Chapter 10

“Did I not warn you?”

When I returned to the lodging and explained what had happened at the banquet, their anger struck like a thunderbolt.

Kang Chae-seok snorted furiously, while Jin Tae-san’s expression grew colder than I had ever seen it.

“They insulted our sect. Was I supposed to sit there and endure it?”

“You…… You reckless bastard!”

Kang Chae-seok was too angry to continue, so Jin Tae-san spoke in his place.

“You gave them exactly the excuse they wanted. Did you never consider what they might do with it?”

“They forced that excuse upon us. Even if I had endured their insults, they would have found another way to provoke me.”

“But then they would not have been able to disguise a one-sided beating as a proper duel.”

“I am not afraid of being injured or defeated.”

I met his gaze.

“What frightens me is becoming someone who runs away simply because he is afraid of losing.”

“……”

Jin Tae-san silently rose and began loosening the ties of his upper robe.

“Tae-san, what are you doing?”

Despite Sa-ryeon being present, Father continued without hesitation.

“……!”

“What is that?”

A deep scar stretched across his bare back.

It was about four fingers wide, unnaturally straight, and narrowed to a sharp point.

“Look carefully. What do you think caused this wound?”

Although we had lived beneath the same roof all my life, I had never seen Father without his clothes.

Even stranger, I had no memory of seeing that scar when I was young.

“What kind of wound…… is that?”

“Look again.”

It was too smooth to have been caused by a whip and too sharp to have come from a club.

It looked as though someone had pressed a sword against his back with tremendous force before dragging it away.

“Was it…… the flat of a sword?”

“You are correct.”

Jin Tae-san’s voice turned cold.

“Seong Ju-tak, the Young Sword Lord of the Iron Sword Sect, left that scar twenty years ago.”

Grit.

I clenched my teeth.

“……What happened?”

“Pain is far more frightening than you imagine.”

“Please tell me what happened.”

“……”

Father silently put his clothes back on.

Then he turned and began walking out of the lodging.

“Wait.”

He stopped at the door.

“Sa-ryeon, return to your room.”

“If I do not know what happened, I cannot understand what is at stake.”

I continued before Father could leave.

“And if I do not understand, I cannot promise what I will do tomorrow.”

“……”

“A man may endure having his own bones broken, but watching his family suffer is different.”

My voice grew cold.

“If I go to sleep without knowing the truth, I may fight Seong Mo-hyeon tomorrow with the intention of killing him—even if it costs me my own life.”

“……”

After a long silence, Jin Tae-san finally spoke.

“When both sides possess the same level of cultivation, the Taeul Sect’s swordsmanship cannot defeat the Iron Sword Sect’s.”

The core of the Iron Sword Sect’s swordsmanship was weight.

Its founder, the Ghost Sword Immortal Elder, had wielded a greatsword with a blade four chon wide. As later generations refined the sect’s martial arts, its techniques came to focus on swords with blades three chon wide.

The Taeul Sect’s swordsmanship, on the other hand, focused on speed.

But speed required a light sword, and a light sword could not easily overcome the overwhelming weight of the Iron Sword Sect’s techniques.

That weakness could be overcome through superior speed, but only if the practitioner possessed far greater cultivation or skill than their opponent.

“Even so, how could they do something like that to someone who had already lost?”

Hong Sa-ryeon could no longer contain her anger.

“It happened at a gathering much like this one, before countless people from Jianghu.”

Jin Tae-san looked at Sa-ryeon.

“Could you quietly admit to a crime you had never committed?”

“……”

“That is why I warned you not to let them drag you into a situation of their choosing, no matter how unreasonable their actions seemed.”

His expression darkened.

“With the Grand Strategist of the Murim Alliance and members of the Namgung Clan present, who knows what absurd demands those wicked bastards might force upon us?”

Father did not return that night.

I only discovered where he had gone when the appointed hour was nearly upon us.

He was at the central training ground.

“……”

“Jin Tae-san, you foolish bastard.”

Kang Chae-seok’s eyes blazed with anger when he saw Father lying prostrate on the cold ground.

The guests who had enjoyed the Iron Sword Sect’s lavish hospitality began gathering around the training ground, eager to watch the spectacle.

“What is happening?”

“They say a disciple of the Taeul Sect insulted the Iron Sword Sect.”

“Heh heh! What a fearless brat. How dare someone from the Taeul Sect behave like that here?”

“It seems his father is apologizing on his behalf. I heard the Iron Sword Sect Leader generously offered to forgive him if he showed sincere remorse.”

To attract an even larger crowd, the Iron Sword Sect had its servants distribute simple food and wine around the training ground.

Even the guests who cared more about drinking than the duel began pouring out of the halls.

