Chapter 375
Chapter 375
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 99
>Chapter Title: That Day (1)
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Long ago,
Over a hundred years before the present.
On the northern, eastern, and western sides of a vast training ground sat three extraordinary middle-aged men, each guarded by what appeared to be their escorts.
These three middle-aged men were the heads of the sword houses from the three branches—derived long ago from a single sect, now split into three lines.
The north was the Heavenly Branch, the west the Earthly Branch, and the east the Moon Branch.
They gathered periodically each year to exchange martial techniques through sparring matches, and today was that day.
*Crack!*
The sound of something breaking echoed across the entire training ground.
It was the sound of a wooden sword shattering.
In response, Ryu Gang, head of the Moon Branch on the eastern side, furrowed his brow.
And for good reason—a beautiful woman in her mid-twenties held the broken wooden sword, and she was his one and only heir.
"Damn it!"
A crude curse burst from the woman's lips.
Hearing this, Moon Branch Head Ryu Gang raised his voice while still seated.
"Hey now!"
"It was just bad luck. If the wooden sword hadn't broken..."
The woman, who looked about eighteen, whined like a petulant child before trailing off.
Her gaze was fixed on the tip of the wooden sword pressing against her throat.
The tall, handsome young man in his mid-twenties gripping that wooden sword was Bi Yong-hun, heir to the Heavenly Branch.
Bi Yong-hun flashed a mischievous grin that didn't suit his handsome face.
"Luck is part of skill, isn't it?"
"...You're really pissing me off."
"A win's a win, so you'll honor the bet, right?"
"Hmph, who said I wouldn't?"
*Thud!*
The woman snorted derisively and tossed the broken wooden sword to the ground.
Watching her, Moon Branch Head Ryu Gang pressed his forehead as if nursing a throbbing headache, shaking his head slowly.
"Such a tomboy."
She'd grown up without a mother, but she was a full-fledged tomboy through and through.
Of course, he'd raised her that way himself.
After his eldest son—his sole heir apparent—and his younger son both died from some unknown illness, the only one left to succeed him was his daughter, Ryu So-wol.
So he'd raised her more like a son than a daughter.
At that moment, Yu Sun, the escort captain seated to his right, chuckled.
"Heh heh. Still, Clan Head, the young lady's swordsmanship has improved by leaps and bounds..."
"Captain!"
"...My apologies. In any case, the young lady has made remarkable progress. Who could have guessed that someone who couldn't even beat the Earthly Branch's heir three years ago would improve this much?"
"She's still got a long way to go. That level is nowhere near worthy of being a young lord."
"But Clan Head..."
"You don't know how much the Heavenly Branch's heir was holding back, do you? That's why the girl is throwing such a fit—she knows it too."
"..."
Escort Captain Yu Sun fell silent at Moon Branch Head Ryu Gang's words.
He had suspected as much himself.
Bi Yong-hun, the Heavenly Branch's young lord, possessed swordsmanship skills so superb it was hard to believe he was only in his mid-twenties.
He was already on par with the top experts of each branch.
"If only Hoon were still alive..."
Ryu Gang murmured softly with regret.
Ryu Hoon had been his deceased son.
He was a prodigy of the Moon Branch, said to surpass even Bi Yong-hun in talent.
Ryu Gang had hoped that, on the day of the long-awaited merger of the three branches as per their ancient pact, his son would defeat the heirs of the other two branches and become the leader of the united Heaven-Earth-Moon Alliance.
But that child had died and left his side.
As he lamented this, a subdued voice spoke up.
"Yes, it would have been different if only my brother were alive."
'!?'
It was Ryu So-wol's voice.
Ryu Gang hadn't even noticed her approaching—a careless mistake on his part.
But by then, she was already storming off toward the edge of the training ground, her face twisted in anger.
"Oh no."
He'd hurt the girl again.
He'd tried so hard not to say anything careless, but with the growing gap between her and the others, his true feelings had slipped out unbidden.
