Every martial artist's way of thinking cannot be ordinary.
Whether Orthodox or Unorthodox, there is no exception. Say what you will, but martial arts is a power that can harm others. The very act of holding such power sets one apart from the ordinary.
As people live, they face all sorts of large and small problems at every moment, and each time, they are forced to choose how to resolve them.
And for a martial artist, the option of overturning the board with force is always on the table.
Naturally, they drift far from ordinary ways of thinking, and in the process, it's only natural that some people simply lose their minds.
On top of that, martial artists are bound to spend much of their lives fighting with their lives on the line. To come out of near-death experiences, or to watch those around them die, and still remain perfectly sane—that is a distant hope.
The only difference is how much, and in what way, each of them has gone mad. In the end, no one is truly in their right mind.
Of course, if you look hard enough, there are bound to be some sane people.
Though nine times out of ten, they're those who haven't been practicing martial arts for long.
That's why I dare to assert that every martial artist has some corner of their mind that's a little mad.
Not to mention the masters who take for granted days spent eating and training without end.
"In that sense, Tang So-wol, you're not exactly ordinary either…"
"Come now. Isn't asking my only father how many grandchildren he'd like to see actually a matter of filial piety?"
"That would be true, if you had already held the wedding ceremony and weren't keeping two other women by your side."
It was just moments ago that Tang Jincheon left after delivering a long speech filled with nagging, complaints, and a hint of worry.
Even with a body that had reached the Harmony Realm, extreme fatigue should have been felt, yet for some reason, Tang So-wol wore the same calm, untroubled expression as always.
"Hah. I really can't figure out what you're thinking. Not that I'm blaming you."
"Umm… I'm sorry?"
"Ah, I'm not blaming you. It's just that it was so sudden. I can't help but think there could have been a better way, or a better time."
"I've thought about that part a bit as well… Hyang-i had already made up her mind long ago, and while it was a little late, Hwa-rin unni finally became honest with herself, didn't she? So I thought it would be better to speak up as quickly as possible."
"Is there some reason for it?"
"Yes. Do you remember those outsiders I mentioned before, who keep trying to arrange a match with me?"
"I remember, but…"
Did I mention that since the Sichuan Tang Clan began to be spoken of as the greatest clan in the world, and since my own fame had risen considerably, more and more people had been probing Tang So-wol, asking whether she had any desire to oust Tang Cheong and become the next clan head?
"I'm not sure what that has to do with this matter."
"They brought up the matter of succession and tried to settle the issue of the heir in one stroke."
Saying this, Tang So-wol smiled brightly and pulled Seomun Hwa-rin, who was sitting beside her, over to sit on her lap.
"Nyaa?"
Seomun Hwa-rin, who had been staring blankly after her tension had eased, was dragged over and treated like a doll. For a moment she looked around to check her position, but soon relaxed and stared blankly into the air as if pondering something.
"See? Sister Hwa-rin is the head of the Seomun Clan, but right now she's a retainer of the Tang Clan, and she's receiving all my affection like this."
"Setting aside whether that's the proper way to treat an elder, if you're asking whether it suits the position of Seomun Clan head, then no, it doesn't."
"Yes. But what would happen if a child were born? You'd stop wandering around fighting, and no matter how close you are, you'd stop relying on another family's household."
"…That's probably true. Even if it's small and shabby, you'd want to leave the Tang Clan and properly live in a house of the Seomun Clan."
"Hyang-i is…"
"I don't care where I live, as long as the person next to me is there… but my legs are falling asleep."
Seol Ri-hyang said that with a shrug of her shoulders. Well, that made sense. She had been kneeling for quite a long time, after all.
I pulled Seol Ri-hyang's stiff legs toward me and laid them across my knees.
Then I began to slowly massage them, starting from the soles of her feet and working my way up to her calves.
"Ugh…!"
Seol Ri-hyang flinched at every touch of my hands, but before long, her expression relaxed.
Watching her, Tang So-wol giggled and spoke up.
