Chapter 46 The Tang Family Sword Peak – 2

Chapter 46: The Tang Family Sword Peak – 2

Dang Ye-eun lay sick in her bed for three days.

She could do nothing.

It felt as if she hadn’t lost Myeong Sahyeon, but a part of herself.

The time they had shared, the many things he had done for her, swirled chaotically in her mind.

All those memories remained intact, yet the fact that he was no longer in this world was utterly unbelievable.

It felt like a gaping hole had been torn open somewhere in her soul, making it hard to breathe.

The Thirteenth Division was also on high alert.

They had to find the spirit that harmed Deputy Squad Leader Mae Yeo-kyung, of course, but they also had to find those who possessed Myeong Sa-hyeon.

Based on the testimony of the Third Squad members that Do Hee-young, a Fifth Squad member, had summoned Myeong Sahyeon to the western forest early that morning, the Grand Master Pungyang, First Squad Leader Han Gyo-seong, Second Squad Leader Sa Gun-il, and Seventh Squad Leader Seol Pung rushed to the western forest as quickly as possible.

However, realizing their failure, the Twin-Sword Fiend fled with all its might. They only managed to confirm its identity, failing to eliminate it.

Only Do Hee-young, still possessed, remained at the scene.

The Thirteen Great Masters decided not to kill her immediately but to imprison her instead.

Her martial arts were weak, posing no threat, and since she hadn’t received orders from the sorcerer, she hadn’t taken any action.

The atmosphere within the Thirteenth Division was inevitably grim.

Even for the warriors of the Front Line, accustomed to sending people to their deaths, losing two deputy squad leaders at once was unprecedented.

Moreover, with the squad leaders Dang Ye-eun and Ma Yu-gyeom, who should have been holding things together, still in a daze, the atmosphere could only grow more ominous.

***

Several days passed like this.

The demonic spirit that had attacked Mae Yeokyeong vanished without a trace, just as it had in Seonwoojin’s past life. Amidst the heavy atmosphere, Hae Unbaek, the Heavenly Sword Saint, declared his intention to return to the Martial Alliance.

“I never imagined this place could be so dreadful. I regret not paying attention to it sooner. On behalf of the Alliance’s elders, I offer my apologies. I’m sorry.”

He bowed his head to the Seven Council members with a sincere expression.

Having experienced his straightforward and honest nature over the past few days, the seven members could clearly sense the sincerity in his words.

Though the situation hadn’t changed at all, it still felt comforting.

Haecheongyeon emphasized once more to her departing father.

“Father, you absolutely must not let them know you’re aware. Especially now, you must calmly gather information and find evidence first. In this kind of fight, the impatient side loses. You understand, right?”

Haecheongyeon was wary that her father, Hae Unbaek, might act rashly, unable to contain his sense of justice.

No matter how formidable his martial arts were, her father, a political novice, would be no match for Jegal Jigang within the Martial Arts Alliance.

Ha Yun-baek sighed at her anxious admonition but nodded, as if resigned to the situation.

He knew his daughter was far wiser than he, and he knew he himself was ignorant of this kind of struggle. Yet, pretending to be unaware of all this was unbearably difficult for him.

Moreover, if he remained silent, wouldn’t warriors on the front lines continue to die unjustly?

Frankly, he didn’t know how much longer he could endure it.

Haecheongyeon knew her father well and had emphasized this point repeatedly.

But judging by his father’s reaction, it seemed he understood intellectually but not emotionally, which was frustrating.

After all, Hae Yunbaek was a man who always acted on what his heart told him, not his head.

Seonwoojin, who had been watching from the side, spoke up.

“Why not create a situation where he has no choice but to act? Make it so they too can accept it as unavoidable.”

Hae Cheong-yeon looked at Seon Woo-jin with a puzzled expression.

“A situation they could accept?”

“Yes. For example, I—the only one who knows the young lady’s secret—send a letter to the Sword Saint. A letter saying the young lady has been kidnapped by the Blood Cult.”

The moment she heard those words, a different picture instantly formed in Hae Cheong-yeon’s mind.

Her eyes, partially hidden by her bangs, flashed as she spoke.

“Then Father shouldn’t pretend to be unaware. He should make a huge fuss about it. Loud enough for everyone in the Martial Alliance to hear.”

“Exactly. And then he should say he’ll investigate personally and return to the front lines.”

“He shouldn’t come alone either. The more people he brings, the more widely it will be known, and the better his safety can be ensured.”

“You might need some acting skills.”

“That is the problem. But if we succeed, we could turn the front lines into Father’s domain entirely. Then I wouldn’t have to leave here either.”

The two exchanged words without pause, then soon smiled faintly at each other.

Though he didn’t fully grasp their meaning, Sword Saint Haeunbaek smiled contentedly at their rapport.

Then he asked.

“Now, would you mind translating that into human language?”

Hae Cheong-yeon smiled faintly and replied.

