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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Silverriver
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Life isn’t a novel. There are no convenient introductions, foreshadowing, or hints.
Therefore, life’s stories always begin abruptly and end just as suddenly.
“Mister Seong-cheol, I made some late-night snacks. Should I leave them here?”
“Yes, thank you, Ye-ryeong.”
It was late at night, nearing midnight. Seong-cheol was practicing his swordsmanship in the courtyard, under the soft glow of the moon.
He had never missed a single night of training, his dedication unwavering even after winning the tournament. He was the embodiment of a diligent martial artist.
“You don’t have to wait for me to finish. You must be tired. Why don’t you go to bed?”
“I don’t wanna~ Watching you practice is the last thing I do every day. I’m going to watch until the end.”
“It’s not very entertaining.”
“I’m not watching for entertainment.”
After Jang-un became Seong-cheol’s master, Ye-ryeong rarely interfered with his training. However, as if by unspoken agreement, she always watched his nightly practice until he finished, only then retiring to bed.
As if it were her duty as his first teacher.
“Alright, I think I’ll call it a night.”
-Clack.
Seong-cheol sheathed his sword and walked over to the porch where Ye-ryeong was sitting. She smiled brightly and patted the spot next to her.
He sat down, leaving a small space between them, but Ye-ryeong immediately scooted closer. He looked at her, a bit flustered, and she offered him a sweet she had brought as a snack.
“Here, ah~”
“I can eat it myself.”
“Hmph, how mean.”
Seong-cheol took the sweet from her hand and ate it. Ye-ryeong pouted. Seong-cheol sighed.
“Ye-ryeong, you’re a grown woman now. How long are you going to act like a child? All the girls your age in the village are married and starting families. You should start looking for a partner, too.”
At his nagging, reminiscent of a nosy relative during holidays, Ye-ryeong exclaimed,
“Oh, come on! You say that every time I see you! What am I supposed to do if there are no good men around? I’m the only descendant of the Dokgo Clan! I have to be careful who I choose!”
“That’s true, but…”
“Or… should I just marry you~?”
She leaned against his shoulder playfully.
Seong-cheol chuckled and gently pushed her away. This kind of playful banter had become a familiar routine, so frequent that he couldn’t even remember when it started.
“The most beautiful woman of the Dokgo Clan shouldn’t be interested in an old man like me. Besides, I’m already taken.”
“I know. I’m not seriously considering marrying someone old enough to be my father. I’ve already decided my husband will be a handsome, skilled martial artist, three years younger than me, a recluse from the Unorthodox Murim, with no connections to politics~”
“Does such a person even exist?”
“Well, if I get married, you and Grandfather will be lonely, so I’ll stay here for a while longer.”
She giggled. Seong-cheol smiled at her playful teasing.
Over the past thirteen years, they had truly become like father and daughter. Coincidentally, Ye-ryeong was about the same age as his daughter, Ye-seo.
“…….”
Ye-seo. The moment he thought of her name, the happy atmosphere evaporated. Sensing the shift in his mood, Ye-ryeong gently patted his back.
“Thinking about your daughter back home again?”
“Yeah, something like that.”
“Don’t worry. There’s got to be a way. You know how they say if you train hard enough and achieve enlightenment, you can ascend to the heavens and become a celestial being? Maybe there’s a similar way for you to return to your world.”
“Haha, are you saying I should become a celestial being?”
Seong-cheol had long since told Ye-ryeong and Jang-un about his situation. It was a sign that he considered them family.
And the feeling was mutual. To Ye-ryeong, Seong-cheol was already a precious member of her family.
Therefore,
She hoped he could return to his original world.
But a part of her, a part that was growing stronger with each passing day, also hoped he wouldn’t.
“…….”
It had been thirteen years since Seong-cheol arrived in this world. Longer than he had spent with his wife and daughter in his original world. So, weren’t she and her grandfather more like family to him now?
Of course, she couldn’t voice that thought. It would only push him away.
To him, she was like family, almost like a daughter.
But she wasn’t his real daughter. She wasn’t Ye-seo.
“Mister Seong-cheol, can I ask you something-?”
“Wait.”
Just as Ye-ryeong was about to ask him a question, Seong-cheol stood up abruptly, his expression serious.
“Mister Seong-cheol?”
Ye-ryeong hadn’t noticed anything yet. But Seong-cheol could feel it.
Multiple gazes fixed on them. And the unmistakable killing intent within those gazes.
-Shing!
-Clang!
A projectile, thrown from the shadows, flew towards him. He deflected it with his sword. Seeing the shuriken embedded in the wall, Ye-ryeong gasped and jumped to her feet.
“Show yourselves!”
As soon as Seong-cheol yelled, dark figures emerged from behind the wall.
Exactly ten.
He sensed their formidable internal energy and felt a surge of tension. They were strong.
At least on par with, or perhaps even stronger than the opponents he had faced in the tournament.
“Who are you?!”
Seong-cheol demanded, but they didn’t answer. Instead, the apparent leader of the group gave a hand signal, and three of them drew their swords and charged.
“Ye-ryeong, get back!!”
They were upon him almost instantly. They’re strong, he thought, drawing his own sword and narrowing his eyes.
-Whoosh!!
Information about his opponents flooded his mind.
Who was attacking with what, which attack was the most dangerous, which would reach him first.
He processed everything in an instant, calculating the optimal response.
According to the principles of Dokgoyegeom, the ideal strategy in a one-versus-many situation was to charge into the enemy ranks and create chaos. But Ye-ryeong was behind him. He couldn’t leave her exposed.
