Sword God Reborn

Chapter 234 : Even dogs don't bother you when you're eating

"Young Master, Young Master, Young Master!"

"Are there three Young Masters? Why do you keep calling me?"

Despite Cheon Mubaeck's blunt words, Jeombak didn't care and ran up, stopping right in front of him.

"Is it true that you're going out into the martial world again?"

"What's so new about it? Did you think I'd stay home forever?"

"Do you really have to keep going out into the dangerous martial world? Just hearing the rumors about you in this place makes my heart drop every time. If I'm like this, how much more so would the Vice-Chief and the Chief be?"

Cheon Mubaeck chuckled. The sight of Jeombak, who was several years older than him, looking crestfallen and at a loss, was quite amusing.

Still, he didn't dislike it. Because he could keenly feel the warmth in his heart. Having someone worry about you was surprisingly a great help in calming the mind.

'It's not for nothing that they say the deeper the martial arts, the higher the realm, the more one cultivates the Way.'

Cheon Mubaeck's current realm had long since surpassed the level where he could advance simply by increasing his internal energy.

Most people thought that the Divine Realm was the limit a martial artist could reach, but a higher realm than that was the World-Severing Realm, a realm that only a handful of people in a generation could reach.

When one reached the high realm of the World-Severing Realm, calming the mind became the most important factor.

Even Cheon Mubaeck, with his steel-like mental strength from living countless lives, was not always a man of iron and blood.

Unless one was a god, all sorts of worldly desires and heart demons were things one had to fight, overcome, and be frustrated by for a lifetime.

It was that sublime of a realm, and a position that even the great Cheon Mubaeck had to brace himself to advance in.

The worries and warm affection of his family, including Jeombak, were a great strength to Cheon Mubaeck.

"Don't worry. It's not a big deal this time."

"Not a big deal? Is there anything in the martial world that isn't a big deal? I... I like that you've become so handsome and a man, Young Master, but sometimes I miss the days when you were like a loafer in the house, just plucking at your instrument."

"Are you saying I was like a loafer before I learned the sword?"

"Aigoo, Young Master. You know that's not what I meant. On a nice day like this, you're leaving again..."

Cheon Mubaeck's eyes narrowed. Jeombak flinched at his staring gaze.

"Look at this guy."

"Wh-why are you doing this?"

"Are you worried that your wedding will be delayed if I come back late?"

At that, Jeombak's face turned as red as a carrot. Jeombak, who inwardly thought of Cheon Mubaeck as his younger brother, was so pure that he felt even more like a child.

Cheon Mubaeck clicked his tongue.

Zhuge Seola had also talked to her handmaiden, Yua, and had confirmed that she and Jeombak had feelings for each other, so they had decided to hold a wedding for the two.

"Tsk. So you weren't worried about me, but you were worried that your wedding would be delayed?"

"No, Young Master. Th-th-that's not it."

"Aha. Since I'm leaving for the martial world with Young Lady Zhuge, were you worried that Yua might be going with us and resented me?"

"N-no! Young Master!"

Jeombak shook his head fiercely. As Cheon Mubaeck just smiled without saying anything, Jeombak's eyes drooped as he realized he had been teased.

"Yua is staying at the escort agency. We have to go quickly this time, so only Young Lady Zhuge and I are leaving.

At that, Jeombak's face brightened for a moment. It was obvious that he was trying to manage his expression, but it was meaningless. Because Cheon Mubaeck had the immortal eye that could see into emotions.

"Do you not need to take any escorts?"

It was then.

At the voice he heard, Cheon Mubaeck's head turned. It was Cheon Mun-gyeong and Cheon Yuwha.

Cheon Mubaeck lightly shook his head.

"I don't know the detailed situation of the escort agency, but in a situation where every single escort is needed, there is no need for me to take them."

At that, Cheon Mun-gyeong's expression hardened slightly.

"The work of the escort agency is important, but that is something Yuwha and I can handle. Is it as important as your safety?"

"Mubaeck. Umm, then how about taking Escort Gwak with you?"

Cheon Mubaeck smiled slightly at Cheon Yuwha's careful words.

In fact, he had also thought about taking Gwak Cheonhu with him.

He was Gwak Yong's son, and he was a representative figure of the young rising stars.

But for some reason, the usually kind Zhuge Seola had strongly refused this time, so what could he do?

Moreover, there was a point that made it a little difficult to take Gwak Cheonhu with him.

"If I take him with me, won't my sister be lonely?"

