Chapter 16
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: The Dragon's Decision
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Cheon Seonhak blamed himself.
He had known the family was deteriorating, but he never realized it had festered to this extent.
‘I’ve lived too cowardly all this time.’
Cheon Seonhak had left all family matters to Cheon Wigang and had not stepped forward.
He had focused solely on nurturing the next generation.
‘My desire to remain a martial artist… was ultimately no different from neglecting the family.’
He had wanted to remain a martial artist.
But the thought that his choice might have caused the Cheon Family to fester wrapped around him.
‘Just what a lonely battle you must have been fighting, Brother.’
Cheon Wigang was a man so strong he was called an iron wall.
So, he had thought there would be no problem.
When Cheon Wigang reached the Transcendent Realm, he thought the issue of legitimacy surrounding him had been cleanly resolved.
But that wasn't the case.
It was merely Cheon Seonhak's delusion.
‘I didn’t know because he never showed it. No, perhaps I didn’t want to see it. Because I… wanted to remain a noble martial artist.’
An empty training ground.
In its center, Cheon Seonhak stood alone, motionless, holding his sword.
‘It’s heavy.’
Even though it was a sword he had held his entire life, its weight felt particularly heavy today.
‘What was the reason I first held this sword?’
He couldn't readily answer that question.
Perhaps it was because he had lived a life different from the answer of wanting to protect the family.
‘I was wrong.’
He admitted his mistake.
Cheon Seonhak couldn't think of how he should hold the sword.
Thud.
So, he dropped the sword.
‘I am not worthy.’
He believed he no longer had the right to wield the family's sword.
Suddenly, he thought of Cheon Muryang.
‘The child I once thought was just a scoundrel is now trying to change the family.’
Who is the scoundrel now?
Cheon Seonhak looked at the sky.
In the distant east, the sun was rising.
“Nothing can disturb the sky of the Cheon Family.”
Cheon Seonhak had discarded his sword, but he grasped a new one.
Whoooosh!
Though he held nothing, an aura bloomed as if he were grasping a sword.
Wielding an invisible sword, Cheon Seonhak swung it as if dancing.
He forgot everything.
When he even forgot the sky of the Cheon Family.
Cheon Seonhak shuddered.
“Ah…”
The sky split apart.
And a wall crumbled.
Beyond the crumbled wall, he saw the horizon of a new realm, one only the chosen could enter.
Fwaaaah!
That light reflected in Cheon Seonhak’s eyes.
Was this the gaze of an absolute being, looking down upon the world?
“I have reached the Transcendent Realm.”
Cheon Seonhak, who had been on the cusp between the Peak and Transcendent realms, had finally entered the true threshold of the Transcendent Realm.
The birth of a new absolute master took place in the deserted training ground.
It was a realm he had so desperately desired, yet upon reaching it, Cheon Seonhak was surprisingly detached.
“This power… is not my own.”
Cheon Muryang.
“I shall wield it for you.”
Cheon Muryang had said.
To become his shield.
“A shield, you asked me to become your shield.”
But Cheon Seonhak had no intention of being just a shield.
“I will become your sword as well.”
Cheon Seonhak was certain that his decision to support Cheon Muryang was the right one.
“You do what you must. I will move as I see fit.”
He decided not to remain silent any longer.
It was as Cheon Muryang had said.
When one seeks to cleave the heavens, what is there to fear?
“Neung Ryeoun. Cha Myeonghak.”
The first to appear in the empty training ground were Neung Ryeoun and Cha Myeonghak.
And at almost the same time, Woryeong also arrived at the training ground, her eyes filled with determination.
“We greet the Grand Commander!”
“Assemble the entire Heavenly Dragon Sword Corps and Heavenly Phoenix Sword Corps.”
“...!”
“Go.”
“Yes!”
Not knowing the reason.
Neung Ryeoun and Cha Myeonghak moved as Cheon Seonhak commanded.
“You are Woryeong, I believe.”
“Yes, Grand Commander.”
“What is your goal?”
“My goal?”
“Yes. I am asking what goal you wish to achieve by learning martial arts.”
The atmosphere was different from usual.
But Woryeong spoke resolutely, without a hint of hesitation.
