Episode 37

“Right. When you followed those Miao tribesmen, what exactly did Sun Woo-jin say?”

Mayu-gyeom’s question caught Joo Tae-kyung off guard, and he stammered in response.

“Uh? Well, he said that eventually, to get inside that area, we’d need to gather information about it…”

Mayu-gyeom’s expression darkened with anger as he pressed on.

“Yes, eventually, to get inside there—in other words, to establish the blood pact—you absolutely must gather intel on the jungle. But you, a disciple of the Jeomchang faction who should want that more than anyone else—why on earth didn’t you follow them back then?!”

Joo Tae-kyung was utterly flustered by Mayu-gyeom’s sudden outburst.

“W-well, that’s because…”

But Mayu-gyeom wasn’t finished.

Pointing a finger toward the seven members of their group, he shouted.

“Look at them laughing and chatting! Is that what people possessed by the Blood Sect look like? Are your eyes blind? You think Seol Poong is clinging to the Blood Sect’s demon heads? Do you even know how many of the Blood Sect’s demon heads he’s killed? And you have the nerve to say something like that?!”

Though Mayu-gyeom disliked Seol Poong, he respected him as a martial artist more than anyone else.

Or maybe that was exactly why he disliked him.

Seol Poong wasn’t even a disciple of a prestigious orthodox sect, yet his martial prowess surpassed Mayu-gyeom’s.

And now, some lowlife like Joo Tae-kyung dared to slander Seol Poong, whom Mayu-gyeom acknowledged, by accusing him of siding with the Blood Sect’s demon heads. The fury inside him boiled over uncontrollably.

“Is your mind incapable of discerning right from wrong?! If you recognized your own shortcomings, you’d throw yourself into training to make up for them instead of slandering others out of petty jealousy!”

Having shouted that, Mayu-gyeom grabbed Joo Tae-kyung by the collar and leaned in close, whispering so only he could hear.

“Joo Tae-kyung, do you know the moment when I feel the loss of our Jeomchang clan most painfully?”

Now pale as a ghost, Joo Tae-kyung trembled as he answered.

“I-I don’t know.”

Mayu-gyeom’s eyes burned with deadly intent as he whispered again.

“It’s when I realize I can’t even bring myself to cast out worthless trash like you, who are barely left of Jeomchang’s disciples. It’s utterly pathetic.”

With that, Mayu-gyeom shoved Joo Tae-kyung away and turned on his heel, walking off.

Yet, despite his anger, he glanced back briefly at Sun Woo-jin and Cheong-yeon, who were locked in a dazzling duel.

Compared to Joo Tae-kyung, they shone all the brighter—and that made Mayu-gyeom’s heart ache with regret.

Shaking off his companions, Mayu-gyeom walked alone back to the dormitory, lost in thought.

For Jeomchang to rise again, talented individuals were desperately needed.

Not worthless scum like Joo Tae-kyung, but true talents—people like Seol Poong or Sun Woo-jin.

But right now, Jeomchang’s disciples couldn’t even unite among themselves, let alone accept new members.

That pained Mayu-gyeom deeply.

And he knew better than anyone why.

He sighed heavily.

“It’s because of me.”

The reason Jeomchang’s disciples couldn’t come together was because of Mayu-gyeom himself.

Though he claimed to be Jeomchang’s chief disciple, he hadn’t earned enough trust to unite all the disciples under one banner.

That was the truth.

Mayu-gyeom wasn’t supported by all Jeomchang disciples.

The main reason was that he was the son of Ma Won-ung, the previous chief who had led Jeomchang to ruin.

Still, if he had been Jeomchang’s greatest swordsman, the others would have had no choice but to acknowledge him.

He would have been the unavoidable representative of Jeomchang.

“But… I couldn’t even achieve that.”

Mayu-gyeom clenched his teeth and fists tightly.

Unfortunately, among Jeomchang’s disciples, there were two who were clearly recognized as stronger than him.

One was Sa Gun-il, the leader of their group and Jeomchang’s Sword Dragon.

The other was Je Won-young, a Jeomchang Sword Tiger belonging to another unit.

Even if Mayu-gyeom wasn’t stronger than them, if they would just acknowledge and follow him, he could have united the rest of Jeomchang’s disciples.

But sadly, they didn’t.

Sa Gun-il, true to his nature, kept to himself and refused to join Mayu-gyeom’s cause.

Je Won-young even hated Mayu-gyeom.

They had been rivals long before Jeomchang’s near destruction.

So Mayu-gyeom had tried to gain recognition and revive Jeomchang on his own.

