Reverse Scale (2)
The banquet began.
The atmosphere was lively and boisterous—a grand feast not held in a long time.
"The Clan Head will now dine."
Silence fell over the hall in an instant.
The head of the Cheon Clan, Cheon Wi-gang, entered wearing immaculate robes.
Boom—
His presence was like a finely honed blade, the very embodiment of a swordsman's ideal.
The absolute authority of the Cheon Clan, Cheon Wi-gang, took his seat upon the dragon-carved throne.
"Today, we welcome a special guest."
At Cheon Wi-gang's signal—
"Next, the honored guest from the Sichuan Tang Clan will enter."
Murmurs erupted.
Why would members of the Sichuan Tang Clan be here?
Most had heard nothing beforehand, and their surprise was evident.
"Ah…"
But the commotion soon faded.
Because Dang Sohye appeared.
As she walked in slowly, no words of praise seemed sufficient to describe her beauty.
Softly—
There was a sense of coldness, yet with a faint smile she shone like a sun gazing down upon the world.
"Ice Blossom…."
Known as the most beautiful woman in Sichuan, Dang Sohye's beauty was famous throughout the Central Plains.
Why would someone like her come to the Cheon Clan?
Questioning gazes turned toward Cheon Wi-gang.
The moment Dang Sohye took her seat among the honored guests, Cheon Wi-gang rose and declared—
"The Cheon Clan and the Sichuan Tang Clan intend to deepen their relationship through marriage."
"…!"
"Then… could it be…?"
"That mad eldest young master?"
Who could possibly marry Dang Sohye?
There was only one answer—Cheon Muryang.
"That is correct."
Boom!
The declaration struck like thunder.
"Where is the eldest young master? Where is he?"
Everyone searched for Cheon Muryang.
Creeeak—
The banquet hall doors, firmly shut after the Tang Clan's arrival, opened once more.
"…!"
Those who entered were Cheon Muryang and Cheon Seonhak.
"I am here."
Some wondered why he entered alongside Cheon Seonhak, but there was a far more pressing matter.
Cheon Muryang walked to his seat.
Whether intentionally arranged or not, it was beside Dang Sohye.
"We meet again, Young Master."
"..."
Cheon Muryang did not even turn his head.
He simply met Cheon Wi-gang's gaze head-on.
"Clan Head."
"Speak."
"Please annul this engagement."
The silent hall erupted once more.
Twitch.
Cheon Wi-gang's brow furrowed.
To him, it looked like childish stubbornness—tantrums without understanding whom they were meant to benefit.
A heavy pressure naturally emanated from him.
Just as he was about to thunder in fury—
"I agree."
Another voice, carrying undeniable authority, stopped him.
For the first time, confusion flickered in Cheon Wi-gang's eyes.
"Seonhak…?"
He had not expected his younger brother to oppose him.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I agree with the eldest young master. Please reconsider the marriage with the Tang Clan."
"..."
Cheon Wi-gang did not conceal his anger.
Bang!
Crack!
He rose so violently that the floor seemed ready to shatter.
Though the windows were closed, a fierce gale swept through the hall.
"Ghk!"
A pressure that made hearts drop.
Standing at its center, Cheon Wi-gang radiated the overwhelming presence of an absolute ruler.
"How dare you!"
But Cheon Seonhak did not yield.
"Do you truly intend to defy my will?"
"For what purpose are you bringing in the Tang Clan? You know there is no real benefit to be gained."
Crunch!
As their auras clashed, the banquet hall began to crumble.
Servants with no martial arts cowered in fear.
Even those trained in martial arts dared not move.
They could only wait for it to pass.
"Everything is for the sake of the clan! Do you truly not understand?"
"I do not."
Not an inch of retreat.
Just before everything collapsed—
"That's enough."
Cheon Muryang's voice cut between them.
As if waiting for it, Cheon Seonhak released his pressure.
"..."
Cheon Wi-gang did the same.
