The Tyrant's Bow
Cheon Yonghyeon, the Sapae Cheonju, exclaimed, “Noona! Your arm…!”
“Ah, this? It’s nothing. I just felt a bit stifled, that’s all. Don’t worry about it.”
“Don’t tell me you’ve been receiving instruction in the Binghwa Gigong from Mother?”
“Yes. I’ve always thought about it. The Baekri Yeomje Sword alone still feels insufficient for me.”
Baekri Hyeong stared in shock at Baekri Hyang, whose entire arm had turned a deep, frosty blue. It had clearly gone far beyond mere frostbite, yet she showed no sign of dispelling the chilling energy. When it came to matters of cold qi, no one was more of an authority than Han Seol-eun. The only reason Baekri Hyang would leave it untreated was obvious: there was no physician present who could heal her. In other words, she was cultivating the Binghwa Gigong, the supreme art among all ice techniques.
“How could you attempt something so reckless? Do you have any idea how dangerous it is to house two different heart methods in a single body…!”
“It’s dangerous, yet you managed it. You’re already using that bizarre sword art, aren’t you? Even while practicing the Baekcheon Singong.”
“That’s… different.”
“Watching you changed my mind. Instead of pushing a single path to its limit, I’ll delve into several at once. Even if my growth slows, if I reach the end, the one who has mastered the extremes of both sides will be stronger, won’t they?”
Baekri Hyang was right. In his previous life, Baekri Hyeong himself had reached the position of Sword Sovereign by wielding both the Baekri Clan’s swordsmanship and the Four Guardian Deities Sword simultaneously. He couldn’t be certain he had surpassed his father, but the principle that two were better than one was no lie.
“Still, that arm…”
“I won’t be able to hold a sword for a while because of the lingering cold. Father and I already discussed it and reached this conclusion, so don’t worry too much.”
“…Understood.”
Baekri Hyeong confirmed Baekri Hyang’s resolve and fell silent. No one could interfere with the path she had chosen for herself. Regardless of what the future held for her, he wanted to support her now. And because of the choice she made that day, Baekri Hyang would later become known throughout the murim as the Bingyeom Sword—the rare and contradictory swordsman who wielded both ice and flame qi at once. That, however, was a story for another time.
“Ah, Noona.”
“What?”
“I think we’ll have to depart for the Sapae Cheon soon. Make sure you recover by then.”
“Hmm. So you’re not suggesting we run away. Father was summoned because of that incident, wasn’t he?”
“Yes. The Sapae Cheon has taken responsibility for this affair and officially sent an invitation to the Baekri Clan.”
This was an opportunity. The main stronghold of the Sapae Cheon was not a place even the Murim Alliance’s leader could enter easily. Moreover, the Sapae Cheon was currently in considerable turmoil. One of the Four Heavenly Gates, the Pacheon Fist Gate, had been annihilated, while another, the Hao Gate, had suffered the loss of its intelligence network due to spies. It was said that the Jeokrang Hyeolmun had only recently recovered from the damage it sustained during the great orthodox-demonic war that had nearly erupted years ago. In effect, three of the Four Heavenly Gates were unable to function properly.
“So recover your arm before then. Otherwise, there’s no point in going to the Sapae Cheon.”
“Right. We still haven’t decided exactly when we’re leaving, have we?”
“Since Father has decided to respond, I imagine we’ll move soon.”
Of course, the journey to the Sapae Cheon would take time, but the distance between Hubei and Gangbuk was not great, so it wouldn’t be long. If the eldest daughter of the invited clan arrived in such a state, they might look down on her. To avoid such a disgrace, they had to prepare thoroughly, leaving no openings. Though the invitation had been extended, the Sapae Cheon was currently no different from an enemy. Even if they had united against the Demonic Cult in his past life, in this life only the vanguard of the Demonic Cult had appeared. They were not yet at the point of drawing blades on sight, but neither were they on terms to share drinks. Especially in the unorthodox factions, showing any weakness was tantamount to signaling that you wanted to die.
“Go inside and rest. I don’t know much about ice arts myself, but resting would be better than overexerting yourself, wouldn’t it?”
“Yes. You’re right.”
Rest was a universal cure—except, of course, when one was poisoned or on the brink of death. In that sense, Baekri Hyeong wanted Baekri Hyang to rest. He knew how much guilt she carried from this incident. She had stepped forward only to fail to land a single effective blow on the Neunghogun and instead become a burden to her younger brother. Yet Baekri Hyeong was grateful to her. If she hadn’t appeared, he would already be dead. And through this mutual blaming, both of them understood exactly what kind of people they were. Siblings who cared for, cherished, and respected one another. Was there any family bond more blessed than this?
