Chapter 1: The Musang Divine Arts

The Musang Divine Arts.

How could any martial artist not have heard of them?

They were the unique martial arts of the Musang Great Emperor.

He was a figure who had never relinquished his position as the greatest in history.

All martial artists desired to possess these peerless martial arts.

That was why a few months ago.

– You know about the Musang Divine Arts, don’t you?

Yeon thought the Clan Head’s question was somewhat out of the blue.

However, the words that followed were even more absurd.

– Find that secret manual and bring it to me.

At first, Yeon thought it was the Clan Head’s playful joke.

The Musang Divine Arts had been scattered into numerous fragments due to the greed of many.

Not only that, merely possessing one fragment was enough to become a public enemy of the martial world.

– So you want to become the greatest in the world? Are you going to give me a position if I bring it to you?

Yeon joked along with him.

The Clan Head offered a faint smile.

That was the last smile Yeon saw from Namgung Cheon.

A chilling wind, as cold as reality, blew over the sweet memory.

Yeon lay fallen on a plain devastated by battle.

Blood and corpses lay scattered everywhere.

A sword was within arm’s reach, but Yeon had no strength to even twitch a finger.

“Cough.”

When he coughed, blood surged from his throat.

His internal injuries were severe.

The possibility of surviving this battlefield was nonexistent.

However, no one could doubt his skill.

The hundreds of enemy corpses were all martial artists who had gathered to subjugate him.

Among the endless corpses, a blue martial robe, marked with the character for ‘sky’, was visible.

They were the members of the Namgung Clan.

His blood-stained hand caught his eye.

“Keuk…”

Yeon laughed, a sound like weeping.

Blood-Hand Sword Ghost.

That was his alias.

Was there any name that could better describe his current state?

Just a few days ago, he had been the leader of the Emperor Sword Unit, the symbol of the Namgung Clan.

But now?

He had become the man who, blinded by power, betrayed the Clan Head and usurped the Musang Divine Arts.

Yeon squeezed his eyes shut.

Namgung Cheon was like a father to Yeon, so the idea of him killing Namgung Cheon was unthinkable.

However, due to a series of events, the Namgung Clan deemed Namgung Yeon a traitor and stood at the forefront of the battle.

“F*ck…”

Only the Emperor Sword Unit believed and followed him to the very end, but that only brought him greater despair.

Those who believed in him and those who did not, all had died.

It was because of his incompetence.

It was because he was untrustworthy.

These were the people he should have protected.

After the deaths of so many, what was it that he had tried to protect?

Swish.

“…”

Yeon checked ‘that’ item, which he had kept in his pocket.

“All because of this…”

A fragment of the secret manual.

It was a piece of the Musang Divine Arts, the very thing Namgung Cheon had ordered him to bring.

Yet, the manual, which should have contained cultivation techniques, only had incomprehensible characters written on it.

‘Were all the rumors about the Musang Divine Arts false? Did everyone just get played by the rumors?’

Yeon squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his teeth.

‘D*mn it!’

The day he returned after completing his mission, the Clan Head had greeted him as a cold corpse.

The image of the Clan Head, bleeding and dead, remained unforgettable in his heart.

Namgung Cheon, the Head of the Namgung Clan.

Even if others did, the Clan Head, of all people, should not have met such a death.

The simmering rage left an indelible knot in his chest.

Why the Clan Head?

Who on earth?

He had no intention of letting anyone involved go unpunished.

He would risk his life to find them and make them pay for their sins.

And the answer was found on this very battlefield.

A single figure had been leading all these people on the battlefield.

Rustle.

Someone, dressed in white, approached by stepping over corpses, as if this battlefield had nothing to do with him.

“How pathetic.”

A middle-aged man with deep, sharp eyes and a handsome appearance, as if he had just stepped out of a painting.

Yeon’s fists clenched instantaneously.

This was a face he would remember even in death.

…Namgung Gi, the head of the Namgung Clan’s branch family.

Should he be called the Clan Head now?

No, at least the day Yeon would acknowledge him as Clan Head would never come.

“Did you say ‘just that’?”

“Namgung Gi…!”

“You and Namgung Cheon are both the same, talking about peace and playing house even with the Musang Divine Arts.”

When Namgung Gi mentioned the Clan Head’s name, extreme fury erupted within Yeon.

‘Yes, it was that son of a b*tch.’

Betrayal.

Namgung Gi, who betrayed the Clan Head, orchestrated everything.

Killing the Clan Head and framing Yeon for it were his deeds.

It was all part of his plan to obtain the Musang Divine Arts.

“Ptooey!”

Yeon gathered his remaining strength and spat at his face.

The man, who had been smiling, frowned.

“Did you want the Musang Divine Arts so badly? Did you want to put the world in your grasp? Is that why you killed the Clan Head?”

Yeon burst with rage.

Namgung Gi frowned and wiped away the spit.

“…Even a colt without a master has its limits when it comes to rudeness.”

Thump!

Enraged, Namgung Gi kicked Yeon in the side.