But lately, he painfully realized that wouldn’t work.

“I can’t do it alone…”

He had to accept his limits.

To unite everyone, he needed at least one of them to acknowledge him.

Especially Sa Gun-il, Jeomchang’s top swordsman.

So Mayu-gyeom made a decision.

If it meant reviving Jeomchang, it didn’t matter if they acknowledged him or not.

What mattered most was not himself, but the precious sect.

With that thought, he turned and headed to their dormitory.

He intended to meet Sa Gun-il again.

As usual, Sa Gun-il was meditating alone beneath a tree beside the dorm.

Mayu-gyeom approached without hesitation.

“Gun-il, we need to talk.”

Sa Gun-il had grown up in Jeomchang just like Mayu-gyeom.

They were the same age and had been friends since childhood, never bothering with formal seniority.

Sa Gun-il slowly opened his eyes and looked at him.

His gaze asked if he had something to say, but clearly didn’t want to speak.

Mayu-gyeom sighed deeply.

Memories from their youth flashed through his mind.

Though their personalities were very different, they had always been good friends.

“Yes, there was a time like that.”

At least until Sa Gun-il’s father, Elder Sa Woo-yong, began opposing every event held by Mayu-gyeom’s father, Ma Won-il, who had become chief.

Ma Won-il prioritized Jeomchang’s practical interests, while Sa Woo-yong insisted on the sect’s responsibilities and honor, leading to constant clashes.

Mayu-gyeom, still a child then, had dismissed Elder Sa Woo-yong as a dreamer out of touch with reality.

At least until his father’s greed led to Jeomchang’s downfall.

Mayu-gyeom struggled to speak.

“Gun-il, I need your help for Jeomchang.”

No one else could know how much pride he had to swallow to say that.

It was unthinkable for the old Mayu-gyeom.

Sa Gun-il’s eyes flickered slightly, but he didn’t answer.

Apparently, that wasn’t enough.

Mayu-gyeom took a deep breath and continued.

“Help me, Gun-il. We can’t just let Jeomchang fall like this. If you want, I’ll support you as chief. I’ll back you with all my strength. Please, move for Jeomchang’s sake!”

He was even willing to give up his own ambition to become chief.

Everything was for the revival of their sect.

After a moment, Sa Gun-il looked at him and spoke slowly.

“You’ve changed, Yu-gyeom.”

Mayu-gyeom’s eyes lit up with hope.

“Really?!”

But Sa Gun-il shook his head.

“Sorry, but even if you’ve changed, it’s the same. I have no intention of moving for Jeomchang’s revival.”

That statement enraged Mayu-gyeom.

“What are you saying?! You won’t move for me, nor for Jeomchang’s revival?! Are you seriously going to abandon the sect’s grace?!”

Sa Gun-il repeated with a strangely melancholic expression.

“The sect’s grace… Yes, I can’t abandon that.”

“Then why…?”

Before Mayu-gyeom could shout in anger, Sa Gun-il interrupted.

“But tell me this, Yu-gyeom. Do we Jeomchang disciples even deserve to rise again?”

“What?”

Mayu-gyeom was speechless at Sa Gun-il’s question and the unfamiliar sadness in his eyes.

“I’ve agonized over this countless times. How could I turn my back on my hometown, my sect that’s like my parents? But no matter how many times I think it over, the conclusion is the same. Jeomchang doesn’t deserve to rise again.”

Hearing that, Mayu-gyeom drew his sword in fury.

Clang!

He shouted, seething.

“What nonsense is this?! You say Jeomchang doesn’t deserve to rise again?! Explain yourself properly, or I’ll cut you down right here!”

Sa Gun-il gazed at him sadly and asked quietly.

“Who was it that greedily threatened and slaughtered powerless martial artists for treasures that weren’t even theirs? Who was responsible for handing Yunnan Province over to the Blood Sect and driving countless people to death with that terrible greed? Do you really think our Jeomchang has the right to be reborn after all that?”

Mayu-gyeom bit his lip at those words.

But he answered firmly.

“That was the mistake of a few misguided individuals, wasn’t it? How can you deny the existence of Jeomchang, a prestigious orthodox sect with a long history, just because of a few wrong decisions?!”

Sa Gun-il let out a hollow chuckle and asked again.

“A few individuals’ faults, you say? Then what about you, Yugyeom? As the son of Jangmunin who committed those wrongs, can you stand before the entire martial world right now and publicly admit Jeomchang’s mistakes and apologize? Can you kneel before every innocent life lost because of Jeomchang’s greed and beg for their forgiveness?”

