That Day, Haenam Sect's Future Died
I... I am... a genius... no, I wasn't...
Bi-mu duels were basically festivals for the people of murim. For those who lived and died by the martial arts, what could be more thrilling than publicly pitting their skills against one another? But sometimes, for someone, it wasn't a festival at all—it was a funeral. Just like right now.
"……."
"……."
"……."
"……."
A funeral atmosphere so thick no one could even breathe properly. That was the mood of the Haenam Sect. Their eyes wide with shock, frozen like statues. It must have felt just like this when Haenam Sect was pushed out of the Nine Great Sects' lowest seat by the Hyeongsan Sect. The endlessly grim air felt in no way lacking.
Grind. Blood trickled from Hwan Won-gang's lips. He'd bitten them until they tore. Blood oozed from his tightly clenched fists too. His nails had dug into his flesh. Red veins burst in his eyes. His whole body trembled as he barely held back the surging rage.
'Kuh... Sword Peak is that strong?!'
He knew the evaluations: she wasn't just young expert level. But there were plenty of young experts who got that kind of talk. Hwan Won-gang could name over ten right off the top of his head. Sa U-bi had kept a low profile from the start, so her fame was lacking, but her skill easily surpassed young expert bounds. That was the status of the Ten Stars of the South Sea Thirty-Six Swords.
But.
'Damn it, she's way beyond that level!'
Sword Peak was on another plane entirely. Hwan Won-gang realized it all too clearly. Looking at her, he thought of a wave. A massive wave of overwhelming momentum. A wave that would swallow every leading ripple in murim as it surged forward. No... that wasn't right. That wave had already devoured most of murim's frontrunners.
'How can such a monster exist!'
For the first time, Hwan Won-gang regretted allowing this duel. But he hadn't known. He hadn't known she was such a monster. And spilled water couldn't be gathered back up.
That was when someone from Haenam Sect spoke up with a glimmer of hope.
"Th-the Sea Dragon Armor is still there, so we might still have a shot, right?"
And nothing was sweeter than hope. That was why it spread like a plague.
"Y-yeah! With the Sea Dragon Armor, the damage might not be as bad as it looks!"
"And those blows to the back of the blade must be building up shock! Sea Dragon's been hammering that spot relentlessly!"
"Exactly! If that accumulated damage finally cracks it!"
"It'll be the turning point!"
Haenam Sect's mood reignited, if only a little. But it was like the last flash of light before death. At least Hwan Won-gang knew it for what it was.
'...Pathetic fools. All they're pinning their hopes on is the Sea Dragon Armor.'
Hwan Won-gang's eyes darkened with bitterness. He'd been the one to allow preparing the Sea Dragon Armor in the first place, but it had only been a contingency for the worst case. In the end, what decided victory was personal skill alone. The armor could only be a factor when skills were evenly matched. When the gap was this blatant, like now, it meant nothing.
Looking at his disciples, Hwan Won-gang felt regret even for that.
'...I've been too fixated on U-bi. I should have paid more attention to the others.'
Because she'd been a miracle genius, he'd poured everything into Sa U-bi. She'd been the sole hope for pushing Hyeongsan Sect aside and reclaiming Haenam Sect's place among the Nine Great Sects. But that hope...
Hwan Won-gang couldn't overcome his anguish and heavily closed his eyes.
Crunch crunch. Someone was slinking away from the spectator seats like a rat. It was Ma Mun, the loudmouth who'd boasted that Sword Peak's sword was a dull blade, that the duel would go back and forth for at least thirty exchanges before Haenam Sword Dragon won.
'Wh-what the hell is this? This doesn't match the intel at all? Those bastards sold me this crap for money? Fuck, what a scam!'
"Where you off to?"
"Eek!"
He yelped like a startled rat without thinking. Splat! Ma Mun sprawled on the ground. His cowed eyes darted anxiously.
"So, how about it? I was right, wasn't I?"
The man blocking Ma Mun raised his voice. The one who'd said Sword Peak's sword was no dull blade at all, and that she'd overwhelm them.
"Th-th-th..."
Ma Mun, who could normally talk a big game as a gossip, stuttered like he had a speech impediment, unable to get a word out.
The onlookers cheered at the sight.
"Impressive! Nailing it just like that!"
"Haha, who knew Sword Peak was this strong!"
"But the duel isn't over yet."
"Pfft, it's as good as done. How's she gonna turn that around?"
"I knew Sword Peak felt overwhelmingly stronger."
"You too? Same here."
"Obviously. Just look at her back and skirt. That insane composure is something only a true master can pull off."
'Always talking big after the fact.'
Yang Dae, standing behind them, clicked his tongue. It was ridiculous, but that was human nature...
Anyway.
'Heh heh, serves you right, Ma Mun.'
His rival, always one step ahead. Seeing Ma Mun reduced to a shrinking mess felt great. This time, he was sure he'd take the lead.
