Chapter 18
Episode 18
Emei Sect
The moment Se-woon saw his father bowing his head toward him, he found himself unable to speak.
The shock was so immense it left him frozen stiff.
He had expected his father to sharply point out the flaws in his fabricated story.
Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined Tang Mu-yeol would appear so vulnerable before him.
'Father...'
His face burned hot while his insides seemed to rot black with shame.
Shame and guilt toward his father welled up simultaneously within him.
He couldn't hide his turbulent emotions.
Why hadn't he realized this before his regression?
That the father he'd always thought cold and strict toward him alone had actually harbored such warm affection in his heart.
Se-woon rose from his seat and slowly approached Tang Mu-yeol.
Then embracing his bowing father, he spoke.
"Please raise your head, Father. In all the world, where does a parent bow to their child?"
Yet Tang Mu-yeol remained silent, so Se-woon continued.
"They say the desert pheasants of the Great Barren waste—each dawn, the father pheasant braves hellish heat to fly to the watering hole, soaking his belly before returning to let his chicks drink."
"......"
"How is that any different from you rising before dawn and laboring until after sunset all these years?"
"—!"
Only then did Tang Mu-yeol lift his head, his eyes trembling as if from an earthquake.
Se-woon met that gaze directly as he spoke.
"If anything, I'm the one who should apologize—for acting like a wild colt and causing you such distress."
"Hoo... Thank you for saying that. Your words comfort me greatly."
"The feeling is mutual."
He'd always thought his son immature—when had the boy grown so much?
Tang Mu-yeol's eyes seemed to say exactly that.
Some time later.
When both men had regained their composure.
"I know you're hiding secrets."
"—!"
Tang Mu-yeol spoke first.
Though startled, Se-woon quickly schooled his expression.
He offered no excuses.
"From I Hoseong to the recent Huryong Gorge incident—you must have concealed something even from the Alliance Leader in dealing with them."
"...How did you know?"
"A father's eyes can always see when his son has changed."
Very well—excluding matters related to the Blood Cult, he'd be honest about certain things.
Just as Se-woon resolved himself—
Tang Mu-yeol said something utterly unexpected.
"I won't ask what it is."
"—!"
Tang Mu-yeol didn't probe Se-woon's meridians to check his qi, nor cross-examine him with questions to uncover the truth.
He simply trusted Se-woon and let it all go.
Tang Mu-yeol continued.
"You must have endlessly contemplated how to survive."
"Judging by your actions so far, though rough, you're clearly on the right path."
"Walk your own road."
Se-woon couldn't easily reply to his father's words.
He was deeply moved by this unconditional trust—his father believing in him without a shred of doubt.
"This father will change too. So I can walk a step ahead on your path and become the shade where you may rest."
Steely determination shone in Tang Mu-yeol's eyes.
The man who had steadfastly upheld his own narrow code of chivalry all his life was now willing to alter even those convictions—for Se-woon's sake.
"So promise me just one thing."
"...Name it."
"Never lose your righteous heart while walking this path."
"—!"
"Your actions so far carry too much killing intent. Focus solely on executing evil, and you'll ultimately become no different from them."
Se-woon fell into contemplation at his father's words.
Memories of the horrors from before his regression were seared into his mind, and the Blood Demon's martial arts resided in his true qi core.
It was undeniable this had made his decisions and methods more ruthless.
Tang Mu-yeol waited patiently as Se-woon wrestled with these thoughts.
Until finally—
"Truthfully, I don't really understand what chivalry means."
Se-woon reached his conclusion.
"This world has inherently evil people born with wicked natures that will never change. It's obvious they'll inflict terrible suffering—I can't just stand by and watch."
"Those who deserve death must die."
"But I do understand your concern—what I must guard against."
"If I'm not careful, I too could become intoxicated by the prestige of executing evil and turn into the same kind of monster."
Having witnessed and experienced the Blood Cult's countless atrocities, Se-woon couldn't share Tang Mu-yeol's perspective.
But to this father who had sacrificed his life for him before regression and now showed him such profound devotion, Se-woon resolved to repay him—even if just a little.
"Just once."
"—!"
Se-woon raised a finger as he spoke.
"Three chances are too many—but unless they truly deserve death, I'll give any sinner one opportunity."
"That's enough. More than enough."
Tang Mu-yeol nodded in satisfaction.
Having said their pieces, the two men exchanged quiet smiles.
Se-woon lifted the teapot before them to refill his father's cup.
Glug-glug.
As the soothing sound of pouring tea echoed—
A refreshing aroma instantly filled the room.
Clip-clop, clip-clop.