At Sagunil’s question, Mayugyeom’s expression stiffened.

Seeing this, Sagunil pressed on.

“Handing over Yunnam Province to Hyeolgyeo—because of that, countless people have died and continue to die on this front. Can you confess that all of this is due to Jeomchang’s greed? If you can, I will acknowledge you as the rightful Jangmunin without hesitation. And I will dedicate everything I have to Jeomchang’s revival.”

For Mayugyeom, those words were long-awaited.

Yet, despite that, he could only swallow hard, unable to answer.

It wasn’t an easy thing to say.

Not only admitting Jeomchang’s faults, but if the world learned that Yunnam Province was lost to Hyeolgyeo because of Jeomchang’s greed, the martial artists might emotionally reject Jeomchang’s very resurrection.

So Mayugyeom first denied Sagunil’s claim outright.

“You’re going too far. How can you blame all of that solely on Jeomchang? If that’s the case, wouldn’t every martial artist who flocked to Yunnam Province out of greed for treasure be at fault too? Besides, any apology should come after Jeomchang has been fully restored.”

Sagunil gave a bitter smile and said to Mayugyeom,

“Do you remember, Yugyeom?”

“…What are you talking about?”

“Your father, Jangmunin Ma Wonil, always said this in opposition to my father, who insisted on the righteous path: that the Jeomchang faction must grow strong first to become the pillar of the righteous sects in Yunnam Province. If the Nine Great Sects, the backbone of the righteous path, lack strength to uphold justice, then what meaning does that justice have?”

Mayugyeom remembered well.

He had once criticized Sagunil’s father, who defied his own father, as a stubborn idealist.

Sagunil smiled wryly and continued.

“But look at us now. We, the Jeomchang faction, who abandoned justice for power, have lost the strength to protect Yunnam Province. If our existence was justified by being the stronghold of Yunnam Province, then what is Jeomchang’s purpose now that we have no strength? Will you cling to the name of a righteous sect? We were no different from others—just as greedy. Were we ever truly righteous?”

Mayugyeom was momentarily speechless.

He had never expected Sagunil to carry such burdens.

And he had no grounds to refute him.

Sagunil rose to his feet.

“Yugyeom, you resemble your father, Ma Wonil, very much. That’s why I…”

He trailed off, locking eyes with Mayugyeom with a heavy gaze before turning away.

Suddenly, Mayugyeom shouted out in frustration.

“Don’t act all high and mighty, Gunil! You’re a disciple of Jeomchang too, aren’t you?! Fine! Let’s say Jeomchang did commit sins! So what?! If you turn your back on Jeomchang because of those sins, isn’t that a sin in itself?! Are you going to abandon the sect under the pretext of Jeomchang’s faults?!”

Sighing deeply, Sagunil turned his back and replied,

“I am certainly a disciple of Jeomchang. That’s why I will devote everything to avenging Hyeolgyeo. But if, by some chance, I achieve that in my lifetime…”

He looked back with a heavy gaze and finished,

“I will cast away everything I received from Jeomchang. Even if you kill me then, I will not hold it against you.”

With that, Sagunil left, and Mayugyeom found himself unable to stop him.

He somehow understood the painful truth in Sagunil’s heart—that while he might seek revenge for the sect, he could not bring it back to life.

---

Mayugyeom returned to his quarters with a heavy heart.

It was clear Jeomchang had sinned.

But he had never truly reflected on it.

No, more accurately, he had avoided thinking deeply.

He had only thought that, as Jeomchang’s disciple, he must revive Jeomchang, and as the son of the former Jangmunin, he must become the new leader.

But today, Sagunil had mercilessly shaken everything he had believed in.

He sighed deeply.

“Ugh…”

Unlike the other squad leaders, Mayugyeom’s quarters were a private suite.

Partly because of his personality, which disliked communal living, and partly for privacy.

He opened the door without much thought, then suddenly realized the door, which should have been locked, was open.

Already burdened, Mayugyeom frowned in irritation and muttered as he entered,

“I told you not to come here privately anymore.”

On his bed sat a woman, quietly composed.

“Yeogyeong.”

She was Mae Yeogyeong, the deputy leader of Squad Four, and until recently, his lover.

Her face was pale and shadowed with dark circles beneath her eyes, her posture withdrawn as she spoke softly.

“Leader, please…”

Her voice was desperate, but Mayugyeom remained unmoved.

He opened the door wide with a cold expression and said,

“Again, we’re just leader and deputy now. I’m tired. I want you out of my room immediately.”

