A Trap Already Set
Right after Socheonggeom Namgung Seong left, a heavy silence hung in the room where only Cheon Ui-jin and I remained.
As the quiet stretched on, Cheon Ui-jin was the first to break the silence.
"I am sorry..."
I tilted my head at his apology. "For what?"
At my question, Cheon Ui-jin gently clenched his fists. "You... you have not even fully recovered yet, and I have dragged you into this situation."
He spoke as if he were a criminal, prompting me to scratch my cheek awkwardly.
It's not like he was the one who caused this situation, though.
If anything, it was on my end. No, it was more accurate to say that Yoo Chun-gil, that damn old man, was the one who caused it. Curse that old fossil.
"No... it is fine," I replied, hiding my irritation as best as I could. "It only shows how desperate he was."
"..."
When I spoke with understanding, Cheon Ui-jin parted his lips soundlessly for a moment. "Thank you..." he finally muttered. I gave him a brief nod.
"Do not pay it any mind. After all, you are the only one in a difficult position, Young Master Cheon."
"..."
He had sneaked into Anhui under a false identity to work as a low-ranking Alliance member, only to be betrayed by the guard he trusted. Judging by the look of things, his relationship with the Namgung Clan was terrible too. He was undoubtedly the one suffering the most mentally.
"That is... not true," Cheon Ui-jin said, trying to deny it.
But words are not always the truth. Keeping that in mind, I picked up a snack from the table and popped it into my mouth.
Then, he asked me a question. "Are you truly alright, Young Master Bang?"
"Hmm? About what?"
"Declining Young Master Namgung's offer."
"Declining?"
Ah, he meant the sponsorship.
"Well, I just didn't feel it was necessary."
That was what I said, but...
Of course I'm not alright, damn it.
My inner thoughts were the exact opposite of my words. My stomach still burned with regret. If I had accepted it, my life would have been set on a golden path.
My life.
It had gone completely down the drain the moment that filthy old ghost latched onto me. Forcing my twitching lips into a neutral line, I asked Cheon Ui-jin,
"By the way, Young Master Cheon."
"Yes?"
"How can you be so sure?"
"Pardon?"
Cheon Ui-jin looked at me with a puzzled expression.
"I did not decline his offer; I denied his premise."
I hadn't said I wouldn't accept the sponsorship. I had denied being the successor of the Sword Saint. So why did Cheon Ui-jin treat it as a rejection? Well, of course, it practically was a rejection.
Faced with my question, he stammered in confusion. "That is because..."
"Because I said I was the successor?"
That was what Yoo Chun-gil had said while piloting my body. Thanks to that, the rumor had already spread throughout the Alliance. However,
"Do you believe it just because of mere words?"
"..."
Words are cheap. As I said before, words are not the truth. How could Cheon Ui-jin judge me to be the Sword Saint's successor based on a few spoken sentences?
"Or is it because of this Moon Eye..."
The eerie blue hue. Every time I saw my reflection, it felt incredibly foreign.
"No, it is not that..."
Cheon Ui-jin denied it. If it wasn't the eyes, then what on earth did he trust? I had no idea.
"Then what is it?"
"Setting aside what you said, I saw it with my own eyes."
Saw it? Saw what?
"When I was very young, I saw a miniature galaxy that he... the Sword Saint, displayed."
Nostalgia filled Cheon Ui-jin's handsome eyes as he lost himself in the memory.
"The moonlight he drew with his sword was so beautiful it remained etched in my heart forever. And yet..."
His gaze shifted back to me.
"The sword you wielded was exactly the same."
"Hmm."
I nodded slowly, but I still had my doubts. "But isn't that something all martial artists of Cheongwol Gate can do?"
The Sword Saint was also a martial artist of Cheongwol Gate. Since the Cheongwol Sword Art was their signature technique, shouldn't they all look similar? That was my logic, but...
