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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Reverse Scale (2)
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The banquet began.
The grand feast, held after a long while, buzzed with lively clamor.
"The Patriarch is entering."
The hall fell silent in an instant.
The Cheon Clan's Patriarch, Cheon Wi-gang, made his entrance dressed in immaculate robes.
Kuuuung!
Cheon Wi-gang's presence was like a single, razor-sharp sword—a true model for any swordsman.
The Cheon Clan's absolute sovereign, Cheon Wi-gang, took his seat on the dragon-embossed throne.
"Today, we have a special guest."
Cheon Wi-gang gave the signal.
"Now, the honored guests from the Sichuan Tang Clan will enter."
Wungseong!
How could people from the Sichuan Tang Clan be here?
Most hadn't heard of this beforehand, so shock rippled through the crowd.
"Ah..."
But the murmurs quickly died down.
It was because of Dang So-hye, who soon revealed herself.
No words could adequately capture the beauty of her graceful approach— no flowery praise felt sufficient.
Sarrr.
A chill emanated from her, yet the faint smile curving her lips radiated a brilliance like the sun overlooking the world.
"Ice Flower..."
Dang So-hye's beauty, renowned as the top beauty of Sichuan, was famous throughout the Central Plains martial world.
Why had she come to the Cheon Clan?
Questioning gazes turned toward Cheon Wi-gang.
As soon as Dang So-hye took her designated seat among the honored guests, Cheon Wi-gang rose and declared to all.
"The Cheon Clan and the Sichuan Tang Clan intend to strengthen our bond through marriage."
"...!"
"Could it be..."
"That wastrel Eldest Young Master?"
Who was to marry Dang So-hye?
There could only be one candidate: Cheon Muryang.
"Indeed."
Kuung!
Cheon Wi-gang's declaration was utterly shocking.
"Where is the Eldest Young Master... Where is he?"
Everyone began searching for Cheon Muryang.
Kkiiik!
The doors to the banquet hall, firmly shut after the Tang Clan members entered, swung open again.
"...!"
Through the doors emerged Cheon Muryang and Cheon Seon-hak.
"Here I am."
A few wondered why he was entering with Cheon Seon-hak, but more pressing matters took precedence.
Cheon Muryang headed to his seat.
Whether by design or not, it was right beside Dang So-hye.
"We meet again, Young Master."
"..."
Cheon Muryang didn't even turn his head.
He simply stared straight at Cheon Wi-gang, who was watching him intently.
"Patriarch."
"Speak."
"Please consider this engagement annulled."
The once-silent banquet hall erupted into chaos once more.
Kunmul!
Cheon Wi-gang's brow furrowed.
To him, it looked like nothing more than childish petulance from a spoiled brat who couldn't grasp the bigger picture.
A heavy pressure naturally emanated from him.
Just as he was about to issue a stern rebuke...
"I agree with him as well."
Another voice, carrying an undeniable presence, intervened.
This time, bewilderment flickered in Cheon Wi-gang's eyes.
"Seon-hak...?"
He hadn't expected his own brother to oppose him.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I'm saying I concur with the Eldest Young Master. Please reconsider the marriage with the Sichuan Tang Clan."
"..."
Cheon Wi-gang made no effort to hide his anger.
Kwang!
Ujikkeun!
Cheon Wi-gang shot to his feet with such force that his chair shattered.
Though the windows were sealed shut, a fierce gale whipped through the hall.
"Gasp!"
The pressure made hearts pound in terror.
At its center, Cheon Wi-gang exuded the overwhelming aura of an absolute ruler.
"How dare you!"
Yet Cheon Seon-hak stood his ground undaunted.
"Are you truly defying me?!"
"What do you mean by bringing in the Tang Clan? You know full well there's no benefit to be gained."
Ppudeuduk!
As their clashing presences intensified, the banquet fell into ruin.
The non-martial servants huddled in fear, and even those who practiced martial arts...
could do nothing against such pressure.
They could only wait for it to pass.
