Since we had already discussed the matter of heading to the Black Alliance beforehand, permission was granted without much delay.
Of course, that process involved Tang Jincheon heaving sigh after sigh, receiving repeated warnings not to stray off course or cause any trouble this time, and the Chief Steward showing up with all his subordinates in tow, weeping silently.
…It was incredibly burdensome to see grown adults shedding tears like that.
At any rate, only after promising several times that I would behave myself was I able to prepare for the journey to the Black Alliance.
In truth, considering the Righteous-Unorthodox Alliance, it was necessary to maintain good relations with the Black Alliance, so I had no intention of causing any incidents.
The Lord of the Black Alliance wouldn't trap a guest he had personally invited in a scheme, nor would he treat them poorly.
He was a man more honest about his desires than anyone else, but at the same time, he possessed outstanding qualities as an Alliance Lord.
And so, on the very day I had finished my preparations and was about to depart, an unexpected guest arrived.
"Young brother Cheon! Where are you off to, young brother Cheon!"
"It's been a while. If you have time, how about a sparring bout? No, even if you don't, let's just have one exchange."
"…Brother Namgung. And Sword King, sir. What brings the two of you all the way here?"
It was the father and son of the Namgung Clan, who had formed a bond with me since the Dragon Phoenix Gathering. Namgung Jong and Namgung Dowi had come to visit.
Neither of them had brought a single attendant, each carrying only a single sword hanging at their waist.
"What else could it be? We heard that young brother Cheon had returned, and we rushed over here in one breath."
"A new Harmony Realm martial artist. What's more, we heard that another swordsman had appeared, so we came to see that sword for ourselves."
"…"
I knew well that the people of the Namgung Clan were obsessed with the sword. I also knew that the clan head, Namgung Dowi, and the young head, Namgung Jong, were especially crazed about it.
Still, I hadn't expected both of them to abandon their clan and come find me. And given the timing of their arrival, it was almost as if they'd set out the moment they heard news of me.
Well, I didn't mind. I'd been feeling a bit stiff from all that brooding over seals and such lately, so a sparring bout with the Namgung Clan—of all places—would make for good stimulation.
The problem was the timing.
"First of all, seeing you both after so long is both startling and truly welcome. I too have been hoping for a sparring bout, but I'm afraid things are a bit difficult right now with other matters on hand. Shall we set a separate date?"
"It's a shame, but if that's how young brother Cheon feels, there's nothing to be done. When would suit you? Tomorrow? The day after? The day after that… it's a bit long, but I'll wait."
"Wait a moment, my son. I don't know what business you have, but from the looks of it, it seems you need to go outside. If a few days won't be enough, it might be fine to just follow along."
"Indeed, the clan head is truly formidable! What say you, young brother Cheon? If things get difficult, I'll lend my strength—how about we move together?"
"…"
The words 'Have you lost your mind?' rose to the tip of my chin, but I barely managed to hold them back.
Right. These two were always like this. I'm no ordinary person myself, but I can't compare to the people of the Namgung Clan.
I'd wager that just as the martial arts of the Hebei Peng Clan have the ability to pass down outstanding bone structure through generations, the martial arts of the Namgung Clan have the ability to produce sword-crazed maniacs through generations.
…But I don't dislike these sword-crazed maniacs.
If I were alone, I would have surely agreed without hesitation. But this time, others are moving together as well, so I turned my head to ask their opinion.
"No. Without even a word of notice, what is this about, Sword King?"
Tang Jincheon landed beside me with a look of utter disbelief, having used his Lightness Skill at full force. Judging by his expression, he had truly been caught off guard.
Well, that was to be expected. I had said I was just stopping by the Diancang Sect, yet I had gone all the way to the North Sea Ice Palace, and now I was sending my daughter out again.
And not just anywhere—to the Black Alliance, the very heart of the unorthodox martial world, not the Orthodox Sects.
