Book 17 Chapter 12

Destruction & Rebirth

- Mountains and Sky

A desolate land, a burning pavilion, beams burning and collapsing, thick pillars turning into black ash and scattering like black snow in a turbid sky. Within it, a weak being named Mo Yong-hwi was burning himself.

It lay on the ground. He stared at it with trembling eyes. It was small. So he had to look down. He was now forced to look down at what he had always had to look up to. It was a face. The face he admired and revered, the face that had always been kind to him, the person who had shown him the path of the sword, a beloved bloodline, and the ultimate goal he thought would last forever.

The face lying alone on the ground was that of his grandfather, Sword Saint Mo Yong-jeongcheon. He was looking down at it. There was no body beneath his grandfather. All that remained was his neck. The earth was absorbing the red blood, dyeing its yellow hue a crimson.

Who dared to do this? Endless tears streamed down his cheeks.

"Who dared to do this…"

Mo Yong-hwi raised his sticky left hand and looked at its palm. A blood-red hand filled his vision. No, it was blood. Undeniable blood. Hot blood that had been circulating in another's body just moments ago.

"Whose blood is this?"

Mo Yong-hwi looked at his right hand again. There was a sword. It was the very sword his grandfather, who was now beneath his eyes, had gifted him to commemorate his coming-of-age ceremony at the age of fifteen.

So precious that he never missed a day of carrying it, its blade, which had always shone as brightly as the first snow, was now stained with thick, viscous blood. Indeed, whose blood was this?

At that moment, the severed head's eyes flashed open. The bloodshot pupils flickered with hatred.

"Have you forgotten whose blood it is!"

A roar erupted. Tears of blood flowed from his grandfather's eyes.

"No, no! No! It can't be!"

Mo Yong-hwi screamed as if he had gone mad. He wanted to run away somewhere. The reality was too heavy for him to bear. Therefore, he wanted to turn away. He wanted to disappear somewhere, anywhere but here.

Cracks appeared in the sky, and the earth split. Then, he felt a dizzying sense of falling. He tumbled into the abyss of emptiness.

The world collapsed.

"Grandfather!"

Mo Yong-hwi jumped up from his bed, screaming as if his throat would tear. His body was drenched in sweat.

"Shut up!"

Whoosh!

Thump!

Suddenly, a pillow flew and struck the back of his head. While normally he would never have allowed such a playful attack, in his current state of complete defenselessness, it hit him squarely.

"You're too loud! How many times is this? Let me sleep!"

Bi Ryu-yeon yelled irritably, pulling the covers over himself. Since that day, sleeping at night had become a significant hardship. He couldn't be happy. While one might argue that food and sleep are not the most important things for humans, they are unavoidable for anyone trying to sustain life.

"I-I'm sorry. I had that terrible dream again…"

"The dream you've been having every night?"

Mo Yong-hwi carefully nodded his pale, sweat-drenched face.

"Tsk tsk, a dream is just a dream. It disappears when you wake up, like the morning mist. It's unacceptable to disturb someone else's sleep by being caught up in a mere dream. Don't you think so?"

It seemed that comfort and sympathy were not in his vocabulary. However, strangely, when he heard these sharp words that treated his worries as lighter than a feather, Mo Yong-hwi felt a burden lift from his heart. Whether intentional or not, it was fortunate to have someone to share his worries with.

"By the way… Ryu-yeon."

"What is it?"

Bi Ryu-yeon replied, still buried under the covers.

"May I ask you one thing?"

"If it's a love confession, I refuse."

Bi Ryu-yeon replied curtly.

"W-who said it was a love confession? I'm serious. Can't you take it seriously too?"

"Then I'll need consultation fees!"

"Consultation fees? You charge those too?"

Mo Yong-hwi asked in astonishment.

"Of course. Especially for nighttime consultations, there's an additional charge. It's not an exception even between friends."

"Since when have there been such things?"

"Just now! If you're prepared to listen to my advice, you must pay a commensurate price. Don't you think you should be prepared to pay that much to use someone's valuable time? You should consider yourself fortunate that I've waived the sleep disturbance fee. Understand? Then why should you pay? Let me explain. Paying money means you are prepared to listen to my advice. But if not, can you say you are placing that much value on my words? If you're looking for sympathy from me, you'd better give up. And if you truly want advice, pay the corresponding price. Without that much resolve, your body isn't seeking someone else's advice, but is merely acting for self-satisfaction for having done something. So, it's better not to even attempt such a meaningless act. I have no desire to give advice that you won't listen to anyway. This is also called the law of equivalent exchange."

"I-is that so? Then, if I pay, will you listen to my question?"

