The Descent of the Heavenly Horse (Part 2) – 1

Four years after the death of the Yomryun Skill’s disciple.

Incidents of martial artists from prestigious families and sects being murdered were causing a stir in the world.

Already, over twenty victims had been claimed, but there was no discernible connection between them.

Apart from that, the victims shared only one common trait: they were all burned and charred black.

The Martial Arts Alliance publicly announced that a wicked monster was attacking martial artists, but the leadership of the Martial Arts Alliance knew the identity of this monster.

The 37th Yomryun Skill, Namgung Soyou.

She was the protagonist of these gruesome events.

Some speculated that she had gone mad while practicing Martial arts.

Some asserted that she had abandoned the righteous path in her pursuit of power.

Some thought she was seeking revenge.

They knew what she would do next, but they did not know what she wanted.

Dokgo Nam, who had recently inherited the position of Alliance Leader, was troubled because he couldn’t come up with a solution to this situation.

“Even the Zhuge Family has been damaged beyond repair…”

Everyone was speechless at the intelligence they had received.

“How about summoning the previous Yomryun Skill? As her Master, perhaps she can subdue her?”

Someone cautiously suggested, but Ice Sword, who had now relinquished the title of Bingryungong, shook his head.

“The previous and current Thunder Skill practitioners are already dead. Thunder Skill is the most defensive of the inherited Martial arts. Namgung Soyou’s level has already surpassed all of us here, I believe.”

“Then, we have no choice but to form a subjugation squad. Just like when we caught the Blood demon…”

Dokgo Nam’s quiet voice resonated firmly in the room.

“First, the Azure Dragon Unit Leader will locate the previous Yomryun Skill, as she will also be a significant asset. Military Advisor Gong will select the members of the subjugation squad.”

With Dokgo Nam’s instructions, the meeting concluded.

People bustled out of the room, including Ice Sword.

Ice Sword slowly slowed his pace, eventually encountering Cheong-yeon, who was walking the slowest in the hallway.

Ice Sword saw his disciple’s eyes trembling.

“Cheong-yeon.”

Ice Sword called out to his disciple.

“…Yes, Master.”

The disciple answered her Master’s call.

“Did you tell Soyou?”

At Ice Sword’s words, which seemed to dig into her soul, Cheong-yeon swallowed hard.

Cheong-yeon was regretting showing Soyou the Alliance’s records.

She had thought that this was an opportunity to break the unfortunate cycle of the Yomryun Skill that had been passed down from generation to generation.

However, Soyou moved in a way that was different from her expectations.

“…I, I didn’t.”

Cheong-yeon squeezed her eyes shut and turned her head away.

Ice Sword smiled bitterly at his disciple’s appearance and turned his body.

“Perhaps it was a mistake to tell you about the secrets of the Yomryun Skill.”

“The reason I told you about the secrets of the Yomryun Skill was because I was worried that you might become obsessed with becoming stronger.”

Ice Sword tried to force a smile, but he couldn’t hide his bitter expression.

“Master.”

At her Master’s weak appearance, Cheong-yeon’s lips trembled.

“Cheong-yeon. Among the children I have seen wandering this Martial Arts world, you are the most considerate and compassionate.”

“That is why I was able to teach you Bingryungong without any worries.”

-Because if you use Bingryungong for a long time, a person’s nature becomes cold.

Ice Sword added.

“I had faith that with your warm heart, you would not recklessly take people’s lives even if you used Bingryungong for a long time. And you have always lived up to that faith.”

“But… it seems that your warm heart is now producing unfavorable results.”

Ice Sword slowly moved his feet.

Cheong-yeon unknowingly reached out her hand, but she did not grab her Master’s sleeve.

She realized how great her mistake was, so she couldn’t grab her Master’s sleeve.

Until he passed through the hallway, Ice Sword continued to show his back to his disciple.

Carrying groceries bought from the market, a short-haired woman climbed along a mountain path.

The woman climbed the mountain as if she were a goddess, stepping on the rocks.

When she reached the middle of the mountain, a cabin appeared where she had been staying for half a year.

The cabin was small, but it was shiny and new, as if it had been recently built.

Passing through a fence made of intertwined branches, a small yard greeted her.

“……”

The woman stared at the cabin for a moment, then placed the things she was carrying on the ground.

“Come out.”

Then she spoke to the house.

-Creak

The door opened, and the person who appeared was someone she knew well.

Black martial uniform, white outer robe.

An earring on one ear, long hair tied back.

Her disciple, with eyes that shone redder than blood.

It was Namgung Soyou.

Yeomjin was not unaware of the world’s affairs. No, she knew them even better.

And she knew that Soyou would come to find her someday.

“It’s been a while.”

“…I don’t think we’re in a situation to exchange greetings.”

Soyou’s eyes shone sharply, but she did not abandon her manners.

The Killing intent emanating from her small frame pierced Yeomjin’s body.

“Yes, seeing that you’ve come this far, you must know everything.”

Yeomjin laughed coolly.

It was not a resigned laugh. That irritated Soyou.

“Do you find this situation funny?”

“I’m not laughing at you. I was just reminded of the old days.”

“I could have come sooner. But I didn’t.”

Coming out into the yard, Soyou looked up at Yeomjin.

“Why?”

“Because I had to find records about the Yomryun Skill. There wasn’t much known about it, but… gathering rumors, writings, and scribbles, I learned an interesting fact.”

“What is it?”

“When the time for succession comes, there was a strange custom of always taking in a disciple for the disciple.”

“……..”

“Master said that taking in Inho was a deviation, but all the previous Yomryun Skills committed deviations.”

“But… there were no such records in the Martial Arts Alliance. It was written that after the succession, the person who inherited the name of the Yomryun Skill took in a disciple.”

Soyou twisted her mouth.

“Isn’t that strange? They clearly took in disciples, but there are no records of them.”

Soyou’s eyes shone.

“And the disciples who were taken in through deviation have two things in common.”

“What are they?”

“One is that they lose their lives in an unexpected accident.”

Soyou took a step closer to Yeomjin.

“The other is that they had a close relationship with the person who inherited the name of the Yomryun Skill.”

Soyou approached Yeomjin once again.

“I learned the name of this act from the diary of a village chief in the countryside.”

“Forcibly inducing a Demonic state of mind, and using that Demonic state of mind as fuel to greatly increase Inner Force…”

“Catalysis.”

Soyou glared at Yeomjin as she looked up at her.

“Yes, you’ve figured it out well.”

Yeomjin looked down at Soyou with an expressionless face.

“Wasn’t the mastery of Martial arts what you wanted?”

“Master also went through the same thing, so how could you commit such a terrible act?”

“Yes, I resented it at first too. But, Soyou. Think about it carefully.”

Yeomjin began to persuade her disciple with a calm face.

“You also feel it, but the level of the old you and the current you is like heaven and earth.”

“You gained the power to save hundreds of people by killing one person. You have achieved a level that someone would spend their entire life trying to reach in just two years.”

As Yeomjin’s Master had done to Yeomjin long ago, Yeomjin carefully placed her hands on Soyou’s shoulders.

“…Aren’t you sorry for Inho?”

When Soyou asked Yeomjin, Yeomjin laughed as if she didn’t understand.

“Are you telling me to feel sorry for a pig that is raised to be eaten?”

With Yeomjin’s words as the last, the light in Soyou’s eyes disappeared.