Chapter v20c13

## A Century in the Making

– Houyi Shoots Down the Sun

“Do I not even exist?”

Gongson Jeol-Hwi was furious. Lee Si-Geon, Namgung-Sang, even Mo Yong-Hwi, whom he considered his lifelong rival, were all ignoring him. He wasn’t seen as a threat, he wasn’t considered a worthy opponent. And it angered him.

‘I won’t be ignored!’

The young man, burning with competitive spirit, wanted to prove himself.

‘How dare they ignore a Gongson…’

Being ignored was the one thing his family hated the most.

‘Just you wait! I’ll show you what a Gongson can do!’

He had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to make a dramatic entrance, and it finally arrived.

Lee Si-Geon had turned his back on him.

‘Now’s my chance!’

He seized the opportunity, unleashing a powerful technique from his Supreme Sword Art. Namgung-Sang, who had noticed him too late, shouted in alarm,

“No! It’s a trap!”

‘What?’

But it was too late to withdraw his attack. He hadn’t mastered the art of controlling his techniques yet.

‘Gotcha!’

Lee Si-Geon grinned inwardly, unleashing a powerful counterattack.

‘One down!’

It was always best to eliminate the weaker opponent first.

A chilling wind swept past Gongson Jeol-Hwi’s face.

‘This is it…’

It was too late to switch from offense to defense.

‘Damn it! I’m finished!’

He closed his eyes, bracing for the impact. If his grandfather had seen him, he would have scolded him for giving up so easily.

And then he heard a scream.

“Stop it, Miss Jin! It’s dangerous…!”

A flash of sword light, and then blood splattered.

* * *

“Kyaa! Master… Mmm!”

Ryu-Ran, who had been watching from her hiding place, screamed. Yoo Un-Bi, startled, quickly covered her mouth.

“B-be quiet, Miss Ryu! They’ll hear us.”

“B-but Master… Mmm!”

She tried to protest, but he cut her off again.

“Mmm! Mmm!”

She struggled, and he reassured her.

“Don’t worry. It was just a graze.”

“Really?”

He nodded.

“Really. Look!”

* * *

“Ugh!”

Jin So-Ryeong gasped, clutching her right shoulder, as she stumbled backward.

‘H-how?’

Lee Si-Geon, and even Gongson Jeol-Hwi, who had been saved by her, were shocked by her sudden appearance. He had no idea how she had managed to appear so abruptly.

She had sensed Gongson Jeol-Hwi’s predicament and had rushed to his aid, closing the distance of a dozen steps in an instant. If she hadn’t intervened, he would have been sliced to pieces. But she had focused on protecting him, leaving herself vulnerable, and had been injured as a result.

“Miss Jin!!”

Yoo Eun-Seong’s eyes widened in fury, seeing her injured.

“How dare you-!”

His roar echoed through the night, shaking the heavens.

“Yikes!”

Even the moon, hiding behind the clouds, seemed to jump in surprise. Namgung-Sang and Mo Yong-Hwi flinched.

*Clang!*

Yoo Eun-Seong drew his sword and leaped towards Lee Si-Geon with lightning speed.

* * *

*Sun-Shooting Sword Art Rapid Style.*

*Sharp Thrust.*

*Shooting Rain Disrupting Earth Torrential Rain Flash.*

* * *

*Clang! Clang! Clang!*

A barrage of Jeomchang Sect techniques erupted from the tip of his sharp sword.

It was a magnificent display of swordsmanship, like a summer downpour.

‘What the…?’

Lee Si-Geon had never seen such speed, such power. It was faster than lightning, more overwhelming than any sword technique he had ever encountered.

He didn’t even have time to complain.

* * *

“That’s fast! I’ve heard that the Jeomchang thrust is incredibly swift, but I never imagined it would be this fast. It’s like a shower of arrows.”

“Y-yes. My uncle’s skills are truly remarkable. There are probably very few people in our sect who can execute such rapid thrusts, consecutively, at that speed. I wonder when I’ll be able to reach that level…”

He was proud of his uncle’s power. But he was also envious, knowing that he was still far from reaching that level.

“But the other guy is impressive too. He’s still young, but he’s managing to dodge all those attacks.”

Ryu-Ran said, impressed.

“I agree. But my uncle’s sword is relentless. It’s only a matter of time. The Jeomchang thrust never stops until it pierces its target!”

* * *

As Yoo Un-Bi had said, Yoo Eun-Seong’s speed wasn’t decreasing. It was accelerating.

*Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!*

It wasn’t just speed. His every move demonstrated that speed was power. The spear of light, its penetrating power, was terrifying.

