My Friend Called Cheonma
One hour later, in the lord's chamber of Cheon Ga-jang.
"My apologies, Jo-seo. I have no words to offer."
"……."
A heavy silence lingered in the air for a long while.
These visitors had arrived just as the family reunion was winding down after Mu Yun's return home. Baek Jo-yeong of Baek Ga-jang and Ham Dae-won of Ham Ga-jang—the lords of the two families that, alongside Cheon Ga-jang, were known as Nae-yang's three great houses.
Ham Dae-won, who had been gauging the mood, turned his gaze toward Mu Yun, seated beside them.
"Mu Yun, you've been through a lot these past years."
"Thanks to your concern, I made it back safely. My gratitude."
From Ham Dae-won's perspective, as a longtime friend to both lords, there was no need to take sides. He simply knew that the root of this mess lay with his daughter, Eun-jin. For her sake, for his main family, and for the two houses bound by decades of ties, the best path was amicable resolution.
He cut straight to the point.
"I'd like to hear your thoughts first. What do you wish to do?"
"I have no desire to dwell on the past. But what must be addressed, I'll take responsibility for myself."
"Is there anything you want?"
"That's for me to decide."
"……So you're placing no conditions?"
"I'll judge afterward. That's my stance."
Ham Dae-won's eyes shifted to Cheon Ga-jang's lord, Cheon Jung-seo.
"And what say you?"
"I feel the same."
Baek Ga-jang's lord, Baek Jo-yeong, let out a quiet sigh of relief.
'This is the best outcome we could hope for.'
The handling of this matter could vary wildly depending on the approach. By the laws of the land, it might warrant only a light flogging for slander. But by the code of the jianghu, it could mean crippling the dantian or forcing a duel to the death.
He voiced the resolution he'd been mulling over.
"It may have started impulsively back then, but what followed is unforgivable even to me. I propose stripping him permanently of his young lord position and banishing him to his maternal clan in Hyeong-ju for at least a decade."
Cheon Jung-seo's gaze turned to his son.
"Speak your mind."
Mu Yun addressed Baek Jo-yeong calmly.
"Handle it as you see fit."
"My thanks. So it shall be."
"And I have something to say to you both."
"Go on. Speak freely."
Mu Yun rose from his seat and bowed deeply to the two lords.
It was time to unravel each of the deeds the old Mu Yun had committed, one by one.
"I bear great fault as well. I apologize to you first."
The previous Mu Yun had swung his blade in a drunken haze of liquor and lust. That sin was grave, but since he'd already suffered greater punishment, Mu Yun let it pass for now.
Baek Jo-yeong offered a bittersweet smile.
He could now well imagine the pain his friend Cheon Jung-seo had felt seven years ago.
He waved it off lightly.
"Water under the bridge. Forget it, as should you. Seeing you now, it seems you've reflected deeply and overcome it. I'm nothing but proud."
"Your kind words leave me at a loss. But what I wish to discuss is business."
"Business?"
"While in Chim-ju, I've started a few ventures that, by good fortune, have taken root. Among them are some that could trade with Nae-yang, so I thought to mention it."
"……?"
A moment later, Ham Ga-jang's lord, Ham Dae-won, burst into hearty laughter.
"Ha! That's splendid. Silver and Sang-su embroidery—we're short on both here, so bring them, and we'll sell in Hyeong-ju. I'm all for it."
Baek Jo-yeong's expression brightened as well.
"If the herb trade is that substantial, there's plenty we can exchange. It benefits us all."
Mu Yun also casually broached another matter to integrate with Nae-yang.
"Oh, and in Chim-ju, they run loan operations a bit differently. Care to hear?"
"Is that so? How is it different?"
From there, the conversation and debate flowed without end.
Yet Cheon Jung-seo's expression shifted unpredictably, impossible to read.
'What in the world!'
When the business talk first began, a gentle smile had played on his lips. He was proud. Admirable, the effort to mend ties among the three houses on the brink of fracture.
But as specifics emerged one by one, his mild surprise gradually turned to outright shock.
The tales from that friend Yeon Sa-gu were still half-believed.
Yet in business, it surpassed even those accounts.
And what astonished him most.
'He's infused his philosophy into business. Even wisdom to comprehend the world.'
It was everything he'd ever hoped for in his son.
How desperately he'd wished for the boy to understand and embrace his own dreams and ideals, tied solely to the paper trade.
Yet his son had not only embraced them fully but added his own vivid hue.
A deep, profound one.
Throughout the discussion, a tender warmth filled his eyes toward his son.
Then, a sudden realization widened them like saucers.
'Wait—does that mean everything that friend said was true?'
His heart raced with urgency.
It might all be fact.
Even the family secret art, Biryu Danhon Sword.
＊ ＊ ＊
Soon after, the guests departed, leaving father and son alone.
"Why hesitate on the decision?"
"I'm not yet certain it will benefit the family."
Cheon Jung-seo tilted his head.
"I can't fathom it. If your improved Biryu Danhon Sword holds merit, just accept it. What's the issue?"
Mu Yun could only pause.
'How to explain?'
The original Biryu Danhon Sword barely reached Cho-jeol-jeong at its peak. His revision opened the path to the absolute realm.
He wasn't sure if Cheon Ga-jang needed a sword art of that caliber.
'It could only invite disaster.'
Cheon Ga-jang was more merchant house than martial clan. Warriors were merely embedded in small-scale trade caravans for the paper business.
