Thanks to having discussed the matter in advance, I was able to get permission to go to the Black Lotus Sect rather quickly.
Of course, that process included Tang Jincheon heaving deep sighs over and over again, warning several tis not to go wandering off on my own or causing trouble this ti, and the General Director silently showing up with a bunch of his subordinates and shedding tears without a word.
When grown n start crying openly like that, it’s honestly overwhelming.
Anyway, only after promising multiple tis to behave myself could I finally prepare to depart for the Black Lotus Sect.
In truth, considering the Righteous-Sect Alliance, we needed to maintain good relations with the Black Lotus Sect, so I had no intention of stirring up any trouble.
Besides, the Sect Master of the Black Lotus Sect wouldn't lure a guest he personally invited into a trap or treat them poorly.
He was soone more honest about his desires than anyone else, but at the sa ti, had outstanding qualifications as a Sect Master.
So, on the day I finished my preparations and was about to depart, an unexpected guest arrived.
“Brother Cheon! Where are you headed, Brother Cheon!”
“It's been a while. If you have ti, how about a sparring match? No? Then just one match anyway.”
Brother Namgung. And the Sword King. What brings the two of them all the way here?
It was the father and son from the Namgung Clan whom I had ford ties with after the Dragon and Phoenix eting—Namgung Jong and Namgung Dowi.
They ca without any attendants, each wearing only a single sword at their waist.
“What do you an, what’s the occasion? We heard Brother Cheon returned and ca running here.”
“We heard a new master at the Flowering Stage who uses a sword appeared. We ca to see that sword for ourselves.”
I was well aware of how mad the Namgung Clan is about swords. Especially the Clan Head, Namgung Dowi, and the young master, Namgung Jong—they were beyond obsessed.
But I never expected both of them to leave their clan behind and co find . Judging by when they arrived, they must have set out the mont they heard I returned.
Well, I didn’t mind. My body was feeling stiff after all the worrying over ntal restrictions and whatnot, so a spar with the Namgung Clan sounded like a good way to loosen up.
The problem was the timing.
“First, it’s truly a pleasure to see both of you again. I’d love to spar, but unfortunately, I have another matter to attend to right now. Perhaps we could schedule for another ti?”
“A sha, but if that’s what you say, it can’t be helped. When would be good? Tomorrow? The day after? The third day?…That’s a bit long, but I’ll wait.”
“Hold on, son. Judging by the look of it, he’s about to head out sowhere. If it’ll take a while, wouldn’t it be better to just go with him?”
“As expected of the Clan Head! What do you think, Brother Cheon? If needed, we can lend you our strength—why not travel together?”
The words “Are you insane?” rose all the way to my throat, but I barely managed to hold them back.
Yeah. These two were always like this. I wasn’t exactly normal myself, but I was nothing compared to the Namgung Clan.
I’d bet anything that just like how the martial arts of the Haebuk Paeng Clan seem to pass down extraordinary physical traits through generations, the Namgung Clan’s martial arts must have so hereditary power that makes sword fanatics out of their descendants.
But I don’t hate these sword-mad lunatics.
Had I been traveling alone, I probably would’ve said yes with a smile. However, this ti, I was moving with others, so I turned my head to check with them, and—
“Seriously, what’s the aning of this, Sword King?”
Tang Jincheon landed beside with light footwork, an expression of disbelief on his face. Judging by the look of him, he must have rushed here at full speed. He seed genuinely flustered.
And rightly so. He had just allowed his daughter and I to leave after we told him we were only visiting the Jeomchang Sect, and now we were about to head to none other than the Black Lotus Sect, the heart of the Unorthodox Factions.
We were going as guests invited by the Black Lotus Sect Master. Moreover, we had ties through Sama Yuryeon, and both Seorin and I were Flowering Stage masters, so nothing major should happen.
Even so, it was natural to worry.
So, Tang Jincheon had co to see us off. Only to be t with the sight of the Clan Head and Young Master of the Namgung Clan showing up out of nowhere.
Anyone would be dumbfounded.
Well, unless they were the kind of lunatic who ca running at the re ntion of a new sword expert.
“This is the first ti we’ve t since the Dragon and Phoenix eting, Poison King. We heard our close brother-in-arms reached a new realm, and we ca in hopes of receiving a bit of guidance.”
“It’s been a while, Poison King. But this ti, we’re not here for you—we’re here for your son-in-law, so don’t mind us too much.”
Sword lunatics.
Unlike , Tang Jincheon didn’t even bother to hold back. He said it outright. I’m sure they heard him, but the two from the Namgung Clan just looked at expectantly, waiting for my answer.
“So? What do you say, Brother Cheon??”
“You want to test your sword too, don’t you? And right now, you’ll get the chance not just to see the true Namgung sword, but to receive it directly.”
“Do you two even know where I’m going?”
“We don’t. But so what? Is there any reason to fear wherever it may be?”
“As Jong said. The weather is clear, and we carry well-maintained swords at our waists. What place in this world could possibly be off-limits?”
Rather than offering a logical or overly formal answer about how many top-tier experts were in the Black Lotus Sect, they simply trusted in their swords. That firm belief made my opinion of them skyrocket.
Stab.
Just like when striking an acupuncture point, a sharp pain pierced my side, snapping back to reality. It was Tang Sowol’s hand.