Lee Si-Geon, once on the defensive, couldn’t regain his footing.

“Damn it!”

He was forced to retreat.

*Clang! Clang! Clang!*

*Swish! Swish! Swish!*

“How dare you! You injured her delicate body! Atone for your crime with your life!”

The middle-aged man’s attack, fueled by rage, was terrifyingly powerful. But even in his fury, his swordsmanship was cold and precise, relentlessly pressuring his opponent. An ordinary martial artist would have been skewered a thousand times over.

Lee Si-Geon would have been riddled with holes if he hadn’t mastered a secret movement technique. Even Yoo Eun-Seong seemed surprised by his agility.

“You’re not bad! I’ll give you credit for your running skills! But can you dodge this?”

“Haa!”

Yoo Eun-Seong took a deep breath, his sword pointed forward, his right arm pulled back as far as it would go. His muscles were taut, like a drawn bow.

* * *

“N-no way…!!”

Yoo Un-Bi’s eyes widened, seeing his unique stance.

“What’s wrong, Young Master Yoo?”

But he didn’t seem to hear her. He muttered to himself, as if in a trance,

“That stance… Could it be…?”

“What about his stance?”

He wasn’t listening to her.

“The final technique of the Sun-Shooting Sword Art, which no one has mastered for the past hundred years…”

He gasped, his voice filled with awe.

“Houyi Shoots Down the Sun!”

His sword, drawn back like an arrow on a taut string, shot forward, covering the shortest distance at the fastest speed.

* * *

*Sun-Shooting Sword Art Secret Technique.*

*Final Technique.*

*Houyi Shoots Down the Sun Setting Sun Arrow.*

* * *

The legendary technique, which had given the Jeomchang Sect its name, was recreated after a century, through the hands of a master.

*Whoosh!*

A streak of sword light, moving at terrifying speed, pierced Lee Si-Geon’s shoulder.

“Aaaaaargh!”

His scream shattered the silence of the night.

* * *

“What just happened?”

“I didn’t see it.”

“I can understand you not seeing it, but Young Master Yoo, you’re a Jeomchang disciple! You can’t even see your own sect’s sword technique?”

“There was nothing to see.”

The legendary sword technique wasn’t as flashy as they had expected. Or rather, they had no idea what had happened. The last thing they had seen was Yoo Eun-Seong’s right arm pulled back. After that, it was a blur. In the blink of an eye, Lee Si-Geon was on the ground, his right shoulder bleeding, and Yoo Eun-Seong was stepping on his back, his sword at his throat.

“T-that was Houyi Shoots Down the Sun…!!”

It was too fast to even appreciate. The pinnacle of speed. Yoo Un-Bi trembled with excitement, having witnessed the manifestation of his sect’s legend.

“Before he mastered that technique, my uncle’s skills might have been inferior to the Five Great Swordsmen. But now, with this ultimate technique, no one can deny his place among them!”

He said, his voice filled with emotion.

“Congratulations, Young Master Yoo. You must be happy.”

“Congratulations to you too.”

“Thank you… Huh?!”

They turned around, startled by the third voice, but it was too late.

“Now, now, stay still. Unless you want to die young.”

“W-when did you…?”

Ryu-Ran asked, gritting her teeth.

“You can’t neglect your surroundings, even if you’re watching a good fight. But don’t worry. I’m not going to kill you. You’re valuable hostages. Worth a life.”

A man with a scar on his face was grinning at them, his two swords gleaming menacingly at their throats.

* * *

“So that’s Houyi Shoots Down the Sun, the Jeomchang Sect’s ultimate technique! I’ve never seen it before…”

Namgung-Sang said, truly impressed.

“Me neither. We’re probably the first people to see it in the past hundred years.”

“The revival of a legend…”

It was certainly worthy of that title.

“That power! That speed! It’s even more impressive than the rumors.”

Mo Yong-Hwi, as a fellow swordsman, paid his respects to its overwhelming power.

“Hwi, did you see it?”

“No. I only saw half of it.”

“That was my limit too.”

“It would be dangerous to face it head-on. It’s impossible to block.”

“Yes. The only option is to dodge it.”

“That would be the most rational course of action.”

Yoo Eun-Seong didn’t hear a word of their discussion about his sword technique. He was too enraged. He wasn’t even interested in interrogating Lee Si-Geon or finding out who he worked for.

“Now, die!”

Blinded by rage, he was about to strike him down. There was no room for forgiveness. The only option was immediate execution.

“No, Master Yoo! Stop! We have to find out who he works for!”

