Chapter 56
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Forging the Sword of Justice (1)
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The Heavenly Watch Corps Leader was watching the duel between Cheon Muryang and Namgung Sang-hyeok from the shadows.
*‘He’s grown stronger.’*
He was truly a monster.
Although he seemed to have only reached the peak realm, the depth of his sword was extraordinary.
*‘But the situation is serious. To think the Namgung Family would get involved, not to mention the Sichuan Tang Clan.’*
Though he didn't yet know if it was Namgung Sang-hyeok's will or the Namgung Family's.
Before long, the duel between the two ended.
“You’d best take him and get lost.”
Cheon Muryang issued an order to leave to the shadow in the air.
*Flick!*
And in that instant, the Heavenly Watch Corps Leader met Cheon Muryang’s gaze in the air.
It was only for a fleeting moment.
*‘Ah...’*
But, in that moment.
The Heavenly Watch Corps Leader understood the new order he had been given.
*‘Is he telling me to follow that person?’*
It must have meant he was to uncover the identity of the shadow that had vanished with Namgung Sang-hyeok.
The Heavenly Watch Corps Leader headed in the direction the shadow had disappeared.
*‘Did he know I was here from the beginning?’*
A chill.
A shiver ran down the Heavenly Watch Corps Leader's spine.
It meant his position had been seen through from the very start.
*‘Is this his way of telling me not to forget that I, too, am being watched?’*
The Heavenly Watch Corps Leader melted back into the darkness.
*‘I shall keep that in mind.’*
Just before pursuing the shadow, he saw Cheon Muryang standing alone beneath the moonlight.
*‘He has truly become a dragon.’*
The sight seemed to overlap with that of a crouching dragon.
But, soon, the world would come to know.
*‘He is still a hidden dragon... but he will soon ascend to the heavens.’*
That there was a dragon in the Cheon Family.
*Rustle.*
The Heavenly Watch Corps Leader disappeared.
* * *
When Cheon Muryang, Namgung Seo-hui, and Mae Hong reached the vicinity of the Cheon Family estate, they encountered warriors of the Cheon Family searching the area.
“Young Lord!”
At their head were Woryeong, Neung Ryeoun, and Cha Myeonghak, who looked noticeably gaunt.
It seemed they had started searching after news of the Thousand-Faced Lustful Demon spread and, to make matters worse, Mae Hong had gone missing.
“Y-Young Lord! They say the Thousand-Faced Lustful Demon appeared in Zhejiang! And now M-Mae Hong is gone!”
“Woryeong, it’s all right.”
“Huh? Ah.”
Woryeong finally noticed Mae Hong.
Bursting into tears, Woryeong ran to Mae Hong and hugged her tightly.
“Mae Hong! What happened!”
“Woryeong…”
Mae Hong shed tears.
Cheon Muryang waited in silence for the two to calm down.
“What’s going on? Where was she found?”
“Who knows.”
“Who are those women?”
“Looks like women who were kidnapped by the Thousand-Faced Lustful Demon.”
“I want to get back quickly, just fire the signal flare already.”
“Let’s.”
A signal flare lit up the sky.
Watching them gather, he realized they were divided into two groups: those who searched with a desperate sense of duty, and those who did so half-heartedly.
*‘There’s still a long way to go…’*
Cheon Muryang wanted to give them pride in the Cheon Family.
But this was not the kind of pride he meant.
“Huu…”
Cheon Muryang let out a sigh.
Soon, the Cheon Family warriors who had been scattered about gathered in one place.
In response to their gazes demanding an explanation, Cheon Muryang explained briefly.
“I have slain the Thousand-Faced Lustful Demon.”
“...!”
*Thud!*
Cheon Muryang tossed the Thousand-Faced Lustful Demon’s head.
“And I was able to rescue the women he had captured.”
“…”
Why was it?
A strange sadness could be felt from Cheon Muryang as he spoke calmly.
However, only a very few could feel that sadness and empathize with it.
“All of this is the Cheon Family’s fault.”
“...!”
Those who couldn't feel his sadness felt instead a rage that boiled like lava.
“The Cheon Family failed to protect them.”
Failed to protect.
That was all.
Someone thought.
*‘It is a regrettable affair, but how is it the Cheon Family’s fault?’*
Looking at it coldly, that might have been the right way to think.
*‘I know it too. That it’s a stretch.’*
Cheon Muryang also knew.
That his words were forced, a bundle of contradictions.
*‘But the Cheon Family cannot be like this.’*
Cheon Muryang, Nameless in his past life, was taken in by Cheon Wigang.
Taking in someone with nowhere to go, whatever the reason, was an act of justice.
