After returning from the training ground, Tang So-wol finished what she had originally meant to say in the gathering place.
"Young hero Cheon, we've been given aliases!"
"Given how impressive a showing you put on, it's only natural."
As I nodded calmly, Tang So-wol's expression turned a bit sullen.
"Doesn't the young hero Cheon feel any anticipation?"
"Alias holds no meaning. No matter how the world praises or despises me, my sword is solely my own. Spending that time worrying over such external things would be better spent training, even if only a little more."
"Hmm. And your true feelings?"
"…In any case, it was you and Seol Ri-hyang who made a name at the Dragon Phoenix Gathering. All I did was get kidnapped, so I doubt I've earned myself a fine alias."
At my honest answer, Tang So-wol giggled and shook her head.
"Don't worry. A rather impressive alias has been bestowed upon the young hero."
"What is it?"
"That's the part that's a little concerning…"
Tang So-wol trailed off, but then shook her head vigorously and continued.
"First, why don't you hear my alias and Hyang-i's?"
"Being so blatantly evasive makes me uneasy… but fine, let's hear it."
Reluctantly, I nodded and turned to look at Seol Ri-hyang. And sure enough, there she was—dazed by the news that an alias had been given to her, yet brimming with anticipation.
"An alias… I get an alias?"
A grin that wouldn't stop spreading across her lips. A bouncing bottom. And occasionally, a sparkling gaze that quietly urged Tang So-wol to continue.
Such an easy-to-read reaction brought smiles to everyone present.
Even Seomun Hwa-rin, who had been grumbling about her plummeting social standing, softened her expression.
"Ahem. Since Hyang-i seems so eager, I suppose dragging this out any longer wouldn't be right. Let me get straight to the point… First, I've been given the alias Flying Butterfly Poison Peak."
"Wait. I know your poison art is impressive, Tang So-wol, but at the Dragon Phoenix Gathering, you only ever showed off your Hidden Weapon Art."
"Yes. However, wouldn't it be a bit odd for them to restrict my poison art with rules and then give me an alias only for my hidden weapons?"
"It seems… that's a way to tease me too."
"That's right. So, when the Tang Clan's children receive their aliases after the Dragon Phoenix Gathering, there's an unspoken promise to include the martial art they actually specialize in. It's been a while, but I've also poisoned and taken down a master of the Demonic Cult."
At the Dragon Phoenix Gathering, she showed off footwork that fluttered like a butterfly in flight, hence the "Flying Butterfly." And since she primarily uses poison art, hence the "Poison Peak."
So that's how the alias was made. It's complicated. I'm glad Tang So-wol seems to like it, though.
As I nodded, Seol Ri-hyang, who was beside me, leaned her upper body toward Tang So-wol and asked.
"Sister Tang? Then what about my alias?"
"Hehe. Were you that curious? Then you can look forward to it. Hyang-i, you've got a splendid alias too."
As Tang So-wol said that and curled the corners of her mouth, Seol Ri-hyang gulped.
Amid Seol Ri-hyang's rising anticipation, Tang So-wol slowly opened her mouth.
"Hyang-i, you've been given the alias Cheong-eum Binghwa."
"Cheong-eum Binghwa! …I'm happy, but having an alias with 'flower' in it makes me a little embarrassed."
I let out a small laugh at the sight of Seol Ri-hyang blushing even as she rejoiced.
"Is that so? I think it suits you well."
"…Really?"
"Of course it's true."
An alias containing 'flower' is only given to women who are especially beautiful and exceptionally skilled.
In that sense, Seol Ri-hyang was worthy of being compared to a flower.
Her long, black hair and the snow-white skin that contrasted with it. Her naturally expressive features, meeting a refined and well-proportioned face, became all the more striking.
Though a somewhat youthful impression remained, she was overall beginning to carry herself with the bearing of a woman.
Under the influence of her Pure Yin Constitution, her curves were tightly wrapped, yet she still exuded a subtle, seductive aura.
If someone like Seol Ri-hyang was not to be called a flower, then who could be compared to one?
"So rest assured and enjoy the present."
"Heh, heheh. If that's the case, then I'm glad…"
Seol Ri-hyang, who had been giggling, flinched and turned her gaze toward Tang So-wol.
At that gaze, Tang So-wol, who had been wearing a puzzled expression, soon giggled and waved her hand as if to say it was fine.
