Heavenly Realm
The next day, I was out and about early at dawn. The morning air and the sight of the distant horizon glowing with a crimson hue were positively dazzling.
“……”
With my arms crossed, I stared at the plaque with the name ‘Iron Blood Gate’ inscribed on it. The words of Han Jin-seong from yesterday echoed in my mind:
[The Twin Gate Four Families, known as Cheolhyeoltaegum (Iron Blood Great Sword) and Jangseo Lee Han, are a symbol and pride of the martial world in Luoyang. Their power has transcended that of a mere martial family despite being in the capital. Therefore, the head of the clan wishes for you to trample them down.]
[That meaning isn’t entirely clear—could you elaborate?]
[The Twin Gate has secretly allied with the Nine Great Sects Alliance, while the Four Families have reached out to the Twelve Principles. The head of the clan is quite displeased about this.]
I was shocked by those words.
[Iron Blood Gate and the Great Sword Sect? The Four Families and the Twelve Principles? Really?]
[They have been predicting upheaval in the martial world for years and have been acting to survive. Although I’m not sure how, they are aware that something monumental is about to happen in Luoyang. So, rather than a nominal alliance, they are building quite a close relationship with outside forces.]
As he explained, Han Jin-seong continued quietly,
[Until now, their actions have been overlooked, but they urged you to stir things up and gain experience. It’s a warning not to act rashly.]
[……]
While Han Jin-seong had shared a lot of information, he hadn’t really explained anything. Thus, I had to interpret his intentions hidden within the lines. After thinking for a moment, I reached my own conclusion.
The Han family wants to shift the focus of the martial world elsewhere.
To use me as bait, so that the exploration of General Hwang Yeon’s whereabouts and the real intentions of the Thunder God Lineage or the White Lotus Sect wouldn’t be uncovered.
Having spent considerable time alongside Mangnyang, this level of scheming was easy for me to deduce. However, I wasn’t foolish enough to ask Han Jin-seong about this directly. Whether true or not, he wouldn’t give me a straightforward answer. In a relationship where both parties utilize each other, the best strategy is to guess the other’s intentions while keeping as much prediction and fact hidden as possible.
And here I stood today.
‘Moving according to someone else’s intentions doesn’t leave a good taste in my mouth.’
There’s nothing more disheartening than behaving like a pawn.
Yet there were two reasons I accepted this situation. First, if I was going to dig up the secrets of the White Lotus Sect, I had to thoroughly earn their goodwill and trust. Depending on the circumstances, I’d be willing to participate in a Killing Catastrophe (살겁).
The second reason was that the Twin Gate Four Families had a grudge against me. I hadn’t forgotten how I had submitted a sparring application to Iron Blood Gate only to have my head chopped off without a fight. Even then, I too had come out boldly at dawn.
Though it was a long-ago memory, it was vividly stamped in my mind. I calmly observed the gatekeepers and thought,
‘Controlling my grudges is also crucial.’
Mangnyang had advised me that I would accumulate countless grievances over my lifetime, but I should always maintain a calm corner in my mind. Losing my temper reveals weaknesses, which can lead to vulnerabilities. Moreover, recklessly killing an opponent could bring an unmanageable backlash.
With those thoughts, I was able to clarify my goals.
Keep it as composed as possible!
Trying to take revenge too casually might result in a colossal blunder. It would be better to quietly pass this incident by and seek a more intense form of revenge next time. Once I finished my musings, I approached the gatekeepers.
“I am Baek Woong. I have come to submit a sparring application to Iron Blood Gate.”
“… Sparring? Hehe, well…”
The students exchanged incredulous looks. Then one of them, grinning, said,
“I’ve seen plenty like you before, but you seem to have made quite the foolish choice. Do you know how many have ended up as fools after trying to pick a fight with us at Iron Blood Gate?”
“……”
Just like that time with the Blue Dragon Martial Artist. When I mirrored the words I had heard then, they echoed right back at me. The sentiments were somewhat different, but surely the essence was the same. I could only let out a soft grunt.
‘Is there any way to exploit this law?’
Initially, the fact that they were reacting similarly meant the uncertainty of the future had diminished, so I felt somewhat reassured and responded,
“Is it you who decides whether to accept the sparring?”
As I shot back aggressively, the gatekeeper’s expression stiffened slightly. He walked inside while saying,
“Fine. Just wait a moment. We’ll follow the procedures to accept you.”
“Waiting.”
Hearing my response, one of Iron Blood Gate’s students sneered at me,
“Don’t pretend to be tough. It’ll just end with you getting beaten up and left as a fool.”
I had heard that line before, so instead of getting angry, I chuckled and replied,
“I’m not a fool. My head will just be flying off.”
“You know that and still dare to submit a sparring application to Iron Blood Gate? Just how many lives do you think you have?”
The gatekeeper sneered, but I simply smiled back.
“I have several.”
