Chapter 359
After the decisive battle with the Blood Demon Sa Mo-kwang, the Four Kings’ Sa Wang, Gwe Gal-hyun, having recovered his strength, personally sought out Sun Woo-jin.
His reason was simple: he wanted to face Sun Woo-jin, the successor to the Sword Saint’s legacy and the one who had slain the Blood Demon, to test his own strength.
At the same time, Gwe Gal-hyun had never witnessed Sun Woo-jin’s power firsthand, so he found it hard to believe that this man had resolved everything on his own.
But after their duel that day, as Gwe Gal-hyun returned to the Four Kings’ alliance, he sighed deeply.
“I always thought that defeating the Sword Master would crown me the greatest under heaven. But now, it seems I must even overcome the forces of nature itself. Is that position truly never meant for me?”
This was a clear sign of who had won—and by how overwhelming a margin.
From then on, the martial world understood that the Blood Wolf Sword Master, Ban Joong-yang, could no longer take the mantle of Sword Master due to his possession by the Blood Demon. Without hesitation, they elevated Sun Woo-jin to that position.
They even bestowed upon him the title of Heavenly Wolf Sword Master, for he carried two swords—black and white—each adorned with a wolf motif.
Sun Woo-jin smiled gently and spoke to Gu Yu-eum-ma Ji Gi-eum.
“So, we finally meet, Ji Gi-eum. I’ve longed to see you.”
Ji Gi-eum took hesitant steps backward, gritting his teeth.
“Ugh!”
Until now, Ji Gi-eum had done everything to avoid Sun Woo-jin at all costs.
Though he burned with a desire to tear apart the man who was the sworn enemy of Sa Mo-kwang, the Blood Demon, he had restrained himself.
Even when Baek Ok Ji-ryong, Gu Yu-sang—the disciple of Mo-kwang and heir to the Blood Sect—couldn’t hold back and sought him out, only to be killed, Ji Gi-eum had held back.
He knew all too well that if he confronted Sun Woo-jin, he would never return alive.
While he might have had a chance to escape from other absolute masters, there was no way he could outrun Sun Woo-jin—the man who shared the infamous title of One of the Five Great Villains and was hailed as the greatest under heaven.
With a trembling voice, Ji Gi-eum said, “I thought you’d be beside Sa Ma-yeo-ryang…”
Sun Woo-jin grinned.
“That you fell for such an obvious trap is your downfall. Thanks to that, here we are, face to face.”
“!”
Ji Gi-eum immediately realized the truth.
The very idea that Sa Ma-yeo-ryang had come to the front lines to lure him in was itself a trap—one designed to mislead him about Sun Woo-jin’s true location and draw him out.
Clenching his teeth, Ji Gi-eum thought, It’s all over. I have to run. It’s a bit early, but I can only hope Gu Woo-jeol managed to evade capture.
In truth, Ji Gi-eum and Baek Myeon Si-ma Gu Woo-jeol’s goal was never to guard Jeomchang Mountain.
Judging the tide of battle had turned, their plan was for Ji Gi-eum to draw attention while Gu Woo-jeol slipped away through a secret passage.
As the only one capable of creating Blood Demons, Gu Woo-jeol’s survival meant the Blood Sect could still hope to reclaim the martial world someday.
Ji Gi-eum glanced at the remaining Blood Demons.
With four of them still alive—including Gyeol Heo-sa-tae—they might just be able to buy some time.
He shouted toward the Blood Demons, “Stop that man immediately—!”
But at that moment, a massive presence suddenly filled the air.
It was a presence comparable even to the Blood Demon Mo-kwang himself.
“!”
Startled, Ji Gi-eum quickly lifted his head and looked up.
There, floating in midair, was a middle-aged man with a cold, forbidding expression, gazing down at him.
Ji Gi-eum muttered in despair, “S-Sa Wang Gwe Gal-hyun? How did the Sa Wang come here…?”
Gwe Gal-hyun, expressionless, replied from his hovering position.
“I, too, have debts to repay to the Blood Sect. After all, my son… my successor, Seol Poong, came here first. Why shouldn’t I?”