'First, hype up Sword Peak big time for a killer story.'
But anyone here could do that. He needed something unique. Yang Dae believed he could get that edge from the Golden Dragon Battlefield Lord. The Lord's declaration that he'd stake his life if Sword Peak wasn't the real deal wasn't something a mere playboy son-in-law could fake. Intriguing on every level. Especially their odd connection, with him as Sword Peak's attendant.
If he wove that in right, it'd be a goldmine story...
'Hold on.'
Yang Dae's expression changed.
'What if I subtly lay the groundwork for that vibe?'
As a gossip, he knew it well. People went crazy for romance between men and women. Especially if they were famous. And not just any famous folks? One was a meteoric son-in-law stirring scandals with another stunning beauty despite having an absolute stunner for a wife. The other? Murim's top young expert, soon to be even more famous—and an absolute beauty. No better characters to sell a story.
Yang Dae's lips curled into a sleazy grin.
'Yeah, that's the play.'
Of course, outright calling it love or affection might get him killed by one of them. That was amateur hour. He just needed to hint at it, subtle as a shadow. That alone would make the story sell like hotcakes. And besides.
'What if they actually get together later?'
Impossible now, sure. But Yang Dae knew relationships could twist unpredictably. Not zero chance. If that slim shot hit?
'Jackpot.'
He'd skyrocket to fame as the gossip who first spilled their secret tension. 'Ahem, calm down, calm down.'
Yang Dae settled his excitement. Nothing had started, nothing achieved yet. First, nail the play-by-play on this duel. He focused piercing eyes back on the action.
"It's over," Bang So-un muttered softly.
"Huh? She's still tanking like a beast."
"Pfft, tanking?"
Bang So-un laughed at Jang Il's words, then explained quietly.
"That's not tanking—it's armor. Light armor. Probably treasure-grade."
"What? Cheating like that?"
"Shh, keep it down. We're in enemy territory."
Bang So-un casually labeled Haenam Sect as the enemy. They'd be enemies for sure someday, so it wasn't wrong.
"R-right, got it."
Jang Il flinched and lowered his voice. Bang So-un smirked oddly.
"What do you think she's doing?"
"Huh? Beating her down."
"Then why target the treasure armor specifically?"
"Uh... feels good?"
"Puhaha!"
Bang So-un burst out laughing at Jang Il's absurd reply. Once the laughter subsided, he continued.
"She's breaking it."
"Huh?"
"Trying to shatter that treasure armor."
"What?"
Jang Il's eyes widened.
"And when it does... Haenam Sect's pride shatters too. Along with that guy's spirit."
Bang So-un twisted into a wicked smile.
Relentless strikes to the back of the blade and armored form.
Thud thud thud thud thud!
Sa U-bi couldn't think straight. Overwhelming pain crashed through even with the Sea Dragon Armor.
"Aaaagh! Aaaagh! Aaaaaagh!"
Only screams escaped. She desperately tried countering, but each time Yu Seol-young smashed her arms with the flat of the blade, deadening them.
In the end.
Clang!
Sa U-bi's sword hit the ground. She had no strength left to pick it up. Victory seemed clear to anyone watching.
But Sa U-bi couldn't accept it. Wouldn't accept it.
She was a genius. From birth. Since childhood, the mediocre fools around her were mere foils to highlight her shine. Even those called talented were nothing compared to her. Pathetic existences. She'd realized it then: the world revolved around her.
The humbled Haenam Sect was a perfect stage for her too. Restoring a fallen great sect's past glory? What better spotlight?
She'd won and won. The South Sea Thirty-Six Swords, symbol and sum of Haenam Sect—she'd reached the Ten Stars before even establishing her foundation. An unprecedented feat at her age. Of course. She was a genius.
And she'd prepared. For another ultimate stage. The perfect prey to leap upward. Neutral ground? No—Haenam Sect's home turf. Even the Sea Dragon Armor ready. She couldn't lose. No way.
But.
But why!
"Uwaaaaaah!"
Sa U-bi spat blood in a mad roar. Her eyes had long gone feral. The berserk genius charged Yu Seol-young wildly.
"I'm a genius! A genius! So I can't lose! I won't lose!"
The genius's frustrated bellow. Yu Seol-young's reply.
"You?"
Then the sword extended. Sa U-bi's frenzied face shook to its roots. She felt it. All too clearly.
A perfect sword line, unbelievable for a flat-of-the-blade strike. Flawless. Pristine. Radiant. She'd swung a sword tens of thousands of times, but never seen its like. Never drawn it, never imagined it.
The sword's breath pressed down on her body like an illusion. No, not an illusion.
Th-that's...
Thwack!
A light, clear sound rang out. But.
Krunch!
The Sea Dragon Armor shattered to pieces. Sa U-bi's body flew far away. No scream of pain. Her mind had collapsed beyond feeling physical agony.
'I... I'm not... a g-genius...'
That day, Haenam Sect's future died.