Reverse Scale (1)
Cheon Mu-ryang finished his training early for once.
Of course, that still meant he trained nonstop from morning until noon.
"What's going on?"
Seeing the eldest young lord leave early felt strange enough that people began whispering.
"Hmph. His patience must've finally run out. Just watch—he'll be back to acting like a mad brute again!"
Lee Seok-gi stirred trouble as usual.
However, even those who held grudges against Cheon Mu-ryang didn't lend an ear to Lee Seok-gi's words.
At some point, Cheon Mu-ryang had unknowingly become the standard by which a day's worth of training was measured.
"Feels oddly empty."
Even if they weren't exactly friendly—
They felt the absence of Cheon Mu-ryang.
It was truly strange.
Meanwhile, a wind of change was blowing—one Cheon Mu-ryang himself did not yet realize.
"Let's eat properly today, at least."
Since he had been combining physical conditioning with sword training, there were times when his appetite surged excessively.
But overeating could cause problems, so until now he had restrained himself according to Wol-yeong's meal plan.
Even that, however, had reached its limit.
Tatadak.
Maids ran about in a hurry.
He could see them carrying cleaning tools in both hands.
They were probably being driven hard by the head maid.
"The clan really is bustling. Looks like the family head is arriving."
That was when it happened.
A maid with lips pale blue came rushing toward Cheon Mu-ryang at full speed.
"Y-young Master!"
"Hm?"
Hearing his name, Cheon Mu-ryang stopped in his tracks.
"Ah, you're…?"
She was a maid who was close to Wol-yeong.
Her name was Hwa-hong.
"Hwa-hong, was it?"
"Yes, yes! N-now is not the time to be doing this! Wol—Wol-yeong right now! Wol-yeong—!"
Hwa-hong spoke in a flustered jumble.
But one name was unmistakably clear.
"Wol-yeong? What about her? What happened?"
"Well, um, th-that is… the person who's supposedly your fiancée…"
Cheon Mu-ryang frowned deeply.
"Fiancée? Did you just say fiancée?"
"Yes, yes…"
"Ha… so it was around this time?"
Mu-myeong had been Cheon Mu-ryang's bodyguard, but around this period he had been fully immersed in training.
As a result, he didn't remember every incident that occurred at this time in detail.
'I remember hearing that the family head sought an alliance with the Tang Clan to fix this fool of a young lord.'
The judgment was that the Tang Clan would know how to resolve Cheon Mu-ryang's imbalance.
For that reason, the family head proposed a marriage alliance with the Tang Clan.
'And the Tang Clan accepted without hesitation…'
The Tang Clan accepted.
Perhaps they had already begun planning the future from the moment they received the proposal.
'So the Tang Clan's young lady visited the clan.'
What she saw of Cheon Mu-ryang then was a man passed out drunk.
That had been their first meeting.
Any affection would have vanished instantly—but the Tang Clan's young lady still declared that she would go through with the marriage.
'That was the mistake.'
Being clearly in the weaker position, the family head hastily prepared everything, and before he knew it, Cheon Mu-ryang had taken the Tang Clan's young lady as his wife.
That marked the beginning of the Cheon Clan's downfall.
'At least, that's how I see it.'
The Tang Clan kept its promise and treated Cheon Mu-ryang's body.
For a full ten years.
Watching Cheon Mu-ryang's condition gradually improve, the family head grew especially submissive toward the Tang Clan.
'At first, it was just small concessions…'
The Tang Clan's demands were minor.
But as time went on, they began crossing the line.
'They even tried to expand into Zhejiang.'
The Tang Clan thoroughly intended to use the Cheon Clan as a foothold for advancing into Zhejiang.
'And in reality… they did.'
Crunch.
Cheon Mu-ryang clenched his teeth.
'This engagement must not happen.'
Yet he felt he was missing something important.
Why was the name of that fiancée being mentioned alongside Wol-yeong's?
"Then why the fiancée…?"
"N-no time to explain! Please, hurry!"
Hwa-hong grabbed Cheon Mu-ryang's arm and pulled him along.
It wasn't far.
