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“Get married?! What?!”

The bombshell hit me like a thunderclap, and I was completely flustered.

Isn’t it typical for a father with a daughter to be all mushy and become a total daughter-fanatic?

In the middle of it all, Seo Mun-hye looked shy yet delightfully pleased, while Miho just stared on nonchalantly.

Struggling to regain my composure, I said, “I’m sorry, but… I’m not interested in that.”

“Why not?”

Just a simple question, yet answering it felt like climbing a mountain.

‘Why, you ask? What kind of ‘why’ is that?’

Why would I refuse a marriage proposal to Seo Mun-hye of the prestigious Shadowless Gate, one of the top families in the martial world?

Just the thought of giving the wrong answer could draw the ire of a top-tier martial artist. Who knew I might end up dead on the spot? The chilling fear of death washed over me. But somehow, I mustered the courage to respond calmly.

“I still have things I need to do, and I don’t know Seo Mun-hye well enough. Rushing into marriage in this situation will only lead to unhappiness for everyone.”

“That’s not the issue.”

“Huh?”

“I can see you’re afraid of getting emotionally involved and are retreating into your shell.”

“……!!”

The Sword Demon Seo Mun-dae-ryong’s cool demeanor had an edge that felt like an electric shock. His words pierced straight to the heart of my feelings, suggesting he had already gauged the type of person I was.

Before I could respond, the Sword Demon continued, “If you have no thoughts on the matter, that’s settled. I respect Hyea’s wishes, but that doesn’t mean the Shadowless Gate needs to back down multiple times.”

“Father…”

Seo Mun-hye watched him earnestly yet he turned his head away. It was clear he didn’t want to discuss the matter any further. While Seo Mun-hye felt disheartened, the Sword Demon added, “However, apart from that, our Shadowless Gate must treat you as a benefactor. What kind of reward do you wish for, Baek Woong?”

“……”

In that moment, I realized who the Sword Demon Seo Mun-dae-ryong was.

An absolute being!

Those unfathomably calm eyes were familiar, having felt them before in the likes of Han Baek-ryeong and Lee Kwang, peerless masters of their time. That kind of gaze held an invincible confidence in their will and martial skills, a gateway to another world. It occurred to me that the Sword Demon might possess that same mental world.

After pondering for a while, I spoke, “I’d like help for the women who come to the Shadowless Gate, so they can live a second life.”

“Is that it?”

“Yes.”

I really hoped the Shadowless Gate would assist me. However, I still had to deliver a letter to the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School and see how things unfolded, so I thought I should initially decline help to avoid any complications.

The Sword Demon’s eyes gleamed with interest.

“A noble warrior truly. Such a rare talent.”

“Can you help me then?”

“Of course. Initially, it was Hyea’s wish to look after them, so I intended to do so all along.”

He continued, “However, that alone won’t be enough recompense. What will you do about it.”

“Um…”

“Say anything; I will grant what I can.”

I felt a rush of eagerness. Initially, I had turned him down out of modesty, but with his generous offer, I thought it might be worthwhile to propose something. After some careful consideration, I said to the Sword Demon.

“Then, could we duel so you could teach me about the sword?”

“Oh?”

“I would like to see the prowess of the renowned Lord of the Shadowless Gate.”

The Sword Demon burst into hearty laughter. “Hahaha! What an amusing friend you are! Very well then, follow me to the sparring arena.”

With hardly a word, he turned and left, and as we headed to the sparring arena, Miho piped in.

“Baek Woong, why didn’t you just get married? You could’ve stuffed yourself every day.”

“Ah…”

Seo Mun-hye, walking beside me, appeared completely flabbergasted, her face turning crimson.

But I replied monotonously, “There’s no need for more discussion. Don’t tease me.”

“Hmph…”

Miho seemed to be grinning at the situation while Seo Mun-hye sighed deeply.

When we arrived at the sparring arena, we found a massive training ground that spanned over a hundred meters in diameter. It looked like they had carved out an entire hill.

As I marveled at the grand scale, the Sword Demon stood a good distance away, saying, “Ladies, please step down from the sparring area.”

Once Miho and Seo Mun-hye stepped down, it was just the Sword Demon and me facing off.

He stared calmly at my waist and asked, “Is that a dao you intend to use?”

“No, I plan to use a sword.”

