Chapter 483: Side Story 3 Baek Sang-ah’s Melancholy
The Elders widened their eyes at So Cheon’s words.
He suddenly popped up like a ghost and asked for what?
The words he spat out as if pulling something out of a pouch brought a wave of bewilderment across the Elders’ faces.
However, Murder Demon remained composed and asked again.
“You mean the Clan Head position?”
“Yes.”
“And the reason?”
“Well, I have a bit of a marriage to handle.”
“Then just go ahead and marry.”
At Murder Demon’s casual remark, the Elders’ expressions, which had shown confusion, hardened rapidly.
It was natural.
The direct descendants of the Six Great Demonic Clans, including the Hidden Shadow So Clan, were strictly forbidden from spreading their bloodline outside.
Even if that descendant was someone like So Cheon.
“Of course, I will. But still, out of courtesy, shouldn't I report it to the elders first?”
“So, you came to make that report? Here?”
“Well, it’s one of the reasons.”
“Then what about the Clan Head position?”
The question circled back to the beginning, like a loop.
“Because of the status of my partner, I thought I needed to match the prestige.”
“Wouldn’t the position of Young Master be enough? With your current standing, you’re more than qualified.”
Flinch!
Each time Murder Demon spoke as if it were nothing, the Elders’ shoulders trembled.
“Ah, well, that’s true.”
A sharp smile spread across So Cheon’s lips.
“But being Young Master is far too lacking.”
“Lacking……”
“My partner is none other than the Murim Alliance Leader. Don’t you think the title of Young Master is a bit beneath me?”
“Well, that’s true in its own way.”
Murder Demon nodded as if he understood.
But the other Elders could not accept it so easily.
“M-Murim Alliance Leader?!”
“What the hell, why now?!”
Even if she were a noble lady of the Cheon Clan or the Jin Clan, such an abrupt declaration would’ve been hard to swallow. And yet—!
“If you say Murim Alliance Leader, surely you mean that Heaven-Slaying Sword Empress?!”
“Isn’t she now even referred to as one of the Twin Supremes?!”
“You’re insane! You would dare spread our clan’s blood to the outside… to the South, no less?!”
“You think that’s even possible?!”
The Elders all erupted in rage, pointing fingers at So Cheon.
Frankly, it was understandable.
So Cheon was a direct descendant of the So Clan. And he was trying to gain the position of Clan Head just for the sake of marriage.
And his partner was also a direct descendant. Though somewhat estranged from her clan, her current position was none other than the Murim Alliance Leader.
Broadly speaking, this would mean a union between the Hidden Shadow So Clan Head and the Murim Alliance Leader.
A marriage between the heads of two major factions.
It was a shock nearly on par with Jin Yeomyung breaking the unwritten rules to ascend to the position of the Heavenly Demon.
“All of Divine Cult will brand us as traitors! Do you really think such a thing will be tolerated?!”
“And do you think the Murim Alliance will accept this? No matter the process, it’ll be a grand disaster followed by war!”
From a general standpoint, the Elders’ words were absolutely right.
Whether it was So Cheon or Baek Sang-ah, announcing their marriage was practically a public invitation for the world to tear them apart.
And yet.
“Interesting.”
A faint smile crept back to Murder Demon’s lips.
“Are you aiming for a marriage alliance?”
“M-Marriage alliance?!”
So Cheon nodded.
“That’s right.”
So Cheon and Murder Demon’s eyes met in the air.
Murder Demon spoke.
“You’ve used your head more than usual.”
“…Thank you?”
“But the moment you declare that, you’ll be making enemies of everyone in Divine Cult who desires a Demonic World.”
Currently, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's power was at its peak in history.
And the Murim Alliance’s power was at its weakest ever.
More importantly, due to various reasons, the Murim Alliance had completely lost the cohesive unity typical of orthodox factions.
In such an environment, it was inevitable that people from all ranks would start favoring the idea of a Demonic World.
