Chapter 9
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Entering the Heavenly Dragon Library
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The banquet was over.
In the ruined banquet hall, Cheon Wigang and Cheon Seonhak faced each other.
“So, it was all planned.”
“Yes.”
“But what happened to Muryang? Has that scoundrel truly turned over a new leaf?”
Cheon Seonhak recounted what had happened.
From the day he started running around the training grounds until now, he hadn't rested a single day.
He told him everything, including how he had sparred with the trainees and had yet to be defeated.
Hearing this, Cheon Wigang couldn't believe his ears.
“Is that truly so?”
“It is.”
“So, you've decided to stand behind him.”
“With at least one guardian, they won't be able to act recklessly.”
When Cheon Seonhak mentioned "them," Cheon Wigang fell silent.
“Hmm…”
“Please, trust him one last time. The boy has certainly changed.”
“Changed… I still can't believe it.”
It was only natural.
Breaking free from ingrained prejudice was no easy task.
“I was the same.”
“…”
“Did you see his final sword technique?”
“I did. It was your Reverse Scale Slash.”
“I taught him that technique just two hours ago.”
“What?”
He couldn't just dismiss those words.
Cheon Seonhak's swordsmanship was special, after all.
“You mean he mastered your technique?”
“Yes. What do you think that means?”
“He has broken out of the mold.”
“Indeed.”
The current swordsmanship of the Cheon Family had a clearly defined framework.
However, the original swordsmanship of the Cheon Family was characterized by its free-spirited nature.
This was due to the teaching, "How can one predict the heavens?"
But, because it was so free-spirited, the forms of the sword techniques varied so much that eventually, it became corrupted to the point where one couldn't even distinguish what was the Cheon Family's swordsmanship.
“I still don't know what is right and what is wrong.”
What is right and what is wrong?
Cheon Wigang and Cheon Seonhak.
Each had come to a different conclusion.
Cheon Wigang abandoned the free-spirited style and mastered only the rigid, structured heavens.
However, Cheon Seonhak rejected the mold and pursued the free-spirited sword of the heavens.
“But that boy sought to embrace a new heaven.”
“A new heaven, you say.”
In the current generation of the Cheon Family, only Cheon Seonhak sought to embody his own heaven.
Thus, Cheon Seonhak's sword was special.
Because no one else could master his techniques, including the Reverse Scale Slash.
Even Cheon Wigang could only understand the principles of the technique, not claim to have mastered it, so what more needed to be said?
“What a ridiculous story. To think that Muryang, whom I thought was a lost cause, would possess such talent.”
“I intend to pass my sword down to that boy.”
The pinnacle of his swordsmanship, a monument built over a lifetime.
Cheon Seonhak declared that he would bequeath it to Cheon Muryang.
“Do you think that's possible?”
“My sword will merely become the clouds. After all, doesn't a dragon ascend to the heavens by riding the clouds?”
In other words, he meant to become a cornerstone for the next generation.
“I'm entrusting you with a great burden.”
“It is a duty I must fulfill.”
“Our relationship with the Tang Clan will become awkward, but perhaps we've gained something far greater.”
Cheon Wigang gave a faint smile.
With that, the two men left the banquet hall.
“Let's have a drink. It's been a while.”
“I'd like that.”
* * *
Cheon Muryang ran straight to the infirmary where Woryeong would be.
*Thud!*
As Cheon Muryang burst through the door, he saw Woryeong lying on a bed.
“Young Master!”
Beside her, Hwahong was anxiously clutching Woryeong's hands.
Her purplish lips and hands were the unmistakable signs of poisoning.
“Here's the antidote.”
Cheon Muryang personally administered the antidote to Woryeong.
Then, he infused her with his energy to help it spread quickly.
“Her… her color is returning!”
Just as Hwahong said, the color was rapidly returning to Woryeong's face.
“Hoo…”
Only then did Cheon Muryang let out a sigh of relief and relax.
His muscles began to spasm.
“This is killing me.”