Hearing this, Ji Gi-eum’s heart sank.
He had assumed that only the Sword Master could have come here, since the righteous absolute masters—including Sword Saint Hae Un-baek—remained in the Central Plains to prevent his ambush.
This was a fatal miscalculation.
It was the Sa Wang himself.
Not only had Seol Poong reached the level of Hwa-gyeong, but now the Sa Wang had appeared as well.
There was no way out.
I have to escape somehow…!
Turning to look behind him, Ji Gi-eum’s face fell when he saw Seol Poong blocking his retreat.
There was no longer any path to flee.
Sun Woo-jin looked at Ji Gi-eum’s defeated expression and thought to himself,
Was the word the Sa Wang was about to say “son”?
The Sword Saint answered his unspoken question.
—It seems so. That fellow really wants to make it clear he’s his son. Though he looks cold on the outside, he’s quite the doting father.
Sun Woo-jin chuckled softly.
If it were someone like Poong hyung, any father would be proud to call him their son. To have a son who became an absolute master in his twenties, he’d want to shout it from the rooftops.
The Sword Saint grumbled in a disapproving tone.
—If Seol Poong’s father is so impressive, then your father must be flying around in the heavens by now. Seems like he’s more interested in bragging than helping Seol Poong rise. You’ve been full of self-praise lately.
Oh? You noticed?
—You’ve been disrespecting your teacher lately. Remember, I was once called a genius myself.
Y-Yes, Master. Of course.
—Hmm, but your words lack spirit.
After the battle, Sun Woo-jin received the Seol Lang Sword, a keepsake of Ma Yu-gyeom, from Dang Yeo-eun.
He had held a faint hope then—that perhaps the Sword Saint’s consciousness still lingered within the sword.
Though it was the Sword Saint who had accompanied Ma Yu-gyeom, not him, just knowing the presence remained would be a great comfort.
But the moment he grasped the Seol Lang Sword, he realized just how incredible his master’s arrangements truly were.
As soon as he touched the sword, the Sword Saint spoke to him.
—Jin! You’re alive! That’s a relief! What happened? After I disappeared, what of the Blood Demon?!
Sun Woo-jin was stunned.
The content of the words was something only his master, Muk Lang, could know.
In a daze, he asked, Sir? How is this possible?
The Sword Saint laughed heartily.
—Ah, I didn’t mention it earlier to avoid raising false hopes. The consciousness of sealed swords can share memories with other swords the moment they come into contact with their wielder. So now, I am both Ma Yu-gyeom’s Seol Lang and your Muk Lang. How’s that for a clever arrangement? I call it ‘synchronization.’
Sun Woo-jin couldn’t hold back any longer.
He sank to his knees, tears streaming down his face as he sobbed.
“Thank you. Thank you, Master.”
—No need to cry so much…
The Sword Saint, momentarily taken aback, watched Sun Woo-jin’s tears for a while.
Then, in a warm voice, he said,
—Still, it’s good to hear that. Master, huh… Yes, I’m glad we meet again, my disciple Jin-ah.
My disciple, Jin-ah.
Sun Woo-jin couldn’t care about Dang Yeo-eun’s embarrassed expression. He just wept endlessly.
Those were the words he had longed to hear from his master’s own mouth.
Sun Woo-jin looked up at the Sa Wang floating in the air.
“Sir, may I ask you to finish this?”
The Sa Wang regarded him silently for a moment before speaking.
“I’d like to see that martial art again…”
Sun Woo-jin flinched.
The technique he mentioned could only be the Mang-a Gong.
He had never told the Sword Saint that he had learned Mang-a Gong.
If the Sword Saint’s consciousness disappeared the moment the successor mastered Mang-a Gong or manifested thrice, he had to keep it a secret.
So, Sun Woo-jin had only referred to the technique that killed the Blood Demon Mo-kwang as ‘Gaecheon.’
He hurriedly said to the Sword Saint,
Gaecheon must have made quite an impression on the Sa Wang, hahaha! Ha…
The Sword Saint replied,
—Y-Yes. The Muk Lang Sword Style I created is indeed impressive. Hmm, hmm.