“I sense something unique about your energy.”

“Would you like to see?”

“By all means.”

I willingly handed over my renowned blade, and after examining it closely for a while, the Sword Demon spoke.

“What do you call this weapon?”

“I refer to it as the Famous Blade.”

As he examined the wave-like patterns engraved on the blade, he explained, “This is an exceptional artifact among the top ten treasures from Dongyoung.”

“Hmm…”

“Its proper name is Yodo Muramasa. It’s one of the summit-grade yana swords, sought after by any blade collector. I’ve only heard of its name, but indeed, it’s an extraordinary weapon.”

Upon learning that my blade was the Yodo Muramasa, I couldn’t help but feel fascinated. I had shown it to Miho before, but she had ignored it, brushing it off as something uninteresting.

“Is it a cursed weapon?”

“I’m not sure about that. But it is indeed an extraordinary weapon.”

After the Sword Demon tossed the Muramasa back to me, he added, “Still, for now, you should wield a sword. The techniques of a dao and sword are fundamentally different.”

“Understood.”

Clang!

I took a steel sword from the nearby sparring arena and adopted the stance for the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique as I faced the Sword Demon. This arena seemed designed for close-to-real combat training, lacking any wooden swords.

The Sword Demon leisurely observed me a moment before saying, “Alright, let’s begin.”

“Yes?”

“Why do you hesitate?”

“… But you’re unarmed.”

Indeed, the Sword Demon, Seo Mun-dae-ryong, stood with his hands folded and no sword in sight whatsoever. He had just said he would teach me sword techniques, yet here he was, in a bare-handed stance? Then with a smirk, he said:

“Though my nickname is Sword Demon, I’m also known as the Blood Sword.”

“If I used a real sword against a guest seeking guidance, it would become a bloodbath.”

I felt a swell of frustration.

‘What?!’

While his words sounded honorable, he was essentially saying, ‘Even without a sword, I can handle you.’ No matter how much I had yet to reach the peak expertise level in swordplay, I couldn’t just sit back and accept such an insult.

Swoosh…

I concluded the stance for the Thunder Shadow Sword Technique and initiated the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique. Thanks to the Hyun Cheon Divine Art allowing for intricate movements and the acupuncture technique Lŏu Fēng Shāng Bó facilitating rapid qi circulation—and having learned a bit from Yeodong-bin recently—I was sure my skills had greatly improved since facing death nine times before.

As the Sword Demon watched my stance, he commented, “I see you’ve chosen a weapon other than a sword as your primary tool.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Your movements and breaths resemble those of a long-range weapon user. You most likely favor spears or poles.”

“……”

I was taken aback. I was fully executing the techniques of swordsmanship, yet he could read me just based on minor fluctuations? We hadn’t even engaged in a full second of combat, and already, the Sword Demon loomed before me as an imposing figure.

Yet being overwhelmed endlessly was no way to carry out a conversation.

“Please show me your expertise.”

“Come at me.”

What kind of gibberish was it to promise to teach me swordsmanship while being unarmed?

With those thoughts lingering, I immediately launched forward with my attack. A surge of internal power filled the strike and I aimed a slash at the Sword Demon’s neck. The Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique’s swift acceleration was one of its defining features.

Slash!

I suddenly missed my target. My sword cut through the air instead.

“……?!”

What just happened?

“I am right here.”

A voice echoed from behind me.

Nonchalantly standing still, the Sword Demon said, “You’ve learned your swordsmanship well without many bad habits.”

“It’s not wise to make casual judgments.”

“However, your breaths are not flowing in harmony. Your internal power and technique aren’t in sync.”

Ignoring my protests, the Sword Demon gradually raised his hand and said, “This time, I will use one second.”

I tensed up and observed his movements closely. Just because he said he’d use his one second didn’t mean I had to stand still and wait, but considering his level, I needed to switch to a defensive stance. Holding my breath and sharpening my perception of motion and qi of life, the Sword Demon made his move.

Whoosh

He simply raised his hand as if swatting away a fly, moving slowly. I thought I could easily slice through him with my sword. But upon realizing that his hand had penetrated with just a hair’s breadth of distance, my complexion turned pale.

Sword Qi!

