Book 17 Chapter 2

Chapter 1

—Return

“Still not visible……”

The man stopped for a moment and looked at the long, straight road stretching out at his feet. The path he had traveled so far lay behind him, not yet erased.

The road ahead was still infinitely far. It pierced the horizon and stretched to another world, instilling a sense of unease in the humble heart of a human: would this road ever end?

At first glance, it was impossible to guess the man’s age. To make matters worse, the wide-brimmed straw hat he wore made it even harder to discern. However, it was a common sight in an era overflowing with ronin wandering the martial world without a fixed abode, so it was not particularly unusual. The only remarkable thing, perhaps, was that his face was more than half-hidden by his long bangs, making it difficult to see. He seemed to not often tend to his hair, but this too was a minor characteristic. Ronin wandering the martial world paid special attention to their survival rather than their appearance. The only thing that distinguished the man from ordinary ronin was the occasional glimpse of eyes that seemed to have reached an abyss, their depth unfathomable, peering through his long hair.

The man gazed intently and slowly, as if savoring it, at the infinitely stretching road before him, his gaze as profound as if he were contemplating the universe. His long bangs posed no impediment. While his eyes could only perceive what was within his field of vision—a field that far surpassed that of an ordinary person by more than five times—his spirit transcended even that, piercing beyond his sight to a place he knew he must eventually reach.

Focusing his gaze and sharpening his sight, he saw a dark shadow straddling the horizon. It was the silhouette of mountains, cut off at the boundary between earth and sky. The edge of the shadow seemed almost within reach, which could be considered a small mercy. Looking around, all he saw were vast fields and the mountains rising from them; in other words, trees and grass. A road devoid of any sign of human presence. It was an ordinary road, open anywhere in the central lands, yet for this man, it held no ordinary significance.

What awaited him at the end of this journey? Where was this road leading him?

Questions, endlessly blooming from within, followed one after another, but none were answered clearly.

At the end of the road, did it lead to an end, or to a new beginning beyond the end?

Thump! Thump!

The man suddenly lifted his right foot and stomped it firmly on the ground twice. The steadfastness of the earth, transmitted through the sole of his foot, sent a small but clear tremor through his heart. His heart was still beating strongly.

‘I am here, now.’

He didn’t care if he was ridiculed for sounding childish. He wanted to confirm his presence through this small struggle of existence. Before the weight of what lay ahead crushed him.

*Manryu Ilgwi (萬流一歸).* Did it not mean that all rivers flowed into the sea, and all principles converged into one reason?

But what lay before him was not the sea. It was merely the source from which he had emerged. If so, perhaps he was not seeking the sea, but was like a salmon swimming upstream, returning to the origin.

“I thought I would never have to return here……”

The world’s currents were too strong for his vows to be fulfilled.

He had emerged from his cradle, rolled through the world, seeking to confirm his own existence, but in the end, he had arrived at the very cradle he had struggled so hard to escape.

But it had to be here.

Even in this vast world, he instinctively knew that only at the end of this road could he find the answers he desired and pursued.

He began to walk again towards the horizon. Assuming, of course, that it could be called walking. If an ordinary person were to walk with him, they would soon see his back become a distant speck. And if the other party were a martial artist who had even a little mastery of *gyeonggong* (lightness skill), they would soon realize that no matter how much inner energy they mustered or how much they strained their muscles, they could not overtake this man. If asked if he was using some form of teleportation, the man would have firmly answered ‘no.’ No matter how fast he was, it was impossible to leap over the horizon. Yet, in an instant, a fork in the road appeared far ahead.

The mountains, which a short while ago had only shown their crowns, like the vertex of a person’s head, were now clearly visible in their entirety. Standing at the fork, the man looked left and right. One path was wide, the other narrow. One seemed well-maintained and neat, very straight and flat. The other, on the contrary, was almost neglected, far from being trimmed. It was so narrow and uneven that it was difficult for even a cart to pass.

At the end of the wide road stretching to the left from the fork lay a famous mountain. That mountain’s name was Mount Emei (峨嵋山)! Within it resided the Emei Sect (峨嵋派), an unshakeable pillar among the Nine Great Sects, renowned for its swordsmanship and its women. However, this was not where the man was headed. His destination was a nameless peak far from where the Emei Sect resided. The land of beginnings, where a forgotten past lay buried in faint memories along with his impetuous childhood. A place of vows he thought he would never set foot on again.

“So, I’ve come this far after all……. I thought I’d never stand at this fork again.”

He muttered bitterly in a self-deprecating tone. Like that time, this fork in the road was forcing him to make a choice.

Just then.

‘Huh?!’

His body twitched slightly. And a moment later, his lips, which had been firmly shut like a rock, parted briefly.

“…It’s noisy.”

Standing in the middle of the silent road, the man murmured softly. But the surroundings remained steeped in silence, and his murmur was too weak to break this stillness.

Perhaps the road was displeased with him standing still upon it. Was it trying to assert that roads were meant for walking, not for standing still?

The man began to walk again. Slowly. And he waited for the time to break this stillness to fly towards him like an arrow of time. The prelude began with a faint tremor in the earth.

From beyond the horizon, someone was rapidly approaching, crossing the road at an extraordinary speed.

A moment after he took another step, the faint sound of hooves could be heard in the distance. Judging by the resonant thunder of hooves striking the earth, it was a four-horse carriage. However, it would still take some time to shatter the surrounding silence. It was not until half an hour later that the carriage suddenly appeared at a distance visible even to an ordinary person’s eyes.

Dudududududu!

Pururururu!

“Hiyah! Hiyah! Hiyah!”

Slaaash! Slaaash! Slaaash!

Now, the sound of hooves was ringing in his ears, clear enough to be annoying.

The sound of hooves pounding the earth, the frantic whip lashes falling on the heaving horses, the driver’s mad urging, the weary whinnying of the exhausted horses from the merciless whipping—all were vividly captured by his ears.

A rather plain but high-quality four-horse carriage was racing down the imperial road, kicking up a rough cloud of dust. A robust driver, with arms as thick as logs, relentlessly lashed the horses, urging them on. And his voice was shouting even more roughly and crudely.

“Move! Move! Move!”

It seemed as if he was urgently chasing away a cow that had suddenly stuck its foolish backside in front of the galloping carriage. But the one who was treated like a cow was none other than the man in the straw hat walking on the road.

The road was not exceedingly narrow, but it was just wide enough for a four-horse carriage to fill it. One thing was certain: this carriage would absolutely not stop with the safety of pedestrians as its priority. The fact that it had no intention of avoiding him was clear from the rough horses that followed.

“Move! Move! Move! Hey, you! Scum loitering up front! Hurry up and move! Want to die!”

The burly driver seemed ready to lash any passing pedestrian with his whip, if only it were possible. That rough and unruly demeanor reminded the man of a forgotten word. Yes, what was it called? A moment later, he lightly snapped his right fist against his left palm.

‘Ah, right, that’s called rudeness (無禮)?’

Once the memory returned, he rejoiced like a patient recovering from amnesia.

“Hmm hmm.”

The man nodded continuously. It felt rather refreshing to be treated this way after so long. He even felt a sense of nostalgia.

Now, the distance between the runaway carriage, which did not understand the concept of stopping, and the man in the straw hat was negligible. If he were to be crushed under those ferocious hooves, he should forget about remaining unharmed. However, the man, nodding continuously with an amused expression, continued to walk. As if he had no intention of moving aside. Naturally. Why should he meekly comply with an unreasonable, unilateral demand?

“This lunatic!”

Hiiiiiiiing!

The driver finally pulled back on the reins with all his might. It was an instinctive action. In truth, he wanted to just crush him and pass. If his last shred of conscience hadn't finally pulled on the reins at the very last moment, he would have acted that way. However, there was a time for everything, even stopping. Pulling back the reins so late wouldn't instantly eliminate the tremendous speed, at least not in this world. Despite the driver’s restraint, the furiously galloping carriage had already passed over the man. Leaving behind a trail of swirling dust like a tail.

Kiiiiiiiik!

Hiiiiiiiiing!

After racing for another ten *zhang*, the runaway carriage finally understood what stopping meant.

The four-horse carriage, although it had undergone a rather excellent manufacturing and finishing process and had been well-maintained, seemed to lack the durability to withstand such a sudden change.

Crack! Bang!

With a loud noise, the left wheel flew off its axle, and the carriage, following the laws of nature, tilted sharply to the left.

“Whoa, whoa!”

The driver frantically tried to control the carriage, but even his robust arms were incapable of handling the situation. It had already reached a realm beyond his strength.

“Hucjk!”

At this rate, it was a dire crisis where the main body would be shattered if it couldn't overcome the speed. Just then, a slender hand shot out of the carriage window, and then, with a 'pop!' sound, the ground vibrated once, and the precarious carriage lurched violently with the rebound. As the speed slightly decreased, the carriage landed roughly on the ground. After emitting a few 'clatter-bang' roars and dancing erratically, the carriage finally stabilized. The earth, excited by the carriage’s fervent dance, puffed out a yellowish-brown breath. A cloud-like dust obscured the surroundings.

“Krrrk!”

From within the thick dust, a man with a robust physique and a beard like wire emerged, clutching the back of his head with a groan. He hobbled hurriedly towards the carriage door and knocked urgently.

“Young lady, are you alright? Young lady!”

His menacing appearance from before was nowhere to be seen. His face, suitable for banditry, was now filled with worry.

A moment later, a voice came from inside the carriage.

“…I am unharmed. There is no need to make a fuss.”

Even amidst this chaos, her voice was surprisingly steady. Judging by her still youthful voice, she couldn't be very old, yet she was calmer than most adults. Especially calmer than the driver. It seemed that maturing had little to do with age.

The carriage door opened, and a pair of snow-white feet smoothly extended. The girl gracefully rose and landed lightly on the ground as if she were a feather.

She looked about eighteen? Snow-white skin, a high nose, clear, resolute black eyes, neat and lustrous hair, a moderately full chest, a slender figure, and a waist as supple as a willow branch. Though young, she was undeniably a striking beauty. The girl in white was like a ripe bud, ready to bloom at any moment.

“You are unharmed, young lady!”

This man seemed to lack the perception to realize he had misspoke ‘thanks to you, young lady, I am unharmed.’ Still, his effort to desperately prevent the carriage from becoming firewood was commendable.

Just then, another voice was heard. This time, it was a man's voice.

“Cough, cough! Ouch, ouch! Am I still alive…?”

Besides the girl, there was one more person in the carriage. A young man who looked to be around twenty. Compared to the pure white girl with her noble bearing like a white lily, he was slightly less radiant, but he was still quite handsome. The kind of face that appealed to the masses. Judging by the light bandage on his left forearm, he seemed to have sustained a minor injury. Both of them wore swords at their waists. At least, neither of their swords looked like mere decoration. And it would have been better for their safety if they were.

“Cough, cough! Are you alright, Miss Jin?”

The young man, his throat tickled by the thick yellow dust cloud, asked the girl about her well-being, coughing repeatedly. His face, which usually looked quite dignified, was now covered in dust like a refugee.

“I am fine. How are you, Young Master Yu? Are your injuries from those scoundrels alright?”

“I’m still fine. It’s embarrassing to groan just because I was slightly grazed by those trash-like fellows. Don’t worry.”

The young man surnamed Yu replied stoutly, waving his left arm. It was impossible that it didn’t hurt, but at that age, it was common to want to show off in front of women. He was likely swallowing tears internally.

As the thick dust began to settle, the carriage’s shape became clearer. Surprisingly, it was scarred all over—undoubtedly from sword cuts. And the arrows sticking out prominently made it clear they were not decorative. It looked as if they had just ridden through the middle of a battlefield.

“I-I’m sorry, young lady! If that crazy guy hadn’t blocked the carriage’s path, things wouldn’t have gotten so complicated! If anything had happened to you, how could I face the master… sob! I’m truly wronged!”

The wire-bearded driver trembled, clenching his fists the size of rocks, spewing out his indignation. It seemed that the life or death of the madman who had passed by was no longer a concern. It was more convincing to call the driver a bandit than a driver.

“A crazy guy… that’s a bit harsh. I was merely walking on the road.”

A sudden, leisurely voice was heard from somewhere.

Unable to contain his fury, the trembling driver spun his head with a jerk, risking dislocation of his cervical vertebrae, towards the source of the sound. The girl and the young man also startled, and without being told, they did the same as the driver.

