It felt like waking up after a deep sleep.

"..."

Cheonyeong blinked his eyes and looked down at himself blankly.

"Ugh!"

Then, unable to help himself, he grimaced at the various sounds pressing in from all directions.

The heightened senses were not limited to sound alone.

The flow of air touching his skin was distinctly felt.

It was as if countless blades were grazing his skin.

"What is this?"

Moreover, the blood flowing through the blood vessels in his body and the internal energy flowing along the meridians were all clearly felt.

And as time passed, the sensation gradually dulled.

It was not opening and then closing, but rather opening and closing the senses according to will.

Since it was already open, he could open and close it whenever he wished.

"Is this what it means to open the middle dantian?"

At the sudden change, Cheonyeong smiled.

Anyway, it seemed he needed to put on something first.

His lower abdomen was quite exposed.

Realizing this, he felt embarrassed.

The area was filled with Nangong family martial artists, and not all of them were men.

The distinction between men and women was quite pronounced...

Since he could not bring himself to stand, Cheonyeong, still sitting, shouted toward Beakta, who was watching him from a distance.

"Myeongson!"

"Huh?"

"Clothes!"

"Oh!"

At Cheonyeong's words, Beakta hurriedly borrowed clothes from those nearby.

"Don't come here, throw them from there."

"Understood!"

Since the poison had not completely dissipated, Cheonyeong said so and caught the clothes thrown from a distance, put them on, and slowly rose to his feet.

Though his mind was clear as if waking from a nap, his body ached.

Despite entering a new realm, the fatigue remaining in his body seemed persistent.

Crack, crack.

As he loosened the joints in his limbs and various places, the stiffened bones groaned as if stretching.

Just this alone was clearly different from before.

His body felt much more flexible.

"...Manggongbaek."

Cheonyeong quietly gazed at the massive white snake beside him, its tongue extended, now dead.

"Should I express gratitude?"

He laughed.

He had not expected that acting on instinct would produce such a result.

Anyway, it was quite a waste.

Had such potent Treasure Blood been available to others, it would have been of great help...

But from the creature's blood that had cooled as it died and from its corpse, no more spiritual energy was felt.

Its blood would only rot from now on and could no longer be called Treasure Blood.

"Well, there are other useful things besides Treasure Blood."

Cheonyeong looked around for his sword.

"Tch, this melted too."

Only the hilt remained, while the blade was hideously melted by the Manggongbaek's poison.

He had no face to show to Danya.

It had been made with such care over many days...

Cheonyeong laughed desolately and brought his hand to the corpse.

Then he thrust his sharpened hand toward where faint spiritual energy was felt.

The scales were no longer a problem.

* * *

"Hmm."

Eyelids fluttered.

"Father! Father, are you regaining consciousness?"

At Nangong Seong-lim's voice, Nangong Hyeok gradually regained awareness.

His blurred vision became clear, and he began to see those looking at him.

His eldest son with a worried expression, and the elders...

"Are you alright, Sword Emperor?"

"...?"

At the voice from beside him, Nangong Hyeok turned his head sharply.

"You, you?"

"I heard of the order you gave for me, Sword Emperor. Thank you."

"Ah, that... no. Rather, I should thank you. Heaven blessed us, fortunately. You almost suffered great harm."

"If the result is good, that is enough. But how do you feel?"

"Huh?"

"I have burned away all the poison."

"Ah!"

Now that he mentioned it, the suffocation that had troubled him was gone.

"Hehe, you saved my life."

"I merely did what I could. However, the internal injuries are quite severe. The poison lingered for a long time..."

"It cannot be helped. Having fought such a spiritual creature, I must accept wounds of this degree."

"You will need to rest for a while. If you overexert yourself, the internal injuries could worsen."

"I understand, I will do as you say."

Nangong Hyeok, supported by Nangong Seong-lim, rose and nodded.

"By the way, how are you feeling?"

"Huh?"

"Your feelings, I mean."

"Ah..."

Realizing that Nangong Hyeok was asking about his achievement, Cheonyeong smiled.

"Well, I am still not well adjusted to it."

"Your senses would be that way."

"You understand?"

"I do. I have already experienced it."

"Haha, I see."

"As someone who has walked this path before, let me say that even moving your fingers will feel unfamiliar at first, as if they belonged to someone else, but do not worry and let it be. Your body will gradually adapt."

"I will keep that in mind."

Cheonyeong nodded at Nangong Hyeok's sincere advice.

A brief silence followed, and Nangong Hyeok furrowed his brow and hesitantly opened his mouth.

"Rather..."

"Yes? Is there something you wish to say?"

"I do not know how you will take this, but... the inner core, you see."

At Nangong Hyeok's difficult words, Cheonyeong smiled as if anticipating what would follow and feigned ignorance.

"The inner core, why?"

"If you do not mind, could you give it to the Nangong family?"

"Huh? Give it to you?"

"Yes, I know it is an unreasonable request. As they say, spiritual herbs and spiritual creatures are gifts from heaven."

"..."

"But thinking about it, it seems the connection was with you, not us. We pursued the Manggongbaek first, but you arrived at the right time... In fact, was it not you who did everything from the search to the fight?"

"That is true."

As Cheonyeong nodded with a serious face, Nangong Hyeok hesitated in speaking.

Called the Sword Emperor, he had lived his entire life never uttering words of regret, but at this moment, even bowing his head would not be enough.

"Tang Family Head, I make this request. If you have not yet taken the inner core, please bestow this grace upon the Nangong family."

"..."

"I will fulfill whatever you desire."

