His head rang.
The Black Death Sword’s crushing weight came down on him, sending Ja Cheon-gwang’s body into the air before slamming it back to the ground.
The blade remained hidden within its scabbard, so he was not cut.
But the impact was anything but light.
“Where did you go, coming back only now? You were not in the battle? You, who were supposed to hold the front line?”
Known as Hegemon Fortress’s Shield, Ja Cheon-gwang’s skill was unmatched.
Because he had been there, the battle line had not collapsed for the past three years.
Yet he had not been there?
The Golden Dragon Corps’ core fighting force?
Lee Woo-yang had no intention of ending things with one blow.
He immediately raised the Black Death Sword again and struck down at Ja Cheon-gwang once more.
Behind him, Grand Elder Moin watched the scene.
His eyes widened.
‘That bastard... Why is he alive?’
***
“That is impossible.”
“Impossible? That is unexpected coming from you.”
In Moin’s office, Moin sat facing a man dressed in black across a table.
“What is the reason?”
It was unexpected.
This was a man who had never refused his orders before.
“That bastard is a monster. He is not someone the Black Dragon Corps can handle.”
“Hmm....”
The man facing Moin was Song Yang, Captain of the Black Dragon Corps.
“I am disappointed. Are you saying that even the Black Dragon Corps cannot handle one man?”
“If you order it, it is not something we cannot do. However, you must be prepared for the Black Dragon Corps’ annihilation.”
Song Yang’s tone was firm.
“Hearing you say that only makes me want to do it more.”
At Moin’s words, Song Yang cautiously spoke again.
“I beg your pardon, but the Black Dragon Corps has primarily handled scouting and intelligence work. We have watched every battle at Scattered Gorge Mountain. The martial prowess displayed by Instructor Ja Cheon-gwang was overwhelming. Because he was there, the battle line did not collapse. Even now, he is the one supporting the Golden Dragon Corps.”
Clatter.
The teacup fell from Moin’s hand.
“You seem to be mistaken. Even before him, the Golden Dragon Corps was not easily breached. You say they endured because of him? That is an excessive exaggeration.”
Everyone who had been on the battlefield knew.
Moin’s eyebrow twitched faintly.
It felt as though he were being treated like an old man confined to the back rooms.
“It sounds as though you are mocking this old man for not going to the battlefield.”
“My apologies. That was not my intention.”
“Fine. If you say so. In any case... that bastard has grown too large. Are there not many members of the Golden Dragon Corps following him now?”
“However, from what I have seen, he does not seem to be that sort of person.”
“It does not matter. That is my judgment.”
This was the Ascending Dragon Sect.
A sect belonging to the unorthodox faction.
No, perhaps even that was not an accurate description.
The martial world branded every sect that did not belong to the Martial Alliance as followers of the unorthodox path.
As that branding continued to be repeated, they too had come to see themselves that way.
“Song Yang. This is a place ruled by strength and profit. The moment that bastard’s martial prowess surpasses the Sect Leader’s, he will not remain still. That must be prevented. Whether he is necessary to the Golden Dragon Corps or not is unimportant.”
“It may be an unfounded concern.”
“Did I not say that it does not matter? What the Ascending Dragon Sect needs right now is Lee Woo-yang, not Ja Cheon-gwang.”
There was neither justification nor sect law.
Only the strong stood above others.
That was the sole order in this place.
If Ja Cheon-gwang came into conflict with Lee Woo-yang, a split would inevitably occur.
And a life-or-death duel between the two would be unavoidable.
Even if Ja Cheon-gwang was not such a man, those around him, especially the Golden Dragon Corps, would not remain still.
‘If the Sect Leader simply changed, it would not matter. But we are subordinates of Hegemon Fortress. Those bastards will not stay still.’
Then Moin’s eyes wavered.
It was because of Song Yang’s next words.
“The Black Dragon Corps... could cease to exist.”
To that extent?
No.
That, at least, could not happen.
The Black Dragon Corps was under his direct command.
It was the blade that upheld his authority.
He could not break that blade merely to remove Ja Cheon-gwang.
Ja Cheon-gwang had grown too large.
For some reason, his skill had risen noticeably since three years ago, and he had eventually climbed into the Golden Dragon Corps.
After that, he had remained overwhelmingly strong.