"Everything is for the Clan! Do you truly not understand?!"
"I do not."
There was no yielding whatsoever.
On the brink of catastrophe...
"Enough."
Cheon Muryang's voice cut between them.
As if he'd been waiting, Cheon Seon-hak immediately withdrew his presence.
"..."
Cheon Wi-gang did the same.
Though a vague unease lingered, he reined it in.
Silence returned as if nothing had happened.
"My stance remains unchanged. I will not go through with this marriage. Exile me if you must."
"You insolent fool!"
"But I will fulfill my duties."
Cheon Muryang rose from his seat.
The moment he drew his sword, he swung it toward Dang So-hye.
Shiiik!
A sword came flying at him.
Its wielder was one of the bodyguards who had attacked him earlier.
Kang!
The Heavenly Light Sword was deflected.
A clear difference in power.
Dang So-hye fixed Cheon Muryang with a cold glare.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"Hand it over. The antidote."
"Antidote... Are you saying you'd make an enemy of the Tang Clan over some lowly servant girl?"
"She's not 'some servant girl.'"
"...?"
"She's my person."
"How intriguing."
Dang So-hye produced a glass vial from her sleeve.
It was undoubtedly the antidote.
"I can't just give it to you. Oh, don't misunderstand. It's our clan precept."
"..."
"Unless... you meet a condition."
Dang So-hye dangled the bait casually.
Bait he knew about but had no choice except to bite.
"Name it."
"Defeat my bodyguard."
"That's all?"
"Yes. Isn't that the way of the martial world?"
"Fine. I accept."
Creek.
Cheon Muryang smiled.
Everything was going according to plan.
Unaware of this, Dang So-hye merely found his smile puzzling.
"You. Come out."
"..."
The banquet hall instantly transformed into an arena.
It was the man who had swung his sword at Wol Yeong.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Cheon Wi-gang stepped forward.
A duel?
Who was dueling whom?
It wasn't a matchup that made any sense to begin with.
"I'll handle it."
"...!"
Cheon Wi-gang sensed something off.
The old Cheon Muryang would have fled long ago.
But not this time.
He declared he'd settle it himself and gripped his sword.
"Now that I think about it..."
Only then did Cheon Wi-gang notice the changes.
"He's lost weight? What's going on?"
Cheon Wi-gang glanced at Cheon Seon-hak.
As if he hadn't just clashed presences moments ago, Cheon Seon-hak nodded.
"I see."
Cheon Wi-gang said nothing more.
It was tacit approval.
Cheon Muryang held the Heavenly Light Sword in a solemn stance.
His opponent, however, was relaxed.
'Right. You're still stronger than me. You know it, and so do I.'
Unlike his presence, Cheon Muryang didn't charge first.
He waited patiently for his moment.
'There's only one chance.'
His caution might have seemed like bravado at a glance.
At least, that's how Dang So-hye's bodyguard saw it.
'The wastrel Eldest Young Master... In the end, all he has is pride.'
He sneered.
Their swords had already clashed once.
He remembered how Cheon Muryang's blade had bounced off, even without full power.
That gap existed.
The wastrel couldn't possibly block his sword.
'That'll hurt quite a bit.'
Shiiik!
His sword thrust sharply forward.
A stab the wastrel couldn't possibly counter.
Not at full strength, but he judged it sufficient.
"Good. You're moving just as I thought."
The thrust traced a straight path.
But just before it reached Cheon Muryang...
Its trajectory twisted.
"...!"
It wasn't just the sword.
His entire body felt drawn into Cheon Muryang's blade.
Hwiing!
A small gust arose around the center, then surged upward like an ascending dragon.
"Th-this!"
Woooong!
The Heavenly Light Sword let out a clear ring.
Then, a storm-like razor wind engulfed him.
Wrath dwelled within it.
"You have touched the reverse scale."
"...!"
Seogeuk!
Blood splattered onto the Heavenly Light Sword's blade.
Tuk!
His right arm dropped clean off.