"Yes!"

Bi Ryu-yeon's answer was brief and clear.

"What will you do?"

"I will pay!"

Mo Yong-hwi nodded. He had decided to throw money on the ground. But it also meant he was desperate.

"Alright, then let me hear it. This is what we call a 'giveaway service.' Keep that in mind."

There were too many things in the world that absolutely needed to be known to remember such things, so Mo Yong-hwi decided to forget it. Instead, he asked about the question that had been bothering him lately.

"What do you think about killing someone?"

"It's about excluding the other party from my world."

Bi Ryu-yeon answered simply.

"Excluding?"

"Yes. My belief is that those who dare to invade my world without permission must be severely punished."

"Then what does it mean to be invaded? Does it refer to a threat of being killed?"

"Hmm, it doesn't necessarily have to be an intention to kill me. Those cases are rather simple. You just have to give back what others are trying to do. If someone tries to kill you or harm you, shouldn't you always be prepared to face the same fate in case of an emergency? If not, and only claiming human rights when you are harmed, you deserve to die. Wouldn't it be better to take care of one more good person than to let such guys live?"

Bi Ryu-yeon's words were sharp and utterly cold.

"Those are violent remarks."

As someone who always acted according to tradition, Mo Yong-hwi found Bi Ryu-yeon's unconventional thinking very uncomfortable.

"Well, it's not just the intent to kill. Useless advice is the same. There are people who always try to give advice to others, even when they can't be like that themselves. Good intentions don't always lead to good results. In unexpected cases, this can result in trampling on someone else's world with muddy feet. Therefore, advice should always be given with caution."

He was surprisingly meticulous about certain things. That was probably the value this friend, Bi Ryu-yeon, sought to protect.

"……"

"So, what do you think? Will you still ask for advice? As I warned you beforehand, it means I will be invading your world. Are you willing to accept that?"

"Does advice hold such great meaning?"

"At least, I think so. That's why I don't like unnecessary interference in the name of advice. Because it's invading my world."

Bi Ryu-yeon's thoughts were firm. However, a question remained.

"Still, humans cannot live alone, can they?"

"Of course, there are times when advice is needed. But shouldn't you first examine yourself accurately? Knowing when you need advice is also a skill. I may not have it yet, but advice is needed when you know what you need. Forcing me to break my rules is not advice. That is an invasion. Still, are you willing to do it? This is my final warning. What will you do?"

"I am."

Mo Yong-hwi's heart was so desperate that he would cling to a rotten rope.

Then, finally, Bi Ryu-yeon got up from his seat.

"Here!"

And Mo Yong-hwi could see the white hand extended before his eyes. Just as Mo Yong-hwi was about to grasp his friend's hand with a touch of emotion, his friend said.

"Payment in advance!"

"So, you're troubled because you don't know how to handle that terrifying request from old man Hyeok?"

"That's right."

Mo Yong-hwi nodded.

"Just kill him."

Bi Ryu-yeon asked, as if wondering what there was to worry about.

"Ryu-yeon! Are you even talking sense!"

Mo Yong-hwi shouted, genuinely angry. The usually quiet man, once he became angry, felt as if a thousand blades were shooting out from his body.

"Alright, alright. It was a joke, a joke. Why are you getting so serious and angry?"

"Please be serious. You received payment in advance, didn't you?"

That statement stimulated Bi Ryu-yeon's merchant spirit.

"Hmm, I see. Then how about thinking of it this way?"

"How?"

"That the request contains another hidden intention."

"Hidden intention?"

Bi Ryu-yeon nodded.

"It's dangerous to take what others say literally. Usually, people are reluctant to express their intentions directly. So they tend to hide behind layers of words. At the time, you were so shocked that you were confused, so you might not have grasped the intention. What do you think? Do you have any guesses?"

Bi Ryu-yeon cross-examined. But Mo Yong-hwi shook his head.

"Actually, I've been worried about something too, and I've been thinking about it constantly for the past few days. That's why I've been having nightmares. But no matter how much I think about it, I don't know. I have no idea. So, I'm actually frustrated."

"Really nothing? Think carefully. How about thinking more flexibly?"

Bi Ryu-yeon urged.

"I still don't know."

"Ugh~"

Bi Ryu-yeon felt a bit of anxiety. This wouldn't do. He had to win the bet. However, due to the agreement, he was forbidden from providing help beyond a certain level. He had to think of an indirect method. After much deliberation, Bi Ryu-yeon, as if a good idea had occurred to him, snapped his fingers and said.

"Then how about this? Ask directly."

