"Master?"
My father-in-law looked at Cheol Suryeon with an expression that said he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
She had once been one of the Five Great Villains, feared for her countless evil deeds and martial prowess.
Seeing such a person kneeling before me and showing obedience was naturally hard to accept.
My father-in-law seemed like he was about to send me a telepathic message but quickly stopped.
He knew Cheol Suryeon might overhear.
"…What is going on here?"
"She has no choice but to follow my orders."
I responded vaguely, unable to reveal that she had succumbed to Heaven's Authority.
I couldn't very well demonstrate how I absorbed her spirit (Baek, 魄) either.
Sama Yeong, looking bewildered, finally spoke.
"You mean she's following you?"
But the question wasn't directed at me — it was aimed at Cheol Suryeon.
Cheol Suryeon, still on the ground, frowned slightly as she looked up. I interjected.
"She's going to be my wife."
"Wife?"
At that, Cheol Suryeon gave a peculiar look and glanced between my father-in-law and Sama Yeong.
Then, as if submitting, she answered Sama Yeong respectfully.
"Yes, Mistress."
Apparently liking that title, Sama Yeong's expression softened.
Though she had been wary due to Cheol Suryeon's youthful beauty, it seemed my firm attitude and Cheol Suryeon's behavior cleared up any misunderstandings.
"Ahem. But still… why exactly are you following him?"
At Sama Yeong's question, Cheol Suryeon bit her lower lip before answering.
"I cannot say."
Even she refused to explain due to her pride.
No one wants their weakness exposed to others.
I exchanged glances with Sama Yeong — a silent way of promising to explain it privately later.
Perhaps understanding, she sighed and nodded, then turned to me.
"You're even keeping such a powerful person as a personal attendant now?"
I racked my brain at her words, trying to catch the hidden meaning.
Then I thought of something that wouldn't upset her.
"If you want, Yeong-ah, she can serve as your attendant."
"…What?"
I said it like I was being generous. Sama Yeong's eyes widened in surprise.
After all, I was handing over a villainess who had once stood shoulder-to-shoulder with her father — it was a shocking gesture.
Meanwhile, Cheol Suryeon's face twisted in displeasure.
Though she had yielded to me, yielding to anyone else wasn't easy for her.
So, I sent her a telepathic message:
> [Treat only my wife and those I hold dear as you treat me. You needn't submit to anyone else.]
> [...Truly?]
> [Yes.]
Hearing that, Cheol Suryeon's expression relaxed noticeably.
She bowed respectfully to Sama Yeong and spoke.
"I shall serve Mistress as per Master's command."
"Ah… uh…"
Sama Yeong, caught off guard, glanced awkwardly at her father.
My father-in-law, clicking his tongue as if the situation was absurd, looked at me.
His gaze seemed to say:
'You've made sure she's under control, right?'
I guess I've gotten sharper with reading people.
I gave a small nod.
Then, staring intently at Cheol Suryeon, he said to Sama Yeong:
"It's a show of sincerity from the man who will become your husband. Accept it."
"…Will it really be okay?"
"If it's not, then your future husband had better be prepared for the consequences."
At those words, I quietly swallowed.
It was a warning — if anything went wrong, he wouldn't let it slide.
I've grown stronger than him, but maybe because he's my father-in-law, I still find myself sweating nervously in front of him.
> A father-in-law is like an immovable mountain in a man's heart, said my previous sword spirit.
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
That guy doesn't even have a lover. Why is he so experienced?
> He just knows all the theory.
> Ahem.
At Sodom Sword's jab, Namcheon Steel Sword gave an awkward cough.
Once my father-in-law said it was okay, Sama Yeong, as if resigning herself, extended her hand to Cheol Suryeon and said,
"Alright. But still — you were once a peer of my father's. Being just an attendant doesn't feel right. Be my guard and companion instead. I'll call you unni."
"Ah…"
Hearing that, Cheol Suryeon seemed to brighten and took her hand.
Being treated as a guard rather than a servant or slave — of course it would feel much better.
Thanks to Sama Yeong's wise handling, things didn't escalate.
> She's surprisingly simple. Just a bait-and-switch trick.
I chuckled inwardly at Sodom Sword's comment.
