Standing the Sword Upright
An unexpected uproar broke out within the Cheon Clan.
The cause was none other than the Cheon Clan's infamous butcher of a first young master—Cheon Muyang.
"What on earth did he go and mess up this time...."
The moment Cheon Muyang returned to the clan, he summoned all of the clan's key figures in the name of the first young master.
"He'd been quiet lately—looks like his butcher's disease flared up again."
And so, everyone gathered at the Grand Training Grounds.
There, the warriors of So-Eungbang were kneeling, bound tightly with ropes.
"What is this?"
"Judging by their clothes, they're from So-Eungbang?"
Confusion spread.
So-Eungbang was supposed to be an ally of the Cheon Clan.
"Where is the first young master?"
Everyone searched for Cheon Muyang, the one who would explain this situation.
Step. Step.
Someone approached.
With each step, an invisible pressure surged upward—fierce and chilling beyond measure.
"Hk!"
An eerie silence fell.
Only the sound of footsteps echoed.
"F-first young master?"
How could that butcher of a first young master emit such an overwhelming presence?
Some failed to hide their confusion.
"H-head of the Inspection Division?"
But their shock didn't end there.
A man was being dragged along like a dog, bound tightly with ropes.
"I—I will never let this matter slide!"
Cheon Ahaeng, his face flushed crimson, shouted in outrage.
Cheon Muyang, however, looked as if he were wondering where a dog was barking.
"Do whatever you want."
"Y-you—!"
Cheon Ahaeng wanted nothing more than to tear the ropes apart, but he couldn't.
"Greetings to the Clan Head."
Behind Cheon Muyang walked Cheon Wigang, the head of the Cheon Clan.
"...!"
His steadfast presence, like an iron fortress, was completely different from the sharp edge Cheon Muyang radiated.
The gaze of an absolute authority settled upon Cheon Muyang.
"Why have you summoned everyone here?"
The heavy voice seized control of the entire training ground in an instant.
Even without facing him directly, most felt a faint but undeniable pressure.
That was the Cheon Clan's first pillar—Cheon Wigang.
Kuuuuung!
Yet Cheon Muyang remained calm.
The mountain-like pressure seemed utterly incapable of affecting him.
"I am here to report the corruption of So-Eungbang in Soheung, as well as the Head of the Inspection Division."
"Corruption, you say."
Cheon Wigang's gaze shifted to Cheon Ahaeng, bound with ropes.
Flinch.
At that gaze alone, Cheon Ahaeng lowered his head.
He couldn't even bring himself to meet the clan head's eyes.
"...Do you have evidence?"
"Yes."
Cheon Muyang nodded and pulled several sheets of paper from his robes.
"These documents confirm that the residents of Soheung have been exploited by So-Eungbang for years."
"...."
"Beyond the taxes paid to the Cheon Clan, So-Eungbang extorted them under all kinds of pretexts."
He then produced another set of documents—the detailed records of the Head of the Inspection Division's corruption, obtained from Cheon Seonhak.
"And these detail the funds the Head of the Inspection Division siphoned from the clan."
"Hk!"
Cheon Ahaeng's face went pale.
But it wasn't over yet.
"I also confirmed the ledger So-Eungbangju possessed."
Thud.
Cheon Muyang tossed the ledger forward.
Inside was a meticulous record of the flow of funds that had gone from So-Eungbang straight into Cheon Ahaeng's hands.
"Where is So-Eungbangju?"
Only then did Cheon Wigang realize that So-Eungbangju was nowhere to be seen.
"I killed him."
"You killed him?"
"Yes."
Not a trace of hesitation.
Cheon Muyang continued.
"I intended to capture him alive, but it seems he had colluded with the Demonic Cult."
"T-the Demonic Cult!"
Everyone was stunned.
Cheon Wigang's brow twitched.
Why was the Demonic Cult's name being mentioned here?
"Did you just say the Demonic Cult?"
"Yes."
Cheon Muyang briefly explained what had occurred at So-Eungbang.
As the shock spread—
"How interesting."
The silent Third Elder stepped forward.
Chuckling hollowly, he advanced and pressed Cheon Muyang with his words.
"However, isn't all of this merely the first young master's one-sided claim?"
The Third Elder glanced at the documents and casually crumpled them in his hand.