He had never mentioned Mang-a Gong, yet the Sword Saint didn’t question it.
In fact, both he and Sun Woo-jin knew the Sword Saint could detect lies.
But strangely, he never reacted to this particular falsehood.
Seeing Sun Woo-jin’s awkward expression, the Sa Wang simply nodded.
“Alright, since you seem troubled, I’ll handle it.”
With that, the Sa Wang descended upon Ji Gi-eum.
Shuaak!
Ji Gi-eum tried to dodge in surprise.
But seeing Sun Woo-jin and Seol Poong flanking him, he froze.
Pressed from both front and back by two of the Five Great Villains, he had no idea where to run.
That moment of hesitation sealed his fate.
Kwahaaang!
Baek Myeon Si-ma Gu Woo-jeol carefully gathered only the most important items and headed toward the rear of the Jeomchang Sect.
It was the underground training hall carved into a natural cave.
The cave walls bore countless marks of sword techniques left by the sect’s ancient sages.
They had inscribed their insights there, and the Jeomchang disciples revered the cave itself as sacred, forbidding access to anyone but the highest-ranking students.
But the Blood Sect had no reason to respect such customs.
The Blood Demon, Jeon Muhwang, had realized that the deepest part of the cave wasn’t far from the cliff behind Jeomchang Mountain. Using his formidable energy, he had secretly dug further into the cave, creating an escape route just in case.
This was a secret passage unknown even to the disciples of the Jeomchang Sect.
Baekmyeon Sima Guujeol dashed through the cave like the wind, moving swiftly through the hidden path.
While Guuyeumma Jigieum stalled near the entrance of Jeomchang Mountain, Guujeol’s mission was clear: to escape safely. As long as he survived, the Blood Sect could rise again at any time.
“Just wait and see. As long as the Blood Demon’s creation technique remains, the Blood Sect will inevitably rise once more!”
The reason the Blood Sect had stubbornly survived through the ages was because their martial arts, which easily reached their peak, stirred the desires of martial artists everywhere.
But now, they had surpassed mere peak mastery—they had reached the Hwagyeong level.
A martial artist at the peak could aspire to the super-peak, and a super-peak martial artist could even reach Hwagyeong.
There was no shortage of moths drawn to the flame, intoxicated by such power.
So, in Guujeol’s mind, the Blood Sect was destined to rise again.
As long as human greed remained, someone would keep seeking the Blood Sect.
“Heh heh heh heh heh!”
Chuckling softly to himself, Guujeol suddenly noticed light streaming in from the far end of the dark cave.
He had emerged from Jeomchang Mountain.
His thoughts drifted to the foolish righteous sect members who were probably fighting fiercely at the mountain’s entrance.
Guuyeumma Jigieum was there, but as far as he knew, no one could capture Jigieum, so there was no need to worry.
Just as he stepped out into the bright cave entrance, nine blood dragons suddenly charged at him.
It was the Gucheon Blood Dragon Martial Art.
Krrrraaaak!
“Ugh!”
Startled, Guujeol hastily unleashed his protective energy.
Whoosh!
A massive explosion erupted.
Kraaaang!
Waiting outside the cave, the one who ambushed Guujeol was none other than Hae Cheongyeon.
She alone knew the secret escape route that only the Blood Sect disciples were supposed to know.
Biting her lip, she stared into the cave where Guujeol had just retreated.
“Is he dead?”
Though Hae Cheongyeon shared memories with Gwayeom, the Reverse Blood Demon, her martial skill hadn’t yet broken through the Hwagyeong barrier.
That meant her chances of defeating Guujeol head-on were slim.
That was why she had chosen to ambush him with the most powerful technique she knew—the Gucheon Blood Dragon Martial Art.
—Ungrateful wretch! I cared for you so much, and you dare use the Blood Sect’s martial arts like this?! Do you think Seon Woojin will forgive you for this?! Don’t be ridiculous! He’ll first question how you found out, and why you didn’t tell him! Then he’ll think, ‘I can’t trust you after all.’ You’d have been better off pretending ignorance, you foolish woman!