*‘That, too, is justice.’*
That was why Nameless could dedicate himself to the Cheon Family even while serving the scoundrel Great Young Lord.
*‘I don’t care if it’s a pretense.’*
If possible, he wanted to create a family filled with people who could genuinely feel anger on behalf of those nameless, delicate women.
That was what a righteous sect was, and it was the true nature of the Cheon Family that Nameless had loved.
*Thump!*
Cheon Muryang stomped his foot forcefully.
The ground trembled.
Everyone fell silent.
Staring at Cheon Muryang.
“We should have protected them.”
“…”
“No, if we failed to protect them.”
Cheon Muryang was enraged.
It was an anger born from the failure to protect them.
“Then we must be angry.”
*Fwoosh!*
Cheon Muryang was clearly not holding a sword.
But everyone gathered here had to face an invisible one.
A sword named Justice.
“That is the new law of the Cheon Family, and the direction our family will take.”
*Shing.*
Cheon Muryang finally drew his sword.
Merely facing it was sharp enough to feel as if it could cut the skin.
“If you cannot follow this.”
“...!”
Sword energy blossomed.
It shone clearer and bluer than ever before.
“No, if you cannot pursue justice, even as a pretense.”
*Kruuung!*
Cheon Muryang plunged the Heavenly Light into the ground.
“Leave this place. I will not stop you. Nor will I take back your martial arts.”
It was simply a matter of different paths.
He had no intention of taking away their skills.
Cheon Muryang simply had no intention of embracing such people.
“You may call it tyranny.”
“…”
“But that is the Cheon Family I will build from now on.”
*Thump-thump.*
Why was it?
Their hearts pounded.
The image overlapped with the Cheon Muryang who had declared, not long ago, that he would give them all pride.
“The choice is now yours.”
Cheon Muryang closed his eyes.
It was a sign of his will not to question whatever choice they made.
*Clang!*
Someone threw down their sword.
Even if they had only learned basic or intermediate martial arts, this was none other than the Cheon Family.
They would surely receive much better treatment at a small or medium-sized sect.
Thus, now was their chance.
“Great Young Lord, we will be on our way.”
They bowed to Cheon Muryang and left.
“…”
Cheon Muryang let them go.
He didn't care how many would leave.
*‘If even just one person remains.’*
Woryeong, Neung Ryeoun, Cha Myeonghak.
If only one person other than them remained, Cheon Muryang could move forward with the conviction that he was right.
But he couldn't bring himself to open his eyes just yet.
For fear that besides his own people, there would be no one left.
“Looks like the vermin have all left. You brat, what are you still doing with your eyes closed?”
It was then.
The Wandering King's thick voice was heard.
Followed by Cheon Seonhak's voice.
“Your speech was quite impressive.”
*Grin.*
Cheon Muryang smiled.
With that, he opened his closed eyes.
*Thud!*
*Kruuung!*
Those who left were few.
The moment Cheon Muryang opened his eyes, those who remained plunged their own swords into the ground.
Then, they knelt.
“The Great Young Lord is right!”
*Thump-thump.*
Cheon Muryang’s heart pounded.
With them, there would be nothing he couldn't do.
“Thank you.”
Cheon Muryang bowed his head to them with sincerity.
“I am not a member of the Cheon Family, but…”
Namgung Seo-hui added.
“I agree with those words.”
Namgung Seo-hui had abandoned the Namgung.
She had sworn to herself before those pitiful women that she would no longer live for her family.
The sword of justice Cheon Muryang had shown them—Namgung Seo-hui was already holding it.
“Thank you.”
Cheon Muryang smiled and returned to the Cheon Family with everyone.
Treatment began for the women who had been captured by the Thousand-Faced Lustful Demon.
“You’ve once again accomplished what I should have done.”
Cheon Seonhak was proud of Cheon Muryang for achieving the tasks he himself could not, one by one, but he also felt sorry.
“Not at all. This is only possible because you are here, Uncle.”
“You’re good with flattery.”
“How could that be? I made the declaration, but you are the one who will teach them justice, Uncle.”
*Flinch.*
Cheon Seonhak’s face momentarily stiffened.
Seeing this, Cheon Muryang couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from rising as he continued.
“As the Inspection Corps Leader, you see. I’m quite busy with official and private matters, am I not?”
“...!”
“Fortunately, Uncle, you don’t have an official position, do you? You must have that much free time.”
“Th-that is…”
“Ah, don’t worry. The Wandering King will help you as well.”
“Bullshit!”
The Wandering King was nearby.
It seemed the Wandering King and Cheon Seonhak had been getting along well lately and spending time together.
“Shouldn’t you also start preparing a successor?”
“A successor?”