We were going as guests of the Lord of the Black Alliance, and with my connection to Sama Yuryeon, along with a Harmony Realm martial artist like myself and Seomun Hwa-rin accompanying us, nothing should go wrong.
Still, it was only natural that he would worry.
So he had come out to see us off, only for the clan head and young head of the distant Namgung Clan to show up without any prior notice.
Anyone would be taken aback by that.
Unless, of course, they were the kind of peculiar person who comes running at the mere mention of a remarkable swordsman.
"It's been a while since the Dragon Phoenix Gathering, Poison King. I heard my dear younger brother has reached a lofty realm, so I rushed over hoping to receive even a sliver of your guidance."
"It's been a long time, Poison King. However, this time I have business with your son-in-law, not with you, so don't take it too personally."
"…You sword-crazed bastards."
Tang Jincheon, unable to hold back unlike me, spat it out directly. He must have been heard, but the father and son of the Namgung Clan merely urged me to answer with composed expressions.
"So, what do you say, young brother Cheon?"
"I know everything. Don't you want to test your own sword as well? And now, you can go beyond merely laying eyes on the true Namgung sword—you can receive it directly."
"Both of you. Do you know where I am headed?"
"I don't. But wherever it is, is there any reason to fear?"
"Just as the letter said. The weather is clear, and a well-kept sword hangs at my waist. What place in this world is there to fear?"
It was not the kind of answer that could be measured by counting how many absolute masters had reached the Harmony Realm, or how many Peak and Transcendent Peak experts existed—a reasonable-sounding yet formulaic response.
The sight of him trusting solely in his own sword sent their estimation of him soaring vertically…
Squeeze.
A deep poke in his side, almost as precise as a strike to a vital point, snapped him back to his senses—Tang So-wol's hand.
"Brother Namgung. And Sword King, sir. From now on, we will be heading to the Black Alliance. You may have heard, but the Lord of the Black Alliance recently married. And since that spouse happens to be someone connected to us, we received an invitation and are going to offer our congratulations, albeit belatedly."
"The Black Alliance, is it…"
"I've heard that the Lord of the Black Alliance is a powerhouse who ranks among the top even among the absolute masters of the Unorthodox Sects… no, among all Harmony Realm martial artists in the entire Central Plains."
After a moment of deliberation, the father and son nodded with satisfied expressions.
"I've heard that the Black Alliance also holds a sparring tournament for rising talents, just like the Dragon Phoenix Gathering. There are almost no restrictions, and quite a few people die, I'm told… I'm curious to see what kind of swords bloom in such a rough environment."
"If we play our cards right, we might even get a chance to cross swords with the Lord of the Black Alliance himself this time."
"…Are you two really in your right minds?"
Ah. I couldn't hold it in after all.
Tang So-wol and Seol Ri-hyang, who were beside me, pounded my back as if scolding me, but both of them had the corners of their mouths twitching as if holding back laughter.
As for Seomun Hwa-rin, she simply crossed her arms and nodded.
Perhaps it was because, as a member of the Five Great Families and a clan head, she had quite a few dealings with the Namgung Clan.
Tang Jincheon, who had been rubbing his brow as if it were a familiar habit, finally opened his mouth.
"Hoo. I'll either set a separate date after speaking with my son-in-law, or send you to the Namgung Clan once this matter is concluded. So for now, please hurry back… hmm?"
Mid-sentence, Tang Jincheon's eyes went wide. He continued in a tone that suggested a good idea had just struck him.
"No. No, that's not it. I approve. However, you must go together and return together. You may cross swords with my son-in-law as much as you like while traveling, so long as you return before too long. To put it more bluntly, I mean you must not stray anywhere else."
"Father-in-law? My opinion and So-wol's…"
"I won't hear it. In the first place, you didn't even read my letter. Consider it karma."
"…"
I had nothing to say. So this was what they meant by reaping what you sow.
Having been rendered speechless by receiving back exactly what I and Tang So-wol had done, Tang Jincheon asked the father and son in a subtle voice.
"What will you do? Ah, if you wish to spar a bit more, you may stay at the Tang Clan after you return."
