I Will Become Stronger
A reception hall where a violent storm had just swept through.
Dokgo Muyeong and Neung Unbi had departed, leaving Tang Cheolhyeon and Mo yong rin behind.
Tang Cheolhyeon tapped the table with snake-like fingers, then chuckled silently with a look of disbelief before speaking.
"Unbelievable. Ten years ago, you couldn't even meet my eyes properly, and now… What in the world does the head of the Dokgo clan think gives him the right to…"
His ash-gray beard quivered with anger. Mo yong rin replied in a calm tone.
"Compose yourself. Over the past ten years, the Dokgo clan has made considerable leaps forward. It's only natural that their shoulders would be held high."
"Hmph. And you think that's enough reason? If you hadn't stopped me with a sound transmission… the head of the Dokgo clan might be dead by my hand right now."
Mo yong rin frowned slightly.
"With the Demonic Cult at our doorstep, we can't afford such incidents. And don't forget—your clan is now an official member of the Orthodox Alliance."
"Hmph. The Demonic Cult! What's there to fear from a mere handful of them?"
"They're only the vanguard. The Demonic Cult Leader, Thunder Emperor, will soon personally lead the main forces. Is this really the time to cause internal strife? If you do, every orthodox faction will rain condemnation upon you."
Tang Cheolhyeon grabbed the teacup in front of him with an irritated look.
Then something astonishing happened.
Pussssh—
The porcelain cup melted, releasing wisps of smoke. Mo yong rin's eyes wavered slightly at the sight, but her voice remained steady.
"If you make a great contribution in this battle against the Demonic Cult's advance guard, Elder Poison Eagle, you will become a candidate for the next Martial Alliance Leader. Eventually, you will be the Alliance Leader. That… would be the first time in Tang Clan history that one of your own holds the title. Furthermore, your clan will gain fame as the greatest under heaven."
Tang Cheolhyeon said nothing.
"But if you clash with the Dokgo clan now, that will be difficult. Don't let petty pride ruin the grand cause."
At the mention of the secret pact, Tang Cheolhyeon's fury subsided.
"Hmm… But will the leaders of the orthodox factions truly acknowledge my clan?"
The orthodox factions feared the Tang Clan, but did not respect them—because the essence of martial arts lay in martial skill itself, not in poison or hidden weapons.
"The Chief Strategist promised it. Has there ever been something he failed to do once he set his mind to it?"
A smile appeared on Tang Cheolhyeon's lips.
"That's true."
"Don't take the Dokgo clan head or the Black Tortoise Hall Master too personally. From their perspective, Cheon Ryuyeong is their lifesaver. I'm surprised at how strongly they reacted, but it's not incomprehensible."
Tang Cheolhyeon tapped the table again.
Tok tok. Tok tok tok. Tok tok.
"Cheon Ryuyeong… I'm curious. Whether he's a spy or not no longer matters to me. What sort of man could make the Dokgo clan head and the Black Tortoise Hall Master defy me so openly?"
"I was surprised too. Especially… I didn't expect him to have already joined the Dokgo clan. I thought he'd choose the Martial Alliance or a bigger sect. Things have become a bit more complicated."
If Cheon Ryuyeong belonged to the Dokgo clan, they couldn't deal with him lightly. Insulting him would mean insulting the Dokgo clan itself. More importantly, keeping him close for surveillance had become much more difficult.
She spoke with a hint of self-reproach.
"I shouldn't have mentioned to the Dokgo clan head that the Martial Scholar might be a spy. If he tells the Martial Scholar what we discussed, the man will become even more cautious, making it harder to find evidence."
Tang Cheolhyeon nodded.
"That's true in hindsight. But who would've thought the usually cautious Dokgo clan head would get that worked up? It couldn't be helped."
They had assumed he would calmly consider their words and naturally become suspicious of Cheon Ryuyeong. But their expectations had been completely overturned.
She recalled something Dokgo Muyeong had said about the battlefield—that when you were there, you could understand a person with your heart.
Pfft—
A small laugh escaped her.
The battlefield was a place where reason disappeared and emotions exploded. How could one expect rational judgment about a person there?
Tang Cheolhyeon looked straight at Mo yong rin.
"So this means unless we can prove he's a Demonic Cult spy, we can't touch him. And given how angry the Dokgo clan head got, I'm sure he's assigned multiple skilled guards to him. That makes quiet elimination difficult."
"We still can't say for certain he's a spy. It's all circumstantial."
"Heh heh heh. But you're already convinced he is, aren't you?"