“Are you planning to just throw away that saber art you’ve built up through real combat?”
“Of course not!”
“Then, try teaching it properly.”
“For whose benefit!”
The Wandering King still grumbled.
In response, Cheon Muryang threw out some bait.
“There are no saber arts among the Cheon Family’s martial arts.”
“Who doesn’t know that?”
“That’s exactly it. Your saber art could become the first saber art of the Cheon Family.”
*Tempted.*
The Wandering King was intrigued.
“What about it?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t understand. Isn’t that also a challenge for you?”
“…”
His saber art being recorded in a prestigious sword family that only deals with swords.
For a man who wielded the saber, for the Wandering King, this was a very thrilling prospect.
“So, it wouldn’t be bad for you to seriously consider taking on a disciple. In the process, you just have to give teachings to others as you do now, so it shouldn't be too difficult, right?”
“…”
The Wandering King fell silent.
Even knowing it was bait.
Even knowing everything was proceeding according to the picture Cheon Muryang was painting.
“Anyway, you arrogant brat.”
The Wandering King wanted to be deceived.
In his whole life, he had never had this much fun.
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
“But I choose the disciple.”
“Do as you please.”
Cheon Muryang shrugged.
“Only you are left, Uncle.”
“What are you waiting for? Did I not vow to become your sword and shield?”
“Then please do it.”
“…”
Cheon Muryang settled it in one fell swoop.
To this, Cheon Seonhak answered with silence.
“You’re going to do as he says anyway, why are you so shocked?”
The Wandering King guffawed, mocking Cheon Seonhak.
“Shut up.”
“Oh? You want a round?”
“I see no reason not to.”
*Fwoosh!*
Cheon Seonhak’s sword was drawn.
The Wandering King was not a man to back down, and soon the two were charging at each other.
“Well, with those two, the internal foundation will surely be strengthened…”
Also, the children under the care of the Lord of the Golden Pavilion would become precious resources.
He felt that everything was finally on a stable track.
“Though it’s still far from enough.”
*Kwaaang!*
Leaving the clash between the Wandering King and Cheon Seonhak behind, Cheon Muryang headed for the Inspection Corps Leader's office.
“It should be about time for him to arrive…”
Cheon Muryang waited for the Heavenly Watch Corps Leader.
It was to hear his final report.
How long had he waited?
He sensed a presence.
*‘Is he here? But…’*
It was definitely the Heavenly Watch Corps Leader.
However, from his irregular breathing, he seemed unstable.
“Keuheuk!”
Just as he expected.
The Heavenly Watch Corps Leader collapsed before he could even reach Cheon Muryang.
“Do not come closer.”
“Poison?”
“Yes.”
It was a vicious poison.
The poisonous energy expelled with each of the Heavenly Watch Corps Leader's breaths was clearly visible.
“I was careless.”
“…”
The Tang Clan was a family of poison.
That was why the Tang Clan could be counted among the three great families under heaven, but never dared to be called the greatest.
Because poison had a clear limitation.
“They say the Tang Clan’s poison is vicious, and it’s true.”
Poison was useless against martial artists who had reached a certain level.
Because they could expel poison with their internal energy.
However, the Tang Clan had succeeded in improving it.
“The antidote?”
“Impossible. It clings directly to the internal energy, and the more one circulates it, the faster the poison spreads.”
It was a truly vicious poison.
The Heavenly Watch Corps Leader prepared for death.
The reason he had risked his life to come here was likely to warn them not to fall for the Tang Clan's poison, using his own body as an example.
“It seems I will not get a second chance.”
The Heavenly Watch Corps Leader expressed his regret.
“Just when the Cheon Family was starting to change…”
Because he could no longer watch it unfold.
“But… the Great Young Lord’s path is right. Please, do not waver and proceed steadfastly.”
That was his final piece of advice.
His vision slowly blurred.
It seemed this vicious poison wouldn't even allow for a final burst of life before death.
*‘The worst kind of death.’*
The Heavenly Watch Corps Leader felt his breaths growing shorter.
“Don’t worry. I have no intention of letting you go yet.”
“...?”
The Heavenly Watch Corps Leader saw.
Cheon Muryang, wearing his scoundrel’s smile.
*‘Why the sword?’*
And with the final sight of Cheon Muryang raising his sword, his consciousness faded far away.
“Just close your eyes for a moment.”
Cheon Muryang raised the Heavenly Light.
If internal energy couldn't expel the poison.
*‘Why couldn’t I cut the poison itself?’*
This was a sword that could cut the heavens.
Why couldn't it cut poison?
Cheon Muryang intended to cut the poison.
*Fwoooosh!*
“I’ll cut it out for you in just a moment.”