For those who practice the way, the obvious object of admiration is naturally the Doje.
When he takes up the path, everyone humbles themselves before him.
So, what comes next?
That was something many had fiercely fought over.
Some had spoken of the victor of Habu, the head of the Peng family, Byeokryeokcheon, also known as Peng Suwon. Others mentioned the lord of the Hongwonjang, Cheonamji, Gu Yeongshin.
But this was all talk about the righteous sect.
If we delve into the unorthodox, one person stands out above the rest.
That person is none other than Gi Yeonsan of Gi Saldo.
The harsh village known as Gwigok in the Ohuang Mountains was famous for its abundance of evil monsters since ancient times. Yet, the reason the people living there couldn’t leave was simple.
It was because of the mine.
A mine that produces high-quality iron cannot be abandoned, no matter how many evil monsters emerge.
Thus, the people of Gwigok were always strong.
Those who weren’t strong had simply perished.
Among them, Gi Yeonsan was a special individual.
At the age of seven, he first grasped the way, and after a year of training, he split an invading authped in half with a single blow.
This left everyone in Gwigok in awe.
This child would surely become a talent worthy of facing the world.
From that day, training for Gi Yeonsan began, and by the time he left Gwigok, he had become a formidable master well known across the land.
Born with a fierce spirit and an unflinching attitude toward combat.
Having been surrounded by danger from birth, he relished it and yearned for battles with strong foes.
With a mindset of “die or live,” he traversed the martial realm, so it would be truly strange if he didn’t grow stronger.
Thus, Gi Yeonsan’s name spread quickly, and his unique martial arts, Gi Saldo, became synonymous with him.
A technique that could even slay ghosts.
And a martial artist who stood on the brink of becoming a superhuman, regarded as the first to reach that level.
That was Gi Saldo Gi Yeonsan.
Chaejin was well aware of Gi Yeonsan.
A martial artist praised even by the Doje.
Now, this martial artist stood before her as an enemy, yet Chaejin had no thoughts of dodging.
He was someone she had to clash with at some point.
And didn’t she have a reason not to lose?
“You bastards!!”
Gi Yeonsan’s subordinates reveal their teeth and charge. In response, Yu-an and Yang Juhui, who were the besieging guards, raised their swords to face Gi Yeonsan’s subordinates. Meanwhile, Chaejin spun her black moon sword, glancing at Gi Yeonsan.
“Is it Moonlight Sword Chaejin? Ha. I still don’t have the desire to fight Moonjeong.”
“Touching the innkeeper is practically touching Moonjeong, you know?!”
Sure. They were the person they liked and also a friend of their father.
For Chaeran, this person was a good counselor, and they were having a decent deal with Moonjeong.
Would it make sense to provoke such a person and then try not to get on Moonjeong’s bad side?
Chaejin revealed this and swung her black Moonlight Sword. Even though she had just launched a powerful attack toward the inn, and her energy was considerably depleted, Gi Yeonsan merely swung his large sword swiftly.
– Chae-ae-aeeng!!
The clash between the black roof tile and the white tile echoed outwards, and Gi Yeonsan grinned.
“Pretty good!!”
The power contained in his great sword was definitely not ordinary. Even though he should be running low on energy, he felt himself being pushed back.
However, Moonjeong’s martial arts didn’t rely on sheer strength.
– Clink.
As the contest of strength continued, Chaejin twirled the handle of her sword. At the same time, her great sword twisted in the air, striking at nothing.
Chaejin, spinning around, kicked Gi Yeonsan in the abdomen, and seeing him stagger back, she smirked.
“…Not bad at all.”
Gi Yeonsan’s expression hardened. He realized Chaejin’s skills were not to be underestimated.
“It seems you’re even better than what I heard from the last martial arts tournament.”
The last martial arts tournament.
In the tournament suggested by Yu Wol, she had taken the second place.
She had lost to Hongryeon, whom she considered her lifelong rival.
Thinking of that made a blue vein bulge on Chaejin’s forehead. Of course, she had said it was all right, but Hongryeon was nonetheless her rival and eternal nemesis.
Could she not be troubled by the fact that she had lost?
When Gi Yeonsan mentioned this, her irritation flared up.
“Huuh…”
But even so, she couldn’t reveal her feelings.
The Moonlight Sword Technique could only be executed properly with a calm mindset like a serene lake.
She needed to master her mind.
Maintain a tranquil heart.
– Chae-aeeng!! Chae-aeeng!! Cheng!!
With a blank expression, Chaejin swung her sword.
Every time the black sword flashed, Gi Yeonsan’s expression wavered.
After several back-and-forth exchanges, Gi Yeonsan chuckled.
“Alright.”
