Chapter 194
I Became the Successor of the Martial God
Chapter 194.
In a dark room.
Yoo Min was left alone in the empty room, staring out the window.
On the desk lay the book she had been reading since morning, but the page was the same as it had been earlier.
The coffee beside it had also gone cold.
“…….”
Click, clang.
Yoo Min leaned a sword against one shoulder.
The sound of her sheathing and unsheathing the blade echoed loudly in the silent room.
What rose in her mind were memories.
The conversation she had with Yoo Baek-jun earlier that day.
—Cooperation in preparation for civil war.
—What are you talking about? Civil war? You can’t possibly mean a civil war within our family, right?
Who in the world would start a civil war?
In response to Yoo Min’s question, filled with doubt, Yoo Baek-jun smiled ambiguously.
—Why do you think it wouldn’t happen?
—Well, obviously… there’s no one suitable to start one. You’d need someone with the charisma to rally a majority and a grudge against the family.
As she spoke, Yoo Min paused, as if something had occurred to her.
There was one person who fit the description.
—You… don’t tell me.
—There is one. Someone with charisma who holds a grudge against the current family. To be precise… someone dissatisfied with the current succession structure.
Among the recent series of events, there was one person whose pride had been deeply wounded.
—Yoo Tae rang.
—Are you out of your mind?
—Why does it seem unlikely?
Yoo Min let out a deep sigh.
“I can’t just dismiss this either.”
What on earth would make Yoo Tae-rang start something like a civil war?
The only reason would be Yoo Baek-jun’s life.
But the risks were far too great.
‘What is Father planning?’
Yoo Moo-hak does not involve himself much in the family’s succession disputes. Though he tends to lend his support to those he favors.
He doesn’t care if they kill each other.
But even then, there’s a limit—open warfare within the family would never be tolerated.
‘Would Yoo Tae-rang really go that far?’
It’s unthinkable.
The problem is that it was Yoo Baek-jun who said it.
His actions up to now lent credibility to his outlandish words.
—I’m giving you a choice.
Yoo Baek-jun spoke as if delivering a final notice.
—Once this coming internal conflict is over, the succession will be decided one way or another. Either I’ll take the position, or Yoo Tae-rang will. One of the two.
—So?
—Do you think Yoo Tae-rang would spare you if he became the head? Just because you’ve stayed neutral until now?
—…….
Yoo Min could only fall silent at those words.
She knew the answer was no.
—He’s the kind of man who used and discarded Yoo Kang-ho like that. There’s no guarantee you won’t meet the same fate. You might even die by Yoo Tae-rang’s hand before then.
—Are you saying I should cooperate if I don’t want to die?
—Is that how it sounded?
Yoo Baek-jun’s eyes gleamed coldly.
—If you cooperate with me now, there will be a place for you when everything is over. If you refuse and remain neutral…
“You won’t leave me alone.”
Though Yoo Baek-jun left the rest unsaid, Yoo Min could guess what he meant.
She had sent him away with a vague promise to think about it, but time was running out.
“What should I do?”
Until now, Yoo Min had avoided being swept up in the turmoil by remaining neutral.
She didn’t care who died.
She had maintained strict neutrality, even giving up her claim to the family head position, which was why even the ruthless Yoo Tae-rang had left her alone.
‘But that’s as far as it goes.’
If Yoo Tae-rang becomes family head, her life would be nothing more than a candle in the wind.
“…….”
One side had climbed to this position by killing every rival successor in his path.
The other had reached this point by accepting help from other successors when necessary.
Two completely opposite paths.
If she had to choose, there was only one option.
“I have no choice.”
Yoo Min exhaled deeply.
* * *
Far from the Sword Saint’s family, there was a frozen waterfall.
Once, water had flowed here, but an abnormal climate in Seoraksan mountain had turned it to ice.
Yoo Tae-rang stood alone before it.
“…….”
His eyes, fixed on the waterfall, held not even a trace of emotion.
An expression so cold it was almost cruel.
After a long silence, Yoo Tae-rang quietly drew his sword.
Sschick!
A single slash.
The sound of the blade scraping against ice.
A moment later, the frozen waterfall trembled—
Whooosh…….
The ice shattered, and the water beneath it began to cascade down with a deafening roar.
Yoo Tae-rang lowered the sword in his right hand and silently watched the waterfall.
“…….”
For the first time, the chaos in his mind seemed to settle.
The crashing, scattering water.
Yoo Tae-rang exhaled slowly.
“Good.”
He liked this place, where the only sound was the roaring waterfall.
Yoo Tae-rang closed his eyes.
And calmly assessed his situation.
‘Father’s expectations of me have diminished.’
Until now, Yoo Tae-rang had carried out every task Yoo Moo-hak assigned him without failure.
Because of that, Yoo Moo-hak had believed he could accomplish anything.
That belief had now been shattered.
‘A minor failure might have been excusable, but this one… was far too great.’
The damage was too severe for even Yoo Tae-rang to ignore.
Yoo Moo-hak couldn’t help but be disappointed.
‘On top of that, the number of swordsmen loyal to me has drastically decreased.