Yeon was helplessly sent flying, and blood gushed from his punctured abdomen.

“Keuk!”

D*mn it.

He wanted to draw his sword and cut the man’s throat immediately.

But he couldn’t.

He had lost too much blood, and his consciousness was fading.

It was already remarkable mental strength to still be alive.

‘I regret it.’

Yeon recalled his last fight with the person who had inflicted a fatal wound upon him.

‘If I had won that fight…’

He would have gained victory on this battlefield.

But Yeon couldn’t be sure.

Even if he went back in time, whether he could change the situation…

“I’m done playing with you.”

Step.

Namgung Gi took a step closer to Yeon and sneered.

Namgung Yeon, soaked in blood and collapsed in the middle of the battlefield, had lost all his former dignity and looked utterly pathetic.

‘Finally, this day has come.’

A thrilling sense of pleasure ran through his entire body, starting from his toes.

The death of Namgung Cheon and the downfall of Namgung Yeon.

And even the fragment of the secret manual.

It was an opportunity difficult to obtain even one of these things, yet all of them were within his grasp.

Step.

Another step.

He saw the venomous eyes of Namgung Yeon.

He intensely disliked those eyes.

Namgung Yeon, though having Namgung blood, was a commoner who grew up on the streets.

If he had known that the child who appeared one day would later become the Clan Head’s capable right-hand man, he would have taken action from the beginning.

Who could have possibly contended with hundreds of masters like this?

‘Indeed, the Kirin of the Namgung Clan.’

Despite his contempt, he couldn’t help but acknowledge Yeon’s ability.

He had simply stood out too much.

However.

In the end, Namgung Yeon had lost.

Why?

Because Namgung Yeon’s skill was lacking?

That couldn’t be.

Regrettably, subduing Namgung Yeon with pure force alone was not an easy task.

This fight was no different.

If he had only pushed with brute force, the outcome would not have been the same as it was now.

That was why he used a trick.

He sent out a person whom Yeon could not help but be vulnerable to as a pawn in this battle.

– You…! Why are you here!

Namgung Gi recalled Yeon’s ashen face from earlier and let out a sinister chuckle.

The person Namgung Gi sent out.

His son, Namgung Jehyun.

He expected it to work, and it did.

From the moment Jehyun appeared, Namgung Yeon was rapidly pushed onto the defensive and eventually collapsed after suffering a fatal blow from Jehyun.

It was because Namgung Yeon and Jehyun were closer than just friends; they were like brothers.

How frustrated he had been watching them all this time.

‘I thought he was an incompetent son.’

Not only was he outmatched in skill by someone without roots, but he even swore brotherhood with him.

It was utterly pathetic.

However.

Recalling the situation just now, he was almost grateful for his son’s choice.

Like others, Namgung Jehyun believed that Yeon had coveted the Musang Divine Arts and murdered the Clan Head.

– Namgung Yeon, how could you… betray us?

Jehyun’s eyes, as he faced Namgung Yeon, flickered with rage and betrayal.

It seemed as if no words could reach Jehyun’s ears.

Phew.

Namgung Gi chuckled.

That was proof that his son blindly believed his words.

‘No, it was beyond blind faith.’

Because furiously piercing the abdomen of a beloved friend was something his son normally wouldn’t be able to do.

Namgung Yeon might have wondered how such a thing was possible, but he had no intention of telling him.

After all, the fellow was scheduled to die here today.

For a moment, he thought Yeon was a wasted talent.

Although a commoner, his abilities were outstanding.

But Namgung Yeon would never betray the Clan Head and side with him.

Just as he couldn’t attack Namgung Jehyun to the very end…

That was Yeon’s true nature.

He acted like a lone wolf, as if he would never show affection to anyone, but deep down, he was softer than anyone else.

‘How foolish.’

This was the end for a foolish person.

Who could have ever imagined?

That the Blood-Hand Sword Ghost would be lying on the ground, drenched in blood, like this.

“Hmph.”

Namgung Gi scoffed.

Currently, Yeon was no different from a rolling corpse; he couldn’t even retaliate when kicked.

And the final step.

Step.

Namgung Gi examined Yeon.

He kept his hand hidden within his outer robe the whole time.

Moreover, the veins on his forearm bulged, as if he was gripping something tightly.

It was obvious, even without looking, what he was holding so dearly.

The fragment of the Musang Divine Arts that he had so desperately desired.

But the moment Namgung Gi reached out, something unexpected happened.

Whoosh!

“!!!”

Yeon grabbed his forearm and pulled him closer.

‘Oh, f*ck.’

In an instant, Namgung Gi realized he had fallen into a trap.

‘This monster is using a trick even while dying!’

Yeon smiled, seeing Namgung Gi’s face filled with fear and fury.

That’s right.

Yeon’s intention, in holding Namgung Gi, was clear.

Yeon planned to consume his innate energy, compress an immense amount of internal force, and then detonate it like a bomb.

Of course, using this method would clearly result in his own death.

