Having obtained five days of grace, the first thing Cheonyeong did was examine the cave that the herb gatherer had discovered.

"Hmm."

Cheonyeong bent down to touch the soil and slowly looked around.

Soft earth, shade.

It was an environment sufficient for a snake sensitive to moisture to live.

"Let me see."

Cheonyeong, operating the Samyang Divine Skill, carefully observed not just the cave but its surroundings, then had writing materials brought and recorded everything he had examined.

"The initial investigation is complete."

"Investigation?"

"Yes, first, this is definitely a snake's lair. Judging by the cave, the snake's thickness is roughly the size of an adult body? And its length seems to be about fifty feet."

"F-Fifty feet? That large?"

"Why else would it be a spiritual creature? It might be even larger."

"Ha!"

"By the way, where is the search team?"

When Cheonyeong asked with a stern face, Nangong Seong-hwi called over a nearby Nangong patrol captain, asked, and answered while pointing to a mountain.

"They're currently searching that ridge."

"Hmm, I think it's best to withdraw them."

"Huh?"

"The poison is quite potent. Judging by how toxins flow from its breath, encountering it unprepared would cause considerable damage."

"What do you mean?"

When Nangong Seong-hwi asked with a puzzled expression, Cheonyeong pointed to the grass leaves around the cave.

"See how the ends of these leaves are yellowed?"

"Ah!"

It was something the Nangong family's search team hadn't noticed.

"They've been discolored by the toxins mixed in its breath. Fortunately, there's no remaining poison. But at this level, common antidote pills from the market would be useless."

"B-But... if we stop searching and it disappears, what then?"

"Disappears? That won't happen."

"..."

"No matter how much of a spiritual creature it is, a snake can't abandon its inherent characteristics. Snakes don't show aggression unless they're hungry. The reason the search team hasn't found it until now is probably because it's been avoiding them."

"Avoiding them?"

"Yes, but if it gets irritated, I can't say what might happen. A snake that can discolor leaves with just its breath—if it properly unleashes its poison, dozens of plants within that range would probably wither and die instantly."

"Hmm. Then if we don't pursue it..."

"It will find a similar place and stay there."

"Are you certain?"

"After all, isn't the Nangong family sealing off the entire Guhua Mountain?"

At Cheonyeong's words, Nangong Seong-hwi, who had been pondering briefly, asked with a serious expression.

"Once your preparations are complete, can you really find it?"

"I have to find it. But it's best to withdraw the search team immediately."

"..."

"Make your own judgment. I'm just expressing my opinion."

Nangong Seong-hwi nodded and, after deep consideration, gave orders to his subordinates.

"Send word to the search team to withdraw immediately."

"Yes!"

Though the Manggongbaek was an important spiritual creature that could cure Nangong Seon-yeong's illness, he didn't want to deploy his martial artists recklessly and cause casualties.

"Tang Family Head."

"Yes?"

"I'm counting on you."

"It sounds like you're saying you'll blame me if we fail to find it after withdrawing?"

Cheonyeong spoke mischievously, and Nangong Seong-hwi waved his hand and shook his head.

"How could that be? I merely heard your opinion, but the decision was mine. I believed your words were correct. Even if we fail to capture it, I will never blame you."

"I was joking, joking. Why are you taking it so seriously?"

"Ah..."

"You said your niece's condition is serious? That the Manggongbaek is the only option?"

"Yes."

Nangong Seong-hwi's expression darkened.

From that expression alone, Cheonyeong could sense how worried he was, and he smiled and answered.

"Some preparation is needed, but as I said, I will definitely find it."

"Really? Just hearing that is enough to thank you. If you find the Manggongbaek for us, I will never forget that favor."

"I'm grateful just to hear that. But let's consider this settled."

"Huh?"

"When I met my senior brother, you didn't ask anything."

"Ah, that was..."

"It must have been difficult to understand... but consider helping with the Manggongbaek as repayment for that. The Tang Family never forgets, whether it's favor or grudge, and always repays."

"Ah..."

When Nangong Seong-hwi inadvertently exclaimed, Cheonyeong smiled slightly.

Nangong Family Head.

Did the authority that title held in this place need to be explained?

He could have asked.

He could have pushed with force to learn, regardless of rudeness, but he didn't. He always showed respect and consideration.

When the incoming words are kind, how can the outgoing words not be kind?

He would definitely repay what needed to be repaid.

And through this matter, he could build quite a significant relationship with the Nangong family.

Who could say what threat the Zhuge family, which remained a potential enemy due to friction at Dongting Lake, might pose to the Tang Family later?

The Zhuge family, at the same position as one of the Five Great Families, or perhaps even higher in terms of standing in the martial world, he needed to make them stand on his side.

"Well then, shall we seek help from the experts?"

"Experts?"

"Yes, isn't the Manggongbaek a spiritual creature that exists only in legend? It shouldn't be treated like an ordinary snake. To ensure successful capture, I want to seek help from an expert proficient in poisons."

That day, a carrier pigeon left the Beggar Gang's Anjian branch carrying the contents Cheonyeong had written, flying ceaselessly to Sichuan.

The recipient was the Hyeon Gal clan, second to none in the world when it came to knowledge of poisons and venomous creatures.

If those martial artists from the Hyeon Gal clan, who teach poisons in the Tang Family, received this, they would surely provide good methods.

