Chapter 189
**
I placed my hand on the sword’s hilt and lightly gauged its weight.
I crushed everything I had previously accumulated. What would happen if I went beyond this?
If I poured my entire being into it…
Could I break through the heavens?
I couldn’t get a grasp on it. It felt as if something beyond death was waiting for me right in front of my eyes.
I could see it, but I couldn’t touch it.
Unable to touch it, yet it was visible.
Perhaps… exceeding this death would be meaningless. Even if I tried, it would likely be of no use.
I had to realize what I lacked in myself. Didn’t Wolhyang of Blood Sea Organization say as much?
To reach the state known as Hyun-kyung, one must possess something special.
I couldn’t pinpoint exactly what that was. But even without explanation, I could sense that it was close enough to grasp.
The current state felt akin to the Blood Demon’s Appearance I had seen with Eungmin.
Half-baked. If I rushed, I might taste Hyun-kyung, but…
In return for that impatience, I would likely fall into the same side effects he had experienced.
And more than anything, my companions were preventing me from advancing alone.
“That day, the Master was impressive, but… we can’t go on like this.”
“We will join you!”
“This time, we will definitely help!”
It wasn’t just the apprentices standing in the way. The remaining companions were the same.
“You said it was close before, right? This time, they seem determined, so no way.”
“You can’t do everything by yourself. This stubbornness ends here.”
“You’ve done enough. That’s sufficient.”
“Stop being so stubborn, brother. Seriously…”
“I’ll go with you…!”
“The girls are with you as well.”
But the expected all-out battle never came. Eventually, a part of the Cheonryong Association’s main force arrived here, drawn by the dragged-out time.
And there…
Caught by the local landowners, even Lord Im Wol-ryong of the Cheonryong Association was unable to move for his safety.
“…How?”
The rushed state of the army was not good. They looked drenched in fatigue.
They probably thought the mountain fortress had fallen. They rushed to save even the remnants of the defeated soldiers, but…
Seeing a completely different situation unfold before them, they couldn’t hide their surprise.
“Dragon of the Earth Command. What’s going on here?”
“My Lord, it’s that…”
The suddenly filled troop numbers were no longer in a situation where they were outnumbered.
As soldiers densely filled the ramparts and Lord Im Wol-ryong appeared on the walls, Sado Clan’s leader was taken aback.
“Ch-Cheonryong!”
“Why is Cheonryong here?!”
“What the hell…! Do we really have two masters of Hyun-kyung…?!”
“I’m not doing it! I refuse!”
His reputation silenced the enemies’ momentum. Yet, he asked as if it were only natural.
“Masters of Hyun-kyung…? What does that even mean?”
“…That is…”
The explanation continued.
The Lord of the Cheonryong Association looked at me.
“…You did that all alone?”
“I was lucky.”
“It doesn’t seem like a matter to dismiss as just luck… First, we have many things to discuss. It seems the opponents’ advance has somewhat retreated; let’s share what we know.”
…
In the temporary meeting tent of the Cheonryong Association.
Being an outsider, I was trying my best to stay out of it, but Dragon of the Earth Command wouldn’t allow it.
“If the master of the enemy draws back, who will attend! Please come in. Got it?”
“…I’m not sure if I belong here…”
“If anyone says otherwise, I’ll take responsibility! Just sit beside me, you hear?”
Reluctantly, I attended the meeting. The Dragon of the Earth Command earnestly explained my deeds before the high-ranking officials of the Cheonryong Association.
“Thanks to the esteemed master who single-handedly defended the city gates against the wicked Sapa scoundrels…!”
For some reason, it felt like the story was gaining momentum. I raised my hand several times, feeling something was off, but my actions only directed attention towards me, so I quickly lowered it again.
It took a while for the lengthy speech to conclude. Lord Im Wol-ryong of Cheonryong Association gasped in admiration.
The way he addressed me had changed. The gazes directed my way felt completely different than before.
“…I’ve heard the tales spoken about in the Cheonryong Association, but to accomplish such a great feat on top of that is astounding. Esteemed adversary.”