"Clan Head..."
Escort Captain Yu Sun called out to him with a look of disappointment.
"What? Why didn't you tell me the girl was coming?"
"Who was the one lost in thought with her right in front of you?"
"...You're right. It's all this clan head's fault."
"And cleaning up after such a clan head falls entirely on me, doesn't it? Hwa Yeon, Grand Captain."
"Yes, Captain."
At his call, a sturdy-faced woman in her early thirties stepped forward.
Escort Captain Yu Sun issued an order to her.
"Go console the young lady and bring her back."
"Yes, sir!"
*Whoosh!*
As the grand captain called Hwa Yeon hurried after her, Ryu Gang clutched his throbbing head and rose to his feet.
"Let's head back."
"Clan Head... over there?"
"Hm?"
Someone was approaching.
It was Bi Hyeong-myeong, the current head of the Heavenly Branch.
They met every year these days, but he had changed greatly since his father's death three years ago.
He spoke less now, and his demeanor was completely different.
Ryu Gang couldn't hide his curiosity as Bi Hyeong-myeong approached with what seemed like something to say for the first time in ages.
Truth be told, with Ryu So-wol's defeat, he wasn't in the mood for conversation.
* * *
Ryu So-wol ran out of the Heavenly Branch compound.
Someone caught up and blocked her path.
"So-wol."
It was Bi Yong-hun, the Heavenly Branch's young lord.
She raised one eyebrow and spoke in an irritated tone.
"Why are you following me?"
"You're not thinking of reneging on the bet and just leaving, are you?"
"...You're so annoying."
"Hey, I'm just here to collect on our deal. What's annoying about that?"
Ryu So-wol clicked her tongue at his words, then yanked off an ornate jade bead accessory from her waist and flung it at him.
*Thud!*
Bi Yong-hun caught it with a gentle smile.
She shot him a displeased look.
"It's a bet, sure, but do you really have to take something I cherished to feel satisfied?"
"It's special because you cherished it."
"What?"
"Ah, nothing. Anyway, I'll treasure it properly. Want to bet again? If you win the next spar, I'll give it back."
"Forget it. You think I'd want something that's already been in your hands?"
"Come on..."
"I'm done. If that's all, I'm going."
"Wait, that's not the only thing. I have something else to say."
"Something to say?"
She wasn't thrilled about losing her cherished accessory, but his suddenly serious tone made her pause to hear him out.
As she turned her head, Bi Yong-hun fidgeted unusually, twisting his body slightly.
"Um... you know..."
"What? Spit it out already."
"Hey, why rush me? It's been a while since we've seen each other."
"So? You're the one hemming and hawing, twisting around like that, when you said you had something to say?"
Truth be told, Ryu So-wol knew.
She'd noticed for some time that he had feelings for her.
Every time they met, he'd blush and avoid her gaze—who wouldn't know?
But she didn't feel the same.
To her, the Heavenly Branch's young lord was nothing more than a benchmark, a mountain to conquer.
That's why Ryu So-wol could never like him.
"It's not on purpose..."
"Hey, too late. I have to run."
"Huh?"
"If you have something to say, save it for next time."
*Whoosh!*
With that, Ryu So-wol unleashed her lightness skill and vaulted over the compound wall.
Bi Yong-hun bit his lip, debating whether to follow, but stopped himself.
He heard someone calling from behind.
"Young Lord!"
It seemed to be the Moon Branch's escort grand captain.
He knew pursuing would only lead to interference, so Bi Yong-hun felt a pang of regret.
* * *
*Whoosh! Whoosh!*
Ryu So-wol darted through the underbrush with nimble steps, executing her lightness skill.
'Almost there.'
Amid countless mountain peaks stood one particularly special place.
The summit she treasured like a jewel was the tallest and most scenic.
She had stumbled upon it by chance three years ago and visited every year since.
The circumstances of her discovery were almost comical.
It had been after losing a sparring match, just like today—unable to bear her father's disappointed gaze, she'd fled the scene.