“It means Father needs to put on a bit of an act. An act of having lost his beloved daughter.”

Having received the detailed explanation, Hae Yunbaek, unlike before, smiled contentedly and was able to depart from the Thirteenth Generation.

Indeed, his daughter, who possessed wisdom, beauty, and martial prowess, was truly the best.

And discovering a suitor who perfectly suited such a daughter was also a source of immense satisfaction.

***

Mayu Gyeom, who believed the Thirteenth Division members lived drunk every day, was actually not intoxicated.

No, he couldn’t get drunk.

He was too anxious, fearing that any trace of himself might be found on Mae Ye-gyeong’s body.

So he always pretended to be drunk, observing the investigation process and the overall atmosphere.

But after about a week, he could finally relax a little.

The search for the spirit-possessed had concluded without finding anything.

It couldn’t have been more fortunate.

Mayu Gyeom, smiling inwardly with satisfaction, took a piece of dried meat and put it in his mouth.

The vital energy absorbed from Mae Ye-gyeong felt like it was about to erupt.

The vital energy absorbed from a human was far more violent than that absorbed from an elixir.

Unlike the other seven members who only consumed poison pills occasionally, he had to ingest them daily.

‘Finally… seventy years. It took a long time.’

Mayu Gyeom gauged the weighty presence of his own internal energy and smiled with satisfaction once more.

His inner energy was now fully saturated with seventy years.

The foundation for advancing to the next stage was solidly laid.

Knowing that Sagunil’s internal energy was roughly seventy to eighty years old, surpassing him was no longer a mere dream—he only needed to attain enlightenment.

Mayu Gyeom’s smile turned bitter.

‘Unlike that bastard, I can now increase my inner strength easily.’

Of course, he didn’t intend to absorb vital energy from just anyone.

What he did to Mae Ye-gyeong was an unconscious mistake born of sheer terror.

Honestly, he couldn’t even remember what he’d done until halfway through.

So unless someone threatened his secret, Mayu Gyeom had no intention of harming his comrades on the front lines.

‘Right, I absolutely have no intention of harming my comrades. But what if they weren’t comrades? If I could make good use of those Blood Sect demons, who aren’t even human, then why hesitate? Eliminating the Blood Sect demons and gaining inner strength—isn’t that killing two birds with one stone?’

Mayu Gyeom’s eyes burned with ambition as he entertained such thoughts.

‘That way, I’ll surpass the Four Generals and be recognized as the Pointing Sword’s finest blade. Then all those fools who’ve rejected me until now will have to kneel.’

Mayu Gyeom failed to recognize how different he had become from his former self, who had felt repulsed by the very act of using the Blood Sect’s tricks.

He had convinced himself it was merely a technique, not martial arts, but the blood-sucking technique had stained him with the madness inherent in the Blood Sect’s martial arts.

With his mind thus eased, the person who now entered his sight was the face of Tang Yeo-eun, who had become half her former self in just a few days.

After three days of illness, she had risen again and was performing her duties as team leader.

She was trying desperately not to show it, but everyone around her felt pity for her.

It was painfully obvious she was desperately struggling to pretend she was fine.

Mayu Gyeom watched her, the woman he had long loved in secret, and thought. If her heart was in such a shattered state, he might be able to use暗示法暗示法暗示法暗示法暗示法暗示法暗示法暗示法暗示法暗示法暗示法暗示法暗示法暗示法暗示法暗示法暗示法暗示法暗示法暗示法暗示法暗示法暗示法暗示法暗示法

The mere thought of it made him madly excited.

Making her his own.

“Hehehehehe!”

Mayu Gyeom let out a greedy laugh without realizing it, then took a deep breath and switched to a serious expression.

Then he began to look for an opportunity.

For the moment when she was alone.

Seizing that chance wasn’t too difficult.

She preferred to be alone whenever possible, and everyone respected her wishes.

So when Mayu Gyeom finally approached Dang Ye-eun, he casually called her name as if passing by.

“Dang Ye-eun.”

Dang Ye-eun didn’t respond, just looked at him with cold eyes.

Her attitude seemed to say she didn’t want to talk much and if he had business, he should get to the point quickly.

But within that cold demeanor, Mayu Gyeom somehow felt he could sense her, fragile and on the verge of breaking.

He couldn’t let this chance slip away.

He looked at Dang Ye-eun with a lonely gaze and said.

“Would you like to have a drink?”

Dang Yeo-eun looked at him with an expression of utter disbelief. She seemed to think it was such nonsense that it didn’t even warrant a response.

But Mayu Gyeom smiled weakly and offered the next words.

The words that would resonate most deeply with her heart right now…

“There’s a place where I used to drink with Yeo-gyeong. It’s a good place to remember those who’ve left.”

In that moment, Mayu Gyeom could see Tang Yeo-eun’s gaze waver significantly.

It seemed almost done.

But Mayugyeom deliberately walked past her, leaving one final remark.