“……”
The gatekeeper was clearly uninterested in continuing the exchange, but I was relaxed. I knew I could draw him into my intentions without needing to rush things. After a short while, a student from Iron Blood Gate came out and said,
“Hey, come in. I’ll guide you to the sparring arena.”
I followed him toward the sparring arena. There were dormitories where hundreds of students lived, along with a training center and a dojo. Though it seemed like a long-ago memory, the immense stature of the training ground came back to me all too well. Upon arriving at the large indoor sparring arena, where a fragrant wooden floor awaited me, countless junior students were waiting.
I was well aware of what would happen next.
Hey – !!
Suddenly, the students from Iron Blood Gate let out a loud roar, which sounded less like noise and more like a battle cry, seemingly aimed to quell my spirit. The wooden space reverberated with their shouts, creating an overwhelmingly loud sound. Any ordinary martial artist with shallow training would likely be overwhelmed by their energy. This was a deliberate act from Iron Blood Gate to break my spirit.
Wooong… Wooong…
Yet this time, unlike before, I didn’t retaliate with my own roar. I knew it wouldn’t make a difference, and it was indeed a provocation that didn’t require a response. Instead, after the echoes died down, I calmly fixed my gaze on the man in white seated opposite me.
“Is this a custom of Iron Blood Gate, Sword Hall Master Gyo Joon?”
“……!!”
Upon meeting my gaze, the middle-aged man in white, Gyo Joon, looked startled, and the junior students began murmuring. Although the Sword Hall Master was a well-known figure in the martial world, I had clearly called him out, catching him off guard. But he quickly regained his composure and stepped forward.
“I apologize. Our students were being rude, trying to test if you were just an average fighter.”
“An average fighter?”
“N-no. You’re ignoring us as if we’re not worth your time. You must surely be a skilled master with exceptional inner strength and experience.”
Gyo Joon, having calmed down, sighed.
“You’ve reached quite an impressive level of martial arts at such a young age. You must be of a prestigious lineage, so why engage in such disrespectful conduct?”
I replied gruffly,
“I’m not your opponent. Do yourself a favor and step aside before you embarrass yourself.”
As far as my memories go, he wasn’t a particularly bad guy. He was just an ordinary martial artist fulfilling his role, so I didn’t want to trouble him unduly.
“……”
Sword Hall Master Gyo Joon hesitated, deep in thought. Just then, a man who appeared to be the leader among the lurking junior students shot up and exclaimed,
“Are we just going to let that arrogant fool go free? Let’s charge him and take him down!”
“Whoa – !!”
In an instant, over fifty junior students drew their wooden swords and charged at me. Considering my appearance as a teenage boy, this blatant display of group violence was unbelievable. Although their martial skills were nothing to brag about, being confronted by dozens of grown students was pressure no one could take lightly.
But I felt like a swarm of flies were descending upon me. Not a single one of them seemed capable of utilizing proper martial arts.
In that moment, I decided not to use my sword.
I resolved not to shift my left foot.
I determined to suppress them within three seconds.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh
My Myeolhonbo (Chopping Soul Technique) conjured shadow doppelgängers (분영). With astounding speed, the doppelgängers approached each of the fifty-odd students, positioning themselves at fatal angles, while I remained still, lightly moving my hands to begin pressure point strikes. Occasionally, some arrogant ones were knocked out cold with a palm strike to the back of the head. This was a combination of the Thunder God Lineage’s techniques and swordplay application.
Thud thud thud!
When the three seconds of casting concluded, the tsunami of Iron Blood Gate’s junior students crashed to a halt. Time seemed to stand still, and the next moment— they collapsed one after another to the ground, all of them fainted without even a scream.
Boom!
“Hah… haah…”
Now, the only one standing was Sword Hall Master Gyo Joon. He seemed unable to comprehend the instantaneous event and took a stumbling step back. His face was clearly marked with fear.
“A… A transcendental master! What… what brings you here…?”
“Perfect for a warm-up. Where are the Elders and the Lord of Iron Blood Gate?”
“……”
Just then, as Sword Hall Master Gyo Joon stood frozen at the scene,
“A master of the Transformational Stage? Quite impressive indeed.”
“Lord!”
I turned to look at the entrance with a vibe of spirit surrounding a middle-aged man clad in a fur coat, flanked by six martial artists guarding him. The aura of the middle-aged man was so palpable it was almost tangible to my senses, while the six martial artists, though not as intense, emitted considerable momentum.
Following them were others equipped with swords, similar to Sword Hall Master Gyo Joon, acting as their aides.
‘The Lord of Iron Blood Gate and the Six Elders.’
Normally, the disciples of Iron Blood Gate would be cheering at their arrival. In the past, I had felt significantly intimidated and hopeless when they appeared. However, now, as I looked at them, my past self seemed pitiful.
I was terrified of such scanty foes?