It's just a small improvement from being a slave — but people's hearts are strange like that. A small gesture can feel huge.
> Anyway, looks like you avoided getting scolded for bringing her along.
Indeed, it worked out nicely.
My father-in-law can't always stay by Sama Yeong's side.
Though Sama Yeong is an outstanding master herself, given the level of danger, having someone like Cheol Suryeon — someone who surpassed even the wall of mastery — would definitely give me peace of mind.
Just then, Sama Yeong turned to me.
"Oh! Gongja-nim, this isn't the time for this!"
"Hm?"
"You see, that young lady has been looking all over for you… Oh!"
Mid-sentence, she turned her head toward the door.
She must have sensed someone approaching.
Ah, what a noble lady indeed.
Judging from the energy, it was my younger sister, Yeongyeong.
The one with her, who had completely suppressed their presence, could only be Seol Baek.
I'd asked her to keep an eye on Yeongyeong — looks like she stuck close.
> Knock knock!
Unlike last time, Yeongyeong knocked on the door.
Maybe she felt awkward since my father-in-law was present.
The door opened, and Yeongyeong entered with Seol Baek.
"Ora-beoni."
Seeing me, Yeongyeong let out a sigh of relief.
She must've been worried since I hadn't returned alone last night.
Noticing the others in the room, she spoke in an unusually calm tone.
"The whole city is in chaos ri—"
Just then—
Before she could finish her sentence, someone shot in like lightning — aiming straight for Seol Baek.
Seol Baek pushed Yeongyeong aside and blocked the attack.
> PAPAPAPAK!
The one who launched a strike at her was none other than Cheol Suryeon.
In an instant, the two women's palm and foot techniques clashed violently, aiming to take each other's lives.
Each time their hands crossed, the gusts of wind and the sound of the air being ripped apart left Yeong-yeong dumbfounded.
–Pak!
In a fleeting moment, after exchanging around five techniques, the two women suddenly stopped fighting.
Strictly speaking, it wasn't that they stopped on their own — I had forcibly halted them by grabbing both their wrists as I stepped in between them.
The two women shouted at me at the same time.
"This woman is a close aide of that man!"
"She once followed the Golden Emperor!"
Good grief, my eardrums…
They yelled simultaneously from both sides, and my eardrums felt like they were about to burst.
Even I hadn't expected this situation.
Come to think of it, Seol Baek, having served the Golden Emperor as a loyal aide for nearly 300 years, must have known Cheol Suryeon's true identity. And Cheol Suryeon, with her superhuman hearing, could recognize someone's identity from the sound of their heartbeat, regardless of disguise.
–What an absurd situation. People like this all gathered in one place.
Exactly.
It wasn't intentional, but even I found it a spectacle.
Yeong-yeong, startled, quickly said to me:
"O-Oppabeoni (big brother)! She said that woman served the Golden Emperor!"
"Let's calm down and listen to what I have to say."
As things were getting chaotic, I decided to calm them down first.
At that, Seol Baek glared coldly at Cheol Suryeon and said warningly,
"Do you know who she is? She's one of the Five Great Evildoers…"
"I know. She's Cheol Suryeon, the Evilhearted Granny."
"The Evilhearted Granny?!"
At my words, Yeong-yeong was visibly shocked.
Of course, it was natural to be surprised.
The Evilhearted Granny, Cheol Suryeon, had long been infamous throughout the martial world as a vicious old villain — who would ever imagine such a being to be a stunning beauty?
That alone would be shocking enough, but her true identity must have been even more surprising.
"That woman is the Evilhearted Granny? But I thought you said..."
"She's not dead. And this is her real appearance."
"Her real appearance?"
Yeong-yeong looked completely bewildered.
On the other hand, Seol Baek seemed confused that Cheol Suryeon was even here and asked me:
"Don't tell me… you brought her here knowing who she is?"
Judging by her tone, it seemed the two didn't have a particularly good relationship during their time under the Golden Emperor.
Cheol Suryeon also spoke with displeasure:
"She was the Golden Emperor's loyal servant for over 300 years. She's a dangerous woman, far more than you imagine."
"Both of you, calm down."
The inner force of the two women whose wrists I was holding was steadily rising.
If I let go now, they looked ready to fight to the death at any moment.
