Chapter 267
Pfuuaaak!

Ma Kyung’s head flew off, blood splattering everywhere.

The very man who had just been unleashing monstrous power was truly dead.

For a moment, everyone who had been holding their breath, watching this surreal scene—the warriors of the Fukken Yongga clan and my own group—stood stunned. Then, a beat later, cheers erupted.

“Wooooaaah!”

“Ma Kyung is dead!”

“The Saintess has defeated Ma Kyung!”

“Wooooaaah!”

As the warriors of Fukken Yongga celebrated like it was a festival, I suddenly glanced at the Saintess.

She was looking at Ma Kyung’s corpse with a strangely bitter expression.

Her face was so battered it was hard to read, but having trained under Elder Mukrang to read people’s hearts, I could tell for certain: her eyes were deeply downcast.

Well, thinking about it, it made sense.

She, the supreme figure of the martial world, had killed Ma Kyung with the help of a junior like me—a complete unknown. The world would surely continue to whisper that she was just a puppet of Ma Kyung.

And now that he was dead, there was no chance to overturn that judgment.

I stepped forward and bowed my head, apologizing.

“I’ve brought shame upon your reputation, Saintess. I’m truly sorry.”

Her face twisted.

Because it was so damaged, even a slight contortion made her look like a demon.

I was momentarily taken aback by the grotesque sight.

She seemed angrier than I had expected.

But then she spoke, and I realized I had misunderstood.

Her voice was surprisingly gentle, at odds with her face.

“You saved my life and the lives of those dear to me. And you apologize? I should be the one thanking you. I value people’s lives far more than my own honor.”

Judging by her voice, that twisted expression was probably a smile.

Her face was so marred that even her smile looked terrifying.

Only then did I feel a bit relieved, though I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her.

She spoke again, apologizing.

“Sorry for startling you. I know how people might see me when I smile like this, but I guess I’ve grown used to the Yongga people and slipped up again.”

I quickly shook my head.

I was the one who had been rude by staring, yet she was the one apologizing—it was embarrassing.

“No, Saintess! Please don’t say that! I…”

But I stopped mid-sentence.

Her expression had shocked me, and that was a fact I couldn’t deny.

She must have known it too, but I couldn’t lie and say I wasn’t surprised at all.

So after a brief pause, I changed the subject.

“Personally, among the seniors of the martial world, I’ve respected Elder Sword Saint and the Saintess the most! It’s truly an honor to meet you in person.”

Her face twisted again, and then she burst out laughing.

“Hohohoho! Such a handsome and skilled junior, and on top of that, so considerate. You must have broken many women’s hearts, haven’t you? I can picture it without even seeing.”

“Uh, w-what?”

I was genuinely flustered and couldn’t respond.

Several young ladies’ faces flashed through my mind, and I couldn’t bring myself to deny it.

Seeing my embarrassed expression, the Saintess laughed again.

“Hohohoho! Looks like I hit a nerve. Such innocence—if I had met you when I was young, I might have fallen for you too.”

As she kept laughing and I was at a loss, the Yongga clan leader, Yong Wooshin, suddenly approached us.

“I’m glad to see the Saintess in good spirits.”

The Saintess stopped laughing and looked at Yong Wooshin with soft eyes.

“It’s been a while since I’ve met such a commendable and dear junior. And… thank you, Clan Leader Yong, for saving my life. Because of you, I’m still alive.”

She bowed deeply in gratitude.

Yong Wooshin, clearly at a loss for words, hurriedly bowed back.

“Please, no need for thanks… I should be the one apologizing for tarnishing the Saintess’s honor.”

The Saintess shook her head.

“If Ma Kyung had succeeded back then, not only I but you and others would have been in danger. I value your lives far more than my honor. So I must thank you for protecting them.”

They exchanged gentle looks, each insisting they were the one who should be grateful.

It was a heartwarming sight, even to an outsider like me.

You could almost feel the sincerity they had for each other.

Yet, at the same time, there was a cautious distance between them, as if neither dared to get too close.

It was a strange feeling.

Watching them for a moment, I asked Elder Mukrang quietly.

“What do you make of those two?”

He replied with a puzzled tone.

“Hm? What do you mean?”

“…Nothing.”

Maybe questions like this weren’t meant for Elder Mukrang.

He laughed heartily.