"I-I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"
There, he saw Wol-yeong bowing repeatedly, apologizing without pause.
At Wol-yeong's feet lay what was surely a carefully prepared "special meal," scattered all over the ground.
"..."
"Clothes that have already been dirtied won't be made clean by a mere apology."
The voice was like jade beads clinking together.
That alone drew everyone's attention.
Slowly—
Cheon Mu-ryang turned his head.
Standing there was a woman whose entire being was wrapped in an untouchable nobility as she looked down at Wol-yeong.
'Like a sheet of ice.'
Her eyes were crystal-clear and beautiful—
yet colder than ice.
"Deal with it."
She spoke as though she were a magistrate, as if she held Wol-yeong's life and death in her hands.
And because she truly possessed power, her words were no different from a death sentence.
The verdict had been passed.
And there were plenty eager to carry it out.
Schring.
The attendants around her drew their swords.
Chuk!
The tips of their blades reached Wol-yeong's throat.
Eyes tightly shut, Wol-yeong bit down hard as her entire body trembled.
"That's far enough."
Unable to endure any longer, Cheon Mu-ryang stepped forward.
The Tang Clan's young lady—who looked as though she would never turn back—finally turned her head.
"..."
Cold eyes swept over Cheon Mu-ryang.
With a smile tinged with mockery and contempt, she asked,
"And who might you be?"
"I am Cheon Mu-ryang, eldest son of the Cheon Clan."
"Oh? A pleasure to meet you for the first time. I am Tang So-hye of the Sichuan Tang Clan."
"Fine, Tang So-hye. What's going on here?"
"Oh, nothing much. My clothes were dirtied, so I was delayed for a moment."
Nod.
Tang So-hye gave a slight nod.
Receiving that signal, the guard swung his sword.
Shiiik!
A sharp blade aimed at Wol-yeong.
Tang So-hye expected a fountain of blood to erupt.
Kaang!
But her wish was not fulfilled.
A single sword blocked that intent.
It was Cheon Mu-ryang's blade, Heavenly Radiance—belonging to the man known as the Cheon Clan's mad brute.
Hwoong!
The edge of Heavenly Radiance bristled.
In proportion, Cheon Mu-ryang's presence settled heavily over the area.
"I asked what happened."
"The price for dirtying my clothes."
"For such a trivial reason, you would try to kill a maid of the Cheon Clan?"
"So that's all the reason you have? What if what that maid spilled was poison? What if she was an assassin pretending to be a servant?"
Dang Sohye radiated a murderous aura.
"It was a lawful procedure carried out according to the rules of the Tang Clan."
Though she held no sword, her presence was razor-sharp.
Even so, Cheon Muryang did not retreat.
"This is the Cheon Clan. We don't resort to such petty tricks. And that girl is mine. Don't touch her."
A faint smile curved Dang Sohye's lips.
It was undeniably alluring—yet unsettling.
Her lips smiled, but her eyes did not.
"How interesting. To think my betrothed would care so deeply for his people. I'm glad I chose to follow you."
"..."
"I'll see you at tonight's banquet, then."
She inclined her head slightly and turned away.
The one who had held a blade to Wolyeong's neck brushed past Cheon Muryang.
"Next time, I'd appreciate a bit more courtesy."
Dang Sohye's words were laden with meaning.
At that moment, Wolyeong's body convulsed.
"Y-Young Master…?"
"Wolyeong?"
"My body… something's wrong…"
Thud!
She collapsed.
Her consciousness faded.
Hwahong screamed.
Cheon Muryang rushed to her side and checked her pulse.
Crunch!
"Poison…!"
The Tang Clan was the clan of poisons.
Their poisoning techniques were said to deceive even ghosts.
Crack!
But the fault lay with him.
The Tang Clan's skill with poison was no excuse.
Cheon Muryang was furious.
"Failing to protect Wolyeong is my weakness."
He had thought it was enough.
That he was finally heading in the right direction.
But he was wrong.
He had to become stronger than anyone else.
"Young Master…"
Hwahong called out carefully.
But when she saw the cold eyes sunk deep into an abyss, her voice failed her.