Yet even so, So Cheon responded with a crooked smile.
“To begin with, Yeomyung… oh, pardon me, the Cult Leader no longer wishes to fight. As long as Lady Cheon is restored to how she was, he’ll go back to being that loafer I used to know.”
“……”
“And if I ask him, he’ll gladly agree to a marriage alliance with Lady Baek. Do you know how many years I spent groveling under him like a dog?”
Yes.
As he said, Jin Yeomyung would gladly help.
However, if such a marriage alliance were truly formed, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult would end up settling with the northern Central Plains territory they promised the Murim Alliance in this era.
To the extremists Murder Demon mentioned just now, that outcome would be entirely unacceptable.
"Indeed, even if he relinquishes his position, his martial prowess remains. If he were to arrange a marriage alliance, no one would dare voice their objections..."
In that moment, Murder Demon’s gaze slithered over So Cheon’s entire body like a snake.
"You are different."
"……."
"Even within your own clan, there will be those who seek to kill you. Can you handle that?"
"That’s why I need the Clan Head position."
Tsss!
A pitch-black energy began to surge from So Cheon’s entire body in streams.
With a murderous glint in his eyes, So Cheon scanned the surroundings.
"Those with complaints—drag them all out so I can kill them in one go."
"……Huk!"
"W-What is this deep and ominous energy?!"
Even the Elders of the So Clan, who had dedicated their lives to the demonic path, had never experienced So Cheon’s fully unleashed King-Slaying Blade Qi before.
‘I’ll die!’
That was the instinctive feeling.
The level of So Cheon’s display at that moment was beyond imagination.
His presence even surpassed that of Murder Demon, whom they had once faced.
"…Good."
Despite standing before an aura close to Demonic Shedding, Murder Demon was surprisingly unshaken.
Rather, he flashed a grotesquely twisted smile at So Cheon, seemingly amused.
"When Jin Gun-ak said I had failed in raising my son, I seriously considered killing myself. But this… this is more than enough."
The current generation of the Six Great Demonic Clans was truly a golden age.
There was the Demonic Heaven’s Jin Clan, which had produced the Heavenly Demon.
The Blood Dragon Demonic Clan, which succeeded in restoring the Heaven-Slaying Star.
Even if not on their level, there were the Extreme Saber Clan and the Black Gold Sa Clan, which produced high-quality successors.
And even the Heavenly Illusion Clan, which managed to recover its status within a single generation and gained renown as a Clan Head across the martial world.
Whenever Murder Demon saw those other clans’ sturdy successors, though he didn’t show it, he felt inwardly overturned.
But look now.
The Little Black Wolf he had no expectations for returned a few years later, having changed species entirely—he had become a tiger.
"You’ll reach them."
"…Who do you mean?"
One Elder, unable to read the mood, asked upon hearing Murder Demon’s murmuring. But Murder Demon gave no answer.
His gaze remained fixed on So Cheon.
He was certain.
He could reach them.
All the young Clan Heads of the current generation of the Six Great Demonic Clans.
And perhaps even the previous generation, who were now stepping into retirement!
"Prove it."
Naturally, that previous generation included Murder Demon himself.
"Prove that you are worthy to become a Conqueror."
Tsss!
Before anyone realized it, Murder Demon held both Nine Heavens Sword imbued with Thunder Qi and a black dagger.
His full power. Enough to tear apart every Elder of the So Clan present.
However.
"There’s not much time…"
So Cheon had walked too brutal a path to flinch at something like that.
"I’ll make it quick."
Pop!
In an instant, the figures of So Cheon and Murder Demon vanished from the hall.
The sudden visit of the Southern Heaven Sword King.
To be honest, from the Murim Alliance’s perspective, the Southern Heaven Sword King and the Namcheon Baek Clan were not seen favorably.
That sentiment appeared as a barren reception—without even a single teacup offered.
"……."
"……."
"What brings the Sword King to the Alliance?"
