Cheon Jin could not understand what Cheon Myeong was saying at all.
What did he mean, they gave him a pretext first?
Unless it was a considerable justification, moving rashly would be a path to self-destruction.
Even if he could exterminate the Jeonsu family, the other families would not just stand by and watch.
Rather, it would be giving them a justification.
"...What on earth is the pretext you're talking about?"
Cheon Jin asked at the end of his silence.
Then, as if he had been waiting, Cheon Myeong began to speak to Cheon Jin.
"On my way back to the main headquarters from the North Sea, there was an attack."
"An attack?"
"Yes, I was attacked by Su Yeongseong and about a hundred warriors who seemed to be from his family."
Cheon Jin heard that for the first time at this moment.
His eyes, which were shaking with surprise as soon as he heard the story.
Although it was also surprising that the Jeonsu family had committed such an act, it was even more surprising that Cheon Myeong had returned here safely now.
"..."
If those words were true, then wasn't he saying that Cheon Myeong had survived from about a hundred enemies and had come here?
Since the Jeonsu family would have tried to kill Cheon Myeong even by breaking the rules of the ranking match that he had designated, the skills of the enemies would all have been at a considerable level.
Since he had not attached any escort due to the request of the Ice Palace, it meant that Cheon Myeong had faced that many enemies by himself.
"By yourself... you defeated all those enemies?"
"Fortunately, the Chunguidae noticed this in the middle of it and came to me."
"..."
"And do you perhaps know about the Star-Sucking Great Art?"
"The Star-Sucking Great Art?"
Of course, he knew.
Rather, it would be stranger if he, the leader, did not know about it.
But why did Cheon Myeong know about the Star-Sucking Great Art?
Before Cheon Jin could solve that question, Cheon Myeong continued to speak.
"Su Yeongseong was using the Star-Sucking Great Art."
"...Is that true?"
"Yes, the Great Supervisor who was there with me will prove that fact."
"..."
Only then could Cheon Jin understand what Cheon Myeong had said.
Not only did he break the rules of the ranking match, but he even used the Star-Sucking Great Art, which was designated as a forbidden demonic art.
If the person who had committed those two things was Su Yeongseong, then even if he were to question the Jeonsu family about that sin, they would not be able to refute it.
Swish-
At that moment, Cheon Myeong took out the sword he was wearing at his waist.
Although it was a rather sudden action, Cheon Jin just watched it, and Cheon Myeong slowly drew the sword from its sheath.
Sreung-
The blade, which showed its form as Cheon Myeong drew the sword.
At that moment, Cheon Jin's two eyes twitched slightly.
'That is...?'
A purple blade.
Since he felt a somewhat unusual sign from its appearance, Cheon Jin focused even more and began to examine the sword that Cheon Myeong was holding.
'I've seen it a lot somewhere...'
However, he could not remember exactly where he had seen it.
As if it would come to mind, as if it wouldn't, as he was feeling that frustration, Cheon Myeong's voice was quietly heard in Cheon Jin's ear.
"It is the Heavenly Demon Sword."
"...!"
The Heavenly Demon Sword...?
There was no way Cheon Jin would not know what that was.
However, since it was that shocking of a statement, Cheon Jin could not accept those words as they were.
"Th-the Heavenly Demon Sword..."
Cheon Jin, who was even stuttering, unlike usual, because he was so surprised.
His buttocks were already off the grand master's chair.
Cheon Jin barely calmed his excitement and said to Cheon Myeong.
"Are you saying that that is the real Three Sacred Treasures?"
"Yes, that's right."
"Hah..."
With a somewhat empty exclamation, Cheon Jin sat down on the grand master's chair again.
No, it wasn't that he was empty, but that he was just dumbfounded.
Because he did not feel a sense of reality in this situation where Cheon Myeong was now holding out the Heavenly Demon Sword to him, saying that it was the real Three Sacred Treasures.
"How... did you find it?"
"I found it in the North Sea."
"...Did you intentionally go to the North Sea for that?"
"That's not it. My original purpose was to treat the Young Palace Lord's White Disease."
"..."
"Didn't you tell me this before, Leader? That Baekjo would lead me to the real Three Sacred Treasures."
Of course, he had said that.
However, since that was just a joke, he had not thought at all that what he had said at that time would really come true.