"It's alright, Hyang-i. I actually prefer the alias 'Bong' since I value martial level more highly… and I never thought I'd receive the alias 'Hwa' in the first place."
"What? That can't be! Sister Tang is far more…!"
"No, no. It's not that. The alias 'Hwa' is only given to unmarried women, that's all."
"…What?"
Tang So-wol slowly continued her explanation to Seol Ri-hyang, whose eyes had gone wide.
"I haven't been spreading it around, but it's not like I've been hiding the fact that I have a betrothed, young hero Cheon. A few years have passed, so by now everyone who should know, knows. We haven't married yet, but since my partner is already decided, I can't be called a flower showing off its beauty to all."
"Ah."
Seol Ri-hyang nodded blankly, as if she had finally understood. Then she began to subtly gauge my reaction.
Ordinarily, I wouldn't have thought much of it, but the way she'd acted during the sparring match, and the increasingly frequent clinginess lately, made it easy to guess what that look meant.
This time, it was my turn to check Tang So-wol's reaction.
Tang So-wol, who surely knew everything, merely wore a deep smile and returned to the main topic, continuing what she'd been saying.
"Now, for the last one—young hero Cheon's alias."
"What kind of alias could warrant such a long pause…"
Unlike Tang So-wol or Seol Ri-hyang, I was no stranger to being called by an alias.
Hadn't I already experienced this before the regression? And twice, at that.
Blood Wolf and Sword Demon were aliases as unsettling as they came, but while they brought no honor, they also kept pointless quarrels from sticking to you—which made them quite useful in their own way.
Of course, in this life, I wouldn't end up with an alias that reeked of the unorthodox.
I hadn't held back in my strikes, but I hadn't gone overboard either. Besides, I was now the prospective live-in son-in-law of the prestigious Sichuan Tang Clan.
No matter how bold someone was, they wouldn't dare pin a strange alias on me…
"Blood Flower Sword Demon."
"Hm?"
"Young hero Cheon's alias is the Sword Demon."
"…Just who in the world gave me that alias?"
The fact that it included the alias Sword Demon, which I'd had before my regression, bothered me, but what really stuck in my craw was the "Blood Flower" part attached to the front.
No matter how I thought about it, wasn't that too ominous an alias to be given to a martial artist of the Orthodox Sects?
My dissatisfaction rose to my chin, but I came around after hearing what Tang So-wol said next.
"They say the Lord of the Black Alliance gave you that alias himself."
"Hm. Well, that can't be helped."
The Lord of the Black Alliance had seen me fight the Black Heaven Sword Gate. That meant he was one of those who had glimpsed what I'd carved into my mindscape.
After all, even before my regression, it was none other than the Lord of the Black Alliance who had given me the alias Sword Demon, so in a way, it was only natural.
And if the Lord of the Black Alliance himself decided to call me that, how many people would have dared to object?
If the alias that spread from Zhejiang Province had reached all the way to Muhan City, it would be difficult to correct it now.
However, the fact that it was something that had already happened and was hard to reverse only meant there was nothing to be done about it—not that it was fine.
To be more precise, I was used to this sort of thing so it didn't matter to me, but it reflected poorly on the Tang Clan.
I cautiously glanced at Tang Jincheon. He took a sip of his tea with an unconcerned expression.
"Well, it's fine. It's not like you did anything wrong. And I had expected something like this from the moment I first saw your martial arts."
"Father-in-law…"
"Of course, I know that no matter how immense the killing intent you harbor, you are not swayed by it. You've grown so quickly without ever once suffering a Qi Deviation. Whatever happened in the past, the Tang Clan has chosen to accept you. So it's fine."
"…Thank you."
Tang Jincheon bowed his head, then chuckled and poured poison into the remaining tea, turning it into a bubbling, boiling cup of Poison Tea.
He downed the liquid—which looked like it shouldn't be drunk at first glance—in one gulp, then widened his eyes.
"Well, that's that. But that Lord of the Black Alliance who dared to stick such an alias on my son-in-law and spread it around—I'll have to settle the score with him someday."
"…"
He doesn't look fine at all. No matter how I look at him, he seems absolutely furious.
"Wait. Tang So-wol, didn't you say you got a pretty impressive alias?"
"Huh? Isn't Blood Flower Sword Demon a really cool alias?"