"A-ask? Ask who? Old man Hyeok knows nothing…"

"Who said to ask that old man? He wouldn't tell you even if he knew."

"Then who should I ask?"

"Who else! Your grandfather."

Mo Yong-hwi's mouth dropped open at Bi Ryu-yeon's assertion.

"That's ridiculous! How can that be possible? Are you sane?"

"First, I'm sane. As long as you don't decide it's impossible, it's not impossible yet. It's your decision."

"That's absurd. What am I supposed to ask? 'Who ordered me to kill my grandfather? What should I do?' Is that it?"

"That's direct, which is good."

Mo Yong-hwi blurted out in anger.

"Is there a grandson who ponders such a question? Refusing such an unreasonable order is the natural stance of a grandson. That's filial impiety!"

Bi Ryu-yeon tutted as if pitying him.

"Then why are you, who is rumored to be so intelligent, pondering it?"

"Th-that's…"

He mumbled.

"Aren't you pondering because something is bothering you?"

That's right. The reason he couldn't firmly refuse at the time was that something deeply bothered him. His heart whispered to look beyond the surface. But after several sleepless nights, he still couldn't find an answer.

"There are answers that don't come from self-reflection alone. Some things you only know by experiencing them directly. Your grandfather might offer a new interpretation. After all, words are a poor means of communication, and various interpretations arise. If it weren't the only means, I wouldn't use it."

"Words… are they…"

"Go and ask. And confirm whether it was the mountain or the sky. Then, you might understand the meaning of those words. Our consultation ends here for today."

And then he lay down on the bed again and pulled the covers over himself. However, Mo Yong-hwi couldn't stop asking questions.

"Th-then, do you understand the hidden meaning behind what old man Hyeok said?"

Bi Ryu-yeon didn't budge.

"…The consultation time is over. Good night, then."

Bi Ryu-yeon waved his hand dismissively from under the covers.

"Are we continuing the consultation tomorrow?"

"If you pay extra."

And then he fell asleep.

Thus, Mo Yong-hwi, rather than feeling lighter, felt heavier, questioning why he had wasted his precious time paying for an absurd consultation. Why had he paid money to listen to that human's absurd consultation?

"If you're prepared to listen to my advice, you must pay a commensurate price."

Bi Ryu-yeon's words echoed in his ears again. Would he ignore the value of the money he paid, or should he execute it with the resolve of fighting a desperate battle? Ultimately, the choice was his own.

'Should I really go crazy and try it?'

The saying "He who walks with a blacksmith will be blackened by charcoal" came to Mo Yong-hwi's mind.

"Why are you hesitating, Hwi? You're not acting like yourself."

Sword Saint Mo Yong-jeongcheon asked in a gentle voice as he poured tea for his beloved grandson.

"That's… um…"

With his head bowed and looking flustered, Mo Yong-hwi accepted the teacup.

'Why am I sitting here, accepting the tea my grandfather is giving me so casually?'

Could it be that Bi Ryu-yeon's words had some hypnotic power? If not, why was he acting according to his words the next day?

"……"

No matter how many times he asked himself, he couldn't find an answer. Seeing his grandson's unease, the Sword Saint opened his mouth.

"If you have something to worry about, tell me. You must have something to say, right?"

As expected, age couldn't be deceived. The Sword Saint accurately pinpointed Mo Yong-hwi's concern.

"A person of upright conduct has no fear when speaking. You, who are always excessively obsessed with rule adherence, are hesitating to speak to me, so I am curious about your worries."

His kind words almost brought tears to his eyes. In fact, his current worries were too heavy to bear alone. He was exhausted and wanted to put down the burden as soon as possible. However, it was a worry that couldn't be shared carelessly. Wasn't there no spell more powerful than kind words? Finally, the lock on his heart opened. At the same time, tears poured out. Mo Yong-hwi began to talk about what had happened. Once he started speaking, he couldn't stop.

"Puhahahahahaha!"

After hearing his grandson's entire story, the Sword Saint's action was beyond imagination. He burst into laughter. He laughed heartily, as if he were happy and joyful.

Mo Yong-hwi, beside him, tried to calm his grandfather's sudden reaction, but it was no use. Only after laughing for a long time did the Sword Saint finally show signs of calming down.

"Hehehe! To shake your always cold reason with a single word and make you ponder and ponder… That's quite a task, just like him."

"Can that be called a task?"

"Of course, it's a task. And a very difficult one, at that. Hahaha!"

The Sword Saint burst into hearty laughter again. Mo Yong-hwi suddenly began to feel angry as a series of incomprehensible situations unfolded before his eyes.

"Why aren't you angry?"