Amidst the clamor of hooves, a single carriage climbed the winding mountain path.
Despite its plain exterior, the spacious interior held only three occupants.
All women.
A middle-aged nun with shaved head wearing monastic robes, a short-haired woman in her early twenties, and finally a young girl of about fifteen with braided hair—barely past the age of scholarly aspiration.
Each wore a sword at their waist—clearly martial artists.
"Huh. I thought this'd be some backwater, but there's quite a few people coming and going?"
At that moment, Cheong Yeon—first disciple of the Emei Sect—leaned against the shaking window frame, her lively voice commenting on the scenery outside.
"Mind your words before we meet our hosts, junior sister."
Tao Ha-young—Emei's senior disciple known in the martial world as the Silver Phoenix among the current Nine Dragon Phoenixes—chided her unruly junior.
"Tch, I'm just saying what I see! Besides—"
"Junior sister."
"—Sister Tao worries too much. What could the Tang Family possibly say to our great Emei Sect anyway?"
"What nonsense is this?"
"—!"
Cheong Yeon gasped and covered her mouth.
From the other side—where they'd thought their master slept in lotus position—
Abbess Abbess Geumhwa, leader of the Emei Sect, glared at Cheong Yeon with furious eyes.
"I indulged you recently, thinking training had been harsh—but clearly that was a mistake."
"M-Master! I didn't mean—"
"Reawaken your spirit through physical discipline. Maintain horse stance until we arrive."
"A-Aah..."
Thus, under their stern master's decree—
In the carriage rocking violently from the rough terrain, Cheong Yeon assumed the horse-riding stance.
Tears already glistened in her eyes.
Ha-young sighed deeply at her still-immature junior before glancing outside.
Her eyes soon widened in surprise.
'...Didn't they say this place had declined beyond recovery?'
Rumors before their departure described the Tang Family's surroundings as practically ruins.
Yet the newly built cottages and thriving people Ha-young saw overflowed with vitality.
Not quite the glory of the Tang Family's heyday, but unmistakably the unique energy of a place reborn.
Just then, Ha-young recalled the words of their grandmaster who had arranged this visit:
"Accompany the sect leader, Ha-young and Cheong Yeon. You will surely learn something from the Tang Family's heir."
Divine Doctor Boyeon had clearly said so.
'Learn something...'
For an instant, Ha-young's long, beautiful eyebrows furrowed imperceptibly before smoothing again.
Thud.
The carriage came to a stop.
They had finally arrived at their destination—Sichuan Tang Family.
As the three Emei members disembarked—
"...What?"
They uttered the same word simultaneously.
An utterly unexpected scene lay before them.
"Hey! Stop pushing already!"
"Who wants to push? Blame the crowd!"
"Have some mercy—it took me a whole day to get here!"
"Hey, none of us got here faster, so shut up and wait."
An endless line of patients stretched before the Tang Family gates.
It seemed every sick person from Chengdu and its surroundings had gathered here.
"Why—why so many people?"
"...It appears more patients come here than to our main sect."
Following Cheong Yeon's gaping mouth, Abbess Geumhwa spoke in a bewildered tone.
Ha-young too was stunned before collecting herself and approaching the Tang Family gate guards—
To announce the Emei Sect's arrival.
But a patient mistook her for trying to cut in line and grabbed her.
"Hey! Trying to jump the queue?"
"That's not—"
"Not what? No special treatment here for anyone! Don't want trouble? Get to the back!"
"How dare—!"
As Cheong Yeon reached for her sword—
[Cease this instant!]
"—!"
Abbess Geumhwa transmitted her command directly to Cheong Yeon.
Cheong Yeon started and turned to her master.
[B-But this person—]
[Enough! Have you already forgotten the grandmaster's warning?!]
Before their departure, the rarely seen Divine Doctor Boyeon had given strict orders:
"You represent the Martial Alliance to offer apologies. If any discord reaches my ears during this visit—even from the sect leader—I will personally administer severe punishment."
"...My apologies."
"Hmph!"
"Hmph! Should've done that sooner."
Thus they found themselves unwillingly joining the patient queue.
Their only consolation was seeing many others similarly turned away after reaching the front.
"No rich folks skipping ahead here!"
"Our young master's first decree at the Medical Hall—throw gold to the dogs and wait your turn like everyone else."
Among those turned away were Chengdu's wealthy merchants and officials—all ultimately forced to line up meekly.
As the three women passed time in futile waiting—
They unintentionally pieced together how this situation came to be.
'...In just ten days?'
Astonishingly, this transformation had occurred in merely ten days.