Chapter 511 ·Side Story 31: The Twins (9)
Chapter 511: Side Story 31: The Twins (9)
A secluded residence built somewhere within Luoyang's wealthy district.
It was a fairly large estate, yet no one in the surrounding area knew who lived there or who came and went.
In truth, only an extremely small number of people even knew that the residence existed.
Even Chief Strategist Jegal Eun had been unable to uncover its true nature.
“I-I'm back….”
A single shadow seeped into the residence, and from within that shadow popped out a young child.
The child's slightly drooping eyes and thick curly hair reaching down to the shoulders made it difficult to tell whether the child was a boy or a girl.
The moment the child appeared, over a dozen masked figures instantly emerged and surrounded the child.
Each of them had such a faint presence that one might wonder whether they were even alive.
As soon as the child appeared, they all dropped to one knee and bowed their heads.
“You have worked hard again today, Young Master.”
At the words of the man who appeared to be their leader, the boy grinned broadly.
“Hehe… Where's Dad?”
“He is waiting for you inside, Young Master.”
“Okay.”
The boy carefully hugged a bottle nearly as large as his own body and headed deeper into the estate.
Waiting there was a man pacing around with an anxious expression.
“Dad!”
“My son! You're back?!”
His voice brightened instantly.
The man called "Dad" immediately fixed his gaze on the bottle in the boy's arms.
“Here, I brought it.”
“You did an excellent job!”
As the enchanting fragrance leaking faintly from the bottle reached him, So Cheon cried out in delight and lifted his son into the air.
“Sohyeon, you didn't get caught, did you?”
“Nope. Probably?”
Although So Cheon's son, Sohyeon, was still very young, his talent was extraordinary, having already grasped the fundamentals of Ten Thousand Phase Tai Chi at such an early age.
“At last... I finally get to taste this....”
So Cheon hugged the bottle his son had brought as though it were the greatest treasure in the world.
Throughout the chaotic decade that had engulfed the Central Plains, the prices of luxury goods had naturally skyrocketed.
In particular, famous fine liquors from across the world had become so rare that even someone like So Cheon couldn't drink them often.
For the past several years, while the relatively frugal Baek Sang-ah had served as Alliance Leader, there had been no room for such luxuries.
Only after Luoyang successfully recovered and trade routes normalized had things finally eased.
And with that, So Cheon's suppressed craving for fine liquor exploded from deep within.
Still, there were almost no treasures valuable enough to force So Cheon—the husband of the Alliance Leader and the head of the Hidden Shadow So Clan—to resort to theft.
Even if it was a little embarrassing, a bit of authority was usually enough for others to willingly hand things over.
But there were treasures beyond the reach of even that authority.
The Heavenly Three Creations Brew, of which only a handful of bottles remained in the world and which could only be obtained through fate, was one such treasure.
'Hehehe... finally!'
How much humiliation had he suffered sneaking into the Heavenly Demon Pavilion just to drink this once?
If he had at least gotten a drink before getting beaten up, it wouldn't have been so unfair.
Instead, he failed completely and only embarrassed himself.
'Damn you, Jin Yeomyung! Was pouring me one cup really that difficult?!'
Hadn't they known each other for nearly thirty years by now?
As So Cheon silently fumed over someone, Sohyeon reached out a hand.
“Dad, lift me.”
“Ah, right.”
Work was work, after all.
Looking at his son with arms spread wide, So Cheon picked him up and began spinning him around.
“Woooooah!”
He didn't stop at simply spinning him.
With Sohyeon sitting on his shoulders, So Cheon ran around the garden playing with him.
Anyone who saw them might have frowned and wondered what on earth they were doing in the middle of the night.
Neither father nor son found the time strange in the slightest.
“Hehehe...!”
Despite it being well past midnight, Sohyeon was having the time of his life.
Although still young, Sohyeon already understood his parents' social standing and knew how difficult it was for them to make time for him.
He was a remarkably thoughtful child.
“Son.”
“Hm? What is it?”
“I've told you many times... but about these kinds of things... you know, right?”
“Yep! It's a secret from Mom!”
The current situation was a delicate balancing act in many ways.
