Chapter 242
Seol Lihyang herself didn’t seem to realize it, but whether you called it a faction or simply a circle of acquaintances, she had gathered a group around her.
At any rate, staying there longer would’ve only made things awkward, so I delivered what I had to say and was just about to return to my room—when something unexpected came from behind me.
“Oh, by the way, Cheon Hwi! Did you hear? It looks like you’re getting a new title.”
“Hm??”
That’s something I had to hear.
A title—it’s a shortened phrase that sums up a martial artist’s deeds.
Some exaggeration is involved, sure, but that’s just part of the flair martial artists enjoy.
The reason I got the title Blood Flame Sword Demon was because, at the time, I was clinging to my pre-regression memories and murderous intent—and the one who saw me then happened to be the Black Lotus Sect Master.
Then what about this time?
Not only the Black Lotus Sect Master, but the Lord and Young Lord of the Namgung Clan had witnessed it, along with other warriors from the Black Lotus Sect. I had defeated the Sword Demon, and at the end, I cut the Heavenly Demon’s collar, who even three Flowering Stage martial artists couldn’t stop.
Thanks to that, though the Heavenly Demon had displayed his overwhelming power, he kept his promise and withdrew.
It was a vastly different outcome from when I fought the Lord of the Black Sky Sword Sect.
So this time, I should be getting a much cooler title—especially now that I’ve reached the Flowering Stage.
As my heart pounded with anticipation, Seol Lihyang raised the corners of her mouth with a smirk and spoke.
“White Sword Heavenly Demon.”
“Huh?”
“Because your white sword pierced the demon, White Sword Heavenly Demon. Some liked it because it sounded like you stood against the Heavenly Demon.”
Not me.
Even if the meaning is different, I absolutely detest having Heavenly Demon in my title.
“Right? I figured you’d feel that way, so I told them you might show up in the middle of the night if they called you that. They changed it right away. Luckily, they were still discussing alternatives at the time.”
Seol Lihyang shrugged. So, thanks to her, I was spared from being called White Sword Heavenly Demon.
She always looked lovely, but somehow today, she looked even more beautiful.
Unable to resist, I walked up to Seol Lihyang and tousled her hair.
“Ack! Don’t do that! Everyone’s watching…”
Despite her protests, she gradually relaxed, accepting my touch with the ease of someone lounging in their own room.
It wasn’t quite public affection, but... I only got away with it because I knew her preferences well.
Seol Lihyang smiled with satisfaction, while her new companions stared at me, visibly trembling. But that wasn’t anything important.
I lightly tidied up Seol Lihyang’s now-messy hair and asked,
“So, what’s the final title?”
“Mmm... White Moon Sword Lord.”
“White Moon Sword Lord?”
It’s not always the case, but Flowering Stage martial artists often get titles with words like King or Emperor in them.
That’s because a Flowering Stage warrior, surrounded by protective qi only breakable by true force, has the presence of an entire army.
But since Sword King is already Namgung Dowi’s title, they couldn’t reuse that.
I had expected something like Sword Emperor, but Sword Lord was a surprise.
Not that it’s bad.
In fact, Sword Lord is a pretty decent title—at least it sounds more orthodox than Sword Demon.
Probably, I was called Sword Lord rather than Sword Emperor because my distribution or status is still low, regardless of skill.
Just like how Namgung Jong, though at the Flowering Stage, was called Azure Sky Sword Lord while his father Namgung Dowi remained the Sword King.
What I liked more, though, was the White Moon part. They likely added it after seeing the White Sword I created through my new insight.
That white qi resembled the full moon I’d seen with Tang Sowol the day I overdosed on a poison without an antidote. Qi is refined inner energy shaped by willpower, and willpower comes from one’s inner landscape.
So it’s no surprise that my qi, too, evokes the image of a pale moonlight.
And Sowol—Tang Sowol’s name—means bright white moon.
The fact that my title shared a thematic word with her name... made me quietly happy.
“White Moon Sword Lord... I like that one.”
“Cheon Hwi, was that a pun just now? Saying 'Lord' over and over like that?”
That’s what happens when someone is sharp.
Feeling mischievous, I pressed gently into Seol Lihyang’s scalp like acupressure.
She trembled, clutching her head, while the Black Lotus Sect’s post-Heavenly Masters looked on, unsure of what to do.
I waved at them.
“Anyway, enjoy yourselves—but don’t forget to pack. And as for you all…”
I trailed off, and the post-Heavenly Masters tensed. To my surprise, I recognized almost seven of them. Not exactly close friends, but familiar.
That made sense.
They’d latched onto Seol Lihyang, who was an outsider—surely knowing she would leave soon.
They were people who couldn’t afford to be picky, just trying to survive long enough to gain something before she left.
And such figures in the Black Lotus Sect—those without backing or stuck in awkward positions—usually ended up in Ironblood Hall.
The ones I remembered were all people I’d encountered from time to time while walking through Ironblood Hall.
As I said before, I wasn’t particularly close with any of them, so I didn’t know them well. But I did know this much: they were often sent on missions beyond their abilities and lost their lives quickly.
For what it’s worth, even back then, Seol Lihyang had been quite popular among them. In retrospect, it was a natural outcome.
After a brief moment of thought, I spoke.
“A large-scale subjugation of the Green Forest will begin soon. If any of you are interested, come find Seol Lihyang. As for the Sect Master... let her know politely.”
“Ah...”
They finally understood what I meant. They probably never expected to hear someone suggest defecting from the Black Lotus Sect and joining an orthodox faction under Seol Lihyang.
Seol Lihyang, for her part, tilted her head, as if she still didn’t understand what I was saying.
She might understand the general workings of Murim now, but it seemed she hadn’t realized that she could gather people under her wing.