Holding his breath, Gi Yeonsan’s eyes gleamed. Until now, he had been fighting gently to recover his energy, but he realized that the person in front of him wasn’t someone he could afford to take lightly.
It dawned on Gi Yeonsan that this wasn’t a worthy opponent.
He turned his back to the inn and aimed his weapon at Chaejin.
“I’ll consider you a worthy rival.”
This wasn’t just a youthful folly; it meant he saw her as someone he needed to take down.
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the aura of death and fighting spirit surged from Gi Yeonsan’s body, enough to make the flesh tremble.
Chaejin silently pointed her Heukwoldo at him. Retreating in the face of someone stronger wasn’t on her agenda.
Chaejin focused on the inn in her view.
Her rightful place.
The place where she wanted to live.
She ended up staying at this inn, where she met him.
And she came to like him, imagining a future together.
When that place was right before her eyes, the man she always kept an eye on appeared at the window of the third floor of the inn.
He was the kind of person who remained unflappable no matter what happened.
Always calm, always composed.
And he was looking at her.
Always trusting her.
Always watching over her.
Keeping her from going down the wrong path.
He was watching her.
“…Haha.”
Then what is there to be afraid of?
Why be shaken when facing a strong opponent?
Chaejin laughed.
Separately from her excitement, her heart was growing calmer.
She slowly aimed her Heukwoldo at Gi Yeonsan.
“Haaaap!!”
If you see me.
“Kill me!! Chaejin!!”
I can become as strong as I want!
The sound of their weapons clashing grew louder.
Gi Yeonsan’s expression began to twist as that sound intensified.
With each strike, Chaejin’s sword felt heavier.
Does this make any sense?
This is the technique Gi Saldo.
I am Gi Yeonsan, the one who hunts ghosts with the Gi Saldo.
But losing to some rookie girl, the daughter of a doje, who’s barely made a name for herself in the martial world?
“Uaaaaaa!!”
Feeling a mix of anger and anxiety, Gi Yeonsan swung his sword.
It felt like the more they clashed, the stronger Chaejin became.
At first, she had seemed weaker than him, but now she was visibly closing in.
Damn it.
Damn it.
Damn it.
Is this what they call a genius?
Is this talent?
But even so, he couldn’t afford to lose.
I too was called a genius in the Gwigok.
Then this is a battle of talents.
-Crunch!!
As the clashes continued, Gi Yeonsan found himself pushed further into the inn before he realized it.
Gi Yeonsan, who had been flung out, suddenly realized he had been pushed all the way into the inn.
Why?
Just a moment ago, he was outside.
Has he really been pushed this far already?
He kicked the scattered remains of a broken table and charged forward, finally noticing that Chaejin was retreating.
Yeah. This is it.
This is how it should be.
Stepping out from the inn, he growled at Chaejin.
“You bitch.”
“I saw your attack.”
Chaejin, gazing at him with an indifferent expression, gripped the Midnight Sword with both hands.
“I can read it all.”
Did she just say that after being pushed back like that?
Frustrated, Gi Yeonsan snorted and gathered his energy.
It’s all just bravado.
Yeah. If you could read everything, then you wouldn’t be overwhelmed right now.
“I’ll finish you off.”
With a cold tone, Gi Yeonsan lowered his stance.
He was about to use the final technique of Gi Saldo, the “Gi Yeong Slash,” a clumsy move but one that could still manifest his strength.
Despite how talented he thought he was, in his eyes, he was still just a rookie, and as he charged,
Chaejin laughed.
Pushed back?
No, it was a place she willingly left open.
That spot was precious to her.
The battle between herself and him, along with their subordinates and the enemies, had already caused significant destruction.
That’s why she simply wanted to prevent any more damage from this minor brawl.
“Hoo…”
As she slowly inhaled and exhaled, everything began to slow down.
The approaching Gi Yeonsan.
The martial artists from the enemy’s side fighting nearby.
Gi Yeonsan’s subordinates engaging with them.
At this moment, what Chaejin desired was the glimmer of light within her.
Just a heart longing to manifest that guiding light.
Chaejin smiled brightly.
Perhaps that light had been by her side since the very first day they met.
From the darkness that had consumed her, a beam of light emerged.
And she knew that light was the one guiding her.
That’s why, with a smile, she slowly swung the Midnight Sword.
At that moment, darkness settled around her.
And what emerged was…
“…What?”
The full moon.
A chilling white light revealed itself within the darkness.
“…This can’t be.”
Facing the radiant moonlight, Gi Yeonsan muttered softly.
Yeah.
This makes no sense.
Why is such a rookie…
“…Manifesting power.”
That single phrase became Gi Yeonsan’s last words.
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