Mo yong rin stayed silent for a moment, not denying it.
"I'll meet him myself. If necessary, I'll stay in the Dokgo clan for a while."
"That was the plan, but do you think the Dokgo clan head will accept now? He might reject not only you, but even offers from the Four Strategists and the White Tiger Hall."
Her lips curled into a cold smile, her eyes glinting.
"I didn't call him a spy—I merely raised the possibility. I can apologize for overthinking. And since I have ties with Sword Peak, he can't just cast me aside. This is a state of emergency. Under the banner of unity among orthodox factions, the Dokgo clan head can't stand against the Martial Alliance alone."
Tang Cheolhyeon looked impressed and laughed.
"Heh heh heh. So you're going into the tiger's den to uncover Cheon Ryuyeong's identity?"
"A tiger's den? I've never once thought of the Dokgo clan as tigers. And simply exposing his identity is something only amateurs do. If he's really a spy, we should use him rather than expose him."
"So you're going to dissect every part of him?"
"Yes. I'm thinking of toying with him a bit. If I can expose his core, I want to see how he reacts. If I'm lucky enough to find a real weakness, and if he is a spy, I could even turn him into a double agent."
"A double agent… Just thinking about it gives me a headache."
Tang Cheolhyeon shook his head.
"Leave the thinking to me and the Chief Strategist. Then the Tang Clan will seize the greatest position under heaven."
Tang Cheolhyeon nodded and rose to his feet.
"Alright. I'll leave it to you. If all goes well, not just my clan, but the Zhuge clan and the Mo yong clan will all benefit."
"Exactly. What can't we do if our three clans join forces?"
He patted her shoulder.
"Then I'll be off. I'm getting old—got a bit worked up earlier, and I'm tired. I've been thinking too much."
As he passed her, a strange light flashed in both their eyes, and faint smiles formed on their lips.
Elder Poison Eagle, I'm sorry, but in the end, the Tang Clan will only be a disposable tool destroyed while blocking the Demonic Cult led by Thunder Emperor. The idea of the Tang Clan head becoming Martial Alliance Leader right after joining the orthodox factions is absurd.
Zhuge Tian, Mo yong rin… I'll go along with your schemes for now. But soon, you'll be clinging to my legs in tears. Heh heh heh.
The two were sharing the same bed but dreaming different dreams.
"Haa… haa…"
Cheon Ryuyeong exhaled heavy breaths without pause. He felt like collapsing on the spot.
And then… he did.
The carriage and mounted men following him slowly came to a halt.
Jo Jeonhu shouted toward him.
"Young Master Cheon! Already tired? Surely not? Come now, I believe you can do it! Get up and stride forward!"
Cheon Ryuyeong bit down a bitter smile and glared back at him.
Just like the saying goes, a meddlesome sister-in-law is worse than a scolding mother-in-law—this was exactly that. He couldn't tell if Jo Jeonhu was encouraging him or mocking him.
The carriage door opened, and Dokgo Seol and Pung Un stepped out. Pung Un, still with a youthful face but trying to look stern, spoke.
"Brother, I'm disappointed. I was moved by your reason for wanting to grow stronger earlier, and now you're giving up after just this much?"
From inside the carriage, Dokgo Seol—who had laughed watching him run breathlessly—had already grown close to Pung Un, and chimed in.
"Pung Un, maybe we should strap a sandbag to his leg? Perhaps that's why our Young Master Cheon stopped."
Her joke made the warriors on horseback burst into laughter.
Cheon Ryuyeong wiped the sweat from his forehead, stood up, steadied his breathing, and slowly turned to smile.
"We've arrived. This is my hometown."
At his words, Jo Jeonhu jumped down from the carriage and approached.
"We're here? But… there's nothing here…"
"It's a crossroads. If you keep going straight for about ten li, you'll reach Sahan County."
Dokgo Seol also came over and asked,
"Young Master Cheon, isn't your home in Sahan County?"
"From here, I just walk to the right for about this far."
"Then we should go together."
Cheon Ryuyeong shook his head.
"It's a place with barely more than ten households. There's nowhere for you all to stay tonight. But in Sahan County, there are a few small inns—you can take your meals and rest there. I'll come to Sahan tomorrow with my family by midday."
Everyone was caught off guard by his unexpected words. They looked at one another, unsure of what to do.
Dokgo Seol crossed her arms, bit her lip, and then said,
"Then let's do this—Pung Un, Uncle Jo Jeonhu, and I will go with Young Master Cheon. The rest of you go to Sahan County to rest."