He had pushed his body to the brink in that short time to master the Reverse Scale Slash.
Thus, even Cheon Muryang's well-trained body had reached its limit.
“Y-Young Master?”
It wasn't just his muscles.
The Reverse Scale Slash was a technique that countered an opponent's attack and drew it into one's own flow.
This meant that to master the Reverse Scale Slash, Cheon Muryang had to withstand the sword of none other than Cheon Seonhak.
*Drip.*
*Drip, drip.*
Blood trickled from beneath Cheon Muryang's sleeve.
“Ah, I overdid it a little.”
*Whoosh.*
The world spun around him.
For a moment, his vision went black.
Cheon Muryang collapsed, unconscious.
“Young Master!”
Hwahong's scream sounded like a lullaby to Cheon Muryang.
* * *
*Fwoosh.*
The Cheon Family estate was ablaze.
In front of the main gate of the Cheon Family estate, now reduced to ashes, stood Cheon Muryang—no, Nameless.
*'The Demonic Cult...'*
Not a single blade of grass remained where they had passed.
An inferno of death from which no one could survive had engulfed the Cheon Family.
*'Countless people died...'*
Why did they have to die?
Countless people died.
*'It's all the Great Young Lord's fault.'*
Until the moment of his death, Nameless resented Cheon Muryang.
He believed that everything had been ruined by Cheon Muryang, the scoundrel Great Young Lord who became the Family Head after Cheon Wigang's sudden death.
*'That's what I believed.'*
And so, Nameless died.
But the deceased Nameless became Cheon Muryang and traveled back fifteen years in time.
*'Something feels off.'*
Then, a question arose.
Why did the Cheon Family end up like this?
*'Why?'*
The Cheon Family was certainly not the greatest family under heaven.
However, it was definitely one of the ten great families.
How could such a massive family fall in an instant, even if the family head was a disgrace?
The core reason was undoubtedly that Cheon Muryang had brought disaster upon them.
*'Because he got the Demonic Cult involved.'*
Nothing could justify Cheon Muryang's actions.
But a question naturally arose.
*'Didn't the family operate independently of Young Master Cheon Muryang?'*
Cheon Muryang held no real power.
He may have had the final say, but he was merely a figurehead.
*'Was the family's entire structure broken?'*
Even though Nameless was Cheon Muryang's bodyguard, he had spent more time away from the estate after the Family Head's death, trying to support the collapsing Cheon Family.
It was easier on Nameless's conscience, so he hadn't harbored any suspicions or questions at the time.
*'There's something I didn't know.'*
There was definitely something.
Because Nameless had directed all his resentment at Cheon Muryang, the thought occurred to him that perhaps he wasn't the sole cause of it all.
Though he had no way of knowing what it was exactly.
*Stab!*
He saw the scene where Cheon Muryang's sword pierced through Nameless.
*'…'*
Why was that?
Watching from a third-person perspective, he could see Cheon Muryang's terrified expression.
Soon after, Cheon Muryang was also beheaded.
Until the moment he died, his eyes were filled with fear of something, or someone.
*'What were you so afraid of?'*
*Crack!*
He was aware that this wasn't reality.
Thus, this world constructed from Nameless's memories shattered like glass.
*Fshhh!*
The world crumbled.
Through the fragments, an unfamiliar memory flowed in.
*'Great Young Lord...'*
It was a part of Cheon Muryang's memory.
It seemed to be from a time not long after his inauguration ceremony as Family Head.
*“Great Young Lord, you would do well to remember who made you the Family Head.”*
It was an unidentifiable voice.
But the fear Cheon Muryang must have felt was conveyed perfectly.
*'Who are you?'*
He had to find out.
Nameless realized he might have only held the prejudice that Cheon Muryang was a scoundrel.
*'Perhaps... the Great Young Lord was also... cornered into an extreme situation.'*
The thought occurred that his continued debauchery, even after becoming the Family Head, might have been a desperate struggle for survival.