"The scraps of paper you're presenting as evidence could easily be forged as well."
"...."
"So by what means do you intend to prove this corruption, First Young Master?"
Cheon Muyang fell silent.
Seeing this, the Third Elder grew more self-satisfied and pressed him even harder.
"And this talk of the Demonic Cult...."
The Third Elder clicked his tongue.
It was open mockery.
"You've gone too far, First Young Master. Even lies require a modicum of sincerity."
"A lie, you say...."
Cheon Muyang swept his gaze around.
Most of them looked doubtful.
No matter how much he had changed, the image of him as a butcher was too deeply ingrained to fade so easily.
"Do you not realize that perjury is an unforgivable crime, even for a First Young Master?"
The Third Elder subtly steered the situation into a smear against Cheon Muyang.
"I don't know what motive led you to cause such a disturbance, but I believe it would be wise to stop here."
A faint threat.
An unspoken pressure weighed down on him.
Snort.
Cheon Muyang smiled.
If he intended to stop here, he wouldn't have started in the first place.
"Lord of the Thousand Gold Pavilion."
Leaving the Third Elder behind, Cheon Muyang suddenly called out to the Lord of the Thousand Gold Pavilion.
"Yes?"
"The usury case I mentioned before—how far has your investigation progressed?"
"Ah... th-that is...."
"Don't tell me you still haven't found the culprit?"
"Well, the matter was concluded as a deviation by a small number of pavilion members—"
The Thousand Gold Pavilion Lord was visibly flustered.
Seeing that, Cheon Muyang's smile turned ice-cold.
"A deviation by a few individuals? Then where are those involved?"
The pavilion lord stammered.
"Th-that is... th-they already fled, so we were planning to issue warrants shortly—"
"There's no need."
A new voice entered.
The moment he heard it, the corner of Cheon Muyang's mouth lifted slightly.
It was Cheon Seonhak.
"I brought those involved."
Thud!
Several unconscious figures were slung over Cheon Seonhak's shoulders.
As if that weren't enough, more unconscious bodies were dragged along in both of his hands.
Their faces were swollen and bloodied—clear signs of a one-sided beating.
"They were lackeys of the Inspection Division."
Cheon Seonhak tossed them aside as if dumping luggage.
Seeing Cheon Seonhak, who looked as though he had reached a firm resolution, Cheon Muyang lowered his head slightly.
'So you attained enlightenment.'
It was an achievement years earlier than before.
Congratulations could wait.
'First, what's in front of us.'
With Cheon Seonhak present, there was no longer any need for courtesy.
With a presence entirely different from before, Cheon Muyang pressured the Thousand Gold Pavilion Lord.
"H-hic!"
The pavilion lord's startled expression—so shocked he nearly hiccupped—was almost impressive.
Seeing it, Cheon Muyang smiled gently.
"You should've cut ties with the Head of the Inspection Division earlier. When a tail gets too long, it gets caught."
"...."
Though the words were directed at the pavilion lord, it was the Third Elder whose expression twisted.
Whether he noticed or not, Cheon Muyang pulled out the documents he had received from Geumsan.
Snap!
"Th-this is!"
"No need to be so surprised."
The Thousand Gold Pavilion Lord's eyes bulged.
These were documents that should never have existed.
"H-how did these come into your hands, First Young Master?!"
Cheon Muyang smiled faintly and showed them to the Third Elder as well.
"Third Elder, do you think this can also be forged?"
The documents were official internal forms used by the Thousand Gold Pavilion.
And stamped clearly below was the seal of the Thousand Gold Pavilion Lord.
"...."
The Third Elder realized it then.
This had all been Cheon Muyang's trap.
Sensing danger, the Third Elder discreetly sent a covert signal somewhere, careful not to draw attention.
"For the Thousand Gold Pavilion, tasked with properly managing clan funds, and the Inspection Division, meant to oversee them, to collude in siphoning off the clan's capital."
It was embezzlement in its most perfect form.
And a form of embezzlement that should never have existed under any circumstances.
Cheon Muyang brought Cheon-gwang up to the pavilion lord's neck.
"F-first Young Master!"
"I'll give you one last chance. Where did all the siphoned funds go?"
What was in So-Eungbang was only a part.
There was no way that was all.
"Th-that is!"
"You didn't do this alone, did you?"
