Sword God Reborn

Chapter 225 : Why is he coming from over there?

The head of the Danggye Clan, Danggye San, was furious.

"What kind of bastard, what kind of son of a bitch did this to my son!"

Foaming at the mouth, he threw whatever he could get his hands on.

Expensive decorations and furniture were shattered without distinction.

"What on earth did he do to make the boy lose his mind!"

Danggye Jeyeom was fine in his daily life. In fact, he seemed better now that his arrogant demeanor had disappeared.

The problem was that whenever he saw a warrior wearing a sword, he would have a seizure and wet himself.

At the dumbfounding sight, Danggye San was at a loss for words.

A martial artist who couldn't even hold a sword, and who wet himself just by seeing another warrior!

This was murder. It was the killing of a martial artist's life.

He was his third son, who had a talent for martial arts. Although he had planned to pass the position of heir to his eldest son, who was also good with his head, it wasn't as if he didn't cherish his youngest.

He was quite fond of him. Didn't he think that the way he harbored ambitions and learned martial arts was quite manly?

"Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero! That son of a bitch. I won't let him go. How dare he mock this Danggye Clan? To do this to my son?"

Seeing Danggye San's bloodshot eyes, old man Gu felt a momentary chill.

It's not like he didn't know the fame of the Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero.

Was he really planning to retaliate?

"Send a letter to the Black Society!"

"...The Black Society, you say?"

"How much money has the Danggye Clan paid in tribute since joining the Black Society! As strong as the Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero is, could he be stronger than Dokgo Pae? Stronger than the Underworld King Wang Jeonyu? Stronger than the King of Great Strength! No matter how strong he is, could he not even bleed when hundreds of Black Path members stab him with their swords!"

Madness tinged Danggye San's appearance as he roared and flailed his arms wildly.

This was not the man who usually managed the clan with a cool-headed and cruel judgment.

He had lost his judgment over what happened to his son.

Old man Gu let out a sigh.

'I must leave.'

He was worried about his granddaughter's illness, but as a peak martial artist, there was no way he couldn't earn money somewhere. It was enough to live as a wanderer. The reason he had been tied to the Danggye Clan was because of the large debt he owed.

The Danggye Clan would collect their debts by any means necessary, even if they ignored grudges, so old man Gu had not dared to think of running away.

However.

'The Danggye Clan that would chase me will soon be gone anyway.'

A momentary coldness flashed across old man Gu's face.

That night, old man Gu took his granddaughter and abruptly left the Danggye Clan, and at the same time, Danggye San's letter headed for the Black Society.

"...You want us to kill the Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero? In exchange for half of your fortune?"

The Inspection Hall of the Black Society wielded immense authority. All communication networks coming into the Black Society were designed to pass through the Inspection Hall.

Dokgo Pae, thinking he was cooperating with Cheon Mubaeck, had concentrated authority in the Inspection Hall, and Wang Jeonyu, who considered Cheon Mubaeck his man, had given power to the Inspection Hall that represented him.

Of course, it was not as easy as it sounded.

But the skill of Gok Jiheum, who had raised the giant information organization, the Hao Faction, from the ashes, was remarkable.

He had skillfully walked the line between the two sides, strengthening the authority of the Inspection Hall to the point where he could control the Black Society.

"Well, I'll be damned. Isn't the Danggye Clan one of the few Black Path factions in Shandong?"

"They grew through high-interest loans. Their financial resources are so strong that they cannot be ignored. They paid a significant amount of support funds when they joined the Black Society."

At his subordinate's words, Gok Jiheum nodded.

The private loan business and the Black Path were inseparable.

And it was an enormous source of funds that could not be ignored.

With the Danggye Clan's influence, they could speak with a loud voice in the Black Society.

However.

'He's crazy. Asking us to strike Cheon Mubaeck?'

Gok Jiheum was dumbfounded.

Did he really think this would work?

Of course, if one didn't accurately know Cheon Mubaeck's martial prowess, one might think that way.

Gok Jiheum clicked his tongue in pity.

"Gather all available personnel immediately."

"Are we striking the Heavenly Dragon Sword Hero? If so, we must report to the higher-ups..."

"We're striking the Danggye Clan."

"What? B-but."

"What? We are strictly going for an inspection."

"But, the money they pay..."

"Why receive it? We can just take it all."

At Gok Jiheum's cold words, the subordinate's jaw dropped.

One might think it was truly ruthless, but Gok Jiheum had no choice.

'What am I supposed to do when I'm on the same side as that man?'

In fact, it was a stretch to even say they were on the same side.