Though unsettled, he withdrew his aura.
Silence fell, as though nothing had happened.
"My decision remains unchanged. I will not marry her. If you wish, cast me out instead."
"You insolent brat!"
"However, I will fulfill my duty."
Cheon Muryang rose from his seat.
The moment he drew his sword, he swung it toward Dang Sohye.
Whoosh!
A sword flew in.
Its owner was one of the guards who had provoked Cheon Muryang earlier.
Clang!
Sword light scattered.
The difference in strength was obvious.
Dang Sohye stared at Cheon Muryang with cold eyes.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Hand it over—the antidote."
"The antidote… You would truly turn against the Tang Clan over a mere servant?"
"She is not a mere servant."
"…?"
"She is mine."
"How amusing."
Dang Sohye took out a glass vial.
It was surely the antidote.
"I can't just give it to you. Ah—don't misunderstand. That's simply our clan's creed."
"..."
"But perhaps, if you meet a condition."
Dang Sohye casually cast the bait.
Bait he could not refuse, even knowing it was bait.
"Say it."
"Defeat my bodyguard."
"That's all?"
"Yes. Isn't that the way of martial families?"
"Fine. I accept."
Cheon Muryang grinned.
Everything was going exactly as planned.
Unaware of this, Dang Sohye only found the smile puzzling.
"You. Come out."
"..."
In an instant, the banquet hall became a training ground.
It was the man who had swung his blade at Wolyeong.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Cheon Wi-gang stepped forward.
A duel?
Between whom and whom?
It was a match that should never have existed.
"I will handle this."
"…!"
Cheon Wi-gang sensed something strange.
If this were the Cheon Mu-ryang of old, he would have fled long ago.
But he didn't.
Cheon Mu-ryang said he would handle it himself—and raised his sword.
'Now that I think about it…'
Only then did the changes register in Cheon Wi-gang's eyes.
'He's lost weight? What's going on?'
Cheon Wi-gang glanced at Cheon Seon-hak.
As if to say when did he ever lose his fighting spirit, Cheon Seon-hak gave a small nod.
'So that's it.'
Cheon Wi-gang said nothing.
It was tacit permission.
Cheon Mu-ryang held Heavenly Radiance in a solemn stance.
But his opponent remained relaxed.
'Yes. For now, you're still weaker. I know it—and you know it too.'
Despite his pressure, Cheon Mu-ryang did not charge first.
He waited, patiently.
'There's only one chance.'
That caution could easily look like empty bravado.
At least, that's how Tang So-hye's guard judged it.
'The mad young lord, huh… In the end, all he has is his pride.'
He sneered.
They had already crossed blades once.
He remembered clearly that Cheon Mu-ryang's sword had been knocked away, even though he hadn't used his full strength.
That alone proved the gap between them.
There was no way that mad young lord could block his sword.
'It's going to hurt.'
Shiiik!
His sword surged forward sharply.
A thrust so precise that the mad young lord wouldn't dare respond to it.
He wasn't using his full power, but it was more than enough.
"Good. You're moving just the way I expected."
The thrust traced a straight line.
But just before it reached Cheon Mu-ryang—
The trajectory twisted.
"…!"
It wasn't just the sword.
It felt as if his entire body were being sucked into Cheon Mu-ryang's blade.
Whiiing!
A small wind sprang up around the center, then surged upward as if ascending to the heavens.
"T-this—!"
Wuuung!
The clear resonance of Heavenly Radiance rang out.
Then a storm-like, cutting wind engulfed him.
Within it, he felt rage.
"You touched the reverse scale."
"…!"
Slash!
Blood stained the blade of Heavenly Radiance.
Thud.
His right arm dropped to the ground.
"Aaaaaaagh!"
The guard screamed.
But Cheon Mu-ryang looked at both the guard and Tang So-hye with eyes colder than ice.
"No one touches a member of the Cheon Clan. You'd do well to carve that into the Tang Clan's family creed."