Although the three were equally surprised, their reasons differed. The bandit-like driver was surprised that the crazy guy was alive and well, not flattened. The young man was surprised that there was a person sitting so comfortably and leisurely so close by, yet he hadn't sensed any presence at all. And the girl, in addition to that, was surprised that the man’s old, faded clothes were completely free of dust, even in such a dense yellow cloud.

He had no memory of receiving training so lax that it couldn't detect the presence of a person within a radius of ten *zhang*. Had their senses been deceived? The man wearing the straw hat sat there conspicuously, on the roadside, no more than ten *zhang* away.

“Who are you?”

The young man asked warily. In his eyes, the man was already branded as suspicious. Therefore, his question lacked any politeness.

And so, the man in the straw hat had the rare experience of being subjected to rudeness twice in one day. A faint smile appeared on the man’s lips.

“Me?”

The young man nodded at the man’s words.

“Just a passerby.”

Then the driver burst out, “Young lady, it’s him! It’s because of this guy that our carriage overturned! If he had just moved aside on the road, the carriage wouldn’t have overturned! This damned fellow should have been crushed by the carriage and turned into a bloody mess!”

The driver was so agitated that he was pointing his finger wildly at the man.

“A bloody mess? That’s a very heartless thing to say. A deep disregard for life is not good. One should respect human life. Haven’t you heard of *Mansu Ilri (萬殊一理)*? Since all things come from one, are they not all brothers?”

The man in the straw hat shook his head, speaking as if giving a sermon.

But something felt off. The peculiar sense of disharmony one feels when something completely illogical happens right before one’s eyes. The girl was the first to realize it.

He didn’t move aside? He didn’t move aside, and yet how could he be so unharmed?

The man’s limbs were all intact, and there were no wheel marks on his body. The neat black robe the man wore contrasted sharply with the driver’s mud-stained brown robe, which had turned yellow.

She examined him from every angle, but unfortunately, he appeared perfectly at peace. No matter how she looked at it, he didn’t look like someone who had been trampled by four galloping horses.

“Hmm? I don’t understand what you’re saying. I was simply walking along the road. You are the ones who suddenly charged at me ferociously and overturned yourselves. It has nothing to do with me.”

The driver’s face turned redder and redder at the man’s nonchalant pretense.

“Liar!”

Looking at the driver, who looked ready to lunge at any moment, the man said,

“Is that man your servant? How noisy. Can’t you quiet him down a bit?”

The man said in a composed tone. The girl calmed the driver, who was too agitated.

“Calm down. I will talk.”

The driver was too excited. His problem was that when he got excited, he snarled at anyone, regardless of who it was. The girl, not wanting to increase any further danger, stepped forward.

“May I ask why you didn’t move aside?”

The girl asked. Her demeanor, far better than that of the two rude men, pleased the man.

“I suppose it’s because of you, young lady.”

The man replied.

“Why because of me? I don’t understand.”

She calmly countered, without getting agitated.

“If that man is your subordinate, then you should blame yourself for not educating him properly in manners.”

“You mean……”

She’s a quick-witted young lady. He nodded and said,

“It is only natural to be polite when asking for something, wouldn’t you agree? Moving someone’s heart requires appropriate preparation. There is no need for me to move aside first for a request that lacks basic courtesy.”

Did he disregard a speeding carriage for such a trivial reason? The driver’s and the young man’s eyes widened. However, the girl remained calm.

“Ah! Then it is indeed my fault.”

The girl accepted the man’s words readily. Her face looked relieved, as if her doubt had been cleared.

“Ho ho ho! You are quite a straightforward young lady. I like you. For your sake, I will forget the rudeness from earlier. It would be even better if it hadn’t happened at all, but that’s impossible now, so I can only let it go.”

He said it as if he were being extremely generous.

“I see. The past cannot be erased. Even if we ourselves created it, in the end, we can only turn our backs on it and pretend it never happened, or comfortably forget it as if it never occurred. Just like people nowadays forget the tragedies of the past, the bloody centuries.”

The man looked at the girl with a slightly surprised expression. The more he looked, the more he liked her.

“Young lady!”

“Miss Jin!”

The driver exclaimed as if feeling wronged. The young man echoed him. The girl’s actions were incomprehensible to them. They had hoped she would argue against the man’s stubbornness. But she had meekly agreed with the man. And now they were engaged in a conversation about abstract topics. Despite the fact that they were in a dire situation. Frankly, they had not an iota of leisure for such a leisurely exchange. The storm of swords and spears that threatened to consume them was now just within reach.

“Are you busy, young lady?”

“Yes, we are being chased.”

Her voice was far from the urgency usually felt from someone being chased.

“Hmm, you don’t have to run away?”

“No. It’s already too late.”

The girl replied in a dejected voice. She looked incredibly adorable and charming.

“You are a smart young lady. I like you. And brave, too. Far better than a pack of men.”

The man in the straw hat praised the girl with a contented smile.

She was a young lady who grew on you, the kind rarely seen in this world. Realizing that running was already too late, she seemed to be preparing to conserve her strength and confront them head-on. It was an exceptionally wise and astute decision in this situation.

“The Emei Sect has taken in a good disciple.”

The man said with a contented smile. The girl’s eyes widened.

“Oh, how did you know? I am Jin Sol-ryeong, a disciple of the Emei Sect… I am not carrying any sect insignia right now.”

“Why be surprised by such a thing?”

The man chuckled and replied to the girl’s query.

“You eat according to the Emei Sect’s teachings, sleep according to their teachings, walk, stand, sit, and lie down in their way. You also move your internal energy and practice martial arts according to Emei’s teachings. Even breathing, which is the most basic act of living, you do in the Emei way. Isn’t that so? Every action and movement of yours represents the Emei way itself. How could one not know, unless they were blind?”

“Is that so? If what you say is true, then most people in this world must be blind?”

“Ho ho, you only realized that now? I thought a sharp woman like you would have realized that fact earlier.”

The man in the straw hat confirmed her words with a laugh.

“In any case, congratulations. You have just stumbled upon one of the secrets of the hidden world.”

“Then do you also know which sect I belong to?”

The young man suddenly interjected into their conversation. His asking this meant he still didn’t believe it. The flames of disbelief and jealousy flared in his eyes.

The man in the straw hat’s gaze swept over the young man from head to toe.

“The sword hanging at your waist is thin and light. But it must be fast, right? The place you belong to has abandoned the heaviness represented by strength and embraced speed, pursuing the principle of *Sair* (射日)—is it not? You are a descendant of descendants.”

The man instantly discerned the young man’s identity.

“Y-yes. That’s correct. I am Yu Eun-seong, a disciple of the Mount Hua Sect (點蒼).”

Once might be a coincidence, but if it repeats, it’s no longer easy to dismiss as a mere coincidence. At this point, Jin Sol-ryeong and Yu Eun-seong could no longer deny the man in the straw hat’s sharp observation skills.

Indeed, the man before them was no ordinary person. Who on earth was he?

Just then.

“They’re coming.”

The man in the straw hat raised his index finger and said.

“They are coming!”

Jin Sol-ryeong replied.

Dududududududududu!

The sound of tens of horse hooves instantly shattered the silence of the earth. Accompanied by a cloud of dust, a group of horsemen was galloping towards them. It was a scene that felt like death was surging in like the tide.

The color drained from the driver’s face. Tension rippled like a stormy sea across Jin Sol-ryeong’s and Yu Eun-seong’s faces. Jin Sol-ryeong tried to act nonchalant, but as the moment of confrontation approached, she couldn't help but feel fear. She was only seventeen.

“L-young lady, it’s the people from Thousand Horse Fort (千馬堡). They’ve already chased us this far… What kind of people are they… What should we do, young lady?”

The driver asked in an anxious voice. He kept looking back, as if his throat didn’t hurt. The thunder of the earth grew louder and more resonant. He felt resentment towards the man in the straw hat again, thinking that if they hadn’t chatted idly with him, they could have escaped much further. He still hadn’t realized that his young lady had decided to stand and fight instead of escaping.

“Miss Jin!”

Yu Eun-seong was also seeking her opinion. Although she was the youngest, it was clear that the girl was the center of this group. The man watched this group with keen interest.

He could easily guess what they were worried about. No, he could feel it clearly. It was the source of the sound that had been bothering his ears since earlier.

“We have to escape quickly before they get any closer!”

Yu Eun-seong shouted. But Jin Sol-ryeong shook her head.

“It’s already too late. Running now would only be a waste of energy. We have no choice but to fight here.”

The path she chose might not be of much help in protecting their lives, but it was the best option for now. Unfortunately, there was no other way.

“Tch, we were so close…”

Jin Sol-ryeong bit her lip slightly in frustration. She felt like biting her own fingers. She had been pretending to be calm all along, but she was reaching her limit. The lake of her mind was stirring.

‘My training is still insufficient.’

She muttered to herself with a self-deprecating laugh.

Still, she had no intention of surrendering meekly.

She still had one last move.

The master of Thousand Horse Fort, Geollyeok Ssanggbu (巨力雙斧) Oh Ma-gwang, was clearly enraged. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have personally led nearly eighty subordinates to chase two children for a thousand *li*, considering his usual preference for staying put and delegating tasks to his subordinates. As their original business was horse trading—as indicated by the name ‘a small fort with a thousand horses’—Thousand Horse Fort could easily utilize fine steeds with strong legs. Thus, they could pursue at great speed without worrying about horses.

“Stop!”

As the leader at the forefront raised his hand, his subordinates stopped their horses in unison. Their equestrian skills were astonishing, perhaps from their past as horse bandits before becoming horse merchants. It was thanks to the funds and skills accumulated from their horse-stealing days that they were able to establish a horse farm.

Jin Sol-ryeong and the former horse bandit leader’s eyes met in mid-air. A mocking glint appeared in Oh Ma-gwang’s eyes.

“Hmph, what’s this? I thought you’d be running away like a dog with its tail on fire by now!”

Based on decades of experience, he had assumed they would be panting and exhausted by now. Yet, instead of running, they stood there confidently, looking directly at him without fear. It was truly unexpected for Oh Ma-gwang. Usually, when pursuing someone, he only saw their retreating backs. And he had always generously plunged his sword into those backs. It was very rare to see faces in a chase.

“Hmph, there’s no longer any need to run away.”

Jin Sol-ryeong replied in a firm voice. Had she thought of a brilliant solution?

“Oh, really?”

Oh Ma-gwang, not so foolish as to fall for mere bluffing, suddenly changed his expression. It was after he saw the signal flare from Jin Sol-ryeong’s embrace.

“Is that, by any chance…!”

Without answering Oh Ma-gwang’s question, Jin Sol-ryeong pulled the fuse of the flare strongly.

Piiiiiiiiing!

Red smoke shot up into the sky, drawing a long tail.

A triumphant smile formed on her lips. Murmurs could be heard from the pursuers.

‘They’re flustered!’

That was precisely her aim. She straightened her chest and declared confidently,

“Hmph, I prepared this just in case! Those who have dabbled in the martial world know what this red signal rising means, don’t you? It’s the Emei Sect’s unique emergency signal flare, ‘Hongryeonsok (紅蓮索)’! It’s fired when a disciple of the Emei Sect is in a critical situation! You are standing on ground that already belongs to the Emei Sect’s domain. Soon, disciples of the Emei Sect who see the signal will arrive! Wouldn’t it be better for you to turn back before something unfortunate happens? Then, I’ll overlook your rudeness up until now! It would be even better if it never happened.”

Then, a commotion spread through the Thousand Horse Fort ranks. The name of the Nine Great Sects was always a troublesome entity for unorthodox factions. No one who made enemies of the Nine Great Sects had ever fared well. Except for one group that had already become a symbol of fear.

Jin Sol-ryeong waited for their reaction with a nervous heart.

‘Please succeed…’

At that moment, the commotion abruptly stopped. Jin Sol-ryeong stared at them with her gaze fixed forward. Geollyeok Ssanggbu Oh Ma-gwang, who stood at the forefront, spoke in a polite tone.

“Hmm, very well. I apologize for our past rudeness, young lady, and we shall depart now.”

Just as Jin Sol-ryeong was about to breathe a sigh of relief.

“…Did you think I would say that, you insolent brat?”

The seemingly polite voice had turned into a rough one, devoid of any manners or dignity.

“You, a mere child whose brain isn’t even dry yet, dare to mock an elder? How brazen! Don’t you agree, everyone?”

Oh Ma-gwang turned to his subordinates and asked.

“Puahahahahaha! That’s right! If we fall for such a crude trick by a mere girl, the name of Thousand Horse Fort would be disgraced, disgraced!”