“Hahaha! It’s a joke. Those two have deep feelings for each other. But for some reason, each carries a sense of guilt. That’s why they’re cautious around one another.”

“Guilt?”

“I can’t say exactly, but it’s something like guilt or inferiority.”

I thought about what I knew of them.

They had been together since about six or seven years ago, when Fukken Yongga was locked in fierce battles with Ma Kyung’s forces.

At that time, Ma Kyung’s power was at its peak, and Fukken Yongga kept losing but refused to give up.

The Saintess had come to support Fukken Yongga then.

The tide turned quickly.

Before, Fukken Yongga had been overwhelmed by Ma Kyung’s might, but with the Saintess neutralizing that power, the balance shifted instantly.

Unable to settle things at sea, the two factions entered a prolonged stalemate.

Hearing this, Elder Mukrang said,

“Six or seven years… that’s plenty of time for two people to see each other’s true selves beyond appearances and develop feelings. Are they both unmarried?”

“As far as I know, the Saintess has never married. She’s spent her life supporting the needy and raising orphans. But Clan Leader Yong is married, with two sons and a daughter. Though I heard he’s been living alone for some time after losing his spouse.”

“Hmm, it’s unusual for the head of a powerful clan like Fukken Yongga not to remarry after losing a spouse.”

“Now that you mention it, yes. Leaving the position of clan matriarch vacant for years must be difficult.”

In the martial world, clan leaders often had multiple wives.

Like my father, they needed marriage alliances with other powers, and having a matriarch to manage internal affairs was crucial.

So for a major clan like Fukken Yongga to have an empty matriarch position for years was quite unusual.

“I suspect the reason might be the Saintess. Have there been any rumors about them?”

“None that I know of.”

The matriarch position was vacant, and the clan leader was close to the Saintess.

It would be the perfect setup for gossip.

Yet, I had never heard a single rumor about them.

And somehow, I could guess why.

“Probably because of the Saintess’s appearance. No one ever thought anyone would fall for her. Also, Fukken Yongga has a reputation for not expanding power through marriage. They often marry within the clan, and their leaders usually have only one wife.”

“Hmm, that’s true. Fukken Yongga has always been like that. It’s part of what makes them so admirable.”

At that moment, the clan leader and the Saintess, who had been gazing at each other from a distance with tender eyes, suddenly snapped back to reality and turned their heads toward me.

Yong Wooshin spoke first.

“Come to think of it, I’ve been talking too much while standing next to my benefactor. Lord Sunwoo, our clan owes you a great debt. Without you, neither the Six Harmonies Sword Sect’s master nor Ma Kyung would have been defeated. I’m truly grateful.”

With that, he bowed deeply and clasped my fist.

As the head of the mighty Fukken Yongga and one of the top thirty-six stars of the martial world, he showed no hesitation in bowing to me, a mere junior.

He was truly a man of great humility and breadth.

I bowed back, admiring him once more.

“Benefactor? That’s far from the truth. Strictly speaking, I should be the one apologizing to both of you. I dared to use the Saintess and Fukken Yongga for my own personal goals. Thankfully, things turned out well and helped your clan, but if it had gone wrong, you both could have been in danger. I sincerely apologize.”

Hearing this, the clan leader and the Saintess exchanged glances and smiled warmly.

Then the Saintess spoke.

“Not only are you skilled and wise, but your humility is remarkable. You are truly a blessing to the martial world. I’m happier to have met you than to have killed Ma Kyung. I hope we can meet often from now on. I look forward to more opportunities to be with you.”

At that, Yongga’s leader, Yong Wooshin, smiled warmly and said,

“I too agree with the Saintess’s opinion. We risked our lives to eliminate the two notorious villains of the South Sea for you, the honorable Gongja, who had no prior connection with us. Where would there be any selfish motive in that? If it were selfishness, I’d be glad to have our Yongga used dozens of times over. Just call on us anytime. We’ll run to your side, even to the ends of the earth.”

“To run to the ends of the earth.”

It sounded like nothing but boastful talk coming from anyone else.

But coming from the Yongga leader, it felt genuine.

Listening to their words, I couldn’t help but smile from the bottom of my heart.

That smile carried two meanings.

First, on an emotional level, I was overjoyed to have formed a bond with such people.