*'Were you that desperate? Desperate enough to involve the Demonic Cult?'*
Cheon Muryang's fear was palpable.
What could one call it?
Now that Nameless understood Cheon Muryang, could it be called assimilation?
It was impossible to know.
And so, Nameless's consciousness sank back into the abyss.
He heard Woryeong's voice.
“Young Master?”
“Ugh…”
Cheon Muryang opened his eyes.
A familiar ceiling came into view.
To his side, he saw Woryeong's face, her eyes brimming with tears.
“How long has it been?”
“You've been lying here for a full day.”
“A day? I guess I got some unexpected rest.”
Cheon Muryang pushed himself up.
As if blood rushed to his head, a wave of dizziness washed over him.
“Ugh. I'll need another day of rest.”
“Young Master, I heard you fought because of me.”
Hwahong must have told her.
“Ah.”
“Why would you do that?”
Woryeong shed tears upon hearing that Cheon Muryang had made an enemy of the Sichuan Tang Clan for her sake.
“I told you.”
“…”
“If anyone touches my people, I won't stand for it, no matter who they are.”
How could she forget?
Those words were unforgettable.
“And that special meal you prepared was delicious.”
*Sniffle.*
Woryeong smiled.
But tears streamed down with her smile.
Feeling awkward, Cheon Muryang feigned indifference and changed the subject.
“I'm hungry. Is there anything to eat?”
“Ah, I'll prepare something for you!”
Woryeong left for a moment.
Cheon Muryang got up, still feeling the ache in his muscles.
The memory from his dream was still vivid.
“Great Young Lord, this revenge is not for you. But I want to know. The reason why the Cheon Family had to fall so senselessly in the past.”
*Squeeze!*
He clenched his fist tightly.
Whose will was it?
Perhaps some of Cheon Muryang's will remained.
“But not now.”
He was too weak for that.
He had to become so strong that no one could touch him.
“I must become stronger. Stronger than anyone.”
*Creeak.*
The infirmary door opened.
It wasn't Woryeong, but Cheon Seonhak who entered.
“Interesting. I too wished to make you stronger than anyone else. It seems our thoughts are aligned.”
“Uncle, I want to become stronger.”
“I will give you my sword.”
“…!”
“However, you must create your own sword that surpasses mine. That will be your foremost task.”
Cheon Muryang knew.
This was his only chance.
It was also a turning point, a chance to walk a different path from the past.
“Yes.”
Perhaps seeing the determination filling his eyes,
Cheon Seonhak smiled.
He too was expectant.
Cheon Muryang tried to get up immediately.
Cheon Seonhak stopped him.
“Don't. I'll give you three days. You must recover completely within that time.”
*Smirk.*
Every word from Cheon Seonhak was a bet.
As always, Cheon Muryang accepted the bet.
“One day. I'll rest for just one day.”
“One day… Fine.”
Cheon Seonhak took something out.
“Take this.”
*Flick!*
It was a wooden tablet.
“This is…?”
“Didn't you say you wanted to enter the Heavenly Dragon Library? This is the pass. Will one day still be enough?”
“…”
One day was too short.
It seemed he had lost this bet.
“Please give me two days.”
Cheon Seonhak laughed.
“If you can, then do so.”
“…?”
“But you must be different when you come out than when you went in.”
His words were cryptic.
However, Cheon Seonhak said no more and left the infirmary.
“Thank you, Uncle.”
Though he was likely already out of earshot.
Cheon Muryang bowed his head deeply.
“The Heavenly Dragon Library…”
*I will grow stronger.*
He resolved once more.
“Young Master! Here you go!”
Woryeong brought him some porridge.
He didn't want to eat, but he scarfed it down for the sake of his recovery.
After resting for a couple more hours, Cheon Muryang shot up from his seat.
“Young Master? Where are you going?”
“To the Heavenly Dragon Library.”
“…!”
Cheon Muryang smiled and left the infirmary.
“It starts today.”
“I'll be cheering for you!”