"…That's not something we can simply ignore."
Tang So-hye was not alone.
The Tang Clan's attendants who came with her were far from weak.
Schring!
They all drew their swords at once.
At the same time, a middle-aged man who had remained silent until now uncrossed his arms and stepped to Tang So-hye's side.
"It's time for you to step in, Uncle."
Tang So-hye addressed him as such.
A strange aura rose from his entire body.
Goooooo!
"Hey, it's not just you who has an uncle. I think it's time you stepped in too."
"…Hmm. Very well."
Cheon Seon-hak stepped forward.
And that wasn't all.
"And the Young Master is not alone."
"…?"
Neung Ryeo-un and Cha Myeong-hak stepped out.
Behind them stood trainees who had been inspired by Cheon Mu-ryang, each holding a sword.
"You all…"
"This is the Cheon Clan. The Young Master is the eldest son of the Cheon Clan. Who would dare harm him here, in the Cheon Clan?"
Neung Ryeo-un held only a wooden sword.
Seeing that, Cheon Mu-ryang smiled.
"Yes. This is how it should be—properly three against the world."
"..."
The situation was bad.
Tang So-hye was not foolish enough to miss that.
"This doesn't look good."
"I know."
"But retreating like this would look ridiculous."
"Yes. Even if we retreat… we should at least recover the cost of coming all this way, shouldn't we?"
The tension was like the string of a seven-stringed zither stretched to its breaking point.
Tang So-hye stepped forward.
"Clan Head."
"Speak."
"I never imagined guests would be treated this way in the Cheon Clan."
"I wasn't speaking to you, miss."
Without even looking at Tang So-hye, Cheon Wi-gang asked Cheon Mu-ryang,
"Tell me. Who touched a member of the Cheon Clan?"
"My maid, Wol-yeong, was poisoned."
"Poisoned…"
Only then did Cheon Wi-gang turn his gaze to Tang So-hye.
"Is that true?"
"For the sake of a mere maid! Are you really trying to pressure the Tang Clan over this?"
"I told you. She's not just a maid."
Rumble!
Cheon Wi-gang's gaze turned fierce.
"In that case… it seems the marriage alliance with the Tang Clan must be annulled. Consider yourselves informed."
Crunch.
Tang So-hye's face twisted.
It was beautiful even so—but to Cheon Mu-ryang, it looked nothing but vile.
"H-how dare you!"
"If you refuse to withdraw…"
Cheon Wi-gang finally drew his sword.
In that moment, not only the Cheonryong Sword Division and the Cheonbong Sword Division, but everyone attending the banquet drew their blades.
"The Tang Clan will learn why the Heavenly Dragon's sword has dominated the martial world."
"Th-this!"
"We must withdraw."
"..."
Knowing this was no time for stubbornness, Tang So-hye forcibly erased her emotions.
"Today's humiliation… I will never forget it."
"Enough. Hand over the antidote."
"…."
Tang So-hye threw a glass vial containing the antidote to Cheon Mu-ryang.
"Then we'll take our leave."
The moment he caught it, Cheon Mu-ryang left the banquet hall.
He was going to give the antidote to Wol-yeong.
Watching his retreating figure, Tang So-hye seethed—but Cheon Wi-gang's expulsion order followed immediately.
"Why are you still here?"
In the end, the Tang Clan members were forced to retreat, fleeing the Cheon Clan grounds with their weapons lowered.
"Cheon Mu-ryang…"
Tang So-hye had never been treated like this anywhere.
And so, her rage froze over, cold and sharp like midsummer frost.
"You're nothing like what we were told."
"So that's it. They called him the mad butcher of the age—seems that information was wrong. Tsk."
The two looked at the man whose arm had been severed.
This was far from what they had expected.
"What a pity. It was the perfect chance to use the Cheon Clan as a stepping stone into Zhejiang."
"…We'll meet again, Cheon Mu-ryang."
Vowing for the future, the members of the Tang Clan departed.