“Too much praise…”
Even just listening made me feel drained. The following operation explanation was simple.
To counter the enemy’s assault, a defensive operation was planned to perfectly protect the mountain fortress. Yet, Lord Im Wol-ryong added one more point.
“With this opportunity, I shall stand on the battlefield to put an end to the war.”
“What do you mean…?”
“We intend to advance straight to the heart of Sapa. Since the enemies are ready for total war, we are also standing on the battlefield with the same resolve. One of us, either Sado Clan’s leader or I, shall bring this long battle to its conclusion…”
Lord Im Wol-ryong let out a sigh.
“I came here disregarding the landowners’ opposition, intending to somehow put an end to this lingering fight. It seemed the Sado Clan leader subtly desired a truce… but that was perhaps just my misunderstanding. It appeared that one of us must die for it to end, hence I can do nothing but accept.”
The more detailed plans took quite a while to formulate. Within the succession of formations, my designated position was on the left flank.
“Won’t you take charge? I feel bad for making you carry such a heavy burden until now. What you’ve done is enough; you can step back a bit. This is our battle. You’ve already fulfilled that role sufficiently.”
I pondered a bit at Lord Im Wol-ryong’s consideration.
Using my accomplishments, I intended to draw out Sado Clan’s leader…
But if both sides were to engage in total war, the situation would change. If we fought together, Sado Clan’s leader would undoubtedly appear wherever Lord Im Wol-ryong went…
Conserving our strength might not be bad. I nodded and accepted the plan.
As dawn broke, the enemy’s advance began anew. But this time, a true master of ‘Hyun-kyung’ appeared on the front lines.
With my boosted power, the ground shook, and the heavens shifted as if showcasing a divine presence.
The one called Cheonryong wielded thunder at his fingertips. Along with him, the weather changed, and a fierce wind began to blow.
Heart Sword.
Bringing forth my innermost thoughts, it gave me the power to reshape the world.
In the gathering storm clouds, a tempest swept through the surroundings. With it, lightning that descended from the sky struck at the very heart of Sado Clan.
—Kwarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!
Where the thunderous dragon passed, no human form remained. Only the scent of roasting flesh and the remnants of life reduced to ashes were left behind.
“Kneel before me!”
Just one hundred figures flew away like autumn leaves. That incredible might was truly nothing short of mythical.
The expression of the enemy’s commander turned pale as they assessed the situation. After a brief look, it seemed they deemed victory impossible and turned their troops back.
The unnecessary plans they had laid out crumbled to dust.
And Cheonryong was not satisfied with that.
“We shall march toward Sado Clan!”
The main force of the Cheonryong Association began to move.
“Let’s put an end to this long war! Between Sado Clan and the Cheonryong Association, one of us will truly disappear from history!”
…
Reports continued. Yeong-wol, wearing the mask of Sado Clan’s leader, twitched his eyebrows.
Lord Im Wol-ryong moved far quicker than expected. I thought he wouldn’t show up on the front lines due to the landowners’ protests…
He was more resolute and acted with more urgency than anticipated.
“Lady Lianju. What will we do…”
“Gather the troops.”
Since it had come to this, I thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to engage properly. But an unforeseen problem held me back, making Yeong-wol tap his lips in thought.
With just Lord Im Wol-ryong, we could manage to put up a fight in terms of numbers. But capturing that Jeok-un fellow mentioned in the earlier reports…
If there really were two masters of Hyun-kyung… it would become a predicament…
He was still necessary. Had my letter reached him? Where could he be by now…
“……!”
At that moment, Yeong-wol sensed a presence. He quickly sent a subordinate out and walked toward the window.
A tall tree. There sat a man on a branch, leisurely chewing on some suckers, casually waving his hand.
“Long time no see, Bi-ik. Oh wait, should I call you Yeong-wol? Which name is your true one… doesn’t matter either way, I suppose.”
“…It’s been a while. Jin Baek-cheon.”
His superior and…
The one with six turned stars.
Eungseong, Jin Baek-cheon.
