The Demonic Cult was preparing for war, joining hands with the Potala Palace under the Heavenly Demon’s lead.
And once the Murim Alliance realized this, they decided to formally prepare for a decisive clash against the Demonic Cult while keeping them in check.
“Meaning, their napes must be tingling right about now.”
“Pardon? But didn’t Strategist Zhuge Bu say they needed a method to counter sorcery?”
“Of course, that’s one of the reasons. The Black Lotus Sect is one of the few groups in the Central Plains familiar with sorcery. Still, their main purpose must be to tighten internal discipline.”
In this generation, there was no one worthy of being called the world’s strongest.
Not because everyone was equally skilled, but because the Black Lotus Sect had formed, the Orthodox and Unorthodox factions had split, and a certain system had taken shape, allowing peace to last a long time.
With no battles to fight, there was no reason to display one’s strength—naturally, rumors of who was stronger had also become scarce.
The exception was the Black Lotus Sect Lord, who had fought endlessly to establish the sect and had won every battle, thereby claiming the position of the strongest in the Unorthodox faction.
But there were always people eager to form rankings, and even without fighting, truly strong individuals tended to stand out.
The Sword King, Namgung Dowi, was such a swordsman—one without equals.
The Zhongnan Sect, the Wudang Sect, the Mount Hua Sect—all were known for their sword arts, and their sect leaders possessed skills fitting of those reputations.
But none of them were considered to reach the level of the Namgung Clan or Namgung Dowi. That was the general consensus.
I myself had met the sect leader of the Zhongnan Sect, and even I felt that he was slightly inferior to the Sword King.
Yet the Heavenly Demon had overwhelmingly dominated not only the strongest of the Unorthodox side but also the Sword King—who was close to being the Orthodox faction’s strongest sword—even when Seorin joined forces against him.
He was, without exaggeration, a monster.
And now, the Heavenly Demon was sharing his martial arts, rapidly strengthening the other Demonic Cultists as well. To top it off, he had allied with the Potala Palace.
If the Murim Alliance concentrated its strength half-heartedly, the outcome would be their defeat.
In the end, if a true war broke out against the Demonic Cult, the Murim Alliance would have to commit everything.
“These days, the Murim Alliance and the Black Lotus Sect aren’t on bad terms, and the Sect Lord has even formed ties with several Orthodox masters... but Unorthodox is still Unorthodox.”
“Meaning, even though they know chaos is coming, many will still put their own gains first?”
“No. I mean there are wolves who would encourage the chaos if it benefits them.”
“Just what kind of place is the Unorthodox faction supposed to be…”
Tang Sowol looked stunned, but I had said nothing exaggerated—just facts.
“The Black Lotus Sect Lord may be petty sometimes, but he keeps his word. And as the leader of a large organization, he also has a wide perspective.”
“But the others aren’t like that, are they?”
“Right. Even the elders of the Orthodox faction know this well.”
Those who were now sect leaders or clan heads were of the same generation or older than the Black Lotus Sect Lord.
Naturally, they still remembered the days when the Orthodox and Unorthodox endlessly slaughtered each other.
There was no way they wouldn’t be wary.
“And conveniently, I exist.”
“Hm. Someone close to the Black Lotus Sect Lord, possessing a disposition far closer to the Unorthodox, yet technically belonging to the Orthodox faction, while having achievements as an Orthodox martial artist. Young, skilled, symbolic, and powerful—that’s who you are, yes?”
“…Why are you always so quick to understand when it’s something like this.”
“Well, because it’s about you, Brother Cheon.”
I couldn’t help but let out a thin laugh as Tang Sowol tilted her head.
“The part about my disposition being close to Unorthodox is wrong.”
“But overall, you’re not wrong. The Murim Alliance wants me, and the Black Lotus Sect Lord, even if he can’t openly support me, will quietly agree. That’s probably why.”
“I see…”
For some reason, Tang Sowol began shaking her head at me, but it wasn’t important.
“So you’ve concluded you’ll subdue all of the Black Lotus Sect’s troublemakers with force?”
“That’s right.”
“Judging from Strategist Zhuge Bu’s reaction, that wasn’t exactly what he had in mind…”
“They won’t listen unless you go that far.”
After all, during the Demonic Cult’s invasion, the greatest problem for the Orthodox–Unorthodox coalition had been the Unorthodox masters acting independently.
They had formed their own factions, moved separately, scattering their power instead of uniting.
Some even tried to defect to the Heavenly Demon when the situation turned bad.
They had committed too many crimes, so they all ended up torn apart and killed.
Even so, here I was letting similar scoundrels live and even making them participate in something beneficial.
Truly admirable of me.
I was practically the model of Orthodox virtue.
“…So that wasn’t a joke last time, but the truth.”
“I am always a sincere man.”
“Sigh… And that’s exactly why it’s a problem.”
Tang Sowol exhaled deeply, giving a bitter smile.
“Anyway, I understand that Brother Cheon’s resolve is firm. So what are you planning to do now? And what do you need from us?”
“Mm? What do you mean?”
“Aren’t we going with you as always?”