But Mae Yeogyeong wasn’t about to leave so easily.

Her voice trembled with pleading.

“If I’ve done anything wrong, I’ll fix it, Leader. Please, just give me one more chance.”

Mayugyeom sighed in irritation, trying to calm himself.

Then, in a gentler tone, he tried to reason with her.

“Yeogyeong, you haven’t done anything wrong. You were a good woman. You know better than anyone that before meeting you, I’d never dated anyone for more than a year. The only problem is that my feelings have faded. Feelings don’t always need a reason. So accept it. No matter how much you cling, you’ll only end up miserable.”

There was truth in his words.

Mae Yeogyeong was indeed a charming and worthy partner, and unlike his many past relationships, he had lasted over a year with her.

But from the start, Mayugyeom had no intention of going all the way with her. He had always thought they would eventually part, which was why he insisted on calling her “deputy.”

And now, that inevitable moment had come.

But her feelings couldn’t be the same as his.

Especially someone like Mae Yeogyeong, introverted and lonely.

Finally, she broke down in tears, dropping to her knees and begging.

“Leader, please. Please don’t abandon me. I’ll do anything you want. Just please…”

Her desperation finally snapped Mayugyeom’s patience.

He hated clingy, messy behavior above all else.

Already uncomfortable, he gave up trying to soothe her and turned away.

“Hah! So in the end, you’re just another woman who ruins the last memory. Fine. If you won’t leave, then I will.”

Just as he was about to leave, Mae Yeogyeong sobbed,

“Leader, please… I can’t live without you anymore. Please…”

Her broken voice made Mayugyeom stop in his tracks.

He already knew she was emotionally unstable.

Her childhood abuse had left her starved for affection and dependent.

Unlike Mayugyeom, who had been with many women, she was his first.

She was the first to truly open her heart to a man, despite her past.

So it was only natural she couldn’t accept his sudden change of heart.

Mayugyeom himself had continued the relationship even after his feelings cooled, out of understanding.

Though now, he could no longer bear it.

He sighed deeply and steadied himself.

He couldn’t keep dating her out of pity.

But he wanted to end things gently, at least a little.

Turning back, he caught sight of Mae Yeogyeong, still sobbing, beginning to undress.

She seemed determined to try everything.

Mayugyeom’s expression was cold, but his tone softened slightly.

“Yeogyeong, let me advise you: what you’re doing now only lowers your own worth. You’re a good woman. So value yourself. Even if it’s not me, you’ll find someone else soon enough.”

With that, he turned away again.

For someone as sharp as him when parting with women, he felt he had done all he could.

He felt relieved.

Then she shouted again,

“It’s because of Dang Sojeo, isn’t it?!”

Her words made Mayugyeom freeze—completely unexpected.

He turned back with a baffled look.

“What did you say?”

Tears streaming, Mae Yeogyeong cried out with fierce eyes.

“It’s because of Dang Yeoeun! Do you think I don’t know you love her?! Why can’t you see it?! No matter how much you look at her, she’ll never come to you! It’s just a hopeless crush!”

Mayugyeom glared at Maeyeogyeong, his eyes burning with anger as he spat out the words.

“Honestly, your delusions are exhausting to listen to. Yeogyeong, I don’t think we can be on the same team anymore. It’d be better if you transferred to another group after this meeting. I’ll inform Daeju.”

But despite his cold words as he left the room, Mayugyeom’s face twisted into an expression even more pained than when he’d met Sagunil earlier.

He clenched his teeth.

He’d thought he’d never shown any sign of it.

How on earth…

Suddenly, her face flashed in his mind.

That face—like a brand burned into his memory, never fading for even a moment.

At first, he’d only been intrigued by her status as a direct descendant of the Sacheondang Sect.

He thought marrying her would be a great advantage in reviving the Jeomchang faction.

But unlike other women, she never showed him the slightest interest.

That only fueled his competitive spirit.

He deliberately lingered around her, even dated other women just to make her notice.

Yet no matter what he did, she remained unchanged.

Always beautiful, proud, and strong.

Stronger even than himself, the so-called Jeomchang Swordmaster.

Then, before he realized it, his gaze was constantly drawn to her.

He was angry.

His pride was wounded, and he felt pathetic.

He berated himself for falling into such feelings when he should be focused on reviving Jeomchang.

He threw himself into training, tried dating other women to forget her.

But no matter what, the name etched into his heart refused to fade.

If anything, it only grew clearer with time.

Mayugyeom stared blankly at the darkening evening sky and muttered hollowly,

“Damn it…”