Chapter v14c11

The old man’s question, sharp as a honed blade, momentarily shook the young man’s composure. But the ripple of unease was fleeting, like a breeze across a still pond. His mind quickly regained its clarity, smooth and reflective as a mirror.

“I am but a humble disciple of the Heavenly Demons Pavilion.”

His answer was utterly unconvincing.

“You don’t want to tell me, do you? Fine! I’m just a lowly gatekeeper. I have no right to pry into your affairs.”

The First Young Master nodded curtly, as if acknowledging the old man’s wisdom.

“Then let’s see what you’re made of.”

Jong-koe said, his voice deliberately cheerful.

“The First Gate of Calamity, the Blood God’s Single Step. The method is as I described. Do you believe you can face the shadow of calamity alone?”

“Senior, do you answer questions like ‘Can you walk?’ or ‘Can you breathe?'”

His confidence was bordering on arrogance, but it didn’t sound boastful. It sounded like a statement of fact. But the First Young Master had overlooked something.

“Of course I do! And I’ll answer truthfully. I can’t walk with my legs.”

Jong-koe said firmly. The First Young Master realized his mistake.

“Ah, my apologies. I misspoke.”

He had forgotten that Jong-koe’s legs had been severed a hundred years ago.

“But I can walk with my hands. I understand what you meant. Good luck!”

Jong-koe’s body suddenly blurred. The First Young Master decided to answer with actions instead of words. A gust of wind swept past Jong-koe, ruffling his clothes.

‘I-Impossible…’

Jong-koe’s jaw dropped.

Had his old age finally caught up with him? He couldn’t believe his eyes. The young man’s movements were beyond human.

‘He crossed that distance in a single leap, without even using the birds as stepping stones? Is he even human?’

The First Gate of Calamity had been breached, effortlessly. The memory of the young man’s leap, swift and graceful as a bird, still sent shivers down his spine.

Three leaps in mid-air, without any support. It was the legendary “Void Step,” the pinnacle of lightness skills.

But he wasn’t the only one who was shocked.

‘I-Impossible…’

Yong Kyung, the Saber Emperor, who guarded the Second Gate of Calamity, was also staring in disbelief. He was looking at the intricate web of saber marks left behind by the unexpected visitor. They were deep and precise, each stroke imbued with a sharp, focused energy.

‘What incredible saber skills!’

It was rare for him, a man who had dedicated his life to the saber, to be impressed by another’s saber techniques. But he couldn’t deny the young man’s skill.

The saber energy that could cut through black obsidian, a stone as hard as diamond, like tofu. No, it wasn’t just saber energy. It was Saber Intent.

Saber Intent that flowed like silk, a continuous stream of energy, forming countless threads… It was a terrifying display of skill, even for him, the Saber Emperor, who had spent a century studying the Dao of the Saber.

‘Could he really pass through all three gates alone?’

It would be unprecedented. And it came to pass.

‘I-Impossible…’

Seop Un-myung, the Sword Maniac, who guarded the Third Gate of Calamity, was the last line of defense. But even he, known for his stoicism, his emotionless demeanor, was staring in shock.

‘What a deadly sword!’

He looked at the withered wildflower in his hand, its life force extinguished. It had been severed from its stem a few days ago, its petals dry and brittle. It was a nameless flower, cut down by the young man’s sword.

Anyone with basic sword skills could sever a flower from its stem. But it was rare to see someone drain the life force from a flower with a single strike.

The young man’s sword was imbued with an overwhelming killing intent, a deathly aura that could extinguish life itself.

“The Sword of Asura…”

He couldn’t forget the chilling killing intent that had assaulted his senses when the young man swung his sword. It was like the shadow of death itself.

And the power of that killing intent had forced him, a master swordsman, to retreat. He had instinctively moved out of range, his body reacting before his mind could process the threat.

It was a shameful display for a senior swordsman. But the young man’s swordsmanship was too overwhelming for him to care about pride.