“That would defeat the point of handling this myself. If I’m going to overpower them, I have to show a clear difference in strength. The fewer people, the better. If I defeat not only their subordinates but the leaders themselves alone, they’ll surrender on their own.”
“…Surely you don’t mean you’re going alone?”
“I’m not that stupid. Don’t worry.”
“Whew…”
“For now, they may simply be pretending to follow me because they lost. So I need to finish this cleanly.”
“Setting aside whether you can win alone… you said ‘finish cleanly.’ What exactly do you plan to do?”
“I plan to poison the ones I defeat.”
“A poison that will kill them within a month if they fail to detoxify.”
“There… is something like that, but…”
“It would be ideal if it works even on Flowering Stage masters.”
“…Researching the Beast Palace Lord’s poison recently, I think it might be possible.”
“Good. I was prepared to bluff, but now I don’t even need to.”
“For this matter, only you and I will go.”
Tang Sowol squeezed her eyes shut, seemingly at a loss for words over my perfect plan.
After a long moment, she forced her lips to move.
“I—I’ll tell the others first.”
“Then I’ll prepare our luggage.”
She gave a small bow and dashed out of the room.
Anyone watching might’ve thought she was fleeing.
But clearly, she was simply excited at the prospect of a trip with just the two of us.
In conclusion, Tang Sowol was the only one opposed to the plan.
“Wh-why is everyone acting so calm?!”
“Well… there are things you don’t know, Sister Tang.”
“Yes, yes. Whatever else, if Hwi says he can handle something in the Unorthodox world, it means he really can.”
After the Great Law Trial, Seol Lihyang and Seo Mun-Hwarin had developed a strange level of trust in me.
Probably because they knew I was a regressor and had spent half my previous life rolling around inside the Black Lotus Sect. Probably.
“Father! At least you should say something!”
“Say something…?”
Tang Jincheon thought briefly before speaking.
“You’ll be fine, but Sowol may be in danger.”
“For that, I intend to request cooperation from the Black Lotus Sect. I’ll have one of their masters accompany us to protect Tang Sowol—like a witness… of sorts.”
“Not bad. Whatever else, the Sect Lord’s subordinates are fiercely loyal. With his permission, that should work.”
“The Sect Lord will surely agree.”
“Of course he will. I don’t know why—but no, I have an idea. Anyway, that man is quite fond of his son-in-law.”
“Father? Aren’t you even worried about Brother Cheon? He’s planning to face the Unorthodox’s Flowering Stage masters alone, not to mention the dark sects behind them!”
“Sowol. Did you hear that Brother Cheon had a spar with the Sword King recently?”
“Of course I know they sparred.”
“Then do you know that he won?”
“……What?”
“Just in case: the Sword King always takes anything related to the sword seriously, even in a spar.”
“Well, of course… But—really? Brother Cheon truly won?”
“Heard it straight from the Sword King himself, so it must be true. And as you well know, my son-in-law grows stronger in real combat.”
“Ugh…”
“If he said he could do it, it’s because he actually can. He is far more remarkable than you think. Don’t worry too much.”
“That’s…”
Tang Sowol pursed her lips as if wanting to say something, then slowly lowered her shoulders and nodded.
“All right. If everyone says so, maybe I am just being overprotective. But!”
She lifted her head sharply and glared at me.
“But if Brother Cheon seems to be overexerting himself or suffers a serious injury, I will bring him back immediately.
If you don’t keep this promise, I’m not going with you.”
“A perfectly reasonable statement. My life is what I value most.”
“…Do you realize how unbelievable that sounds?”
“Hm??”
“After what I saw inside the Formation, it’s very hard for me to believe that.”
Ah.
So that’s why she had been so worried.
Inside the Formation, she, Seol Lihyang, and Seorin had witnessed the extermination of the Ironblood Hall… and me, losing my mind and turning into a Sword Demon.
And the one who brought me back wasn’t anyone else—it was Tang Sowol.
Because of the mental restraints, I couldn’t say things too directly, but this much should be fine.
“Don’t worry. I won’t die before you, Tang Sowol.”
“Brother Cheon…”
“There are too many things I want to do—too many things I haven’t done yet. Until I achieve them all, I won’t die. So just stay by my side. As long as you do, I’m sure I can do anything.”
“…!”
Tang Sowol widened her eyes, her lips opening and closing wordlessly, then she let out a small laugh.
“You’re trying to sweet-talk me again with pretty words?”
“Pretty words? I’m always sincere.”
“Well, I suppose there’s nothing I can do. Since it’s you, Brother Cheon, I’ll accept it. Go on then—roast me or boil me however you please.”
Saying that, she leaned forward, opening her arms just slightly—a posture clearly urging me.
I stepped in and gently embraced her, and only then did her satisfied voice brush my ear.
“You packed my share of the luggage too, didn’t you?”
“Of course. You just bring yourself.”
Instead of a reply, she burst into a soft giggle.
That was the moment my martial expedition was decided.
“Still… what should we call this publicly? Calling it a martial expedition feels wrong—the purpose is too impure, and the method too rough…”
“As long as we intend to keep them alive, it counts as a martial expedition.”
And that was that.