"Wh-what are you talking about!"

At that moment, Cheon Yuwha's eyes widened. Unlike the iron lady who managed the affairs of the escort agency so efficiently, she was flustered with a red face, not knowing what to do.

Cheon Mun-gyeong, who was next to her, laughed heartily.

"My, my, my daughter is in a relationship with the son of the Righteous Alliance's leader, and my youngest son is in a relationship with the precious daughter of the Zhuge Clan. Is there a father-in-law and father-in-law like me in the world?"

"..."

Although Cheon Mun-gyeong received a sharp glare from Cheon Yuwha for a moment, as the head of an escort agency, he smiled leisurely.

"Hahahahahaha... I've raised my children well. Truly."

* * *

"Let's rest."

"Huuuh."

At Cheon Mubaeck's words, Zhuge Seola couldn't even answer and let out a strange groan.

Cheon Mubaeck shrugged his shoulders at the sight of Zhuge Seola getting off the horse limply.

"Are you alright?"

"I don't think I'm alright. Do you know that we've entered Hubei Province in less than two days?"

Zhuge Seola shuddered.

In fact, Zhuge Seola had been quite nervous and expectant when she left the escort agency.

But her expectations were thoroughly shattered.

In two nights, they had left Henan and entered Hubei Province.

As they galloped, changing horses at the Azure Star Escort Agency's branch, even Zhuge Seola, who had been training consistently, felt her thighs ache.

"It's not that I can't ride a horse, but my legs have no strength, as if it's my first time riding."

Cheon Mubaeck smiled slightly at the crestfallen Zhuge Seola.

"Sit down and rest."

Cheon Mubaeck skillfully gathered well-dried firewood and started a fire.

Zhuge Seola, who was staring blankly, was newly impressed.

"Are you burning the fire with the Samadhi True Fire?"

"It's more convenient than striking a flint."

"It's different from the common sense I know, so I'm bewildered."

"The world doesn't run on common sense alone."

"I feel this sometimes, but when you talk about the martial world or the world, you seem like an old man who has lived several times more than me, Young Master."

"I hear that often."

"Ugh. How do you know so much about the world and the nature of the martial world? Even though you made your debut later than me."

Zhuge Seola got up from her seat and walked lightly.

Cheon Mubaeck glanced at her and shrugged his shoulders.

"It must be my nature."

"The martial world is your nature. I've never seen a person like that."

"Do you dislike the martial world?"

"I don't particularly like it. There are many things to use your head for."

"Even a smart young lady like you dislikes using her head."

"Are you complimenting me for being smart?"

"Isn't it a compliment you hear often?"

Zhuge Seola stuck out her tongue briefly and said, "Heh-."

"Really smart people don't actually compliment others for being smart. It feels even better to hear it from a smart person."

"It seems like you just like all compliments..."

"Do you like the martial world, Young Master?"

At that, Cheon Mubaeck fell silent for a moment. Zhuge Seola, who was walking lightly and picking up pebbles and twigs, turned her head and looked at Cheon Mubaeck when there was no answer for a long time.

'Ah...'

Zhuge Seola let out a low sigh.

It was the season when late autumn was ending and early winter was beginning.

Cheon Mubaeck's face, which seemed to be lost in thought under the scattered autumn leaves, was particularly clearly reflected.

The light of the setting sun spread on his white skin, and flowed down his sharp nose and jawline as if it were carved.

Zhuge Seola blushed anew.

"He's handsome."

"It's a sudden compliment, but thank you."

"Hic!"

As Cheon Mubaeck immediately reacted to the heartfelt words that had escaped her without her realizing it, Zhuge Seola was startled.

"Wh-what is it? You seemed to be lost in thought."

"Even if I'm lost in thought, my ears are open. A martial artist always trains their five senses to be keen."

"Ugh. Just think of it as me muttering to myself, and let it go in one ear and out the other."

"How can I do that? It's the first compliment I've heard from the young lady."

"...!"

"Just as it feels good to be complimented for being smart by a smart person, it can't help but feel even better to hear such a compliment from a beautiful person."

At that moment, Zhuge Seola gasped. At Cheon Mubaeck's playful smile, Zhuge Seola couldn't say anything. It was the first time Cheon Mubaeck had treated her this way, so her mind went blank for a moment.

Cheon Mubaeck just smiled lightly as he put up a brazier for a light meal.

'Truly. She's an interesting young lady when you look at her like this.'

