Three days later, when Cheonhwi arrived at the lakeside as usual, Namgung Jingyeong, who had been watching the lake from the pavilion, raised his hand high.
"Young Taoist Cheonhwi!"
He shouted and came running in a single breath.
Standing before Cheonhwi, his face was still bruised and swollen from the wounds that hadn't healed, but it was full of smiles.
"I've been waiting."
"You're more energetic than yesterday."
"Hahaha. My apologies. It's because I had some realizations from sparring with you yesterday..."
Namgung Jingyeong smiled sheepishly.
He had lost everything in that duel with him.
But wasn't it said that misfortune can turn into blessing?
Thanks to that, he was able to build a friendship with Cheonhwi and also gained a new goal.
"Then shall we get right to it?"
Cheonhwi met eyes with him as he immediately began drawing his sword with an excited expression.
He had been waiting for the spar.
This was only natural, as the teachings of an expert like himself were hard to come by.
Thinking like this, it seemed like only he was taking a loss, but that wasn't necessarily the case.
'I'm also gaining insight into the Namgung Family's martial arts, so it's mutually beneficial.'
The martial arts he had displayed totaled eight kinds.
Most were martial arts he already knew, but even that alone was quite a significant harvest.
'It's not for nothing they're called the Family of Cangtian.'
The martial arts he had learned were all connected as one.
Cangtian! Noejeon! Seomjeon!
At first glance they looked different from each other, but they all embraced the same sky.
Just as the Huashan Sect embraced the plum blossom and the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult embraced defying heaven.
As Cheonhwi was organizing the martial arts he had seen one by one, he met eyes with Namgung Jingyeong, who was gazing with quiet eyes.
"What martial art is it this time?"
Namgung Jingyeong's eyes immediately sparkled.
"The Cheonpung Sword Technique!"
'Oh, the Cheonpung Sword Technique? It's been a while since I've seen that.'
"It'll be more powerful than the Daeyeon Sword Technique I showed yesterday!"
At the now-familiar confident shout, a chuckle escaped from Cheonhwi.
'His impression has certainly changed a lot.'
Due to the spars over the past three days, his impression of him had clearly changed.
Even though he suffered devastating defeats in the daily spars, he was never gloomy at all.
Rather, on the very day he was defeated, he would agonize over it and the next day showcase a new martial art with burning fighting spirit.
'It's better to watch than before.'
He secretly liked it.
Both his sincerity toward martial arts and his unyielding spirit when facing a strong opponent.
Soon he flicked his index finger toward him.
"Then come."
"I've been waiting for those words!"
At the gesture he had seen several times before, Namgung Jingyeong drew his sword as if he'd been waiting.
"Today I will definitely make you draw your sword."
Unlike his words full of fighting spirit, Namgung Jingyeong's goal seemed quite trivial.
But Namgung Jingyeong knew that goal was grander than Mount Tai.
Because his opponent was Cheonhwi.
At that moment, Cheonhwi had stimulated his competitive spirit that was starting to burn.
"It would be nice if you could."
Squeeze!
At the provocation, Namgung Jingyeong hardened his pupils and gripped the sword in his hand tightly.
"Then I'll go first!"
Having already felt the difference in skill with Cheonhwi to his bones, Namgung Jingyeong took the initiative.
Cheonhwi twisted his body as it rushed in, dodging Namgung Jingyeong's sword, and moved his lips.
"Is this it?"
"It's just the beginning!"
Namgung Jingyeong summoned his internal energy.
The lightning qi that bloomed in an instant crackled, and his sword was swung widely.
'Not much different from what I knew... oh?'
The corners of Cheonhwi's eyes curved.
A little, no—it was considerably different.
As the count repeated once, twice, Namgung Jingyeong's sword was getting stronger.
'With just abundant internal energy, it shouldn't be possible to maintain this kind of offensive?'
But Namgung Jingyeong was doing it.
Whether it was thanks to the unique sword technique called the Cheonpung Sword Technique, or thanks to his razor-sharp concentration.
The offensive continued to strike like a storm.
'If he keeps attacking without resting like this, won't his internal energy be depleted first?'