But if he could kill Namgung Gi as well?

…The price was well worth it.

“Let’s die together!”

Yeon embraced Namgung Gi.

Though Yeon was dying, the sudden burst of power was immense, leaving Namgung Gi helpless.

“Keuk!”

Of course, if this happened, the fragment of the secret manual Yeon had sought to protect would undoubtedly turn to ash.

Yeon, with a bitter smile, silently apologized to the Clan Head.

‘…You told me not to let it be taken, but you didn’t say I had to protect it, did you?’

In the final moment.

Namgung Gi tried to push Yeon away, but Yeon could barely hear his curses.

“This crazy b*stard…!!”

CRASH—

And then, silence.

He was engulfed in the explosion so swiftly that he didn’t even have time to think, ‘It hurts.’

And then, darkness descended.

Chapter 1: The Void

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Is this how I die?

It was dark everywhere.

No, rather than dark, it would be more accurate to say that nothing existed.

Where Yeon was, was itself nothingness.

“Ah…”

It was quiet.

And peaceful.

The disturbing thoughts that had tormented him moments ago seemed to have vanished completely.

It wasn’t that he had no regrets.

But he felt he had done enough.

‘…At least I killed Namgung Gi.’

To the very last moment, he had desperately tried not to release his grip on Namgung Gi, squeezing out every last bit of strength.

He could never leave Namgung Gi in a world where the Clan Head was gone.

‘…Namgung Gi.’

Yeon had disliked Namgung Gi from the beginning.

He couldn’t help but notice his animosity towards him, a commoner.

But since he was the father of a friend who was like a brother, and a capable subordinate of the Clan Head, he had simply tried to ignore it.

‘I never knew his ambition was this deep and rotten…’

Yeon suddenly became depressed.

Come to think of it, what happened to Namgung Jehyun?

Like all male friendships, they never outwardly expressed affection, but he was a guy Yeon had grown up with since childhood, like a close brother.

Yeon never said it, but he was willing to give his life for him.

That’s why he was even more puzzled.

Namgung Jehyun.

Unlike Yeon, who was called the Namgung Clan’s rascal, people praised him as a gentleman.

He was even given the alias, Azure-Robed Immortal Guide.

His character was on a different level compared to Yeon, whose alias had the character ‘Ghost’ in it.

However.

The Namgung Jehyun Yeon saw on the battlefield was quite different.

His clean and transparent eyes, which usually held nobility, had lost their light and blazed with uncontrolled fury.

His gentle and handsome appearance, which always earned others’ favor, overflowed with an unapproachable, sinister aura.

He was someone who always cautioned against misusing power, getting swayed by personal emotions.

Clang!!

His attitude, showing no hesitation even when his sword energy, which erupted like an explosion, was aimed not at Yeon but at the Emperor Sword Unit, was horrifying.

– You…!! Are you insane?!

– Insane, you say? …Me?

Just hearing the guy’s unhinged tone, Yeon was certain.

Namgung Jehyun was not in his right mind.

Even if layers of misunderstandings had piled up, he was not the kind of person who would act that way.

‘Namgung Gi must have done something.’

But since he was already dead, there was no way to know what he had done.

The thought left him feeling choked.

‘…Will he be okay?’

In truth, he doubted if the guy would be okay.

Three people close to him had disappeared all at once.

‘Besides, Namgung Jehyun thinks I killed two of them.’

Of course, he did take Namgung Gi as a companion to the afterlife.

Yeon pondered seriously for a moment.

‘Haha, I don’t know. I’m dead anyway. All I can do is hope he’s okay…’

It might be an irresponsible statement, but Namgung Jehyun was more strong-willed and tenacious than anyone Yeon knew.

Moreover, since Namgung Gi was the one who made Namgung Jehyun like that, he wouldn’t be able to pull any more strange tricks.

Then Namgung Jehyun would gradually get better.

Namgung Jehyun would also be able to lead the chaotic Namgung Clan well.

‘Right…’

Just as his thoughts were beginning to settle.

Flash!

“Ugh!”

Suddenly, a blinding golden light illuminated the empty surroundings.

Yeon frowned.

‘What is it?’

As Yeon’s eyes adjusted to the situation, he could discern the nature of what had appeared as light.

“Golden characters…?”

It was absurd.

He wondered if this was real.

He forced himself to calm down and carefully scrutinized it.

“Oh? This is…”

He had seen this before.

Wasn’t it the inscription found in the Musang Divine Arts manual?

Yeon’s face twisted into a frown.

‘This useless thing…’

For a moment, Yeon was consumed by rage.

He believed the Musang Divine Arts were the root cause of all his troubles.

So, with a curse, he reached out his hand towards the inscription, intending to destroy it.

And the moment his hand touched it.

Whoosh—

“Ugh!”

As if possessing a will of its own, the inscription began to wrap around his entire body.

‘What on earth is happening?!’

Before he could comprehend the situation, it suddenly changed its movement and began to burrow into his chest.

Yeon immediately lost consciousness after that.