Inside Hae Cheongyeon’s mind, the enraged Gwayeom raged and screamed.
Fearing the last hope of the Blood Sect might vanish, Hae Cheongyeon was desperate.
“…”
She didn’t respond.
Answering would only add to the chaos, and besides, Gwayeom’s words weren’t entirely wrong.
That was true.
If she had told Seon Woojin about the secret escape route earlier, she wouldn’t have had to do this.
And if Seon Woojin had learned the truth, as Gwayeom said, he might have lost trust in her.
After all, as the vessel of the Reverse Blood Demon’s soul, she was inherently untrustworthy.
—Foolish woman! You’re digging your own grave! Your fate is sealed! You’ll either die here by Guujeol’s hand or, if you survive, be abandoned by Seon Woojin! What a pitiful sight, Hae Cheongyeon! Hohohoho!
Hae Cheongyeon bit her lip tightly.
This, too, seemed true.
Maybe her fate had been sealed from the moment she withheld information about the Blood Sect.
She wondered, ‘Even if I pretended ignorance, would it have just passed?’
No way.
Knowing Seon Woojin, he would never let it go.
The moment he learned of the secret escape route, he would instantly realize she must have already known.
It was a logical conclusion.
She herself would have thought the same.
So losing his trust was practically inevitable.
Noticing her thoughts, Gwayeom’s tone softened as she tried to soothe her.
—You know it too, Cheongyeon, don’t you? There’s no turning back now. You can’t return to Seon Woojin. So come with me. No, I’m not asking you to become a Blood Sect disciple. Just come away with me, far away. You must be tired of being stuck between Dangyeo and Jin Soeun, right?
Listening quietly, Hae Cheongyeon’s expression hardened.
As Guujeol stepped out of the cave, she suddenly asked Gwayeom,
“Do you know this?”
—Huh? That?
Drawing her sword, she said,
Shing!
“The more you try to hide your mistakes, the bigger they grow. And right now, I’m not fighting for myself.”
—…What?
That was it.
Her real mistake wasn’t that she couldn’t admit it.
It was that, out of petty pride and fear of harm, she neither acknowledged nor corrected it properly.
But she shouldn’t have been like that.
With that mindset, bearing that sin, she didn’t deserve to be a mother.
Leaving Gwayeom with her final words, Hae Cheongyeon let out a fierce battle cry.
“And… I don’t hate those two!”
“Hah-ahh!”
Piercing forward with the Comet Black technique of the Seongra Sword Style, she thought,
“Why didn’t I tell him from the start?”
She honestly didn’t know the exact reason.
Was it because she was angry at Seon Woojin for not telling her about the fight with the Blood Sect?
Or because she didn’t want to stir the soul of Gwayeom inside her?
Or maybe, sharing Gwayeom’s memories, a part of her secretly wished the Blood Sect wouldn’t be wiped out?
Whatever the reason, it was clearly a mistake.
And she had to make amends before it was too late.
Not for herself, but for the child she might one day bear.
To be a mother that child could be proud of.
Even if this meant she’d never have that child…
That was why Hae Cheongyeon had rushed here.
“You insolent woman!”
Kraaaang!
“Ahhh!”
Despite being hit by the Gucheon Blood Dragon Martial Art, Guujeol remained strong.
Even the surprise strike of the Comet Black technique, comparable to the Sailsword Style’s Ilshisa-il, couldn’t land a hit.
With a careless swing, Guujeol sent Hae Cheongyeon flying helplessly backward.
Since she hadn’t broken through the Hwagyeong barrier, there was no way she could stand against Guujeol, who wielded mid-level Hwagyeong power.
And she had expected this.
Guujeol paused, about to throw a strong ring at her, but stopped when he recognized her face, a bitter smile curling his lips.
“You’re the Sword Saint’s daughter. Is the Reverse Blood Demon still inside you?”
At that moment, Gwayeom burst into maniacal laughter inside Hae Cheongyeon.
—Hohohoho! I’m quite comfortable in here! Cheongyeon, you actually came here wanting to be a hostage, didn’t you?! Hohohoho!