My father-in-law folded his arms and silently observed the chaos, as if to say, "You caused this, so you deal with it."
"Huuu…"
I released a bit of my energy, just enough for them to feel it, and warned:
"I said stop."
–Flinch!
It worked quite well.
Pressed by the weight of my presence, both women withdrew their energy and stepped back a few paces.
Really, how typical of martial artists — acting first with their fists before anything else.
Clicking my tongue, I looked between them and spoke gently:
"Neither of you are with the Golden Emperor anymore, so you're not enemies."
"Not with the Golden Emperor? That woman could never betray him. She's deceiving—"
"Who's deceiving whom?"
Seol Baek cut off Cheol Suryeon's words with a sharp tone.
Then, as if she couldn't understand, she asked:
"Cheol Suryeon. Why do you keep calling Woon-hwi 'Master'?"
At that, Cheol Suryeon bit her lips tightly.
Though she had pledged to serve me, it must have been humiliating for her to admit she submitted to someone who knew her past.
But after glancing at me, she replied in a shrinking voice:
"I… decided to serve this person."
"…What?"
Seol Baek's eyebrow shot up.
Yeong-yeong, on the other hand, was completely confused and turned to me.
"What's going on? She said she'll serve you?"
"She's going to serve me and Yeong-a."
Yeong-yeong's eyes widened in disbelief at that.
Sama-yeong nodded calmly and said to her:
"That's how it turned out, miss."
"...One of the Five Great Evildoers is going to serve you and big sis?"
From her voice and expression, it seemed her soul had just left her body.
Even for her, it was hard to believe that one of the most notorious figures in the world had submitted like this.
Even I had to admit — this was a ridiculous development.
At that moment, Seol Baek raised the corner of her lips, gave a sly smile, then suddenly wrapped her arms around mine and spoke to Cheol Suryeon:
"Oh my~ You used to serve my husband? You should've said so earlier."
'!?'
At Seol Baek's teasing words, Cheol Suryeon's face stiffened.
It must've been completely unexpected.
With an incredulous tone, Cheol Suryeon retorted:
"Our husband? You… what are you—"
"Oh, you didn't know? Sister Sama-yeong is the first wife, I'm the second."
"Wife? …Ha!"
As Cheol Suryeon stood dumbfounded, Seol Baek smiled sweetly and said:
"Now that the hierarchy is clear, you'd better behave, right?"
"…What did you say?"
–Grit!
Cheol Suryeon ground her teeth, her face flushing red with anger.
Come to think of it, since she once had a deep relationship with the Golden Emperor, perhaps his other loyal aides had tiptoed around her in the past.
–The tables have turned.
Maybe so.
Seol Baek was clearly enjoying this moment.
She egged her on even more:
"Shouldn't you call me Mistress now? Go on, try it."
Grinding her teeth in frustration, Cheol Suryeon struggled to contain her fury.
If I hadn't been here, things would've already exploded.
–This tension is intense.
…Yeah, seriously.
Judging by the atmosphere, this is going to continue for a while.
It'd be best to separate them.
First, I needed to change the topic.
"Yeong-yeong."
"H-huh?"
Yeong-yeong, who had been watching the showdown absent-mindedly, snapped back to attention at my call.
I asked:
"You said earlier that things were in chaos. What did you mean?"
At that, she clapped her hands and said:
"Right! The whole castle's in an uproar because of you, Oppabeoni!"
"Why?"
Was it because of what happened last night inside the castle?
If everything went as planned, people would be wary of the Golden Emperor, and there would be rumors that I, as the Little Sword Immortal, had teamed up with the Blood Demon to drive out the enemy.
That could help form an alliance between the orthodox and unorthodox factions.
But then Yeong-yeong said something I didn't expect.
"Everyone in the Murim Alliance is calling you the Greatest Sword Under Heaven!"
"…What?"
What the heck is this about?
Where did that come from?
This wasn't what I intended.
"The Greatest Sword Under Heaven?"
"The former leader of the Murim Alliance said he saw you pierce through a mountain with your sword and admitted he had no confidence to beat you — so he declared he's stepping down as leader!"
'!!!'
…You've got to be kidding me.
Thanks to Baek Hyang-muk pushing things onto me, my true strength had been completely exposed.