Jin So-Ryeong’s voice stopped him.

“M-Miss Jin, are you alright?”

He was relieved to see that she was unharmed. The demonic look in his eyes vanished.

“Yes, I’m fine. It was just a graze.”

He sighed in relief.

“Phew~ Thank goodness. If anything had happened to you, I…”

She cut him off.

“We need to find out who he is and what he wants.”

“Yes, ma’am. Right away.”

He turned back to Lee Si-Geon.

“Now, tell us who you are and what you want.”

“Ugh…”

Lee Si-Geon winced, the pain from his wound flaring up.

‘I can’t believe it… I’m being humiliated like this…’

His pride, which had told him that he was a match for any swordsman in a one-on-one fight, shattered.

‘I won’t accept this!’

He couldn’t accept it.

‘I wouldn’t have lost if they hadn’t ganged up on me.’

He blamed others for his defeat. It was impossible for him to lose, so he had to find another explanation.

“It doesn’t seem like he’s going to talk easily. What should we do, Miss Jin?”

“Let’s take him back to the guild. We can interrogate him later.”

“Good idea, Miss Jin. I was just thinking the same thing. Then…”

He bent down to restrain Lee Si-Geon, but then…

“Stop!”

He turned his head sharply, startled. A man in a black mask was standing there, holding a sword in one hand and his nephew, Yoo Un-Bi, in the other. The sharp blade was pressed against his nephew’s throat.

“Un-Bi!”

He shouted in alarm.

“H-how did you get here?!”

He had left them behind because he thought they would be a hindrance. They shouldn’t be here.

“U-uncle…”

Yoo Un-Bi’s face crumpled. He was too ashamed to look at him.

The masked man chuckled.

“What’s the point of suppressing the spirit of youth? Youth without rebellion is not youth. That’s all.”

Rebellion might be a privilege of youth, but it didn’t always lead to good results. In fact, it usually led to bad results. They didn’t know how to rebel properly. Some of them even thought that self-destruction was the only way to rebel.

“Y-you…”

Yoo Eun-Seong was speechless, his worry and anger mixed.

“Don’t worry, there’s more than one!”

“What?!”

Another masked man appeared, holding the other hostage.

“Ryu-Ran!”

It was Jin So-Ryeong’s turn to be surprised.

“M-master…”

She too was too ashamed to look at her master. Jin So-Ryeong sighed.

“I forgot about your personality for a moment… You were never one to wait patiently… It’s my fault.”

Ryu-Ran’s heart ached, hearing her master’s regretful sigh.

“Master…”

Tears welled up in her eyes.

“Now, both of you, stay where you are. If you come any closer, my hands might shake, and I might accidentally cut their throats.”

Yoo Eun-Seong and Jin So-Ryeong, who had been trying to find an opening, froze. It was too dangerous to move recklessly, now that the enemy was on high alert.

“What will you do, Master Yoo?”

Yoon Yi-Jeong, the masked man, asked.

“You don’t need to ask for my demands, do you?”

“Why waste time on something so obvious?”

“Grrr…”

Yoo Eun-Seong groaned, grinding his teeth.

What should he do? He didn’t know who the captured man was, but he was clearly a valuable witness. A very likely suspect. Should he prioritize his personal feelings and save the children? Or should he sacrifice them for the greater good? There were already multiple victims. How could he face them if he let the culprit escape?

“What do you think we should do, Miss Jin?”

He was being cowardly, trying to share the burden of his decision with her. But he was too confused to think straight. Namgung-Sang, Mo Yong-Hwi, and Gongson Jeol-Hwi couldn’t intervene, so they were forced to become bystanders.

“Rebellion always comes with a price…”

Namgung-Sang knew that better than anyone.

“Indeed.”

Mo Yong-Hwi agreed.

“If you’re not prepared to pay the price, you shouldn’t even dream of rebelling…”

Yoo Eun-Seong and Jin So-Ryeong were now responsible for their disciples’ actions. It was their duty as masters.

Jin So-Ryeong finally spoke, her voice quiet but firm.

“We have no choice. We have to let them go.”

They had caught the fish. The net was cast, and the fish was trapped. All they had to do was reach out and grab it. But fate had a cruel sense of humor. It had snatched the fish from their grasp.

They could have fought, but they were too emotionally compromised to think clearly.

“Take them!”

Yoo Eun-Seong said, suppressing his anger.

“Wise decision.”

Yoon Yi-Jeong replied, grinning beneath his mask.

Namgung-Sang and Mo Yong-Hwi turned away, unable to watch.

* * *

They were back where they started.