Sure, the Lord of Iron Blood Gate and the six elders were formidable figures. The Lord was undoubtedly a transcendent master, and a few of the elders were at the peak of their powers, while a couple others stood on the threshold. From the perspective of martial factions, they formed an undeniably strong force.
However—compared to all the enemies I had faced until now, they were vastly inferior. The oppressive pressure I had felt against the likes of Jin So-cheong or Lee Gwang was beyond comparison. It felt calm, even trivial, compared to the sensation of clashing blades against monstrous beings that exceeded human imagination. Thus, I felt no fear now, even in front of the elite of Iron Blood Gate, who had once guaranteed my death.
I stared blankly at the Lord of Iron Blood Gate and said,
“Lord, shall we have a match?”
The nearby Elders regarded me with disdain. However, among the few who had reached the peak of their prowess, there was one who watched me with serious eyes. They sensed that my proposition to duel the Lord was not merely a half-hearted challenge.
The one most capable of precisely assessing my abilities was undoubtedly the Lord of Iron Blood Gate himself. He sparred with me as we intuitively exchanged energies, and when he began to falter, he took a half-step back, clearly realizing that his prowess fell short of mine.
Eventually, the Lord of Iron Blood Gate sighed.
“Have you come from the Nine Great Sects Alliance? I know no other transcendent master besides the renowned Meng Longzi.”
It seemed he was mistaking me for a master of the Transformational Stage. I gazed at him thoughtfully and replied,
“No need to be curious about my origins. Answer how you’ll respond to my sparring application.”
“Are you planning to destroy the principle?”
“I told you, it’s a friendly sparring match.”
I chuckled disdainfully.
“Unlike another sect that shamelessly beheaded a guest under the guise of friendly sparring.”
“……”
The Lord of Iron Blood Gate looked somewhat flustered. After all, here was a presumably unknown master of the Transformational Stage openly mocking them. I grinned and said,
“So what will it be? Are you thinking of using any means necessary to preserve the honor of Iron Blood Gate against me?”
The Lord shook his head.
“It’s not that I wouldn’t have anything to say if I lost to a master like you. Please, deal with me alone.”
It seemed he had resigned to defeat, slowly stepping forward. I watched him silently and said,
“Too arrogant.”
“What do you mean?”
“You are not my opponent; you should fight alongside the six elders.”
“What…?”
“I won’t say it a second time. Better team up before I accidentally end your life.”
The Lord of Iron Blood Gate’s expression twisted from astonishment to anger.
“Don’t regret that statement!”
Swoosh swoosh swoosh
Moments later, led by the Lord of Iron Blood Gate, the six elders surrounded me. They had taken my request to team up without reservation. Having given them a pretext, they now intended to try their utmost to take my life. I chuckled at the palpable siege surrounding me.
Looking at the Ghost Shadow Swordsman Jin-pyeong who maintained his position on the left side of the encirclement, I spoke,
“I intend to take you down last.”
“……?”
This audacious proposal for teamwork stemmed from the thought that even the likes of Lee Gwang from the Blue Dragon Lineage would have trivialized such an effort. I wanted to solidify my standing at a certain level within the realm of transcendent masters.
After approximately three hundred and fifty seconds passed,
“Cough!”
The Lord of Iron Blood Gate was sent flying three meters back from a Chopping Soul strike.
“W-what’s causing the space to distort there…?”
He stumbled, looking at me with a gaze filled with resentment before collapsing. Though he possessed immense fighting spirit, he was ultimately bested when the union fell apart from my Chopping Soul, leaving him to be toyed with until the end. Moreover, despite using my techniques incessantly, my endurance and explosive power had far exceeded his. It was no wonder I came out victorious.
That felt way too easy.
And aside from one elder of Iron Blood Gate, everyone else was sprawled out, unconscious. The last one left standing was the staggering Ghost Shadow Swordsman Jin-pyeong.
I slowly approached him and said,
“Rest assured. I have no intention of killing you.”
“… You can’t be serious.”
The Ghost Shadow Swordsman Jin-pyeong mumbled with bulging eyes.
“I’ve only seen a few masters like you in the Nine Great Sects Alliance and a handful in the Twin Gate Four Families… How can someone who transcends the world pick a quarrel like this?”
I chuckled softly.
“I told you, thanks to you, I’ve gained profound insights into life. Now, I want to share that.”
“Insights?”
“You taught me exactly what the martial world is all about.”
I had no grudge against Jin-pyeong. He had fought honorably in one-on-one combat, using his skill to best me. Moreover, that death had shattered the idealized vision I had of the martial world, thus serving as a significant stepping stone for my growth.
Boom!
In the end, the Ghost Shadow Swordsman Jin-pyeong couldn’t withstand it for ten seconds and collapsed.
I had effortlessly subdued him using the principles of the Mount Wudang techniques.
‘Is the Iron Blood Gate cleared?’
With this, I was assured.
I had reached a level of mastery in the martial world that surpassed expectations.
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