"No," he asserted firmly. "I have never seen anyone in Cheongwol Gate emit the same light as his sword. No one, except for you, Young Master Bang."
"..."
Well, of course. It was literally the same person wielding it. Naturally, the difference in internal energy was astronomical, so they couldn't be identical, but Cheon Ui-jin seemed to have noticed a subtle nuance that I couldn't perceive.
"I am deeply grateful for the enlightenment you gave me that night, and for revealing your identity to save me."
What on earth did that old man do? What did he do with my body to make this guy look at me like that? It was frustrating not having the memories.
"Yes... well... right."
Since I couldn't deny it, I gave a vague nod. As I did, my mind raced.
"Therefore... I have a favor to ask of you."
Here it comes. I had anticipated this flow. This was what Cheon Ui-jin had been wanting to say since yesterday. Just as I braced myself to hear it—
"...Would you be willing to become the Young Sect Leader of Cheongwol Gate?"
"What?"
My racing thoughts ground to a sudden halt.
"...The Young Sect Leader?"
"I know this is sudden. I understand that the reason you hid your identity was all..."
"No, forget that. Why?"
"Pardon?"
"Young Master Cheon, weren't you the one planning to become the Young Sect Leader?"
"Excuse me...?"
Seeing Cheon Ui-jin's reaction, I realized I had miscalculated. Uh, this isn't it. Feeling a bit embarrassed by my assumption, I rubbed my nose.
"...I thought you were going to ask me to help you become the Young Sect Leader."
Cheon Ui-jin's eyes widened in surprise. "Ah..." His expression darkened slightly as he added,
"I did consider asking for such a favor at first."
He smiled, but his eyes looked as if he were about to cry.
"But my vessel is too small, and my worth does not match the value of that position to claim it out of greed. Rather... I believe it is only right for you, who inherited his true legacy, to take that place."
"..."
Was he serious? I stared at Cheon Ui-jin, but unfortunately, I didn't know how to read minds just by looking at someone's eyes.
"I see..."
Did he have another motive? I didn't really suspect him. It was just bothersome. Perhaps misinterpreting my expression, he spoke again.
"I understand... You wish to live in hiding, Young Master Bang. That must be because... you are also aware of the current state of Cheongwol Gate."
Actually, I have absolutely no idea.
The state of Cheongwol Gate? What was he talking about now? I kept my mouth shut and listened.
"That is why I know... I am in no position to be greedy."
"Hmm."
"...If she becomes the Young Sect Leader of Cheongwol Gate as things stand..."
"Whoa, stop right there."
I cut Cheon Ui-jin off.
"Wait a moment. I have a lot to process, so I will hear the rest later."
The next part seemed the most important, but I stopped him anyway. If I heard any more right now, I wouldn't be able to handle it.
"Anyway, it is different from what I expected, but... it is fine. I suppose this makes things simpler."
"Young Master, what do you mean by..."
"I will do it. I will become the Young Sect Leader."
"...!"
Cheon Ui-jin's eyes widened to the size of saucers.
Yes, I had to do it. That damn Young Sect Leader position. I was in a situation where I had no choice. He said I'd die if I didn't.
What did he say again? That I should become the Young Sect Leader of Cheongwol Gate on my way to becoming the World's Greatest? No matter how much I thought about it, it was utterly ridiculous.
A son of a ruined family from the countryside, trying to make it big.
It was absurd, but I had no choice. I had always wanted to succeed in life, but I never wanted it to happen like this.
"...Ah, and it is not particularly because of you, Young Master Cheon, so do not look at me like that."
I waved my hand and stood up.
"If that is all you have to say, I will head back first. My body is still aching."
"Ah...!"
As I headed for the door, Cheon Ui-jin hurriedly spoke.
"Then... should I send a letter to Young Master Namgung again?"
"Pardon? Why to that bas... to him?"