“I want to become a source of strength for the Young Lord.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes. That is all.”
Fwoosh!
Cheon Seonhak was clearly not holding a sword.
Yet, Woryeong felt a sharpness as if a single sword was pointed at her neck.
“It is not enough. With just that, you can never become strong.”
A mere abstract will to become someone's strength was insufficient.
A firm resolve was needed.
Cheon Seonhak intended to instill that resolve in her.
“Th-then…”
“...?”
“If possible…”
Woryeong rarely showed her emotions.
Thus, she had a strikingly cold, ice-like impression.
The only time such a Woryeong revealed her emotions was when it concerned Cheon Muryang.
This was one of those moments.
Woryeong’s ice-cold eyes melted.
“I want to become a scabbard where the Young Lord can rest.”
“A scabbard…”
The corners of Cheon Seonhak’s mouth gently curved upward.
‘He said, “She is a child who saw through the true meaning of my sword at a glance.” It’s true.’
The statement that Woryeong had seen through Cheon Muryang's sword was not a lie.
Because Cheon Muryang had already become a sword.
The sharper the sword, the more necessary the scabbard.
“Good. But you must remember that the finer the sword, the finer the scabbard must be.”
“Yes. I am prepared.”
“Good. Do not forget that resolve.”
Cheon Seonhak picked up his sword from the ground.
Then, he offered the sword to Woryeong.
“Take it. From now on, it is your sword.”
“M-me? But this is…”
“I no longer have need of it.”
“...Thank you.”
Cheon Seonhak was a pillar of the Cheon Family.
To hold the sword of such a man was no light matter.
Woryeong could not yet be called a martial artist, but she understood the weight of a sword.
“From today, you will begin training with the sword. Your task is…”
It was then.
The members of the Heavenly Dragon Sword Corps and Heavenly Phoenix Sword Corps, summoned by Neung Ryeoun and Cha Myeonghak, were marching into the training ground in formation.
“Including me, steal their swordsmanship.”
“What?”
Woryeong was puzzled by Cheon Seonhak's sudden words.
Steal? How was she supposed to steal their swordsmanship?
“It means to watch their swordplay and make it your own.”
“Ah…”
Woryeong understood his meaning.
It was in the same vein as being told to watch the sword.
“One month. I will give you one month. Within that time, you must create a sword of your own.”
“Yes.”
Woryeong steeled herself.
Watching her, Cheon Seonhak nodded.
“Has everyone arrived?”
“Yes, Grand Commander.”
They stared at Woryeong.
To be precise, they were looking at Cheon Seonhak’s sword in Woryeong's hands.
“Could it be…?”
The commanders of the Heavenly Dragon and Heavenly Phoenix Sword Corps were Cheon Seonhak's personally trained disciples.
Therefore, they were the first to realize what it meant for Cheon Seonhak to have let go of his sword.
“Grand Commander… Congratulations!”
“...”
The Heavenly Dragon Commander was emotional, while the Heavenly Phoenix Commander, though expressionless, congratulated him with silence.
“Thank you. I will now tell you why I have assembled you at this early hour.”
An indescribably immense aura emanated from Cheon Seonhak.
It was something that could be called a resolve, something they had never felt from him before.
“Until now, I have sought to remain a martial artist.”
Cheon Seonhak was a martial artist.
A martial artist like a rock, unshaken by anything.
“But no longer.”
“...!”
Thump!
Everyone’s heart sank.
Because the meaning of his words was clear.
Cheon Seonhak met everyone’s eyes.
Not a single person avoided his gaze, meeting it head-on.
“From now on, I intend to raise my sword for the Great Young Lord of the Cheon Family.”
“...”
Everyone was silent.
Because Cheon Seonhak's declaration was something the Grand Commander of the Heavenly Dragon and Heavenly Phoenix Sword Corps should never say.
“Therefore, as of this moment, I will step down from the position of Grand Commander.”
“G-Grand Commander!”
The Heavenly Dragon Commander was stunned.
The position of Grand Commander was highly symbolic, a sort of honorary title.
“I will not ask you to follow me.”
“...”
“However, I hope that the Heavenly Dragon and Heavenly Phoenix Sword Corps will maintain their neutrality, as they always have.”