"Don't tell me... are you saying that that bird really led you to the place where the Three Sacred Treasures were?"
"Yes."
A short answer.
But there would be no need to add any more words.
Although Cheon Jin could not close his mouth for a moment with a blank face, he soon closed his mouth as if he had realized something.
'Yes, since he found the Heavenly Demon Sword, he was able to defeat all those enemies by himself...'
If the legend were true, then at the moment Cheon Myeong had found the Heavenly Demon Sword, there would have been some kind of awakening for him.
If he were in a state of having taken a step closer to the ultimate of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, it seemed that he would be able to win enough against a hundred warriors of the Jeonsu family.
"If that is the real Heavenly Demon Sword... was there some kind of awakening?"
Cheon Jin asked with a slightly nervous voice.
Then, as if he were contemplating something, Cheon Myeong opened his mouth at the end of a slight silence.
"Yes, I can't explain it in words, but... if you hold this sword, you will also be able to realize something, Leader."
Cheon Myeong said that and approached Cheon Jin.
In fact, until just a moment ago, he had no intention of showing the Heavenly Demon Sword to Cheon Jin.
Because until now, Cheon Myeong had thought of Cheon Jin as being closer to his enemy.
However, after hearing Cheon Jin's true feelings in this place, he realized that he had been misunderstanding him all this time.
'The Three Swords of the Heavenly Demon... if he realizes this, Cheon Jin will also be able to become confident again.'
Cheon Jin was a person who had learned the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, just like him.
If so, then just as he had at that time, wouldn't Cheon Jin also have some kind of awakening the moment he held the Heavenly Demon Sword?
If Cheon Jin were not an enemy, then it would be better for him to have even one person awaken to the ultimate of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
With that thought, Cheon Myeong walked up to Cheon Jin.
"Please hold this."
"..."
"Then you will be able to know something."
Cheon Myeong said that and held out the Heavenly Demon Sword to Cheon Jin.
Cheon Jin, who was watching him silently.
And soon, he slowly extended his right hand and received the Heavenly Demon Sword from Cheon Myeong.
Swish-
After handing the sword to Cheon Jin, Cheon Myeong stood at a slight distance and just watched him.
'Is something happening?'
At the moment he had held the Heavenly Demon Sword, he had been engulfed in an unknown light and had been standing in a strange space.
Of course, from what he had heard, it seemed that in the eyes of others, he had just been standing still after drawing the sword.
So even if he looked at Cheon Jin now, there was no way for Cheon Myeong to know if something was happening.
"...Leader?"
This much should be enough.
Because for him too, everything had happened in that fleeting moment when the ice pillar had collapsed.
Since he thought that that much time had already passed, Cheon Myeong cautiously called Cheon Jin.
"..."
At the voice calling him, Cheon Jin's gaze turned to Cheon Myeong.
A gaze with a somewhat puzzled feeling.
Since he could not yet know for sure just by his gaze, Cheon Myeong directly asked Cheon Jin.
"Did you realize something?"
"...What did I realize?"
"Pardon?"
"It seems that nothing is happening, strangely enough."
"..."
What went wrong?
Since Cheon Jin was a person who had learned the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, just like him, he had thought that it would surely be the same...
At that moment, as if he had realized something, Cheon Myeong said to Cheon Jin again.
"Ah! Please try to raise your internal energy."
"Internal energy?"
"If you raise a sword ki on the Heavenly Demon Sword, something will surely happen."
Come to think of it, it seemed that he had also raised his internal energy at that time in order to draw out the Heavenly Demon Sword.
So wouldn't it be the same if Cheon Jin also raised his internal energy?
Thinking that his thought was almost certain, Cheon Myeong said to Cheon Jin.
"...I understand."
In fact, although he did not think that something would change even if he raised his internal energy... since Cheon Myeong was speaking so certainly, Cheon Jin had no choice but to follow him.
Woong-!
At that moment, a clearly red energy began to flow from Cheon Jin's body.
'As expected... he's strong.'
No matter how much Cheon Jin had shown a weak appearance just before, in reality, it was not like that at all.
Looking at the energy flowing from Cheon Jin's body now, who on earth could say that Cheon Jin was weak?
Of course, although the problem was not such an outward appearance but the inner side, Cheon Myeong thought that that could be sufficiently overcome.