"Huh? Why should this old man be angry? There's no reason at all, is there?"

The Sword Saint said with a look that suggested he had heard everything.

"I am a failed grandson who couldn't firmly refuse the order to kill his own grandfather! I have no right to complain even if I'm disowned! Please punish this failed grandson severely according to the family law!"

Mo Yong-hwi knelt on the floor and cried out.

"Hoho, this old man cannot understand why I should punish you. Aren't you my beloved and proud grandson? Why would I punish you?"

"But I have disgraced the family honor!"

"No. You have elevated the family honor. I feel like dancing with joy."

Mo Yong-hwi, who had been bowing like a condemned prisoner awaiting a verdict, suddenly raised his head.

"What…?"

Before he could finish his sentence, Mo Yong-hwi's movements froze at the words of the Sword Saint.

"Kill the Sword Saint!"

Mo Yong-hwi flinched.

"…Did he clearly say that?"

Mo Yong-hwi nodded. There was no point in denying what had happened.

"Yes, I am truly sorry, but that is correct."

Even as he spoke, he didn't dare to raise his face.

"That is both a joyous and sorrowful matter!"

The old man looked at his grandson with eyes full of deep affection.

"Yes?"

Mo Yong-hwi asked in surprise, his eyes wide. He could understand the sorrow. But joy?

From earlier until now, he had been talking about incitement to murder.

The Sword Saint continued to speak.

"If he told you to kill me… Hooo…"

Suddenly, the Sword Saint sighed deeply and lamented.

"Hoho, I am truly happy that the person you admire most is not the Martial God, who can be said to be at the pinnacle of the martial world, nor the Martial Demon, but this humble old swordsman. However, the fact that I am also a great obstacle to your progress makes me sad."

While the old man was truly happy about the former, the latter weighed heavily on his heart. However, the Sword Saint knew that this trial was a rite of passage that everyone had to go through at least once.

"Little grandson does not quite understand."

The only certainty was that they had completely different perspectives on the same words. Because of the difference between them, he could not understand his grandfather's actions and words.

"Your limit is me. It means you feel I am an insurmountable wall."

"Is that a bad thing? What's wrong with respecting my grandfather? I am still nothing compared to my grandfather!"

"Hoo~ How can that be wrong? I am happy about that fact. However, it pains me that you unconsciously perceive me as the end, deep in your heart, when I am not the end."

Mo Yong-hwi had no intention of denying that. It was his pride and glory.

"Grandfather is my lifelong goal!"

Mo Yong-hwi shouted. The words burst out involuntarily. Ever since he first understood the concept of martial arts as a child, that thought had never changed. In his world, it was an unquestionable truth.

However, Mo Yong-jeongcheon shook his head.

"It's fine if it has been that way until now. But from now on, it cannot be."

His voice was firm, allowing no defiance.

"I don't know what kind of path you will take from now on. I don't know what he has entrusted you with. But there is one thing I can be sure of."

Gulp.

Mo Yong-hwi unconsciously swallowed dryly.

"The path you will take from now on will surely lie before me. You must walk a path that I have not yet traveled. A path where you cannot consider me a mere waypoint."

There was a mixture of poignant sadness and the joy of happiness in his grandfather's words. The Sword Saint continued to speak.

"For that, try it. Try to surpass this old man who stands in your way. I will wait with joy. If I can close my eyes under your sword, there would be no greater happiness. However, as an elder, and as someone entrusting you with the future, I will block your way with all my might. So, try to surpass me if you can. But you must do so with the resolve to kill me."

An oppressive aura, as if a colossal mountain were blocking him, emanated from his entire body. It was a spirit worthy of the name Sword Saint.

Mo Yong-hwi's body trembled as if struck by lightning. Only then did this upright youth realize something. He seemed to finally understand the meaning behind old man Hyeok's command.

If he faltered here, everything would be over. Everything he had built so far would have been in vain.

Mo Yong-hwi, who had been kneeling, suddenly stood up. Then, with eyes sparkling like stars, he extended his right hand holding his sword forward, performed a fist-and-palm salute, and declared in a confident voice.

"Your grandson, Hwi, will surely surpass you, Grandfather! I will never disappoint you!"

"Hahahaha, that's good spirit. Only then can you be called a blood relative of the Mo Yong family. Yes, of course."

The Sword Saint was genuinely pleased.

"Then, let's test it."

The Sword Saint said in a light tone, as if going for a game.

"A test, you say?"

The Sword Saint nodded lightly.

"Yes, to see what your current achievements are. I want to confirm where you stand. Here we go."