“If you don’t want to, then forget it. I’ll go alone. I think I need to get a little drunk tonight, thinking about Yeo-gyeong.”

A few steps later, a voice called out from behind him.

“Getting drunk… will help?”

It was a voice that sounded utterly exhausted.

Mayu Gyeom smiled smugly with a greedy look in his eyes.

But when he turned back to look at Dang Yeo-eun, he answered with a lonely gaze.

“Well… it’s better than being sober.”

Dang Ye-eun finally opened her mouth with a weary expression.

“Alright, let’s drink it. That liquor.”

Without realizing it, Dang Yeo-eun shed her cold, impassive mask. She was too drained to even notice Mayu Gyeom’s gaze.

She was simply too drained.

Mayu Gyeom gathered the liquor and snacks and led her into the forest.

It was a hollowed-out spot in the corner of a small rocky hill.

“Where is this?”

Ma Yu-gyeom answered Dang Yeo-eun’s question as she looked around.

“It’s a place Yeo-gyeong and I often came to. And… it’s also where she was last seen.”

Then, pouring her a cup of liquor, he said,

“Don’t try to dispel the drunkenness with your internal energy. It’s a waste of good liquor.”

Finishing his words, Mayu-gyeom poured himself a drink and downed it in one gulp.

“Kwaah!”

Seeing that, Dang Yeo-eun also downed the drink in her cup in one gulp.

“Gulp!”

Though the bitter taste filled his mouth, unaccustomed to the drink, he forced himself to endure it.

He didn’t want to show weakness now that he’d come this far.

And so, the two began downing one glass after another in one gulp.

The intoxication came quickly.

When Dang Yeo-eun’s mind was quite dizzy, Mayu-gyeom suddenly asked her.

“But why are you so sad? Wasn’t it Myeong Sahyeon who was chasing after you?”

That sudden question froze Dang Yeo-eun solid.

For a moment, her vision blurred with misty moisture.

“I…”

She regretted it.

That she hadn’t conveyed a single word of her feelings to him.

That she had let him go without ever knowing, even in the final moment, that she loved him too.

The regret was so deep it ached in her chest.

“I loved Sa-hyun…”

That was when it happened.

Just as she buried her head between her knees, about to burst into tears, Mayu-gyeom struck her pressure point with lightning speed.

Thwack!

Dang Yeo-eun couldn’t comprehend the sudden turn of events.

By the time she grasped her situation, Mayu Gyeom had already roughly pinned her to the floor.

Mayu Gyeom’s face, grinning greedily, filled her vision.

“What the hell…?!

Gah!

“Aah!”

Mayu-gyeom grabbed her by the throat.

Since he was still unskilled in hypnosis, to hypnotize her, he had to push her to her absolute limit, both mentally and physically.

When Mayu-gyeom finally loosened his grip on her throat, after choking her until she was gasping for air and her mind was clouding over, she could barely inhale.

“Gasp!”

But she remained utterly immobilized, just as before.

Overwhelmed by helplessness, her already exhausted mind, and the sight of Mayu Gyeom’s greedy expression before her, she finally broke down and burst into tears.

“Waaah!”

Mayu Gyeom, who had been about to tighten his grip on her neck again, paused.

She had shown tears far too easily, much sooner than he had anticipated.

He had expected it would take much longer to push someone of her caliber to the breaking point…

Mayu Gyeom, testing her, sent her a gaze following the incantation of the暗示法 and spoke to her.

“Repeat after me. I am Dang Ye-eun.”

A master of soul-binding arts like the Black Blood Demon Lord could cast a suggestion with just a glance, but Mayu Gyeom, trying it for the first time, had to start from the basics and proceed slowly.

And that foundation began with making someone obey her without resistance.

Immediately, Tang Ye-eun, seemingly captivated by his gaze, spoke through her tears.

“I… I am Dang Ye-eun.”

Mayu Gyeom’s gaze grew strange.

It had been far easier than he’d anticipated.

Even if she was mentally broken, this level of ease wasn’t normal.

Mayu Gyeom suddenly let out a hollow laugh.

The woman he had worshipped, even thinking of her as an ice goddess, was actually a very weak woman.

It was laughable that he had been agonizing over how to approach such a woman all this time.

But none of that mattered anymore.

He would make her his own and repay her for all the heartache she had endured.

Mayu Gyeom gave her a bitter smile and spoke again.

“Repeat after me. ‘Dang Ye-eun belongs to Mayu-gyeom.'”

Then, still crying, Dang Ye-eun opened her mouth to repeat after him.

“Dang Ye-eun is Ma Yu-gyeom’s…”

At that moment.

Suddenly, someone shouted loudly.

“What the hell are you doing?!”

Startled, Mayu Gyeom looked up and saw a hidden blade flying toward him.

Whoosh!

Mayu Gyeom desperately leapt out of the way to dodge the dart.

Then he looked at the person who had thrown the dagger at him.

It was Seon Woo-jin.