What’s more, elegantly refined sword qi was swirling toward me! I hurriedly swung my sword to deflect the attack, yet combining the changing forms of the Ten Thousand Success Sword Technique proved difficult to counter his onslaught. As my limbs started to flail and my movements became jumbled, invisible sword qi lightly grazed my solar plexus.

Ping

“……”

At that moment, I noticed the Sword Demon’s finger hovering right in front of my solar plexus.

He had used his one second wisely, reaching a position capable of inflicting a fatal blow without even having a weapon! If this were not meant as a teaching duel, I would have been dead by now.

As I stood dazed and slack-jawed, the Sword Demon commented, “Excellent swordplay! Your skills are on par with our Shadowless Gate’s techniques! However, your capability fails to unlock the full potential of your swordsmanship.”

The Sword Demon removed his finger, and finally, I felt breath return to me. Now I could grasp the true essence of the Sword Demon Seo Mun-dae-ryong.

‘A peerless master, on par with Lee Kwang…!!’

This overwhelming experience of defeat without even knowing what happened was akin to my duel with Lee Kwang. There were others like the Masters of the Twelve Joules and the Dharma Guardians, but ultimately, I could only gauge it from my encounter with Lee Kwang. The moment I comprehended why the Sword Demon was indisputably praised as one of the strongest in the martial world, I felt everything fit into place.

“What was that? How can you use sword qi without a weapon?”

It was utterly bizarre. Sword qi was typically a culmination achieved by first-rate experts through tireless efforts. And, of course, it was essential to have harmony in spirit and body; I had never heard of a master using sword qi while unarmed before. Even the elders of major sects would find that impossible. Yet here stood the Sword Demon, effortlessly manifesting and manipulating sword qi with his bare hands.

“Let me ask you back. What is your weapon?”

“……”

“You appear confident with a spear. Show me what you can do with it.”

The Sword Demon used Void Object Manipulation to retrieve a spear lying nearby and tossed it over to me. Caught off guard, I accepted it and assumed the stance of the Heavenly Thunder Infinite Spear. The Sword Demon remained still, planning to face me unarmed once more.

*Ha!

This time, I utilized the combination of techniques—Strike, Attack, and Jab to cut him off from escaping with rotational power. Even with my spear barreling towards him, the Sword Demon danced like a butterfly through the air, observing my attacks for about ten seconds before calmly extending his hand once again.

I couldn’t stop him.

“……”

Once more, I prepared to have his finger placed right against my solar plexus. The Sword Demon then withdrew his finger and said, “Indeed, you handle a spear better than a sword. But the spear is not suited for you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Deep down, you must appreciate it.”

As he said that, he snatched the spear from my hands and gazed at its tip. “A weapon’s suitability cannot be exchanged for convenience or practicality.”

Then, he began to swing the spear slowly, demonstrating a style that I had never witnessed, which was hard to articulate through mere techniques but held an undeniable allure. His movements were far freer and more agile than my Thunder Spirit Eight Forms. It resembled a dance, and while I was engrossed in watching, the Sword Demon executed one final thrust into the air.

Whoosh!

With that thrust, the air felt like it split in two. Realizing it was an impeccable foundation of spear techniques, I gasped in surprise.

“Even this level of skill doesn’t require a breakthrough in advanced abilities.”

After tossing the spear aside, the Sword Demon commented, “In my view, your martial arts demonstrate a supreme potential when spear and sword are harmoniously blended. However, you became captivated by the spear’s might and strayed away from its essence. Furthermore, it appears your true aptitude leans more toward swordsmanship. Your three circles being severed complicates matters…”

I knelt and said, “I’m sorry. My talent is lacking, so I can’t fully grasp what you’re saying.”

It dawned on me that the Sword Demon’s level was on a completely different plane; it was abundantly clear he comprehended the advanced martial arts better than I could ever fathom. Choosing to learn from him was undoubtedly the right decision. I needed to kneel and glean all the wisdom I could.

Looking down upon me quietly, the Sword Demon said, “I find it hard to understand. At your age, having reached this level of peak expertise, I expected you to grasp it instantly. Could it be because you’re an outsider?”

“That’s not it.”

“Don’t make it so complicated. You must not know who you are, but through tremendous effort, coupled with the guidance of an exceptional master, you’ve refined your spear techniques to their pinnacle. Yet, that road isn’t your true path, and if you insist on advancing solely with spearwork, you might actually regress.”

