
He could see Neung Ryeoun and Cha Myeonghak, who had recently resumed their training here in the training grounds.
“Give me people.”
Reading Cheon Muryang's gaze, Cheon Seonhak gave a subtle smile.
“People… That is not something I can give.”
“Of course, that is true. But still, I must receive your permission, mustn't I?”
“Fine. It wouldn't be bad for you to create your own sword unit. Go ahead and try. So, what will you wager?”
Grin.
Cheon Muryang smiled.
“I will give you a unified family, Uncle.”
“…”
Cheon Seonhak was left speechless.