The Heavenly Lord's Wall
The Bukgung Clan—why is it called the Bukgung Clan? Looking at the surname Bukgung, it began when the two greatest houses that drove out the barbarians and opened a new heaven were enfeoffed as the Northern Lord of Wei and the Southern Lord of Wei, the northern house in the north of the capital and the southern house in the south. Yet the Bukgung themselves believed their house had truly begun the moment their founding ancestor, Bukgung Cheon, resolved never to be bound by anything in this world; the emperor had merely given a name to that resolve. They sincerely believed that even the Seven Great Houses, the Nine Great Sects, and even the imperial court and the Son of Heaven were merely comrades who had shouldered the same goal, and therefore could never hold them back. That was why, unlike the Namgung who followed the court when it moved the capital to Gyeongsa, the Bukgung remained in the north even after two hundred years of the new dynasty.
It was an attitude so arrogant it could almost be called blasphemous, yet the Bukgung Clan suffered no greater punishment than being insulted with the name "Eight Righteous Gates." The reason, in a single word, was that they were strong. From the founding ancestor Bukgung Cheon onward, they had been the greatest under heaven in their era, and even before the founding of the dynasty, no martial house other than the Bukgung had been able to establish itself in northern Shaanxi or Shanxi. The history of the Bukgung Clan's martial prowess and power was long. In the present day, even if they clashed with the famed Northeastern Army Command, they could fight to mutual destruction if they went all out. The Seven Houses and Nine Sects did not even dare to face them one-on-one, and had to gather in packs just to bark in the direction of Taiyuan. Thus, no matter what the Bukgung thought or said, the other side preferred to look the other way rather than receive the fists and swords of the greatest house under heaven in place of the Mongolian barbarians.
For Bukgung Yeon, this had been a source of pride since she was very young. How fortunate it was to be born a Bukgung from the very first breath? More than half of her uncles and aunts had to prove themselves with blood just to earn that surname. Because she thought of it as a debt incurred by receiving the name first, she could endure even the painful and sometimes terrifying training. So when she finally received a family assignment after training and learned the truth, she had felt dissatisfaction toward her grandfather, the sole Absolute Master of the current generation and the retired head of the house.
Of course, entering seclusion to focus on training was not usually a fault, but what more could a man who had already reached the Absolute realm possibly hope to gain through further seclusion? Especially a man who had been the youngest to reach that realm before even Sama Geon dared to call himself an Absolute Master, and who had been considered the most likely candidate for the greatest under heaven.
"It is the young lady. Please enter."
There was no need to speak. The moment she stopped before the gate, the warrior who recognized her face bowed respectfully and stepped aside. She returned the greeting with a slight nod. He was not a Bukgung by blood, but he was a member of the Bukgung Clan who might one day earn the name, and therefore deserved the treatment befitting that status.
Unlike other self-proclaimed great houses that allowed hundreds or thousands to share the same surname and argue over direct and collateral lines, the Bukgung Clan granted the surname Bukgung only to those they deemed most worthy. Only the direct children of the head were born with the name Bukgung. Everyone else—including descendants of Bukgung who had failed to inherit the headship—was given an equal opportunity to prove their ability and dedication and earn the right to the name.
Bukgung Yeon approved of this tradition even though her own descendants might never be allowed to use the surname. In her view, even those born with the name Bukgung should be tested after reaching adulthood and another ten years to see if they were truly worthy of it. Specifically, people like her sixth uncle—who had once told her that Grandfather was actually using seclusion as an excuse to hide because he feared the orthodox factions and the imperial court—needed to have their strength and wisdom measured against the weight of the name.
The sound of footsteps echoed against the dry stone walls, gradually fading until it stopped completely. Bukgung Yeon took a slow breath and knocked politely on the iron door.
"Grandfather. It is Yeon. I have brought the news you were waiting for."
After a short but deep silence, a low yet clear voice answered.
"Come in."
Seated on a wide stone platform was a middle-aged man whose beard and sideburns were half streaked with white, though much black still remained. When standing, he would easily exceed six feet. His tall frame was covered in dense muscle without a single wasted spot; nowhere did it bulge so much as to seem excessive. Yet his shoulders were solid, his forearms long and thick, and the overall shape differed from those who pursued only sleek, flexible lines. It was as though a master craftsman had forged a single sword—every inch of his body perfected into flawless functional beauty, without the slightest excess or deficiency.
Bukgung Jin-seong's eyes snapped open and fixed on his granddaughter.
"Well? Is it true?"
"Yes," Bukgung Yeon answered without hesitation. "The Martial Emperor has definitely suffered a serious injury or entered a state of heart demon deviation. It seems many others besides him are suffering similar aftereffects."