Interest appeared in Cheonhwi's eyes.
The Cheonpung Sword Technique he had known a very long time ago was centered on free changes in moves.
But to even display chain strikes.
'Has this changed too?'
His sparkling eyes swept over Namgung Jingyeong swinging his sword for a moment.
Swish―
Cheonhwi's hand moved.
Right away, as he deflected the Cheonpung Sword Technique and counterattacked, Namgung Jingyeong reacted.
Tap!
In one breath he stepped through footwork to dodge, and twisted his blade to protect his body from the counterattack.
Seeing him react for the first time after being helplessly on the receiving end until now, Cheonhwi murmured low.
"Now you know how to dodge."
It was an unremarkable remark, but Namgung Jingyeong's lips twitched as if having a spasm upon hearing those words.
"It's not like I've only seen your techniques once or twice!"
Namgung Jingyeong, who barely swallowed the laughter trying to burst out, moved his lips.
"Isn't this at least enough to make you draw your sword?"
Cheonhwi said as he looked at the excited man.
"No."
"What do you... Hup!"
Namgung Jingyeong opened both eyes wide. Cheonhwi, who had appeared right in front of his nose, was spreading his palm wide open.
The pure white palm grew so large that it completely swallowed Namgung Jingyeong's field of vision.
Boom!
Pitch-black darkness descended.
Namgung Jingyeong, who received a great impact to his forehead, felt his consciousness fading.
'S-still, this time he acknowledged...'
In the end, Namgung Jingyeong, who lost consciousness, fell to the ground with a thud in a spread-eagle posture.
Blood flowed steadily from his nose, but his face was completely smiling, making it feel bizarre.
"I've felt it for a while, but while the other things are quite lacking, he performs the chain strikes decently."
Stroking his chin, he recalled the martial arts Namgung Jingyeong had just displayed for a moment.
Swish―
Turning his head backward, he opened his mouth.
"Why don't you come out now?"
At that moment, a whirlwind rose before his eyes, and an old man carrying himself proudly with his hands behind his back appeared.
'That face?'
As he was surveying the somehow familiar old man, he spoke low.
"This is the second time we're seeing each other."
"Ah! From three days ago."
Hearing the voice, he knew who it was.
He was the one who had pressured the gatekeepers three days ago, making them allow the visit to the Namgung Family.
"I thought you'd keep hiding, but you came out."
The old man stroked his beard, perhaps feeling sheepish.
"You knew?"
"With you glaring like that constantly, how could I not know?"
The old man coughed and turned his head.
"Actually, I tried to come out in the middle. But seeing a child of our family sparring with a Taoist of the Huashan Sect was so fascinating that I ended up watching... and forgot to come out."
"You forgot?"
"That's right."
He just forgot?
It was a suspicious statement, but seeing him repeatedly clearing his throat out of embarrassment, it didn't seem to be a lie.
"But it feels quite novel to have Taoists of the Huashan Sect staying at our family."
The old man quickly changed the subject.
"I never thought figures from the Nine Sects One Faction would stay at our family again... Still, perhaps because we're both from the righteous faction, it seems relations have improved again."
"What?"
"Hoho. At least you listened to what I said. I said there's nothing worse than making enemies with the Murim Alliance..."
It was puzzling.
What he felt while staying at the Namgung Family for three days was mostly hostility and wariness.
But they had good relations?
"That can't be."
"The main enemy is the wicked demonic faction... What?"
The old man who had been muttering glared.
"What do you mean that can't be? Then why are you staying at our family?"
He looked at the old man strangely.
The reason for their visit had already spread widely throughout the Namgung Family.
Otherwise, would so many family members have gathered for the Changcheon Great Battle?
Looking at the old man who had brought his face close, he opened his mouth.
"It's because of a deal."
"A deal?"
"You should already know."
Cheonhwi stared at the old man steadily.
"Ahem, ahem."
The old man, meeting that gaze, coughed and laughed as if trying to hide his bewilderment.
"Hoho. I've only been staying here lately, so I don't know the family's circumstances well."
