The Immoral Sword (1)
"Where is Father?"
"He is where he always is, my lord."
"…I see."
Having returned to the main household after a long absence, Wulin Alliance Leader Namgung Jin headed straight for his father's quarters.
"Father, are you in?"
"…So you've come."
"You're looking at the plum blossoms."
"…With Hwaseon gone ahead of me, they keep coming to mind."
Namgung Woncheong set aside the plum blossom he had been caressing and looked at Namgung Jin.
"So. Who have you come as today?"
"…As Wulin Alliance Leader Namgung Jin."
"You've come with some tiresome request, then."
"…Yes. I've come to ease the boredom of your idle days."
"Aigoo, tsk tsk. Raising a child wrong and this is the hardship I get in my twilight years."
"…"
Namgung Jin said nothing.
After stepping down from the Alliance Leader's seat, the life of Sword God Namgung Woncheong had been dull beyond measure.
Having fought a battle that would pass into legend against the previous Heavenly Demon, and having glimpsed the end of the sword, he had wished only to return to being an ordinary man.
A plain old man who had set aside the Alliance Leader's office and poured all his heart into tending the modest garden on the grounds of the main household.
That was all Namgung Woncheong had wanted.
But his personal martial power was far too overwhelming for such a life.
"So what is this request of yours?"
"…I ask that you go to Sichuan."
"Sichuan?"
"Go share a cup of tea with Elder Dokseon and come back."
"You're throwing your own father into a den of vipers."
"A den of vipers would almost be a relief."
Namgung Jin's expression hardened.
"…Do you truly believe Elder Hwaseon lived out his full natural span and simply passed away?"
"That is not something an Alliance Leader should put into words."
"Father!"
"Enough!"
A heavy thud rang out as Namgung Woncheong stamped a true step to cut him off — but Namgung Jin did not so much as flinch.
"You already knew long ago that something was wrong with the Moyong Clan and the Tang Sect, did you not?!"
"Then lift the kill order on that pitiful child they call the Mad Demon! Leave him alone and he'll keep the Tang Sect in check all by himself — so why are you trying to work your old father instead!"
"You don't have anything better to do anyway, do you?"
"You insolent little—!"
Namgung Woncheong stretched out a hand, and a tree branch flew into his grip.
"Looks like I need to thrash my grown son!"
"Are you seriously going to do this? Just help me out a little. Get some fresh air while you're at it!"
"This brat, the more I look the more— Do you take your father for some useless old man with nothing to do?!"
"Isn't that exactly what you are?"
"Aigoo… What a calamity. I've raised a monster who defies heaven and earth!"
"How is this even a crime against human decency?!"
The space between them began to warp, tangible inner force rolling and seething — when a small voice cut in.
"…Can't you just go and bring him back, Grandfather?"
A little girl peeked out from behind Namgung Jin.
"Soso, how did you get all the way here?"
"I missed you, Grandfather."
"Aigoo, what a good girl. Come here."
"Yes! Heehee."
The moment Namgung Soso ran into his arms, the murderous tension from moments before vanished, and Namgung Woncheong's face softened. Holding his granddaughter and gently rocking her, he sent a sound transmission to Namgung Jin.
[You insolent whelp. Using even your own daughter to work your father?]
[You wouldn't listen to the Alliance Leader's request, so what choice did I have but to ask as a son?]
[You should never have taken the Alliance Leader's seat in the first place…]
[Just go once, Father. You know full well how things stand with the Alliance — why are you being like this?]
[Because it's a bother, you brat! I'd rather spend that time teaching Soso the sword.]
Unaware that the two were exchanging sound transmissions, Namgung Soso chimed in.
"Grandfather."
"Hmm?"
"Can I come too?"
"Where? To Sichuan?"
"Yes. I've been practicing the sword really hard lately…"
"Hmm… Not yet, I'm afraid. Once you're a little older, we'll go together."
"Okay…"
Namgung Woncheong set Namgung Soso down on the floor.
"Soso, will you step outside for a bit? Your father and I have something to discuss."
"Yes! I'll go stay with Mother!"
"What a good girl. I'll buy you some sweets later."
"Thank you! Heehee!"
He watched her dash outside with a fond smile — and the instant his granddaughter vanished from sight, Namgung Woncheong's face turned cold.
"…Is the Alliance truly that dire?"
"Yes."
"How much of a mess is it that you've come all the way to me?"
"…More than eight-tenths have been co-opted by the Tang Sect, the Beggars' Sect, and the Moyong Clan. In truth, I am little more than a mouthpiece who announces whatever they decide."