Hae Cheongyeon smiled faintly at the voice, then said to Guujeol,
“Yes, the Reverse Blood Demon is very much alive inside me. Right now, it’s screaming for you to save it!”
Shouting, she charged at Guujeol recklessly, ignoring defense.
“Hah-ahh!”
“Hmm?!”
Guujeol blocked her attack but hesitated and stepped back.
He couldn’t kill her while the Reverse Blood Demon was inside her.
Determined not to let her escape, Hae Cheongyeon pursued him relentlessly.
Each strike was a desperate, life-risking attack.
“The Reverse Blood Demon!”
“It’s speaking!”
“Hurry!”
“Get it out!”
Then Gwayeom realized what Hae Cheongyeon’s plan was.
She had predicted that Guujeol wouldn’t kill her because of the Reverse Blood Demon inside.
—You! You planned this from the start!
Gwayeom’s accusation was met with a smirk from Hae Cheongyeon.
“Who’s the hostage now?”
—You!
Hae Cheongyeon’s plan was effective.
But it couldn’t last long.
The power gap between her and Guujeol was just too great.
Kraaaang!
“Ugh!”
After dodging her attacks for a while, Guujeol finally made his move.
Not going all out, but just enough to overwhelm her.
Clashing swords and techniques, Hae Cheongyeon was pushed back repeatedly.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
She immediately understood his intent.
If he couldn’t capture her alive, he’d at least injure her enough to bring her down.
And it was working.
She had no way to counter, and blood was already trickling from her mouth.
There was no doubt she wouldn’t last much longer.
At that, Gwayeom began laughing again, delighting in the turn of events.
“Hohoho! No matter how clever you are, if your body can’t keep up, there’s nothing you can do! It’s all over now! You’ll be caught soon! It seems you tried to buy time for the pursuers to arrive, but with only this little delay, no one will be able to catch up!”
KA-BOOM!
“Ahhh!”
Ha Cheong-yeon finally couldn’t hold on any longer and was flung away, tumbling across the ground.
Cough!
Blood welled up in her mouth, staining the earth beneath her.
Still, she staggered to her feet with great effort.
She had no strength left to fight, but she couldn’t just collapse there.
Gu Woo-jeol approached slowly, a cold, bitter smile curling on his lips.
He thought it was over—he just needed to take her away now.
Then, suddenly, Ha Cheong-yeon opened her bloodied mouth and spoke.
“Do you know something?”
Gu Woo-jeol hesitated for a moment at her words.
She smiled faintly and continued.
“That bit about ‘only this much time’—it’s wrong.”
She wasn’t speaking to Gu Woo-jeol, but to Gwa-yeom inside her.
Realizing this, Gwa-yeom retorted sharply.
“…What did you say?”
Ha Cheong-yeon smiled weakly and said,
“At least, that’s true for him.”
At that moment, a streak of pale violet light shot down from the sky faster than a meteor.
It was Seon Woo-jin.
“How dare you!”
With a furious shout, Seon Woo-jin’s sword tore through the air.
It was the ‘Gaechun’ technique.
Shhhhhh!
“Ugh!”
Gu Woo-jeol threw himself with all his might, but as he flew backward, one of his arms was already severed.
“Argh! My arm!”
And Seon Woo-jin’s assault didn’t stop there.
As Gu Woo-jeol was flying back, Seon Woo-jin’s face suddenly appeared before him, shocking him.
It was an impossible new technique.
“You!”
Shhhhhh!
With Seon Woo-jin’s enraged cry, the remaining arm was sliced off.
Seeing this, Gu Woo-jeol screamed in despair.
“No!”
Gwa-yeom inside Ha Cheong-yeon echoed the same.
“No! No!”
Both of Gu Woo-jeol’s arms were gone.
That meant he could no longer create the Blood Demons.
As Gu Woo-jeol wailed in hopelessness, Seon Woo-jin shouted again in fury and unleashed Gaechun once more.
“My wife—”
Shhhhhh!
This time, it was his legs.
“Argh!”
With his limbs severed, Gu Woo-jeol could only writhe on the ground like a helpless insect.
But he no longer despaired.
