Chapter 269: The Orthodox Sect (3)
No martial artist can truly have a normal mindset.
Whether orthodox or unorthodox, there are no exceptions. No matter what anyone says, martial arts are a form of power that can harm others. Simply holding such power already places you outside the bounds of ordinary.
In life, people constantly face large and small problems, and every time, they are forced to choose how to deal with them.
And for martial artists, there is an additional choice—overturning the situation with force.
Naturally, such a mindset drifts further and further from what is considered normal, and inevitably, some people will start to lose their sanity.
Moreover, martial artists often fight for their lives. After experiencing near-death situations or the deaths of those around them, staying mentally stable becomes almost impossible.
Whether it's just a matter of degree or manner, none of them are truly sane.
Of course, if you search hard enough, you might find someone still in their right mind.
Most likely, they’re people who haven’t been training in martial arts for very long.
That’s why I dare say that all martial artists are a little insane in their own way. All the more so if they’re high-level experts who think spending every day training is perfectly normal.
“In that sense, Tang Sowol, you’re not exactly ordinary either...”
“Ehh, isn’t asking my one and only father how many grandchildren he wants more an act of filial piety?”
“If we weren’t unmarried yet, and you didn’t have two other women by your side, maybe.”
Just moments ago, Tang Jincheon had finished a long speech—full of scolding, sighing, and a touch of concern—before he left.
Even with a body that’s reached the Flowering Stage, I could still feel extreme fatigue, yet for some reason, Tang Sowol looked as carefree as always.
“Sigh. I don’t know what you were thinking. Not that I’m blaming you.”
“Mm. I’m sorry?”
“No, I’m not blaming you. It was just… so sudden. I just thought, maybe you could have picked a better method or timing.”
“I’ve thought a bit about that too… But Hyang already made up her mind a long time ago, and though she was a bit late, Sister Hwarin has finally become honest with herself. So I figured it would be best to say things as soon as possible.”
“Is there a reason behind that?”
“Yes. Do you remember what I told you about those outsiders who keep trying to set me up with others?”
“I remember...”
As the Tang Clan of Sichuan began to be spoken of as the strongest of the Five Supreme Clans, and my fame was rising, more people started asking if Tang Sowol had ambitions to become the next clan leader by pushing out Tang Cheong.
“I still don’t see what that has to do with this situation.”
“I brought up the matter of children so I could tie up the successor issue in one go.”
Saying that with a bright smile, Tang Sowol pulled Seo Mun-Hwarin, who was sitting beside her, onto her lap.
“Huh?!”
Seo Mun-Hwarin, dazed from being relaxed, was pulled over like a doll. She briefly glanced around to assess the situation, then spaced out again, seemingly lost in thought.
“Look. Sister Hwarin may be the head of the Seo Mun Clan, but she’s currently a guest of the Tang Clan—and getting smothered with my affection.”
“Putting aside whether that’s the proper way to treat someone older, if you’re asking whether it suits the position of a clan head... it really doesn’t.”
“Yes, but what if she had a child? Then she’d stop wandering around to fight, and even if we’re close, she’d stop living as a guest in someone else’s household.”
That’s true. Even if it’s small and humble, she’d probably move out and try to properly re-establish her clan.
“And Hyang?”
“I don’t care where I live. What matters is who’s beside me... My legs are numb.”
Seol Lihyang shrugged as she spoke. Fair enough. She’d been kneeling for quite a while.
I pulled her stiff legs onto my lap and began gently massaging them, starting from the soles of her feet up to her calves.
“Hnngh...?”
Seol Lihyang flinched at first from my touch, but her expression quickly relaxed.
Seeing that, Tang Sowol giggled and spoke.
“Fufu. Well, that’s Hyang. What about me?”
“Ah...”
It must look like she intends to give up the successor position and focus on raising children. But—
Tang Jincheon is no fool. He should have understood Tang Sowol’s intentions by now.
“Indeed. There’s probably no clearer way to show your father you have no interest in being the next head.”
“Yes, and I’m sure Father will let some of this information leak out as well. Maybe he’ll grumble to close friends, or ask someone to find land for rebuilding the Seo Mun Clan, or start buying childcare items.”
That would naturally reach the ears of outsiders watching the Tang Clan and discourage anyone thinking of tempting Tang Sowol with ambition.
“I get the gist of it. Still, I don’t know about this method...”
“Oh my, that’s just one of the reasons. Just one of many. More than anything, even without all that, I needed to make it clear to Father. That although Brother Cheon is a son-in-law, he will take in other wives, and I’ve given my permission—so don’t complain later.”
“Then why did you keep it a secret from me...?”
“Ah, well, half of it was because I wanted to tease you, like I just did.”
“Half?!”
I let out a stunned chuckle and shook my head as I started massaging Seol Lihyang’s other leg.
“And the other half is because I was embarrassed.”
“Embarrassed, huh.”
“Yes. Even I can’t bring myself to ask you how many kids you’d like each of us to have.”
That would be... quite awkward indeed.
My face flushed with heat, and Tang Sowol’s did too.
While the two of us sat there flustered, Seo Mun-Hwarin was still deep in thought, and Seol Lihyang... had no thoughts at all. Because she simply didn’t have any.
For a while, silence fell over the room.
Then, as if she had a sudden realization, Seo Mun-Hwarin’s eyes widened.
Clap!