Gok Jiheum smiled bitterly.

'I may not call him my lord, but am I not essentially a subordinate?'

* * *

At this rate, they were about to have a whole carriage full of gifts for his daughter-in-law, so Cheon Mubaeck finally hurried the three men.

Neung Jo smacked his lips as if even that was a pity, to the point where one could no longer find any trace of the once upright and stubborn old scholar.

They took a carriage and headed straight for Henan through the main road.

At this time, Cheon Mubaeck benefited greatly from Neung Jo.

His fame as a former Hanlin Academy scholar, and the prestige of his family.

Passing through the main roads was instantaneous, and when they used the waterways along the way, the government office even arranged for the fastest boat.

Neung-heo shrugged his shoulders, feigning pride in his father's fame.

"Isn't official rank and power the best?"

"You abandoned the path you could have taken with such rank and power to engage in Black Path activities? Well, that's why you're not smart. You chose well. With that head of yours, you wouldn't have made it as an official anyway."

"......"

Neung-heo, having received more than he gave with a single word, fell silent.

Not long after, as they were arriving at a village on the border of Shandong and Henan.

Neung Jo suddenly stopped the carriage and said they should rest here.

"What's wrong?"

At Neung-heo's question, Neung Jo narrowed his brow.

"Come to think of it, shouldn't I buy some medicinal herbs that are good for a pregnant woman? She also needs to recover after childbirth. There is a medicine shop run by a disciple of the imperial physician of the palace near here, and I have an acquaintance there, so I'll go."

"Huh..."

Neung-heo made a strange expression at the sight of his father taking better care of Seolyeong than himself.

The wall that had built up between father and son over the years had crumbled a lot thanks to such a side of Neung Jo.

He didn't just meekly accept her as his daughter-in-law, but seeing him take care of her more diligently than he did, Neung-heo couldn't help but soften his heart considerably.

At Neung Jo's suggestion, Cheon Mubaeck nodded.

"Let's do that, elder. It seems we won't be able to reach the next county before the sun sets, so it's better to rest here and go."

"Thank you, Young Master Cheon."

No matter how good the carriage was, the journey to Henan would not be comfortable, but Neung Jo, who was moving his old body, was motivated.

"Neung-heo. I'm going to the escort agency for a moment."

"Ah, the Shandong branch of the escort agency is here, right? Am I going with you?"

"It's fine. Just take good care of your father."

Cheon Mubaeck headed to the escort agency branch separately, and Neung-heo escorted Neung Jo to the medicine shop.

It was a medicine shop run by none other than a disciple of the imperial physician.

The connections Neung Jo had made while serving as an official were so great that the owner of the medicine shop came running out barefoot.

Zhuge Seola was newly impressed.

What kind of father-in-law would get medicinal herbs for his daughter-in-law from a disciple of the imperial physician?

"Your father seems very kind."

"Who? My father?"

Neung-heo made a dumbfounded expression and shook his head.

"He's like that because he's old, he wasn't like that when he was young. Tsk."

"Still, he's doing it all out of affection. In fact, I'm a little envious of Sister Seolyeong."

"Envious?"

"What father-in-law in the world takes care of you so meticulously? It seems like it would be very reassuring."

Neung-heo made a strange expression.

It seemed as if he was happy, but at the same time, a conflicting emotion of not wanting to acknowledge his father yet seemed to overlap.

Still, it was better than before. He wasn't aware of it, but he was naturally calling him 'father' consistently.

"Still, it seems you've gotten closer now. You keep calling him 'my father'."

"......Hah."

Neung-heo, feeling awkward, found the smiling Zhuge Seola annoying.

"What's there to be envious of? You saw him too, Young Lady. The head of the Azure Star Escort Agency."

"Yes? I saw him. When we were setting up the formation last time."

"If you saw how much that man adores the Lord, you wouldn't be envious of my father's actions."

"What do you mean?"

"The head of the Azure Star Escort Agency would probably adore his daughter-in-law more than my father does. Almost like his own daughter? So what's there to be envious of?"

As Neung-heo smiled slyly, Zhuge Seola, with a flushed face, was so flustered she couldn't say anything.

Then she shook her head and was relieved to confirm belatedly that Cheon Mubaeck had not come with them.

Then she bit her lip and looked crestfallen.

"Is it... obvious?"

"You're asking me? Very."

Neung-heo burst out laughing.

If Neung-heo was saying that, it meant it had been very obvious until now.

Suddenly, Zhuge Seola remembered what she had said at the musical instrument store.

'What did I say back then?'