Loud, wild laughter erupted from various directions. Some even cracked crude jokes.

“Still, Lord, isn’t it kind of cute to see the little girl’s antics? How about we just take her with us and… try all sorts of unspeakable things, and spoil her rotten?”

“Ah, that sounds good.”

Jin Sol-ryeong’s face turned crimson at the barrage of insulting words filled with greed and lust. Her slender shoulders trembled with rage. She didn’t know how to react to such treatment, which she had never experienced before.

“Shut your trap!”

Just then, the disciple of Mount Hua, Yu Eun-seong, stepped forward and roared.

“You dirty bastards! Who do you think you are to insult us! If you insult Miss Jin any further, my sword will not remain idle!”

His face, contorted with rage, turned as red as heated iron. How could he, a man, remain idle when the woman he admired was being insulted right before his eyes? Disregarding any unfavorable circumstances, he felt an urge to rush into the midst of these uncivilized ruffians and wildly swing his sword. However, his volcanic rage seemed to have only the effect of a fly’s wingbeat on them.

“Oh? Who is this? Isn’t this the puny young master who was prancing around in front of me a while ago and got stabbed? How is it? Is your left forearm, injured by my Serrated Saber (鋸齒刀), alright?”

The one who taunted the young man mercilessly in a smug voice was Oh Kyung (吳京), the second-in-command of Thousand Horse Fort, also known as Blood Tooth Saber (血齒刀). He hadn’t expected an apology or an expression of regret, but he certainly hadn’t expected to be mocked.

“Shut up! I was just caught off guard then! How dare you think I fear your filthy blade!”

Yu Eun-seong’s face flushed red again, as if recalling the shame of that time.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, still so young! So easily shaken by a little provocation. Passion is good, but how will you navigate the situation like this…?”

The man watching the scene clicked his tongue from under his straw hat. He was still half-baked. He would need to relentlessly refine himself to ripen.

“Aren’t you afraid of the Emei Sect? You seem so relaxed even after seeing the Hongryeonsok rise into the sky? Soon, your fellow disciples from the sect will be here.”

However, Jin Sol-ryeong’s voice was already trembling. The master of Thousand Horse Fort, Oh Ma-gwang, burst into laughter.

“Puahahahahaha! How bold of you, little girl! Did you really think an elder like me would fall for such a flimsy bluff? Huh? Did you think this Geollyeok Ssanggbu would run away with his tail between his legs at the name of the Emei Sect! Don’t you know? The signal won’t reach the Emei Sect from here! So, stop this ridiculous act and prepare to be skinned! My two axes will peel your skin off, piece by piece!”

Jin Sol-ryeong staggered, barely managing to stay upright.

“How… how could you…?”

Her confident and resolute demeanor from moments ago had vanished, replaced by a pale face devoid of color.

His words were true. The Hongryeonsok, their life-saving red flare, would disappear into the wind in vain here. If only that mysterious man hadn’t been there. She even felt like claiming compensation, but even that was impossible now.

“Just a little… if only we had gone a little further…”

Jin Sol-ryeong muttered with regret. If she had run a little harder, they would have entered the Emei Sect’s territory. Then, the red flare shot into the sky would have become their lifeline.

Even the Thousand Horse Fort, one of the four most dominant forces in the Jiangnan region whose influence was currently soaring, wouldn’t dare to touch her. She was a direct disciple of the Emei Sect, and her master was the current Emei Sect Leader, Hye-myeong Sa-tae. No sect would remain silent if their cherished successor was murdered. It was a matter of honor. But, bitterly and unjustly, as the wicked man said, this place was not yet truly within the Emei Sect’s domain. Although it was within their territory in a broad sense, it was not a place where the safety of disciples was absolutely guaranteed.

As the cunning man said, no matter how many emergency signals they fired here, they would never reach the sect’s gates. The distance and the wind would scatter the red signal into the air. The red lotus stem was too short to be a lifeline.

“Do you think such brutality will be forgiven?”

The answer came immediately.

“I don’t know! And I don’t want to know! All I know is that you are the enemy of my son!”

Oh Ma-gwang roared in a voice filled with intense killing intent.

‘What could have happened? This child doesn’t seem like the type to incur grudges.’

The man in the straw hat, observing, had a question arise in his mind. If it was revenge for the death of a child, then he certainly had grounds for it.

“Hmph, scoundrels who toy with women deserve to die!”

Jin Sol-ryeong retorted sharply. Even standing on the brink of life and death, her spirit had not been entirely crushed.

“Hmm, so that’s how it is?”

With just the girl’s single remark, the situation was roughly understood.

The full story was as follows.

After completing her three-month secluded training, ordered by her master, Jin Sol-ryeong was granted a rare long period of rest.

She decided to travel a bit further with a few friends, including Yu Eun-seong, a disciple from the Mount Hua Sect, with whom she had a friendly relationship. They chose Hangzhou. While gathered at the renowned inn Jinlan Guest House (金蘭客棧) in Hangzhou, there was a scummy rogue who dared to flirt with her, captivated by her beauty. Even now, recalling his avaricious eyes and his crimson lips that seemed to drool at any moment, she felt a visceral disgust.

That damned, accursed ruffian clearly relied on his background. Unaware of the world, he refused to back down even when he heard the names of the Nine Great Sects and the Eight Great Families. The rogue’s father was the master of Thousand Horse Fort, who ruled the darkness of Hangzhou, and the rogue himself was their only son. Although Thousand Horse Fort presented itself as a large horse merchant group, their past habits of violence persisted.

Naturally, his father doted on his son, willing to give him the moon and stars, and indulged every unreasonable demand. They say parental love is unconditional, but Oh Ma-gwang’s parental love was not only unconditional but also unrestrained and thoughtless. While parental love is said to be as vast as the heavens and as deep as the sea, it was no match for Oh Ma-gwang’s love for his son.

When his son, at the age of seven, first returned home with the teeth and bruised foreheads of several friends, Oh Ma-gwang praised him, stroking his head. When his son, at ten, disrespectfully ignored his teacher and ended up causing the tutor to visit his home in protest, Oh Ma-gwang unhesitatingly broke the tutor’s legs to shut him up. When his son, at fifteen, the age Confucius began his pursuit of learning, gang-raped five women, Oh Ma-gwang praised his manliness and courage, and even assigned him two capable subordinates, adept at murder and concealment, when his son mentioned needing to “resolve an issue” with the husband of a married woman at the age of eighteen. He tolerated nothing that stood in his son’s way. Therefore, it was only natural that his son, the object of such endless love, could enjoy boundless freedom. It was perhaps inevitable that the son, who had completely forgotten concepts and common sense, would end up this way.

This extreme form of education, devoid of restraint, resulted, as always, in a child who completely lost his manners. In short, another scumbag was born into this world, and the word ‘incorrigible’ found its purpose. Fortunately, even these reckless parents retained a shred of basic reason, or rather, instinct: one thing they did not encourage was ‘fratricide.’ But by this point, it was almost as if he had learned everything. Perhaps he just hadn't found the right opportunity.

The fact that things had never gone his way made the child mentally disabled. Thus, he firmly believed that once he did as he pleased, there would be no one to oppose his will. The background of Thousand Horse Fort had always granted him absolute power. Therefore, it was likely the first time he encountered someone whose name didn’t carry weight.

From their side, they were also ignorant of the affairs of the underworld. Still, would they dare provoke the Nine Great Sects? This difference in thinking naturally led to conflict.

Oh Dae-gwang, the third heir of Thousand Horse Fort, was too deeply immersed in the role created for him by his background. However, in terms of background, she and her companions were not insignificant either. A quarrel ensued, and swords were drawn.

Jin Sol-ryeong’s dictionary did not contain training as weak and ineffective as that of a scumbag who cared more about his father’s background than his own abilities. The sword, refined through three months of solitude, cut through the wind, overwhelming her opponent. Without a moment’s respite, the flashing sword light forced Oh Dae-gwang to constantly flee. Even his reliable escorts, who had always shadowed him, acting as his agents of numerous wrongdoings and violence, were no match for the offensive launched by Yu Eun-seong and his companions.

In a situation where his pride, his background, and even his loyal escorts, who were strong supporters of his base violence, were all useless, his true worth was revealed. In terms of scholastic value, he was an ‘enemy within ten moves (十招未滿之敵).’

The outcome was decided in less than ten moves, just as evaluated. The first three moves were feints to gauge the opponent’s skill, the next six were punishments for his rudeness, and the final move was the finishing blow to end his life. Although expressed that way, she had no intention of killing him. However, with a cowardly move between his thighs in the third move, she became enraged, and there was no room for mercy in her uncontrolled blade. Thus, the lineage of the flourishing rogue organization Thousand Horse Fort was severed by the sword of a mere girl. It was undeniably his own fault, but for Oh Ma-gwang, the master of Thousand Horse Fort, who had lost his third heir and fallen into an extremely illogical and emotional state, such logic was meaningless.

The pursuit began. Even the most talented disciples of the Nine Great Sects couldn’t withstand the full assault of over a hundred warriors from Thousand Horse Fort. So, they decided on a tactical retreat. They decided to run.

The closest domain of the Nine Sects was the Emei Sect. And this was also the sect of Jin Sol-ryeong, whom the master of Thousand Horse Fort had vowed to flay alive and hang upside down.

It was not an easy escape. The ominous arrows embedded in various parts of the carriage sadly testified that their escape had not been smooth.

“Wouldn’t you reconsider?”

Jin Sol-ryeong spoke again.

“Do you think the Emei Sect will remain silent if you kill me? Even a fool would know that, right? Besides, this Young Master Yu is a registered disciple of the Mount Hua Sect. Are there any sects in Sichuan that can afford to offend both Emei and Mount Hua and survive? Unless you are ‘his descendants’?”

At her last remark, the man in the straw hat flinched slightly. It was a brief tremor, and that was it. Since arriving here, he had been observing the situation in silence, as if he were a statue.

“Hmph, who would know that?”

Oh Ma-gwang said with a sly smile.

“You won’t even have a bone left! Don’t worry, I’ll grind you into powder and drink it! You don’t have to worry about leaving any trace in this world!”

It was a terrifying threat.

“Heaven and Earth are watching.”

Jin Sol-ryeong said, biting her lip.

“Heh heh, the testimony of heaven and earth is invalid!”

Even in the past, he had committed countless wicked deeds, yet no divine punishment had fallen. When his twin axes drank the blood of hundreds in the harsh wilderness, and when dozens died at his word even now, he was still alive. He himself symbolized the meaninglessness of heaven.

“There will surely be witnesses.”

“I’ll kill them all!”

From his unwavering, resolute answer, one could sense his willingness to go to all lengths to destroy evidence.

“That’s right. Including you two, and that guy over there!”

Oh Ma-gwang’s thick finger pointed at a man sitting nonchalantly in a corner of the tense scene.

The man in the straw hat, who had suddenly become witness number one, scratched his head.

“That’s a bit inconvenient…”

He didn’t mind the role of witness A, but he wanted to decline the role of ‘person to be silenced, B.’ He still had a long way to go.

“Ten Thousand Horse Guards (天馬八衛), come forward!”

“Yes, sir!”

Eight men dismounted and stood in a semicircle, slowly approaching the three.

“Bring that damned woman to me alive! I will skin her alive and hang her on a pillar to appease the soul of my dead son who ascended to heaven!”

The vile but terrifying threat sent shivers down Jin Sol-ryeong’s spine. She felt that he was capable of such barbaric acts.

“Hmph, isn’t it futile since she’s already fallen into the path of endless suffering?”

Jin Sol-ryeong shouted loudly, deliberately trying not to be intimidated.

“Shut up! Let’s see if you can still wag that tongue of yours after being stripped naked and violated!”

His eyes, glowing red like a rabid dog, overflowed with sinister killing intent.

“Hmph, you won’t even be able to take my corpse.”

Death was preferable to being defiled. Besides, it was more likely for the sun to rise in the west than to expect such wicked villains to treat a corpse with respect.

“Unfold the Ten Thousand Horse Eight Formations (天馬八陣)!”

He spread his right hand, which was covered in scars, and gestured forward. At the same time, the Eight Guards began to disperse in unison, forming a circle.

The man positioned in the center of the eight, with more than five scars on his face, was evidently the leader of this group. As he gave the order, the remaining seven, called the Guards, began to surround them to form a formation. The word *Wi* (衛) means guardian, yet they were preparing to attack first.