At the effort of the grandfather who had even broken his pride for his granddaughter, Cheonyeong could no longer hold back and smiled.

"Though shameless... Huh? Why are you laughing?"

Nangong Hyeok struggled to continue but tilted his head at Cheonyeong's expression.

"Father."

"Huh?"

"The Tang Family Head has already sent the inner core to the main family. Seong-hwi departed with the physician quite some time ago."

"Huh?"

At Nangong Seong-lim's words, Nangong Hyeok seemed unable to grasp the situation and wore a bewildered expression.

"Alas, Tang Family Head. I also pretended not to know of your jest... but I am deeply sorry to my father."

"I just wanted to try it once, my apologies."

"..."

At the exchange between Nangong Seong-lim and Cheonyeong, Nangong Hyeok blinked and his face turned bright red.

He realized that everyone had conspired to fool him.

"We apologize."

"We apologize, Old Master!"

As the truth was revealed, the elders immediately bowed.

They had known too.

"Tch! You rascals! You fooled me?"

Though his voice was disgruntled, Nangong Hyeok's face was full of laughter.

Those around him also wore bright smiles.

"Tang Family Head." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"Yes."

"Thank you, truly thank you."

Nangong Hyeok, clasping both hands, could not contain his overwhelming emotions, and tears rolled down his aged cheeks.

He had lived.

He could cure the Seven Yin Severed Meridian, which had been like a curse.

The long-standing worry that had remained in the Nangong family had disappeared.

Because of Tang Cheonyeong...

"It originally belonged to the Nangong family."

"No, no. It is yours, determined by heaven. Who else but you caught it? I am merely grateful that you gave it without greed."

"There is no such thing as heaven's determination, Sword Emperor."

"..."

"People determine, and heaven follows. Perhaps heaven answered the Nangong family's efforts and sent me here."

"Hehe, hehehehe. Thank you. I am truly grateful you say so."

Nangong Hyeok repeated only those words.

Vowing to repay the grace received from Tang Cheonyeong.

"By the way, there is one more request."

"A request? What is it? I will do my utmost to help."

"You need not help."

"Huh?"

"First, I ask for your silence."

"Silence?"

"The capture of the Manggongbaek must be attributed to the Nangong family."

"What do you mean? You caught it, how can I...?"

"I ask you."

"..."

"Let it be known that I merely helped with the Nangong family's search, and let the capture of the Manggongbaek be attributed to the Nangong family. It will suffice to say that you were injured in that battle."

Cheonyeong spoke with a serious face, and Nangong Hyeok gazed at him quietly.

There must be a reason.

The reason of one who even gave the precious inner core to the Nangong family without reservation must surely be righteous and justified.

And if it were not justified, what of it?

He had received such grace that he would gladly leap into fire with kindling on his back if asked.

"I understand, I will do as you say. The Family Head will ensure strict silence."

"Of course."

"Thank you."

Cheonyeong smiled and nodded.

There was nothing good about rumors spreading about him.

He had already asked Beakta to control information to the operatives as well.

If Jingagu was watching Byeon Gil-tae somewhere and learned that he had been taken from them, they would never leave him alone.

So he concealed his strength.

He had to wait for them to attack him and then surely capture them.

There were too many things to question and investigate.

"And there is one more request."

"Say whatever you wish."

"It is about the Manggongbaek's corpse."

"Huh?"

"May I take it?"

"The corpse?"

"Yes."

"Hehehehe! What kind of request is that?"

"Huh?"

"Did I not say? That creature is yours. You caught it. How can I refuse when you say you will take your own possession? Do as you wish."

At Nangong Hyeok's hearty approval, Cheonyeong smiled bitterly.

His possession...

There was a discrepancy.

He had killed it, but it was Nangong Hyeok who had wounded it.

Had he not left a wound on its neck with his sword energy, Cheonyeong would never have been able to catch the Manggongbaek.

Nor would he have obtained the Treasure Blood and opened the middle dantian.

So he asked.

He had given the inner core to the Nangong family, but the Manggongbaek's corpse still had many useful byproducts.

"If you wish to move it, I will mobilize my martial artists to secretly transport it to the main family. If you wish to have it guarded, I will station my martial artists on Guhua Mountain so that not even an ant can approach."

"Then please guard it and move it."

"Yes! How could I refuse such a request? You are a great benefactor to the Nangong family."

"Thank you."

As Cheonyeong bowed again, Nangong Hyeok called Nangong Seong-lim with a stern expression.

"Family Head."

"Yes, Father."

"You must not forget the grace received."

"I understand. The connection with the Tang Family will continue through generations."

"That is how it should be. Indeed, that is how it should be."

Nangong Hyeok nodded and frowned at the elders, speaking.

"But what are you all doing?"

"Huh?"

"Did you not hear the Tang Family Head's request?"

"Ah! We will proceed immediately!"

The elders, rebuked by Nangong Hyeok, hurried away.

At their appearance, Cheonyeong smiled faintly.

"Are you alright with this?"

"Huh? With what?"

Beakta spoke quietly.

"The inner core. It is an incredible treasure... Is it not a waste?"

"A waste?"

It was settled.

As Beakta said, the inner core was indeed a waste.

But with it, he had gained the full support of the Nangong family.

As the Family Head of the Nangong family said, through generations.

Cheonyeong gazed at the Manggongbaek's corpse spread out on the distant ground and licked his lips.

There was still more.

The sharp fangs embedded in his body, the pouch containing the extreme poison that even made Nangong Hyeok lose his pulse, and the scales that treated sword energy as a joke.

Now the dismantling work was about to begin.

(End of Chapter)