The next moment, the Sword Saint's finger pointed towards Mo Yong-hwi's brow. At that moment, Mo Yong-hwi felt as if his very existence was trapped within that finger. He was merely a pathetic worm wriggling on a giant finger. The next moment, a vast blue sky unfolded before him.

"What did you see?"

"I saw the sky."

Gasp.

Mo Yong-hwi flinched. What had flashed through his grandfather's face for a moment was undeniable disappointment and regret. Although it was as brief as a flash, he couldn't have seen it wrong.

Why? Why? Why? Doubt consumed his entire mind.

"Hoho, perhaps you are not yet ready?"

An incomprehensible sigh escaped the Sword Saint's lips.

"I did not want to be a shackle that binds my grandson. It seems this shackle is heavier than I thought. What a shame, what a shame!"

'Ah!'

At his grandfather's lament, Mo Yong-hwi suddenly realized something.

What would happen if he became a bird caught in a net? It was no wonder his grandfather was disappointed. He had clearly judged that his resolve was insufficient.

He didn't want to be a grandson who was all talk and no action.

"Wait a moment!"

The Sword Saint's eyes, still showing a trace of sadness, looked at Mo Yong-hwi.

"Please, once more… Please, one more time!"

The Sword Saint gazed intently at his grandson's dark, deep eyes. Waves of will surged within that dark sea.

"Alright. But this is the last time. Furthermore, the second test will be more difficult."

As he said that, the Sword Saint's hand was holding Mo Yong-hwi's sword.

'Wh-when did he…!'

Mo Yong-hwi, who had not detected any presence, was astonished.

The 'Branch Sword Saint Sword,' which the Sword Saint favored, remained thrust into his waist.

This was a warning that it was no longer a mere finger. Even though he had reached a realm beyond the constraints of weapons, the spirit before and after drawing his sword was vastly different.

"Are you ready?"

This trial would be incomparably more difficult than the previous one. However, there was no turning back, nor did he want to. If he retreated now, he would disappoint his grandfather. And he would become a liar who couldn't keep his word. He didn't want to be such a pathetic person. He wanted to live with pride.

"I am ready."

"Oh! Then, let's go!"

Without any warning, Mo Yong-jeongcheon thrust his sword forward. In the Sword Saint's hand, it was no longer an object that could be called an ordinary sword.

Mo Yong-hwi trembled with a powerful shock, as if he were splitting in two.

His feet, against his will, kept wanting to step backward. Even that wasn't easy as his muscles stiffened. Trying to resist with his will was of little use.

A terrifying killing intent that pierced his soul pressed down on his existence.

'H-he really intends to cut me down!'

The dense killing intent gathering and swirling at the tip of that sword was the will to kill, nothing less.

'I will die…'

His mind swam with fear and dread.

* * *

"Additional consultations require additional fees. Is that okay?"

Bi Ryu-yeon asked in an annoyed voice, having been forcibly woken from his slumber. Of course, the sleep disturbance compensation fee had already been extorted.

"It doesn't matter."

He nodded perfunctorily.

"Alright, then follow me."

He took him to the top of the castle wall surrounding the Chunmu Academy.

Opening his eyes in the fierce wind, he saw the vast expanse of the land spread out before him.

He pointed to the end of the land with one finger.

"What do you see there?"

He asked.

"I see the horizon."

I replied.

"Can you see beyond there?"

"No, I cannot."

"Then that's the limit of the land. Isn't it?"

I shook my head.

"No, there is new land beyond that."

It was a very obvious truth. Even a three-year-old child would know that.

"Is that so? Then why can I only see up to there?"

"It's because human eyesight can only see that far."

"Human eyesight, or your own eyesight?"

I was momentarily flustered.

"It's my own eyesight."

Then he pointed to another direction and asked.

"Then what happens if you climb to the summit of that mountain?"

"Then I will be able to see what is beyond there. Beyond the visual horizon that I cannot see now."

"That's strange. Does that mountain have any divine power? Why would my vision improve by climbing to the summit of the mountain?"

Ah! Then I realized something. I sharply turned my head and looked at my friend's face. He had a calm expression, as if asking why I was looking at him like that.

'Was it unintentional?'

It couldn't be. He spoke again.

"It's strange. So, it's not because my eyes suddenly improved that I can see beyond the horizon?"

"Of course not."

"Then what changed wasn't my eyes either, right?"

Naturally.

"…What changed was my perspective."

He nodded. And then he said nonchalantly.

"Humans' trapped frameworks are like that. If your perspective changes, it changes. If you want to see further, you have to climb higher. The point is knowing where the high place is and how to get there."

And then he paused for a moment. I waited quietly.