Four of them held long spears, and the other four held sabers of the same shape and length. In reality, using weapons with different intervals for forming a formation is very difficult. Weapons, depending on their form and length, all possess different characteristics, and harmonizing such diverse personalities is never easy. If the formation is constructed incorrectly, weapons with conflicting properties could collide during the transformation. And even if a formation were devised that allowed eight different weapons to move harmoniously, that formation would naturally become complex and difficult, requiring considerable internal energy (功力) to execute.

A formation made of only two types of weapons would mean their abilities are not that high. However, conversely, the fewer the number of weapons and the more unified they are, the tighter and more cohesive the formation becomes, allowing it to exert immense power even if not executed by a top-tier master. Therefore, they cannot be underestimated. Relying on their numbers, they slowly and leisurely tightened the encirclement.

Jin Sol-ryeong and Yu Eun-seong stood motionless, holding their swords at mid-level, watching their actions. Their tension was palpable.

The man watching this duel from his front-row seat frowned slightly.

“Listen, young lady. I’m not trying to nag, but if it were me, I wouldn’t just stand around idly waiting until the encirclement is complete. Wouldn’t it be advantageous for the one who grasps their position and secures it first?”

Jin Sol-ryeong swayed as if struck by lightning at the man in the straw hat’s words.

‘Right. Why am I waiting like this, foolishly?’

To willingly cede the geographical advantage, how foolish!

Relationships are not established by one person alone. The dynamic within a network of relationships is always relative. It is similar to human relationships in daily life. Where do you place yourself in relation to others? In what position and in what form can you gain an advantageous position? It is the same in combat. However, duels that determine life and death are not Go. The opponent does not wait for prolonged deliberation. Therefore, keen insight to assess the opponent, quick judgment, and instantaneous reflexes and agility are required. The art of adapting oneself to the opponent’s changes, the subtle principle of *Su-si-eung-byeon* (隨時應變). She had completely forgotten this crucial principle.

If the flow of battle revolves around the opponent, it is a foolish act of self-entrapment. There is absolutely no need in this world to participate in the complex funeral preparations being made for one’s own demise.

In such situations, a preemptive strike is best. Jin Sol-ryeong was intelligent and quick to understand. She immediately signaled Yu Eun-seong, and the two of them, slashing their swords sharply, charged forward to tear apart the tightening net of encirclement.

“Huh? What?”

The eight grunts, who hadn’t expected such an unbridled charge, were momentarily flustered.

‘Huh? This isn’t right?’

Their specialty, as always, was to overwhelm a small number of individuals paralyzed by fear with overwhelming numbers. They had never, in their memory, encountered such audacious opponents. Even with eight heads of less-than-brilliant intellect gathered together, such a situation was unheard of.

Moreover, even a cornered mouse bites a cat, and these two were far more capable and brave than mice.

Disruption of mind, as always, created openings.

Jin Sol-ryeong and Yu Eun-seong did not miss these openings and thrust their swords in. Azure sword energy exploded from the tips of both their swords.

“The best way to break a formation is to prevent it from being completed in the first place. You are still a young lady, but fortunately, you are not hard of hearing. Or… is it because you are young?”

The man nodded with satisfaction at her sudden action.

Now, the duel seemed worth watching.

The surprise attack by the two, which pierced the complacency of the conventional, was effective, but it didn’t yield as much fun as expected. A surprise attack alone was insufficient to compensate for the numerical disadvantage. However, it was not without results. The greatest benefit they gained was keeping the enemies’ formation in an incomplete state. Jin Sol-ryeong and Yu Eun-seong persistently disrupted their coordination. If they couldn't display overwhelming martial prowess, the numerical advantage could become an insurmountable obstacle once the formation was complete. Therefore, they were desperate.

Ami’s techniques burst forth endlessly from Jin Sol-ryeong’s sword tip. Her movements were as swift as a swallow and as graceful as clouds. The fact that she could control her mind and body to such an extent amidst such fierce combat was a testament to her skill.

The man in the straw hat nodded with a contented smile.

“The Emei Sect has a good disciple. Is she the pillar of the future?”

On the other hand, the boy’s side was not to his liking. What was with that pathetic appearance?

Yu Eun-seong was constantly wielding his sword against the four enemies who were attacking him in turns. The fierce sword winds swirling around him made him look quite valiant.

However, the man in the straw hat still seemed dissatisfied. Given the boy’s background, such a situation was unthinkable.

Though his attacks appeared flashy and grand, he had already grasped that they were hollow.

“Hey, young man! What are you doing?”

He asked the young man, still engrossed in the melee, with a voice full of displeasure.

“Huh?”

Though his voice was low, it resonated clearly as if spoken right next to his ear.

“Aren’t you a disciple of the Mount Hua Sect?”

“Y-yes.”

Yu Eun-seong replied, diligently deflecting the enemies’ attacks with his sword. It seemed he still had his wits about him.

Enemies don’t wait during a conversation. Instead, they intensified their wave of attacks, taking advantage of his distraction.

“But what are you doing?”

“Huh? What do you mean…?”

He had to parry seven feints, evade two thrusts by changing his stance, and block three slashes in succession to say this.

“You learned the Mount Hua Sect’s unique secret technique, the *Sair Sword Technique* (射日劍法), didn’t you?”

“Of course, I learned it.”

He blocked, flowed, and dodged three thrusts and five slashes again.

“If you learned it, shouldn’t you use it properly? Why bother learning it if you don’t use it? Do you want to waste your time?”

The man’s criticism was scathing.

“I still don’t understand what you mean.”

He replied irritably, and his mind became even more flustered. As a result, one of the enemy’s attacks grazed his shoulder. His clothes were torn, and a thin line of blood appeared. Fortunately, it wasn’t a serious wound.

“A disciple of the Mount Hua Sect, yet you’re just swinging your sword. I’m asking what you’re doing. Unless you want to discard your strengths and take on weaknesses, you shouldn’t be doing something so foolish. Absolutely not!”

And then the man delivered the final blow.

“What kind of disgrace is this for someone who has learned the sword technique ‘Heavenly Breakthrough Piercing the Sun’ (天突貫日)?!”

The man’s roar pierced Yu Eun-seong’s heart faster than lightning. He trembled as if struck by a thunderbolt.

—Mount Hua’s sword is light, yet it pierces even the sun.

This was a common compliment from admirers when praising Mount Hua’s sword.

While a sword is indeed meant for swinging and thrusting, in the *Sair Sword Technique*, swinging, or slashing, was merely a supporting move. The main thrust was always the thrust. The essence of the *Sair Sword Technique* was its terrifyingly high-speed thrusts, likened to launched arrows.

Pahabat!

He paid no attention to the blades brushing past his skin. He couldn’t even hear Jin Sol-ryeong’s voice, who was worried about his safety. It was the man in the straw hat’s voice that pulled him back to reality.

“How many suns can your arrows bring down?”

“Wh-how do you know that?”

The young man was surprised once more. Only those from the Mount Hua Sect could ask such a question. What on earth was this man’s identity?

“Five.”

Yu Eun-seong answered honestly.

“Is that so? Your achievements are remarkable at such a young age. Except for the fact that you haven’t used it at all in practice. And the fact that you almost died. Besides…”

The man said.

“There are four of them.”

The man’s words ended there. But it was enough.

Yu Eun-seong trembled like a prophet receiving a divine revelation.

Yu Eun-seong’s movements changed noticeably. His passive stance, which focused on defense rather than offense, disappeared, and he began to exude a sharp, keen aura like a single, sharp awl.

His sword stance also changed.

First, his tightly clenched fist, from which veins bulged, loosened. His wrists became flexible, and his sword stance became light. Slightly twisting his body, he extended his right arm forward, holding his sword, which was light as a willow branch, forward, aiming slightly above the horizontal. The tip of the sword pointed towards the enemy’s heart, symbolizing fire.

His body tensed like a drawn bow. Like a tiger conserving its strength before leaping to catch prey.

He was now ready to spring out like a coiled spring.

A bow is always an object for attack; defense is not considered. If the arrow does not pierce the enemy, it is the archer who dies.

A decisive blow (一擊必殺)! Literally, once shot, one of the two must die. If it hits and pierces, it is the opponent; if it fails, it is oneself! Since one of them must die, it is called a decisive blow. Either the enemy or oneself must die. The thrust in the unique *Sair Sword Technique* of the Mount Hua Sect was also created based on this philosophy.

The four among the Ten Thousand Horse Guards, faced with the sudden change in atmosphere, dared not approach carelessly and maintained a defensive posture. But this was their fatal mistake.

“First Strike!”

Pushoot!

Yu Eun-seong’s sword shot out like an arrow into the silence.

A high-speed thrust that transcended the boundary of sound. Nothing could escape its penetration.

“Kch!”

A swordsman wearing a uniform with the number ‘three’ embroidered on it let out a short scream. The next moment, blood sprayed from the vicinity of his right shoulder blade. Yu Eun-seong’s thrust had accurately penetrated there.

Pahabababat!

Again, his sword sprang out like an arrow. This time, it was a series of five consecutive thrusts.

“Kch! Keuk! Kack! Heok! Euk!”

Mount Hua’s sword pierces even the sun. The name ‘Sair (射日)’ was not given without reason.

As Yu Eun-seong performed his part, the pressure on Jin Sol-ryeong’s side was significantly reduced, and her movements became much lighter and faster as the pressure eased.

The tide of battle began to turn.

“Stop!”

The driver’s grotesque behavior was enough to make Oh Ma-gwang’s brain boil.

“Retreat!”

The Ten Thousand Horse Guards immediately withdrew their attacks, which had proven futile multiple times. They lacked the courage to defy the Lord’s command. Moreover, they were not in a state to do so.

Although the exact events are unknown, Yu Eun-seong’s thrusts, now revealed, were swift and relentless. His sharp sword tip seemed obsessed with turning their bodies into a honeycomb, and it looked like that intention would soon be realized. Jin Sol-ryeong’s sword also possessed a profound mystery that was hard to believe for a girl not yet twenty. Furthermore, she wholeheartedly supported the intent of his sword tip and offered her assistance.

Their skill was insufficient to block these two with their incomplete formation.

Therefore, the expressions of the eight of them were grim. They knew that upon returning to the fort, they would be held thoroughly accountable for their incompetence and disgrace.

Jin Sol-ryeong was certain.

‘He’s going to take action himself!’

The name Gangnam Sapa (江南四覇) not only referred to the four most tyrannical groups in the Jiangnan region but also to the leaders commanding those groups.

Among them, the one rumored to be the most brutal was Geollyeok Ssanggbu Oh Ma-gwang, who was now approaching them with tyrannical killing intent.

Thud, thud!

With every step he took, the black chains wrapped around his body made a threatening clanking sound. The solid chains connecting his axes exerted a whirlwind-like power, especially on horseback, overwhelming people.

Following behind him was Oh Kyung (吳京), known as his right-hand man, the Blood Tooth Saber. It seemed he intended to alleviate his master’s burden slightly.

‘Indeed, the name Gangnam Sapa was not earned in vain. Such tyrannical energy… It’s suffocating.’

Every nerve in his body sent warning signals. Yu Eun-seong, standing beside him, also tensed his body with nervousness.

Finally, the tyrant’s advance halted.

“I’ll finish this in ten seconds!”

He had too much pent-up rage to engage in idle chatter.

Whoosh!

Without warning, his arm swung. There were no preparatory movements.

Sweeeeeeek!

The large double-bladed axe, attached to a thick chain, sliced through the air. The enormous axe, at least ten *zhang* long, struck like a whirlwind, descending upon the two. It was his signature move, ‘Swift Wind Butcher (疾風屠殺人).’

Jin Sol-ryeong and Yu Eun-seong dared not meet it head-on and dodged. Their thin swords felt like they would shatter like toys in the face of that fierce whirlwind. Their judgment was correct.

“Hmph! Do you think you can escape by running away?”

Oh Ma-gwang sneered, swinging the chain in his right hand.

Whooosh!

The massive black axe, shaped like a giant bat with its wings fully spread, soared vertically into the sky.

‘Thunderbolt Cleaves Earth’ (霹靂斷地)!

His right arm, thick as a log, yanked the chain downward fiercely.

The axe that had soared into the sky struck the ground like a thunderbolt.

Jin Sol-ryeong and Yu Eun-seong hastily jumped back.

“Do you think I’ll fall for such exaggerated movements?”

The power was immense, but if it missed, it was useless.

Then he swung the chain around violently.

Kuakwakwakwakwakwa!

Two shockwaves emanated from the axe that struck the ground, tearing through the earth as they rushed forward. This was the objective. The flamboyant and brutal attack was a feint. Designed to break open a firm heart by twisting it to create an opening.

