Chapter 65
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Sword King, Namgung San (2)
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Cheon Muryang's party arrived at a secluded estate.
It appeared to be a residence prepared for the Sword King.
Lavishly decorated, it was a sight to behold.
“I would like to speak with the boy alone.”
“Of course.”
The Wandering King promptly took his leave.
In response, Cheon Muryang also nodded, dismissing Woryeong, Neung Ryeoun, and Cha Myeonghak.
“This is a fine place.”
“It is also an excessive one.”
In contrast to the splendidly adorned pavilion, the items immediately around Namgung San looked uniformly humble.
Seated at the already prepared tea table, Namgung San's aura was starkly different from before.
“It seems they still don't understand that this is all mere formality.”
“Even so, appearances can be necessary at times.”
“Is that so? But why do you not borrow the name of the Cheon Family?”
“Because the time is not yet right for me.”
Namgung San poured the tea himself.
Steam rose gently.
A distinct aroma spread through the air.
“The time…”
“It is fine tea. Thank you.”
“Is that child doing well?”
“And if she is not?”
“How could I blame you? That, too, would be my own failing.”
*Pfft.*
Cheon Muryang chuckled.
‘So this is what blood ties are like.’
Namgung San's heartfelt sympathy for Namgung Seo-hui was palpable.
Even for one who had reached a level worthy of being called the Sword Emperor, it seemed he could not control such affections.
“She will be fine.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“But why did she not come with you?”
“Ah. She is in the middle of finding her own answer. She will find it in due time.”
“Her own answer…”
“Whatever answer she reaches, are you, Sword King, prepared to accept her choice?”
*Tak.*
Without drinking, Namgung San set his teacup down on the table.
“If that resolve is truly the conclusion she has reached…”
“…”
“…what do my own wishes matter?”
Cheon Muryang nodded.
That, too, was true.
“I see.”
“Let me ask you something.”
“Please, speak.”
“Why have you come to the Dragon and Phoenix Assembly?”
“Is there any other reason? It is to firmly establish the name of the Cheon Family in the martial world.”
“…”
Namgung San said nothing, simply staring into Cheon Muryang's eyes.
He was trying to discern the true meaning behind his words.
He had not lied, yet a flicker of disappointment crossed Namgung San's face.
“I see.”
So, Cheon Muryang asked.
It was to find out what kind of man Namgung San truly was.
“The Demonic Cult.”
“…”
“How much do you know about the Demonic Cult?”
How would he answer?
Depending on that answer…
‘…the position of the Namgung Family will change.’
Depending on the circumstances…
…they could even become enemies.
“The Demonic Cult…”
Namgung San wore a faint smile.
As if he had completely grasped the intent behind Cheon Muryang's question.
“At the very least, there are no members of the Demonic Cult among the elders of the Namgung Family.”
“…!”
“Why the surprise? Did you truly think I wouldn't know?”
Cheon Muryang did not show it, but a cold sweat ran down his spine.
‘He knew?’
He was stunned by the Namgung Family's intelligence network, and at the same time, he recalled that despite knowing this, they had never said a single word to the Cheon Family.
“When did you find out?”
“It seems what you really want to ask is why I didn't tell the Cheon Family, even though I knew.”
“…”
“Do not worry, it was discovered only recently. It wouldn't be much different from when you learned the full story.”
It was a lie.
Even if those words were true…
…in the future Cheon Muryang knew, such a thing never happened.
‘The Namgung Family definitely never gave any hint.’
Right up to the moment the Cheon Family fell.
Knowing this, Cheon Muryang could not accept Namgung San's answer.
“I must admit, I have my doubts.”
“…?”
“I wonder if the Namgung Family would have shared that information, even if the Cheon Family had never found out.”
Namgung San's eyes grew heavy.
A profound aura began to emanate from him.
The subtle pressure created the illusion of a sword pointed right between Cheon Muryang's eyes.
“I wonder.”
“…”
“If it had benefited our family, we would have helped, of course.”
“I see.”
The Namgung Family was already an enemy.
This was not the Cheon Family's choice.
