Reincarnation (4)
Running toward them from afar was Seomun Hwan's mother, Lady Yun.
She was usually a neat and quiet woman, but now she came rushing out barefoot, her skirts fluttering wildly behind her.
"Mother?"
Before Seomun Hwan could even look puzzled, Lady Yun pulled him into a fierce embrace. She wrapped both arms tightly around him, burying him in her arms as she murmured,
"My youngest, my baby. Thank goodness you're safe. I was so worried."
"Mother, I'm eighteen now, you know?"
Seomun Hwan muttered quietly, but Lady Yun paid no attention. She cupped his face with her hands, stroking his cheeks and smoothing his hair. It was exactly how a mother would soothe a newborn.
"Let me see your face. Are you hurt anywhere? Show me your arms. Why have you gotten so thin? Have you even been eating properly?"
"It's only been a few days. It's not like I was gone for years."
Though his tone was grumbling, Seomun Hwan's eyes were gentle. As he lightly patted her shoulder to comfort her, his fingertips trembled faintly.
In his past life as the Phantom Demon, he had wielded power greater than an emperor's. He had held the world in his grasp, and every treasure under heaven had been his for the taking. A single word from him brought hundreds to their knees, and a single glance silenced even the greatest masters.
Yet amid all that authority, no one had ever waited for him. When he returned from the battlefield, only shadows greeted him. Though he possessed the world, there had been no warmth from even one person within it. Power had been a chain around his neck, and wealth nothing more than empty decoration that could never fill his hunger.
Back then, he had always been thirsty. He lived, yet he was not truly alive. He had not even known what he lacked. He tried to fill the void with blood and war, but the thirst only grew worse.
But now it was different.
He was held in his mother's warmth, conveyed through a voice and breath so tender it tickled his ears.
It's so warm.
Though he claimed it was burdensome, he could not easily pull away from her embrace. He felt a little embarrassed, yet happy all the same.
Seomun Hwan quietly closed his eyes. His mother's arms remained as comforting as ever, and within them, he felt like the warmest person in the world.
"Little brother! That's enough now."
Seomun Hwan forced himself out of Lady Yun's embrace. Just then, heavy footsteps echoed from somewhere.
"You're back?"
A short but clear remark.
Seomun Hwan turned his head toward the source of the voice. Standing there was Seomun Dam, the head of the Seomun Clan—his father.
He had arrived so quietly that no one had noticed, as if he had always been there. Seomun Dam regarded Seomun Hwan with an expressionless face, his hands clasped behind his back. He spoke little and his face was stern, yet his eyes held something unmistakable.
Deep relief. And the warmth of patience long suppressed in silence.
Seomun Hwan quietly lowered his head.
"I'm home."
Seomun Dam remained silent for a long while. He looked his son up and down, his gaze checking without words whether he was injured or changed.
Then a single short phrase fell from his lips.
"Are you hungry?"
Seomun Hwan chuckled. Those words carried everything—relief that he was safe, acknowledgment of his hardships, and a father's own way of saying welcome home.
"……A little."
Seomun Dam nodded and turned first.
"We'll talk about what happened while we eat."
The mealtime had long passed. Clearly, they had waited without eating until he arrived.
As his father walked into the building with his back turned, his shoulders moved more slowly than usual. That pace carried the weight of the long hours he had spent waiting for his son.
Seomun Hwan quietly watched his back before murmuring softly,
"This really is nice."
* * *
The Seomun Clan's dinner table was filled with laughter for the first time in a while.
Lady Yun kept adding side dishes to Seomun Hwan's rice as she spoke.
"The more I hear about it, the more impressive that Yongbong Gathering sounds."
She sounded genuinely excited the more she thought about it. There had apparently been much talk in the area about Seomun Hwan being selected as a candidate for the gathering.
Seomun Hwan paused his chopsticks and smiled slyly.
"It wasn't that impressive. I just greeted various people. There was one friend with strange martial arts, and another who only spoke in fancy words."
"Did you make any friends?"
"A few. We learned what we could from each other and shared what we could."
He deliberately left out the incidents involving Jongli Hyeok, the wanderers, Dang Mi-ju's schemes, and the bloody fights. His mother might have fainted if she heard.
His mother asked with expectant eyes,
"Did you perhaps form any good connections?"
"Yes. That's why I brought someone with me."
At those words, his father, who had been eating in silence, spoke up.
"You brought someone? Who?"
"Ah! It's not someone from the Yongbong Gathering. I met them on the way. From now on, they'll be an important member of the Seomun Clan."
Seomun Hwan had intended to formally introduce Jegal So-dam to his parents. Though still young, if he properly used his Heavenly Eye, he would become a great asset to the clan.
Almost at the same moment, a servant carefully opened the door from outside and said,
"Young Master, I've brought the guest."
"Right on time."
A moment later, Jegal So-dam cautiously stepped inside. Dressed in a neatly trimmed robe, he still looked like a boy with a youthful air. His face was slightly stiff under the unfamiliar gazes, but his eyes were clear.
Seomun Hwan spoke calmly.
"Father, Mother, this is Jegal So-dam. He will be staying with the clan from now on."
So-dam bowed deeply.
"I greet the Seomun Clan."
Lady Yun smiled brightly and gestured for him to sit.
"Come in, So-dam. Don't be nervous. Are you hungry? If you haven't eaten yet, let's eat together."
So-dam widened his eyes in surprise for a moment before blurting out,
"Ah, yes. Thank you."
His face flushed red instantly, but he forced himself to look composed as he picked up his chopsticks. Lady Yun handed him a bowl of rice and generously served him side dishes.
"These are side dishes I made myself. Do you not handle spicy food well?"