"Tsk tsk tsk. I told you to crush them with force, and instead you refuse to the end and let the Alliance crumble."
"…Then how would we be any different from the unorthodox factions?"
"We wouldn't. We're all just sword-swingers in the end — what is there to be so proud about? Aigoo… tsk tsk."
"…"
Under his father's rebuke, Namgung Jin bowed his head.
"I beg you, Father. Please go and look into Dokseon once."
"What is it you want to know?"
"…I don't understand their purpose."
"Purpose?"
Namgung Jin answered.
"If they simply wanted the Alliance Leader's seat, they could just tell me to step aside. But everything they do is…"
"Like the Demonic Cult, is it?"
"…Pardon?"
"He's been chasing the path of hegemony since he was a boy. Did you think that nature would change just because he got old?"
"…"
"You useless fool. How many times did I tell you? That seat never suited you. You should have quietly yielded it to that Peng Clan boy."
"…I have to clean up the mess I made, don't I? I'm ready to step down at any time. Only…"
"Enough. Don't degrade yourself with pretty excuses."
Namgung Woncheong took out a brush and scrawled something across a sheet of paper.
"Take this."
"…What is it?"
"Tell them to go see the Abbot instead of me. I've written it in the letter — he'll know what to do."
"…"
When Namgung Jin looked at him with a dubious expression, Namgung Woncheong scowled.
"Oh, for heaven's sake. If all you're doing is checking on Dokseon, the Fist God is better suited than I am. Mount Song is far closer to Sichuan, isn't it!"
"And this has nothing to do with you simply not wanting to bother?"
"Heh heh… A thrashing alone won't be enough."
The moment Namgung Woncheong reached for his treasured sword, Namgung Jin snatched up the letter and bowed in a hurry.
"…I will ask the Abbot carefully."
"Good. Don't treat this father of yours like some family heirloom blade — try solving things within your own means for once."
"…Yes."
"You've come all this way despite being busy, so stay for a meal. And let me see how much your sword has improved."
The instant he heard those words, fighting spirit boiled up through Namgung Jin's entire body.
"Heh heh… Want to spar first, do you?"
"I've built up a lot of frustration at the Alliance. For once, I'd like to forget it all and swing a sword."
"…Then let us go outside."
"Yes."
That day, the people of Anhui Province murmured among themselves that the sky itself had split open.
Some claimed an earthquake had struck; others suddenly felt a chill run through their whole bodies and trembled where they stood.
But before long, martial artists of the Namgung Clan came out and explained that there had been a spar between the Sword God and the Sword Immortal — and everyone simply nodded and moved on.
The first thing Dokgo Ryeong heard when she came to her senses was Unyeong's laughter.
"…So you're saying — eu-ha-hat! — you want me to make a Breast Enhancement Pill?"
"Yes! Divine Doctor, surely you can make something like that, can't you?"
"Ah, well. I can, sure. Bring me the ingredients and I'll whip one up for you, no problem."
"R-really?!"
"Of course. My daughter, you see — she's extraordinary. Eu-ha-hat!"
"A-as expected of the Divine Doctor! But what ingredients do you need?"
"Hmm… First, the heart of a thousand-year-old imugi."
"And?"
"The tongue of a fire-breathing ox as well."
"Th-those exist?"
"No."
"…What?"
"Eu-ha-hat! Forgive me, young lady. There's no such thing as a Breast Enhancement Pill. You just eat well, sleep well, and they grow."
"Hiiing…"
"Though my daughter might know something. She's so clever she might just find a way."
"R-really?!"
"Why don't you go ask her."
"I'll trust you!"
"Trust what, exactly…"
Dokgo Ryeong sat up as she spoke, and every eye in the carriage turned toward her.
"Ah… you're awake, Miss Dokgo?"
"You're up, Ryeong Mae?"
Looking around once, Dokgo Ryeong realized she was inside a carriage.
"…Yeah. More importantly… where are we going?"
"Eu-ha-hat, to my place. Our routes overlapped anyway."
"The Divine Doctor's Valley?"
"Yes."
"The Divine Doctor's Valley, huh…"
"I heard from the Hao Sect Leader. You need to form an inner core with Solar Fire Pearls, correct?"
"Yeah."
"It'll take time to make them anyway, so stay with us for a while."
"…Fine. But…"
Dokgo Ryeong scanned the carriage for someone who wasn't there.
"…Where'd the Lust Demon go?"