"No. It's a remote countryside, and the people there are all simple and honest. If armed martial artists enter, they'll be startled. I don't want to cause unnecessary wariness."
"Still…"
"Hahaha, don't worry. This is my hometown. And tonight, I want to spend time quietly with my family. It's been half a year since I last saw them, so please don't interfere."
Even so, Dokgo Seol blocked his way, refusing to step aside. Cheon Ryuyeong gave a bitter smile and said,
"I wasn't going to say this… I don't believe poverty is something to be ashamed of. But still, as a man, I don't want to show you my meager household. Think of it as the foolish pride of a shabby man."
At his words, Dokgo Seol finally stepped aside.
Cheon Ryuyeong walked to the carriage and took out a bundle. Inside were herbal tonics for his younger sister, clothes, and a few small gifts. Slinging the bundle over his shoulder, he turned to the group watching him with awkward expressions.
"Tomorrow, I'll dress my mother and sister in the new clothes I brought and bring them to meet you. Especially my younger sister—she's at an age where she wants to look her best. Wouldn't she want to show even a slightly tidied appearance in front of you all? So please, just for today, let me be."
"…"
"Go on, soak in some warm water tonight and have a cup of cool rice wine. Thanks to you, I came all the way here comfortably."
He bowed slightly and began walking briskly to the right.
Dokgo Seol called out to stop him.
"W-wait a moment."
She quickly ran to the carriage, took out a wrapped bundle, and brought it to him.
"Take this."
"What is it?"
She answered with an embarrassed look.
"I guessed your size. It's clothing."
"Clothing?"
"Yes."
Cheon Ryuyeong scratched the back of his head with a laugh.
"How is it I'm always receiving things from you, Lady Dokgo?"
"Be careful. Remember, you're no longer alone."
"Hahaha, this is my hometown. Everyone in my village is a good person."
"…"
"If you're worried about assassins from the Demonic Cult or something like that, don't be. At least for now, they have no reason to concern themselves with me."
"I suppose that's true?"
"Have I ever been wrong?"
Only then did Dokgo Seol's tense expression relax.
"You're right. You always have been."
"Hahaha, you speak as if we've known each other for years. Then, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Yes. Ah! Will you ride a horse?"
Cheon Ryuyeong shrugged.
"I'll run. I have to keep training my stamina, don't I? Hahaha."
And with that, he truly began to run.
The others only took their eyes off his back once he disappeared over a small hill.
Dokgo Seol, looking oddly drained, trudged back to the carriage and climbed in. Soon, the group set off again.
Pung Un, noticing her serious expression, asked,
"Sister Seol, don't worry so much. It's just one night—what could happen?"
Dokgo Seol's eyes narrowed.
"Aren't you a bodyguard? You're far too relaxed."
Pung Un pouted.
"When a man talks about his pride, how could we follow him?"
"…"
"Besides, there's also his younger sister's pride to consider."
Dokgo Seol clicked her tongue and turned her head toward the window.
The hill where Cheon Ryuyeong had vanished.
The sunset had begun to spread across it.
"I don't like it."
Pung Un tilted his head.
"What is it?"
"The sunset."
"Huh? What do you mean? Hahaha, it's beautiful."
"No, it's too red. Today, it looks like blood."
Cheon Ryuyeong reached the village just as the sunset was at its peak. Ten small houses stood scattered a short distance apart at the foot of the mountain.
The closest one was his own home.
Wanting to see his family as quickly as possible, he forgot his fatigue and began running again. But when he was about twenty jang away from the house, he slowed, his brows furrowing.
He steadied his heavy breathing and scanned his surroundings.
It was unnaturally quiet.
Not even a dog barking.
And from the nearest house to the farthest, not a single light was lit.
Cheon Ryuyeong began walking forward again.
In the yard beyond the front gate, he saw his mother. And his younger sister.
Cheon Ryuyeong bit his lip.
They weren't alone—men dressed in pitch-black clothing were lying on the wooden porch.
The yard was littered with broken dishes and scattered clothes.
Then his eyes met those of his younger sister, Cheon Suyeon.
Her eyes widened, and she shook her head frantically. She seemed to be mouthing something, but he was still too far to hear it.
Yet somehow… he understood.
Go back, Brother. Run away!
Cheon Ryuyeong clenched his teeth. He began walking forward. Then faster. His stride grew long and urgent.
Suyeon screamed,
"Go! Run away! Please!"
The black-clad men lying on the porch suddenly sprang to their feet.