Chapter 18 : Emei Sect

Chapter 18: Emei Sect

The moment he saw his father bowing his head to him, Sewoon couldn't say a word.

He was so shocked that his body froze.

He had expected his father to sharply point out the flaws in his made-up story.

He never imagined Tang Muyeol would show such a vulnerable, even feeble, side of himself in front of him.

‘Father…….’

His face burned hot while his insides seemed to rot black.

He felt both shame and guilt toward his father.

He couldn't hide the emotional turmoil within him.

Why hadn’t he realized it before returning?

He had always believed his father was cold and strict only toward him.

He never knew that his father had been harboring such warm affection deep inside.

Sewoon stood from his seat and slowly approached Tang Muyeol.

Then, he embraced his bowed father and spoke.

“Please raise your head, Father. What parent bows to their child under heaven?”

Even so, Tang Muyeol remained silent, and Sewoon continued.

“Far away in the Great Desert, every dawn, the father sandgrouse endures hellish heat to fly to water, soak his belly, and return to the nest to let his chicks drink.”

“How is that different from how you've always risen before dawn and worked tirelessly until after the sun had set?”

Finally, Tang Muyeol raised his head, and his eyes were trembling as if struck by an earthquake.

Sewoon looked straight into those eyes and said.

“Rather, I’m only sorry that I made you worry because I ran wild like a mad colt.”

“Hoo, thank you for saying that. You've brought great comfort to me.”

“The feeling is mutual.”

He had always thought his child was immature.

When had his son grown so much?

Tang Muyeol’s eyes seemed to say just that.

A little later.

Once the two had calmed down.

“I know you have a secret.”

Tang Muyeol said.

Sewoon was startled, but quickly returned to his usual composure.

He didn't bother making excuses.

“Lee Hoseong and now even the Rear Dragon Guard Leader. Surely there is something you’re hiding even from the Alliance Leader about how you dealt with them.”

“…How did you know?”

“How could a father not notice when his child has changed?”

Alright, he would speak honestly—at least partially—excluding the matter of the Blood Cult.

Just as Sewoon was making up his mind.

Tang Muyeol said something unexpected.

“I won’t ask what it is.”

Tang Muyeol didn’t test Sewoon’s qi flow, nor did he interrogate him to uncover the truth.

He simply trusted him and left everything in his hands.

Tang Muyeol continued.

“It must be the result of endlessly seeking a way to survive on your own.”

“Judging from your actions so far, although rough, your path is undoubtedly righteous.”

“Walk your own path.”

Sewoon couldn’t immediately reply to those words.

He was deeply moved by his father’s unwavering trust without even a hint of doubt.

“I too will change. I’ll walk one step ahead on the path you choose, and become the shade under which you can rest.”

There was a firm resolve in Tang Muyeol’s eyes.

He had lived his whole life unwavering in his own sense of chivalry, yet now he was saying he would even change that for Sewoon’s sake.

“So please, just promise me one thing.”

“…Please speak.”

“Do not lose the heart of chivalry as you walk your path.”

“Until now, your actions have been steeped too heavily in killing intent. If you focus only on punishing evil, in the end, you’ll become no different from them.”

At his father’s words, Sewoon fell into deep thought.

The horrific experiences from before his return, and the martial arts of the Blood Demon embedded in his true inner force, were etched in his mind.

It would be a lie to say that his decisions and execution hadn't become more brutal.

Tang Muyeol patiently waited for Sewoon to finish wrestling with those thoughts.

And finally.

“To be honest, I don’t really know what chivalry is.”

Sewoon concluded.

“There are people in the world born with evil in their nature, people who will never change. It’s inevitable that someone will suffer horribly because of them, and I can’t just watch that happen.”

“I believe those who must die, should die.”

“But even so, I understand what you’re worried about, and what I must be careful of.”

“If I’m not cautious, I could end up becoming just like them, drunk on the glory of eliminating evil.”

After witnessing the countless atrocities committed by the demonic practitioners of the Blood Cult, Sewoon couldn’t see things the same way Tang Muyeol did.

But he had sacrificed his life for him in his past life, and now he was offering his heartfelt support.

Sewoon decided to repay him, even if just a little.

“Just once.”

Sewoon raised a single finger as he spoke.

“I can’t promise three times, but if it’s someone who doesn’t absolutely deserve to die, I’ll give even a criminal one chance.”

“Yes, that will do.”

Tang Muyeol nodded in satisfaction.

After finishing their conversation, the two looked at each other and smiled.

Sewoon picked up the teapot in front of him and poured tea into his father’s cup.

Trickle.

As the soft sound of tea pouring filled the air.

A delicate aroma instantly spread through the room.

Clip-clop, clip-clop.

Amid the loud sound of hooves, a carriage climbed a winding mountain road.

Inside the spacious carriage, which looked shabby from the outside, only three people were seated.

They were all women.

A middle-aged nun with a shaved head and monk’s robes.

A short-haired woman in her early twenties.

