On a Snowy Day

For a martial artist, the sword and martial arts are merely tools to achieve a certain goal.

Some master martial arts to live in luxury, others to elevate their sect’s name with a single blade, or to avenge someone. Some even join a sect just to learn the sword and get free meals. Even those who become renowned warriors often start with such practical motivations.

But for Namgung Jincheon, the sword was something else entirely.

Children of the Namgung family begin their path as swordsmen around the age of seven, under the guidance of their elders, wielding small practice swords.

Namgung Jincheon, however, secretly snuck into the storage at the age of four to grasp a practice sword. No one told him to do it. It’s unclear when he became captivated by the sword, but by four, he was already enchanted, and even now, nearing sixty, he has never tired of it.

In the entire world, only Namgung Jincheon saw the sword not as a means, but as an end in itself.

He had no desire to achieve anything through swordsmanship. He simply wanted to get closer to the essence of the sword.

This is why Namgung Jincheon was never called the Sword King.

A king leads people. To lead, one needs a grand cause, or at least a direction driven by goals and desires.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t assist with that.”

“I’m sorry, I can’t assist with that.”

“Not running away this time?”

“There’s no reason to retreat when the time is right.”

Namgung Jincheon replied, gripping his sword with both hands.

“Face this sword.”

The Namgung family’s signature martial art is the Changgungmuae Sword Technique, with the Jeowang Sword Form being the pinnacle. Naturally, people expected Namgung Jincheon to display these techniques.

However, he demonstrated the most common sword technique of the Namgung family: the Iron Sword Ten Forms.

Iron Sword Ten Forms: Four Directions Blockade.

Though it was merely the Iron Sword Ten Forms, Namgung Jincheon’s execution was imbued with the essence of the Jeowang Sword Form. The technique was heavy and slightly slow, yet it trapped the opponent’s movements. Any attempt to escape would result in severe injury, effectively blocking all paths with a single sword.

The opponent chose to break through head-on. Despite the overwhelming force in the opponent’s sword, Namgung Jincheon held his ground. The opponent’s sword pushed back Namgung Jincheon’s, but the Four Directions Blockade of the Iron Sword Ten Forms had served its purpose.

Iron Sword Ten Forms: Divide Heaven and Earth.

Namgung Jincheon charged at the opponent with full force. The sword swung from above, seemingly simple, but the opponent easily read the intent within the move.

The opponent firmly planted their legs, swiftly raising their upper body to deflect the strike. Once again, Namgung Jincheon’s sword was pushed back.

Finally, Namgung Jincheon unleashed the Iron Sword Ten Forms: Gale Severance.

Unlike a typical thrust that emphasizes speed, this technique involved five heavy thrusts aimed at the opponent. It felt more like extending an iron rod than a sword. The opponent skillfully parried all the thrusts and leapt high into the air to avoid the incoming attacks from Chang Il-nam and Hyun Gong.

‘This is the chance!’

With no foothold in the air, the opponent was in a dire situation. Chang Il-nam and Hyun Gong were not about to miss this opportunity.

Yet, the opponent displayed a bizarre skill, propelling themselves through the air as if stepping on nothing. Chang Il-nam and Hyun Gong, waiting below, were left in the dust.

“…Is that the Cloud Dragon Eight Steps?”

It was similar yet different. The Cloud Dragon Eight Steps also allowed movement through the air, but the opponent’s technique was neither as fast nor as elegant. It was just rough and swift.

‘No, the specifics of the opponent’s technique don’t matter much.’

Thanks to Namgung Jincheon’s decisive actions, the situation had shifted from a clear disadvantage to a somewhat manageable one.

‘We must end the opponent’s life before Namgung Jincheon exhausts all opportunities.’

All the martial artists, including Dang Mujin, thought this. It meant the opponent also knew this was their most dangerous moment.

Thus, the opponent made a decision no martial artist would typically make.

“Hmph!”

The opponent leapt into the air again, stepping thrice in succession. Their figure moved far from Dang Mujin’s group. It seemed like an escape, but it was more than that.

The opponent landed precisely in the midst of the spectators.

Amidst the chaos caused by the overwhelming aura, the spectators were unable to move properly, and the opponent landed among them. In an instant, the opponent’s sword slashed through the air, claiming several lives.

“Aaah!” “What the… When did this happen!”

Though the opponent was known to be ruthless, no one expected them to harm the spectators so directly.

Dang Mujin’s heart sank. Among those spectators were many from the Dang family. Even Dan Seol-young had come to watch him. Fortunately, she was some distance away from the opponent…

Dang Mujin, along with all the martial artists facing the opponent, rushed towards them with reckless abandon. There was no time to think about formations or strategies.