“He’s the most powerful person I’ve ever met.”

His hand was still clammy with sweat.

“Is it even possible to achieve such mastery at such a young age?”

He stared at the spot where the young man had disappeared, his eyes wide with disbelief.

The three guardians, having witnessed the First Young Master’s extraordinary skills, all came to the same conclusion.

‘Unless something drastic happens at the Mount Hua Conference, he’s going to be unstoppable!’

They were already convinced that he was the winner.

**Eun Seol-ran Awakens**

“…Seol…ran…”

“…Sister!”

“…Miss Eun!”

“…Miss Eun…!”

Eun Seol-ran drifted in a strange, weightless state, unable to distinguish between dream and reality.

She heard voices calling her name, but none of them were familiar. They were the voices of people she had met as an investigator, people she shouldn’t have been close to. A smile touched her lips.

‘Where am I…?’

Her body felt heavy, as if made of lead. She couldn’t move a muscle. She was surrounded by darkness, unable to see anything. She felt like she was sinking into an endless abyss.

‘Will I ever wake up?’

Gal Hyo-bong’s face flashed before her eyes, and the pain of his loss washed over her.

‘Would I be happier if I never woke up?’

If she opened her eyes, she would have to face the reality of his absence.

‘Maybe it would be better to stay asleep. I wouldn’t have to feel the pain of loss again.’

It was a tempting thought.

‘Yes, maybe it would be easier…’

She closed her eyes, surrendering to the darkness. And then,

“Miss…Eun…!”

A voice, piercing the darkness, reaching through the abyss, shook her awake. It was the most desperate of the voices that had been calling her name.

She remembered a man, always neat and tidy, polite and hardworking. His dedication to self-improvement was admirable. And she remembered something else, another side of him, a glimpse of something deeper. What was it? Her heart ached, tears welling up in her eyes. His desperation, his determination…

‘…Protect… protect… her… life…’

She couldn’t remember clearly, but she knew it was important.

‘…Hwi…’

And she opened her eyes.

The sky was clear and blue, a perfect autumn day. The sun shone brightly, warming the earth, and a cool breeze rustled the branches of the red plum trees, their blossoms defying the season. It was a peaceful afternoon.

“Huh?”

Bi Ryu-yeon, strolling through the Red Plum Valley, was the first to sense it. And then Na Yerin, who happened to be nearby, felt it too. They weren’t walking together, of course. It was just a coincidence. And they were both accompanied by others.

The energy appeared suddenly, as if it had fallen from the sky. It was at the entrance to the Red Plum Valley.

Na Yerin was shocked. She could sense someone approaching, their energy overwhelming. Her gaze was drawn to the entrance.

“What is this feeling?”

She couldn’t believe it. Such a powerful presence, at such a young age…

A shiver ran down her spine. Her shoulders trembled, her face paling.

A wave of nausea washed over her, her vision blurring. It felt like a thousand venomous snakes were slithering out of the abyss, coiling around her mind, dragging her into darkness.

A dark shadow, ominous and foreboding, lurked in the depths of her consciousness. It was too deep, too hidden, for her to identify. But her body trembled instinctively, her subconscious screaming a warning.

Bi Ryu-yeon’s eyes flashed gold, like the sun. He stepped forward, blocking the path of the approaching figure, his own energy flaring. He was shocked, but for a different reason.

‘I know this feeling!’

The scar on his chest throbbed, as if it had been burned.

‘Could it be him?’

He hadn’t seen the man’s face clearly, thanks to his strange concealment technique, but sometimes the heart saw more clearly than the eyes. But another question arose.

‘But why is he here?’

Even Bi Ryu-yeon, who was clueless about the current state of the martial world, knew that this was a bad idea. This was enemy territory.

‘Am I mistaken? Or is it someone else?’

He dismissed the possibility. Even if they were from the same sect, their energy couldn’t be this similar.

‘Damn it, if only Eun Seol-ran’s memory was intact…’

But it was a futile wish.