And finally, a young girl who had just reached the age of learning, her braided hair giving her an innocent look.

All three had a sword fastened to their waists, suggesting they were martial artists.

“Heeey. I thought this was the middle of nowhere, but there are actually quite a few people passing by?”

At that moment, Cheong Yeon, the first disciple of the Emei Sect, said cheerfully as she looked at the scenery outside the shaking carriage window.

“Refrain from such rude remarks from now on, junior sister. We’re about to meet someone important.”

In response, Do Hayeong, the Emei Sect’s senior disciple and one of the current Nine Dragons Four Phoenixes in the martial world—known as the Silver Phoenix—reprimanded her immature junior.

“Tch, I only said what I saw, you know?”

“Junior Sister.”

“Senior Sister Do, you're overthinking it. Besides, how could a mere Tang Clan dare criticize our great Emei?”

“What kind of language is that?”

Cheong Yeon gasped and quickly covered her mouth.

Their master, whom they thought had fallen asleep while sitting cross-legged in the back, was glaring at Cheong Yeon with furious eyes.

It was the Head of the Emei Sect, Geum Hwa.

“I let things slide recently, thinking your training was grueling. But clearly, there was no need to.”

“Ma-Master, what I meant was, um, not like that…”

“You’ll wake your mind through physical discipline. From now until we arrive, maintain a horse stance.”

“A-Aah.”

As soon as the stern command was given.

Inside the jolting carriage that swayed like a boat caught in a storm due to the rough path, Cheong Yeon immediately assumed a mounted stance.

Tears welled up in Cheong Yeon’s eyes.

Hayeong let out a deep sigh at the still-immature junior and glanced out the window.

Then, something curious flickered in her gaze.

‘…Wasn’t this place said to be completely ruined now?’

Before leaving, the rumor had been that the area around the Tang Clan was little more than ruins.

But what she saw through the window—newly built thatched houses and the lively people living in them—was full of life.

It wasn't quite like the glory days of the so-called Tang Fortress, but there was a unique vitality that only places undergoing revival could exude.

Just then, the voice of their grandmaster, the elder who had made this journey happen, echoed in Hayeong’s head.

“Follow the Sect Leader, both Hayeong and Cheong Yeon. You will certainly have something to learn from the legitimate heir of the Tang Clan.”

Boyeon Divine Nun had said that, clearly.

‘Something to learn, huh…’

For a moment, Hayeong’s long, beautiful eyebrows subtly furrowed, then returned to normal.

Clunk.

The carriage came to a stop.

They had finally arrived at the Sichuan Tang Clan.

The three from the Emei Sect stepped down from the carriage.

“…What in the…?”

They all said the same thing at the same time.

Because an unexpected sight unfolded before them.

“Ah, come on! Stop pushing!”

“Who's pushing on purpose? What can we do with this many people?”

“Please, have some mercy. It took us a whole day just to get here.”

“Hey, none of us here got here any faster, so shut your mouth and wait in line.”

In front of the Tang Clan, a never-ending line of patients stretched on.

It looked like all the patients from near Chengdu had gathered here.

“Wh-why are there so many people?”

“…It looks like even more patients have come than to our own sect.”

Following Cheong Yeon’s gaping reaction, Geum Hwa also spoke in a tone of disbelief.

Hayeong, surprised as well, quickly composed herself and approached the Tang Clan's gatekeeper.

She intended to inform them that they had come from the Emei Sect.

But one of the patients, mistaking her approach for cutting in line, grabbed her.

“Hey you! Trying to cut the line?!”

“That’s not it. We’re—”

“What do you mean not it! There’s no such thing as privilege for men or women here. If you don’t want trouble, go stand in line like everyone else.”

“How dare this person!”

Cheong Yeon reached toward her sword.

Geum Hwa sent a telepathic message to Cheong Yeon.

Startled, Cheong Yeon turned toward Geumhwa.

Before they left the Emei Sect, Boyeon Divine Nun had made a rare appearance and gave them a stern warning.

“You’re going as representatives of the Murim Alliance to apologize. If I hear of even the slightest disturbance during your visit to the Tang Clan, I shall personally deliver severe punishment, even if it's the Sect Leader herself.”

“…My apologies.”

“Tch.”

“Hmph! Should’ve done that from the start.”

Just like that, they ended up joining the endless queue of patients.

What little comfort they had was that many others had also been pushed to the back after trying to move forward.

“There’s no such thing as going in first because you're rich or getting ahead because of high connections.”

“The very first day our young lord came to Heaven’s Medicine Hall, he said: ‘Throw gold to the dogs if you must, but everyone waits in line equally.’”

Among those turned away were well-known wealthy merchants and even government officials from Chengdu.

Yet in the end, all of them had to hang their heads and take their place in line.

And so, the three of them also ended up spending their time in helpless waiting.

Though unintentional, they picked up enough through overheard chatter to grasp what had happened.

‘…This all changed in just ten days?’

Amazingly, this entire situation had arisen in just ten days.