"Thank you for giving us this opportunity, Poison King."
"I appreciate it. Someday, I will repay this favor in some way or another. I swear it in the name of the Namgung Clan."
Seizing the moment, Namgung Jong and Namgung Dowi accepted with sparkling eyes.
Naturally, the two of them didn't seem to care much about my opinion either.
Of course, I too secretly wanted to spar, and I couldn't object since I had wronged Tang Jincheon so much.
Only then did Tang Jincheon, with a relieved expression, nod his head.
"Hmm. This should do. Everyone, have a safe trip. And Miss Seol, by the time you return, the training hall should be complete, so you can look forward to that."
"Ah… thank you?"
Seol Ri-hyang bowed her head with a puzzled expression.
At that, I let out a short sigh, and Tang So-wol and I turned to look at each other, then nodded.
"There's no helping it."
"Yes. Father has gone that far, and since we have ties with the Sword King and young hero Geomryong, there's no choice. …But young hero Cheon?"
"What is it?"
"Would you mind moving the hand covering your mouth?"
I lowered the hand that had been covering my mouth. Tang So-wol's eyes narrowed.
"So you really were laughing?!"
"This, too, is unavoidable."
From Namgung Dowi's perspective, this was a sparring bout with a genius who had reached the Harmony Realm through his own martial art at such a young age.
But from my perspective, wasn't this a chance to genuinely spar with the Sword King, the man said to be undefeatable with a blade?
How could I not be delighted?
Watching us bicker, Seomun Hwa-rin, who had already started eating the snacks she'd packed for the journey, tilted her head.
"It's fine that we've agreed to travel together, but I wonder what the Lord of the Black Alliance will think."
"Pardon?"
"Is that not so? The Lord of the Black Alliance likely invited you and So-wol because the two of you explored the secret vault of the Divine Hall together with that girl, Sama Yuryeon. Wouldn't it be that Hwa-rin and Hyang-i are being added on top of that?"
"Well, that much should be fine."
"Perhaps. I have only seen him once, but the Lord of the Black Alliance was truly one who embodied the Unorthodox Sects, yet at least he did not seem like one who took his own words lightly. Moreover, the fact that Hwa-rin and I have been keeping company with you is fairly well known."
That was true. If it were only the Lord of the Black Alliance alone, it might be a different matter, but with Sama Yuryeon at his side, the letter must have certainly taken Seol Ri-hyang and Seomun Hwa-rin into account as well.
"But now, the clan head of the Namgung Clan and the young head have come along as well. Suddenly, three Harmony Realm martial artists are being brought into the heart of the Black Alliance, and one of them is even desperate to spar with him… Would it not be reasonable to suspect that he has other intentions?"
"Ah."
So that was one way to look at it.
The Lord of the Black Alliance was a man who kept his word, but he was also strict when it came to challenges directed at him.
It was for that very reason he had kept Seomun Hwa-rin—who, before her regression, kept trying to go her own way despite being brought into the Black Alliance and given a high seat—and her Iron Blood Faction at arm's length.
Namgung Dowi, who had been listening to our story, shut his eyes tightly and spoke in a heavy voice.
"I… see. Then I shall refrain from sparring with the Lord of the Black Alliance."
"We would be most grateful if you did."
"In exchange, I shall spar with you, Blood Flower Sword Demon, twice over."
"…?"
I blinked, wondering how it had come to this, but only for a moment. Tang So-wol stepped in front of me, looked Namgung Dowi straight in the eye, and spoke.
"That's fine. But if the night grows late, you must release young hero Cheon."
"Hm? What does the late night have to do with…"
Namgung Dowi stopped mid-sentence, looked back and forth between me and Tang So-wol, then nodded.
"I'll keep that in mind. I'll return him before it gets too late."
"Thank you."
Namgung Dowi wore a wistful expression, as if lost in a fond memory, while Tang So-wol finally offered a faint smile and gave a small bow.
…What was that about?