The fact that the true identity of the newly emerged Great Thief of Luoyang, the Black Evil Phantom, was merely a ten-year-old boy was information far too shocking for the world to handle.
Above all, no one could ever learn that the Black Evil Phantom stood with one foot in both the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and the Murim Alliance.
“Son.”
“What?”
“Later... where do you want to go?”
“…….”
So Cheon's question was cautious.
Where did he want to go?
The moment that question was answered, regardless of what the answer might be, the entire Central Plains would be thrown into turmoil.
In truth, Sohyeon's future was a very...
No, an extremely sensitive matter.
Baek Sang-ah, the current Murim Alliance Leader and legitimate daughter of the Southern Heaven Baek Clan.
So Cheon, the current Young Master of the Hidden Shadow So Clan.
The legitimate son born between those two.
In the future, Sohyeon could become either the head of the Southern Heaven Baek Clan or the head of the Hidden Shadow So Clan.
That was why the elite guards directly under the Hidden Shadow So Clan's Clan Head all respectfully addressed Sohyeon as Young Master.
Although they had not yet begun making serious moves, the Southern Heaven Baek Clan, which had steadily rebuilt its strength ever since reopening its gates, was also watching Sohyeon's future closely.
The current head of the Southern Heaven Baek Clan, the Righteous Wheel Sword Baek Mun-yak, still had no heir of his own.
Thanks to Baek Mun-yak's moderate personality, the Southern Heaven Baek Clan had yet to take any official action.
But honestly...
That was only a matter of time.
“Hmm... I don't know!”
After thinking for a moment, Sohyeon shook his head.
“…Really?”
“Honestly, I don't really want to go anywhere.”
He truly meant it.
Children don't wish for changes to their environment.
Perhaps someday, after pursuing their own dreams and setting out as grown men.
But as long as both his parents were healthy and everyone around him treated him kindly, there was no reason to abandon such a happy life.
“I see....”
So Cheon nodded.
“But if someday...”
“Yeah.”
So Cheon set Sohyeon down and held both of his shoulders.
“If, later on, you decide you don't want to choose either side.”
“Yeah.”
“Then make good use of what I taught you.”
So Cheon spoke sincerely to the child he treasured more than life itself.
“No one will ever be able to bind you.”
“Okay! I'll remember!”
Although Sohyeon didn't fully understand what his father truly meant, he nodded anyway.
Just then—
“You're quite a good father.”
“……!”
Without the slightest warning, a voice reached So Cheon's ears, deceiving every one of his senses.
“Though I can't quite understand making your own child steal for you.”
Even after years of peace had dulled his instincts somewhat, So Cheon's reaction was instantaneous.
The voice clearly belonged to a young boy.
Yet it had approached while deceiving even his senses.
That was something impossible even for experts who had reached the Wall of the Transcendent Demon Realm or the Mysterious Realm.
'I eliminate.'
Formless.
Soundless.
Thoughtless.
A merciless strike, concealing even its form, sound, and willpower, shot toward the intruder.
“Quite impressive.”
So Cheon's Formless Sword unmistakably pierced the intruder's throat.
Yet—
“It resembles Jeongi's methods. No, it's even more refined than his was in his younger days. By the end of your life, you'll become something truly remarkable.”
“…Who are you?”
“My apologies, but things are about to become a little noisy. I found your existence interesting enough to come here on my own.”
Just as he said, commotion immediately erupted outside.
-The intruders have been detected, Clan Head.
Although the surroundings themselves remained eerily quiet, the overwhelming auras of numerous experts violently collided.
Any martial artist above a certain level would have been horrified upon sensing what was happening.
“The Extermination Unit? What are you doing in a place like this?!”
With a thunderous shout, the hidden weapons thrown by the subordinates flashed brilliantly.
However, no matter how elite the guards directly under the Hidden Shadow So Clan's Clan Head were, they were greatly outmatched by the Guardian Hall, which included experts at the Extreme Demon Realm.
After a brief exchange of moves, one of So Cheon's men recognized San Dojeon and spoke up.
“Right Guardian, Wind-Scattering Demon Lord? Wait, how are you here?!”
“That is my question! The forces our Cult dispatched are not permitted to leave the Alliance without authorization!”