"Aaaargh!"
The bodyguard screamed.
But Cheon Muryang regarded him and Dang So-hye with utterly icy eyes.
"No one touches the people of the Cheon Clan. You Tang Clan folk would do well to engrave that into your precepts."
"...I can't let that slide."
Dang So-hye wasn't alone.
The Tang Clan retainers accompanying her were far from weak.
Srurung!
They drew their swords in unison.
Moreover, a middle-aged man who had remained silent until now unfolded his arms and stood beside her.
"It seems Uncle must step in."
Dang So-hye called him uncle.
An eerie presence emanated from his entire body.
GoOOOOO!
"Hey, you're not the only one with an uncle. Please step forward."
"Mm... Very well."
Cheon Seon-hak advanced.
And that wasn't all.
"The Young Master isn't alone either."
"...?"
Neung Ryeo-un and Cha Myeong-hak stepped up.
Behind them, trainees inspired by Cheon Muryang drew their own swords.
"You lot..."
"This is the Cheon Clan. The Young Master is the Cheon Clan's Eldest Young Master. Who dares harm him here?"
Neung Ryeo-un held a wooden sword.
Seeing this, Cheon Muryang smiled.
"Yes. This is how a proper clan should be."
"..."
The situation wasn't favorable.
Dang So-hye wasn't so obtuse as to miss that.
"The situation isn't good."
"I know."
"But retreating like this would look bad."
"Yes. Even if we withdraw... we need to recoup the costs of coming all this way, right?"
The taut tension was like a qin string on the verge of snapping.
With that, Dang So-hye stepped forward.
"Patriarch."
"Speak."
"I didn't expect the Cheon Clan to treat honored guests this way."
"No, I'm not speaking to you."
Cheon Wi-gang didn't even glance at Dang So-hye as he addressed Cheon Muryang.
"Who touched a member of the Cheon Clan?"
"My servant, Wol Yeong, was poisoned."
"Poison..."
Finally, Cheon Wi-gang's gaze turned to Dang So-hye.
"Is that true?"
"Over some servant girl! Are you pressuring the Tang Clan right now?"
"I told you, she's not 'some servant girl.'"
Kugugung!
Cheon Wi-gang's gaze sharpened fiercely.
"It seems... the marriage with the Tang Clan is off. Take that knowledge and be gone."
Eudeuduk.
Dang So-hye's face twisted.
Even that was beautiful, but to Cheon Muryang, it was merely ugly.
"H-how dare you!"
"If you won't withdraw..."
Cheon Wi-gang finally drew his sword.
At that moment, the silent Heavenly Dragon Sword Squad and Heavenly Peak Sword Squad—along with everyone else at the banquet—drew theirs.
"The Tang Clan will learn why the Heavenly Dragon's sword dominates the rivers and lakes."
"Th-this!"
"We must retreat."
"..."
Dang So-hye knew it wasn't the time to be stubborn, so she suppressed her emotions.
"Today's humiliation... I will never forget it."
"Enough. Hand over the antidote."
"..."
Dang So-hye tossed the glass vial containing the antidote to Cheon Muryang.
"Then we're done."
With it in hand, Cheon Muryang left the banquet hall.
To deliver it to Wol Yeong.
Though fury boiled within her at the sight, Cheon Wi-gang's order to leave followed.
"Are you still here?"
In the end, the Tang Clan members sheathed their weapons and fled the Cheon Clan like dogs with tails between their legs.
"Cheon Muryang..."
Dang So-hye had never suffered such treatment anywhere.
Thus, her rage froze cold as frost in the fifth lunar month.
"He's completely different from what we expected."
"Indeed. They called him a once-in-a-generation wastrel, but that intel was wrong. Tsk."
The two glanced at the man with the severed arm.
The situation was utterly unforeseen.
"What a shame. It was the perfect chance to use the Cheon Clan to advance into the Absolute Strongholds."
"...We'll meet again, Cheon Muryang."
Vowing future reckoning, the Tang Clan members departed.