'No matter what, it was a big enough matter for the Namgung Family Head to step in, and he doesn't know?'
The old man wore an awkward smile on his face.
'There must be something.'
Though suspicious, he didn't press further.
It wasn't a hugely important issue, and the matter of the deal was already known anyway.
"I heard we handed over the corpse of the Black Fiend Murder Demon and in exchange agreed to receive something, but I don't know the details of what we're receiving."
"The Black Fiend Murder Demon?!"
The old man's expression changed completely.
The awkward smile disappeared like a mirage, and a chill settled in his pupils.
"You mean to say you killed that bastard who even cursing wouldn't be enough for and brought his corpse."
Cheonhwi's eyes narrowed like threads.
The old man's energy that was revealed for a very brief moment was fierce and intense.
'He seems stronger than the Family Head...'
"Then it was the Huashan Sect who dealt with that bastard."
"What?"
At the old man's continued words, Cheonhwi couldn't help but tilt his head again.
"That's true, but it's strange. Usually, people don't think the Huashan Sect could have dealt with it."
The old man's eyebrows rose greatly.
"Hmm? What do you mean by that?"
"People don't think the Huashan Sect could catch an expert of that level."
"Hoho. What nonsense is this, saying the Huashan Sect couldn't deal with the Black Fiend Murder Demon."
"What?"
"Hmm?"
Both tilted their heads at the same time.
With expressions of utter incomprehension, they looked at each other for a moment.
'Could it be he doesn't know the state of the Huashan Sect?'
Suddenly, one hypothesis came to mind.
In the past five years, he had never seen anyone speak well of the Huashan Sect.
Most either dismissed it as a declining sect or treated it as past its prime.
Of course, on the surface they would praise it saying "As expected of the Huashan Sect," but the feelings contained within couldn't be hidden.
'But this one is different.'
He genuinely thought so.
The old man's words just now were laden with deep goodwill and reverence.
'Come on, still, could he really not know?'
That the Huashan Sect was nearly declining was something the whole world knew.
It wasn't like he was living in seclusion in some deep mountain valley; living inside the Namgung Family and not knowing that was strange.
'Still, maybe.'
"Could it be" has caught people before, hasn't it.
Cheonhwi looked at the old man and asked.
"Do you know that the Huashan Sect has declined?"
"What? The Huashan Sect has declined? Hohoho. The Taoists of the Huashan Sect these days must be learning farming too."
The old man waved his hands and laughed.
"The Huashan Sect of all places declining, is that even a plausible statement?"
Wow, he really doesn't know.
The moment he confirmed that the reason their conversation had been crossing wires was truly because of that.
Ah! Could it be...
Suddenly a thought crossed his mind and he clicked his tongue.
'I wondered why he didn't know any information; he was an old man chased to the back room.'
The questions that kept coming up were now solidly resolved and understanding began to dawn.
'How pitiful.'
No matter how high his martial arts skills are.
Isn't he in a state where his ears are blocked and his eyes are covered by the people of the same family?
"Currently, the Huashan Sect is at the bottom of the Nine Sects One Faction."
Cheonhwi told the truth to the old man who still didn't know his own situation.
It was a more affectionate tone than usual.
Being chased to the back room was pitiful enough, so he thought he'd treat him a bit kindly.
"What? The bottom of the Nine Sects One Faction...?"
The old man stared at Cheonhwi with a face struck by shock.
"I-is that true?!"
"Why would I lie."
"Such nonsense..."
"Of course, they'll rise again."
He added the last part, but to the old man whose ears were captivated by the words that the Huashan Sect was at the bottom of the Nine Sects One Faction, those words didn't register at all.
"How could the Huashan Sect... The sword flowers they bloomed blossomed across the whole world, and the sword fragrance swallowed everything..."
As he saw the old man unable to escape from the shock, he gradually began to feel sorry for him.
"Gasp!"
Namgung Jingyeong came to his senses and jumped up.
"Y-Young Taoist!"
Namgung Jingyeong, who looked for Cheonhwi as soon as he got up, discovered the old man and flinched.
"S-Supreme Family Head?!"