Jin Sol-ryeong and Yu Eun-seong hurriedly brought their swords forward to block the yellow-brown shockwaves that swept over them like a tidal wave. However, they were about half a breath too late.

“Kuhuk!”

“Kyaaak!”

A scream burst from both of them. A moment’s carelessness could determine the entire outcome of a battle. If they couldn’t block it in time, there was no way they could fully dissipate the force. The residual energy that couldn’t be countered struck their bodies.

Both of them scraped the ground, retreating about three *zhang* before they could finally stop their bodies.

Gulp!

Was it an internal injury? A trickle of red blood flowed from Jin Sol-ryeong’s lips.

‘What incredible strength! My internal organs still feel like they’re vibrating.’

Jin Sol-ryeong felt a chill of dread.

‘If the shockwave alone is this much? What if I were directly hit by that axe…’

It was unbearable.

Yu Eun-seong also couldn’t help but feel a heightened sense of caution. His palms were numb, and his internal organs felt as if they had been churned. This was a different level of strength from the Ten Thousand Horse Guards he had fought earlier.

Furthermore, his range was much longer than theirs. And his massive axe was more agile and faster than he had expected. Oh Ma-gwang had them perfectly trapped within his domain.

If this situation couldn’t be changed, their swords would eventually be impaled on the axes of his waist. The problem was the distance.

‘I have no choice but to take a risk!’

The only comfort was that his hand-axe, which he wielded like a limb, was large and flamboyant in its movements. And there were two of them. Although Blood Tooth Saber Oh Kyung stood behind him, he didn’t seem likely to intervene recklessly. In fact, his signature move, Swift Wind Butcher, was nearly impossible to coordinate with others. It was a ruthless technique that would sweep away allies and subordinates alike if they intervened carelessly. Its movements were large and powerful, making precise control difficult. Therein lay their chance.

Jin Sol-ryeong conveyed her intention to Yu Eun-seong with a glance. They exchanged a few telepathic messages for a specific plan. They were not old friends who had known each other for decades, nor were they comrades who had faced life and death together. Nor were they lovers who had shared passionate love from the moment they met. Therefore, they had no intention of betting their lives on vague and irresponsible words like heart-to-heart understanding. To understand each other, conversation was necessary first.

As if to show off, Oh Ma-gwang was swinging his massive black axe like a windmill, drawing a large circle above his head.

Yu Eun-seong, who played the role of the bait, moved first. He channeled all the inner energy accumulated in his lower abdomen into a single point at the tip of his sword. A large amount of sword energy flowed into a point smaller than a grain of rice, smaller than the tip of a fine hair.

“Scattering Rainstorm (暴雨散射)!”

With a mighty roar, dozens of sword energy streams shot out from the tip of his sword towards Oh Ma-gwang. His role was to capture the opponent’s attention as noisily and flamboyantly as possible. And from a distance.

“Futile!”

Mocking his reckless attack, Oh Ma-gwang crossed and swung his chain twice, and the approaching sword energy storm vanished as if washed away.

“Die!”

Quickly neutralizing Yu Eun-seong’s attack, Oh Ma-gwang did not forget to retaliate. Again, his right hand moved with a flick, and the chain, moving agilely like a whip, sent the black axe attached to its end flying.

‘I knew it was reckless anyway!’

The sword energy, once fired, would naturally dissipate after a certain distance. Energy that left the body, by its nature, could not remain in the air for long. It dissolved into the vast aggregation of energy that was the universe. The distance would increase or decrease depending on the level of training and the depth of inner energy, but it would never last forever. Yu Eun-seong’s current level was not high enough to render ten *zhang* of distance null. Knowing this, he had summoned all his strength to draw his attention. Then, as intended, his axe flew towards him.

Ten *zhang* was by no means a short distance.

Seizing this opportunity, Jin Sol-ryeong launched her body. It was the fastest step, ‘Seomryeon (閃蓮),’ among the Emei Sect’s secret footwork, Water Lotus Step (水蓮步). It was the fastest step she had ever taken in her life. She closed the distance instantly, like an arrow shot from a bow.

“Arrow Sword, Single Shot (彈劍一矢)!”

From Yu Eun-seong’s hand, as he dodged the sharp teeth of the approaching axe, unfolded one of the three ultimate techniques of the *Sair Sword Technique*. The sword that left his hand flew in a straight line towards Oh Ma-gwang’s brow, as fast as an arrow of light shot from a divine bow. It was the ultimate technique he could unleash, and his final move. If this technique failed, he too would die. A death blow is called a death blow precisely because if it fails to kill the enemy, the attacker dies. One of the two must die. Whether the enemy or oneself.

“Excellent!”

A cry of admiration burst from the watching man in the straw hat.

“It ends here, villain (凶賊)!”

As he shouted, Jin Sol-ryeong’s sword also bloomed like a flower, a secret technique of Emei, *Flash Shadow Lotus Flower* (閃影蓮花), adorning the air.

However, they had forgotten one important fact. Why his nickname included ‘Twin Axes.’

This time, even the usually confident Oh Ma-gwang’s expression changed in surprise. He hadn’t expected these young upstarts to push him this far. The combined attack was that precise and sharp.

But his nickname was Geollyeok Ssanggbu. He wasn’t called that just because he used a double-bladed axe.

“Take this! Don’t underestimate me!”

Oh Ma-gwang, like the leader of an unorthodox sect, had a hidden move. His other axe was tucked into his waist behind his back. It was smaller, and therefore faster. While there is fast swordplay, there is no such thing as fast axe play. An axe is inherently a crude and clumsy weapon, so it is always at a disadvantage in terms of speed. However, the axeplay displayed by Oh Ma-gwang’s left hand now was truly deserving of the term fast axeplay.

It was the strength of an arm that could wield a ten-foot-long axe freely. When that hand held a small, light axe, its speed and changeability were astonishing.

Pahababak!

His axe, swung like a whirlwind, struck Yu Eun-seong’s sword, which was aimed at his brow.

Chaang!

Yu Eun-seong’s sword, struck precisely on the side, was flicked upwards towards the sun. Before the deflected sword could even fall to the ground, his axe was already attacking Jin Sol-ryeong’s entire body. His blood-red eyes, reminiscent of a demon crawling from the abyss, flashed.

Under the onslaught of ferocious axe blows, her sword techniques shattered like glass shards.

“Aaargh!”

Unable to withstand the force, Jin Sol-ryeong dropped her sword. Her hand tore, and blood flowed. Her internal organs churned, and her vision blurred. Her mind went numb.

His axe disappeared behind his back as quickly as it had appeared. The next moment, Jin Sol-ryeong’s slender neck was caught in Oh Ma-gwang’s rough hand.

Her delicate neck looked as if it might snap like a flower in the hands of unruly children.

Oh Ma-gwang’s eyes, red as burning coals, stared at Jin Sol-ryeong, who was dangling in the air, writhing in pain. He had originally intended to kill her slowly, but his patience had vanished. It felt as if he wouldn’t be satisfied unless he killed her now.

“Nooooooo! Miss Jin!”

A desperate scream burst from Yu Eun-seong’s lips. But what could he do, defenseless, without even his sword?

“Die!”

Oh Ma-gwang’s hand, which had drunk the blood of countless humans, moved again to take a life.

Yu Eun-seong closed his eyes tightly.

Yu Eun-seong, who had fled into darkness, felt something was wrong after a while. The first thing that struck him as odd was that Jin Sol-ryeong’s final scream was not heard. The second was the absence of the wicked laughter of the villains who had just claimed a beautiful maiden’s life.

Facing reality was terrifying. But Yu Eun-seong bravely peeked open one eye and looked ahead. It was unfortunate that Jin Sol-ryeong was still held in the clutches of that wicked beast, but fortunately, her neck was still attached to her shoulder. He instinctively felt that she was still breathing.

“Th-this…”

Oh Ma-gwang’s face was flushed crimson.

The tendons and veins on his forearm bulged disturbingly. He was struggling to clench his left fist, which held Jin Sol-ryeong. But his fist was as if caught in a net of time, unable to move.

What trickery was this! His eyes widened in confusion, unable to understand the reason. Yu Eun-seong, whose eyesight was sharp, also noticed it.

“Could it be… a needle?”

He spotted something thin and long, black, protruding from the outside of his thick left wrist.

“Who dared to throw such a needle at this elder?”

But it wasn’t a needle. It wasn’t a poison dart either. It wasn't such a trivial thing.

Yu Eun-seong’s eyes widened. Oh Ma-gwang’s eyes widened too. It was a familiar object, except for its excessive stiffness. Especially on top of the head, or in the field of vision fluttering on a windy day.

“Could it… be hair?”

He rubbed his eyes a few times, thinking perhaps his vision was faulty, but there was no abnormality.

It was a strand of hair.

Snap! Snap!

“That’s enough!”

A quiet, gentle, yet firm voice spoke, and the man in the straw hat brushed himself off and stood up.

What happened next should have baffled Yu Eun-seong and everyone else. It happened so quickly that it took a long time for the information to be processed and reprocessed within their perceptual range and then inputted and understood.

“Who are you? A soon-to-die wretch!”

From Oh Ma-gwang’s right hand, which was still functional unlike his immobilized left hand, a fierce wind flew towards the man. The next moment, the area froze as if time itself had stopped.

The black axe, with enough power to crush a giant boulder, was stopped in the man’s hand. The man in the straw hat casually raised one hand and effortlessly deflected the axe’s assault, nullifying it completely.

“What can you do with such toys?”

Crackle!

As he lightly clenched his fist, the axe began to crumble into black iron fragments and fall to the ground. The next moment, the man closed the distance to Oh Ma-gwang and twisted his right arm. His forearm, which had seemed as strong as iron, was twisted like a wrung-out wet towel.

“Aaaaaargh!”

Oh Ma-gwang, the master of Thousand Horse Fort, whose screams usually echoed, now let out a desperate, blood-curdling shriek.

At this point, Oh Kyung, the deputy leader, who still had some sanity left, grabbed his bloody saber and rushed to aid his lord. His alias, ‘Blood Tooth Saber,’ came from the wicked saber he wielded, with saw-like teeth, which he had always used to commit slaughter first. However, his saber, imbued with the resentment of countless victims, snapped like a straw in the man’s light sleeve, and his entire body was torn as if by the claws of a ferocious beast. He flew backward, spewing blood. Jin Sol-ryeong’s body, which had been suspended in the air, fell slowly into the arms of the man in the straw hat like a feather. It was as if an invisible hand was supporting her.

“Are you alright, little girl?”

The man, holding the girl gently with both arms outstretched, asked with a benevolent smile. Jin Sol-ryeong, her face blushing, nodded a couple of times without being able to properly reply. Perhaps due to being pulled out of the brink of death so suddenly, she was extremely disoriented.

Clutching her pounding heart, Jin Sol-ryeong cautiously looked up at her life-saver. However, due to the shadow of the straw hat and her hair, she couldn’t see him clearly. Slightly disappointed, Jin Sol-ryeong replied,

“I am not a little girl.”

“Ho ho, did I make a mistake? My apologies, my apologies. As one gets older, one sometimes makes such mistakes. I sometimes forget that the amount of time spent has no correlation with what one gains. There are plenty of unfortunate souls who live their lives covered in mud, after all. Can you forgive me?”

History has never seen a situation where those who waste their lives meaninglessly are brought down from their majority position. Jin Sol-ryeong blushed and nodded.

“But you are certainly not someone who wastes time meaninglessly. I will forgive your mistake. And thank you for saving me. Could you please let me down now?”

Jin Sol-ryeong said, still in the man’s arms, her face blushing.

“I’m afraid not yet. If I were to remain a mere spectator, it would be one thing. But now that I’ve intervened, I must see it through to the end. It seems they haven’t yet come to their senses. Otherwise, they would quickly realize what kind of existence they are dealing with.”

Both of them shifted their gaze to the same spot and witnessed a man frothing at the mouth like a mad dog.

“Kill! Kill! Kill!”

Oh Ma-gwang, emerging from a moment of distraction caused by physical pain and mental shock, yelled in desperation. His seventy-seven subordinates, waiting on horseback behind him, spurred their mounts forward. The tidal wave of hooves surged towards the man in the straw hat and the small bird in his arms, intent on crushing them.

“A pointless endeavor!”

The man in the straw hat, holding the girl, took a step forward and began to speak quietly.

“Why didn’t I help you? I had the power from the beginning to prevent you from being in danger? I could have pulled you out of danger? I could have spared you this hardship? Why did I only save you now?”