She clapped her small hands together and buried the back of her head deep into Tang Sowol’s chest. It looked fluffy.
People always crave what they don’t have...
“This one was overthinking things far too much!”
“What do you mean?”
“If we have multiple children, one can carry on the Seo Mun Clan’s line, and the others can choose where they want to belong! Why did I think it had to be one or the other!”
You were thinking about that?
It made me feel a bit dizzy, but... it was an important matter nonetheless.
I am, after all, the Tang Clan’s son-in-law. That means my children will fundamentally be part of a Tang Clan branch family.
Unlike Seol Lihyang, who has no issue fully becoming part of the Tang Clan, Seo Mun-Hwarin has the duty of reviving her clan. Naturally, she’d have complicated thoughts.
Well, be that as it may.
“Senior Seo Mun-Hwarin, what are you blurting out all of a sudden...?”
“Oh dear, just what were you imagining while thinking that…”
I can’t help but tease Seo Mun-Hwarin.
“W-What?!”
Realizing she’d been misunderstood, Seo Mun-Hwarin flailed her arms and legs, while Tang Sowol and I burst into laughter.
To talk and laugh about our future together like this—what a joyful thing it is.
But in the end, if the path toward that future is blocked, then the priority is to clear the path.
The satisfaction of having happiness within reach—something I’d chased all my life.
And the weight of anxiety, that everything might be shattered once again by the Heavenly Demon, as it was before the regression.
I forced a smile to conceal the heaviness pressing on my heart and brought the day to a close.
***
The next morning, as soon as it was light, I headed to the place where the Murim Alliance’s Elder Yi—the Diamond Arhat—was said to be.
Though I’ve visited the Murim Alliance a few times before, I don’t know every path in this vast manor, so I first decided to find a suitable guide.
“Do you have a moment?”
“Who’s calling this early in the... W-Wait, are you the White Moon Sword Lord?!”
A young man with a face full of fatigue. His uniform was blue, with a large character for wind written on his back for easy identification.
He was clearly a member of the Clear Wind Unit, one of the Murim Alliance’s core combat divisions.
One odd thing, though—he recognized me the moment he saw my face.
The Clear Wind Unit mainly consists of collateral lineages from renowned clans or talented late-stage juniors who performed well at the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering. Their overall level is high, and they often participate in real missions.
Since they usually interact with people who recognize them, not the other way around, I didn’t expect him to know my face so easily.
The way he sighed deeply despite the good weather—like he’d rather be doing anything but working—probably tied into that.
Anyway, they’re always running around busy, so I figured they’d know my alias and feats, but not my face...
So I decided to just ask directly.
“You know me?”
“Of course! Our unit leader is Yeon Sahu from the Jinju Yeon Clan! Not only do we hear stories from him often, he even made us memorize your face in case we ever needed to recognize you, so there’s no way we wouldn’t know.”
“Ahh, from the Yeon Clan...”
After rescuing Eon Sosu from Bloodflame Fist Demon along with Peng Woojin, both clans had continued showing goodwill toward me.
If the Clear Wind Unit’s leader was from the Yeon Clan, then it made sense.
“Hah, now I’m embarrassed. I must’ve gotten gilded without even knowing it.”
“‘Gilded’? Not at all! You’ve accomplished more than enough to deserve it! Do you know how famous you are among us junior martial artists nowadays...? Ah, wait, now’s not the time. What can I help you with? Do you need something?”
His excitement made his words speed up, but he soon got back to the point.
I gave him a shrug.
“I want to go to where the Diamond Arhat is staying. Could you point me in the right direction?”
“At this time of day... he’s probably overseeing training at the martial yard. It’s a bit complicated to explain, so I’ll just take you there myself!”
“I’d appreciate it, but are you sure? You looked pretty busy.”
“If I say I was late because I was helping the White Moon Sword Lord, even our unit leader won’t complain.”
With a grin, the Clear Wind member took the lead.
On the way, still full of excitement, he began to tell me stories about the Diamond Arhat.
How he helps train junior martial artists every morning, or visits nearby villages every few days to aid commoners—and more and more praises kept spilling out.
A martial artist with excellent skills and character, one who doesn’t forget the duties of a disciple of Buddha.
That was the Diamond Arhat, according to the Clear Wind member.
“They say back when he was at Shaolin, he was considered a candidate to become the next Diamond Guardian Monk. But because that position would prevent him from leaving Shaolin, he turned it down and came to the Murim Alliance instead.”
“He sounds like a truly admirable person.”
It seems he really is someone with a stellar reputation.
Diamond Guardian Monk, huh. I remember sparring with a few of them during my visit to Shaolin. They were as skilled as the rumors said.
So he was nearly one of them...
Even now, I clearly remember the unique nature of the Immovable Wisdom King Steps, performed with a body honed to the extreme.
It was a martial art worthy of envy.
Nodding, I followed the Clear Wind member. It didn’t take long before we arrived at the bustling martial yard.
***
“Forgive me, but aren’t you frustrated that you never mastered the Immovable Wisdom King Steps?”
“Pardon?”
“I mean, don’t you wake up angry in the middle of the night, want to beat people who praise you without thinking... that sort of thing.”
“Pardon me, benefactor, but I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about...”
“In simpler terms: are you sure you haven’t been consumed by inner demons?”
The Diamond Arhat looked at me as if I were possessed by demons.
Tsk.
Maybe that wasn’t the right approach.