"???"
"???"
Tang So-wol and I stood facing each other, just blinking.
When I tilted my head to the left, she tilted hers to the left in the exact same way. When I tilted my head to the right, she followed suit. It was a little cute.
Our little head-tilting contest lasted only a moment. Then, realizing something, I was shocked.
"Surely you don't actually think it sounds cool?"
"Of course I do. Four words that sound powerful—how could it not be cool?"
"…"
Her answer was so calm and matter-of-fact. Her voice even carried a hint of frustration, as if she couldn't understand why I didn't get it, and I found myself nodding blankly.
"R-right. What do the public's opinions matter anyway? As long as your betrothed likes it, that's all that counts."
"Hehe. Isn't that so?"
Only then did Tang So-wol break into a satisfied smile.
Well, no matter how I looked at it, it was an alias befitting the Unorthodox Sects, but at any rate, having an alias at all was something to welcome.
My body had grown considerably by now, and I had recovered a large portion of my past martial level, so I was thinking of gradually throwing myself into the various affairs of the martial world.
With an alias, people would recognize me at a glance, so it would be convenient for both sides.
No, perhaps an alias with an unorthodox flavor might even prove helpful.
The reason I was now thinking of actively involving myself in the affairs of the martial world was simple.
Before the regression. In my true childhood, I was so desperate to survive that I focused solely on staying alive…
But later, I managed to eat well enough, the worry of starving to death or being beaten to death lessened, and with that leisure, I began to listen more closely to the rumors of the martial world.
That time was around my current age, so in a martial world where incidents and accidents never ceased, it was about time for stories I knew to surface.
If I played my cards right, I could intervene and reap the benefits, or resolve things in a better direction.
Of course, it wasn't for reasons like wanting to gain fame in the martial world now, or wanting to show off my strength.
Hadn't I reflected on this during my light sparring with Seomun Hwa-rin? My goal, in the end, was to face the Heavenly Demon.
The Heavenly Demon was undoubtedly a monster worthy of being called the greatest of all time… but that didn't mean the other absolute masters of the Harmony Realm were weak.
In the early days of the Demonic Cult's invasion, more than half of the absolute masters from the Nine Great Sects and One Gang and the Five Great Families died because they underestimated the Heavenly Demon or were busy asserting their own pride.
And the remaining half joined forces with the Black Alliance to face the Heavenly Demon, only to be annihilated in the end.
In other words, the Central Plains martial world had faced the Heavenly Demon with only about half of its true strength.
If they had been wary of the Heavenly Demon from the very start. If they had prioritized the greater cause and their own survival over their pride.
Perhaps the outcome would have been different.
My own growth was important, but gathering the strength of the Central Plains martial world into one focused force was just as crucial.
Fortunately, I had spent my entire life as an Unorthodox Sect member, so I knew their psychology inside and out, and now that I belonged to the Orthodox Tang Clan, it was worth attempting at least once.
To do that, I first had to make the martial world acknowledge me.
What was the most turbulent event at this point in time…?
While I was lost in thought, retracing my memories, the voice of Tang Jincheon, who had been brewing another cup of Poison Tea, reached my ears.
"Ah, I almost forgot. I heard this from the Murim Alliance Leader just now, and I thought you ought to know as well."
"Yes? What is it, sir?"
"You remember that time you went to Shaanxi Province with So-wol and all hell broke loose, right? Do you remember the Spiritual Medicine that Gwiyeong Sin-tu stole from the Demonic Cult and sent to the Murim Alliance?"
"Of course. How could I forget a medicine made from people? …Surely the Demonic Cult hasn't stirred up trouble again?"
"Something similar. The trouble happened in a different region, but it's clear the Demonic Cult is behind it."
Tang Jincheon let out a light sigh and continued.
"In Hebei Province, a similar Spiritual Medicine is circulating—one with weaker internal energy enhancement effects, but also milder side effects."
"Pardon?"
"And because of this Spiritual Medicine, the relationship between the Paeng and Eon Clans has turned hostile. Complicated matters like this will be handled by me or the Murim Alliance Leader, so be careful not to get caught up in it."
"Surely not…"
A memory flashed through my mind in that instant.
The dispute between the Hebei Paeng Clan and the Jinzhou Eon Clan. It had ended with the heirs of both families dying together in suicide.