‘I’ll finish them here!’
-Whoosh!!
He moved. He dodged the first attack, deflected the second with his sword, and grabbed the wrist of the third attacker with his free hand, just as he was about to strike.
-Slash!
“Agh?!”
His sword flashed, severing the third attacker’s hand at the wrist.
-Whoosh!
The first attacker, seeing the opening, charged again. Seong-cheol threw his sword, intercepting the attack, then snatched the sword from the severed hand and swung it, decapitating the second attacker who had been aiming for his back.
“Gah!”
“Damn it!”
The two remaining attackers retreated as their comrade’s head rolled across the ground.
Three had attacked, one was dead, and another had lost his dominant hand. Seong-cheol hadn’t shed a single drop of blood.
“…As expected, you’re no easy opponent. Young Sword Saint Dokgo Seong-cheol.”
-Clap. Clap. Clap.
The leader of the assassins clapped slowly as he spoke. He gracefully jumped down from the wall and drew his sword.
“Everyone, form a perimeter and stand back. I’ll handle him.”
At his command, the eight remaining assassins formed a circle around Seong-cheol. But Seong-cheol didn’t even spare them a glance.
‘He’s strong…!’
Stronger than any martial artist he had faced in the tournament. Perhaps even the strongest he had ever encountered. At least, that’s what his instincts told him.
-Dash!!
-Clang!!!
And his instincts were right. The attacker’s sword clashed with his own, and Seong-cheol’s knee buckled under the sheer force of the blow.
“Ugh?!”
It was a swift, precise attack, yet it carried the weight and power of a much heavier blade. He tried to block with one sword and counter with the other, but the unexpected force of the blow forced him to use both arms to defend.
‘This is bad. At this rate…!’
If he was locked in a struggle of strength, with both arms occupied, the advantages of Dokgoyegeom would be nullified. And his attackers knew this.
“Now!!”
At their leader’s command, two assassins on either side of him charged simultaneously. A sense of danger washed over Seong-cheol.
But then.
“You bastards!!!!”
A thunderous roar echoed through the night.
-Boom!!
A sickening thud, followed by the sight of one of the attacking assassins’ head flying through the air. Seong-cheol turned and saw Jang-un, his face a mask of fury, his sword already slicing towards the leader of the assassins.
-Clang!!!
Their swords clashed, the sound of steel striking steel ringing through the night. Jang-un pressed his attack, unleashing a relentless barrage of blows.
-Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The true power of Dokgoyegeom was unleashed. The sheer force of his attacks, wielded with a speed and precision that belied his age, was breathtaking. Even Seong-cheol, and the remaining assassins, could only watch in awe.
-Clang! Clang! Clang!
But then, a look of shock crossed Jang-un’s face. Despite his relentless assault, the assassin leader was deflecting every blow, calmly waiting for an opening.
‘He’s no ordinary opponent! Wait, that swordsmanship… could it be-?’
-Clang!
-Slash!
Distracted, Jang-un’s shoulder was sliced open by the assassin leader’s sword. Seeing this, both Seong-cheol and Ye-ryeong moved to intervene.
“Stay back!!”
But Jang-un raised his hand, stopping them. He stood between them and the assassins, his body shielding them from harm, and addressed their leader.
“I may have been away from the Murim for a long time, but I haven’t forgotten that swordsmanship. The King’s Sword of the Namgung Clan, prioritizing power and defense. Only one man can wield it with such skill. Hwan, it’s you!”
At Jang-un’s words, a question formed in Seong-cheol’s mind.
The Namgung Clan? Hwan? He pieced together the clues and deduced the assassin’s identity.
“Even after I’ve called you out, you still hide your face behind a mask?! Namgung! Have you no shame as a martial artist?!”
“…….”
The assassin leader removed his mask, revealing a middle-aged man, slightly older than Seong-cheol.
“Namgung Hwan…”
Seong-cheol recognized him.
Namgung Hwan, the head of the Namgung Clan. One of the organizers of the martial arts tournament he had recently won. A prominent figure in the righteous faction of the Murim.
Why was he here, leading a group of assassins, attacking the Dokgo estate? Seong-cheol couldn’t understand.
“I don’t understand, Why? Why are you trying to kill us?”
Jang-un, too, was bewildered. Namgung Hwan hesitated for a moment, then sighed and replied,
“If you had remained a retired old man, I wouldn’t have bothered you. But you’ve been secretly sharpening your blade, haven’t you?”
“Haha.”
It was a metaphorical statement, but Jang-un understood his meaning immediately.
“As the leader of the Five Great Clans, you were afraid of losing your power? You fool. A martial artist should not be swayed by such trivial worldly power-”
“That trivial power…”
Namgung Hwan interrupted him, raising his sword.
“That trivial power controls the world and shapes history. Now that the old fools who strutted around the Murim Alliance are gone, it’s the perfect opportunity for our clan to seize control. And a crumbling, backwater family like yours, daring to raise its head… did you really think I would be pleased?”
“To think you would resort to such cowardly tactics for such a petty reason… Cough!”
Suddenly, Jang-un coughed up blood. He looked down at the blood splattered on the ground, his mind reeling in confusion.
He had been wounded in the shoulder, yes. But it wasn’t a serious injury, not enough to cause internal bleeding.
‘Wait… he said…’
He had said,
it’s the perfect opportunity for our clan to seize control.
‘Our’ clan.
Could it be?
‘Poison… A potent one, at that. Such a fast-acting poison… it must be the Sichuan Tang Clan’s-’
Jang-un looked at Namgung Hwan, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Namgung Hwan chuckled and nodded.
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