There was no time for that.
Seon Woo-jin’s furious strike smashed his head apart with savage force.
“Don’t hurt her!”
Shhhhhh!
Ha Cheong-yeon stared blankly at Seon Woo-jin.
When he killed Gu Woo-jeol, she finally spoke.
“You shouldn’t have killed him. You should have kept him alive to extract information…”
But as she spoke, tears suddenly streamed down her face.
She was happy.
So incredibly happy.
Because he was angry for her.
Because he said, “You hurt my wife.”
Her heart swelled with joy.
“Sniffle!”
Startled by her sudden sobbing, Seon Woo-jin rushed to her side.
“Cheong-yeon! Are you alright?!”
Ha Cheong-yeon couldn’t stop crying.
She was overwhelmed with happiness.
His anger for her.
The concern shining in his eyes.
But she pulled herself together.
She couldn’t let this happiness blind her from the truth.
Before it was too late again, she had to speak.
Wiping her tears, she said to Seon Woo-jin,
“There’s something I need to tell you. I knew about the escape route they made in Jeomchang Mountain, but I didn’t tell you. I don’t know why I did that, but I’m truly sorry. I should have told you sooner. Also, I was deliberately harsh to my older brother, younger brother, and especially to Myo Sojeo. If she becomes your wife… I was afraid my role would disappear. That I’d become unnecessary because I couldn’t do anything for you…”
Usually calm and rational, Ha Cheong-yeon spoke in a jumble of tears and words.
So many things she had kept inside were pouring out with her sobs.
Seon Woo-jin stood quietly, listening.
His gaze soft and steady, locked on her eyes.
Until she had said everything…
“I’m sorry for betraying your trust. Even though I knew it was hard for you to trust me, I resented you. I’m really, really sorry.”
Seon Woo-jin stepped closer to the tearful Ha Cheong-yeon, repeating his apologies.
Then he embraced her tightly and said,
“Thank you, and I’m sorry too, Cheong-yeon.”
For a moment, she was stunned.
She hadn’t expected to hear those words from him.
Or maybe it was because he held her.
Seon Woo-jin whispered softly, still holding her close.
“I already knew you were struggling. I’m happy with my master, so how could I not know it would be hard for you to be with the Reverse Blood Demon? But as you know, I’m so useless in these matters that I didn’t know how to comfort you. I was only focused on preparing to remove the Reverse Blood Demon, and I failed to comfort you when you were hurting. I’m truly, truly sorry. It’s all my fault.”
Tears welled up again in Ha Cheong-yeon’s eyes.
His words were so warm, every single one felt sincere, and she couldn’t hold back her tears.
“Sniffle!”
Seon Woo-jin looked at her with tender eyes.
Though she cried so much it might be worrying, the sword spirit master assured him she was happy now, so it was okay.
Watching her cry, he suddenly thought she was so beautiful and lovable.
Of course, she had always been the most beautiful woman in the world.
But she was always so perfect and rational that she wasn’t easy to approach.
Yet now, in this moment, she was so fragile and sweet, clinging to him as she cried.
And so Seon Woo-jin learned something new.
Even tears could be beautiful.
He couldn’t resist the feeling.
Gently, he lifted her chin and leaned in to kiss her lips.
Startled, Ha Cheong-yeon pulled back slightly, eyes wide.
“I—I haven’t wiped the blood off my lips…”
But Seon Woo-jin smiled softly and pressed his lips to hers.
Mmm!
The soft, moist sensation spread through her whole body.
So lovely, so thrilling.
Their first kiss as lovers.
After a while, when their lips parted, Ha Cheong-yeon’s face was flushed bright red.
Anyone could see she was shy.
Her face was so beautiful that Seon Woo-jin kissed her again.
This time, Ha Cheong-yeon closed her eyes naturally.
Some time later, the two were slowly climbing Jeomchang Mountain again to join the Blood Sect Extermination Squad.
Very slowly.
Like an old couple taking a leisurely walk, their fingers intertwined tightly.
Then, Ha Cheong-yeon glanced at Seon Woo-jin, lost in thought.
After a moment’s hesitation, she spoke carefully.