It had already become difficult to find his equal within the Golden Dragon Corps.
The number of Golden Dragon Corps members following him had steadily grown as well.
That fact provoked Moin.
One day, Ja Cheon-gwang would surely point his sword at Lee Woo-yang.
If so, before he grew any larger... the sprout had to be cut off.
‘That is what is best for the Ascending Dragon Sect.’
No matter what Song Yang said, Moin’s thoughts did not change.
Ja Cheon-gwang had to die.
“Then... why not use the White Dragon Corps?”
“No. They are under the Sect Leader’s direct command. They will not obediently follow just because I order them.”
“That is true. They are that arrogant.”
Did he have some clever idea?
Moin’s eyes gleamed.
“Continue.”
“Rumors are circulating within the Golden Dragon Corps that Ja Cheon-gwang will soon be selected for the White Dragon Corps. However, the White Dragon Corps is not pleased by it. With the level of skill he possesses in the Golden Dragon Corps, even the White Dragon Corps would have difficulty handling him. Thus, there are quite a few who are displeased with him. If you add a slight measure of the Grand Elder’s intent to that... they will move.”
“My intent?”
“Suggest that he may one day draw his sword against the Sect Leader.”
The White Dragon Corps guarded the Sect Leader.
If such a possibility was raised, they would have no choice but to act.
Nothing had actually happened, but the White Dragon Corps were easy people to manipulate.
With only a little encouragement, they would act on their own.
‘They are still fools, without a doubt. They grew up in this place as well.... Their martial skill is high and their arrogance towering, but they are not intelligent.’
If they were coaxed gently, they would fall for it.
They were not clever enough to understand schemes or strategies.
Moreover, their pride in being the Ascending Dragon Sect’s strongest was tremendous.
Ja Cheon-gwang’s ability had already surpassed them.
It was ideal material for provoking them.
And—
“Both the Black Dragon Corps and White Dragon Corps were selected from the Golden Dragon Corps. There are former White Dragon Corps members in the Black Dragon Corps, men who have connections with them. There are several people with whom we can speak. If we use them to get under the White Dragon Corps’ skin, they will move on their own.”
“Touch their pride?”
“That is correct.”
“Not bad.”
As the Sect Leader’s guards, the White Dragon Corps was the strongest group within the Ascending Dragon Sect.
They should have been more than capable of handling Ja Cheon-gwang.
More importantly, the Black Dragon Corps would remain unharmed.
It should have been that way....
***
‘H-How is that bastard alive? What happened to the White Dragon Corps?’
Moin’s complexion twisted when he saw Ja Cheon-gwang standing before him.
Judging by Ja Cheon-gwang’s appearance, it was clear that the White Dragon Corps had lured him away.
Then why was he standing here now?
‘Did the White Dragon Corps all fall? Or... Did those bastards somehow open their mouths?’
A chill ran down his spine.
This was dangerous.
If that bastard had learned something....
‘White Dragon Corps... You useless bastards.’
GRIND.
The sound of Moin grinding his teeth rang out quietly.
***
Dull-black iron.
A massive greatsword whose blade alone measured five feet in length.
A foot wide, weighing roughly one hundred and thirty pounds.
The Black Death Sword itself exuded an overwhelming presence.
Ebony, nearly the same color as black iron, covered the sword.
Its scabbard, engraved in gold with an ascending dragon, was heavy enough to rival any blunt weapon.
Every strike carried an impact as though it would crush bones.
Yet the mouth of the man wielding that precious sword was far too loose.
“You bastard. Because of you... Because you were not in your place, this whole mess happened, did it not? You rotten bastard. You damned bastard.”
The reason for Lee Woo-yang’s anger was simple.
This time’s losses were a problem, but the funds sent down from Hegemon Fortress would be reduced because they had failed to properly hold the front line.
War results were money.
The battlefield’s circumstances meant nothing to him.
He had never even set foot on a battlefield in the first place.
Only one thing mattered to him.
The Ascending Dragon Sect had been defeated, and its income would decrease as a result.
That was all.
THUD, THUD, CRACK...
The dull sound of pounding flesh rang through the training ground.
Ja Cheon-gwang was the core force that had supported the Ascending Dragon Sect’s defensive formation.
If he had been there, the front line would not have been pushed back so far.