"Hehe. Setting Hyang-i aside, what about me?"
"…Ah."
She would appear to be focusing on bearing and raising a child, setting aside the position of next clan head and all that. However.
Tang Jincheon had ears too, so he would have a rough idea of the situation. If so, he would have understood what Tang So-wol was thinking.
"Indeed. There's no clearer way to show your father-in-law that you have no interest in the succession matter than this."
"Yep. And Father will also let the matter leak out appropriately. For instance, by venting his grievances to those close to him, or by looking into a site to build the Seomun Clan's estate, or by checking out and buying childcare items in advance."
This would naturally reach the eyes of those outside watching the Tang Clan, and would discourage those who had been trying to fill Tang So-wol's head with vain hopes.
"I roughly understand. Still, I can't help but wonder if this kind of approach is a bit much…"
"Oh my? This is only one of the reasons, you know? It's killing two birds with one stone, after all. And besides, even setting that aside, isn't it something Father needs to hear clearly at least once? I'm telling him that young hero Cheon is a live-in son-in-law but plans to take a concubine, and that I've already given my permission, so he shouldn't go back on his word later."
"Then the reason you kept it a secret from me too…"
"Ah, well, about half of that was just wanting to tease young hero Cheon, like I said earlier."
"Half?"
A helpless laugh slipped out before he could stop it. He shook his head and began massaging Seol Ri-hyang's other leg.
"And the other half was because of embarrassment."
"Embarrassment."
"Y-yes. Even for me, asking young hero Cheon how many children he'd like me to bear for him was a bit…"
"…"
That was indeed a bit awkward.
My face flushed on its own. Tang So-wol was blushing as well, seemingly feeling the same way.
Unlike the two of us who didn't know what to do with ourselves, Seomun Hwa-rin was still deep in thought about something, and Seol Ri-hyang was simply thinking of nothing. Because she wasn't thinking of anything at all.
A moment of silence hung over the room. What broke it was Seomun Hwa-rin, who opened her eyes wide as if she had realized something.
Slap!
She clapped her small hands together, then buried the back of her head deep into Tang So-wol's chest. It looked soft.
People must always crave what they don't have…
"I was overthinking it!"
"What do you mean?"
"If she has several children, one of them can carry on the Seomun Clan's line, and the others can choose whatever path they want! Why did I think it had to be one or the other!"
"…Good heavens. So that's what you were thinking about?"
It made me slightly dizzy, but it was a necessary matter. An important one, too.
I was, after all, nothing more than a live-in son-in-law of the Tang Clan. Which meant that any child of mine would, by default, become a member of the Tang Clan's collateral branch.
Unlike Seol Ri-hyang, who had no qualms about becoming fully part of the Tang Clan, Seomun Hwa-rin, who had to rebuild the Seomun Clan, could not help but feel a deep sense of unease.
Well, that was that.
"Suddenly saying something so embarrassing, Senior Seomun Hwa-rin."
"Oh my. Just what were you imagining in the meantime…"
I couldn't resist teasing Seomun Hwa-rin.
"What?!"
Realizing what misunderstanding (or not) she had bought, Seomun Hwa-rin flailed her arms and legs, and Tang So-wol and I burst into laughter at the same time.
Being able to laugh like this while talking about each other's futures was such a joyful thing.
…However, if the path toward that future is ultimately blocked, then breaking through the path must come first.
The satisfaction of knowing that the happiness I had pursued my entire life was now within reach.
And yet, just as before my regression, the anxiety that all of this could be shattered by the Heavenly Demon at any moment weighed heavily on my heart.
I masked the weight pressing down on my chest with a forced smile and brought the day to a close.
***
The next morning. As soon as dawn broke, I headed to where Elder Geumgang Nahan of the Murim Alliance was.
Of course, I had visited the Murim Alliance a few times before, but I didn't know every path in this vast estate, so I decided to find a suitable guide first.
"You got a moment?"
"Who in the world at this busy hour of the morning… Ah, it's the White Moon Sword Lord!"