They had the skills to create incomplete but effective antidotes to various poisons. Perhaps they could find a medicine to withstand the Manggongbaek's poison.

All that remained was to wait.

* * *

Staying at the camp prepared by the Nangong family, Cheonyeong examined the records about the Manggongbaek that a Nangong martial artist had provided.

There is a large cave in the mountain to the east of the village. No one has seen the snake, but every year a maiden was offered before this cave to pray for abundance.

It was a record of human sacrifice to the Manggongbaek.

Crazy people...

As if a snake had any supernatural powers.

A new magistrate, saying the snake was disturbing public sentiment, led soldiers on a snake hunt, but all the magistrate and soldiers who saw a pale shadow sweep across the sky went blind.

The notable point in subsequent records is that they went blind. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

It was probably poison.

"Hmm, the poison might be stronger than I thought?"

If the records were true, it meant fifty soldiers were poisoned by toxins before even seeing the creature.

Not only potent poison, but a fast and agile one at that.

"Capture won't be easy."

Cheonyeong frowned.

"Family Head, the promised date is almost here."

Byeon Gil-tae, who had been staying with him since the inn closed, spoke with concern.

He knew.

The date promised with the Nangong family was five days.

But the answer from the Tang Family still hadn't arrived.

Since he had made a bold claim, his mind wasn't at ease, but he couldn't set out to find the Manggongbaek without any preparation.

"Will it be alright? I also heard things while running the inn, so I know well how much effort the Nangong family is putting into this matter..."

"That's true."

Cheonyeong held a bitter smile.

After all, hadn't he withdrawn the search team according to his own opinion?

If something went wrong in a situation where Nangong Seong-hwi was being so considerate, it would be a big problem.

The relationship with the Nangong family could deteriorate after the friction at Dongting Lake...

Then it happened.

As the saying goes, even tigers come when you speak of them?

As if listening to his worries, Nangong Seong-hwi's voice came from outside the door.

"Tang Family Head, are you inside?"

"Huh?! Yes, I am."

At his call, Cheonyeong hurriedly dressed and went outside.

Surely he was impatient.

How could one not wait a few days after waiting twenty years?

In a situation where his niece, suffering from the Seven Yin Severed Meridian, was growing weaker by the day, how much would the main family be pressing him if he sealed off Guhua Mountain and did nothing?

He had no choice but to explain the situation well.

"Huh?"

But when he came outside, someone was standing next to Nangong Seong-hwi.

An old man.

His white hair was neatly combed and fixed with a hairpin, and he had a very stubborn impression.

His clothing was simple, but the feeling he emanated was incomparable to those wearing elaborate garments. And judging by the sharp aura of the three or four martial artists standing around him...

"The young family head of the Sichuan Tang Family greets a great senior of the martial world."

Cheonyeong didn't hesitate to bow respectfully to the old man.

The former family head of the Nangong family who had retired to the elder council.

But since he wasn't certain, he showed proper courtesy and used the title "senior."

Then, a subtle light appeared in the old man's eyes as he received the greeting.

"Hui, your words were right. Well done."

The expression that formed after a long while was a smile, and the words that flowed were warm praise for Nangong Seong-hwi.

"Yes, Father."

"Ha ha."

The old man who laughed at Nangong Seong-hwi's response looked at Cheonyeong.

"Your judgment was quite good. I suspected, but you could have misspoken about your status... senior."

"I'm honored by the praise from the former family head who led the Nangong family."

"Ha ha! Quite good. Your speculation seems to have turned into certainty."

"Yes, thanks to the many clues you provided."

Cheonyeong laughed along with the old man.

People call him the Eastern Sword Emperor.

Like the Three Western Sovereigns representing the west, he is the martial artist representing the east of the Central Plains.

The former master of the Nangong family, Nangong Hyeok.

The reason he is one rather than multiple like the Three Western Sovereigns is because there is no one comparable to him.

For Cheonyeong, this was his first time seeing him.

In his previous life, he had only heard rumors about him.

In fact, he had never even thought of confronting him and had avoided him instead.

How could one fight a martial artist who had achieved the realm of Controlling the Sword by becoming one with the sword?

"Pleased to meet you. I am Nangong Hyeok."

Finally revealing his identity, Cheonyeong bowed even more deeply.

"It is an honor to meet a great elder of the martial world and the Eastern Sword Emperor. I am Tang Cheonyeong."

"I've heard much about you. They say you achieved great merit at the Green Blue Sect?"

"That's too much credit. I was merely fortunate to uncover the schemes of unrighteous people, and Sword Immortal Changlim has exaggerated my small contributions too much."

"Changlim? Ha ha, that rigid fellow wouldn't exaggerate. I've seen it myself, and it's even more impressive than the rumors."

"To receive such praise from one who has already reached the realm of Controlling the Sword, I don't know what to do with myself."

"Ha ha, what's so special about Controlling the Sword? I've trained my whole life and haven't yet reached the realm of Commanding the Sword, so I'm ashamed."

Controlling and Commanding.

The difference between governing and controlling.

Commonly called the difference between unity of man and sword and the higher realm of commanding the sword.

But since he couldn't even attempt to imitate it, to Cheonyeong it seemed like just the words of those who had it, being modest.

Whether riding on a sword or controlling a sword... either way, didn't it require transcendent power beyond human limits?

The enlightenment might be different...

But why has this monster come?

Could it be to rebuke him for making bold claims and doing nothing?

(End of Chapter)