“……”

As I walked toward Father, the surrounding gazes turned to me.

“Is that the brat?”

“His father is going to have his back torn open because of his foolish son.”

I stopped beside Father, but he did not move.

“……Remain where you are.”

“Please stand up. Why are you kneeling like a criminal?”

“What father could bear to watch his son be injured?”

“And what son could bear to watch his father be humiliated like this?”

“……”

The moment I reached down to help Father stand, the murmuring around us grew louder.

The Iron Sword Sect Leader entered the training ground with Seong Ju-tak, the Young Sword Lord.

Jegal So-myeong, the Grand Strategist of the Murim Alliance, followed beside them. Namgung Tae-won and Namgung San of the Namgung Clan were also present.

“You must be Jin So-un of the Taeul Sect.”

The Iron Sword Sect Leader looked down at me with open contempt.

“I am.”

“You truly are an ill-mannered brat. Even after seeing the trouble caused by your reckless tongue, do you still not understand your situation?”

“What warrior would show respect to his father’s enemy?”

“What did you say?”

“I heard the same thing happened twenty years ago.”

“……What are you talking about?”

“Did you not invite the Taeul Sect to a banquet, insult its members until they drew their swords, and then humiliate them before everyone?”

“……!”

Murmurs spread through the crowd.

“What is he talking about?”

“Come to think of it, twenty years ago……”

“Silence! Have you forgotten where you are?”

The guests quickly fell quiet beneath the fierce glares of the Iron Sword Sect’s warriors.

“I understand that you want to remove the Taeul Sect from the One Hundred Eight Peaks and take our place.”

I slowly swept my gaze across the Iron Sword Sect.

“But can people who rely on methods too vile even for common street thugs truly call themselves worthy allies of the Murim Alliance?”

The crowd grew even louder.

Some of the guests must have remembered what had happened twenty years ago.

The scene unfolding before them was far too similar to the past to dismiss as a coincidence.

“Y-You bastard……!”

The Iron Sword Sect Leader’s beard trembled as he glanced toward Jegal So-myeong.

The Grand Strategist simply watched in silence, his expression unreadable.

Perhaps mistaking that silence for support, the Iron Sword Sect Leader regained his composure.

“I have no idea what nonsense you are talking about. Regardless, your father is suffering this humiliation because of your actions.”

Father remained bowed against the ground.

Yet today, his bent back looked broader and stronger than ever.

“There is nothing shameful about a father worrying for his son.”

I glared at the Iron Sword Sect Leader.

“What disgusts me is watching you exploit that concern for your filthy scheme.”

“Y-You insolent brat!”

I pointed toward Seong Mo-hyeon.

“He told me to take responsibility for my words. Then why is he still hiding behind his father and grandfather?”

Seong Mo-hyeon glanced between the two men.

Their carefully prepared plan had already fallen apart.

Now that the Grand Strategist and members of the Namgung Clan were watching, he seemed uncertain how to proceed.

I gave him no time to think.

“Seong Mo-hyeon! Your father and grandfather prepared this grand stage for you. Should you not be the one to bring the performance to an end?”

I drew my sword and turned toward Father.

“My sword is already drawn. There is no reason for you to remain on your knees. Please step down.”

For the first time, Jin Tae-san raised his head.

“……Are you confident you can endure what comes next?”

“I have already shown you my resolve.”

“Then do not let a moment of pain drive you to do something you will regret.”

Instead of answering, I looked toward Sa-ryeon.

She and Kang Chae-seok stepped onto the training ground and helped Father to his feet. His legs had gone numb from kneeling for so long.

As they guided him away, Seong Mo-hyeon entered from the opposite side.

I looked at him and smiled.

“You must be disappointed that things did not go according to plan.”

Seong Mo-hyeon’s expression stiffened.

“I have no idea what you are talking about.”

“Surely you did not act without knowing what your elders intended.”

I gave him a faint smile.

“I suppose the rumors were true. The Beautiful Wolf Iron Sword really is superior to the Blood Wolf Iron Sword.”

Seong Mo-hyeon’s face flushed red.

“Even if you defeat me, you will probably fail to achieve what you wanted.”

I glanced at the crowd surrounding the training ground.

“And if you lose—or even fail to defeat me decisively—what happened today will become a lasting disgrace for the Iron Sword Sect.”

I had already planted doubt in the spectators’ minds.

Those loyal to the Iron Sword Sect would dismiss my accusations. But those who had long resented the sect now had the perfect excuse to criticize it.

“……Enough nonsense.”

Seong Mo-hyeon took his opening stance.

His body leaned heavily forward, ready to charge at any moment. It perfectly reflected the aggressive nature of the Iron Sword Sect’s martial arts.

There would be no courtesy in this duel.