The thought crossed Lee Woo-yang’s mind, putting even more force into his hand.
“Ghk....”
At last, a groan escaped Ja Cheon-gwang’s mouth.
The blow seemed to have struck one of his existing wounds directly.
Regardless, once the Black Death Sword had begun its dance, Lee Woo-yang did not know how to stop it.
Why had that bastard not been there?
Why had he left the battlefield?
Those basic questions did not exist.
The pressure of the reduced war funds dominated Lee Woo-yang’s thoughts.
Many had died or been injured.
The number of men able to stand on the next battlefield would decrease.
And that meant the funds would decrease even more.
THUD....
The wound bound with torn clothes split open again, and blood sprayed out.
His body seemed to creak.
Something had clearly broken somewhere.
“Pant, pant.”
After lashing out for a long while, Lee Woo-yang spoke as he breathed heavily.
“You bastard.... How dare you put your hand in my pocket... In any case, remember that I am the one holding your leash. You had better brace yourself from now on.”
Lee Woo-yang swung the Black Death Sword through the air, scattering the blood clinging to it.
He turned and walked toward the platform.
Only after venting his rage by beating Ja Cheon-gwang for a long time did he seem to calm down slightly.
He tossed the Black Death Sword onto the ground and sat down in a chair.
He had swung the sword for nearly four hours.
His thirst was at its peak.
He lifted a jar of liquor and drank directly from it.
The cold alcohol streamed down his throat.
***
Creak....
Ja Cheon-gwang raised his body.
It felt as though his body weighed a thousand pounds.
The wounds he had suffered the day before had opened again.
The palm of his left hand, which had been cut by the sword, had festered until bone was exposed.
The only fortunate thing was that blood no longer poured from that wound.
It seemed that he had already lost all the blood he could lose.
He had lost too much blood since yesterday.
Any further bleeding would be dangerous.
The wounds from the beating he had just received were a problem as well.
The bruised areas struck by the heavy Black Death Sword had swollen, burst, and left red marks behind.
His bones did not seem intact either. Every joint creaked whenever he moved.
Ja Cheon-gwang clenched his lips tightly.
‘Yes.... This is enough.’
He considered himself fortunate.
The Sect Leader, whose mind was consumed by money, had not questioned him about killing three fellow disciples.
But what?
‘He asked where I had gone? He spoke as though he did not even know what mission I had received. Then... did the Grand Elder really order those bastards to kill me? Were they the Black Dragon Corps?’
Complicated thoughts shook through his mind.
But he was too exhausted to continue following them.
‘Fine. I will think later. First, I need to get out of here. Yesterday’s matter... I can ask the Grand Elder about it later.’
It was not the first or second time Lee Woo-yang had held such a rampage.
Besides, the fact that he was drinking liquor so heavily meant that he would not lift the Black Death Sword again today.
One by one, the fallen Golden Dragon Corps members began rising.
The Golden Dragon Corps and Silver Dragon Corps.
They had been beaten quite evenly.
In any case, the rampage had ended, so things would remain quiet for a while.
‘Rest.... First, I need to rest.’
The moment he tried to move his body—
He stopped.
His gaze fixed on one spot.
Clink.
Something caught against the hand he had placed on the ground.
It was not a pebble.
An acorn.
Acorns lay scattered across the ground in places.
His neck creaked as he turned his head to one side.
Rustle.
Ja Cheon-gwang knelt on one knee and turned over the body of a fallen man.
The man’s face had been beaten so badly that it was difficult to recognize its shape.
Even so.
He recognized the face’s owner at a glance.
A close friend he had never been separated from since their days in the Non-Dragon Corps.
“B-Bong Gyu?”
His gaze slowly traveled over the man.
His nose and mouth.
There was no breathing that should have been audible.
His chest, which should have risen and fallen, was still.
‘Those who died on the battlefield are loaded onto carts. Like Hwan-geun. But... Why are you dead here?’
They had said there had been a battle.
The image formed in his mind.
Bong Gyu must have returned alive.
Carrying the dead Yoo Hwan-geun all the way here.
Chewing acorns as he did so....
He knew without seeing it.
Because Bong Gyu was that kind of person.
‘Sect Leader... Lee Woo-yang... You bastard....’
Snap.
Something broke inside his mind.