Jin Sol-ryeong silently shook her head. He continued speaking.

“It’s because you are not yourselves. Navigating one’s own life is ultimately one’s own responsibility. You must struggle on your own, for you have been thrown into this world of existence. That is life. That is your own life. Life is the act of defining oneself through oneself. To your lives, I am merely an outsider. I can offer advice and help you overcome the waves of destiny that crash upon you, but the final responsibility always lies with you. I am not a nanny, and I cannot appear anytime, anywhere, to save you.”

The girl just listened silently. Dozens of horses thundered across the ground, but soft, gentle, and powerful words enveloped her. In those words, she felt strength, confidence, and certainty.

“This is just a coincidence!”

He said in a very firm voice.

“A very, very special and rare coincidence, not something that can be expected. Me meeting you by chance in a coincidental moment and lending you my strength is just one of many coincidences. A coincidence within a coincidence. This is probably what they call incredible luck. But you shouldn’t rely on such luck. There are no coincidences that occur precisely when needed. Cultivate your own strength. And fight and overcome the waves of destiny. That is why I have not helped you until now. To honor your own life, your fierce struggle. To minimize the interference of my will with your chosen path. So, forget this coincidence as if it never happened.”

He walked towards the horses, holding the girl in his ‘two arms,’ as if on a leisurely stroll.

“All things flow and change (萬物流轉). All things are constantly changing. Constantly. The only constant in this world is the fact that change continues. This world is maintained through an endless dance, an eternal flow, and constant interaction and transformation (變易).”

Now, the distance to the charging herd of horses was only a stone’s throw. A well-trained horse has no hesitation in trampling humans. However, it would be cruel to the horses to cut them down to defeat these humans. Horses are at least helpful to humans, but these humans only cause harm.

The man had no intention of harming the horses either. Tools are merely mirrors that reflect the nature of the human using them. Breaking the mirror does not change humans.

“Of course, changes that occur between relationships are much more complex than ordinary ones. No matter how complex the change, if you grasp its core, you can dominate the overall picture of that change. That is called achieving harmony (致中和). Just like this.”

It would be difficult to call this a useful, effective, or educational demonstration. Because the girl could not perceive what was happening around her at all. Just as a flower is not a flower before it is called a flower, it does not exist until it is perceived.

No equestrian skill could harm his body. He remained cheerful and gentle, his steps leisurely. Furthermore, his two arms still held her warmly, as if protecting her. And she realized. What he was telling her now was not just wisdom for life. It was a secret that would elevate her martial arts to a higher level. What she was witnessing was the resurrection of a long-dormant secret art, bringing it to life. As he said, it was a rare coincidence born of the lack of inevitability, a miraculous encounter (奇緣).

When he finished his short walk, crossing through more than seventy horses with a girl in his arms, there was no one left on the horses. The former horse bandits, who had charged to maul a single person, brandishing all sorts of menacing weapons, were all lying on the ground, crawling. Some had broken ribs from being trampled by hooves, others broken shins, crushed ankles, ruptured organs, and even crushed testicles—may they rest in peace.

Their eyes were wide open, but it was impossible to tell how it happened. It felt like a momentary dream that had occurred in a different dimension from reality.

“Ugh… ugh… ugh…”

Oh Ma-gwang, dazed by the spectacle, which seemed like the fleeting exercise of heavenly authority on earth, gasped like a carp suffering from shortness of breath.

A chilling silence gently enveloped the surroundings. Only one man stood quietly at the center of this silence. Holding a small bird filled with infinite potential in his embrace.

“Can you let me down now? It seems you’re done with your business.”

The girl, burying her face in her hands, said in a small voice.

“Of course, young lady!”

The man, with his benevolent smile, obediently followed the girl’s request.

Looking back at the aftereffects of the short walk just moments ago, the man felt a bitter and sad heart. What was most saddening was that he had been the decisive factor in that scene.

‘There is still no end to conflict in this world. Even though disaster is so clearly waiting before them, humans prefer to fight each other rather than unite to counter that ordeal.’

Have humans lost the foresight to see further? ‘Foresight’ is not as supernatural a power as humans imagine. It is a realistic ability that combines logical reasoning, intuition, and insight, and can be acquired through learning and thought training. It is rare for it to fall from the sky unexpectedly, and it is wiser to dismiss the claims of those who assert it rather than accept them. Especially those who sell God’s name as a product and use the fear of the afterlife as a sales strategy are a hundred percent false prophets.

The foundation of foresight is imagination. Accepting things as they are yields only the shell. To penetrate the essence and obtain the true meaning of phenomena, one must cultivate the imagination and insight to look beyond the shell of the phenomenon.

In this case, not much imagination is needed. A moment of thought is enough. They would realize that fighting amongst themselves now, boasting of superiority, would be meaningless before the great catastrophe.

The predicted disaster that is coming will sweep away all these childish games like a giant tidal wave. To prevent the giant tidal wave from engulfing this world, which is still precariously maintaining peace, a united decision is needed. This is not someone else’s problem, but a matter directly related to oneself, one’s descendants, and the future. Yet, most people have no intention of understanding this. They show no interest in their own future. As if denying that they are part of the world.

Just then, thick dust rose again from behind them. It wasn't the sound of horses. It was the sound of movement characteristic of martial artists. The sound of *gyeonggong* being employed.

Could it be reinforcements? The seventy-nine people lying on the ground were not the entire force of Thousand Horse Fort.

Tension returned to Jin Sol-ryeong, Yu Eun-seong, and the driver. Their bodies were already exhausted from the arduous battle. They had no strength left to fight.

However, Jin Sol-ryeong’s face soon lit up. She recognized some familiar faces among the group rushing towards them with *gyeonggong*. So overjoyed, she felt tears welling up. The tension, which had been constricting her limbs like a hangman’s noose, instantly loosened. But then a question arose.

‘But how? The signal shouldn’t have reached the mountain gate.’

Furthermore, the arrival time was sooner than expected.

‘And that person?!’

The grandmother leading the group of about fifty disciples, rushing like a whirlwind, was very familiar. She was ‘Hye-wol (慧月),’ one of the Five Great Elders of the Emei Sect, feared by some disciples as the ‘White-Haired Ancient Hag.’ She was a survivor of the bloody centuries. Therefore, one could easily imagine her age.

Elder Hye-wol had good eyesight for someone over a hundred years old. Thus, she could recognize Jin Sol-ryeong’s identity from afar.

Thinking that one of Emei’s most promising disciples was in grave danger, she became naturally anxious. She shouted to the man she had saved and her disciples.

“I’m going ahead!”

Her long-held belief that men were untrustworthy was immediately revealed. The first thing her eyes landed on was the mysterious man standing right beside Sol-ryeong. She felt the need to get rid of him first. Her *gyeonggong* accelerated, and she spun like a whirlwind, squeezing between the two, and then shouted.

“Who are you? I don’t know your purpose, but get away from this child, you wolf!”

Her worldview, which immediately categorized all men as potential wolves or jackals, was evident in her words. What was absurd was, of course, on the man’s side. The man in the straw hat shook his head and said.

“Hye-wol, your aversion to men hasn’t changed!”

Jin Sol-ryeong twisted her ankle, and Yu Eun-seong hiccuped.

“Hye-wol~?”

Her voice, trailing off, soared high into the sky.

“What a damn wretch! Am I your friend? How dare you…!”

Her voice, which had been raging, completely subsided the moment she recognized the man’s face.

“Hieeeeee… Kack, kack, kack!”

A sudden gasp of fear. Then, as if the scream got stuck in her throat, she started choking. She coughed uncontrollably, as if her lungs were about to leave her body. Her dignity was at stake, but this was not the time to worry about it.

Her soul, due to the extreme mental shock that exceeded her body’s capacity, left her body and reached the court of Yeomra (the King of Hell), but it was discovered that the date recorded in the book of life and death differed from the date of her death. Two grim reapers were severely disciplined for dereliction of duty, and her soul was able to return to its original body. Perhaps due to the aftereffects of astral projection, Hye-wol, her face pale blue, immediately threw herself to the ground and prostrated herself in a five-prostration ritual. This was an unprecedented act, even for the sect leader.

“A-Ah, Hye-wol of Emei pays her respects to your esteemed presence!”

Elder Hye-wol, known for her stern and ill-tempered nature even among the Emei Sect elders, trembled.

Jin Sol-ryeong and Yu Eun-seong had to rub their eyes, which had widened to the size of dinner plates, again.

“Thank you for your vigorous greeting. It’s been a while.”

The man in the straw hat said with a smile. Hye-wol’s body shrank even further, as if unable to bear the overwhelming reverence.

“I will not ask for forgiveness. I, this lowly one, will repay my rudeness with my life.”

Hye-wol’s voice trembled like a quaking aspen.

“Ho ho, that’s too harsh for an old acquaintance. Die? Besides, why do you call yourself lowly? If you make a mistake once, you can just not do it next time. I’m not offended by such a thing. Get up now.”

“N-no, I cannot possibly stand up.”

But at some point, her body was lifted by unseen hands and stood upright on the ground. She quickly bowed her head. She felt she had no face to meet him.

“It’s uncomfortable for me. My neck hurts when I have to look down at you. But what happened? According to that child, the signal shouldn’t have reached Emei from here.”

Then Hye-wol began to explain the situation. The reason was as follows.

Hearing rumors that a few blind bandits had been harassing the Emei Sect’s face in this area for the past few days, she, a model elder burning with righteousness and a sense of duty—rather than itching for action—personally led the disciples to suppress the bandits. In the process, she even saved a young man. He said his name was Mr. Jang, and he was about to be robbed of everything by the bandits when she rescued him. She boasted that she even gave him some instruction, as his plight, being merely a courier, being robbed by robbers was so pathetic.

“So, did you feel refreshed after stretching your body for the first time in a while?”

“Ah, yes. Of course. I felt so restless after being confined within the mountain gate for so long… Huh!”

Hye-wol, who had answered unintentionally, quickly covered her mouth. Her tongue moved a couple more times. Jin Sol-ryeong suddenly began to doubt her identity as a disciple of the Emei Sect.

The man in the straw hat chuckled and said,

“Ho ho ho, you are still as spirited as ever.”

“I-I am ashamed.”

After fifty years of seclusion, a figure rumored to be dead had reappeared before her eyes. Elder Hye-wol was genuinely moved. She felt the joy of encountering a legend once again.

At this moment, Jin Sol-ryeong, Yu Eun-seong, and the driver stood frozen and restless.

Who was this person whom Hye-wol, one of the eldest figures in the Sichuan martial arts world, whom they revered like heaven, treated with such reverence? How could they, who had been so rude to him, be ordinary people?

At first, when they met, they were flustered. If Hye-wol had said, "I was planning to turn you into a bloody mess with the carriage," how would she have reacted? Given her past reputation, once known as 'Blood Splatter,' she might have been tempted to brush off the dust from her reputation. Perhaps she might even have dragged the sect leader over to pay their respects.

“I will contact the sect leader immediately and ask her to come and greet you.”

As if it were her duty, Hye-wol stopped the man with her hand. He didn’t want his journey to be further complicated. This meeting with them was, after all, unplanned.

‘But perhaps that is destiny? If so, I can only hope that this seed of destiny, sown by coincidence, will sprout beautifully.’

“No need. That is not my destination. I cannot trouble the sect leader like that.”

“No, it is not trouble. How could I possibly harbor such irreverent thoughts? If you would visit our Emei Sect, we would consider it the greatest honor of our lives. Furthermore, the room where you stay would be preserved forever. Yes, it would be good to make it a memorial hall and pass it down to future generations. If this news spreads, all the other sects in Sichuan and the rest of the Nine Great Sects would be driven mad with envy. So, please, don’t refuse and stay for just a few days…”

Hye-wol sputtered with saliva, ardently wishing for his visit. Her eyes sparkled like those of a young girl. However, the man’s resolve was firm.

“I’m sorry. I don’t have much time. Let us part ways here.”

Disappointment clearly spread across Hye-wol’s face. It was a look as if she had witnessed the sky collapsing. She seemed truly disheartened.

“…I understand. Please do as you wish.”

There was no doubt that her reluctant agreement was genuine.

“Thank you. And please deal with those people properly.”

“Yes, don’t worry. I will show them a bitter taste so they can never cause such trouble again.”

Hye-wol said, licking her upper lip slightly with her red tongue. It was an old habit that had unintentionally surfaced.

‘Tsk tsk, that habit hasn’t changed. The day the Thousand Horse Fort banner falls is not far off.’