Why would we do that when we just sent him away? When I asked in confusion, Cheon Ui-jin replied,
"But... if you wish to become the Young Sect Leader, the power of the Namgung Clan will surely be of help. Even if they did not look upon me favorably..."
"Ah. If that is what you mean, it is fine."
I realized what he was getting at. I turned away before he could even finish.
"There is no need to call him back for that."
"Pardon?"
Yes, there was no need to call Namgung Seong back.
We'll see each other again soon anyway.
I would be meeting Namgung Seong again shortly. Probably as early as tomorrow.
"Did you have a good talk?"
As soon as I returned to my room, Yoo Chun-gil, who was lying on my bed, welcomed me. I grimaced at the sight.
"...Old man. I told you not to lie there."
Before I knew it, my form of address had shifted from 'Elder' to 'Old Man.' It was the only resistance I could muster against someone I couldn't bring myself to respect. Though Yoo Chun-gil didn't seem to care much about the nickname...
"How cold-hearted of you to deny a weary old man a place to rest."
"Weary old man my foot, you're already dead. It brings bad luck when a ghost lies on a bed. Get up."
"Tsk, fine..."
Yoo Chun-gil finally got up, and I had to repeatedly shake out the blankets. If you lie down where a ghost just lay, you are guaranteed to get sleep paralysis. Since this old man's presence was exceptionally strong, the effect would probably be even worse. As I vigorously shook the blankets, Yoo Chun-gil picked his nose and asked,
"Did the conversation go well?"
"Yes. I finished talking to him."
I omitted the part about doing exactly as he had instructed.
"How was he? That child called Socheonggeom."
Yoo Chun-gil immediately asked about Namgung Seong, but I didn't have much to say about him.
"He looked incredibly rude."
"...Is that all?"
"Yes. And he's disgustingly handsome."
It had been a long time since I saw someone as good-looking as my father. Even if his clan went bankrupt, that guy probably wouldn't starve. He could just seduce women to make a living. Seeing how my father lived like that, it seemed entirely possible for him too.
"Good grief. Is a man's face all you look at? Tsk, tsk."
"Well, what else am I supposed to see after just a brief conversation? He just seemed like a guy who knows how to use his head."
Talking to him had made my head spin a few times. He was skilled at politics and smooth-talking, acting like a man with a nest of vipers writhing inside him.
"A smooth-talking brat with a nest of vipers inside... I do not think he is any different from you, child."
"Old man, you're speaking too harshly. Where else would you find a pure, innocent youth like me?"
"There is an old saying that nonsense is a disease."
"Is that why you died..."
I quickly shut my mouth and apologized at his glare. "Just kidding. Just kidding." That old man's glare was truly terrifying.
"Enough with the nonsense. Did you see anything else besides his face?"
"Like what?"
"The things that child drags behind him."
"Ah..."
I nodded at Yoo Chun-gil's words. "Yes. I saw them."
How could I not see them when they were so vivid? It was especially jarring because it had been a long time. How many years has it been? Since I last saw someone dragging around so many evil spirits.
It makes my skin crawl.
Just thinking about it made my throat dry. I had to use every ounce of my strength to avoid looking at them.
There was a reason they were called evil spirits. They were ghosts corrupted by a dense accumulation of lingering regrets and demonic energy. Their obsession was beyond words, and the moment they realized I could see them... My remaining life will turn into a living hell, just like my past life. Just the thought of it made me want to throw up.
"...Whew."
I wiped away my cold sweat and let out a sigh. Perhaps because the tension had finally left my body now that I was back in my room, my hands trembled slightly.
"It was the same in the past, but that household never seems to change."
"The past?"
I asked, hiding my trembling hands, and Yoo Chun-gil replied nonchalantly.
"There was a fellow called the Thunder Sword who used to act all high and mighty... I got annoyed while talking to him and beat him to a pulp. That child looks exactly like him. I do not like him at all."
"..."