Whatever respect might once have existed between us had already disappeared. Only killing intent remained, fierce enough that either of us might take the other’s life.

“Haaah!”

Seong Mo-hyeon attacked first.

Tremendous force gathered in his thick sword, whose blade was nearly four chon wide. Every swing tore through the air and sent sharp sword winds swirling around him.

Those who had faced the Iron Sword Sect’s swordsmanship often described it as trying to block a giant iron mace with a thin blade.

It was the natural enemy of the Taeul Sect’s light and agile swordsmanship.

That was what Father and Kang Chae-seok feared most.

‘But that only matters when both fighters are equal.’

During the Great Righteous-Demonic War, I had mastered the Minor Heaven Sword Art beyond the Twelfth Star.

Its movements now followed my thoughts as naturally as my own limbs.

I circulated the internal energy gained from the spiritual medicines, and power surged throughout my body.

Swish!

Slice!

A chilling sound cut through the air.

Seong Mo-hyeon’s face turned pale in the middle of his downward strike.

“Hup!”

“D-Did you see that?”

Everyone stared at the strip of cloth that had fallen from the edge of Seong Mo-hyeon’s robe.

“What in the world……?”

The training ground, which had been noisy only moments earlier, became so quiet that even the faintest sound could be heard.

I gave him no time to recover.

Using the Central Advance Footwork, I instantly closed the distance between us.

The First Form of the Minor Heaven Sword Art—Sword-Breaking.

Then the Second Form—Sword-Shearing.

Seong Mo-hyeon could not even take a proper defensive stance.

He barely avoided each strike, sacrificing the spine of his sword and pieces of his clothing one after another.

“The Taeul Sect is overwhelming him, is it not?”

“What a disgrace. After all the noise the Iron Sword Sect made……”

“Quiet. Look at the Sect Leader’s expression.”

From the beginning, there was no reason this battle should unfold as it had in my previous life.

I had spent years fighting on the front lines against the Divine Cult’s hounds, where a single mistake meant death.

Seong Mo-hyeon, by contrast, had grown up like a flower in a greenhouse, nourished by spiritual medicines, Marrow Cleansing, and Body Reformation.

Had his internal energy still vastly surpassed mine, he might have had a chance.

But now, even in that regard, I was no longer inferior.

“After all that scheming, this is the best you can do? How will you ever face the people of your sect again?”

“Shut your mouth!”

Seong Mo-hyeon widened the distance between us.

Abandoning the Stone-Shattering Sword Art, he prepared to unleash the Mountain-Shattering Sword Art.

The Mountain-Shattering Sword Art was the true essence of the Iron Sword Sect.

Their original plan had likely been to overwhelm me with the Stone-Shattering Sword Art and prove that the Iron Sword Sect stood above the Taeul Sect.

But losing while using it would only deepen their humiliation.

He had no choice but to reveal his stronger technique.

‘Should I simply end this now?’

Even with the Mountain-Shattering Sword Art, the current Seong Mo-hyeon could not defeat me.

But defeating him here would not put an end to the Iron Sword Sect’s schemes.

My strength lay far beyond what anyone expected only because I had lived two lives.

Sooner or later, they would realize that as well.

‘They may become even more shameless.’

The humiliation of failing before the Grand Strategist and so many figures of Jianghu would only drive them to abandon all restraint.

If that was the case, defeating Seong Mo-hyeon was not enough.

‘I will make certain the Iron Sword Sect can never raise its head again.’

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Each swing of Seong Mo-hyeon’s sword carried a tremendous wave of force.

The power was so great that even the stone floor beneath us trembled.

I unleashed the Minor Heaven Sword Art and met the Mountain-Shattering Sword Art head-on.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

It was like thrusting a needle into a spinning millstone.

My sword was violently thrown aside.

At last, a smile spread across Seong Mo-hyeon’s face.

“Do you understand now? This is the difference between us!”

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud! Crash!

His sword swept across the ground, shattering the stone floor.

Fragments flew toward the spectators.

“D-Dodge!”

“What power!”

“As expected of the Iron Sword Sect!”

I deliberately ignored the weaknesses in his technique and reduced the internal energy flowing through my sword.

Each time the Mountain-Shattering Sword Art repelled my blade, I retreated another step.

Before long, he had driven me to the edge of the training ground.

“This is the end!”

Seong Mo-hyeon raised his sword for the final strike.

At that moment, I slipped inside his reach, pressed my left hand against his chest, and activated the Blue Dragon Bracelet.

“……!”

His strength vanished instantly.

The sword slipped from his hand and struck the ground.

“Hup!?”

Seong Mo-hyeon stared at me in disbelief.

“Why?”

I smiled.

“Did you see a ghost?”

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