"Pardon? Ah… No, I can eat it fine."
"Really? That's good. Our home cooking should suit your taste so you'll feel comfortable here from now on."
Every word carried warmth, and Jegal So-dam grew more embarrassed each time.
"I won't be a burden."
"A burden? Nonsense. Having you here is a strength to us."
Seomun Dam set down his spoon and spoke slowly.
"Your name is So-dam?"
"Yes, Clan Head."
"Your eyes are good. It's fine if your learning comes late. As long as you give it your all, that will be enough."
"I will keep that in mind."
Though brief, his voice carried sincerity.
The atmosphere at the table soon relaxed naturally. Lady Yun occasionally glanced at Jegal So-dam sitting beside her and smiled.
"If anything feels unfamiliar, just say so. If you need clothes or anything for your room, I'll take care of it."
"Yes, thank you."
Though So-dam felt his face burning inside and did not know what to do, he continued eating as calmly as possible on the outside. Yet every time another side dish was added to his bowl, his shoulders twitched slightly. Seeing this, Seomun Hwan let out a quiet laugh.
"See? He still hasn't adjusted yet."
"That's only natural. It would be strange if he felt at ease right away."
Lady Yun replied gently.
That evening, the Seomun Clan was filled with laughter and warmth. Though So-dam muttered inwardly that it was burdensome, he felt his heart gradually settle into an indescribable warmth.
* * *
The carriage carrying Moyong Gwang traveled for a long time. It left the Hangzhou area and headed west, then further west. Strangely, the carriage was not heading toward the Moyong Clan's main house but toward the far western regions.
The place it finally arrived at was Xinjiang, a city crossed by barren lands and rugged mountain ranges. The sky was transparently high, and the foothills of the Tianshan Mountains were surrounded by snow-capped peaks and deep valleys.
There, at the entrance to a remote gorge in the northern Tianshan, dozens of martial artists were already waiting in silence. They wore black robes embroidered with red characters, and the emblem on their backs was clearly visible. In an atmosphere where even breathing seemed forbidden, they stood in formation like soldiers awaiting someone's return.
When the carriage stopped and the door opened, a man stepped out. His face was the Moyong Gwang they all remembered, but his eyes were completely different.
"We greet the Young Cult Leader!"
The silence that had been tightly sealed burst forth all at once. They bowed their heads, offering obeisance as if welcoming a god. It was not mere dignity—it was an act of loyalty.
Cheon Muguang.
The man who had worn Moyong Gwang's face until now nodded silently and slowly walked forward. Cheon Muguang nodded without a word and walked slowly. There was no pressure or imposing aura in his steps. Yet within that silence lay an authority that could bring hundreds to their knees.
Cheon Muguang silently passed between them and headed toward the deep gorge of the Tianshan Mountains. He walked for a long while along a path where even the wind fell silent, passing through rock crevices carved by a thousand years of wind and rain.
Finally, a massive stone gate opened, revealing a world that had made its name resound for thousands of years.
The Heavenly Demon Cult.
Carved into the heart of the Tianshan, the place was itself a colossal fortress. Its outer walls, built against cliffs, were interlocked with black iron and stone, standing firm against a thousand years of wind and snow. Black banners fluttered coldly atop the walls, and red lanterns burned like ghosts in every watchtower.
At the center stood the main hall, a black spire that seemed to pierce the heavens. It resembled a wicked temple that defied the laws of the world. The corridors were pitch black, and the lanterns decorating the walls flickered with crimson light. Hundreds of martial artists exuding powerful auras stood guard nearby, and at the very center, seated upon a massive jade throne, was a man.
His face was indifferent, but his two eyes shone with vivid clarity.
The Heavenly Demon Cult Leader.
Cheon Muguang knelt before him.
"I have returned, Father."
Short, yet deeply resonant.
At those words, the corners of the Cult Leader's mouth slowly lifted.
"So. How was the martial world?"
For a moment, there was no answer. Cheon Muguang closed his eyes and recalled his memories.
Namgung Cheon-hwi. The one called the future of the Murim Alliance.
Jongli Hyeok. A man with high pride but shallow spirit.
Dang Mi-ju. A woman who hid blades behind a nonchalant smile.
And…… Seomun Hwan.
The moment that face came to mind, Cheon Muguang's thoughts stopped.
What had it been?
An unpredictable technique. An existence that could cleave the sky with a single sword and move crowds with a single word.
"……The martial world was indeed vast."
At that answer, the Cult Leader's eyes narrowed faintly.
"For you to say such a thing is unexpected."
Cheon Muguang remained silent. The Cult Leader slowly rose from his seat. With his footsteps, the air in the corridor trembled. A dark red energy within the lanterns writhed like a serpent and coiled around him.
"It is time to move."
Cheon Muguang silently lowered his head.
"There is no Phantom Demon in this world."
Thirty years of silence had not been mere escape. They had been waiting. For certainty. To confirm whether that demon who had slaughtered ten thousand elite cult members alone had truly disappeared.
After repeated caution upon caution, they reached a conclusion.
The Great Soul Transfer Art had failed.
"Therefore, we must reclaim it now. Our name. Our truth."
The Cult Leader stood up.
"Now the martial world will once again come to know true darkness."
As his words ended, the red flames in the corridor flared up, and the hundreds of waiting martial artists shouted in unison.
"The Heavenly Demon's Reincarnation! All Demons Submit!"
"The Heavenly Demon's Reincarnation! All Demons Submit!"
With that cry, the Tianshan sky split open, and black snow began to fall upon the peaks. Amid the howling wind, the mountain range trembled, and the long-forgotten darkness began to stir once more.