“Brother Namgung, Sword King. We’re headed to the Black Lotus Sect. You may not have heard, but the Sect Master recently got married. The person they married is soone connected to us, and we were invited—albeit late—to offer our congratulations.”
“The Black Lotus Sect…”
“I’ve heard the Sect Master is among the strongest not only in the Unorthodox world, but among all Flowering Stage experts in the central plains.”
After a brief mont of contemplation, the two nodded in satisfaction.
“I heard the Black Lotus Sect holds a sparring tournant for rising talents, like the Dragon and Phoenix eting. Few restrictions. Plenty of people die. I wonder what kind of swordsmanship blooms in such a brutal place.”
“If we’re lucky, we might even get a chance to cross swords with the Sect Master.”
Are you people actually insane?
Ah. I couldn’t hold it in after all.
Tang Sowol and Seol Lihyang slapped my back like they were scolding , but their twitching lips betrayed the smiles they were holding back.
Even Seorin just nodded with her arms crossed.
As a fellow mber of the Five Supre Clans and soone with plenty of prior dealings with the Namgung Clan, Tang Jincheon seed used to this. He rubbed his temples and finally spoke.
“Phew. I’ll speak with my son-in-law and either schedule a separate ti or send him to the Namgung Clan after this is over. So for now, you should return… hmm?”
Mid-sentence, Tang Jincheon paused and widened his eyes. He suddenly spoke with the tone of soone struck with a great idea.
“No, no. I support this. On one condition. Go with them, and return with them. Spar with my son-in-law as much as you want during the journey—but make sure you return on ti. To be more direct, don’t go wandering off again.”
“Father-in-law? What about Sowol and I’s opinion…?”
“Not listening. You didn’t read my letters to begin with, so consider this karmic justice.”
I had no retort. So this is what they ant by reaping what you sow.
As Sowol and I were rendered speechless, Tang Jincheon slyly addressed the father and son.
“What will you do? If you’d like to spar more, feel free to stay at the Tang Family after you return.”
“Thank you for the opportunity, Poison King.”
“Much appreciated. I promise, in the na of the Namgung Clan, that we’ll repay this favor soday.”
Namgung Jong and Namgung Dowi accepted imdiately, eyes gleaming.
Naturally, they didn’t seem to care what I thought.
I didn’t mind too much though. I had wanted to spar. And I had no ground to oppose Tang Jincheon after everything.
Only then did Tang Jincheon nod in relief.
“Good. That’s settled. Have a safe trip, everyone. And Lady Seol—when you return, the training hall should be completed. You can look forward to it.”
“Uh… Thank you?”
Seol Lihyang gave a tentative bow, unsure if she heard right.
With a shared sigh, Sowol and I exchanged glances and nodded.
“It can’t be helped.”
“Yes. Since Father said that much, and we already have ties with the Sword King and Sword Dragon. But Brother Cheon?”
“What is it?”
“Could you remove your hand from your mouth?”
I lowered the hand I had been using to cover my mouth. Tang Sowol’s eyes narrowed.
“You were laughing, weren’t you?!”
“This too… is sothing I can’t help.”
To Namgung Dowi, it was a chance to spar with a genius who had reached the Flowering Stage at a young age using his own martial art.
To , it was a rare opportunity to spar with the Sword King, said to be unmatched with a blade.
How could I not be excited?
As Sowol and I bickered, Seorin tilted her head while already munching on the snacks she packed for the journey.
“It’s all well and good to bring them along, but I wonder what the Black Lotus Sect Master will think.”
“Eh?”
“Think about it. The Sect Master likely invited you and Sowol, who explored the Hidden Library of Divine Combat with Sama Yuryeon. But now you’re bringing and Lihyang too.”
“Well… this much should be fine.”
“Probably. I only t him once, but the Sect Master definitely seed like soone fitting of the Unorthodox Faction—yet he didn’t appear to take his own words lightly. And our presence at your side is fairly well known.”
She had a point. If it were just the Sect Master alone, maybe not, but if Sama Yuryeon was beside him, the letter surely took Seorin and Seol Lihyang into account too.
“But now the Clan Head and Young Master of the Namgung Clan are tagging along too. He’s suddenly receiving not one, but three Flowering Stage masters. One of them even looks desperate to spar with her. Wouldn’t that seem suspicious?”
True.
The Sect Master of the Black Lotus Sect might be one who honors his word, but he’s also strict when it cos to challenges. He once distanced himself from Seorin and her Ironblood Hall in the previous tiline, simply because she kept trying to act independently after receiving a place of honor.
Hearing this, Namgung Dowi shut his eyes tightly and spoke in a sorrowful voice.
“Understood. Then I’ll refrain from dueling the Sect Master.”
“We would be most grateful.”
“Instead, I’ll spar with the Blood Fla Sword Demon twice as much.”
“......?”
Why did that happen?
While I was blinking in confusion, Tang Sowol stepped forward, looked Namgung Dowi straight in the eye, and said,
“That’s fine. But if it gets late, you have to let Brother Cheon go.”
“Hm? What does late have to do with—”
Namgung Dowi paused mid-sentence, looked between us, then nodded knowingly.
“I’ll keep that in mind. I’ll return him before it gets too late.”
“Thank you.”
Namgung Dowi looked touched, as if reminiscing. Tang Sowol, too, bowed with a faint smile.
...What is this?
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