“……!!”

The Sword Demon smirked.

“Well, I too agree that spear techniques are superior to swordsmanship. Nothing beats a weapon as powerful as the spear. Typically, a spear user with equivalent skills would outrank a swordsman. However, despite many swordsmen across the central plains, including myself, know and acknowledge this fact, we still choose to train with swords. Do you know why?”

“Why?”

“The more captivated one becomes by a spear’s practicality, the more they realize that the spear is a weapon that often chooses its wielder. A sword is less picky about its wielder; hence, to ascend faster to the utmost peak, one tends to select the sword.”

A spear is a weapon that chooses its wielder!

Though startling, having trained under Lee Kwang for nearly a decade, I could feel the essence of truth in his words. Lee Kwang had always emphasized [talent], refusing to teach those without it. In essence, the advanced martial arts of the Thunder God Lineage required considerable talent and skill to achieve greatness.

This segued into my main point that the cornerstone of the Thunder God Lineage was spear techniques—but while I had learned spearwork from Lee Kwang, I was unable to surpass certain limits, no matter how hard I tried. I could reach a peak through sheer foundation training, but with my talent, advancing any further with a spear seemed implausible. That was because, as spear techniques graduate to a higher level, they significantly limit a human’s capacity.

The Sword Demon patted my shoulder and said, “Yet, if you manage to overcome that contradiction, you could advance another step further. Keep it up.”

“Thank you for your eminent teachings.”

“From tomorrow on, feel free to request as many sparrings as you wish.”

As I followed the Sword Demon down from the sparring arena, I contemplated his words.

‘Was the sword really more suited for me?’

Having mulled this over previously, hearing it directly from someone else felt different. All this time I had pursued spear techniques under Lee Kwang’s instruction, believing that it would lead me to greater heights. However, now finding myself at an impasse, I was being advised to return to my sword roots.

After sparring with the Sword Demon for a month, I learned many valuable insights regarding my shortcomings in swordsmanship. Then, on the last day of that month, I realized it was time.

‘If I delay any longer, I may not be able to save General Hwang Yeon.’

Since I had no idea what the precise situation was, training endlessly here wouldn’t serve me well. I decided to tell the Sword Demon I was leaving the Shadowless Gate, and both Seo Mun-hye and he came to see me off.

“Safe travels, my son-in-law.”

“I’m not, though.”

“Whenever you decide, it will come to pass.”

“……”

His expressionless response shocked me, but Miho stood nearby, barely containing her laughter.

As I walked along the mountain path, I recalled the words exchanged between us.

[Aren’t you going to chase after those who abducted Seo Mun-hye?]

[Of course, I was pursuing them. While I couldn’t pinpoint their location, I have followed their tracks accordingly. However, it’s been getting more challenging.]

[Due to lack of information…]

[Not at all. I had some preparations to make myself.]

[Preparations?]

[Beyond this point, as long as you are an outsider, I can’t divulge any details.]

It seemed the Sword Demon intended to fill me in on the dynamics surrounding Seo Mun-hye’s situation if I were to become his son-in-law. Yet, since I had refused to wed, I wouldn’t have access to the full details of her involvement.

Deep in thought, Miho, trailing behind me, remarked, “The Sword Demon is impressive. I tried to charm him with my enchantment techniques for a month, but I couldn’t find a single flaw.”

“Well, that makes sense. He’s one of the top martial masters.”

“So you’re planning to head towards the Azure Dragon Martial Arts School now?”

“It’s necessary.”

I responded heavily. Despite the detours, ultimately, I needed to reconcile with Lee Kwang at the Azure Dragon Martial Arts.

Looking at me pensively, Miho said, “Hmm… It confounds me. While I understand your fear of emotion and avoidance, isn’t that merely a feeling? Wouldn’t just going along with marriage be fine seeing you’ll be reincarnated anyway?”

“If it were as simple as that, I might already be living happily.”

“Hmm…?”

I glared at Miho, giving her an annoyed look.

‘You, of all people…’

Already, two individuals had woven their fates into mine. And it appeared I could not abandon either Mangnyang or Miho. I had no choice but to tread carefully, wary of intertwining bonds.

I sealed my lips, unable to voice those emotions, as I continued down the path.

 

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