Why was it?
Cheon Seonhak felt more relieved than regretful.
“You have all worked hard.”
“...Thank you, Grand Commander.”
Everyone knew.
That Cheon Seonhak would never revoke this decision.
“I will give you one last lesson.”
Cheon Seonhak's martial arts were unique to him.
Therefore, no one had been able to learn his martial arts.
It was because their understanding of the heavens was insufficient.
“Gasp!”
However, even if it wasn't the heavens.
There was still a gift he could give them.
Fwaaaah!
In Cheon Seonhak's empty right hand, a vibrant blue streak blossomed.
Rumble! R-rumble!
That alone generated an overwhelming aura that dominated their entire beings.
“S-Sword Aura…!”
All of them were first-rate masters capable of producing sword ki.
Sword aura was ultimately an extension of sword ki, so it was nothing to be surprised about.
“Open your eyes wide and watch.”
However, Cheon Seonhak's sword aura was different.
The sword aura, which bloomed into a complete sword, was exerting enough pressure to distort the surrounding atmosphere.
“Keuk!”
Thus, those with relatively weaker martial skills found it difficult to even stand.
Whoooosh!
The sword soared into the air.
And Cheon Seonhak brought it straight down toward the earth.
“Ah…”
A halo of light, bright enough to blind, spread out in all directions.
“Continue to devote yourselves to your martial arts.”
With those final words, Cheon Seonhak left the training ground.
Nothing could hinder Cheon Seonhak’s light, unburdened steps.
“Is this freedom?”
For the first time in a while, Cheon Seonhak left the Cheon Family estate, alone.
* * *
Cheon Muryang arrived in Shaoxing.
Shaoxing was within the Cheon Family's territory.
The Little Eagle Faction had only been granted rights over Shaoxing as an ally of the Cheon Family.
“Hmm…”
Shaoxing was near Hangzhou.
As such, it was a town people passed through on their way to Hangzhou, and its streets were lined with stalls.
“The atmosphere is strange.”
But something about the atmosphere was off.
Although their income should have been decent given the developed commercial district, the people looked gaunt and starved.
“...”
Cheon Muryang feigned being a customer and strolled around, observing his surroundings.
He was able to find a commonality.
‘I can sense fear.’
Fear emanated from all of them.
What could they be afraid of?
However, not far away, he found the source of that fear.
“You have to pay the stall fee!”
“Aigo, but didn’t you just collect it a short while ago…?”
“That was the protection fee! The stall fee is separate. You don’t want to do business here?”
Men known as local ruffians were causing a ruckus.
‘The Little Eagle Faction, is it…?’
Otherwise, there was no way mere ruffians would dare to pull something like this.
Cheon Muryang watched their actions with cold eyes.
“Money! Money! Hand over the money! If you’re doing business, you have to pay!”
Crash!
The troublemakers, as if intending to destroy the shop, began smashing all sorts of fixtures.
“Aigo! Aigo!”
However, the couple who appeared to be the shop owners could do nothing but kneel and beg.
They were helpless.
“I don’t understand.”
He couldn't understand at all.
This was Shaoxing.
In other words, the territory of the Cheon Family.
And.
“The Cheon Family would have certainly forbidden this kind of exploitation.”
“Huh? What’s this?”
Seeing Cheon Muryang approach, the ruffians from the Little Eagle Faction snickered.
“Stop right there. Go on your way. Don’t get yourself hurt acting on some youthful bravado.”
“Let me ask one thing.”
“What’d you say?”
“Are you from the Little Eagle Faction?”
“What kind of bullshit is that?”
“I asked if the Little Eagle Faction is extorting them.”
“Ha, this bastard. Who do you think you are, bringing up the Little Eagle Faction.”
The one who appeared to be the leader gave a look.
Several men surrounded Cheon Muryang.
“Teach him a lesson, but go easy.”
“Yes, sir.”
The man closest to him threw a punch at Cheon Muryang.
In that instant, the Heavenly Light Sword flashed, and the man’s wrist was severed.
Thud.
“Kuaaaargh!”
“I won’t kill you. I suppose that counts as going easy, doesn’t it?”
Clang!
They all drew their swords at once.