It was the Namgung Family's.
“The Namgung Family's choice… I understand it perfectly.”
“…”
However, it seemed Namgung San still had more to say.
“Hm?”
Just now, water had dripped around the teacup Namgung San had set down.
The droplets formed the character for ‘Ja’ (子).
‘A rat?’
‘Ja,’ the rat of the twelve zodiac signs.
In other words, it meant rat.
It must mean that this area was crawling with rats.
‘I see.’
Until now, Cheon Muryang had assumed those rats were simply men of the Namgung Family.
However, it seemed that was not the case.
‘Sword King, were you also being watched?’
Namgung San had called this place excessive.
While that was a jab at the empty formalities, it also meant that the number of people eavesdropping and spying on this place was excessive.
Just as he said, this place was excessive.
‘How ridiculous is this?’
Looking at the unfree Namgung San, Cheon Muryang felt an indescribable paradox.
“Even someone as strong as you, Sword King, is not free.”
“Yes. Is it not truly laughable?”
The Sword King before him was a man who would undoubtedly be counted among the ten strongest in the martial world.
So much so that some had even begun to call him not a King, but an Emperor.
The reality that even a man who had reached such a level could not speak a single word in comfort was absurd.
“What is the reason?”
“…”
As long as there were listening ears.
As if to say he could not speak of anything.
Namgung San simply remained silent.
At this, a needless anger flared up.
*Grit!*
The target for that anger was already decided.
And so, Cheon Muryang shot up from his seat.
*Whoosh!*
The sharp blade of his sword revealed itself.
“The reason…”
The Sword King, answering curtly, stood before Cheon Muryang.
*Shing.*
He, too, drew his sword.
*Fwoosh!*
The heirloom of the Namgung Family.
The Emperor's Sword flaunted its fluid grace in all directions.
*Vmm!*
The Heavenly Light reacted on its own.
The Heavenly Light vibrated ceaselessly.
A sudden impulse to witness the Sword King's swordsmanship arose.
“…”
Was that why?
A strange tension flowed between the two.
*Grip!*
Cheon Muryang, gripping the Heavenly Light tightly, looked ready to strike at any moment.
“That is not a bad idea, either.”
The situation was escalating rapidly.
Perhaps intending to report the situation here, a few shadows began to move.
“What will you do?”
“Well, today isn't the only day.”
*Pfft.*
For the first time, the Sword King smiled.
“You are right.”
And so, he decided.
‘The one I must cut is not the Sword King.’
The ones to be cut…
…were those shadows.
Even if it was just a temporary measure.
“Have you decided?”
“Yes. I will cut them down.”
“…”
“Then, cut.”
“I already have.”
*Fwoosh!*
Cheon Muryang moved.
*Swish!*
A slash that cut through the air.
He had clearly cut empty space.
“Gah!”
But from that empty space, blood suddenly trickled down.
“A fine sword.”
Namgung San did not move.
As if everything that happened here had to be solely Cheon Muryang's own doing.
“Are you just going to watch?”
“Understand that I cannot step in.”
“…”
So, Cheon Muryang had to deal with the rats lurking nearby on his own.
“There, one is getting away.”
“Not a chance.”
Cheon Muryang smiled.
The Heavenly Light shot towards the sky.
“Oh?”
A peculiar light gleamed in Namgung San's eyes.
In that instant, a strike from the Heavenly Light fell, cutting through the sky and ignoring the distance to slice down the fleeing man.
“Under the heavens, there is nowhere to run.”
If they had wanted to escape…
…they should have fled the moment Cheon Muryang first entered this place.
“Is that the sword of the Cheon Family?”
“Perhaps.”
It was natural to think so, but…
…it was only half right.
It was a sword originating from the Cheon Family, yet no one could replicate his own swordsmanship.
“It is the sword of the Cheon Family, but it is also purely my own.”
“You, too, are walking a difficult path.”
“Well, it is entertaining.”
“Entertaining.”
The Sword King smiled.
Was this not a freedom he had not felt in a long time?