“If… I can’t have children…”
Seon Woo-jin smiled broadly and suddenly asked,
“Shall we go on a trip together?”
Surprised by the unexpected question unrelated to her words, Ha Cheong-yeon blinked.
“A trip?”
Seon Woo-jin smiled warmly.
“Now that the fight with the Blood Sect is over, I need some rest too. The first thing I want to do is travel. Come to think of it, I’ve traveled quite a bit with Ye-eun and So-eun. So… how about it? This time, just the two of us?”
Ha Cheong-yeon stared quietly into his warm eyes.
She felt she already knew what he wanted to say without words.
It was okay.
If they couldn’t have children, they could still travel together.
So don’t worry.
That was what he wanted to tell her.
His kindness was so warm that tears welled up again.
Tears of happiness.
Seon Woo-jin teased her gently.
“I never knew you were such a crybaby. From now on, I’ll carry plenty of handkerchiefs.”
Ha Cheong-yeon laughed and replied,
“Me neither. Maybe the dam holding back all my tears finally broke.”
It felt that way.
Since marrying Seon Woo-jin, or since taking in the Reverse Blood Demon’s soul.
Or maybe all the tears she’d held back since childhood had finally burst out at once.
Seon Woo-jin looked at her warmly again and said,
“Don’t hold them back anymore. It’s okay to cry in front of me. No, please do. So I can wipe those tears away.”
Ha Cheong-yeon nodded, her eyes shining with moisture.
She was happy.
Then Seon Woo-jin suddenly wore a playful grin and said,
“Did you know? Even when you cry, you’re so lovely and beautiful.”
Ha Cheong-yeon had heard “You’re beautiful” more times than she could count.
So she hadn’t really liked hearing it.
At least, that was true until now.
Until Seon Woo-jin said it.
But in this moment, she realized it was the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to her.
Her heart swelled with joy and fluttered with excitement at his words.
Ha Cheong-yeon suddenly glanced up at the slowly reddening blue sky behind his head and murmured,
“Beautiful.”
It truly was beautiful.
And that made everything feel even more perfect.
It was one of those days when everything seemed utterly flawless.
In that moment, she made a quiet vow to herself.
If she ever had a child someday, she would tell them their story…
About her first meeting with Sun Woo-jin, and the pride that once made her lose him.
About the countless hardships and crises they had to endure.
And about the salvation they finally found because neither of them gave up…
And that story would probably end like this:
“From that day on, Mom and Dad always loved each other and lived happily ever after.”
Ha Cheong-yeon no longer doubted that truth.
The Thirteenth Generation of the Secret Martial Sect. The End.
Side Story: A Tale from Two Hundred Years Ago
In a remote forest, a young man found himself surrounded by a group of armed ronin.
The ronin smiled smugly as they slowly closed in on him.
“Hey, Sun Woo-yong, the Phantom Sword! How about you stop being stubborn and hand over your pack? If you cooperate, we’ll spare your life.”
The young man hesitated, then ground his teeth and shouted back,
“You miserable bastards! To think you’d try to rob a comrade you shared a meal with just yesterday! Are you even human? Damn you, worse than dogs! Do you really think your backs will stay safe after this?!”
His angry curses rang out, filled with fury.
But the ronin only chuckled, unfazed.
“Our backs? Probably safe. We’re not the type to hoard money like you. Why would we stab each other in the back? There’s nothing to gain.”
“Heh heh heh, that’s the truth.”
“We’re forever friends, all broke as hell! Ha ha ha!”
Sun Woo-yong clenched his teeth until they ached.
He had painstakingly saved every coin during his life as a ronin, scrimping on food and fun, all to one day restore his family’s honor.
And now, these bastards were about to steal it all.
“Damn it! If only I had my sword…”
If only he had his sword in hand, he could have taken on these guys.
His swordsmanship was unmatched among ronin.
But the sword he desperately sought was now in the hands of these very men.
He had been foolish to trust them.
He let out a bitter laugh, glancing between the approaching men and his pack.
“Damn! I thought this money would be enough to get me started…”
It was a shame to lose it.