‘Please…’

Amidst the chaos, some struggled to stand, while others clung to their trembling knees. Among them were the Taoists of the Cheongseong Sect and the nuns of the Amipa Sect.

Yet, they too were paralyzed by fear, having witnessed the opponent’s martial prowess firsthand.

Only two people did not retreat and instead approached the opponent.

Hyang Baek-shin and Hwang Gyeong-gak.

At the same time, they heard a shout from behind the opponent.

“That bastard of a leader, to harm Elder Hwang Ryang-ja!” “No matter how mad he is, to harm his own master…”

The opponent gritted their teeth. It wasn’t an easy decision, but things were going as planned. There was no room for hesitation. By proving themselves a complete madman, they could sever the ties between the cult and their own actions.

“Heh, heh heh…”

The opponent let out a bizarre mix of groans and laughter as they charged at Hyang Baek-shin. Hyang Baek-shin drew their sword to meet the opponent, knowing full well they couldn’t withstand the opponent’s blade.

As the opponent’s sword swung, a hand shot out from behind, grabbing Hyang Baek-shin by the collar and tossing them aside. Hyang Baek-shin landed with a thud, only then realizing who had thrown them.

It was Cheonjeonggae Hong Gyeon, the leader of the Yongdu faction, who was now intercepting the opponent’s sword.

‘…A drunken master?’

Cheonjeonggae Hong Gyeon, wielding a brilliantly shining staff, was barely managing to fend off the opponent’s attacks with precarious movements.

There was no sense of stability. It seemed as if they might lose their head at any moment. Yet, Hong Gyeon held on, continuously parrying the opponent’s strikes with what seemed like drunken movements, but was actually a display of martial arts that was boundlessly free and unpredictable.

However, even a master like Hong Gyeon couldn’t hold out against the opponent’s overwhelming force forever. Soon, the opponent’s kick landed squarely on Hong Gyeon’s chest, sending them rolling to a stop beside Hyang Baek-shin.

With internal injuries worsening, Cheonjeonggae Hong Gyeon knelt, coughing up blood.

“Cough, cough!” “Cheonjeonggae! Are you alright?”

Hyang Baek-shin asked urgently, and Hong Gyeon wiped their mouth, murmuring with regret.

“It’s a shame.” ”…What is?” “If only it were Gyu Son-shi Hong Joo-soo the Great Hero here instead of me, that madman would have been struck down in an instant with the Twelve Star Whirlwind Sword… Cough, cough.”

Hyang Baek-shin briefly wondered if Gyu Son-shi Hong Joo-soo was truly such a master. But someone of Cheonjeonggae’s caliber wouldn’t speak lightly.

Hyang Baek-shin dragged the bleeding Hong Gyeon back.

While Hong Gyeon bought time by intercepting the opponent’s attacks, other martial artists reached the opponent. But the situation was dire. With spectators scattered everywhere, they couldn’t fight freely.

In the end, Hong Gyeon played their trump card. They subtly approached Eom So-yul and shouted meaningfully.

“Leader! Do you know that the great hero is carrying my child?”

No matter how mad, one cannot remain calm in front of a woman carrying their child.

’…Carrying my child?’

Perhaps it was a memory that struck a chord, for the opponent involuntarily stepped back.

However, the professor continued to assess the situation with cold logic.

“If I step back now, can Daehobeop and the child in her womb survive?”

No, that was impossible. If the professor retreated, Daehobeop and the unborn child might be condemned as accomplices and face death alongside him.

“The fact that Daehobeop is carrying a child changes nothing.”

There was only one way for Daehobeop to survive: to prove to everyone that she had no connection to him.

With that resolve, the professor launched himself toward Eom Soyul and Hyeongong. At first glance, it seemed like he was trying to save Daehobeop—

“If a traitor carries a seed, it’s just a vine tended by a traitor!”

He shouted as he unleashed a powerful attack toward Daehobeop. Neither Hyeongong nor Eom Soyul had anticipated such a move. Who would have thought he would attack more fiercely after learning about the child?

Their reactions were delayed, as was the professor’s hope that someone would understand his true intentions.

Fortunately, someone did. As the professor charged between Hyeongong and Eom Soyul, a figure emerged, aiming directly for the professor’s heart.

It was Yujin Gwang.

His sword rained down like a shower of light, targeting the professor’s heart.

Yujin Gwang felt a deep satisfaction. The fleeting moment of his blade piercing the leader’s chest was far more gratifying than any monotonous scenery he had ever witnessed through his single eye.

A startled Hyeongong shouted at Yujin Gwang.

“Master Yu!”

His voice was urgent, but Yujin Gwang felt an inexplicable joy. He couldn’t remember feeling this good.

And so, in the darkness where he would be trapped forever, Yujin Gwang burst into laughter.

“No matter how I think about it, I really am suited for this line of work.”