"Human perception horizons are the same."

He began to speak again. Somehow, I found myself listening attentively. Something churned incessantly within my heart.

"But you know, those who think that's the end of the land won't seek out mountains to climb. Only those who know there's no end will climb mountains to go beyond, to see beyond."

He asked again.

"Where is your end of the land? Where is the horizon that stretches across your inner self?"

"Th-that is…"

I knew that horizon. The ultimate upper limit I thought I could never overcome, the taboo, the sanctuary, it was…

"Sword Saint Mo Yong-jeongcheon, he is the end I want to go to."

I replied with unwavering conviction.

"Well, that's quite predictable. Besides, you're completely defenseless in front of that grandfather. You, who are usually so neat and tidy, become full of flaws. It's fun for the observer, though."

"I-I wasn't like that."

"That's your claim."

He dismissed it with a single word.

"But have you ever imagined beyond that horizon? Have you ever dared to try to cross it?"

"That is…"

He was a god.

Having been born as a child of the Mo Yong family and lived according to the Mo Yong family's laws, I could not dare to imagine a world beyond the realm of the Sword Saint Mo Yong-jeongcheon. It was blasphemy against a god and extreme impiety. Regardless of the god's own will, it was so. Therefore, everyone took it as a matter of course.

"I have never imagined such impiety."

He clicked his tongue. As if in pity.

"You're like a blind religious follower. Did your god personally tell you not to surpass me?"

"Th-that's not true! How could he say such a thing?"

My voice naturally rose.

"That's blasphemy towards him…"

Suddenly, words failed me. That's right. He had never said such a thing. They had arbitrarily decided it themselves. Instead of trying to understand his intentions, they were busy praising him excessively.

Were all those actions what he truly desired? What emotions did he feel looking at us who only looked up to him? Did he pity us, or was he disappointed?

Wasn't arbitrarily defining and judging his heart the greatest impiety and blasphemy towards him? As a crack formed in my firm belief, his words entered through it.

"Even if you shout 'I believe!' a hundred times with mad eyes, there's no guarantee a god will like it. But humans like such ostentatious, blind worship, so they mistakenly assume gods are just like them. Isn't that the most terrible act of blasphemy, demeaning a god to a human level?"

"……"

Mo Yong-hwi, who felt pricked, could not answer.

He pointed to the limit of the land with his finger again.

"How can humans know beyond that horizon they've never been to? Even though they can't go. Even though they haven't experienced it directly."

"I don't know."

He said.

"It's thanks to the grand imagination that humans create. Abstraction. It's the source of abilities called reasoning, analogy, or others. Thanks to that imagination, humans can indirectly perceive worlds they haven't been to, worlds they haven't experienced. Don't you think you need to know what's beyond there first to know what's needed to see beyond there? Then, are you ready to imagine beyond that horizon? Are you prepared to achieve a paradigm shift? Are you prepared to destroy the world contained within your horizon?"

Words poured from his mouth incessantly. Each word struck my spirit. As if telling me to wake up.

"Where is the mountain you must climb to see beyond your horizon? You surely know the name of that mountain."

It was exactly as he said. I knew the name of that mountain. The name of that colossal mountain was… it was…

"Do you truly yearn to climb that mountain?"

Without courage, faith, wisdom, and patience, climbing that mountain is impossible.

"Are you prepared to climb that mountain? That colossal mountain named Sword Saint!"

Flash!

Light reignited in my dazed mind.

* * *

Indeed, I cannot help but respect this person. I am proud to be his grandson. Then…

'Surpassing him is the greatest respect I can show! The highest honor!'

Thus, I can say that Sword Saint Mo Yong-jeongcheon was the one who led me to become the strongest.

It was not blasphemy or impiety. It was the highest respect.

Then, the trembling of my body stopped, and my bright eyes stared directly at the tip of the sword extended by the Sword Saint. I looked with proud eyes at the tall mountain blocking my path. Nothing can be gained through denial alone.

"I will surely surpass you, Grandfather! I will surely!"

The Sword Saint paused everything for a moment, looked at his grandson quietly, and said.

"Are you truly prepared to do so?"

"Yes, of course."

"Good!"

Only then did the Sword Saint smile and sheathe his sword. The immense pressure that had been weighing on Mo Yong-hwi's shoulders vanished as if washed away. Breathing became a little easier.

The Sword Saint asked again.

"What did you see?"

The same question. But the answer was different.

"I saw a mountain. A colossal mountain that soars towards the sky, connecting heaven and earth, the gateway between heaven and earth."

The Sword Saint clasped his grandson's shoulders tightly, nodded with a satisfied expression, and exclaimed.