The air was the same, but its freshness felt different.
“I have a favor to ask of you.”
“Yes. Please speak.”
“Namgung Seo-hui. Protect that child for me.”
“I do not think that is something you are incapable of, Sword King.”
“Regrettably, I cannot make a move. And I must not.”
The Sword King was one who had reached the pinnacle of the Namgung Sword, but because of that, he held no real authority.
The moment he involved himself in politics, the authority of the family head would diminish, causing division.
Thus, the Sword King could only take a step back and observe.
“I never knew that boy would go that far.”
Namgung Sang-hyeok had crossed the line.
He had joined hands with the Tang Clan and the Demonic Cult to hand Namgung Seo-hui over to the Thousand-Faced Seductress.
What could that possibly mean?
“No matter how the law of the ruling family dictates non-interference in succession disputes, he has crossed a line.”
“So you knew.”
“That boy is not lacking in learning, so he will realize it someday. Until then, please protect Seo-hui.”
“I wonder.”
However, Cheon Muryang shook his head.
He felt that the Sword King, aside from his sword, was a dull man.
“I'm not so sure that's necessary.”
“What?”
Namgung Seo-hui.
She, too, was of the direct Namgung bloodline.
Meaning, she was qualified to become the head of the Namgung Family.
“Is she not also of the direct line?”
“That child is a girl.”
“But she is a woman who possesses the talent to become the Sword Queen.”
“…”
How could he not know?
The cause of this whole affair was precisely Namgung Seo-hui's talent.
“Have you asked her what she wants? What if Namgung Seo-hui were to declare her intention to become the head of the Namgung Family?”
“…”
“What would you do?”
It was the same question as before.
But the Sword King's feelings upon hearing it were not at all the same.
“That would never happen.”
“Somehow, your answer has changed.”
“Because I know she will not make that choice.”
“Is that really so?”
“…”
*Pfft.*
Cheon Muryang smiled.
While he understood the Sword King's predicament, unable to act one way or the other, he sneered at his indecisiveness.
“You said it yourself.”
“…”
“That you cannot make a move. That you must not.”
“I did.”
“You will have to keep that promise.”
Probably.
Because Namgung Seo-hui will strengthen her resolve.
“In the end, is this the only way it can be?”
“You could say it's the natural order of things.”
“The natural order... Perhaps I, too, have been forcefully denying it.”
The Sword King let out a deep sigh.
But he looked somewhat relieved.
It was then.
He felt the presence of shadows approaching from the distance.
“There is no time.”
“We have finished speaking.”
“No, not yet.”
“…?”
“Is there not a reward I must give you?”
*Shing.*
The Emperor's Sword moved.
But the Emperor's Sword refused to be held in the Sword King's hand.
‘Sword control?’
As if it had eyes of its own.
The Emperor's Sword shot into the air by itself.
“…!”
That was not all.
For some time now, Cheon Muryang had felt a stinging sensation between his brows.
‘Don't tell me…’
The Sword King held no sword.
But this entire space was within the domain of his sword strike.
“Yes. That is the Emperor's Sword Form.”
The Sword King even clasped his hands behind his back.
But tens, hundreds, thousands of invisible swords were aimed at Cheon Muryang.
This space itself was like a single sword art.
“This is the sword of the Namgung Family.”
All those swords became one, centered on the Emperor's Sword.
*Shwooo!*
The Emperor's Sword cut through the empty air.
“Ah…”
The trajectory of that sword resembled the Sword of the High Heavens that Cheon Muryang had once sought to capture.
“It will aid you on your path.”
“How do you know that sword?”
The Sword King smiled meaningfully and said.
“Why would a sword that seeks to embrace the heavens exist only in the Cheon Family?”
“…!”
“It may be the sword of the Cheon Family, but you would do well to remember that the answer can also be found outside of it.”
“Thank you for the lesson.”
“How could it compare to the lesson you've taught me?”
*Ssk.*
The Sword King slowly bowed his head.
“…!”
“Thank you for saving that child.”
“Ah, please don't mention it.”
Cheon Muryang smiled.