“Well, obviously that's because...”
The man's mouth snapped shut before he could finish.
The existence of So Cheon and this hidden residence was among the Murim Alliance's highest secrets.
“Everyone, stop.”
A woman's voice, sounding slightly irritated, rang out.
Everyone present recognized its owner.
The murderous intent instantly vanished without a trace.
“Captain Muhon.”
Standing at the front, Jegal Eun coldly addressed the masked man blocking their path.
“The fact that you're here means the Grand Duke is here as well, I presume.”
“…….”
The masked man called Muhon remained silent.
The people before him could not simply be silenced forever.
And they even had the Guardian Lions with them.
No matter how he looked at it...
There was no way out.
Holding her throbbing head, Jegal Eun let out a deep sigh.
“I had my suspicions, but to think it was really....”
“This is all a misunderstanding, Chief Strategist.”
“What misunderstanding?!”
Jegal Eun finally exploded.
“Do you have any idea how much effort I put into investigating the Black Evil Phantom?! You knew all along!”
“…….”
None of the guards dared utter a single word as Jegal Eun unleashed her furious lion's roar.
“Take me inside.”
“My apologies, but I cannot do that.”
“Shall I bring the Alliance Leader here?”
“My apologies, but please don't.”
If Baek Sang-ah came here, matters would only become even more complicated.
He had already been secretly teaching the So Clan's martial arts behind her back.
If she discovered that, there was no telling what kind of conflict might arise.
“Let them in.”
At that moment, So Cheon's quiet voice came from inside.
“So the Right Guardian came... Does that mean those two brats are here as well?”
Cheon Seonyu and Cheon Sunha, who had been quietly standing behind everyone, immediately raised their hands.
“Yes!”
“We're here, Uncle!”
The moment the warriors saw the twins, they all dropped to the ground in unison.
“……The Heavenly Demon Reigns Supreme, All Demons Bow!”
Although it had not yet been officially decided, one of the twins would inevitably become the next Young Cult Leader.
As members of the Cult, showing proper respect to the Heavenly Demon's bloodline was only natural.
After entering the estate, they found So Cheon wearing a rather strange expression, standing together with Yuseong.
The instant Jegal Eun saw So Cheon, she shouted angrily.
“What in the world were you thinking when you did something like this?!”
Avoiding her gaze, So Cheon answered in a tiny voice.
“Well... I only targeted places that had problems anyway, so wouldn't that be fine?”
Indeed, every place the Black Evil Phantom had robbed had some kind of dark secret behind it.
“And you think that makes it acceptable? What do you intend to do if this gets out?”
“Well, as long as the people involved keep their mouths shut....”
“Do you honestly think that's an answer? Besides, Sound Wind Pavilion is managed by the Alliance. There's nothing suspicious about that place at all!”
Her words completely cut off So Cheon's escape.
Until now, he had at least been able to argue that the Black Evil Phantom's activities were part of Sohyeon's "education."
But this incident had clearly been driven by personal greed.
Knowing that, So Cheon's voice became even quieter.
“Well... the Heavenly Three Creations Brew was going to be presented to us eventually anyway, right? So you could just say we received it a little early....”
“…….”
“Where are you going?”
So Cheon blinked as Jegal Eun suddenly turned around.
“To bring the Alliance Leader.”
“Noooooooo!”
With a desperate scream, So Cheon lunged forward and grabbed her ankle.
Fortunately, those quick enough to notice what was happening covered the children's eyes just before So Cheon threw himself at her.
They somehow managed to preserve the dignity of the So Clan's Clan Head.
But So Cheon's disgrace was far from over.
“I-I haven't even drunk it yet! Can't I just return it?!”
“Hand it over immediately.”
“…Okay.”
Jegal Eun sighed.
If they returned the Heavenly Three Creations Brew to Sound Wind Pavilion and spread the rumor that the Black Evil Phantom had been captured, they could somehow smooth everything over.
Looking utterly dejected, So Cheon picked up the bottle he had carefully set aside in the corner.
“…Why is it empty?”
Blinking in confusion at how unexpectedly light the bottle had become, he stared at it in disbelief.
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