'Yes, I also changed a lot as I awakened to the ultimate of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art. So if this person awakens to that...'
Wouldn't a monster that he couldn't even imagine appear?
Although it was a bit embarrassing to say this himself, since the original plate itself was different, it was inevitable that his expectations would grow.
Cheon Jin, who had awakened to the Three Swords of the Heavenly Demon.
If so, then wouldn't Cheon Jin be able to face the Five Great Demonic Families by himself?
Although it was a simple logic, it could be said to be a natural principle that the stronger the leader became, the stronger his power would also become.
Then, even if he did not make any other effort, the division of the Demonic Cult would be automatically prevented...
Crackle-
It was then.
While Cheon Myeong was having such thoughts in his mind, an ominous sound began to be heard from somewhere.
"...?"
The place where the sound was heard was the Heavenly Demon Sword.
Accordingly, the moment Cheon Myeong's gaze naturally moved to that side, an unknown shock occurred from the Heavenly Demon Sword.
Pang-!
A situation as if something had exploded.
Although the size and range of the shock were not that large, because of that, Cheon Jin had no choice but to let go of the Heavenly Demon Sword.
Thud-
With a rather empty sound, the Heavenly Demon Sword rolled on the floor.
And the silence that followed.
Not only Cheon Jin, but also Cheon Myeong, who had watched this scene, could not understand this situation at all.
'W-what...?'
Did the sword explode?
No, to be precise, it was correct to say that Cheon Jin's internal energy, which had been infused into the sword, had exploded.
Since this was the first time he had seen such a phenomenon, Cheon Myeong could not easily open his mouth.
Swish-
At that moment, Cheon Jin silently picked up the sword that had fallen on the floor.
"It seems the sword is rejecting me."
"Rejecting...?"
In the first place, can such a thing happen?
A sword that chooses its own master.
If you think about it normally, it is something that can never happen... no, since the Heavenly Demon Sword itself is different from an ordinary sword, it was not something that did not make sense at all.
"It seems that the Heavenly Demon Sword has already chosen you as its master."
"..."
"It may have been foreseen from the moment you found the Heavenly Demon Sword."
Cheon Jin said that and held out the sword to Cheon Myeong.
Cheon Myeong, who received the sword without a word.
And as if he had made a decision, Cheon Jin said to Cheon Myeong.
"Can you do it?"
"Pardon?"
"I, as the leader, and as the Heavenly Demon, did not fulfill my duty and did not have the courage to do so. Perhaps that is why the Heavenly Demon Sword rejected me."
"..."
"But... you are different. From the moment the Heavenly Demon Sword chose you as its master, it is the same as proving that you are the one who is worthy of being the Heavenly Demon."
Cheon Jin said that and approached Cheon Myeong.
And soon, his right hand, which he gently placed on Cheon Myeong's shoulder.
It had been a really long time since he had given Cheon Myeong a warm touch like this.
"As you wish, unfold your will."
"..."
"I will trust and support you from now on."
Hearing those words, Cheon Myeong couldn't help but be surprised inside.
To think that that Cheon Jin would say this much to him.
For Cheon Myeong, it felt as if a sturdy pillar were supporting him from below.
"There must be a reason why the Heavenly Demon Sword chose you."
"..."
"...The Heavenly Demon Sword told me to say this as it rejected me."
Saying that at the end, Cheon Jin avoided his gaze with an awkward face.
"..."
Pfft-
It seems that he had greatly misunderstood Cheon Jin until now.
This person was just a person who was lacking in expression. And not weak, but a person who was constantly worrying about what was best for his child and could not easily approach... just a father.
"I'm sorry."
At that moment, Cheon Myeong said to Cheon Jin.
He had apologized for the part where he had been misunderstanding him until now.
The moment Cheon Jin looked at this side again after hearing those words, Cheon Myeong, who had returned to a serious face, opened his mouth.
"I will surely repay that trust."
"..."
"To this sword, and to you, father."
Hearing those words, Cheon Jin's two eyes widened as if he were surprised.
Really, for several years... no, since Cheon Myeong had started to hold a sword, it was the first time he had heard those words.
Although it was unfamiliar, it was also somehow familiar.
'Suhwa... I want to show you this appearance too.'
That my child and your child have grown up so well.
That, he wanted to say.
(End of Chapter)