"Well done."

Mo Yong-hwi bowed his head deeply. The sword had somehow returned to its sheath.

"Thank you, Grandfather."

The young man was so happy to finally receive some recognition that tears welled up in his eyes.

"For you, who are still walking the path, the sky is a place you can never reach. However, a mountain, no matter how high, is still something on the earth. If you wish to climb it, there's no reason you can't. I will happily await the day you soar to the sky from the summit of that colossal mountain."

The grandfather seemed incomparably happy that his grandson had shed a layer of himself.

"I look forward to that day arriving soon. I believe in you."

Believe. It was one of the strongest words. The weight of trust deeply embedded in those words did not crush him but enveloped him warmly.

It was most fortunate that he had not disappointed his grandfather.

- In the past, it was the sky. But now, it was the colossal mountain.

Although he couldn't fly yet, as he hadn't grown wings, the mountain was still connected to the ground he stood on. He didn't have wings for flight yet, but he had strong legs and the passion, will, and resolve to move them.

The mountain [艮] is one yang standing on the foundation of two yin, a bridge connecting the earth's坤 (Kun) and the sky's乾 (Qian).

As long as the mountain is connected to the earth, he can reach it someday if he walks without stopping. However, just walking was not enough now. Time was too limited. And the road ahead was long. Now was the time to run.

He had only just achieved a small paradigm shift. But with that alone, his universe and his destiny had changed.

He had just recreated his world.

"How was it, Brother?"

After Mo Yong-hwi bowed and withdrew, the Sword Saint, alone, asked the darkness unfolding behind him.

Then, a person walked out from the shadows cast behind him. As if they had suddenly appeared, not having been there until now.

In fact, the person had been there all along. Even before Mo Yong-hwi visited the Sword Saint. However, he was a being that did not exist in Mo Yong-hwi's world. His existence was not recognized by him.

"Now, it's worth teaching."

Then the Sword Saint nodded vigorously.

"Of course. He's whose grandson he is. He's naturally a worthwhile child to teach."

The Sword Saint himself was the same. Mo Yong-hwi was a great joy he had found in his later years. Being able to train and hone such talent was the greatest pleasure for a teacher.

Therefore, the Sword Saint's voice was full of pride and boasting.

"But it took longer than I thought."

"Longer?"

"How long do you think it took for your finger games?"

"Did it take that long?"

"It felt like at least two periods of two hours. I was so restless."

Old Man Hyeok mumbled, patting various parts of his shoulders.

"That long?"

The Sword Saint himself had not noticed it at all.

"It took so long because you, yourself, managed the household poorly!"

Old Man Hyeok said in a slightly irritated voice.

"I don't want to hear that from you, senior. Because it's unfair. Aren't you a wall many times larger than me? Because of that, it only took two periods. If it were you, it would have taken all day."

"They say blood resemblance is true… You, like your grandson, seem to underestimate yourself. But it seems that boy can finally deny himself. He's started struggling to escape from your shadow."

What Mo Yong-hwi needed until now was thorough self-denial. Because his world began with the Sword Saint and ended with Mo Yong-jeongcheon. The shadow cast by the giant known as Sword Saint Mo Yong-jeongcheon was too dark and too vast. Therefore, he needed to deny his world. He needed to be shown that this world was not just a world of shadows, but that there was a sun beyond the shadows.

How does one cross the horizon? Or rather, what action is it to cross the horizon? It is a process of continuously expanding one's field of vision.

To do so, one must first know that it is not the end. And one must humbly accept that fact. That process requires negation as transcendence, not negation as disillusionment. Only then can humans expand their perceptual horizon to the next level. They broaden their world horizon by negating in the positive (陽) sense, not the negative (陰) sense.

Until now, Mo Yong-hwi's world horizon was naturally the Sword Saint. Of course, the high realm that a single swordsman called the Sword Saint could reach had been a good horizon for his growth. It was an excellent goal. Perhaps Mo Yong-hwi had thought in his heart that everything would end when he reached that point. Or perhaps, even unconsciously, he had thought he could never reach it. Therefore, the Sword Saint was both his world and his limit.

Idols have their advantages, but they also have their disadvantages. Therefore, the biggest obstacle blocking him was the existence of the Sword Saint, his idol.

However, if he is to inherit the will of the Martial God, he cannot be bound by the existence of a mere (!) Sword Saint. To become a god, one must transcend humanity. Mo Yong-hwi had to walk a path that could never be reached without that resolve from now on.

