After gaining enlightenment thanks to Seol Ri-hyang, my martial arts training, which had felt somewhat aimless, began to gain momentum.
In a way, it was only natural. Once I knew the direction to move forward, all that remained was to run with all my might.
The only thing I had been doing until now was a single act.
Removing.
All the various sword arts I had stolen from over someone's shoulder, the complex techniques, and the mysteries I had honed for a lifetime.
I removed them all. Until there was nothing left to remove.
And after removing and removing, what remained at the end was a plain slash and thrust that could hardly even be called a sword art.
It was no different from the Three Talents Sword Technique, which merely covered a slightly wider range.
Yet, this humble trajectory was the very essence of my sword—nothing more could be stripped away.
All that remained within it was the single inch's gap that separated life from death.
If this sword were ever perfected, I would be able to establish my own domain even within the overwhelming aura of the Heavenly Demon that filled heaven and earth.
For a moment, the majesty the Heavenly Demon had shown me before my regression flashed through my mind, but I quickly erased it and focused solely on my sword.
How long did I spend frantically swinging, breaking down every sword art I knew into its smallest components?
Just as even I was beginning to lose my concentration, Tang So-wol's voice rang out, as if she had been waiting for that moment.
"Young hero Cheon. Would you mind taking a brief pause?"
"Oh. Were you waiting for me? You could have just called out to me."
"Ah… waiting, I suppose you could say I had no choice but to wait… Anyway, there's a guest here to see you."
"A guest?"
When I turned my head a little further, a familiar middle-aged man came into view, where before only Tang So-wol had filled my sight.
"O… Oh…!"
It was Namgung Dowi, his fists clenched tightly with a moved expression on his face.
Since this was an incomplete sword anyway, and I had learned quite a bit from Namgung Dowi, it wasn't as if showing him was a problem… but.
A grown man looking like he was about to cry was so burdensome it was driving me crazy.
"It's been a while… or perhaps not, Sword King. Either way, it's good to see you."
"Not a while indeed! Your sword has broken through its thick shell and awakened, beginning to walk its own path—how could that be called a short time!"
"Ah, yes…"
Even though I'd expected this, I couldn't help but take a step back. The Namgung Dowi before me now carried that much presence.
"Do you remember what I said before? That your sword, in gathering various sword arts and making them your own, resembles the Namgung sword. The path toward the heavens that Namgung still seeks may not yet be connected, but it seems you've found your own sky! My sincere congratulations!"
"Thank you."
Well, burdensome was burdensome, but the goodwill itself was welcome, so I smiled and gave a light bow of my head.
However, it seemed Namgung Dowi's emotion was not yet finished.
"After all this wandering, we return to the root of it all! In a way, it might be said to align with the saying that all streams flow back to the sea! From our previous sparring bout, I already knew your sword was on par with mine or even better, but seeing this, I cannot help but acknowledge it! If that sword of yours is completed, the alias of Sword King should go to you! No, that's not it! Even the title of Sword King might not be enough. Sword Emperor… no, Sword God! Aha! If you have created a sword that encompasses all swords, then you are worthy of being called that!"
"I'm grateful for your kind words, but… what brings you to the Murim Alliance today? If it was about the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance, you had already made your stance clear long ago, so there would have been no need for you to come all the way here."
As Namgung Dowi's eyes genuinely welled up with tears, I hurriedly changed the subject.
Then, taking a single deep breath, Namgung Dowi continued in a somewhat calmer voice.
"My visit to the Murim Alliance this time is not because of the Namgung Clan's affairs. I received a command, and it is for that reason that I have made this journey."
"A command, you say? Someone who can order the Sword King of the world around with a single word…"
"The Imperial Court."
"If it's the Imperial Court, then that makes sense."
The Namgung Clan was a vassal family of the old imperial dynasty. In other words, from the current Imperial Court's perspective, they should have been a rather thorny presence.
Yet there was the trait of only sword-obsessed individuals being born into the family for generations, and a history of cooperating with the Imperial Court's affairs without complaint—except on a single occasion.
For the record, that one occasion was during a succession dispute that had crossed the line.
Since I'm not a member of the Namgung Clan, I don't know the details, but apparently it was a matter that anyone could see was right to refuse.
Which was why the Imperial Court never held that incident against them afterward.
In any case, having steadily built up the Imperial Court's trust in that manner, they—along with the Hebei Peng Clan—were often summoned to handle Imperial affairs despite being a martial clan.
"Come to think of it, for you to have come to the Murim Alliance to assist with Imperial affairs at this time… it must be about the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance."
"That's right. This is the first time in the history of the martial world, after all. The Imperial Court seems to be treading carefully as well. Who would have thought the Martial Princess herself would make the journey, and even the commander of the Imperial Guard would come."
"The Martial Princess…"
I trailed off, having heard the name but unable to recall it clearly. Tang So-wol noticed my hesitation and whispered softly.
"She's the fourth daughter of the current His Majesty, the Emperor."
"I see. And to think the commander of the Imperial Guard would be coming along as well… Wait. I thought the former Sword King was handling the escort, but if the Imperial Guard commander is here, it seems he's taken on a different role?"
"He does double as an escort, actually. However, the main reason the Imperial Court called for me seems to be that they want someone to take the Imperial side in the dealings between the Murim Alliance and the Imperial Court."
"Oh dear. You've taken on quite the troublesome task."
In response to my words, Namgung Dowi let out a deep sigh instead of an answer.
Given his personality, getting involved in something like this must be nothing short of suffocating.