The martial world is said to be full of romance and adventure, but what I truly knew was a world rife with ambition and treachery, where betrayal and cunning schemes ran rampant.

Yet, even in such a world, there were still genuine heroes like these, and I had managed to build a good relationship with them.

It made my heart burn with warmth.

Suddenly, I thought of the late Sword Saint.

“Sword Saint…”

The other reason for my smile was more practical: by indebting them, I had gained powerful allies.

The purpose of this journey was to obtain the true relic of the Sword God and to help Brother Seolpung gain influence.

Regardless of how those two goals turned out, once this journey ended, we would inevitably face an all-out war with the Blood Sect.

There was a high chance the Martial Alliance would also become our enemy.

Yet, through this, the Southern Sea Saintess Siseo, one of the Three Stars of the World, and the head of the Fujian Yongga, a symbol of alliance, had pledged to assist me.

Of course, they hadn’t explicitly mentioned fighting the Blood Sect yet, but after hearing about the Blood Sect and the Martial Alliance, I doubted they would turn a blind eye.

I slowly began to speak.

“Actually, there’s something important I wanted to tell both of you. I was originally a member of the Flying Dragon Squad on the front lines, fighting against the Blood Sect. But…”

I started to carefully explain the situation on the front lines.

At first, their expressions were puzzled, but gradually grew more serious.

I recounted the story in detail.

They listened intently, sometimes angry, sometimes impressed.

When I finished, the Saintess sighed deeply and said,

“The real reason I never went to the front lines was because I didn’t like Moyonggeom, the leader of the Martial Alliance. I avoided going because I feared it would only strengthen the position of that untrustworthy man. But… in truth, what I was avoiding was the fate of countless warriors on the front lines. It’s a shameful thing.”

Yong Wooshin also sighed deeply.

“I thought we were fighting the greatest evil in the martial world, the Demon Realm. But now I see he was nothing but chaff. We were chasing a minor villain while the true evil remained free.”

After that, both of them promised in unison that when the battle with the Blood Sect began, they would drop everything and come to help.

That was undoubtedly the greatest achievement of this whole affair.

---

After the conversation ended, the Saintess and the warriors of the Fujian Yongga had to return to Yongga immediately.

With the Demon Realm gone, they planned to strike the Southern Continent before its remnants scattered, wiping them out in one fell swoop.

Before leaving, they asked if I had any requests.

After a moment’s thought, I asked the Saintess if she could clear the debris from the collapsed gorge.

I needed to search for the body of Jintae-do, the White Tiger Sword, and other items buried beneath.

Originally, I had almost given up on recovering Jintae-do’s body—it seemed impossible.

But Elder Mukrang had confidently advised me,

“Ask the Saintess. A warrior of her caliber won’t find clearing such debris difficult.”

So, on a whim, I made the request.

She nodded readily.

“Understood. Now that you mention it, to convince the people of the Hainan Sect, we’ll need his body. I should have taken care of this before you even asked. I suppose even at my age, I’m still thoughtless. When will I ever become a proper person? It’s absurd that someone like me is called a Saintess.”

Then she made a proposal.

“I’ll stay by Gongja’s side until you meet with the Hainan Sect. Even if it’s just for appearances, my presence might help ease their anger.”

I was once again impressed by her thoughtfulness.

She was offering to stay behind to shield me when I revealed I was not Inparang, to temper their wrath if it became too fierce.

I bowed deeply, sincerely grateful.

“Thank you. Though you deny it, I believe no title suits you better than ‘Saintess.’ I truly appreciate your attention to such details. But there’s no need for you to stay. If they are angry, I believe it’s my responsibility to help them release that anger.”

The Saintess looked at me for a moment, then twisted her face into that familiar grimace.

I was still getting used to it, but I knew that was her way of smiling.

She spoke.

“I have several children I’m raising.”

I already knew this.

It was well-known that the Saintess gathered orphans she had bonded with and raised them.

“I’ve heard that too. Though I thought it was only a few.”

I actually knew it was at least several dozen.

She grimaced again.

“More than a few dozen, actually. When you have time, would you spend some time with them? I think having a role model, an older brother figure, would be a good influence on them.”

“Oh!”

She thought I could be a good example for the children.

I felt embarrassed receiving such high praise from a respected hero like the Saintess.