For a moment, he felt a bit of pity for the people of Thousand Horse Fort, but that was fleeting. If one intends to harm others, one must be prepared to be harmed in return. Is that not fair?

“You are old now, so try not to spill too much blood.”

He added it, knowing it was futile. And a few days later, Thousand Horse Fort disappeared from the martial world.

However, no one died.

Naturally. Although there have been many debates since ancient times, half-death has never been recognized as true death.

However, as many scholars acknowledge, it is true that in reality, there are situations where dying is better than living. Did the Buddha not preach that all existence is suffering (一切皆苦)? Heaven and hell are both on earth, not beyond.

Whether to reside in heaven or hell? The choice is always human, not divine judgment.

“Th-thank you for saving me… Uh… Great Hero!”

Jin Sol-ryeong, intending to express her gratitude formally, pondered for a long time about what title to use for this mysterious man. Young Hero, Sir, Lord, Senior Brother, Elder Brother, Older Brother, and so on. Finally, she chose the most neutral term: Great Hero.

He shook his head.

“You saved yourself. It was your unyielding actions that moved my heart. So, there’s no need to thank me. Just praise yourself for not giving up until the very end. Say, ‘Well done, you persevered, you did well, you are admirable, my dear self.’”

“Uh, still, thank you. Even with a never-give-up spirit, if ability doesn’t follow, you can’t bring about change in reality. If you hadn’t helped, I would have been defiled by those wicked villains. No matter how many times I thank you, it will never be enough to repay this grace. You have saved my present and my future, which still holds possibilities. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much.”

Sincere words of gratitude always carry a pleasant resonance. The man smiled at the girl’s genuine demeanor and did not forget his final advice.

“But remember, this was just a matter of extreme coincidence. Luck is something you create with your own will and effort, according to your abilities. Strive to overcome yourself and realize the supreme One.”

“I will engrave these golden words in my heart and never forget them. No matter how much time passes, your words will remain in my heart.”

“I hope your words are kept.”

It was time now.

“Then, we part ways.”

“Uh…”

Jin Sol-ryeong hesitated and then spoke.

“Will we be able to meet again?”

The girl’s blushing cheeks looked very adorable. A benevolent smile appeared on the man’s lips.

“If fate allows.”

Jin Sol-ryeong smiled brightly and nodded. Finally, the man gently patted her head and said,

“You look a lot like your mother. But you have become more beautiful and stronger. Goodbye then.”

Jin Sol-ryeong’s head shot up.

“My mother…”

Though it was a brief moment, the man was already disappearing into the distance.

He waved with one hand in response. And then he vanished from her sight.

Thus, the two parted ways.

However, they never met again.

The man departed. People stared blankly at his receding figure as if bewitched. Among them, one person was trembling uncontrollably with emotion, and that was Hye-wol. Jin Sol-ryeong carefully asked the elder, who was still lost in a reverie of emotion,

“Uh… Elder?”

It took Jin Sol-ryeong about five repetitions of the current process to finally get a response. Even that response was quite perfunctory, but she had to ask quickly before Hye-wol retreated into her private world of fantasy.

“Who is that person?”

His divine power was utterly beyond human comprehension. How could someone who received such profound respect from Hye-wol, one of the oldest figures in Sichuan, to the point of performing the five-prostration ritual and even proposing to bring the sect leader to greet him, be an ordinary person?

“My goodness, you were with him without even knowing who he was?”

“Yes……”

She nodded reluctantly. She couldn’t bring herself to say, “Didn’t the Elder herself commit rudeness at first?” Moreover, she couldn’t reveal that she had committed multiple rudenesses. She didn’t want to die again after narrowly escaping death.

“Tsk tsk, you were lucky today. You were able to see him with your own eyes… It’s a story worthy of boasting for generations to come. You saw a legend, shared the same air with a legend, and shared the same story. If you’re lucky, you might even have your name etched into a corner of that long legend. Well, today’s events are too meager for that to happen.”

Then, with eyes sparkling with admiration and longing—like those of a hundred-year-old witch, which was rather terrifying—Hye-wol whispered into Jin Sol-ryeong’s ear.

“He is the one who created one of the two pillars of change that uphold and drive the current martial world.”

Dudung!

Her mind went blank for a moment. The voice that still lingered in her ears. The benevolent and gentle smile. The two arms that had become a protective shield for her.

“Are you alright, little girl?”

“You look a lot like your mother!”

The giant but warm shadow that remained in a corner of her memory. The strong arms that had saved her, a small child, when she fell from a tree. It had been more than ten years ago. But she had known who that person was then. A legend and myth of the martial world, revered by all, regardless of the righteous or unrighteous path, the savior of the martial world, the god of martial arts.

“Th-then, is that person the… Huh!!!”

“Huh!”

Zzring!

Jin Sol-ryeong froze. And then she lost consciousness. She fainted standing up. The ice cocoon that surrounded her seemed as if it would never melt, even after a million years.

***

The followers of chaos have never completely and perfectly submitted to order. They have always existed in every era. Boasting a tenacity more persistent than cockroaches. From a common-sense perspective, it is easier to cause chaos than to maintain order. Even if the maintenance of order falters slightly, order immediately devolves into chaos. In this world of constant change, order is indeed an awkward existence. Is seeking order merely a rebellion against the essence of this world, which rejects immortality?

Finally, the shadow of a mountain peak completely engulfed him. The man in the straw hat, who had stopped for a moment, slightly lifted his hat with his right hand and looked ahead. A towering mountain peak filled his vision. Behind it, twilight was creeping in with the setting sun.

“I have changed so much since leaving here, yet this place hasn’t changed at all, just as it was when I looked at it in the dawn light as I left that day…”

Even though the nature of things is to change ceaselessly through the seasons, to his eyes, the scenery looked exactly the same as when he had looked at it in the dawn light.

The man, pulling his straw hat down again, resumed his stopped steps and walked silently into the embrace of the mountain. He was about to reach his destination. Although no other force was acting upon him, the closer he got to his destination, the heavier his steps became. His heart was weighing down his body.

Why, out of all the roads, did he have to walk this one? Even though Buddha preached that all existence is suffering, this was too much. If there were a department of heaven governing destiny, he would be willing to deliver a mountain of protest letters.

Should he just turn back, considering it bad luck? Although it was a proposal hastily concocted based on an indelible lingering attachment deep within his soul, it was undeniably attractive. An uncontrollable desire to surrender to the sweet temptation erupted from the depths of his self-awareness.

The easy path is always sweet. One only needs to give up on possibility. Hope always demands more suffering than the meager results it points to. It has never been profitable.

But the man soon shook his head. The saying "If you stop midway, it’s worse than not starting at all" exists for a reason. Why go if you’re not going to finish? If he hadn’t started at all, he could have set a different destination!

“It’s been several years since I left this place…”

With a look of profound emotion, the man gazed at the emerald world overlaid with twilight. People had changed, but nature greeted him, unchanging and eternal, just as it was then.

The weather was clear, and there were few clouds drifting leisurely across the blue sky, turning it white. Nature was vast and infinite, and he was alone.

He suddenly felt lonely.

Many who had followed him had died. They were his trusted allies who had believed in and followed him. But now they were gone. They had left him alone. Only one, the most trustworthy, remained. He knew well that he would have to live his entire life carrying the souls of those who had died before him, their fervent beliefs.

Now, he and that friend were going down different paths. He hoped these paths would eventually converge, but he couldn't be sure when that time would come. It existed beyond the horizon of his sight. The horizon of time spread before him had now drawn near enough for him to measure.

“It’s not much longer now.”

A poignant smile graced the lips of the man in the straw hat.

The man had realized eighty years ago that he could not effectively deal with the next crisis in his current state. His imagination was not that impoverished. Nor could he give up. The laws of the world were not so lenient that good results would come without any action.

So, he and his trusted friend formulated a grand plan for the next hundred years. To transform the then-weak martial world into a force capable of preparing for the impending disaster. It was a vision for systematic education. He possessed the will, resolve, and ability to execute it. Thus, two educational institutions revealed themselves in the martial world.

The emergence of the Celestial Martial Academy (天武學館) and the Demon-Conquering Pavilion (魔天閣).

The order of the martial world was reorganized around these two pillars. The world had been transformed. Only then did people begin to seriously consider the act of training themselves and teaching others. Before this, there had been no such consideration, so it was cause for joy that the situation had improved significantly.

Change does not occur with Yang alone. Nor can it occur with Yin alone. Only when Yin and Yang harmonize does change occur incessantly.

“The seeds have been sown. All that remains is to wish for them to bloom magnificently.”

He had done all he needed to do for the world. Now it was time for his own task. The saying goes, "Cultivate oneself, regulate the family, govern the state, bring peace to the world" (修身齊家 治國平天下), but he was doing it in reverse. Although he himself was a being who had achieved self-transcendence before, that limit always had an annoying tendency to expand infinitely.

He had to transcend himself once again. That is why he had set foot in this place he thought he would never return to.

To overcome himself.

The forest opened, and the sun greeted him.

He had finally reached the source from which he had emerged.

It was a very small and humble thatched cottage. In the corner of the spacious yard, disproportionately large for the cottage, sat an old man with a luxuriantly grown white beard. He held a single wine cup in his hand. The cup opposite him was unseen.

The old man, drinking alone and conversing with himself, turned his head and looked at him. The man’s heart pounded. His lips grew dry. He felt thirsty. But the reaction was brief.

“Hmm? Is it you?”

That was all. The old man tilted the wine bottle towards the cup again, filled it to the brim without spilling, and emptied it into his throat in one gulp. The cup remained in his hand.

“Yes, it is I.”

The man replied. What was his face like now? He felt a sense of disconnect, unable to see himself despite having eyes made for seeing.

“It’s been a long time, Master.”

Again, the man cupped his right fist with his left hand and bowed respectfully.

“It has been quite a long time, I suppose.”

The old man counted on his fingers for a moment, then realized the futility of the act and stopped. He had no intention of putting down the wine cup in his other hand, and even if he did, it wouldn’t be enough.

“…It’s been almost ninety years.”

“Hmm, was it? Now that you mention it, it seems so.”

“Are you already losing your memory?”

“I remember you wetting your bed and trembling in fear.”

“You can let that fade into oblivion.”

“Or perhaps you were found collapsed in front of the back door of an inn, starving and disheveled.”

“……”

Suddenly, his heart felt warm. It was something he himself had forgotten. Or rather, he had desperately tried to forget. It was all thanks to this person that he had been able to escape that hell.

“What brings you here? I thought our connection had already ended. Or do you need a place to die? It would be troublesome if you expected me to be a funeral director for a pittance. Look elsewhere for a place to die. I have no business with you.”

The old man said gruffly.

Then, a faint smile, like one illuminated by the sun, appeared on the man’s lips.

“You haven’t changed, Master.”

It was exactly the same appearance and actions as when he had left. That was what surprised him the most.

“You forgot again, did you? Well, it’s been a long time since we parted, so it’s understandable to forget. I’ll let it slide.”

“……”

“So, I’ll have to remind you again, though it’s a hassle.”

The old man said in a clear tone.

“I am not your Master!”

He was once called the pinnacle of the martial world, ascended to the throne of a god. He had even been called the God of Martial Arts, and he was still embarrassingly called that.

What is the difference for one at the pinnacle? Transcending human limits, trailblazers who pioneered unprecedented realms, unique throughout history, unparalleled, supreme in all eras, reaching the extreme, enlightened beings, those said to have entered the realm of gods—these historical transcenders share two common sensations.

One is the loneliness that comes from having no companion with whom to share oneself and what one has gained. The other is the realization that this is not the end. They know. Or rather, they realize. Inevitably, without a doubt.

That there exists another stage above this, and yet another realm. When ordinary mortals see them and speak of the end, they see a new horizon unfolding before their eyes. Only those who reach the summit can see the next stage.

The horizon of the world, just when it seems complete, always points to another horizon of existence that unfolds next. In this way, the world expands itself.

The world of existence in which we are embedded has no end. The world can never surpass existence. The void of emptiness has no visible end. Whether this is good or bad depends on one’s perspective.

This is called true infinity (眞無限).

***

Wearing a gray robe, the old man stood with the light from the window behind him, his head tilted towards the ceiling.

“So, that friend returned to where he came from…”

The old man, Hye-jung, with his eyes closed, let out a soft sigh.

“Has he gone to a place where he can never be met again in the secular world…?”

With a sorrowful expression, the old man voiced the grief he had sealed deep within his heart for twenty years.