Chuckling, I stepped out of the room.
Well, if even half of them came, that’d be more than enough.
Anyone who did could join Seol Lihyang in the subjugation of the Green Forest.
Push them hard, and their true character would emerge. If they had no major issues, they could use their participation as credentials to fully defect. If not, we could pay them and send them back.
It may just be a memory from my previous life, but since we once shared meals together, this much opportunity should be fine.
***
Once back in my room, I began packing—only to realize I had more baggage than expected.
When I came, I brought only a sword, a change of clothes, a pouch, and some simple snacks.
But after staying in the Black Lotus Sect for so long, I’d received many gifts.
That’s because, in the unorthodox world, giving bribes to curry favor is just common sense.
Even in my past life, I’d received plenty during my time as the Sword Demon.
In this life, I wasn’t even affiliated with the Black Lotus Sect, yet I’d still been handsomely gifted.
They likely thought the Sect Master held me in high regard, so they were trying to get in good early.
Some probably respected me for defeating the Sword Demon and slicing the Heavenly Demon’s collar.
Still, those gifts meant little to me now. Back then, I spent everything I had trying to find martial arts or rare medicines.
But now, with the Tang Clan behind me, I didn’t need to go that far anymore.
Most of the bribes I’d received would go straight into the Tang Clan’s coffers.
For me, it was just money moving from one pocket to another.
Having packed everything, I sat down cross-legged and began meditating to revisit the battle with the Heavenly Demon—
Knock knock knock.
The doorknob rattled, and with it came a familiar presence and voice.
“You there. Do you have a moment?”
“Senior Seo Mun-Hwarin? Of course. Please come in.”
As soon as I gave permission, the door creaked open, and Seo Mun-Hwarin peeked her head in, glancing around before smiling when she saw me.
She stepped in, carefully locked the door, and sat across from me.
“We just parted ways. You’ve already packed? I heard you received a fair number of gifts too.”
“There were people who tried to bribe This One... but I refused them all.”
“What??”
We stared at each other for a moment, confused.
I couldn’t help but ask again.
“Why would you do that?”
“Because... This One has resolved to live as an orthodox martial artist now. How could I accept such things—especially from Black Lotus Sect members?”
“But they weren’t trying to buy favors. If they were, they would’ve offered much more. They just wanted to leave a good impression. You didn’t need to take it so seriously.”
“What...?”
“Besides, being orthodox doesn’t mean refusing bribes. It just means trading in less obvious favors instead of gold or silver.”
Seo Mun-Hwarin trembled with the expression of someone who just realized their delicious duck had been chicken all along.
Incidentally, that had happened in my past life—due to budget cuts in Ironblood Hall.
The next day, she’d figured it out instantly.
Just because someone’s in an orthodox faction doesn’t mean they’re clean.
In fact, it was Seo Mun-Hwarin, back when she was called the Ironblood Hall Master, who explained all this to me.
Of course, the current her knew nothing of that. And that made it a little amusing—teaching Seo Mun-Hwarin something I learned from Seo Mun-Hwarin.
I chuckled briefly. But then Seo Mun-Hwarin puffed her cheeks and pouted.
“Hmph! This One came with good news, and you only mock This One!”
“Mocking? Not at all. I was just amazed that the oldest among us is also the most innocent.”
“It cannot be helped. In my youth, I was too busy fighting, and now, I’m too busy adjusting to this changed world.”
“Exactly. That’s why you can just start learning little by little now. I’ll teach you what I can, as I am now.”
“If... If you insist, then I shall forgive you this once.”
She tried to sound stern, but her expression had already softened. I waited for her to collect herself before speaking.
“So, what good news brought you here so soon?”
“Mm. It’s not news that just happened, but something I only remembered just now.”
With an awkward tone, she fiddled with her white hair, then looked me straight in the eye.
“Did the sword art I taught you from the Seo Mun Clan help?”
“Of course. It was my first time learning a proper ascension sword art, and it made me reexamine my fundamentals.”
The technique of condensing qi, forged through willpower, and merging it fully with the sword—White Sword.
And the thrust I created by blending my insight from fighting the Sword Demon with the Taesan Piercing Sword.
These were insights forged through deadly combat and extreme focus, and all of them focused on essence and fundamentals.
That was possible because I had recently been grappling with swordsmanship from the Seo Mun Clan, thanks to Seo Mun-Hwarin.
I had found my own answers.
Pleased by my sincere response, Seo Mun-Hwarin nodded.
“Then... would you like to learn the secret technique now? This One has yet to master it herself, so we’d be deciphering the manual together.”
“Eh??”
So now she was offering to teach me the Seo Mun Clan’s secret martial art, usually reserved for the head and heir?
“I appreciate it, but is that really okay?”
“As I said before, there’s no one else for This One to pass it to.”
“That’s true.”
“Besides, is it not you and This One now? I won’t ask you to become my adoptive son anymore. Instead... would you...”
She hesitated, lips twitching. Then, with great difficulty, she squeezed the words out.
“Would you... help This One restore Thunder Heaven Divine Art?”
Something I’d never heard of even before regression. I didn’t know what it meant, but it was clearly important to Seo Mun-Hwarin.
And of course, my answer was already decided.
“You said you finished packing?”
“Yes, I did.”
“Same here. In other words—we’re free to study all night.”
At that, Seo Mun-Hwarin’s face lit up like a blooming flower.
...But it didn’t take long for it to darken again.
“No, no! I told you—this is swordsmanship! You can’t swing it like that!”
“But the Seo Mun Clan’s techniques are rooted in thunder. If not lightning qi, then to honor the essence...”
“Hoo. Clearly, people who don’t use swords don’t understand swords.”
Half a jjin (about 30 minutes).
That was how long it took for Seo Mun-Hwarin to start sulking.