He wasn't capable of it.
The pavilion lord was nothing more than a hyena obsessed with his own survival.
"Tell me who's behind it."
Cheon Muyang didn't miss the pavilion lord's eyes briefly flicking toward the Third Elder.
"Or will you die carrying all the disgrace yourself?"
Hwoooong!
Cheon-gwang lifted toward the sky.
Faced with a blade that looked ready to strike down at any moment, the pavilion lord tried to speak.
"Thir—!"
That was when it happened.
Kwa-ga-ga-gang!
Gray smoke suddenly erupted across the Grand Training Grounds.
"Smoke bombs!"
"It's an ambush!"
Chaos broke out.
Shiiik!
Hidden weapons surged toward Cheon Muyang and the pavilion lord through the smoke.
"Pathetic tricks."
But before they could even reach Cheon Muyang, the weapons clattered harmlessly to the ground.
Cheon Seonhak had stepped forward.
Like an ironclad shield.
Under Cheon Wigang's command—
The chaos was swiftly suppressed.
Fwoooosh!
Cheon Wigang swept his sword, dispersing the gray smoke.
And within it lay the Thousand Gold Pavilion Lord, who should have been unharmed—collapsed, froth spilling from his mouth.
"Grrrk!"
"...!"
The convulsing body soon went still.
Crack.
Cheon Muyang rushed over, but it was already too late.
The pavilion lord was dead, eyes still wide open.
"Damn it...."
Cheon Muyang ground his teeth.
It seemed that the gray smoke had acted as a medium to activate something engraved into the Lord of the Thousand Gold Pavilion.
Whip!
Cheon Muyang turned his head, searching for the Head of the Inspection Division.
Fortunately, Cheon Ahaeng was still alive.
The Third Elder, who stood beside him, approached with a grave expression.
"The Lord of the Thousand Gold Pavilion is dead."
"...."
"Judging by the situation, this incident appears to have been the result of the pavilion lord's unilateral actions. The Clan Head should focus on tracking the funds he siphoned off."
The Third Elder's intention was clear.
He meant to conclude everything as the lone crime of the pavilion lord.
Cheon Wigang fixed his gaze on the Third Elder.
Gooooooo!
It was a strange standoff.
They looked ready to strike at any moment.
At that hair-trigger instant—
"Clan Head, I have a proposal."
Cheon Muyang stepped forward.
Without even shifting his gaze, Cheon Wigang replied.
"Speak."
"The position of Head of the Inspection Division, which will soon be vacant."
"...?"
"Give it to me."
"W-what did you say?"
The Third Elder spoke instead of Cheon Wigang, his face filled with disbelief.
"First Young Master, the position of Head of the Inspection Division must be appointed by the Council of Elders."
Snort.
Cheon Muyang smiled.
"And isn't that precisely why this mess happened?"
"W-what did you say?!"
The Third Elder's face flushed crimson.
"You're reacting quite strongly. Does that mean you have something to hide?"
"W-what nonsense are you spouting?!"
"If that's not the case—"
"...!"
"Is there some reason I shouldn't become the Head of the Inspection Division?"
The situation had shifted.
The initiative was clearly in Cheon Muyang's hands, and the Third Elder clenched his teeth.
"That's enough."
Cheon Wigang withdrew his pressure.
Then he delivered his judgment.
"The seat of the Lord of the Thousand Gold Pavilion will remain vacant for the time being."
"...."
Cheon Wigang looked directly at Cheon Muyang.
"You said you want the position of Head of the Inspection Division?"
"Yes."
"Very well. Do as you wish."
"Thank you."
"But there is a condition."
"Yes. Please speak."
"If you fail to produce results within fifteen days, I will strip you of that position."
"...."
"Can you not do it?"
"There's no chance of that."
Cheon Muyang smiled.
Wasn't this exactly what he had wanted?
He issued a warning to everyone gathered there.
"Unfortunately, it seems there are quite a few people rotting the clan from the inside."
"...."
"You'd all better stay on edge. As you know, I have the temperament of a butcher."
Thud.
His smile vanished.
A blade-like sharpness swept across the entire training ground, as if to split the sky.
"There will be no sanctuaries anywhere in the Cheon Clan."
Glance.
By coincidence—or perhaps not—
Cheon Muyang's final gaze settled on the Third Elder.