He felt it instinctively. The fact that his sole confidant, with whom he had shared his soul and will, had disappeared from this world. But after receiving confirmation from his friend’s successors, he felt a sense of profound emotion. Was this what it felt like to have a confirmation of death? Now, he alone had to bear his friend’s legacy.

‘Harsh friend…’

He was too old to bear the world alone. His back might break. But the friend who had shared the burden was now gone on a path of no return. His side would now always remain empty.

Yeom-do and Bing-geom bowed their heads, their faces grim. They were silent. They dared not speak.

His only confidant, who saw the world from the same perspective, was gone. With whom could he now compose the symphony of life? No one could fully comprehend the sense of loss he was feeling. Without having stood in the same place, it was presumptuous and the height of arrogance to speak carelessly. Even if the object of his regret was the friend’s disciple, or even his own blood relative, they could not fully understand this emptiness, as if half the world had vanished.

“Cause of death?”

He dismissed the joke about dying of old age. He himself was still in good health, so it was unlikely that his peer would have died of natural causes.

“He said he was going out for a while… that there was something that absolutely needed to be settled… and left on a long journey. When he returned… he was already…”

“Already?”

“He returned with irreparable wounds. His chest, torn like rags, was crisscrossed with spiderweb-like fine blood vessels that cruelly traversed his body.”

Recalling the horrific memory, Bing-geom’s face involuntarily contorted. Even his heart, said to be as cold as ice, could not completely freeze the memory of that time. He still had nightmares about it and would sometimes jolt awake.

‘Spiderweb-like blood vessels? Could it be ‘him’?’

But the old man soon shook his head.

It was impossible. Moreover, it was hard to believe that ‘he’ had remained dormant for twenty years.

“What did he say?”

There must have been some last words. That was the only clue he had to rely on now.

“He said it was something he wanted… something he had to do… and that he had resigned himself to it, so don’t even dream of revenge.”

“Don’t seek revenge?”

“Yes.”

“Was that fellow regretting it?”

“No. He said he didn’t regret it. He said he got what he wanted… this was the price… he only regretted…”

“He got what he wanted… So, he must have left behind some insights (心得) for you all.”

Yeom-do and Bing-geom took out half of a mirror from their robes and presented it to Hye-jung. It was the Qiankun Zhohwa Mirror (乾坤調和鏡).

“He split this in half and gave one piece to each of us.”

“His will must be fully contained within it. And his thoughtfulness. But…”

After a brief pause, the old man looked back and forth between Yeom-do and Bing-geom and asked.

“…Has it ever been joined together?”

“……”

No answer was returned.

“Why no answer? Yes or no?”

The old man’s reprimand struck their hearts like a father’s scolding.

‘Master…’

Though their bodies were in the present, their eyes looked into the past.

The scene etched into their retinas that day, an unforgettable sight.

The scene etched into their retinas that day would never be washed away by the torrent of vast years.

***

“Why are you two crying? Are you sad?”

At the master’s tender question, the two young men and one girl wiped their ever-flowing tears and wailed. Their master, who was as great as a celestial being, now lay on the cold floor. His breathing was ragged, and his complexion pale. The two young men could also feel it. They knew that the sun, which had always shone brilliantly before them, was about to be extinguished. The end of twilight was approaching.

“It’s a shame, but I’m not sad. I knew this day would come someday. I was just waiting for the time bomb planted in me eighty years ago to explode. Eighty years is a long time, so perhaps it’s a stroke of luck. Thanks to that, I was able to meet you all, wasn’t I?”

“Dad, don’t go! Sob, sob!”

The girl buried her face in the man’s chest and wailed. Her pretty face was smeared with tears.

“…That was the greatest joy for me.”

The master continued to speak with intermittent breaths.

“My only worry is that you two don’t get along. Yeong-hee, you are too soft-hearted. You must learn to hide your tears. Cheol-su, you seem rational on the surface, but you are prone to sudden bursts of anger, so I worry. Both of you, take this!”

From his embrace, he took out a smooth bronze mirror. The surface of the mirror was densely inscribed with writings like scriptures.

“All I can give you is a pair of swords and this mirror. Cheol-su!”

“Yes, Master!”

The boy in blue robes, without wiping the tears streaming down his cheeks, replied.

“To you, I give this precious sword ‘Bing-baek (氷魄)’ with the attribute of ice, like my left hand. It will help you learn the swordsmanship I have passed down to you. Yeong-hee!”

“Yes, Master! I am here.”

The boy in red robes, smeared with tears pouring down like a waterfall, replied.

“To you, I give this precious saber ‘Hong-yeom (紅焰)’ with the attribute of fire, like my right hand. It will help you learn the saber techniques I have passed down to you.”

“Th-thank you, Master! Sob, sob!”

“And… Seo-ryeon!”

“Yes, Dad!”

“I’m sorry. I have nothing suitable to give you. Instead, I give you this ‘Okso (玉簫)’ bamboo flute. Since you have a talent for music, you will be able to use it better than I can. Applying the sword techniques I taught you as a pastime should be enough to protect yourself.”

“Dad~ Don’t go. Don’t leave me behind.”

The girl, receiving the Okso, cried and buried her face in her father’s embrace. He quietly smiled and stroked her hair. Then, in a calm but majestic voice, he said,

“Listen, Cheol-su and Yeong-hee!”

“Yes, Master! Please instruct us.”

“I can no longer teach you. It is regrettable to leave you incomplete, but it seems our master-disciple bond ends today. However, I have one concern. Each of you has only learned half of my martial arts. While that alone is enough to make a name for yourselves in the martial world, it will not be enough to prepare for the impending disaster. There will come a time when you two will have to join forces. But you two do not get along, like water and fire, so that is my concern. I wish to entrust you with this ‘Qiankun Zhohwa Mirror,’ which contains my final insights.”

The man held the mirror and applied a little force, and it split into two halves, each in a Tai Chi symbol.

“Even though Yin and Yang come from Tai Chi, do not forget that it is still one, not two. Do not forget that without the harmony of Qiankun and Yin and Yang, change will not occur. You two must help each other, encourage each other, and diligently train. And one day, if you meet a talented individual worthy of embodying the insights within, I hope you two will join forces and pass on all of my insights and all that you have gained to that child. Can you promise me?”

“We will keep it in mind, Master!”

He nodded with satisfaction.

“My role ends here. I am sorry to you all, but when you go out into the martial world, do not reveal whose disciples you are. Also, do not let it be known that I have died. I still need to be alive for a while. As the saying goes, a dead Kong-myeong chased away Sima Zhongda… I seem to be in a similar predicament. I have burdened that friend too much…”

A bitter smile touched his lips.

“My body will perish, but my spirit will remain. The spirit of Tai Chi… *cough, cough*!”

Another bout of coughing, followed by spitting blood.

“Master!”

“Master!”

“Dad!”

“It’s alright. I’m alright. My impatient friend just hurried me a bit. A brief moment is not a problem.”

He raised one hand to calm the children. By then, his breathing had stabilized. The look of suffering on his face had vanished as if washed away. He looked very peaceful. The mist of death embraced him warmly.

“Find the one who will inherit my spirit, the talent of Tai Chi. If you two join forces, you can revive my spirit. I pray that the light of my will will shine brilliantly once more in your generation. And…”

He took his final breath.

“Cheol-su and Yeong-hee, take care of Seo-ryeon.”

And finally, he returned to the place from which he had come.

One of the brightest stars of the martial world had fallen.

A god, thought to be absolute, had died.

***

Finally, the old man’s lips, which had been sealed in silence, opened.

Yeom-do and Bing-geom buried their heads in their chests.

“Is that so? Not even once? That fellow must be sad…”

The old man did not blame them. But to the two of them, it was more painful than any reprimand. Their throats choked, and they could not speak.

“Still… to have died in the presence of disciples, you must not have felt lonely. It means he believed in you all. He believed that someone would surely carry on his will.”

Yeom-do and Bing-geom dared not lift their heads. Because of their meager pride, they had defied their master’s will. Their hearts felt like they would burst with guilt. The burning flame of sorrow, like a damp campfire, flickered out, and the transparency of their despair turned murky like a gray fog.

Hye-jung glanced at their dejected figures and said,

“Tsk tsk, what are those weak faces? Judging by your appearances, you’ve only mastered *Hucheongi* (後天技) so far! Isn’t that right?”

The fire and ice spirits startled and raised their heads.

“H-how do you know that…?”

“Why are you startled like a chick that’s been struck by a spark? I can tell at a glance.”

Hye-jung replied in a nonchalant tone. But Yeom-do and Bing-geom could not maintain their composure. Of course, how could they! To be able to discern their achievements at a glance… Even if he was the master’s closest confidant, the fact that he thoroughly understood the framework of their unique martial arts was not something to be taken lightly. However, they were too hasty in their shock.

“And I also know that it’s only half a set. So, it’s a foregone conclusion that you haven’t mastered *Seoncheongi* (先天技) yet.”

“Y-you know about *Seoncheongi* too?!”

Despite being so shocked that their eyes nearly popped out, the fact that more shock remained was astonishing. Since they had already used up their eyes in the previous shock, they had to use something else. So this time, their mouths fell open. So wide they worried their jaws might dislocate.

“Is there a backward direction in this complementary world? If there is a front, there is a back, and if there is a back, there is a front! Just as left and right are a pair, just as Yin and Yang are one and yet two, and two and yet one!”

The ultimate technique of the Tai Chi Divine Lord (太極神君) is known as ‘Qiankun Tai Chi Wushang Qi (乾坤太極無上氣).’ However, this is not accurate, and to express it precisely, one could use the term 'tip of an iceberg.' No one ever reveals the deepest part of their ultimate technique. For martial artists, it is the greatest secret, the final trump card kept hidden until the very end. Martial arts, by their nature, are only detrimental if known by others; they offer no benefit. Why should enemies be allowed to prepare in advance? Besides the increased threat to life and hardship. Therefore, only a part of the ultimate technique is ever revealed. Thus, knowing the ‘Seoncheongi,’ the highest secret in their unique martial arts, is equivalent to knowing the entire picture of their cultivation. It was natural for them to be surprised. Who would enjoy being exposed naked in front of someone, except a pervert?

Yeom-do and Bing-geom received martial arts with the attributes of fire and ice, respectively. They were not the caliber of disciples their master had hoped for. They were not the ‘talents of Tai Chi.’ However, they were not cast aside as hopeless. If so, the Five Great Sword Masters of the world should have been renamed Four Great Sword Masters, and the Five Great Sword Users should have been renamed Four Sword Users. They were not untalented. It was simply that their master’s talent was exceptionally rare in this generation.

In any case, they lacked the aptitude to master *Seoncheongi*. However, their master, instead of casting them aside, decided to impart martial arts suited to their characteristics and personalities. Thus, these two learned ‘Hucheongi,’ where Li (離) and Kan (坎) formed the center of change.

In the original Fu Xi Bagua (八卦) from the He Tu (河圖), Qian (乾) and Kun (坤) form the two pillars of Yin and Yang, but in the Wen Wang Bagua (文王八卦) from the Luo Shu (洛書), the center of Yin and Yang, i.e., the center of change, is formed by Li (離) and Kan (坎), that is, simply put, fire and water forming the two axes. He Tu is the world of form (體), and Luo Shu is the world of use (用), but let’s skip the details.

The original cultivation process of ‘Qiankun Ilwol Shingong (乾坤日月神功)’ was to realize the unchanging stillness of the Seoncheon (先天) through the change and movement of the Hucheon (後天).

Li (離), which most prominently represents the Yang (陽) attribute in the phenomenal world, and Kan (坎), which most prominently represents the Yin (陰) attribute in the phenomenal world.

The martial arts ‘Jin Hong Shib-chil Yeom (眞紅十七炎)’ of Yeom-do and ‘Bing Ryeong Su Ryu Geom (氷靈水流劍)’ of Bing-geom, which released the phenomenon based on the attributes of Li and Kan, were created. Therefore, it meant that they had only learned one side of the Hucheon (two powers), and had not even learned a quarter of the original power. And the difference in power would be beyond estimation if they moved on to Seoncheon.

They were ashamed of themselves for casting a shadow on the radiance of their master, who was revered as a god, and tarnishing his reputation, which was as high as Mount Tai. Look at their pathetic state! Instead of inheriting their master’s will, they were merely serving a young boy as disciples. They were too afraid to face their master in the afterlife, so they couldn’t even commit suicide. If they happened to meet him in the afterlife, with what face could they boast!

Their mouths, with a hundred openings, would have nothing to say.