His father, too, had no interest in the warrior's path—practicing the family art out of duty, his level barely past Jeol-jeong.
For such a house, an absolute-realm sword art was more poison than boon.
After a moment's deliberation, Mu Yun decided.
He had resolved from the start.
'Tell the family the truth, as much as possible.'
That way, no new walls would rise.
To do so, first earn trust.
With Yeon Sa-gu having laid the groundwork, it was far easier now.
"There's a reason for my hesitation."
"What is it?"
"See for yourself first, Father. Lend me your sword."
"……?"
The hand on the sword hilt suddenly pointed skyward.
From the poised blade rippled an intangible wave of qi.
Wooong!
In an instant, blue light like a flash of lightning surged along the blade.
The light thickened rapidly, soon gathering at the tip in fine strands.
Ziiing!
Cheon Jung-seo's eyes widened in shock.
'Sword aura that quickly! And three chi long!'
He'd heard Cho-jeol-jeong.
But witnessing it firsthand sent tremors through his body.
'Ha! My son, at Cho-jeol-jeong!'
As he basked in that soaring joy, another change unfolded before him.
The soaring light contracted, its hue shifting.
Yet the heavy pulse of that deepened color set his heart pounding.
His widened eyes gasped involuntarily.
"Gasp!"
The chilling sword intent extending from the tip, the quaking air around it, the storm-like aura—it evoked something he'd never seen.
'Th-that's sword gang!'
Cheon Jung-seo's gaping mouth refused to close.
His bulging eyes couldn't leave the azure glow.
He'd never witnessed it, yet his body knew.
The warrior's instinct told him.
What that light was.
How every martial artist yearned to manifest it.
He himself had never even seen it from another.
'H-how.'
In that moment, the light filling the air vanished as if it had never been.
Sararak!
A calm voice soon roused Cheon Jung-seo's dazed mind.
"Did you see?"
Shaking his head, his eyes trembled fiercely.
His hand instinctively reached toward where the light had been.
The quivering fingers betrayed his unrelenting agitation.
"Th-that was...?"
"Sword gang, you mean?"
"……Yes?"
"Shall I show it again?"
"……Just once, I beg! Not that I doubt you. That light... I yearn to see it anew."
"……!"
Soon after, Cheon Jung-seo heaved his bursting breaths.
This overwhelming thrill and ecstasy could be savored alone later.
For now, sate the pounding curiosity in his chest.
Why his son had shown it.
"That sword gang—from the Biryu Danhon Heart Method?"
"Master it fully, and it reaches the absolute realm."
"……!"
Now, as a warrior, he was convinced his son's words rang true.
'Considering the sword gang, aura projection, and retraction time.'
Though at Jeol-jeong, he too was a swordsman honed over decades.
Manifesting and withdrawing sword aura or gang was no easy feat.
Yet he'd effortlessly retracted several chi of sword gang in a blink.
No need to see more—it hinted at realms unseen.
'Sword gang at that level means at least upper Cho-jeol-jeong.'
No doubts lingered in his mind now.
And he understood.
Why his son hesitated.
A deep sigh escaped him naturally.
"Sigh! I wonder if we can even safeguard it."
"My thoughts exactly. Especially since neither you nor Mu-jin walk the warrior's path."
For a moment, Cheon Jung-seo faltered.
Not himself, but perhaps his second son, Mu-jin, felt differently.
'Should I say it?'
Nothing to hide from his eldest now.
Just one unconfirmed matter.
Whether to voice it now was the dilemma.
Mu Yun's eyes deepened.
His father's faintly trembling gaze signaled something unspoken.
Resolved not to evade, he opened his mouth.
"Is it something hard to bring up?"
"N-no, it's not that……."
Mu Yun blended truth with sincerity in his gaze.
"Father, I'm not the old Mu Yun. Though I remain the eldest son of this house."
Cheon Jung-seo's face flushed.
A self-reproachful sigh slipped out.
'Damn! I swore not to do this…….'
After sending his son away, one regret had pierced him deeply.
The rift in their father-son bond stemmed from something trivial.
'Clumsy consideration. That was the problem.'
To protect his growing son's pride, he'd held back words.
That was fine at first.
But as talk dwindled, communication faltered.
He should have laid it all bare then, but hadn't.
Layer upon layer bred suspicion, which festered into distrust.
He'd vowed never to repeat such folly with his returned son, yet old habits crept in.
Cheon Jung-seo shook his dazed head clear.
With fresh resolve, he faced his son.
"Forgive me. I'll tell you everything."
"Please do."
"First, a question. ……Do you still harbor feelings for Eun-jin?"
Mu Yun shook his head firmly.
He'd wondered when this would come.
To sever this knot of conflict, clarity was paramount.
"Once I leave this room, I'll tell Mu-jin the same."
"How so?"
"It was an illusion. Mere vague yearning for the prettiest girl nearby—nothing more, nothing less. Haven't thought of her since leaving."
"……!"
Over an hour passed with talk beyond just Mu-jin.
As Mu Yun emerged, his steps turned toward his brother.
The knottiest issue awaited.
But first, meddlesome interlopers approached.
This time, two of them.
Mu Yun knew what they intended.
Yet he didn't stop them.
Some truths are better heard from others.
At least regarding the facts.
The rest, one must untangle oneself.
Eye to eye, straightforward.