No matter how much a Harmony Realm martial artist is granted an alias bearing the title of king, they are still treated as a feudal lord only in an unofficial capacity.
Once they get properly entangled in Imperial Court affairs, problems are bound to arise one way or another.
"Well, still, don't worry. The Imperial Court isn't stupid. They've surely already obtained information on the Demonic Cult through their spies. They'll just haggle over various conditions and restrictions—the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance itself will pass without much trouble."
"Then that's a relief."
"Ah, and there's another reason I came to disturb your training."
"Surely not…"
"Yes. That 'surely not' is exactly right."
Namgung Dowi nodded with a stiff expression.
Honestly, I had hoped a day like this would never come, but at the same time, I couldn't help but think that this day had finally arrived.
After all, I was the live-in son-in-law of the Tang Clan, hailed as the greatest clan in the world, and in the Black Alliance, wasn't I known as the number one of the Unorthodox Sects?
I was also the one who had warned of the Demonic Cult's threat long ago, and the hidden driving force behind the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance.
Once the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance began its activities in earnest, it was obvious that I would always be at its center.
Naturally, the Imperial Court would want to find out who I was and take whatever measures they deemed necessary.
The current Imperial Court maintained a relatively lenient attitude toward the martial world, so it probably wouldn't be a major problem… but there was no way to avoid the mutual discomfort.
That said, I couldn't just run away either.
"Hoo. There's no helping it. Since things have come to this, I'll cooperate as amicably as possible…"
"Absolutely do not wander outside. Whatever you do, avoid running into the Martial Princess or getting entangled with the Imperial Guards…"
"…Excuse me?"
"…Hm?"
Namgung Dowi and I blinked at each other.
That wasn't what I meant?
The enthusiasm that had just begun to stir was snuffed out again, and at the same time, Tang So-wol let out a small giggle.
"Hehe. I understand what you mean, Sword King. I'll keep young hero Cheon firmly locked inside so he can't go out, so don't worry."
"Good. I'm sure you'll handle it well, Flying Butterfly Poison Peak. After all, you're that Tang Clan's daughter."
"Oh my. Thank you for the compliment."
Tang So-wol wore a bright, polished smile, while Namgung Dowi let out a sigh of relief, as if genuinely reassured.
Watching the two of them, I couldn't help but tilt my head.
"I have no idea what you're talking about. It's as if you think I can't even handle something as simple as staying put, and that I only cause trouble whenever I go outside."
"Is that so… Well, I suppose. Enlightenment always comes when one looks back at oneself, after all."
"…?"
It was a strange feeling—as if the conversation had connected, yet hadn't at all.
Namgung Dowi met my gaze and smirked, the corner of his mouth curling up.
"White Moon Sword Lord. Your martial art is exceptional. So much so that you would not fall short even when compared to those who have left their mark on the history of the martial world."
"I am aware."
"Yes… your martial art is exceptional… the martial art, that is."
"…"
His gaze was one of deep pity. I was so taken aback that I blurted out a retort.
"I happen to know that the Sword King is no pushover either. It's just that nothing other than the sword seems to catch your eye."
"Even so, I have never neglected my duties as clan head. Look here. I am standing in this very spot, am I not?"
To put it plainly, he was saying that he was still better than me.
I couldn't understand it. No matter how I thought about it, compared to a sword-obsessed man like Namgung Dowi, I was practically a normal person.
Well… I suppose here, the normal one—me—had no choice but to step back.
I let out a short sigh and nodded.
"At any rate, I understand what you mean. You're telling me to avoid getting entangled with the Imperial Court and landing in a difficult position. Thank you for your concern. I'll keep it in mind."
"It's not you I'm worried about—it's the Martial Princess… no, never mind. Regardless, I'm grateful that you've agreed to my request."
"Think nothing of it. After all, what are we to each other, you and I, Sword King?"
"…I'm already feeling uneasy. If anything ever happens, never say something like that."
Namgung Dowi shook his head. As a fellow martial artist, he was someone I truly clicked with, but when he showed this side of himself as clan head, there were times I simply couldn't understand him.
Was I worrying too much? For all my appearance, I had my reasons…
Ah, thinking about it, Namgung Dowi was someone who still didn't know about my regression.
A young man who, thanks to his talent, had reached the level of an absolute master at a young age, but who still didn't know much about the world or how to deal with people.
That was probably how he saw me.
It was a common thing. When you only trained in martial arts, you tended to become simple-minded, in both a good and a bad way.
But I was a completely different person from what Namgung Dowi thought.
Before my regression, I had been through every kind of ordeal, and even when the Orthodox-Unorthodox Alliance was on the verge of collapse, with all those who should have led it dead and gone, hadn't I been forced to step forward and take the lead?
I had never met anyone from the Imperial Court, and I couldn't claim I'd be as good at dealing with them as others were…
Still, I wouldn't cause any problems, nor would I let myself be caught off guard and robbed blind.
I decided to simply accept Namgung Dowi's goodwill.
"Haa… Flying Butterfly Poison Peak. Don't forget how crucial your role is."
"I never have. I'll do my best to the extent that I can."
So the sight of Tang So-wol and Namgung Dowi exchanging solemn vows with serious expressions was surely a fuss.
***
A woman in splendid attire lay collapsed, having lost consciousness, and a middle-aged man in golden robes sprawled nearby, vomiting blood.
Looking down at the two, who showed no movement except for their breathing, I spoke.
"Did we mess them up…?"
"Stay calm, young hero Cheon. What's done is done. So let's gag them and bind their hands and feet before they wake up."
Tang So-wol was composed.
As if she had expected this all along.