But there was no choice.
If he refused to hand it over, he’d have to fight these armed men barehanded.
And Sun Woo-yong hated hand-to-hand combat.
“Damn it! If I get out of this alive, I’m going to practice barehanded fighting until I’m dead tired!”
Just then, one of the ronin stepped forward with a final warning.
“Alright, Sun Woo-yong. Make your choice. Hand over the money and go, or lose your head along with it.”
Sun Woo-yong glared at him, teeth clenched, then glanced at his pack.
He was furious and humiliated, but there was no other way.
Money could be earned again, but a lost head was gone forever.
His dream of restoring the Sun Woo family would have to wait.
Grinding his teeth, he pushed the pack forward.
The ronin’s eyes gleamed.
“Alright! Now toss it over here.”
With a final grimace, Sun Woo-yong heaved the pack high into the air.
“Here!”
Whoosh!
The ronin’s gazes followed the soaring pack.
He had deliberately thrown it far and high, planning to make a run for it once their attention was on the money.
“Money!”
“Jackpot!”
Sun Woo-yong turned on his heel, ready to flee.
But then—
Flash!
A brilliant red light suddenly blazed before his eyes.
It was as if the empty air had split open and something had burst forth.
And he immediately knew it wasn’t a trick of the light.
From the glowing space, a sword materialized.
Its blade shimmered faintly with a crimson aura—an extraordinary sword, unlike any he had ever seen.
Sun Woo-yong froze for a moment.
But as the sword began to fall, he reached out and caught it.
“Whoa!”
His eyes widened as he examined the blade.
It was undoubtedly a legendary sword, unlike anything he’d ever encountered.
Questions swirled in his mind.
Why had it appeared out of thin air? Why did it glow with that eerie red light?
But instead of dwelling on those mysteries, he focused on what he could do with it.
For example…
He glanced back.
The traitors were still scrambling to grab the pack, their eyes glued to the prize.
Grit!
“Damn bastards!”
Without hesitation, Sun Woo-yong charged.
The greedy men were too distracted to react, mouths agape, staring at the empty air.
“Die, you scum!”
Swish!
“Ahhh!”
“What?! This guy’s sword—agh!”
“Sun Woo-yong, please! Spare me! Aaaah!”
Moments later, Sun Woo-yong panted heavily, bloodied but alive.
Around him lay eight fallen bodies.
He gathered his pack and smiled with satisfaction.
Then, he looked down at the sword in his hand.
“Hmm.”
The crimson aura on the blade had faded.
Still, something about it felt strange.
Could this be one of those legendary cursed swords or demon blades he’d heard about?
If so, it would bring a curse upon its wielder and should be discarded immediately.
But after a moment’s thought, Sun Woo-yong chuckled softly.
“Bah. If it helped me get my money back, it’s no cursed sword—it’s a divine sword. What’s so special about a divine sword? As long as it brings me good fortune…”
As he muttered this, a thought struck him.
At this crucial moment, this sword had appeared to help him.
Maybe it really was a divine sword.
After all, it had come from thin air.
With a serious expression, he looked at the blade and said,
“If the Sun Woo family rises again, it’ll be thanks to you. I’ll make you the family’s sacred treasure. Your name shall be… yes! Hong-yeon Sword! From now on, you’re the Hong-yeon Sword!”
With both the funds to rebuild his family and a sacred sword in hand, Sun Woo-yong set off with a bright smile.
His destination was Gui Prefecture, a place free from other powerful factions.
He walked with a spring in his step, speaking to the sword as if it were alive.
“My goal is to build a martial arts clan named after my family—the Sun Woo Clan. Everyone said it was a foolish dream, but just wait. Who knows? Maybe one day, one of my descendants will become the greatest in the world. Ha ha ha. Until then, I’m counting on you, Hong-yeon Sword.”
Sun Woo-yong thought he felt a faint crimson aura emanate from the sword in response.
It was so subtle it might have been his imagination, but somehow, it felt like the sword had answered him.
He smiled, feeling a surge of hope.
For the first time in a long while, his wild dream seemed within reach—a fresh, exhilarating feeling.