Amid the coldest hospitality imaginable, the Southern Heaven Sword King finally spoke.
"Today… I have not come as the Southern Heaven Sword King, but as the eldest of the Namcheon Baek Clan."
The eldest.
The implication behind that term was obvious.
"Is that so? Then let me ask again."
But such a transparent ploy was too shallow for the Baek Sang-ah of today, who had become a giant.
"Why have you come here, Grandfather?"
Only the title changed. Baek Sang-ah’s tone remained exactly the same.
It was clear in her attitude: say your piece and leave.
The Southern Heaven Sword King gave a bitter smile.
"…It seems I’ve become someone you despise."
"If Southern Heaven had even slightly aided Luoyang, my attitude would be completely different."
Indeed, the Namcheon Baek Clan thoroughly ignored the Murim Alliance’s request for aid after the trade network across the Central Plains had collapsed.
Of course, one could understand.
The Namcheon Baek Clan, trapped under the extreme condition of Heavenly Timing, had to focus on preserving their own power and could hardly spare concern for distant Luoyang.
Even considering that, Southern Heaven’s response in the past had often been excessively cold-hearted.
The Southern Heaven Sword King nodded and reached into his robe.
"Indeed, I have no intention of dragging this out uncomfortably."
Then he pulled out a sealed envelope stamped with an emblem and held it out toward Baek Sang-ah.
"A matchmaker has arrived."
"……."
The atmosphere in the hall instantly turned ice cold.
Jegal Eun, the only one present in the capacity of military advisor, began glaring at the Southern Heaven Sword King as if she could kill him.
Baek Sang-ah also clenched her teeth, desperately suppressing her fury.
"Do you wish for me to be disrespectful to you, Grandfather?"
"Of course not."
The Southern Heaven Sword King gave a slight chuckle and rolled his eyes around the room.
"Now that I think about it… that young man isn’t here. The one from the Hidden Shadow So Clan, who used to call me father-in-law."
"……!"
That ridiculous bastard who didn’t even know whether he was her father or grandfather and kept calling him father-in-law.
He remembered the youth always sticking by her side, yet for some reason, even after expanding his qi sense, he couldn’t detect the man’s presence now.
With a hint of regret, the Southern Heaven Sword King murmured,
"Well, I suppose it’s dangerous now. More than anything, I’m sure the Cult side absolutely wouldn’t approve right now."
"…It’s getting hard to hold back, so please get to the point quickly."
"Very well."
The Southern Heaven Sword King, reading the murderous intent emanating from Baek Sang-ah, frowned slightly.
She was no longer below him.
‘Could it be… Manifestation Realm?’
He felt a pressure akin to standing before Dao Zun Jin Ryeong herself.
Of course, there’s no way his granddaughter could rival Dao Zun.
After briefly reading Baek Sang-ah’s level, he pulled himself together and continued.
"Ahem! As you know, I wouldn’t make such a trip myself just for matchmaking."
"……."
No matter how infuriating it was, those words were true.
The master of the Namcheon Baek Clan, a great house under the heavens, would not travel this far just for a marriage proposal.
‘Unless he had another motive besides matchmaking.’
There had to be another reason.
And yet—
The Southern Heaven Sword King seemed to have no other reason for coming to see Baek Sang-ah.
"But a clan is still a clan, is it not?"
"……What do you mean?"
"Look at the emblem on the envelope."
Baek Sang-ah and Jegal Eun’s gazes simultaneously turned toward the sealed letter he had produced.
"……?"
Baek Sang-ah, still lacking deeper scholarly knowledge, couldn’t recognize the symbol.
But seeing Jegal Eun’s expression stiffen instantly, she sensed the letter was no trivial matter.
Jegal Eun muttered in disbelief.
"……Imperial family?"
"Indeed."
The Southern Heaven Sword King spoke calmly, with not the slightest change in expression, as he delivered words as shocking as thunder from a clear sky.
"His Majesty the Emperor wishes you to be the Crown Prince’s consort."