"Ah, about that~…"
Just then the window to the driver's seat slid open, and Wi Ilcheong stuck his head in.
"I'm right here. You've woken up, Miss Dokgo."
"Ugh… get your face out of here!!!"
"…You were looking for me, and those are your first words?"
"Grr…!!"
Dokgo Ryeong shot up and slammed the driver's window shut with force.
Watching her, Eun Gwanyeong and Baekri Sohyeon smiled wickedly.
"Eu-hee-heet… Miss Dokgo really is just too cute~."
"I know, right? Heehee."
"Sh… shut up, already!"
Not quite grasping the situation, Unyeong snickered.
"Eu-ha-hat, you two look just like a pair of fresh young lovers. Did the two of you consummate something?"
"…"
"Oh? Is that actually true?"
"N-no, you crazy bastard!!"
"Please put the fist down, seriously! That temper of yours…"
"Sh… shut up! All of you shut up!! Kyaaaaah!!!!"
As Dokgo Ryeong started thrashing about, Baekri Sohyeon and Eun Gwanyeong scrambled to hold her back.
Watching the scene, Unyeong found himself grateful to Eun Yakbyeok.
Nice carriage. Doesn't even shake…
The road ahead didn't seem like it would be too boring after all.
Painful, maybe… but not boring.
When they reached a stream, Wi Ilcheong reined in the horses.
"I'll water the horses for a moment. Shall we rest here?"
"Yes~!"
"Mm."
"…"
As Unyeong started to follow Baekri Sohyeon and Eun Gwanyeong out of the carriage, Dokgo Ryeong caught him by the arm.
"Eu-ha-hat, Miss Dokgo. Aren't you getting out?"
"You and I need to talk."
"A-are you going to hit me?"
"You little shit, I won't hit you if you don't say anything worth hitting you for."
"That's a difficult condition you're setting."
Giving up, Unyeong sat back down in the carriage. Dokgo Ryeong checked outside, then shut the door.
"What is it?"
"…Those two don't know I used to be Dokgo Jin."
"You said you were keeping it secret, didn't you?"
"But you know."
"Uh… I've got a feeling you're about to silence me permanently?"
"You little— want me to actually try it?"
"…What were you trying to say?"
"Th-that is…"
Dokgo Ryeong's face flushed bright red as she floundered through an explanation.
"I… I didn't do anything with the Lust Demon!"
"Ah. Yes."
"R-really, nothing happened…"
"Mad Demon, please stop talking."
Unyeong covered his face with both hands and hung his head.
"…Someone I once considered a close friend turned overnight into a girl the size of my own daughter."
"Fuck…"
"And now that friend is making excuses about how nothing happened with a man… Hmm. It's complicated."
"No, you fucking bastard! It's not an excuse, it's the truth…"
"I understand, young lady!"
Unyeong cut her off.
"Sexual desire is… natural, after all. If your body turned into a woman's, it wouldn't be strange to feel drawn to a man. Young Master Wi is quite the handsome fellow even to a man like me…"
"You fucking bastard! That's not it, seriously!!"
"…If the two of you ever hold a wedding, just send me an invitation. Going myself would be a bit much, so I'll send my daughter at least."
"Kyaaaaah!!"
"I'll step out first. This is rather bittersweet…"
"You fucking bastard! If anyone should feel bittersweet it's me — why the hell are you the one having a meltdown!! Kyaaaaaah!!!"
Dokgo Ryeong slammed her head into the carriage wall several times over.
"This fucking… seriously…"
If Unyeong was already like this, the thought of what would happen when she eventually met Mumyeong sent a chill down her spine.
No, fuck… maybe I just shouldn't tell that bastard Mumyeong at all?
Come to think of it, she hadn't wanted to tell Eun Yakbyeok either if she could help it — and somehow two people already knew.
Mumyeong was one of the tightest-lipped men in the jianghu, second to none, but that was a separate matter from the sheer reluctance of saying out loud, "I've become a woman."
"Ah, fuck… whatever…"
Figuring there was no point trying to sort it out, she stepped out of the carriage — and found—
"Mmph! Mmph-mmph!"
"…"
A figure in a black hood and night-infiltration gear had Unyeong in a hold.
The man in night clothes pressed a blade to Unyeong's throat and spoke.
"If you don't stay quiet, this man's life—"
"You. Fuck. You're No Geukmyeong, aren't you."
"…"
"You idiot. If you're gonna wear night gear, at least change your damn voice."
"…"
"Put the knife down. Before I kill you, you piece of shit."
"…Yes."