"And it was truly the work of a single person."
"Yes. That is also certain."
"Then it must be that person."
His voice was calm, yet it carried a deep sigh. Bukgung Yeon found herself clenching both hands without realizing it.
Years ago, when she had first met her grandfather after her coming-of-age ceremony, her ambition had shattered. She had sworn that once she grew older and stronger and inherited his power and position, she would never act the way he did. Yet the very assumption that she could naturally inherit his place simply by being the most outstanding among her siblings had been an arrogance she only recognized after meeting him.
Because she had been born with a sensitive constitution, she could tell immediately. She had never met other Absolute Masters, but if Bukgung Jin-seong was the standard, then anyone who thought an Absolute Master was merely a slightly stronger member of the Top 100 Masters was no different from a blind man with open eyes.
Even if he truly had bent the knee out of fear of the orthodox factions and the imperial court, Bukgung Yeon would not have dared to complain. If that was how he saw it, then it was wisdom; and if he chose to do so, no one could stop him. But the truth was far more terrifying than that.
Bukgung Jin-seong had not entered seclusion for any other reason. He had encountered a wall he needed to overcome. And that wall was not some abstract enlightenment or his own inner demon. The undefeated Bukgung Jin-seong had suffered his first defeat one month before entering seclusion.
"Yeon-ah."
"Yes, Grandfather."
The sound of heavy footsteps echoed as Bukgung Jin-seong rose and met her eyes.
"I still cannot be certain that I can defeat him."
He did not say he would win. What right did he have to make such a claim? Bukgung Jin-seong had not spoken to hear empty reassurances either, and continued at once.
"Looking back, I was still far from complete at that time. Only now have I finally perfected the Heavenly Dragon True Qi and the Heaven-Shaking Divine Power. Even so, I do not believe I can definitely defeat him."
"..."
"Yet I also do not think I will simply lose. At the very least, I do not expect to be defeated by a single technique without even understanding what happened, the way it was then."
It was a truly shocking statement. Even before entering seclusion, Bukgung Jin-seong had been an Absolute Master, contending with the Sword Immortal for the title of greatest under heaven. Was there truly someone who could defeat him with a single technique?
But Bukgung Yeon already knew this, so she merely nodded.
"I also hope that is the case."
Even the current Bukgung Jin-seong could be defeated by a single technique; she could not even imagine how anyone could ever reach that level. As someone who still aspired, however distantly, to become the greatest under heaven, she could only hope sincerely.
Whether he sensed her feelings or simply found his granddaughter's clumsy encouragement endearing, Bukgung Jin-seong allowed a faint smile to cross his firm lips.
"On the way, I will pass on the newly refined Heaven-Shaking Divine Power. Time will be short, so learn it with all your strength."
"...Grandfather's boundless grace is like the sea and the sky."
"Do you know why I chose you?"
At those words, Bukgung Yeon's head, which had been rising, stopped abruptly. She had never thought deeply about it. She had simply assumed that, just as her father had been the most outstanding among his siblings and inherited both the title of Heaven-Shaking Fist Lord and the position of head, she had been recommended by her father as the most outstanding among his children, and therefore Grandfather had drawn close to pass on that legacy to his successor.
But the fact that he said he had chosen her meant it was not that.
Since a moment's thought yielded no answer, Bukgung Yeon answered honestly.
"If it is not because I am the most talented among my siblings, then I do not know any other reason."
"Among all the children I have seen, you have the best eyes."
Bukgung Jin-seong looked away from Bukgung Yeon and gazed into the distance.
"I cannot be certain that I will win. And if I lose, I cannot assume there will definitely be another chance. Yet no matter how much longer I remain in seclusion, I do not feel that a better opportunity will come than now."
When he finished speaking, Bukgung Jin-seong's gaze shifted slightly and returned to Bukgung Yeon.
"So watch until the very end."
"..."
"Whether I am defeated by a single technique again, or lose by a hair's breadth after a fierce exchange, you must engrave every moment in your eyes and advance at least one step further in your generation. It would be even better if you could win. That is why I chose you."
She could not answer easily. The words were so heavy that they entered her ears, filled her mouth, and blocked her throat. Only after some time passed did Bukgung Yeon manage to push out a heavy breath.
"...I will obey."
Hearing those words, Bukgung Jin-seong smiled again and took his first step outside the narrow stone chamber in twenty-five years. After a long seclusion, the Heavenly Lord of the Bukgung Clan—who had been called the Three Externally Severed Dukes even while residing in Shanxi Province in the Central Plains—was finally returning to the martial world.