Where in this world can there be something that I do not believe in? Whatever I deny does not exist in my inner world. As long as it exists externally, it can never be reached. Therefore, Mo Yong-hwi needed to break his frame. If the egg is not broken, the chick cannot be born, and if it is not born, it cannot fly.

"Now, this child will continue to grow through endless questions, just like us and our elders, won't he? It will be a tedious process."

"No one can help him. He must do it himself. Isn't the process of overcoming one's limits self-discipline (克己)?"

"That's right. Just as you said. What we can do is very limited."

"I know."

How does a human overcome their limits?

The world is inherently open to broader horizons.

We exist through continuous questioning via 'being.'

In all that we know, we simultaneously recognize our own ignorance. All knowledge is simultaneously 'known ignorance,' and it is precisely through this that ignorance surpasses the limits of existing knowledge and awakens the movement of questioning. To know is to know what one does not know. Therefore, we question.

We exist in the world by knowing and understanding, but also, and in principle, by questioning. We constantly transcend our world by questioning. Through our questions, our world constantly expands. The walls of the world, which were limited by perception, break down and open up.

The human world is essentially an open world. And it continuously expands into existence, into infinity. This expansion never stops. Through constant questioning, humans continuously expand their world horizon. Thus, they address the limit beyond the limit and strive with all their might to reach it. What is needed for this is a unified heart. A heart that gathers its mind into one and is tempered with unwavering faith, a heart that is primarily one and without deviation.

"Only by knowing the existence of the mountain can one decide whether to climb it and how. If you don't even know there's a mountain, how can you climb higher? That child has now seen the mountain. And he has decided to climb it. There is nothing more we can do for him."

"No. There is."

Mo Yong-jeongcheon denied Hyeok's words. Hyeok acknowledged.

"Indeed. You, then, had something you could do."

Mo Yong-jeongcheon nodded.

"Yes, I will block his way with all my might. That is the greatest love I can give him."

"I envy you."

'There is no one else who can be my successor but him.'

He wanted to say that, but the Sword Saint barely held back. He shouldn't say that to Old Man Hyeok. Even this god had painful memories and wounds. Although called the God-Demon, he was still a human made of flesh and blood who had not completely escaped the shackles of humanity.

Loss of successor.

It was best not to touch that wound.

'I hope he finds a new successor soon…'

The Sword Saint sincerely wished so.

"I…"

Hyeok opened his mouth again.

"I want to pass on this message to children like him, who have the potential for the future."

"What message is that?"

Hyeok replied with a serious expression.

"Boy, become a myth!"

"……"

Mo Yong-jeongcheon remained silent for a moment at his overly serious expression.

"Even though you, the protagonist of the myth, say so…"

"Do you think it's contradictory?"

The Sword Saint tilted his head slightly.

"I wish for children to have the spirit to become myths themselves, not just to hear them. I wish that past myths would no longer hinder their potential. If one is a boy, if one is young, wouldn't a spirit to deny the gods in the myths and become a myth oneself be necessary?"

"Isn't that 'Boy, become an unbeliever'? Or 'Boy, become a delinquent'?"

Hyeok retorted.

"Hehehe! It might be 'Boy, become a blasphemer'."

"Are you telling me now that the god himself is telling you to blaspheme yourself? Do you have the confidence that you won't get angry?"

"Huh? Why wouldn't I? You should actively get angry."

"What is that? Your words and actions are different!"

"Hey, what's different? If you get scared by that much anger, how can you continue the next myth? You must have such a lofty spirit that you are unfazed even by that kind of anger."

"It sounds like a forced argument."

"No. It's a perfectly logical story. Just as you become a great wall blocking his way, shouldn't I also block the way of juniors by expressing active and bold anger? Isn't that truly great and magnificent love? DON'T YOU THINK SO, Sword Saint?"

The Sword Saint flinched for a moment.

"Well… let's just say that for now. I don't want to be beaten up after reaching over a hundred years old."

"Ahem!"

Old Man Hyeok gave a short cough and slowly lowered his clenched fist.

The Sword Saint looked into the distance with a wistful gaze and said.

"Now, another journey for those children will begin."

* * *

The next day, a notice was posted on the official bulletin boards throughout the academy.

The title was as follows:

Candidate List for Envoy Delegation to Expand Mutual Exchange Between Chunmu Academy and Macheon Pavilion.

Departure Date: One week after the entrance examination ends.

List of Planned Participants: Yong Cheon-myung, Ma Ha-ryeong, Namgung Sang, Jin Ryeong, Il Gong, Mo Yong-hwi, Yun Jun-ho, Jang Hong, Na Ye-rin…

And… finally, the following three characters were written.

Bi Ryu-yeon (飛流連).