Camellia 26

The Sect Leader had left the mountain in his true form. If this news reached the orthodox factions, there would undoubtedly be an uproar. Those who harbored grudges against him might seize this chance for vengeance.

Hence, countless followers pleaded to accompany him as bodyguards, but this was the Cheonsin, the great demon who had crushed the Nine Great Sects and annihilated the Five Noble Clans’ strongholds. He leisurely descended Mount Yeonhu alone. Easily vaulting over the Sacheon city gate using his gyeonggong, the handsome man wore a black dragon robe, dressed like a self-proclaimed king.

As he stood in the bustling streets, a familiar scent wafted toward him, the unique, spicy aroma of Sacheon cuisine. Compared to the days when he was still Tang Yujae, the shops lining the main street were now much larger, their signs grander. With the Tang clan, who once controlled the area and its wealth, now destroyed and replaced by the generous Peng clan, this development felt natural.

Though Sacheon’s thriving scenery might evoke nostalgia, Cheonsin felt indifferent. From the start, he held no particular sentiment toward the Peng clan. Even though the Peng family had effectively displaced his own, he remained detached, adopting an attitude of “a mountain is just a mountain, water just water.” After all, his vendetta had never been limited to just the Habuk Peng clan; it had encompassed the entire martial world.

He had already accomplished his desired grand ambitions, he saw no reason to hold onto grudges against a single family.

The calm that had settled in since the mid-phase of the Great War was proof of Tang Yujae’s dwindling humanity. To be honest, by the war’s end, even his thirst for revenge had faded. Crushing the martial artists of Jungwon had become tedious. Severing their limbs, destroying their danjeon, abducting their children to become sect members, even displaying their leaders’ severed heads, all had ceased to leave any special impression, only deepening his long-held boredom.

Yet, the moment his keen senses picked up the bride’s voice, Cheonsin’s mood was immediately disturbed. He moved toward the source of the sound.

“His behavior isn’t dignified, but his looks are certainly handsome. Sharp eyes, a prominent nose, he’ll surely grow up to be an unparalleled beauty. Though he wears shabby leather clothes and martial attire, he still appears decent enough, aside from looking skinny and small.”

The mad bride was busy showing passersby a portrait he’d drawn himself. The boy in the portrait was so ugly he could have easily been called the world’s ugliest child, which confused the onlookers.

“So, you’re looking for a child who looks exactly like the one in this drawing?”

“Precisely! Have you seen him?”

Seolyeong’s red eyes gleamed eerily. To him, he was merely showing an eager expression, believing someone had finally found a clue to the child’s whereabouts. But the listener panicked.

“Ah, well… the description I’ve heard seems quite different from this drawing…”

“Different? Impossible! Sir, you’re being cruel! If you don’t know, just say so honestly. Why criticize and lecture someone else’s innocent drawing? Must you so mercilessly trample upon the desperate heart of someone searching for a missing person?”

The innocent man, who had neither criticized nor lectured, bowed hastily. Seolyeong, who became even more obstinate in front of larger men, continued grumbling.

“Look here, sir!”

He spread his right hand wide.

“Aren’t these hands exquisite?”

Seeing his straight, slender, white fingers, the man instinctively nodded.

Encouraged by the quick agreement, Seolyeong continued enthusiastically.

“How humiliating it was for me, with such beautiful hands, to have my drawing insulted!”

“Yes, yes, absolutely, young master…”

“My hands were famous even in my hometown! Hahaha!”

His “hometown” referred to Yonyeong in the northern region. And in Yonyeong, Seolyeong’s “beautiful hands” had typically been mocked as useless. They excelled only at breaking and smashing things, hopeless at more delicate tasks such as writing, drawing, or playing instruments. Once, even Murong Wei, who taught him calligraphy, scolded him harshly, wondering aloud how Seolyeong intended to survive had he not learned martial arts.

Seolyeong was interrupted in his self-praise when a courtesan approached.

“Brother, why are you bothering innocent people here? How carefree you must be!”

Hwang Choseon, famed as Sacheon’s top beauty, sharply pinched Seolyeong’s side.

“Apologize quickly!”

Not that it hurt, given his muscular frame. Seolyeong’s eyes widened in protest.

“I’m a martial artist who pursues righteousness. Far from harassing innocents, I’m busy punishing such people. Why are you forcing me to apologize?”

“What nonsense. Can’t you see their faces?”

Indeed, the two men looked aged several years from when they’d first approached, enchanted by Seolyeong’s beauty. Seeing their exhausted expressions, Seolyeong nodded reluctantly.

Perhaps hearing criticism of his drawing had triggered old memories. Admitting he had rambled too much, he calmly apologized.

“I apologize. Please consider it payment for having seen such a peerless beauty.”

“Damn brat, grow up already!”

Choseon smacked him on the head three times in quick succession. She couldn’t resist. The men were shocked by the harsh voice emanating from Sacheon’s renowned beauty. Choseon immediately panicked, thinking of ways to salvage the situation. Meanwhile, Seolyeong stubbornly pressed, “Will you forgive me generously, or will you hound this beauty like a petty man?” Finally receiving forgiveness, he activated his gyeonggong and yelled:

“Disciple! Your master desperately awaits you! Return safely, and I’ll gift you a portrait inscribed with auspicious words by my own hand! I’ll toss aside Pungjae and focus only on you, so please come back unharmed! Ah, my nameless disciple! How I miss you!”

Yes, the mad bride was running around looking for a nameless child.

“Can you hear me, disciple?”

Cheonsin watched this ridiculous shouting match and lost all motivation to humiliate him. Initially, he’d intended to beat and drag him away, but associating publicly with such a lunatic was beneath him. Imagining becoming the subject of gossip alongside such a madman made his disgust surge.

As Choseon hurried after Seolyeong, Cheonsin caught up, quickly pressed her acupuncture point, and hoisted her limp body onto his shoulder.

Tang Yujae secured the bait to lure his runaway bride, he silently revised his plan, heading toward a quiet forest.

He arrived at Mount Amyeong, the territory of the Amyeong Sect. Nuns trained only near the summit, leaving the mid-mountain area to wildlife. The rugged terrain kept commoners away, perfect for inviting a beastlike blood fiend.

Cheonsin summoned his giant falcon with a whistle imbued with Qi. Soon, the falcon appeared, obscuring the sun. After tying Choseon’s sash to the bird’s leg and stroking its neck gently, he raised his arm.

“Go to my bride.”

The falcon, over fifty years old and intelligent enough to understand basic human commands, soared vigorously, eager not to disappoint its god. This devotion was shared by every member of the sect, beast or human.