Yeong-wol gazed at him intently. Had he completely given up wearing his disguise? His real face, which I’d only seen a few times, felt strangely unfamiliar.
He was indeed handsome. But beyond that lay an unsettling aura. I found myself unable to meet his gaze directly, having to look at him sideways due to the latent threat he embodied.
“…I was surprised to hear from you after such a long time. Are you still wandering without a home?”
“Recently, my master has given me a place, but… I hurried over at your call. You know? Staying in one place doesn’t suit my nature at all.”
He stretched at the end of the branch. He hung upside down to take in the world.
“With all this vastness available, spending time in a cramped spot felt rather stifling. I nearly died of boredom when I received your call.”
“You’ve been in that narrow Demon Cult hideout for years, haven’t you?”
“Oh, sharp as always. But things were different back then, weren’t they? Excluding my master, no one else I’d seen had such a broad world view. You, flaunting your years of extreme poison while trying to subdue me… It was unbelievable. She was a world in herself, one that could consume endlessly. Thanks to her, I survived.”
“…Can I compare her to the Lord of Reverse Heaven?”
“Hm? Well, you haven’t directly clashed swords with her, right? If that’s the case, it’s an even more precious memory. I must be the only one alive who knows her true worth in this world…”
Eungseong, Jin Baek-cheon, grinned.
“I don’t feel like telling you anymore.”
“…….”
“Don’t look at me like that. What’s it matter to you? Let’s just get down to business. What can I do for you?”
“Please use the personality of Sapa’s First Sword and come to the battlefield with me. Your only task is to hold back Jeok-un and Lord Im Wol-ryong alone.”
“Oh, how amusing. So I’m taking on the role of the fake leader of Sado Clan and the fake Sapa’s First Sword again… My life is nothing but a muck of deception. I wouldn’t have taken on that request from my dear subordinate if it weren’t for this.”
“You didn’t come here just because of my request, did you? You came for the chance to clash with a master of Hyun-kyung.”
“You’re as sharp as ever. Bi-ik, oh no, Yeong-wol? It really doesn’t stick to my tongue. What a bother.”
He rose from the branch and leaped into my room.
“You’re right. What chance to kill a master of Hyun-kyung… Such an opportunity is rare. I can’t simply refuse the chance to wield my sword after such a long time.”
“…….”
“To commemorate your invitation to such a splendid stage, let me offer some advice. As your superior, if you want to remain hidden, do it properly. No half-hearted efforts leave you exposed.”
“Huh?”
“Do you take me for a fool? I’m talking about Sado Clan’s leader, who’s gotten bloodied from poisoning and reported to upper management. If you want to deceive them, do it well. Reporting that you killed someone who was still alive is worthless. It’s tattered, but let’s say it’s better to claim they’re still alive because they are.”
Yeong-wol’s expression hardened. If it were just the Sapa’s First Sword, but Sado Clan’s leader was truly hidden in an untraceable location…
Has that been exposed?
“Relax your face, Yeong-wol. Anyone watching might think I’m blackmailing you. I told you, I have no interest in your childhood games. I thought I could expect some excitement from the duel with Sado Clan’s leader, but… I lost interest when I realized it wouldn’t be enjoyable in that state.”
“…….”
“Anyway, I’m telling you to hide well. Got it? If even the youngest here can tell, then it won’t take others long to catch on once they pay attention. If you’re going to do this, don’t be sloppy. Do it thoroughly. Thoroughly.”
“…Yes.”
“Now, hand over the personality of Sapa’s First Sword.”
Jin Baek-cheon smiled widely.
“The mask of the First Sword of Sapa… This sure sounds fun. For Lord Im Wol-ryong, it feels like a bolt from the blue. One they thought was several steps below them suddenly appears and smacks their head! Haha! It’s like lightning striking the proud head of a soaring dragon! But you know, that’s life. Isn’t it?”
“……”
Yeong-wol pulled out the prepared personality of Sapa’s First Sword.
Jin Baek-cheon donned the false face of Sapa’s First Sword over his own.
To tidy up every situation.
“To anyone, the end always approaches silently.”