The Busan branch is practically under Yoo Baek-jun’s control now.’
The losses in Busan had been too heavy.
He had lost both his followers and control of the Busan branch. Worse, his once overwhelming support within the family was now wavering.
“Yoo Baek-jun.”
Until now, the family had vaguely assumed Yoo Tae-rang would become the next head.
They had acted accordingly.
Because there was no one else.
But Yoo Baek-jun’s existence planted doubt in their minds.
—Does it have to be Yoo Tae-rang?
—Isn’t Yoo Baek-jun more suited to be family head?
—Looking at recent events,Yoo Tae-rang’s abilities might be…
Crunch!
Yoo Tae-rang gritted his teeth.
“Nonsense.”
He was the only one who could become family head.
The thought of anyone else taking that position was unthinkable.
Especially if that someone was Yoo Baek-jun.
‘I must turn this situation around.’
Everything that had gone awry must be set right. But how?
Yoo Tae-rang stared at the flowing water, lost in thought.
“Lord Yoo Tae-rang.”
A voice reached his ears.
Enchanting yet eerie.
“What is it?”
It wa Lee Ja-yae from the intelligence division.
She approached with light steps.
“Must there be a reason for us to meet?”
“Enough foolishness. Tell me why you’re here. If not—”
Shiiing!
The sound of a drawn sword echoed.
Though Lee Ja-yae kept her smile, cold sweat ran down her back.
‘He’s furious. If I provoke him further, things could get ugly.’
She cleared her throat softly.
“I came to report. Next week, the family head will be away for an extended period.”
“Father will?”
“Yes. If you use this information well… it could be of great help to you, Lord Yoo Tae-rang.”
“…….”
Yoo Tae rang’s gaze shifted.
Seeing this, Lee Ja-yae smiled faintly and stepped back lightly, as if dancing.
“Where are you going?”
“To the intelligence division. We still haven’t identified who caused the confusion in Busan.”
“No leads?”
“Only that there must be a traitor among my subordinates.”
Though she still smiled, her expression was as sharp as a blade.
“I don’t know who the traitor is yet, but if I find them… it won’t end well for them.”
“That’s your business.”
“Of course.”
Lee Ja-yae turned to leave.
“Lee Ja-yae.”
A cold voice stopped her.
“Don’t disappoint me again.”
“…Understood.”
A short command.
But Lee Ja-yae understood the underlying threat.
Disappoint him, and she would be dealt with.
To avoid that, she had no choice but to throw herself into this task.
“…….”
Lee Ja-yae quickly departed.
Left alone, Yoo Tae-rang sank back into thought.
‘Father favors Yoo Baek-jun. If this continues, he’ll only grow stronger and threaten my position.’
He couldn’t allow that.
If it came to it—
“No, that’s……”
Yoo Tae-rang shook his head, dismissing the fleeting thought.
Then—
—What troubles you?
A hazy figure appeared before him.
A monstrous being with no fixed form—only a grotesque crimson mask covering its face.
In its hands, it held swords.
—Haven’t you killed everyone who stood in your way until now? Was that not you?
A blatant sneer.
The ghost-like creature floated around Yoo Tae-rang, mocking him.
—You killed your begging brother. You killed the siblings who offered to do anything. You even killed the younger brother who pleaded to see his sister again.
The creature’s name was the Sword Demon.
Yoo Tae rang’s innate ability—a malevolent spirit that had haunted him since childhood, whispering of death.
The Sword Demon gave him power.
A superior body, mastery of swordsmanship, and ice-cold composure.
—Yoo Tae rang, this is no different. Go on, kill the one who stands in your way…
The price of that power was one thing:
Blood, flesh, and life.
—Kill. If you must, I’ll lend you strength…
The Sword Demon was always the same.
It demanded slaughter in exchange for power, and the scale of that slaughter only grew with time.
And,
“…….”
Little by little, Yoo Tae-rang found himself welcoming it.
A faint smile crossed his lips. Clenching his fist, he lost himself in thought.
His eyes flashed crimson.
“Young master.”
After a long while, Ha Yeon-jeong, worried by his absence, came looking for him.
He was still staring at the waterfall.
“When I was young…”
As Ha Yeon-jeong approached, Yoo Tae-rang spoke in a weary voice, as if reminiscing.
“Father once brought me here. He said it was a meaningful place to him. We stopped by after clearing a dungeon.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes… Here, I had my first private conversation with him. And for the first time, he praised me for my achievements.”
His first dungeon conquest. His first success.
Yoo Moo-hak had been pleased with Yoo Tae-rang’s accomplishments. That memory had stayed with him ever since.
Perhaps that was why he came here whenever he needed to calm his mind.
“Success… Failure is not an option.”
Yoo Tae-rang turned away from the waterfall.
His crimson eyes fixed on Ha Yeon-jeong. Slowly, he spoke.
“I will start a rebellion.”
“What?”
A bombshell declaration.
Ha Yeon-jeong’s mouth fell open in shock.
“Gather every swordsman you can. As discreetly as possible. And—”
Yoo Tae-rang’s voice dropped to a whisper.
“Kill Yoo Baek-jun.”