Cheon Mubaeck had looked so tired, so she thought she had said a word of comfort and encouragement... the content was...

'Ugh! Come to think of it, it's strange, isn't it?'

Zhuge Seola shuddered in embarrassment.

'Why did I say that without any context?'

Idiot, idiot. I'm an idiot.

Cheon Mubaeck, who was fighting the Blood Demon Valley, looked tired, so she was trying to say she would fight with him.

But thinking about it carefully, wasn't it a statement that was perfect for misunderstanding depending on how you heard it?

'Why did I leave out the subject?'

Even to her, it was a strange thing to say.

To say that she would always be by his side.

No... she should have said she would be with him until peace was found in the martial world.

At a glance, it sounded as if...

"Aah! I don't know!"

"What's wrong again? Young Lady."

"I don't know. Don't mind me, mister."

"You have a talent for making me mind you even when I don't want to..."

"Just!"

"Keuk keuk keuk."

Neung-heo, who was thoroughly enjoying teasing Zhuge Seola, giggled.

It was so annoying that Zhuge Seola made a scary face.

"If it's that obvious, then why is that person...?"

She trailed off, but Neung-heo, who couldn't have failed to understand what she meant, shrugged his shoulders.

"How would I know? He's thorough when it comes to swords, the martial world, and its schemes, but where is there a perfect human? Young Lady. There are parts where he's lacking, and it might just happen to be that part."

"......"

* * *

"He says he'll come out to meet us once we arrive in Henan."

"Really?"

"Ah, Young Lady. There's also a letter for you."

"A letter for me?"

"Your handmaiden, Yua, is at the escort agency."

"Yua is?"

Zhuge Seola made a surprised expression.

"The Young Lady left for Zhejiang so suddenly, so her guards and handmaidens who were supposed to follow later heard the news and are waiting at our escort agency."

"Aha..."

Since Shandong and Henan were adjacent, and Cheon Mubaeck would soon be returning to the escort agency, it seemed they were waiting at the agency instead of coming all the way to Shandong.

"Yua, that girl. She must be very excited."

"Why is that?"

"The Young Master's servant is at the escort agency, isn't he?"

"You mean Jeombak?"

"Yes. She always carried the gift Jeombak gave her in her bosom."

"Aha."

Right. He had even made a scented pouch and given it as a gift.

Come to think of it, wasn't it about time for Jeombak to get married?

The face he saw when he first awakened and opened his eyes was Jeombak's, and with his devoted attitude of doing everything, Cheon Mubaeck was often concerned about Jeombak.

'Well. As long as they have feelings for each other.'

Thinking so, they rode the carriage out of Shandong Province and were about to enter Henan Province.

Dust rose from beyond the main road.

It was a considerable number of horsemen, so Neung-heo showed his wariness, but he soon relaxed his guard after seeing the flag that emerged from within the dust.

"As expected. The Lord's father and sister must still see the Lord as a child in their arms. To send so many people just to greet him."

"If they're bringing that many people, Escort Heo must have come."

"I wonder if that man's skills have improved."

It seemed that Heo Seong was the most suitable person to come out for a greeting.

His position was one thing, and he was also a close acquaintance of Cheon Mubaeck.

A normal escort could not be the person in charge if they were bringing out that many people just for a simple greeting.

At the mention of Heo Seong, Neung-heo made an interested expression.

Since they were of a similar skill level, Neung-heo would often implicitly compare Heo Seong's martial prowess with his own.

'Neung-heo is far ahead now, I bet.'

Heo Seong also had excellent qualities and the strength to strive like the horn of a rhinoceros.

However, he would not be able to keep up with the growth of Neung-heo, who had incorporated various enlightenments into his sword while traveling the martial world with Cheon Mubaeck.

Moreover, Neung-heo's recent growth was dazzling.

Was it because he had reconciled with his father?

As the lump that had hardened in his heart since childhood loosened, he became more at ease, and his sword became noticeably faster and sharper.

'At this rate... he'll reach the Divine Realm before he dies.'

Cheon Mubaeck chuckled.

At that laugh, Neung-heo tilted his head.

"Why are you looking at me and laughing like that?"

"Because I feel like I've made a man out of someone."

"......"

Neung-heo tried to ignore it and fixed his gaze forward again.

"......Huh?"

But a reluctant voice came from Neung-heo's mouth.

The face of the person leading the escorts and riding at the front slowly became visible beyond the dust.

Cheon Mubaeck, who had enhanced his vision and confirmed the face, let out a hollow laugh.

"What the."

Why is he coming from over there?

(End of Chapter)