A young man whose face was thick with fatigue. The martial robes he wore were of a blue fabric, and on his back, written in large letters for easy identification, was the character "Pung."
It was proof that he belonged to the Cheongpung Unit, one of the Murim Alliance's main Martial Force Units.
The one thing that struck me as odd, however, was that he recognized me the moment he saw my face.
The Cheongpung Unit was a Martial Force Unit primarily composed of collateral branches of prestigious families, or rising talents who had achieved good results at the Dragon Phoenix Gathering.
Their overall level was high, and for that reason, they weren't just there for appearances—they were actually deployed on various missions.
Unlike a gatekeeper, who had to recognize the person coming to him, these men did work where the other party had to recognize them, so I hadn't expected to be identified so quickly.
And that was probably why he kept sighing heavily, as if he'd rather die than work even in good weather.
At any rate, these were people who were constantly running around busily, so I thought they might know my alias and achievements but not my face.
So, I decided to just ask.
"Do you know me?"
"Of course! Our Cheongpung Unit's captain is the Great Hero Eon Sa-hu, who comes from the Jinzhou Eon Clan! Not only do we often hear stories about you from the captain, but he also made us memorize your face in case of an emergency, so it's impossible not to know you."
"Ah, I see. From the Eon Clan…"
Ever since I rescued Eon So-so from the Blood Flame Fist Demon alongside Peng Woo-jin, both families had continuously shown me favor.
If the captain of the Cheongpung Unit was from the Eon Clan, it made sense.
"This is embarrassing. It seems I've been gilded without even knowing it."
"Gilded, you say! Didn't you accomplish something that great? These days, among us rising talents, the White Moon Sword Lord is so famous… Ah, this isn't the time for that. What brings you here? Is there something you need?"
The boy's words quickened as he got excited, but he soon collected himself and returned to the main point.
I shrugged my shoulders at him.
"I wish to go to where the Vajra Arhat is staying. Could you point me the way?"
"At this hour… he's probably at the training ground, reviewing the martial arts of the others. It's too complicated to explain with words, so I'll escort you there myself!"
"I appreciate it, but are you sure? You seemed rather busy."
"If I say I was late because I was helping the White Moon Sword Lord, even the captain won't say a word."
The Cheongpung Unit member grinned and took the lead, walking ahead.
On the way, as if to fill the silence, he spoke in a voice still brimming with excitement, sharing this and that about the Vajra Arhat.
He personally helps the rising talents with their training every morning, and about once every four days he visits the nearby villages to help the common folk—one virtuous tale after another spilled out.
A man of outstanding martial skill and outstanding character, one who never forgets his duty as a disciple of the Buddha.
That was the assessment of the Vajra Arhat as heard from the lips of the Cheongpung Unit member.
"They say that when he was at the Shaolin Temple, he was being considered as the next Vajra Guardian. But since becoming a Vajra Guardian would make it hard to leave the temple, he turned down the promised position and came to the Murim Alliance instead."
"He sounds like a fine man."
It seems he truly is a person of excellent reputation.
Speaking of Vajra Guardians, I had sparred with them once when I visited the Shaolin Temple some time ago. They were martial artists of remarkable skill, just as the rumors said.
I might have become a Vajra Guardian myself.
I still clearly remember the supremely trained physique and the uniqueness of the Immovable Wisdom King Step that was built upon it.
It was a martial art anyone would admire and covet.
I nodded and followed behind the Cheongpung unit member. It didn't take long to reach the training ground, which was bustling with people.
***
"Excuse me, but do you ever regret not being able to learn the Immovable Wisdom King Step?"
"Pardon?"
"You wake up in the middle of the night furious, and when you see people praising you without a shred of tact, you just want to beat them to death… Doesn't it ever feel that way?"
"I'm afraid I have no idea what you're talking about, benefactor…"
"To put it simply, I'm asking whether you've been possessed by a demon."
"…"
The Vajra Arhat stared at me as if I were a demon myself.
Hiss.
That wasn't it, then.