In fact, by this point, Cheon Mubaeck couldn't help but have gotten quite close to Zhuge Seola.

Come to think of it, he was now spending the most time with her, along with Neung-heo, with whom he now bickered like family. No matter how cold Cheon Mubaeck was in human relationships, it was a flow of time where he couldn't help but grow fond of her.

While Cheon Mubaeck was making a simple meal on the brazier and boiling water for tea, Zhuge Seola, who had barely come to her senses, moved hesitantly.

"What are you doing?"

"I-I'm just making a simple Qimen Dunjia formation."

"Qimen Dunjia?"

"A formation that hides this place and warns us if someone approaches."

Cheon Mubaeck was inwardly impressed.

Although she said it simply, it was not an ordinary formation.

Moreover, without any tools, Zhuge Seola was doing it with just a few twigs and pebbles.

Although she was somewhat weak in martial arts, it was a skill worthy of the great person who had created the Sugagimundo.

"We can't stay up all night on watch, can we? Both you and I are tired from riding horses all day."

"Well. We should sleep here and go. Since it's getting dark."

"Together?"

"...?"

"N-no."

Zhuge Seola turned her head sharply and focused on making the formation.

Cheon Mubaeck quietly watched the scene and was lost in thought.

'The Sword Sect has to melt into the Blood Demon Valley as planned.'

Cheon Mubae-ck wanted to step forward and lead the plan, but since the matter of the Righteous Alliance was also urgent, he had no choice but to leave it to Jang No.

In fact, it was because it was Jang No that he had trusted and left it to him.

It wasn't just Jang No.

'Neung-heo is also at the escort agency.'

Paradoxically, the person who understood Cheon Mubaeck's actions the best was Neung-heo, so he would be a great help to Jang No in his work. Moreover, wasn't there also Gwak Cheon-hu, whose skills he acknowledged?

Cheon Mubaeck's purpose was simple.

To infiltrate the Sword Sect into the Blood Demon Valley.

And to build up a force as one of the Seven Demonic Sects.

The reason why an enemy who has infiltrated from within is scary is clear.

'There's nothing more dangerous than turning your sword around at a crucial moment.'

One might worry about the betrayal of the Sword Sect.

Neung-heo had been concerned about that point.

But Cheon Mubaeck was certain that such worries could be put aside.

'I'm sorry to use martial arts as bait for a martial artist, but it's a sure thing.'

Cheon Mubaeck had wholeheartedly helped to fix the martial arts of the Sword Sect demons.

He had newly and properly fixed the lost and distorted content.

Only Cheon Mubaeck could do it.

Because he was the Heaven-Shattering Sword Demon himself.

At Cheon Mubaeck's touch, the realm of the Sword Sect demons had improved in an instant.

To them, Cheon Mubaeck was not just a superior to be trusted and followed, but a benefactor who had sustained their lives as martial artists.

Moreover, Cheon Mubaeck had not passed on everything.

There was also the peerless martial art of the Heaven-Shattering Sword Demon, which had been completely lost and had disappeared from the Sword Sect, and he had hinted at this. With just the hope of learning the forgotten martial art, the Sword Sect would not betray Cheon Mubaeck.

The Sword Sect had also been thoroughly persecuted by the other sects, so they were also burning with a desire for revenge.

When his thoughts reached that point, Zhuge Seola came and sat opposite him.

"Haa. It's all done."

"You've worked hard. First, warm yourself up with some hot tea."

"Wow. You made tea too?"

"My sister and father packed a lot of things."

As it got dark, the cold came quickly. Zhuge Seola's eyes, who was sipping the hot tea, drew an arc like a half-moon.

In the quiet, they lightly shared tea, and Cheon Mubaeck slowly served the food that was boiling on the brazier.

Zhuge Seola just stared at the scene.

'Somehow... it seems a little romantic.'

Only now did the fact that it was just the two of them hit her, and Zhuge Seola flinched for a moment.

The reason she trembled was not just because it was the two of them.

A thrill that vibrated her nerves.

'Someone has approached the formation!'

Zhuge Seola unknowingly looked at Cheon Mubaeck.

But Cheon Mubaeck had already sensed the presence and was sighing.

"Even dogs don't bother you when you're eating."

Cheon Mubaeck's gaze fell on the faint shadows of figures beyond the bushes.

"Which bastards are interrupting our meal?"

"..."

Cheon Mubaeck's gaze pierced through the darkness.

(End of Chapter)