Chapter 737: I Promise. Lee Jae-won Will Meet a Gruesome End.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 737: I Promise. Lee Jae-won Will Meet a Gruesome End.
The height of autumn.
In the heart of the forest, a massive maple tree, its leaves turned a brilliant gold, stood tall and proud.
Its trunk was so thick that even a grown man stretching his arms to their limit could not hope to encircle it. Its height was such that simply looking up at it inspired a natural sense of wonder. This nameless tree possessed a strange magic that commanded awe from all who beheld it.
Step, step.
From a distance, someone was walking toward the great maple.
Snow-white hair bore the clear marks of time. Faint wrinkles served as symbols of the years he had lived. Yet, he possessed a sturdy build that seemed to defy the passage of time itself. A rugged scabbard was slung at his hip, marking him clearly as a swordsman.
He was an elderly warrior with a dignified presence.
Step, step.
The old swordsman walked with a steady, rhythmic gait. One could tell just by his measured, precise steps that his cultivation was far from ordinary. He was undoubtedly a master who had reached a supreme level of swordsmanship.
After walking for some time, he came to a halt.
He stopped directly in front of the massive maple tree. For a moment, he simply stared at it in silence. Then, he slowly lifted his head to admire the brilliant, golden leaves. A small smile played at the corners of his mouth.
Observing the changing seasons did not seem to be a bad way to spend his time.
After a moment of quiet appreciation, he moved.
Grip.
His hand came to rest on the hilt of his sword. He stepped forward with his left leg, leaned slightly, and lowered his stance. Then, he began to regulate his breathing.
One breath.
Tighten.
He gripped the sword firmly.
Two breaths.
He began to pour strength into his lead left leg.
Three breaths.
Shring!
He drew his blade in a flash, swinging it toward the maple tree.
Four breaths.
Click.
He retracted the blade and sheathed it instantly. It was a movement so fast it was nearly invisible to the naked eye.
The old swordsman slowly rose from his lowered stance. He stood still, staring at the tree he had just struck.
After a long silence...
Creeeeeak.
A bizarre, grinding sound began to emanate from the maple tree. Then, it began to tilt to one side, slowly at first, then gaining momentum.
CRASH!
A deafening roar erupted, sharp enough to make one's ears ring.
Rumble...
The ground began to shake. The massive trunk of the maple tree slammed into the earth, sending out a tremendous shockwave. The great tree, which had stood proudly for hundreds of years, had been felled.
And it had been done by a single, aging swordsman.
"..."
The old man gazed calmly at the scene he had created, his expression indifferent, as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
Clap, clap, clap, clap.
Suddenly, the sound of rhythmic clapping drifted through the air.
Whish.
The old swordsman quickly turned his head toward the source of the sound. There, he saw a middle-aged man watching him with a pleasant, amused smile.
"Impressive," the middle-aged man said, breaking the silence.
"You've come," the old swordsman replied in a calm tone.
"Your sword is quite sharp, Sword Emperor," the man said, a deep smile spreading across his face.
"It is merely a dull blade now," the old swordsman—the Sword Emperor, Yoon Je-gyeom—replied evenly.
"Hahaha, you are far too modest." The middle-aged man looked genuinely entertained.
"It is not modesty. Do you not think the same? Sword Demon."
"Compared to mine, it is indeed a dull blade. But that is because I am strong, not because you are weak." The Sword Demon offered a playful, mischievous smile as a form of consolation.
"Is that supposed to be a consolation?" Yoon Je-gyeom asked, looking exasperated. What kind of comfort was that?
"My apologies. I've never had much talent for lying," the Sword Demon replied with a sly grin.
"I truly cannot tell if you are mocking me or being sincere." Yoon Je-gyeom shook his head. Now, as in the past, this man's playful attitude was nothing if not confusing.
"I am always serious, Sword Emperor."
"Then I shall take it as a sincere remark," Yoon Je-gyeom said calmly. "Regardless, what brings you here?"
"How cold. Do you think I only visit when I have business?"
"Why else would you seek out an old man who is simply waiting for his day to die?"
"Well, I do have something to deliver, and I thought I’d see your face while I was at it."
"What is it?" Yoon Je-gyeom asked immediately. He was curious about why the man had come all this way to see him in person.
"Take this."
The Sword Demon pulled a small note from his robes and tossed it toward him.
Snatch.
Yoon Je-gyeom caught the note out of the air. "What is this?"
"Open it."
Following the Sword Demon's calm instruction, Yoon Je-gyeom unfolded the neatly tucked paper. His eyes fell upon the densely packed characters written inside.
A secret order!
Yoon Je-gyeom realized instantly that these were instructions meant for him.
"Hmm..."
Having identified it as a mission, he fell silent and began to read carefully, as if determined not to miss a single character.
After a long silence, he spoke, his expression turning incredibly heavy.
"Is... is it truly necessary to go this far?"
He was hesitating, faced with a plan that was more vicious than he had imagined.
"I simply judged it to be necessary."
"But... even so..."
"Do not forget who your enemy is, Sword Emperor," the Sword Demon interrupted, watching the other man's hesitation.
"...I have not forgotten. How could I ever forget? The scoundrel who snatched away the only joy I had left in my life... But your plan involves more than just the death of Lee Jae-won, does it not?"
Yoon Je-gyeom looked troubled. Ever since he had learned the truth, he had not spent a single day without thinking of his enemy, Lee Jae-won. He wanted to kill him. He wanted to kill him miserably to appease the soul of his granddaughter, who had already become a lonely ghost.