I smiled awkwardly and replied,

“The most admirable person in the world is right here, isn’t she? But if I can be of help, I’d be happy to visit.”

Satisfied with my answer, the Saintess went off to clear the debris.

What I and everyone else saw next was nothing short of astonishing.

To clear the debris, she simply walked near it and waved her arms.

Then, to our amazement, the debris around her began to lift and swirl as if caught in a dragon’s wind.

Whether small stones or large boulders, all were swept up.

She sent the debris flying around as she slowly paced back and forth through the gorge.

As the debris cleared, her figure gradually descended deeper into the gorge.

At first, I watched in stunned silence, then burst out laughing.

“Ha, my goodness…”

It was incredible.

I had thought I could hold my own against the Thirty-Six Heavenly Stars, but the Saintess was clearly on a whole other level.

I had once seen the ethereal sword technique of the Lone Sword Phantom, Seo Il, but the Saintess seemed leagues beyond that.

I suddenly understood why the Phantom Sword was ranked lowest among the Fifteen Absolute Masters.

After watching for a while, I snapped back to reality and looked at Yong Wooshin.

He too was watching the scene, seemingly entranced.

Though I wasn’t sure if he was watching the spectacle or the Saintess herself.

I approached him and spoke.

“Yongga leader, may I have a word in private?”

“Hm? Ah, of course, Seonwoo Gongja.”

Though he seemed a bit reluctant to look away from the Saintess’s presence, he smiled brightly and followed me to a quiet corner.

With a puzzled look, he asked,

“Why bring me all the way here for a talk?”

I looked at him for a moment before speaking.

“Now that the Demon Realm is gone, the Saintess no longer needs to stay with the Yongga, right?”

“Eh?! Ah, well…”

His face suddenly paled.

It seemed he hadn’t considered that possibility.

I continued.

“Perhaps she could leave immediately. After all, there’s no need for her to personally lead the conquest of the Southern Continent now that the Demon Realm is gone.”

He answered, flustered.

“Y-Yeah, I suppose that’s true.”

“I thought so. Then may I take the Saintess with me right away?”

He hesitated, unable to answer immediately.

After a moment’s pause, he sighed and nodded heavily.

“If the Saintess has decided to leave, then of course that’s what should be done.”

I let out a deep breath.

Then I asked again.

“Do you truly, sincerely want me to do that?”

Only then did he realize my question had a deeper meaning.

With a hint of embarrassment and caution, he asked,

“What do you mean?”

I looked at him seriously.

“Someone once said that only the brave can win the beauty. Leader Yongga, is the Saintess a beauty in your eyes?”

He was completely flustered, mouth agape.

I pressed on.

“Or is it that she’s not a beauty, and that’s why you never had the courage until now?”

“W-What! She is…”

He opened and closed his mouth several times but couldn’t say a word.

I suspected he tried to deny it but couldn’t bring himself to say it aloud.

Perhaps I was overstepping.

No matter how broad-minded he was, for a junior like me—someone he had just met—to say such things was probably inappropriate.

Even though I knew all this, the reason I brought it up was because of memories from my past life.

Back then, those two never ended up together before I died.

Not that either of them married someone else, either.

Their feelings for each other were so deep that even I, who only watched from the sidelines briefly, could easily sense it—no need for Elder Mukrang to confirm it.

But despite that, they didn’t come together for nearly ten years.

From what I observed, it seemed the reason was the distance they kept out of mutual consideration—each so careful not to impose on the other.

I’m no expert on relationships, but their cautiousness was enough to frustrate even me.

That’s why I felt compelled to step in, even if it was presumptuous.

“I don’t know why Lord Yongga hesitates, but I think I understand why the Saintess does. She always wears a smile but apologizes to me, which tells me she carries deep wounds about her appearance. So, she probably can’t even think about expressing feelings for Lord Yongga.”

At that, Lord Yongga looked at me in surprise.

“The Saintess… has feelings for me?! Is that true? Even if it is, how do you know?”

I sighed deeply and replied, “Ah, feelings like that are impossible to hide—except from the people who have them. How else would I know that Lord Yongga harbors feelings for the Saintess?”

He was left speechless, stunned.

And that was where I had to end the conversation.

The Saintess had already cleared away the debris in the canyon.

I decided to leave it at that.

Because even after telling them all this, if they still don’t come together, then perhaps that’s just their fate.