Anger often burned red like magma.
But sometimes, it shimmered quietly—blue and deadly.
Shiver.
Though she knew that anger was not directed at her, Hwahong felt a chill run down her spine.
"Hwahong, take care of Wolyeong."
"W-What are you going to do?"
"There's a banquet, isn't there? I should attend. Can the main character really be absent?"
"...!"
As he spoke, Cheon Muryang picked up the fallen dish of special food.
It was dongpo pork—his favorite.
Though caked in dirt, he ate it without hesitation.
"It's really good."
"Y-Young Master…?"
"If Wolyeong wakes up, tell her this for me. That the special meal was delicious."
"Ah… y-yes!"
"Good. Thank you."
Chilling.
The moment he expressed his thanks, Cheon Muryang's face hardened once more.
Step. Step.
He walked away without hesitation.
Watching his back, Hwahong sensed disaster looming.
"Please…"
For once, she desperately hoped that the eldest young master's infamous recklessness would succeed.
The head of the Cheon Clan returned.
Bearing astonishing news—the marriage of Cheon Muryang and Dang Sohye.
"Hm. Marriage, you say."
Cheon Seonhak, who had been away on a mission, also returned on this day.
"To bring the Tang Clan into this… what are you thinking, Brother?"
He felt uneasy.
The Tang Clan was neither fox nor wolf.
They were a tiger—one that could devour the Cheon Clan whole.
"Tsk."
Cheon Seonhak changed his clothes and set out to meet the clan head.
But a suffocating killing intent caught his steps.
"The training grounds?"
It was coming from there.
As if drawn by something, Cheon Seonhak headed toward it.
Since even trainees were attending the banquet, the grounds should have been empty.
"..."
Yet there stood Cheon Muryang, swinging his sword in the center of the training grounds.
And that blade carried a killing intent he had never felt before.
"Such overwhelming hostility."
This was no sword meant to cleave the heavens.
It was a sword meant to kill men.
Cheon Seonhak stopped and observed.
Whooooom!
The sword rang.
Yet contrary to its clear sound—
Cheon Muryang's face was twisted like a demonic fiend.
"This is dangerous."
He stood on a razor's edge.
His rage could devour his body at any moment.
Cheon Seonhak intervened.
Shing!
A clear sound as a blade was drawn.
But Cheon Muryang did not welcome the interference.
Crack!
The trajectory of the sword's light shifted ever so slightly.
The killing blade descended straight toward Cheon Seonhak.
Boom!
The two swords collided at a single point in midair.
Cheon Muryang was violently thrown backward.
Drip.
Blood flowed.
Spit!
Spitting roughly, Cheon Muryang rose despite the pain.
"What is it that fills you with such rage?"
"I am weak."
"..."
"I must become strong."
"For what purpose?"
"To protect what is mine."
"And what is yours?"
"The Cheon Clan."
Gooooooo!
Cheon Seonhak's aura erupted.
It instantly enveloped Cheon Muryang.
Though restrained and unable to move, Cheon Muryang did not lower his head.
"Can you bear responsibility for those words?"
Without the slightest hesitation, Cheon Muryang replied,
"Yes."
"Good. For the first time, you truly seem like my nephew."
"..."
Cheon Seonhak smiled faintly.
Whoong!
With a clear ring, his sword slowly rose.
"If you are to embrace rage, then do not settle for the petty kind. Turn it into Reverse Scale."
The Reverse Scale—the wrath of a dragon.
Even anger had its hierarchy.
"A dragon is like water. Even a benevolent one, when its reverse scale is touched, returns as a raging storm."
His blade tore through the sky as it ascended.
Whirling tempests became the dragon's fury, tearing and devouring everything in their path.
"..."
That overwhelming sword was more than enough to contain Cheon Muryang's rage.
Cheon Seonhak smiled and asked,
"Well then—care to learn it?"
"What is the name of that sword?"
"A name, huh… Since it embodies the dragon's wrath, the Reverse Scale—how about Reverse Scale Slash?"
"Please teach me."
Before he realized it, Cheon Muryang was free from Cheon Seonhak's pressure.
"Very well."