That was why he had joined hands with the Demonic Cult. Though he had spent his entire life championing Chivalry and despising the Demonic Cult, he had allied with them for one reason: to kill Lee Jae-won.
He had vowed that no matter what order was given, he would not hesitate to carry out the plan.
But that vow was wavering now, all because of the instructions on this note. The order detailed the actions to be taken on the day of the event, and he found them impossible to accept. The plan was designed so that not only Lee Jae-won but the majority of the leadership might perish.
"Are you saying you cannot accept this?" the Sword Demon asked, noting Yoon Je-gyeom's reluctant expression.
"I am asking if it is truly necessary to go to such lengths."
His goal was Lee Jae-won. He wanted to eliminate the direct culprit who had raped and murdered his granddaughter. But to kill innocent members of the leadership as well—how could such an order be given?
"No matter how I look at it, this seems like a shallow trick to weaken the Cheonmu Alliance's strength before the Great War of Righteousness and Demons."
"You seem to be under a great misunderstanding," the Sword Demon said, shaking his head slightly. "I won't deny that we intend to weaken your forces. We intervened in your affairs specifically to sow internal discord. However, the decision to kill the leadership isn't just about reducing numbers. It is strictly for the sake of your revenge."
"...Explain yourself."
"Lee Jae-won is not your only enemy. The rotten leadership who knew everything and yet stood by as idle spectators—they are also your enemies."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Did you not hear it from Joo So-yang? Their hideous attempt to protect the Cheonmu Alliance's reputation by pinning the serial rape and murder case on Jang Sam? They likely hushed up your granddaughter's case as well. The more it was mentioned, the more the Alliance's reputation would have plummeted."
The Sword Demon's voice remained flat and devoid of emotion.
"Go out and ask anyone on the street. See if even one person knows your granddaughter's name. They controlled the information. They made sure her existence vanished completely from people's minds. They killed her a second time. And yet you ask if this is necessary?"
The Sword Demon looked Yoon Je-gyeom straight in the eye.
"Is your resentment truly so shallow?" he asked, his voice tinged with reproach. "The ones who caused your granddaughter's death were not just Lee Jae-won, but the Cheonmu Alliance itself. That rotten organization... and to pull out something that is rotten to the core, you must overturn everything."
Grit.
Yoon Je-gyeom ground his teeth. The man was right. Everything he said was true.
Through Joo So-yang, Yoon Je-gyeom had learned just how power-hungry the leadership had been. That was why he could empathize and why he could feel such rage at the Sword Demon's words.
The Cheonmu Alliance was rotten. And because of that rot, his granddaughter's death had been completely buried. Lee Jae-won had committed the crime, but the Alliance itself had buried it.
Therefore, it had to be overturned. Even if it meant killing every last member of the leadership.
A murderous aura began to flicker in Yoon Je-gyeom's eyes.
"Your eyes have changed for the better, Sword Emperor," the Sword Demon remarked with satisfaction.
Despite accepting the Demonic Cult's cooperation, Yoon Je-gyeom had been unable to shed his stubborn nature as a member of the Orthodox Faction. For a man who had spent his life pursuing Chivalry, discarding that identity was no easy task.
That was why the Sword Demon had provoked his resentment—a resentment so extreme it had driven a man of Chivalry to join hands with the hated Demonic Cult.
The provocation had clearly been successful. The look in his eyes had shifted. They were no longer deep and profound, but filled with a base, terrible murderous intent.
"...I will do it," Yoon Je-gyeom said, his eyes flashing with bloodlust. He had accepted the Sword Demon's proposal.
"A wise choice. That is how a grudge should be settled." The Sword Demon nodded, looking quite pleased with the decision.
"Promise me one thing."
Yoon Je-gyeom spoke as he looked at the smiling Sword Demon.
"Speak."
"I will not stop you from using my resentment to weaken the Cheonmu Alliance. I will not care if you use my grudge to hinder the gathering of the Orthodox Faction. I will not even concern myself with your plan to create a Demonic Hegemony and rule the Central Plains."
Yoon Je-gyeom's voice was steady.
"But promise me... that no matter what, Lee Jae-won will face a horrific revenge... that my resentment will be properly settled."
Yoon Je-gyeom's eyes were bloodshot as he stared at the Sword Demon, his gaze heavy with immense murderous intent.
Grin.
The Sword Demon let a thick smile spread across his lips. Seeing one of the most renowned masters of the Orthodox Faction driven mad by a desire for revenge was quite entertaining.
"I promise. Lee Jae-won will meet a gruesome end. And your resentment will be settled, no matter what."
The Sword Demon gave his word. He promised a horrific end for Lee Jae-won and perfect revenge for Yoon Je-gyeom.
"I shall trust you, Sword Demon," Yoon Je-gyeom said, his eyes now filled with a strange sort of trust.
"I am not a man who goes back on his word, Sword Emperor," the Sword Demon replied with an amused smile. "Ah, and one more thing."
He spoke suddenly, as if just remembering.
"From now on, could you call me 'Sword Man' instead of 'Sword Demon'?"
"Sword Man!?"
"I've grown fond of the title."
The Sword Demon—no, the Sword Man—smiled. He seemed to truly like the title 'Sword Man,' as it expressed him as the sword itself.
"I shall do so, Sword Man."
Yoon Je-gyeom nodded and immediately changed the form of address. It didn't seem like a difficult request.
"My thanks."
The Sword Man's smile deepened. He thought to himself that the name had a rather nice ring to it.