Well, of course they looked alike. ...The Thunder Sword was the head of the Namgung Clan two generations ago. Beating the head of the Namgung Clan to a pulp... What a terrifying thing to say so casually. And because of who was saying it, it felt all too real, which made it even scarier.
"...So," I said, trying to change the subject. "What do I do now?"
I had done exactly as Yoo Chun-gil told me. He had said Namgung Seong would come to test me, so I should handle it appropriately, and I had followed that to the letter.
"To the letter, my foot. Do you not remember the nonsense you spouted at the end?"
"I couldn't help it. The situation was just too obvious."
"What was so obvious about it?"
Tell whoever is behind you to stop acting up. That was what I had told Namgung Seong. I said it because I judged there was someone pulling his strings.
"Even a dog could figure it out just by gathering a bit of information. How could I pretend not to know?"
"To reduce most of the world's population to dogs and cattle... what a commendable talent."
"...Whatever. What do you want me to do now?"
"This brat's tongue is getting sharper by the..."
Yoo Chun-gil, who was about to snap back, closed his mouth. He seemed to realize that arguing further was pointless.
"Fine. Let that go. Tell me what you know about Socheonggeom."
"Like what?"
"That child. Is his name well-known in the Central Plains?"
"Yes. Very well-known."
It wasn't just well-known; his reputation was widespread and formidable. One of the candidates for the successor of the Namgung Clan, Socheonggeom Namgung Seong. I wasn't sure if he was twenty-two or twenty-three, but he was highly famous among the younger generation under the age of thirty.
He is rated just below the Seven Great Talents.
The Seven Great Talents. Currently, in the Central Plains, there were seven young martial artists chosen as the ones who would lead the future of the Murim. Geniuses among geniuses. The Seven Great Talents occupied that peak, and Socheonggeom was a rising star compared to them.
"The Seven Great Talents..."
Yoo Chun-gil pondered for a moment before speaking.
"No matter how much time passes, the Central Plains remains obsessed with these trivial rankings."
He was right. People here loved that kind of stuff. The Seven Great Talents, the Top One Hundred Masters, the Five Kings of the World... it was a place obsessed with numbering things.
And in the midst of all that...
This old man reached the absolute peak.
The World's Greatest. Remembering that, I recalled what happened before.
The World's Greatest...
He said he would make me achieve that. Was it really possible? If I truly followed this old man's orders...
Could I really reach such a height?
While I was lost in these thoughts, the Sword Saint, Yoo Chun-gil, suddenly nodded.
"Yes, this is perfect."
A faint blue light flickered in his eyes.
"Let us do it."
"...Pardon? Do what?"
I asked, filled with a sudden sense of dread.
"What else?"
Yoo Chun-gil smiled and said,
"Socheonggeom. That kid. Let's take him down."
"What?"
What kind of nonsense was this now?
"All of a sudden? Take him down how...?"
What was he planning to do to a perfectly fine person? And the son of the Namgung Clan, no less. I asked in disbelief, but Yoo Chun-gil completely ignored me.
"Now, send the letter as planned. He probably has not left yet."
"Wait..."
"Hush. Instead of talking back, send it. If you are too late, there will be no..."
"I already sent the letter."
"Hmm?"
This time, it was Yoo Chun-gil who froze.
"...When?"
"I had someone deliver it before I came back to the room."
"Why...? I had not even told you to do so yet."
Why else?
"I figured it was about time to send it."
"..."
Yoo Chun-gil stared at me in silence for a moment.
"Heheh."
A clear laugh escaped his lips.
"Child."
"Yes?"
"I have thought this since I first saw you, but I truly like you."
"That is the last thing I wanted to hear."
I meant it. Shuddering in disgust, I shook my head and opened the drawer beside me.
As the drawer slid open, something rolled inside. A bead glowing with a faint blue light. It was the item I had taken from the Shaman, and the very thing Namgung Seong was probably searching for like a madman right now.