To shake off the escort grand captain and guards her father, Clan Head Ryu Gang, had sent, she'd run nonstop for miles and ended up there.
Gazing at the crimson sky and sunset, she'd lost herself in awe.
Was there anything in the world more mystical and beautiful?
For the first time, her weary, wounded heart found solace.
After her mother, brother, and young uncle all succumbed to illness, her father had raised her harshly, not hesitating to say wounding things at times.
"The next clan head cannot be a mere woman."
"You think you'd have a shot at that position if your brother were alive?"
"Act like a proper young lord."
Thanks to that, she'd grown up unlike other girls.
A tomboy on the outside, but the wounds within had festered deeply.
Yet after witnessing that vista in her time of hardship, she'd found comfort, and ever since, she'd made excuses to visit the summit whenever she felt stifled.
"Young lady!"
Far off, Escort Grand Captain Hwa Yeon's voice echoed.
She always pursued during these escapes, and her lightness skill had noticeably improved.
If she didn't hurry to the summit, she might get caught.
*Whoosh! Whoosh!*
She climbed the treacherously steep cliff face.
It had been tough at first, but frequent visits had made it so familiar she could navigate it blindfolded.
The sun was nearly set—perfect timing, and she brimmed with anticipation.
As she crested the summit, full of eager excitement and about to let out a soft gasp of delight—
'!?'
She couldn't.
For on the peak she considered her private paradise, unknown to all others, stood a long-haired man in billowing black robes, hands clasped behind his back, gazing out.
Her face, expectant of the breathtaking view, clouded with disappointment.
Who was this guy?
Who was he to come to her secret haven first and claim it for himself?
As she wondered—
*Thud!*
Someone suddenly pinned her shoulder, slamming her face-first to the ground.
*Boom!*
"Ow!"
Face-down on the ground, Ryu So-wol couldn't hide her shock.
The force on her shoulder was so immense that even instinctively channeling her internal energy did nothing—she couldn't budge.
"Urgh!"
"Stay still."
"Let... let go!"
Ryu So-wol thrashed with all her might, but the power pressing her down like a massive boulder forced her to yield.
Then, the man who had been admiring the vista—her personal paradise—with hands behind his back turned and approached.
"Ah..."
The moment she saw his face, an involuntary gasp escaped her.
He had black hair and skin like hers, yet his features were strangely exotic and strikingly beautiful.
Could a man be this beautiful?
Even she, who cared little for appearances, was stunned.
The man stared at her intently before speaking.
"A female?"
"Yes, it seems so. Sh—"
*Swish!*
The man, clad entirely in black, raised a hand to silence him.
Then, as if disinterested, he waved dismissively.
"Kill it and dump the body."
"Understood."
*Crunch!*
With that, the one pinning her shoulder bore down harder.
She had every reason to be terrified, but in this bizarre situation, a fierce defiance surged within her, and she shouted.
"Female? You talk like such a piece of shit, you fucking male."
"..."
The man, who had turned away as if losing interest, froze.
The one pressing her shoulder panicked and increased the pressure, raising his voice.
"How dare a lowly—"
"Quiet."
"B-But..."
"Leave her be and see what happens."
"Pardon?"
"I said leave her."
"..."
The man who had been about to crush her shoulder relented and released his grip.
Ryu So-wol scrambled up and drew her sword from her waist.
Ignoring her, the man smirked.
"An intriguing female."
'Again!'
Furious at being called "female" once more, she unleashed a sword strike at him without hesitation.
It was the swiftest quick-draw technique from the Moon Sword Forms.
*Whoosh!*
Then, something unbelievable happened.
*Snap!*
'!?'
The man had casually caught her prized quick-draw strike between two fingers.
"Not bad. You know how to use some strength, female."
"Wh-What are you?"
To her stunned question, the man replied arrogantly.
"I am the one who will become your master."
She was shocked for a moment, then scoffed in disbelief.
"You're completely insane."