**********
Approximately one week after receiving the Sapae Cheon’s invitation, Baekri Hyeok sent word that he would accept, and the Sapae Cheonju replied with a message of welcome. Thus, the Baekri Clan set out for the Sapae Cheon’s main stronghold with only their finest warriors.
“Wow… This feels more like we’re going to war, doesn’t it?”
“Why?”
“Look at our forces.”
First, there was the Sword Sovereign Baekri Hyeok, one of the Five Venerables of the Murim. Next came Han Seol-eun and Gongson Ryong, both masters of the Hwajing realm. Then Baekri Hyeong and Baekri Hyang, both at the Transcendent Peak realm. On top of that, Baekri Hyeong was capable of slaying even Hwajing-level experts. It was as if four masters of the Hwajing realm or above—rare in the entire murim—were entering the Sapae Cheon’s stronghold. This was a force capable of waging a small-scale war without issue. It made one newly aware of just how powerful the Baekri Clan truly was.
“From here onward, we enter the unorthodox factions’ territory. Watch your words and actions.”
“Understood.”
The Baekri Clan’s procession soon crossed into unorthodox territory. Gangbuk had long been under the unorthodox factions’ control, so the people of the Baekri Clan rode their carriages with stern expressions amid the uneasy atmosphere. The most unexpected element was Gongson Ryong’s presence. Though a member of the Gongson Clan, he had voluntarily become a guest of the Baekri Clan. According to what they had heard, he had decided to stay with the Baekri Clan as a symbol of friendship between the two families.
“Are you from the Baekri Clan? This way, please.”
After entering Gangbuk, roughly half an hour later, someone who was clearly from the Sapae Cheon began guiding the Baekri Clan’s procession. Though they were now in Sapae Cheon territory and felt somewhat displeased, the group decided to follow. It would have been unwise to cause trouble here, surrounded on all sides by unorthodox factions.
“We will now enter. You may keep your weapons, but if you draw them first, a fight will break out on the spot. Our Cheonju is rather… spirited, you see.”
“I didn’t expect the Cheonnoe to personally come out to greet us. Were you trying to test us?”
“Oh my, you caught me. Did you realize it was me and that’s why you followed so obediently?”
“Think whatever you like.”
“As expected of the Sword Sovereign. You’re not someone to be underestimated.”
The person leading the Baekri Clan’s procession was Seosuyeon, the Sapae Cheon’s military advisor, known as the Cheonnoe. No wonder Baekri Hyeok had followed so calmly—it had been the Sapae Cheon’s strategist all along. It was easy to imagine what would have happened if they had acted arrogantly from the start. The Baekri Clan’s procession entered the Sapae Cheon’s main stronghold and proceeded directly to the center, where they were greeted by the Sapae Cheonju along with the lords of the Three Heavenly Gates—now that the Pacheon Fist Gate had been destroyed, it could no longer be called the Four.
“Welcome, everyone from the Baekri Clan. I am Cheon Yonghyeon, the master of the great Sapae Cheon.”
“I am Baekri Hyeok, patriarch of the Baekri Clan. I thank you for the invitation, Sapae Cheonju.”
Baekri Hyeok responded with semi-formal speech, apparently unable to use casual language even before the Sapae Cheonju. Of course, Cheon Yonghyeon didn’t particularly care for such formalities.
‘It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you, Cheon Yonghyeon.’
Cheon Yonghyeon, the Sapae Cheonju, was a disciple of the Demon Sovereign, one of the Five Venerables of the unorthodox factions, and was widely regarded as the strongest among the current generation of unorthodox martial artists. The Demon Sovereign’s mastery of fist and palm techniques was said to be unmatched, and the extent of Cheon Yonghyeon’s own skill was plainly visible to the eye.
“First, I wish to offer my apologies regarding this incident. The sects under our banner committed madness. If you wish, I will capture everyone involved and hand them over to the Baekri Clan.”
“There’s no need. After all, this attack was led by the Demonic Cult. I understand.”
Baekri Hyeok skillfully parried the Sapae Cheonju’s offer and seized the initiative. They were the ones making demands, not the other way around. There was only one reason he had accepted his son’s suggestion and come to the Sapae Cheon.
“In the past, I lost my younger brother to the Jeokrang Hyeolmun’s invasion.”
“…”
“Therefore, I seek a sincere apology from you, Sapae Cheonju Cheon Yonghyeon.”
“..!”
It was to witness the Sapae Cheonju bow his head before him.